Sony's upcoming next generation portable system, codenamed NGP, does not have a UMD drive. So what happens to the PSP's backlog, which is still largely UMD-only? Gigazine quizzed Sony Computer Entertainment on the issue.
Sony first reiterated that it's currently working with third parties to release past UMD titles on the PlayStation Store. This, it should be noted, is actually something that's been going on since the PSP go's release. If you view our release calendar, particularly the recent releases category, you'll see downloadable versions of old PSP games pop up every now and then, usually without prior announcement.
*Joining the downloadable re-releases, Sony told Gigazine that it has plans to release PSP games on NGP's new card-based format. This is something that was not mentioned at last week's press conference. Sony's statement did not elaborate.
Even with all the rerelease plans, Sony noted that due to rights issues, it's possible that some games will end up not being playable on NGP at all.
If you have a library of UMD games already, will you need to rebuy your collection either on NGP cards or via PSN? In response to this, Sony says that it's currently investigating the various possibilities and has nothing to announce at present. There are currently no plans to offer a "UMD Reader" device.*
I'd really LOVE if they found a workable solution for those owners who have physical copies (UMD) to play the games on NGP without having to rebuy each title (aside from just purchasing the DD version from now on =\). I think a 'mail-in' program would be too daunting of a task (mail in your PSP version, get a NGP version mailed back) and I'm wondering if there is a way to register the copy of the game (like we do with hardware here and some other titles) to give you access to a DD version. We'll see how this goes but I kind of seeing this going the way of 'Buy the DD version or rebuy it on NGP format'.
Also wondering if the NGP re-releases would come with any DLC on the card too...?
I had about 8 UMD games when I sold my 2000 and got the PSP Go. I still have a few UMDs that are for sale on craigs list, ebay, etc...
this was the same response that they gave about getting PSP Go owners to get their UMDs on the Go, and nothing came of it. I doubt we will see anything change for getting UMD games on the NGP.
Luckily for me, since getting the Go, all my games are from the PSN store, so I can just re-download them to my NGP.
I seriously doubt Sony will do anything for people with UMDs, when they could just get more money from people buying the games again.
Re-releases huh? Well, I suppose they'd appeal to the crowd who want to be able to play their favourites on their ngp or psp2, as well as those looking to play some of the older titles that they missed, but devs will have to provide the ngp version of games originally on psp with some extra content to get everyone else interested. I think these versions could at least include all the dlc, and if there's trophy support so much the better. But a little extra content that previous releases didn't have might also be a good idea. Possible upscaling?
Regardless, I don't think it's in Sony's best interest to provide a means to transfer umd games to an ngp, when they can get people to buy those games again in another form, whether phyical or digital(I'm sure there'll be both). All I know is I'm keeping my 3000. I may get a ngp eventually, but I highly doubt I'll be picking one up right away. Not likely in the first year of its release anyways. But who knows what the future holds? It does look like an amazing device. Whether or not a handheld system like that will have a long battery life(despite Sony's comments on the matter), or provide a lot of adequete portable type games for quick sessions here and there remains to be seen. In fact, this is a device I'll have to see in retail first, before I could judge it in general.
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