Last night saw my attendance for Destructoid at the Sony PlayStation launch of its Video Download Service in the UK. A very long overdue, Download Service.
The service we were shown was pretty much as expected. Accessed online, you have the option to buy or rent, with costs varying depending on the title. It’s also good to know that the store will be updated frequently (so you would never be far behind on the latest releases), and Sony is offering both high definition or standard definition.
While I can’t say I was blown away with the store on the PlayStation 3; after all it isn’t exactly ground breaking. The PlayStation Portable service did interest me. I have always had that soft spot for my PSP. While the DS is cute, the PSP feels technological, stylist and powerful in comparison. I love the all around media use of the PSP; I can’t watch moves on my DS, and taking a laptop everywhere isn’t always practical.
So having that option — to download the latest movies either to my PS3 and transfer, or directly to the PSP itself and just go — does appeal to me. I could find myself being a customer. There are, of course, a few little problems — I can’t watch HD on the PSP; I own a PSP Slim + Lite with its tiny battery life that mocks me; and of course Sony memory cards are not cheap.
The rentals offered by Sony started at a little over £2, have to be watched in 48 hours, and would be available for 11 days. Not bad for a cheap night in, or for entertainment on the go. Purchased films are yours to keep at roughly the same price as you would pay in the store, but you get to sit on your ass instead.
It feels good to finally see the service available, but it’s disappointing that it took Sony this long to launch in the UK. I always felt that Sony should have had this covered before anybody else. I look at the PS3 and the PSP now and I feel confident in Sony again — they are finally turning into the all around entertainment systems they were designed to be.
As for the launch party? Yeah, I totally didn’t get drunk, break a bed, or make an ass of myself in any way, shape or form. God damn it — I am a professional!
