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[Deku]

Sounds like Sony is turning the PSP into a pure CE product with gaming capabilities to milk it in its final years.

I'm not sure if the download only model will make sense to a lot of devs.

 

[jts]

Why? The PSP has nearly the same power as a PS2. It has far faaaaaaar more power than any handheld out there. Why releasing a new handheld-generation when the current handheld dominates in hardware (for the next years)?

I don't know, why did Microsoft release a next-gen console earlier than its competitors when its previous console dominated in hardware? Beats the crap out of me.

 

[Nirolak]

Sounds like Sony is turning the PSP into a pure CE product with gaming capabilities to milk it in its final years.

I'm not sure if the download only model will make sense to a lot of devs.

Well, assuming the other part of Eurogamer's original rumor is true, we should be having the PSP2 around Fall 2010, so I could totally see Sony repurposing the current PSP as a CE device while also generating a lot of good will for the next iteration by suddenly releasing so many games.

It also works out nice for developers since the people that have a PSP now will remember them as the ones that actually cared when the PSP2 rolls around.

 

[Version 3.0]

To hell with the PSP, current or future. Let me play all these games on my PS3, dammit.

 

[spwolf]

Sounds like Sony is turning the PSP into a pure CE product with gaming capabilities to milk it in its final years.

I'm not sure if the download only model will make sense to a lot of devs.

there will be no download only model, it is just an stupid rumour....

 

[Kibbles]

Anybody remember this?

Anyways, I would hope it's the PSP2. Enough with this upgrade shit, it makes people like me, who bought the original models pissed off. Now I'm uncertain of buying the PSP2 right away, or even when the 2nd/3rd model comes out, because I don't know if a better one will be released later! >.< Get it right the first time please.

My question here though: If they get rid of UMD with a PSP-4000 model, how would the average consumer go about buying games if they have no internet connection?

 

[Grampa Simpson]

there will be no download only model, it is just an stupid rumour....

(neutral) spwolf
If this poster agrees with you, you're doing something very wrong.
(Today, 04:51 PM)
Reply | Quote

Saw this and am now chuckling at half the thread. Whichever way the PSP-4000 falls, this thread is comedy genius.

 

[Y2Kev]

I'd like, just once, for the pie-in-the-sky direct download evangelists to think through their ideas a little bit before they go into threads and start to push them.

Let's look at some of the obstacles to a DD-only console, shall we?

• Broadband penetration on overall homes is only 57% in the US. That means that 43% of households would be immediately off the table as potential purchasers -- and it's important to realize, given how low the connectivity standards are for all three home consoles, that tons of people without internet access still buy game systems.
• Even for people who have broadband, all US ISPs have implemented bandwidth caps as of 2009. For some, it's as low as 30gb per month -- something that is likely to stunt the growth of all direct download services going forward, especially untried ones with no retail alternative that are regularly moving 2gb products.
• Ah, but we'll just let the PSP go on the cell network, you say? You mean the same cell network that people pay $40 a month to access on the iPhone, on a device whose cost is heavily subsidized by the cell provider?
• And then we get to the other problem: why would retailers carry the PSP-4000? The retail markup on a game system is typically $0.01 -- in othe words, retailers cannot profit from selling game hardware. What they do profit on is selling games, but this move would (as described) involve phasing out these retail games -- which in turn phases out the incentive for retailers to spend their time and money pushing the system. (PSN cards aren't on their own going to do enough business to make up for it, but even if they did, Sony can't use this as a bargaining chip because retailers will already be stocking them for the PS3 even if they choose not to stock this mythical PSP.)
• Plus all your usual concerns about physical ownership of games, excessive prices for software that you can't rely on keeping, etc. etc.

Almost no one who's pushing this "eliminate the UMD!" thing has even attempted to address these problems, or explained even a single concrete benefit to removing the drive that isn't also achieved by adding a "legit" ripping feature to the PSP -- nor has anyone really addressed the fact that a change like this makes much more sense on a true PSP2, which could switch to solid-state media and thereby offer a retail alternative that didn't have the drawbacks of UMD (and which I would imagine would probably launch late next year).

QFT

PSP2 and PSP-4000 need to be very different products.

 

[jts]

Hmmm, if this is rumoured to be an iPod-like device, what about an iTunes-like software that lets you both rip your UMDs and download games?

Hummm... idea fails because unlike CD drives, people don't have UMD drives on their computers. Unless Sony makes one, USB powered, that costs around $20?

Yeah, and ripped games would be DRM-free, while for downloadable games they would keep the current PSN model.

I nailed it goddamit!

 

[kenta]

I would like to see Sony take a page from the Kindle (unintentional pun lol) and foot the bill for an integrated cell phone connection strictly for downloading games so that everyone has access to the PS Store. Then put a WiFi chip in there for standard game playing like the current PSP has, and voila an awesome device

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Seriously this. Almost absurd as the PS3 rumor with no Blu-ray to cut back costs!

...That could actually work. A $199 download only SKU. It would get the price down, all right, even if it was a "the tard pack."

And for whatever reason, such a huge revision to the current PSP at this point just doesn't make any sense to me. Unless they were going the Gameboy Color/DSi route with the new system being more of a PSP 1.5, then I couldn't see such a big revision being anything other than a new console. Would they really make that big of a gain in new hardware sales on a fourth refresh to warrent the R&D costs, even if it is a huge one?

 

[Pachael]

PSP-4000 without UMD won't work, it'll limit the 'upgradability' for those who have lots of PSP games. On UMD, of course.

For PSP2 this won't work either due to how uncomfortable the mainstream are around downloading games - heck they might not even know how to download stuff.

 

[Flunkie]

Sounds like Sony is turning the PSP into a pure CE product with gaming capabilities to milk it in its final years.

I'm not sure if the download only model will make sense to a lot of devs.

WTF is this shit? PSP ain't goin' away, buddy.

 

[MikeE21286]

Just show me what it looks like dammit.....it's gonna look awesome...

 

[AranhaHunter]

Sounds like Sony is turning the PSP into a pure CE product with gaming capabilities to milk it in its final years.

I'm not sure if the download only model will make sense to a lot of devs.

Deku
"I bought the PSP first last year and it was the worst decision of my life"
(Today, 12:43 AM)
Reply | Quote

 

[Tobor]

I'd like, just once, for the pie-in-the-sky direct download evangelists to think through their ideas a little bit before they go into threads and start to push them.

Let's look at some of the obstacles to a DD-only console, shall we?

*snip*

Almost no one who's pushing this "eliminate the UMD!" thing has even attempted to address these problems, or explained even a single concrete benefit to removing the drive that isn't also achieved by adding a "legit" ripping feature to the PSP -- nor has anyone really addressed the fact that a change like this makes much more sense on a true PSP2, which could switch to solid-state media and thereby offer a retail alternative that didn't have the drawbacks of UMD (and which I would imagine would probably launch late next year).

Let's go through your list:

• Broadband penetration on overall homes is only 57% in the US. That means that 43% of households would be immediately off the table as potential purchasers -- and it's important to realize, given how low the connectivity standards are for all three home consoles, that tons of people without internet access still buy game systems.
  
• It's 66.6% of the US as of Q2 2008, and of active internet users, 91% have broadband. This roughly tracks with your stat. However, the key thing to remember here is that this DD only unit does not mean the certain discontinuing of the old system. I believe this is going to be a premium sku designed specifically for a target market where broadband penetration will be much higher, if not total.
  
• Even for people who have broadband, all US ISPs have implemented bandwidth caps as of 2009. For some, it's as low as 30gb per month -- something that is likely to stunt the growth of all direct download services going forward, especially untried ones with no retail alternative that are regularly moving 2gb products.
  
• 2GB is the upper end for PSP software, and hardly the norm. Most games fall under 1GB to maybe 1.5GB at the upper end. This is not an issue for the average User, who frankly is not going to buy enough software to threaten a cap anyway. I think we will see a larger push towards smaller downloadable PSN style games for the device in addition to large games, which will be inconsequential to caps, such as we see on the iPhone.
  
• Ah, but we'll just let the PSP go on the cell network, you say? You mean the same cell network that people pay $40 a month to access on the iPhone, on a device whose cost is heavily subsidized by the cell provider?
  
• Not coming in this product, no need to argue this one.
  
• And then we get to the other problem: why would retailers carry the PSP-4000? The retail markup on a game system is typically $0.01 -- in othe words, retailers cannot profit from selling game hardware. What they do profit on is selling games, but this move would (as described) involve phasing out these retail games -- which in turn phases out the incentive for retailers to spend their time and money pushing the system. (PSN cards aren't on their own going to do enough business to make up for it, but even if they did, Sony can't use this as a bargaining chip because retailers will already be stocking them for the PS3 even if they choose not to stock this mythical PSP.)
  
• Sony will keep a UMD sku on the shelf at least for now, along with games, and push accessories and cards for retailers. They can also point to Apple products as an example. "But iPod customers could potentially buy CD's?", you'll say. Then I'll say "Sure, but increasingly they don't, and retailers know it". The vast armada of iPod accessories make up the difference. Best Buy for example, sells the Apple TV in it's Apple section, even though they have no opportunity for any additional revenue.
  
• Plus all your usual concerns about physical ownership of games, excessive prices for software that you can't rely on keeping, etc. etc.
  
• This one is frankly laughable. Consumers have proven again and again they do not care about any of this, other than the always exciting small vocal minority.
  

Anything I missed?

 

[panda21]

I'd like, just once, for the pie-in-the-sky direct download evangelists to think through their ideas a little bit before they go into threads and start to push them.

Let's look at some of the obstacles to a DD-only console, shall we?

• Broadband penetration on overall homes is only 57% in the US. That means that 43% of households would be immediately off the table as potential purchasers -- and it's important to realize, given how low the connectivity standards are for all three home consoles, that tons of people without internet access still buy game systems.
• Even for people who have broadband, all US ISPs have implemented bandwidth caps as of 2009. For some, it's as low as 30gb per month -- something that is likely to stunt the growth of all direct download services going forward, especially untried ones with no retail alternative that are regularly moving 2gb products.
• Ah, but we'll just let the PSP go on the cell network, you say? You mean the same cell network that people pay $40 a month to access on the iPhone, on a device whose cost is heavily subsidized by the cell provider?
• And then we get to the other problem: why would retailers carry the PSP-4000? The retail markup on a game system is typically $0.01 -- in othe words, retailers cannot profit from selling game hardware. What they do profit on is selling games, but this move would (as described) involve phasing out these retail games -- which in turn phases out the incentive for retailers to spend their time and money pushing the system. (PSN cards aren't on their own going to do enough business to make up for it, but even if they did, Sony can't use this as a bargaining chip because retailers will already be stocking them for the PS3 even if they choose not to stock this mythical PSP.)
• Plus all your usual concerns about physical ownership of games, excessive prices for software that you can't rely on keeping, etc. etc.

Almost no one who's pushing this "eliminate the UMD!" thing has even attempted to address these problems, or explained even a single concrete benefit to removing the drive that isn't also achieved by adding a "legit" ripping feature to the PSP -- nor has anyone really addressed the fact that a change like this makes much more sense on a true PSP2, which could switch to solid-state media and thereby offer a retail alternative that didn't have the drawbacks of UMD (and which I would imagine would probably launch late next year).

to download 30gb of psp games in a month you would need to buy and download a game every day. i dont think i even own 30 psp games.

plenty of stuff still gets sold without retailers selling games for them, you cant buy games for my kettle and yet i still bought it! amazing! theyd just have to increase the markup.

theyve probably seen the demand for DLing games to the memstick and decided to give people what they want instead of inciting them to pirate games for convenience (umds are too big).

given that you can already buy DD games for it, having a DD based PSP model to take advantage of this (and get rid of what is imo its worst feature) does kind of make sense.

 

[panda21]

WOO YEAH, double team smackdown! way to go

also just occured to me that if you cant afford broadband you probably also arent really going to be in the market for a psp, DD or otherwise.

 

[davepoobond]

This is probably my biggest concern. I'm all for UMD-less, smaller, DS Lite style PSP. I'm just wondering how I'll play my old games on it.

here's the simple solution:

you won't


if the no-UMD thing comes to pasture, of course.


if this really does come to be true, i doubt they'll discontinue all the UMD PSPs out there. This new one will just be an "alternate" version for those who dont have a use for UMDs.

 

[kaching]

I'd like, just once, for the pie-in-the-sky direct download evangelists to think through their ideas a little bit before they go into threads and start to push them.

I'm reading a lot more pie-in-the-sky rationalizations for why the UMD is a necessary component of the PSP at this point than the other way around. It seems that UMD proponents are more willfully ignoring the current state of the game sales on the PSP than DD proponents are overselling the prospects of that approach.

Personally, I don't care if they keep the UMD drive in or not but, like Onix pointed out earlier, it's served its purpose at this point.

Let's look at some of the obstacles to a DD-only console, shall we?

That's a list of "let's cross that bridge when we come to it" type obstacles. None of those are obstacles for a market like the one the PSP has currently. Sony would have to grow the PSP market well beyond its current size before any of those really became obstacles.

explained even a single concrete benefit to removing the drive

One concrete benefit of removing the drive, at least for Sony, is a reduction in manufacturing cost. Maybe they pass along a bit of the savings. It also leads to better overall battery life.

By having a model that's strictly DD, obviously they signal a greater commitment to the DD marketplace where the previous DD models, by nature of not allowing DD straight OOTB, wouldn't have inspired as much confidence from developers thinking of going that direction. And the legitimate method of physical distribution on the current PSP models is hacked and pirated to the point that it gives developers not much greater confidence, if any.

So what's the concrete benefit to keeping the drive in? Not losing the support of 20 PSP owners still buying and playing games on the UMD? The "concrete benefits" of keeping the drive in don't outweigh the benefits of removing it.

 

[blu]

SDcard support plz!

only over sony's dead body.

 

[Fafalada]

only over sony's dead body.

SDMicros work just dandy in current PSP models.

 

[spwolf]

to download 30gb of psp games in a month you would need to buy and download a game every day. i dont think i even own 30 psp games.

so you will have your internet connection just for psp? quite cool... what about downloading movies, shows, ps3/360 and psp games... or will you just download psp games?

not only that, US is only but one part of the world... download limitations are much worse most of other countries.

sku without physical media will not happen...

 

[Tobor]

so you will have your internet connection just for psp? quite cool... what about downloading movies, shows, ps3/360 and psp games... or will you just download psp games?

not only that, US is only but one part of the world... download limitations are much worse most of other countries.

sku without physical media will not happen...

Sticking with it until the bitter end, eh? I can respect that.

 

[Grampa Simpson]

SDMicros work just dandy in current PSP models.

Requires an adapter, right?

 

[Zutroy]

If true, it's maybe a financially less risky experiment Sony are trying to see how successful a DD only PSP2 would be, and also to try and get things smoothed out in terms of the PSN Store for the arrival of the PSP2.

 

[Mashing]

I think this revision is a mistake. If they are going to take out the UMD drive (splitting the user base), then they should just make an entirely new PSP with upgraded hardware specifications without the UMD drive. This is a horrible business decision on Sony's part.

 

[Manmademan]

so you will have your internet connection just for psp? quite cool... what about downloading movies, shows, ps3/360 and psp games... or will you just download psp games?

not only that, US is only but one part of the world... download limitations are much worse most of other countries.

sku without physical media will not happen...

you have to remember the average console gamer only actually BUYS about 5 or 6 games over the lifetime of the product. I don't have the avg. attach rate for the PSP, but it should be at or below this number.

Obviously on GAF it's much much higher (I bought more PSP and PS3 titles than this, and have bought somewhere around 50+ ps2 games ) but we're at the farrrrrrrr end of the spectrum. outliers as it were.

For PSP games that clock in under a gig, (which would be nearly all of them) I don't see how bandwidth caps would be an issue. PSN-only and Xbox Arcade games seem to be doing just fine with them in place.

Edit: just to be clear I'm not saying the rumor is true or even that it's a good idea, but I don't see bandwidth caps specifically being the reason that it's not workable. "splitting the userbase" is a much better argument.

 

[blu]

SDMicros work just dandy in current PSP models.

yes, in a 3rd party duo adapter. i bet sony are doing backflips over that - after all they're always happy to see yet another of their media formats take the road of the betamax.

 

[Trailblazer]

Okay, I just thought about this.

Why does the UMD drive HAVE to be removed? You can already download games from the PSN store. You can generate your own rips so that you never have to use a UMD more than once.

What's the objection? Is it just form factor? Is it some belief in some hypothetical block to Sony putting more games on PSN? Yes and yes. the form factor of the PSP as it stands now is a problem if Sony want be relevant in the same with market todays portable electronics.

No UMD is a solution to a problem that nobody has. What problem does it address? Loading times? Battery life? You can already address these features on your own...and you don't need Sony to remove compatibility and features to do it. No you can't address these things on your own without hacking the device, which is something Sony dose not want.

I just really don't get it. You can have DD and UMD. You can even have Sony start shipping games on flash media (supposing this were cost feasible, and it will probably be the way that things are with PSP2). But ripping out UMD doesn't really solve anything that you can't solve already, and additionally it introduces a whole host of new problems. You also forgot to mention cost. Removing the UMD drive would bring down the cose of the device. Which would be teh Main reason for this move on Sony's part.

What's the advantage?

UMD has to go. It's the only Handheld device of any significance left that uses disk media.
The sooner Sony starts to phase out UMD the better. The key word here bing Phase.

If the PSP4000 has no UMD then that dosent mean SONY will just drop and stop producing the PSP3000. IMO both devices will be on the market and supported till the PSP true successor.

 

[Tobor]

I think this revision is a mistake. If they are going to take out the UMD drive (splitting the user base), then they should just make an entirely new PSP with upgraded hardware specifications without the UMD drive. This is a horrible business decision on Sony's part.

It's not splitting the user base for new games, since both the old and new systems can play the download games just fine.

New owners can't play old games that are unavailable on the service, but that's a smaller concern than most on GAF realize.

 

[Defensor]

Requires an adapter, right?

Yes, but there dual adaptors for it that allow you to double up your memory. Two 16GB micro SDs on a PSP for 32GB of space... good lord.

 

[Grampa Simpson]

Yes, but there dual adaptors for it that allow you to double up your memory. Two 16GB micro SDs on a PSP for 32GB of space... good lord.

Damn. I had no idea. I know my PSP is in a box in my garage somewhere. Maybe I should try that D-Pad hack and give it another go some day.

 

[Fafalada]

after all they're always happy to see yet another of their media formats take the road of the betamax.

I only pointed out SDs work, not argue what Flash media will fail or not next. Though for what's worth, several Sony products come with actual SD slot(including some that don't support MS at all).

Though since you mention it, geeks online have been cheering about "MSs death" since 6-7 years ago back when CF was holding 80% of the market. Funny how that worked out...
At any rate, they started phasing out Duo with M2s before the SDHC adapters appeared, not unlike how SDMicro is replacing SDs.
I wouldn't be surprised if new PSPs ended up with M2 slots either.

 

[MercuryLS]

A PSP with a sliding screen, no UMD, fully d/l games would be awesome. I'd get one.

 

[Mooreberg]

I never upgraded over the original model I have from 2005 so I would definitely look into this. What are they going to do about games you already own on UMD? Would you be allowed to transfer them to storage?

 

[Pachael]

Yes, but there dual adaptors for it that allow you to double up your memory. Two 16GB micro SDs on a PSP for 32GB of space... good lord.

I've got one of those, and only 1 16GB card at the moment. The other comes later in the year after saving up cash. 32GB should be all I'll ever need on the PSP.

 

[mistuhcahlos]

Sounds like they're targetting new PSP customers rather than sales to existing customers with collections of UMDs.

Regarding PSN availability of PSP games, no doubt if this is true, all future PSP games would release simultaneously on PSP and PSN. And this would sort of also explain why Sony has been increasing the rate at which they put PSP games on PSN recently.

Wha?! What world do you live in and can I visit some time?

 

[Tmac]

I cant visualise anything with sliding screen and all psp buttons on a ergonomic layout. And no UMD drive? Wtf, thats weird as hell, cant be true.

 

[Kadey]

I'll say the same thing as in the other thread. BS. Not on the 4000 model but the details.

 

[Callibretto]

I have a dream last night that psp4000 is basically ps2portable with the ability to play psp games. I know it might never happens, but how cool would it be.

I just don't think Sony will abandon the massive success of ps2 games and not try to exploit it in some way like Nintendo exploiting their legacy with virtual arcade, and since ps2 backward compatibility on ps3 seems impossible without some ps2 hardware. maybe they can put those hardware in psp4000.

having a portable device that can play movies, music, photos, ps1, ps2, psp and psn games will be a dream come true.

 

[sun-drop]

Anybody remember this?

this is what they describe exactly .. .basicly trying to make the thing more compact width wise to bring it in line with the DS ? the screen slides ..not the control flaps.

 

[AranhaHunter]

If there's a voucher or something where I can trade my UMDs in for downloads off the PS Store, then I would upgrade in a heartbeat, otherwise just wait for PSP2.

 

[Callibretto]

those sliding psp may look sleek and cool. but it didn't look like very comfortable to play. it looks to thin and probably light as well. I liked the curved sides of current psp model, I can force my fore finger to hold the sides sometimes rather than using my pink or ring finger as a platform and let the psp weight steady itself on my hand.

I have trouble playing with gba after psp because of how small the control layout is.

 

[Jonnyboy117]

This might finally make me buy a PSP.

 

[charlequin]

Let's go through your list:
However, the key thing to remember here is that this DD only unit does not mean the certain discontinuing of the old system. I believe this is going to be a premium sku designed specifically for a target market where broadband penetration will be much higher, if not total.

Why are Sony making this premium SKU? What benefit are they enjoying from selling a system that costs the consumer more but makes them less profit per unit, which complicates their supply chain as all extra SKUs always do, and which is predicated around the "selling point" of removing a feature rather than adding one? (Because, again, the current PSP model is 100% capable of playing DD games, and an initiative to put all PSP games on PSN is entirely possible with just the models already on the market.)

This is not an issue for the average User, who frankly is not going to buy enough software to threaten a cap anyway.

The issue with these caps isn't that people are likely to go over on any given service; it's that now services have to compete with one another for a resource that was previously bottomless. If someone is watching streaming videos on Hulu, and buying stuff from iTunes, and downloading demos for the PS3, all this stuff starts to add up.

Sony will keep a UMD sku on the shelf at least for now

Which, again, raises the question of why this whole thing is even important. The real PSP2 -- a new system platform with upgraded capacity -- is quite likely to hit in 2010. Why go through all this rigamarole to reinvent the PSP platform now, like a year out from when it goes away, if there's going to be a lot of lost money and difficulty in the interim?

This one is frankly laughable. Consumers have proven again and again they do not care about any of this, other than the always exciting small vocal minority.

People don't care in certain cases. For stuff that's less than $10, definitely. For purchases that (for whatever reason) they feel suitably secure in, sure. The resistance here tends to be less of the form "I hate direct download and won't ever touch it!" and more in the form of casual resistance to something like having one's entire game library be stuff you paid for but can't necessarily guarantee you'll get to keep.

 

[Trailblazer]

Why are Sony making this premium SKU? What benefit are they enjoying from selling a system that costs the consumer more but makes them less profit per unit, which complicates their supply chain as all extra SKUs always do, and which is predicated around the "selling point" of removing a feature rather than adding one? (Because, again, the current PSP model is 100% capable of playing DD games, and an initiative to put all PSP games on PSN is entirely possible with just the models already on the market.)

How would Removing the UMD drive make the system cost more? If anything it would reduce Sony's cost and make them more of a profit. You could make the case the an untested new form factor could drive up manufacturing cost but even that would be minimum and sorted how as the process matures.

Which, again, raises the question of why this whole thing is even important. The real PSP2 -- a new system platform with upgraded capacity -- is quite likely to hit in 2010. Why go through all this rigamarole to reinvent the PSP platform now, like a year out from when it goes away, if there's going to be a lot of lost money and difficulty in the interim?

One could argue that perfecting the manufacturing process of a new form factor, improving their digital distribution infrastructure and reinvigorating the PSP platform for developers would necessary steps before they went on to PSP-2

I would buy this day one, if there was a separate 3G PSPhone sku.

 

[WordAssassin]

So I'm thinking of finally buying a PSP... but I have no idea where to begin.

What is the best hardware to get? (I'd assume the PSP-2000, as I hear the screen for the 3000 is shit). And obviously if I'm going to jump in now and buy a bunch of UMD games I'm not going to want to buy a PSP-4000.

I'd use it pretty much exclusively for gaming... I remember hearing it can be plugged into a TV and the games displayed on a big screen. Is that true?

Also, what are some games you'd recommend to someone who enjoys primarily platformers? I'm eyeing Daxter, GoW:CoO, and Loco Roco right now. Any other good ones?

Edit: That touch screen slide-out concept is horrible. The sides would snap off, no doubt in my mind. Looks WAY too frail.

 

[Sutanreyu]

I don't understand why people have a problem with UMD. They're fine for games.

 

[Tobor]

Why are Sony making this premium SKU? What benefit are they enjoying from selling a system that costs the consumer more but makes them less profit per unit, which complicates their supply chain as all extra SKUs always do, and which is predicated around the "selling point" of removing a feature rather than adding one? (Because, again, the current PSP model is 100% capable of playing DD games, and an initiative to put all PSP games on PSN is entirely possible with just the models already on the market.)

John Davison nailed this on ListenUp. The PSP needs a branding relaunch. A new sexy slim device with new features and reinforced 3rd party support fits the bill nicely. Cutting the UMD does more than focus on PSN, which is important. It effects the entire design of the device. Slimmer form factor, increased battery life and load times, and increased gadget cool factor, all from ditching the discs. By using the same chipset and screen from the old units, and cutting out the physical drive, they can keep the margins and r&d under control, something not possible with a full rebuild.

The issue with these caps isn't that people are likely to go over on any given service; it's that now services have to compete with one another for a resource that was previously bottomless. If someone is watching streaming videos on Hulu, and buying stuff from iTunes, and downloading demos for the PS3, all this stuff starts to add up.

I use a lot of bandwidth. I watch tons of streaming Netflix and Hulu, download XBLA games and demos, and rent movies occasionally on my Apple TV, and I'm nowhere near the Comcast cap. As has been stated, the average game console buyer might buy 6 or 7 games for a unit in it's lifetime. The customer who buys one of these would presumably buy more, as it's a higher end customer, but this customer is also going to have decent internet. Caps are simply not an issue, especially for smaller handheld games.

Which, again, raises the question of why this whole thing is even important. The real PSP2 -- a new system platform with upgraded capacity -- is quite likely to hit in 2010. Why go through all this rigamarole to reinvent the PSP platform now, like a year out from when it goes away, if there's going to be a lot of lost money and difficulty in the interim?

I already explained this. They need a relaunch NOW, not in 2010. And the system is powerful enough to go a few more years easily, especially now that Nintendo has tipped their hand. This will most likely be the PSP2, just maybe not in name.

People don't care in certain cases. For stuff that's less than $10, definitely. For purchases that (for whatever reason) they feel suitably secure in, sure. The resistance here tends to be less of the form "I hate direct download and won't ever touch it!" and more in the form of casual resistance to something like having one's entire game library be stuff you paid for but can't necessarily guarantee you'll get to keep.

People don't care full stop. There is no evidence other than anecdotal vocal minority whining to back your side of this argument, and actual customer trends and buying habits in favor of mine. Beyond that, this notion that physical media is somehow permanent is naive, to say the least.