"Hi, we're Sony. We're going to make an all-digital PSP that costs lots of money and has no reason to exist, then take a totally hands-free approach and redirect all complaints to developers and publishers when consumers find out we've wasted their money," admitted Sony, in a perfect world. "We're making a habit of not fully supporting our own technology, releasing fabulous hardware that we've essentially self-sabotaged out of a subconscious fear of success."
A number of PSP games, such as Undead Knights, are only available in UMD format, despite having been released weeks ago. Recent titles like Half-Minute Hero are already on store shelves, but won't be hitting the PlayStation Network until after the physical launch. What this essentially means is that PSPgo users have been screwed out of getting games in a timely fashion, or even some games at all. Sony's response? It shrugs and says, "S'not our fault."
"It's up to individual third parties to decide if and when to publish their UMD releases on PSN. Most, if not all, are on board, as this is a revenue opportunity for them," says Sony's Eric Lempel. That's pretty much all he says on the matter, as if that's enough for PSPgo owners who want to play videogames.
Welp, it's not enough. It's all very well for Sony to claim that PSP Minis pricing and PSN releases are outside of its jurisdiction, but the platform holder needs to grow a pair and take charge, because this laid back approach is undermining the PSP. It's downright pathetic that the latest, most expensive PlayStation Portable cannot have full access to the system's library or play certain games when they launch, and for Sony to simply pass the buck is shameful.
Sony could easily start making decisions here, but it's not. This half-hearted and lazy form of product management is what's keeping Sony behind.
Contest:
1:20 PM on 10.16.2009
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I think I may have had that Chip(or was it Dale?) toy.
Meanwhile, consumers can also chart their own course and get a PSP-3000 instead of a worthless PSPvGo. So, what's the big deal?
Sony, you've played me a sucker. *Grr*
Why do I have to pay tax on PSN? Pisses me off to get 2 $20 cards, and have to spend $34 on a download.
I disagree, obviously. Sure, Microsoft is way too overbearing and controlling, but Sony's gone in pretty much the opposite direction. Sony doesn't need to be an ironfisted dictator, but it needs a few "my house, my rules" policies to ensure that the PSPgo is actually worth something.
Simply putting the PSPgo out there and saying "deal with it" has been a dreadful strategy. Hell, it's not even a strategy.
See? Sony are really looking out for the consumer in the end, just not so much if you bought a PSP Go.
First was the recent blocking of CFW PSPs to the PSN store - a decision that will undoubtedly reduce sales there over the coming month(s), and now this.
Yet again, they're doing the competitions work for them. Utterly senseless.
Not really sure why this is an issue, except for employees and stockholders of Sony. I'm neither.
Nah I think you're right, it's Chip :)
Oh and @xianlinstyle
Japanaland? Really?
Maybe Sony likes it from behind....
dear diary - today I learned that first adopters of new technology are very often screwed raw.
platforms for games, being an incredibly notorious example.
You are a troll AND a fucking idiot. Now instead of telling you why, I am simply going to leave it at that.
Out.
Dale has the red nose and two teeth. Chip has a black nose and one tooth.
I don't get Sony they always blame others, when the developers (3rd party mostly) blame them. I suspect that it's mostly Sony. They could as Jim stated put down a few more rules to live by and have created a better experience.
That said, I have to agree with the earlier statement that if games came out on PSN first, then maybe things wouldn't be so bad. Just, it's so heavy-handed the way that it's being handled. For the GO being touted as the logical end to the UMD format, it's not doing a very good job of drawing us away from it. =\
And as someone who covers video games I would hope that he has the very hardware and software that he's bashing. If that wasn't the case you'd probably call him out on that. So there really is no winning with you people, is there?
now you could make an argument that they shouldn't allow any games to be licensed unless they are released at the same date on umd and psn, but that won't affect old releases.
Now as for this, great subject Jim. You hit it right on target on this article that places Sony accountable for not thinking this completely through OR, remember that statement they mentioned a while back? That they did say they were going to find a way to transfer UMD to digital for PSPGo users? well they backed up and now they will pay the price with pure red hot flaming blogging FURY!
What is wrong with you? Why aren't you acting like a normal rational adult?
Also, You don't think sony has any say in what games are made for their platform? Wake up kiddy.
My problem with PSN isn't that PSP games are lacking, they're getting up there slowly but surely, its that they can throw up 100 or 7 UMD Legacy games a week, and then only put up ONE freaking PSOne game and its another fucking Tomb Raider.
I don't know how you can get SE to clear PSX Final Fantasy Tactics and FFVII, but not the UMD version of FFT:War of the Lions, Crisis Core, the reversions of FF and FFII and the PSOne FFVIII and FFIX. Metal Gear Solid, but not Portable Op, Portable Ops Plus or the Ac!d games? I don't think SE and Konami execs are really sitting there going, "Oh, I don't know about making these available on PSN..."
I think Sony has some of this stuff ready but just sits on it and releases it arbitrarily.