Sony has been hosting a retail briefing in Japan, one participant claiming that a pamphlet handed out by the entertainment giant outlines how current PSP owners will be able to transition their library onto the PlayStation Vita.
Though these plans have yet to be formally announced, in this week’s issue of Dengeki PlayStation Yoshio Matsumoto, development head at SCEJ, hinted at a UMD trade-in scheme. PSP owners would be invited to swap their existing collection for digital, Vita-compatible downloads at a discounted price.
Like we said details are scarce and as promising as it sounds there is no guarantee that such a scheme would make its way overseas anyway.
Source: Siliconera
teflon
Identical rumours to those at the PSPgo reveal. I find it quite doubtful for this to happen, though it would naturally be a nice move from Sony.
Better would be to slash PSP DDL prices across the board.
Jim H [Teabags]
Though I don’t think they’ll go ahead with it, it makes a hell of a lot more sense to introduce this scheme now instead of when the Go launched, simply because this is actually an evolution in hardware.
cam the man
I reckon your idea of slashing DDL prices is a lot better Tef.
KeRaSh
They did have a welcome package if you registered your old PSP.
hazelam
if they even actually do do this, which i doubt, how would it even work?
you send your game in?
you pinkie swear you actually have a copy? or do you go on jeremy kyle and take a lie detector test to prove you have the game?
and whatever method is used, it still involves REBUYING a game you already own.
that may be ok for these hd remakes with redone graphics and trophies, but here’ you’ll be getting exactly the same game.
call me cynical but i’m not really cool with that.
would you be happy if itunes started charging you for ripping your CDs?
PoorPaddy89
You’ll probably be able to scan the barcode or something, just like you can with those sites where you trade in old games & dvds for cash.
I can see your point, but nothing’s stopping you from keeping your old PSP and playing your UMDs on that. It’s not really comparable to iTunes & CDs.
DrNate86
That was my thought as well. As nice as it would be to play your games all on one system, backwards compatibility is by no means guaranteed when you upgrade. If you still have to finish an old game, finish it on your old system. It’s not like these things stop working the second you buy something new!
hazelam
i’d say it is comparable.
if they’re charging you to use content you already own, that’s exactly the same as if itunes charged you for ripping cds.
and just like the ipod and itunes, if you have that device you’re tied to that store.
the same with the vita.
unless of course sony are going to be re releasing those games on the new cartridge/memory card format that vita uses.
and don’t try and tell me this double dipping thing isn’t something sony are pushing.
just look at the ps2 support for ps3 now.
the ps3 will now play ps2 games, but only if you rebuy them from the store.
not if you put the disc YOU ALREADY OWN into the ps3.
and no, as people keep saying they didn’t have to include backwards compatibility, they could have chosen not to.
but they did include it, it’s a feature they’ll be marketing, mark my words, “huge range of psp titles available for use on vita from day one”
at least, we assume it’ll feature it, they could be total dickholes and do the same thing they did with the ps3.
except they probably wont even bother to come up with some lame arse excuse this time.
DrNate86
I’m sorry but I just don’t follow. Aside from getting outraged at wild assumptions, your logic makes no sense. A big selling factor for a new console isn’t, as your made up quote indicates, having a huge back-library of old games to play from day one. It is having new games that cannot be played anywhere else. Otherwise, why bother even upgrading to the Vita?
colmshan1990
It’s not comparable.
Unless you’re still outraged that your LPs can’t fit into your CD drive?
KeRaSh
“if they’re charging you to use content you already own, that’s exactly the same as if itunes charged you for ripping cds.”
No it’s not. They are not charging you to use content you already own. You can still use your content on the designated platform. They are charging you to make that content available in a different format.
Everyone has the tools to rip a CD but I don’t think anyone has the hardware to rip a UMD so it’s not really comparable.
Jim H [Teabags]
It would probably be done via retailers, who would collect the game and hand discount codes provided by Sony in advance.
Awayze
They should just sell an add on UMD reader that will copy the UMD’s straight to a computer (PC/Mac) or when plugged into the PSP Vita, straight to the PSP’s UMD.
Also it wouldn’t matter if that UMD game is saved onto the PC’s hard drive and worry people may “share” it as PSP is already hacked to the max and every game is available easily on the internet or encrypt it for that certain Vita or something.
Awayze
*…..to the PSP’s “Memory Stick”
Kennykazey
If the reader connects to the PS3, and then directly copies the game to a card, then it could be safer, since Sony can also select what’s copy-able from the PS3 they can make them copy-protected if needed. People without PS3’s get screwed, but… as said if the UMD-reader/VCard-writer only get’s it’s power and user interface from the PC and don’t actually transfer any files there, then it’s no problem.
Another idea would be if you connected your PSP to the internets and got a code which when used on the Vita gives you access to the games saved on the PSP.
KeRaSh
Why not add a small screen with an integrated user interface to the UMD ripper and make it attach directly to the Vita so the data never leaves the Sony devices. Encrypt it after ripping it and they are good to go.
hazelam
i wouldn’t mind a umd add on that stays attached and plays games from the umd, no piracy there, and i could get full use of all my umd titles.
maybe datel will come up with something, they’ve released a few psp peripherals, so it’s not a huge leap to speculate they’ll bring something out for the vita.
KeRaSh
I think the costs would be a factor. Wouldn’t third parties have to pay a licence fee to use the UMD technology? Also the UMD drive was a huge battery drain. I wouldn’t want that attached to a Vita that already has a short battery life.
Awayze
Datel cant release an add on pheripheral if the Vita firmware won’t detect the UMD drive, which it won’t and you can’t install 3rd party software on it.
Smallville2106
They haven’t done this for PS2 and PS1 games and people don’t moan. If people want to play old psp games then keep your old psp or buy the game again.
Just like on PS3. If you want to play an old PS1/PS2 game you either have to play it on a PS1/PS2 or buy it again from the store. (If available)
pitbullmern
If i want to play a ps1 game on my ps3 and i own the original i put the disc in snd can play it. same goes for my bc ps3 i can put my ps2 discs i own in there and play so your theory falls flat there.
If i already own it i dont have to rebuy it to play it.
asparagushunter
Nope, you don’t. But then companies don’t have to continually provide backwards compatibility when thee’s already a machine made in the past purpose made for the task.
Smallville2106
Pretty sure that not every PS3 is backwards compatible.
MayContainEvil
I have a 320 gig slim and I can still play PS1 games, and you could play PS1 games on PS2. I get the point you’re making but Sony did used to be good when it came to backwards compatibility, this whole focus on re-buying is a pretty new thing.
cam the man
I only have one or two UMD games that I would want to play on the Vista so it wouldn’t make much difference to me but I expect there are quite a lot of folk that have a lot more UMDs that would benefit from a trade-in scheme.
asparagushunter
Nice idea but I worry about the execution.
bacon_nuts
yeah, probably more hassle than it’s worth for the companies..
NOSAJ19
Personally, I think the PSP digital downloads to people that have already bought them. If you look at the amount of PSP games that I own, do you really think that I would pay to upgrade everyone of them to digital downloads for the PS Vita? NO! All it would take Sony to do is add a mechanic to the PlayStation Store in which it would recognise bar codes. Simple as that!
Sympozium
Heres the catch
Can I download Outrun and Crisis Core? there’s many more I bet that you can’t.