After Nintendo’s reassuringly progressive DS revelations, Sony’s championing of its PSP console has had less of an impact on the gaming press than it would have hoped. With only a dusting of PSP exclusive games, namely Metal Gear Acid, Death Jr. and PSP Racing, questions surrounding the PSP’s media playback capabilities have taken on a greater importance.
As we reported earlier in the week, the PSP will be compatible with Sony’s Connect music download service, but beyond that, the scope of the UMD is still in doubt. It’s a sure thing that Sony Pictures will opt to release its film catalogue on the format (as expected, Spider-man 2 will spearhead this movement) but other major movie publishers are yet to lend their full support. The upcoming CGI feature Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is the only non-Sony title so far confirmed for release, but to be frank, that’s fairly specific in terms of its target audience.
Sony will have to work hard to ensure that the UMD’s non-gaming potential is exploited to the full. Without a PSP recorder facility, UMD movies will need to be pre-recorded and distributed via the usual retail outlets. This is sure to entail extra costs that many film publishers may not wish to bear. Sony’s Minidisc format experienced similar problems, and has been used almost exclusively for home recording rather than the playback of official releases.
If the PSP is to attract the sales it needs, it will have to reassure consumers that the console’s capacity to reach beyond gaming has sufficient backing from the wider world of media.
As we reported earlier in the week, the PSP will be compatible with Sony’s Connect music download service, but beyond that, the scope of the UMD is still in doubt. It’s a sure thing that Sony Pictures will opt to release its film catalogue on the format (as expected, Spider-man 2 will spearhead this movement) but other major movie publishers are yet to lend their full support. The upcoming CGI feature Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is the only non-Sony title so far confirmed for release, but to be frank, that’s fairly specific in terms of its target audience.
Sony will have to work hard to ensure that the UMD’s non-gaming potential is exploited to the full. Without a PSP recorder facility, UMD movies will need to be pre-recorded and distributed via the usual retail outlets. This is sure to entail extra costs that many film publishers may not wish to bear. Sony’s Minidisc format experienced similar problems, and has been used almost exclusively for home recording rather than the playback of official releases.
If the PSP is to attract the sales it needs, it will have to reassure consumers that the console’s capacity to reach beyond gaming has sufficient backing from the wider world of media.
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Comments
Matt3000 14 May 2004 13:05
1/8
I think the PSP is trying to be too good! The DS has made much more of an impact on me than the PSP and I was open minded - I made a conscious decision to judge the two systems only when I had seen them and read what they did.
Nintendo has definitely secured 1 sale of the DS with myself. I think Nintendo underestimated the impact when they said they would be happy if they only sold a low number of systems.
Go Nintendo!!
Nintendo has definitely secured 1 sale of the DS with myself. I think Nintendo underestimated the impact when they said they would be happy if they only sold a low number of systems.
Go Nintendo!!
Joji 14 May 2004 13:51
2/8
I guess they would be happy, because don't forget the DS is not GBA2, so theres more good stuff to come yet.
Sony are kind of aiming to high with the movie playback. I said before somewhere in this forum that for a company that sell multi region dvd players, which then allow us to import dvds, what makes them think we will all buy into this PSP movie stuff.
Most folk buy dvds, watch them a few times and then put them on the shelf, with the rest of their collection. Films would have to cheap to encourage anyone to not buy the dvd version. After this film censors and ratings have to be passed to get your money back. Ask yourself does honestly this seem worth it? If PSP had an iPod style hard drive, and films were in mpg etc form ,converted from your dvd collection,this might work. But within a system exclusive format like UMD I'm not to sure, GC disks would be more suitable if any media, though I know this won't happen, since I'm sure if films were on them GC disks, instead of games, you could easily run them on any dvd player or pc.
Sony need to remember why they are here in the first place, the same way Nintendo did at E3.
Sony are kind of aiming to high with the movie playback. I said before somewhere in this forum that for a company that sell multi region dvd players, which then allow us to import dvds, what makes them think we will all buy into this PSP movie stuff.
Most folk buy dvds, watch them a few times and then put them on the shelf, with the rest of their collection. Films would have to cheap to encourage anyone to not buy the dvd version. After this film censors and ratings have to be passed to get your money back. Ask yourself does honestly this seem worth it? If PSP had an iPod style hard drive, and films were in mpg etc form ,converted from your dvd collection,this might work. But within a system exclusive format like UMD I'm not to sure, GC disks would be more suitable if any media, though I know this won't happen, since I'm sure if films were on them GC disks, instead of games, you could easily run them on any dvd player or pc.
Sony need to remember why they are here in the first place, the same way Nintendo did at E3.
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btnheazy03 14 May 2004 17:25
3/8
well, that's what happens when you bastardize gaming by mixing it with other forms of media. as stubborn as they may be, nintendo has always stuck to gaming, and gaming alone, which is why i wish for them more success.
almondVanHelsing 15 May 2004 12:26
4/8
Yeah, just like Sony messed up by putting DVD playback into PS2?
At the time, many people bought PS2 just to play DVDs as it was cheaper than a DVD player. Then they started playing PS2 games.
Sometimes mixing media works, otherwise there would not be games for the "office machine" PC.
At the time, many people bought PS2 just to play DVDs as it was cheaper than a DVD player. Then they started playing PS2 games.
Sometimes mixing media works, otherwise there would not be games for the "office machine" PC.
almondVanHelsing 15 May 2004 12:28
5/8
Have you played DS?
I have not, but it seems like an always on map screen is not the future of games. Especially not in 80s style casing!
If you are on the train to work, which will you rather take out?
PSP has easilly the style factor for me.
I have not, but it seems like an always on map screen is not the future of games. Especially not in 80s style casing!
If you are on the train to work, which will you rather take out?
PSP has easilly the style factor for me.
robojimbo 16 May 2004 07:13
6/8
Price is going to play a big role in what sells and what doesn't. PSP's slated $300 price tag won't sit well with many (myself included), especially if it's sitting next to a $150 backwards compatible Nintendo DS.
On that note, I don't see how Nintendo is getting away with saying that the NDS isn't replacing the GBA(SP). NDS does EVERYTHING a GBASP does and more (headphone jack included!) and costs exactly what an SP does now.
On that note, I don't see how Nintendo is getting away with saying that the NDS isn't replacing the GBA(SP). NDS does EVERYTHING a GBASP does and more (headphone jack included!) and costs exactly what an SP does now.
Joji 16 May 2004 13:23
7/8
To mr Hellsing. It's hard to judge DS yet just because you've seen a little screens of maps. Developers left E3
with a new direction that games can be taken, if they are willing to implement it, just having the choices to do something new will be good for everyone. Don't forget the DS also has a microphone and wi-fi to use, with or without the two screens. Voice regonition stuff should be interesting indeed.
I'm sure a lot will put their cards into Sony's ring, because PSP is the safer option. But true pioneering developers will prefer DS, if not making games for both systems.
As for GBASP, I'd expect Nintendo will reduce it's price to keep it selling, until they they decide to phase it out, maybe like what Sony is doing with the PSone at the mo. I know some will feel hard done by, and rightly so, but this is what Nintendo usually do.
One of the things that gets me is the PSP battery life, I heard it was 3 hours or so, compared to DSs' 10 hours. If this is true, it might create problems for (like in the game gears days) Sony. I still think both will do well though.
with a new direction that games can be taken, if they are willing to implement it, just having the choices to do something new will be good for everyone. Don't forget the DS also has a microphone and wi-fi to use, with or without the two screens. Voice regonition stuff should be interesting indeed.
I'm sure a lot will put their cards into Sony's ring, because PSP is the safer option. But true pioneering developers will prefer DS, if not making games for both systems.
As for GBASP, I'd expect Nintendo will reduce it's price to keep it selling, until they they decide to phase it out, maybe like what Sony is doing with the PSone at the mo. I know some will feel hard done by, and rightly so, but this is what Nintendo usually do.
One of the things that gets me is the PSP battery life, I heard it was 3 hours or so, compared to DSs' 10 hours. If this is true, it might create problems for (like in the game gears days) Sony. I still think both will do well though.
almondVanHelsing 17 May 2004 13:01
8/8
Joji wrote:
>To mr Hellsing. It's hard to judge DS yet just
>because you've seen a little screens of maps.
>Developers left E3 with a new direction that
>games can be taken, if they are willing to
>implement it, just having the choices to do
>something new will be good for everyone. Don't
>forget the DS also has a microphone and wi-fi to
>use, with or without the two screens. Voice
>regonition stuff should be interesting indeed.
I'm sue I don't know everything about the DS (I was not in LA), but if wireless is so good, it would have boosted N-Gage sales.
Voice recognition in a hand held? You already get dirty looks and "no mobile phones" signs on trains and busses, what will it be like when we are shouting "no, you fool! Go left and kill the dragon"? :-)
>I'm sure a lot will put their cards
>into Sony's ring, because PSP is the safer
>option. But true pioneering developers will
>prefer DS, if not making games for both systems.
This is a nasty statement, anybody who wants to stay afloat and make money bysupporting the system that will sell more is not "true pioneering"?
>One of the things
>that gets me is the PSP battery life, I heard it
>was 3 hours or so, compared to DSs' 10 hours. If
>this is true, it might create problems for (like
>in the game gears days) Sony. I still think both
>will do well though.
Sony said 2-10 hours, depending on usage. I think accessing the disk is the thing to use more power, so don't watch movies and you have longer battery life!
>To mr Hellsing. It's hard to judge DS yet just
>because you've seen a little screens of maps.
>Developers left E3 with a new direction that
>games can be taken, if they are willing to
>implement it, just having the choices to do
>something new will be good for everyone. Don't
>forget the DS also has a microphone and wi-fi to
>use, with or without the two screens. Voice
>regonition stuff should be interesting indeed.
I'm sue I don't know everything about the DS (I was not in LA), but if wireless is so good, it would have boosted N-Gage sales.
Voice recognition in a hand held? You already get dirty looks and "no mobile phones" signs on trains and busses, what will it be like when we are shouting "no, you fool! Go left and kill the dragon"? :-)
>I'm sure a lot will put their cards
>into Sony's ring, because PSP is the safer
>option. But true pioneering developers will
>prefer DS, if not making games for both systems.
This is a nasty statement, anybody who wants to stay afloat and make money bysupporting the system that will sell more is not "true pioneering"?
>One of the things
>that gets me is the PSP battery life, I heard it
>was 3 hours or so, compared to DSs' 10 hours. If
>this is true, it might create problems for (like
>in the game gears days) Sony. I still think both
>will do well though.
Sony said 2-10 hours, depending on usage. I think accessing the disk is the thing to use more power, so don't watch movies and you have longer battery life!