Impeccable
Member
And yet, killing this is going to be a big issue.
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[RUMOR] Sony shutting down Playstation Mobile (PSM) on Vita
- Thread starter Bashtee
- Start date
And yet, killing this is going to be a big issue.
GreyOcelot
Member
just another reason to add to the list of why they should have gone with a forked version of android for the vita OS
zeopower6
Member
Can probably backup with the PC tool.
Sounds like a great loss for the industry...
But seriously though, if they're really not going to let people continue to redownload purchased titles, then I sure as fuck would hope they'll be issuing refunds to all those affected by this. It's nothing short of an outrage if they don't.
But seriously though, if they're really not going to let people continue to redownload purchased titles, then I sure as fuck would hope they'll be issuing refunds to all those affected by this. It's nothing short of an outrage if they don't.
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
Well I don't see it as a problem. It was a flop out the gate. Good thing they trashed it and now can focus on maybe being a mobile publisher for these games in their respected app stores. I will never understand why all these tech company do all this work to make their own app store within a app store and bet that this will be healthy for them. Cut it out.
Narpas Sword0
Member
This is why I am not hot on buying full retail games on download services. If it's available on a disc I'm getting it on a disc.
Kssio_Aug
Member
I'll be honest, I just sold my Vita this weekend, and never heard of PSM before. Still, its pretty awful for those who have already bought games in this service and won't be able to redownload them.
I enjoy the praticity of digital content, but this kind of pratices, summed with the impossibility to resell the game is making me more cautious about it lately.
I enjoy the praticity of digital content, but this kind of pratices, summed with the impossibility to resell the game is making me more cautious about it lately.
PSM should have started out as it is now, with games exclusively for the Vita and capable of using almost all of the device's processing capabilities. They should also have integrated it better with the store, at least with a search bar. Review codes would have been nice too.
Unfortunately they started out with the daft Android/Xperia Play requirements and severely limited resources, which meant that by the time they fixed it most people had already written it off.
After the changes made last year, this was by far the easiest (and for many the only) way for hobbyists/small teams/individuals/mobile developers to get their games on a console (albeit not a popular one). The games didn't sell very well at all and there's certainly a lot of low quality content on the store, but no-one can claim that this shut down is anything but negative and the limitations on re-downloading content have rather worrying implications for the Vita's own end of life.
People praise the rise of indies on consoles, but Sony here are killing what, with a bit of effort, could have been the best, most open platform for independent developers to get their games on a console. They should be expanding it to PS4, not closing it down!
At least most developers still working on games for PSM will be using Unity at this point, so they can easily release their work on other platforms. I really feel sorry for anyone working with the PSM SDK, hopefully the similarities with Monogame will allow them to port it without too much effort.
You'd have thought that Sony would want all the content it could get on Vita, but they seem to be trying to kill it off slowly, with the closing of Near (which will remove functionality, albeit mostly limited, from several games), the removal of the Youtube app and now this. I wonder what will be next?
Unfortunately they started out with the daft Android/Xperia Play requirements and severely limited resources, which meant that by the time they fixed it most people had already written it off.
After the changes made last year, this was by far the easiest (and for many the only) way for hobbyists/small teams/individuals/mobile developers to get their games on a console (albeit not a popular one). The games didn't sell very well at all and there's certainly a lot of low quality content on the store, but no-one can claim that this shut down is anything but negative and the limitations on re-downloading content have rather worrying implications for the Vita's own end of life.
People praise the rise of indies on consoles, but Sony here are killing what, with a bit of effort, could have been the best, most open platform for independent developers to get their games on a console. They should be expanding it to PS4, not closing it down!
At least most developers still working on games for PSM will be using Unity at this point, so they can easily release their work on other platforms. I really feel sorry for anyone working with the PSM SDK, hopefully the similarities with Monogame will allow them to port it without too much effort.
You'd have thought that Sony would want all the content it could get on Vita, but they seem to be trying to kill it off slowly, with the closing of Near (which will remove functionality, albeit mostly limited, from several games), the removal of the Youtube app and now this. I wonder what will be next?
Zeyphersan
Banned
I only just learned the difference between Playstation Mobile and Playstation Minis
Sony has too many programs going on
Sony has too many programs going on
dancrane212
Member
Malebolgia on a portable would make a lot of people happy. Hope you still pursue it via the regular channels, at least the game could have trophies then!
Give War A Chance
Member
I don't understand what Sony's relationship with the Vita is anymore. It's like they are ashamed of it, but don't quite want to exile it (however, they want to get really close to it).
PixyJunket
Member
#4ThePlayers.
Demon Lizardman
Banned
Does this effect the PSP at any way at all?
A-Dark-Injection
Member
Yes PSM had an own store (lack of integration in PSN was part of the problem if you ask me).
PSN on Vita will be fine.
No, PSP games can still be downloaded.
I have a few PSM games and I think it's a shame it's shutting down. I'd have never discovered the "Quiet, Please!" series otherwise, and I have no desire to play them without buttons.
As a consumer I think it's goddamn terrible if they're taking away my ability to redownload the games.
As a consumer I think it's goddamn terrible if they're taking away my ability to redownload the games.
PixyJunket
Member
Did Wonder Boy in Monster Land ever get released?
I thought one of the companies porting arcade games was releasing it, but I can't recall the details (and probably Japan only, boo).
I thought one of the companies porting arcade games was releasing it, but I can't recall the details (and probably Japan only, boo).
GloriousBagel
Banned
They shut down the service on Android a while back as well....
I made a post on the PSM dev forums
http://community.eu.playstation.com...End-of-an-era-and-a-way-forward/td-p/23079251
http://community.eu.playstation.com...End-of-an-era-and-a-way-forward/td-p/23079251
Jeronimo Jones
Member
I never played any of these bad looking games on my Vita or maybe I'm thinking of PS Minis.
No re-downloads after September 10 in Japan. Yikes... I know this isn't the main PlayStation Store content, but that is concerning that there is now sort of precedent for entirely shutting down digital stores on consoles (after Xbox Live was shut down on the original Xbox in 2010 as well).
xKilltheMx
Member
We need somebody to make a list/thread of the best PSM games to grab before shutdown.
I already know Musync (DDR/beatmania clone) is on that damn list.
I already know Musync (DDR/beatmania clone) is on that damn list.
2blackcats
Member
PixyJunket
Member
This was my main concern.
I believe they shifted to Unity, so all is not lost.
OK, can we make sure that at least we can back up those games to PC's or whatever (no, not just to an extra vita mem card)
This hurts consumer confidence in the "digital future". But I guess, it won't, "games as cancellable services" will be the norm and game preservation will not be possible by legal means.
This hurts consumer confidence in the "digital future". But I guess, it won't, "games as cancellable services" will be the norm and game preservation will not be possible by legal means.
This was a program hijacked by Ericson.
They'll never be able to get rid of the weird crap tech associated with it
I only have first-hand knowledge of PSM, so any former Minis devs might be able to correct me on some points, but my understanding is:
Minis were smaller games with more limited needs (I think there were restrictions on online connectivity and a file size limit) that didn't require a full developer application and tools but still needed devs to sign up through something close to the process for creating "full" games for PS platforms. They started out as a PSP-only thing I think, then got opened up to PS3. They weren't anything to do with the Vita, though you can play them through the PSP emulation/backwards compatibility on the Vita.
PSM ("Playstation Mobile") is a system by which anyone can sign up (from bedroom coders to small studios) to create games for PS Vita and "selected Android devices" (Sony phones/tablets and a few from other brands). Originally there was a ~£60 fee per year to deploy to devices and release on the store, but this got scrapped later. At first you were limited to (very) poor performance and a small amount of RAM, but then later they dropped the Android support and opened up (most of) the full power of the Vita, though you don't get PSN access or trophies and you can only develop in C# via the PSM SDK or the Unity game engine.
In short:
To release a "Minis" title you had to be a proper company and get devkits etc, but it was a simplified process for smaller teams, that often was used as a stepping-stone into full PSN game releases. Nowadays you'd just apply to be a PS registered developer through the normal channels and they are much more understanding and welcoming to smaller teams.
PSM is (soon to be was) a method by which individuals could release a game on Vita without the need to set up a company or buy devkits. A few larger companies used it for ports of mobile games, but I suspect they were pushed in that direction by Sony to try and legitimise the PSM store and drive interest in it.
Ganzlinger
Member
PixyJunket
Member
Adventure Bar Story is supposed to be a pretty neat JRPG and shop sim.
Of course, it also available on most phones and has a premium (non-IAP) version on 3DS.
Not your fault (there's a third tab in the store)
RadarScope1
Member
I tend to agree. They need to simply lower the barriers that might be in place for very small developers to get their software into the regular Vita marketplace.
xKilltheMx
Member
That 3ds version sounds good to me.
Edit: Anybody buy Flight World Simulator? That interest me so much for some reason. PSTV support?
Doctor_Thomas
Member
Life of Pixel is still one of my favourite Vita games but the developer wasn't able to put it on Vita proper meaning it was only on PSM. Doomed from the off.
xKilltheMx
Member
I thought the sequel or something was on native PSN?
Thanks billsmugs. That was helpful. I didn't realize that PSM allowed access to more hardware resources. Guess, if I would have thought about Tokyo Jungle Mobile versus some of the Minis I've played, it would have made more sense.
Doctor_Thomas
Member
No sequel but they got the updated game on PC. It's still not doing great, sadly.