Dave Perry challenges Sony on PSP2 rumours

NewsPosted 03/03/2009 - 1:40pm GMT

Wants confirmation that Sony will stick with the UMD format.

There's been a lot of rumours flying around regarding a new iteration of the PSP and PSP 2. High on the list of rumoured features is the lack of a UMD drive, with a downloadable software library thought to be the replacement.

Vocal video game veteran Dave Perry, of Earthworm Jim and MDK fame, firmly believes the next PSP will drop UMD, having publicly said as much on his Twitter account. The latest development has seen Perry challenge SCEA's John Koller, director, hardware marketing, calling for confirmation that the PSP2 will feature UMD.

"John Koller is publicly questioning my post about PSP 2. So I confirmed with Top PSP 2 developers," twittered Perry. "John, state that PSP 2 WILL have UMD."

While it's unlikely we'll hear anything official from Sony any time soon, rumours suggest an E3 2009 PSP announcement is on the cards.

Is it time for Sony to drop UMD in favour of digital distribution? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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RecoN

I have to say it, but UMD is utter pointless. Think about it, what uses UMD besides the PSP? NOTHING!!!! But most things have memory cards such as PC's and the very first breed of PS3's (Yes Sony your dumbass's for dropping the mem card slots on the newer PS3's)

Think about it, connect your PSP2 to the internet and download a game, or download it on your PS3 and play it anywhere from the PS3 to your PSP2. I meen you can even buy 16gb mem cards now and thats over 3x as much data as a DVD disk. I think this would make sense for Sony to do this, it will definately give them an advantage over the DS.

The next step is digital distribtuion and its easyily accessible in todays world. Yes its going to be a pain in the ass when it comes to backwards compatibility but who cares, those who have a PSP should keep the damn thing then, those who dont have one, dont need to worry about it. Hope the graphics are better than the first PSP

Oh and just a thought, could anyone imagine Sony announcing at E3 a Blu-ray version of the UMD disk. its a chance, with Dave Perry confirming there is a UMD drive, but wouldnt mention it of course. ;)

Posted 21:27 on 03 March 2009

pblive

GlitcH is right about BC (though it didn't seem to bother Sony with the PS3 :)) but they could start again from scratch and use Memory sticks, which I think would be better in some respects but even more open to piracy.

Then they'd just make the older games downloadable either through the online PSN for PSP which actually works quite well and already has a fair few games available, or perhaps by sending in your PSP bar code and getting the game on a memory stick for a small fee (though this may prove too costly).

Since Nintendo are doing away with GBA compatibility in the DSi Sony might follow suit and decide it's enough of a benefit to take the hit in removing UMD altogether.

Posted 15:32 on 03 March 2009

CrustyJockStrap

If they made UMD a more useable format like in walkmans, and/or a stand alone UMD movie/music player the format could have taken of a lot more with better options for PSP 2

Posted 15:23 on 03 March 2009

GlitcH

Think about backwards comp with PSP1 games, they'd lose way to much of their previous library of games to drop umd. With the newer releases of PSP having TV connectivity, and so on it would seem like a silly move. If it's not broken don't fix it.. also having a online library of games would limit those (believe it or not some people don't have broadband) without wireless connectivity.

And a 3G service would have to come with a fee if introduced, like having a mobile contract.

Posted 15:18 on 03 March 2009

Rickitis

There is no way on earth the PSP2 will have UMD as the format has been a huge reason for problems with the original PSP. Firstly the load times for some games such as Pro Evolution Soccer and other sports titles are ridiculously long. This is a huge reason the format will get ditched especially when you consider this is a portable gaming device and should therefore be good and short gaming bursts. Secondly the UMD drive drains the battery due to the constant movement of the UMD disc reading the data.

From Sonys perspective it makes no sense at all to include the UMD in the next iteration of the PSP. Although I personally prefer having the actual game on some kind of physical way rather than a download, for a portable device it doesnt seem as important. Sony will look at the popularity of the iPhone and copy many features from that (such as touch screen.) For the PSP 2 I do expect games to still be released in a physical format, possibly releasing a game directly on a Memory Stick instead.

Posted 13:50 on 03 March 2009