Sony Ponders PSP-Direct Online Store


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Sony has said it's "definitely thinking about" an eventual PSP-direct PlayStation Store that will cut the PC and PlayStation 3 out of the download equation.

Currently, PSP owners need to use the PlayStation 3 or PC as a gateway to the PlayStation Store, but that’s going to change—we’re just not completely sure when.

When asked if the storefront would eventually be accessible via PSP, SCEA director of PSN operations Eric Lempel told MTV Multiplayer, “Clearly that’s something we’re thinking about. With the capability of the PSP it’s something that should be possible. … It’s just a matter of priorities and some technology that we need to make it all work right and make sure the content is delivered securely, just to protect some of our [intellectual properties]. Yeah, it’s definitely something we’re thinking about.”

Lempel explained that the store launched on PC before PSP because it was simply easier, from both a store navigation standpoint and a technical standpoint.

“We figured we could wait and take longer to develop [the store] just for the PSP, but we wanted to get this out sooner rather than later,” Lempel said. “And also if you look at other space of portable devices, if you look at something like an iTunes, it’s kind of the same thing.”

UMD-originated PSP games available as downloads over the PSN Store include Gangs of London and Wipeout, two games that have been available on UMD for a relatively long time. Lempel added that in order to avoid conflicts with retail partners, digital versions of games would not be released day-and-date with retail's UMD counterparts for the time being.

PSP’s digital distribution capabilities will continue to evolve, but Lempel added that the physical UMD disc and brick-and-mortar retailers will remain a large part of SCEA’s handheld strategy.

"…The retail business is still very important to us. And the UMD business is still doing very well for us and our retail partners… I would say [having a couple full games on PlayStation Store is] a glimpse towards the future. Definitely just by releasing a UMD title in the Store it definitely puts ideas in people’s heads, but no, I wouldn’t categorize this as a shift in business model at this point.”

Source: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=c...20&Itemid=2

Great idea to make PSP games go online (Y)

Dropping the PC/PS3 requirement is nice as well, for those that don't have either.

They are at a good size where the download doesn't stuff your monthly download limit if you have one (I've seen PSP games go from a couple of hundred MB up to 1.4GB which I think is max)

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