SCEA: No exchange option for UMD to digital yet

[mike79]

Honestly, I'm more dissapointed at the lack of games available for download. I know it doesn't come out for a week but I just don't see a ton of games coming next week. I hope I'm wrong. All the games on the store are old.

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by Sylin

Money.

Especially in today's economic climate, and the idea that the biggest demographic of PSP owners is likely young (under 35), with less discretionary income.

Figure that most people who have plans to trade in their PSP are wanting to trade it in FOR the PSP Go.

But instead, they'd need to float the full $250/€250/£199 cost up-front, get their game conversions, and THEN they could try to sell their older PSP or trade it in for credit towards something else. That's lame.

Why not, as you mentioned, just offer a mail-in program? (Which, if you think about it, would give Sony a ton of used UMD's they could then re-sell in their own secondary market, subsidizing the cost of this whole program.)

@caliblue15 - I'm not irate at Sony. I'm disappointed. The SCEE program is not a win-win for Sony and their customers. And the SCEA program is non-existent, which is a lose-lose scenario until something manifests. I see no "good will" here.

Can I have proof that Sony declared they were going to have a program for consumers, instead of just saying they were looking into a way to provide a solution, therefore having Sony backout of what they said previously, because if they only said they were looking into it, its the consumers fault for reading into false pretenses.

[cajmoyper]

A simple Googling of "UMD goodwill program" lists a host of different variations on John Koller's announcing the program right after the announcement of the Go. Engadget's was first up Link

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by cajmoyper

A simple Googling of "UMD goodwill program" lists a host of different variations on John Koller's announcing the program right after the announcement of the Go. Engadget's was first up Link

goodwill program is different than all UMD's being transferable, what they are doing with the 3 free games is a goodwill program....

he said -- there will be a "good will" program by which owners of current disc-based titles will be able to obtain digital copies for use on the PSP Go -- "a set number of titles for a set period of time,

which is exactly what they are doing, 3 free games (for your goodwill of supporting sony) for a limited time.

Sony's John Koller, director of hardware marketing, stated in a recent interview that the company is considering a UMD game trade-in program for PSP Go customers.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/so...go-digital-ve/

Is what most people to refer to of them saying there will be a trade in program. I'm pretty sure the media just twisted it the wrong way, and this was their plan the whole time, since not all the UMD's are for digital download, and when they were going to do it, they can into copyright snags, and could only get the 17 they have now done in time for the PSP Go launch.

Yes this is a fail on Sony's part, but it was never guaranteed that they were going to do it, only they were looking into a solution.

And I'm done with this, as I'm not getting a PSP Go, and its stupid to argue, because its not coming..

[cajmoyper]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

I'll just feel more comfortable with my PSP Go once they start making more announcements to what games will be available on the PSN Store on its release.

This is the same way I feel. I just wonder if the only way to achieve some of the older titles is to have had them on UMD. I can tell you right now, I sold Need for Speed Most Wanted years ago but would absolutely DL it again if it were on the store. The only UMD I have right now is GOW:CoO and I'd expect that one to at least be on there.

[vanishingpoint]

I was going to trade in my 1000 series for the PSPGo, but with all the movies I have on UMD, there goes that idea...

[cajmoyper]

Ok, that's fine and I just did another Google search for John Koller. This time I found that he is the Director of Marketing for SCEA. So these two announcements, while obviously linked, don't necesssarily have anything to do with each other in that Koller doesn't have much to do with SCEE.

I just posted in another thread that after all this whining, I've only got one UMD, and always planned on getting GT PSP when this thing came out. It's just that I did already sell my 3000 and a goodwill plan like the one SCEE has would put a damper on my ever getting a digi dl for that game without selling it and/or rebuying it. The fact is they did announce a program that I'm sure they "hoped" would be in place at this time or shortly after launch and it seems like that's not going to happen.

I knew I shouldn't have trusted them.

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by cajmoyper

Ok, that's fine and I just did another Google search for John Koller. This time I found that he is the Director of Marketing for SCEA. So these two announcements, while obviously linked, don't necesssarily have anything to do with each other in that Koller doesn't have much to do with SCEE.

I just posted in another thread that after all this whining, I've only got one UMD, and always planned on getting GT PSP when this thing came out. It's just that I did already sell my 3000 and a goodwill plan like the one SCEE has would put a damper on my ever getting a digi dl for that game without selling it and/or rebuying it. The fact is they did announce a program that I'm sure they "hoped" would be in place at this time or shortly after launch and it seems like that's not going to happen.

I knew I shouldn't have trusted them.

Nowadays I just don't believe it till I see it, as too many rumors and false promises are made, its just not like how it used to be..

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by vanishingpoint

I was going to trade in my 1000 series for the PSPGo, but with all the movies I have on UMD, there goes that idea...

You can always sell your UMD titles and put that money towards downloading them on the PSN. Granted the total may not be as appetizing as one would like.

[mike79]

I know the goodwill program was not official, but would have been nice. My problem is I have at least 20 umds, none of which are currently on the psn store. So, basically all the psp games I like, I would not be able l play on a psp go. That's my biggest problem right now. I don't want to sell my 3000 because I don't even know if these games will ever be available to download. I just would have thought that they would have made more games available for download by now. So I will have this nice psp go Thursday with a selection of old games. Unless I want gran turismo which I don't. That's what I see as the biggest problem. I know no one is forcing me to buy it and it's my choice. I just think this may be a flop in the US with the way it is being handled.

[AikonEnt]

I'm just not feeling the need to get a PSPGo. I'm not paying £24.99 for a dowload game when I can get the UMD version for less than a tenner (eventually ). The Go might appeal as a media player and for those bite-size games, but for the big games no thanks.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by mike79

I know the goodwill program was not official, but would have been nice. My problem is I have at least 20 umds, none of which are currently on the psn store. So, basically all the psp games I like, I would not be able l play on a psp go. That's my biggest problem right now. I don't want to sell my 3000 because I don't even know if these games will ever be available to download. I just would have thought that they would have made more games available for download by now. So I will have this nice psp go Thursday with a selection of old games. Unless I want gran turismo which I don't. That's what I see as the biggest problem. I know no one is forcing me to buy it and it's my choice. I just think this may be a flop in the US with the way it is being handled.

Well we still do not know what UMD titles will be available for download on Thursday for the US.


Also things can always change, sometimes for better or worse. What may be set in stone one day could change the next. So I wouldn't give up all hope on Sony trying to handle the PSP Go situation. I suggest just being patient and wait to see what the results are next Thursday.

[PA_Kid]

It's disappointing, but I can understand the challenges. I'd love to keep my 3000 but switch everything but my UMD movies to digital (and would be willing to mail in the original UMD if I had to) - but it's not the end of the world to me.

I can understand some early adopters who have already sold their original PSP being justifibly frustrated, but I think if you did that you went into that decision either with your eyes wide open or with very rose colored glasses on.

Personally I just want to see them get past the Go, focus on downloads (through both B&M download cards and the PSN), and lets get to the PSP2.

I understand why they want to take the intermediate step, and I hope it's successful (i.e. most sales either B&M downloads or PSN downloads as opposed to UMD), I just want to get to the end now.

[mike79]

Yeah, I didn't sell my 3000. I would like to and get psn cards or something. I really don't want to have 2 psp's. That's my biggest gripe. The goodwill program, while it would have been great, isn't as big of a deal to me as content available.

On another note, does anyone know when the mini's are supposed to be available.

[Luis_A51]

Sony should have saved themselves the headache and just waited until the PSP2 to sell an all digital device. Atleast then it would be easier to swallow that UMDs are useless with it.

Also Sony better put a lot of thought into how much they charge for PSP games over the PSN. Every time I see PSP games on the PSN they cost MORE than they do retail (and thats not even including sales). I see no reason why those games cant be $3-$5 less than MSRP.

[Musashi]

I'd rather have UMDs anyway. It's nice that DL games won't go out of print, but hard media has always been my preference. Furthermore, I'm especially hoping that the PSP2 will not be a download-only system.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by mike79

Yeah, I didn't sell my 3000. I would like to and get psn cards or something. I really don't want to have 2 psp's. That's my biggest gripe. The goodwill program, while it would have been great, isn't as big of a deal to me as content available.

On another note, does anyone know when the mini's are supposed to be available.

October 1st 2009.

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by partridge

some retailers won't stock it

From what I can tell, very few retailers aren't stocking it and wherever you live, it's not difficult to find the PSPgo.

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

I see no reason why those games cant be $3-$5 less than MSRP.

Unhappy retail is a pretty obvious reason for this.

What publishers need to do (assuming it's possible) is regularly drop the SRP/RRP closer to what retail is selling for so it's always reasonably close.

[Mr.White]

I'm sticking with my old fashioned gray PSP, I like the UMD discs myself. Just my to pennies!

[Sylin]

I have a 3000 with about 10 games on UMD and I love it... no intent of "side-grading" to the Go. Recently put 32gb of memory into my 3000, so I've got room to spare.

What I was hoping for was that Sony would let us mail in our UMD's or proof of purchase and get vouchers for digital downloads. Yes, I have a PSP with a UMD drive, but digital games always seem more nimble. Less load times... less stuff to carry around during travel. It would've been nice to get the digital version as an option for games like GoW: CoO, WipEout and Hot Shots Golf, but I can live with the UMD's.

For future games, tho, getting a digital copy vs. a UMD will strictly be a matter of price for me.

Sony mentioned wanting to have around 300 PSP games available for download by the time the Go ships. Not sure if that's still realistic, but they certainly are ramping up distribution. It's a positive sign.

Unfortunately, the costs still seem high. Just look at Hot Shots Golf 2. You can buy the UMD new for $16, with used copies around $5-10. Last I checked, it was $23 on the PSN Store. Meh. No thanks. Given that there's no printed manual, or case, or overhead, or shipping costs, or manufacturing necessary, there's no reason a digital game should cost MORE than its UMD equivalent, IMO.

Here's a thought: why not make it so you can do a full install of a UMD game? Fast load times. No need to carry the disc.

NIS America is doing a good thing by putting a lot of their digital games on a 50% off sale during October. That's also a great idea, IMO. I hope other publishers follow suit.