It's 'PSP No' for converting old UMD discs
With a sleek new form factor and internal memory instead of an optical UMD drive, Sony's new PSP Go handheld gaming console is a very different animal than the original PlayStation Portable. Naturally, dedicated mobile gamers have been asking what, if anything, could they do with their collections of UMD game and movie discs if they upgrade to the PSP Go.
After initially hinting that current UMD games could be either converted for use on the SSD/Memory Stick-only PSP Go, or physically traded in for a digital download version of the same game, Sony now says that's not in the cards.
"We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time," a Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokesman told gaming news site Kotaku, which also points out that as recently as June's E3 game industry trade show, Sony claimed to have been "looking into programs for owners who have previously purchased UMD titles and want to exchange them for digital versions."
Sony's European arm, however, is at least offering three free PSP Go downloads (from a list of Sony-published titles) to current PSP owners who upgrade to the new model. No similar plan has been announced for U.S. consumers yet, and in fact, Sony told gaming news site IndustryGamers that the company "will not offer a UMD rewards program at this time," owning to what it calls "a dual-platform strategy."
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New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. He hosts the weekly Digital City podcast and the New York edition of Editors' Office Hours. Dan's new album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now. E-mail Dan. 
The PSP GO should have been a next gen handheld so that Sony can have a legitimate reason to only have didgital downloads and say that it wont be backwards compaitble. Then and only then Sony would not be in this mess.
I have made it my mission that every mention of Sony I can find, to remind those who are interested in Sony products to remember that Sony hates you and does not trust you. Sony is the largest contributor to the RIAA and wants nothing more than to screw you, the customer. Remember that the next time you purchase a Sony product!
Ed
Oh, no, I love Sony products. It just depends on what you do with it. It's easy enough to rip a UMD and load the compressed ISO stored on your memory card as if it was a disc in the UMD slot... If you're running custom firmware.
The PSP is a great handheld, it's just Sony's services that aren't letting that hardware fly.
Anyway, did you read the article? "We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time."
Some publishers don't list their games on Sony's download service right now, even though they probably can. A developer/publisher own the rights to the game, not Sony, whose console it runs on. It stands to reason Sony won't be able to let users rip their UMD and convert it into another format without heads up by every publisher.
Anyways, if it's a legal problem, I'm sure that one day there will be a converter or w/e but if right now is not the moment, then it isn't. Plus, a PSP-3000 is still cheaper than the Go and I believe that the games, whether they be on a UMD or as a digital download, will be the same price. I would go for a PSP-3000 but that's just me. The PSP go is more for people who don't like carrying disks around, but at a price. However, back to my original point, I still believe that one day, maybe within the next year or so, Sony will come out with a UMD to digital game and movie converter.
Get a life.
Really? Is that what you think? How is Sony screwing anyone??? They just made a different PSP for people that do not want to use UMDs. How stupid are you people? UMDs have not been phased out. It's an OPTION. Get it?
Lol my bad I just realized that was sarcasm... Oops... I'm a fanboy I get excited easily lol
I have a first generation hand me down PSP, and actually really considered upgrading to a PSPGo for the extra speed and TVout features. I have too many UMDs though that scream to be converted, and the fact that I can't even do that means I have roughly 150 bucks worth of games that will now be worthless if I upgrade.
I can see the PSPGo being awesome for anyone who doesn't own a PSP...but for everyone else just get an extra large storage card if you want your downloadable games. Sony shot themselves in the foot on this one.
You just said you already have a PSP, just keep using it and stop pretending that the sky is falling cuz youre not getting something for nothing.
The real reason people are "outraged" about not being able to rip UMDsto the GO is because they wont be able pirate games or buy cheap used titles.
Sony isnt forcing anyone to buy the PSP Go. Its not even reakky intended for current PSP owners in the first place.
Simple as that.
50 millipn PSP's sold or not, UMD's didn't exactly take off and the most common complaint about the PSP was the UMD. Now that Sony is removing it many of you same people are now complaining about the lack thereof. Make up your minds and stop being hypocrits.
Let me explain:
- You can easily add 16 GB or maybe 64 GB to your existing PSP-3000, just buy a card. My kids' have 8GB at this time but they can be easily upgraded.
- If you download your games you will NEVER be able to sell them as 'used' or at all.
- If you download your games you will NEVER be able to lend them to a friend.
- You won't be able to borrow games from a friend.
- You won't be able to play any of the games you already have on UMDs.
Sony should NOT be encouraged to eliminate the ability of purchasing games on physical media. Buy 3000's and let Sony know why.
The PSPGo deserves to go away.
They are targeting an audience that would prefer not to have to carry their games seperately. It's just an option available for Sony's consumers. They are in fact expanding their market not decreasing it.
[CNET editors' note: Personal attack deleted]
This is why I try to not to argue with stupid people. I really try but sometimes I do anyway and then when they come back with a pointless rebuttle I cringe in regret. I'm going to put it in all caps for - SONY IS NOT TARGETTING CURRENT OWNERS OF THE PSP. THEY ARE TARGETING PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OWN A PSP THAT WOULD PREFER A HANDHELD THAT REQUIRES NO CARTRIDGES. NO OTHER HANDHELD DOES THIS UNLESS YOU COUNT THE IPOD. SONY IS TRYING TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GOING TO IPODS BY OFFERING THIS OPTION.
get it now?
I completely agree that arguing with stupid people is pointless. And this is precisely the reason why this will be my last post to you. I realize they are not targeting owners of the current PSP. They are targeting new users. They are targeting a group who is interested in a no cartridge system. I realize they are trying to take some of the market away from the IPod. The problem is, you can't get it through your thick skull that the PSP-3000 will do the EXACT same thing. It will play downloadable games, just as well as the Go will. And guess what? It's cheaper, a lot cheaper! If I'm an informed consumer, I'd rather go with the device that has the same features for less. Any consumer who will do a little bit of research prior to purchasing the device will realize it's idiotic to purchase the same features for nearly $100 dollars more. And don't use all caps, you wouldn't need to do that if your arguments had any weight.
Lol so you're saying that either way you're giving Sony your money and you are going with the version you prefer because they kept that version around just for consumer's like you? Hmmm
Even if Sony isn't truly targeting existing PSP owners(and I'm still not entirely convinced they aren't), they really had to know some of those people would also be interested in the new one. But they've made it so almost no current owner would "upgrade" unless they really must have a more compact PSP and prefer DRMed downloads.
I don't know if the Go will succeed or not, but even if I were a new buyer, the old PSP seems a better deal just by screen size, physical media(suppose your PSP Go is stolen or lost, do you get to redownload all your games for free?) and also the fact that Pro duo cards are cheaper than M2 cards, at least online. I really don't know why they insisted on using M2 cards which are expensive. At least Pro duos have come down in price online. By comparison, the Go seems like an expensive option all the way around over the standard PSP IMO.
I did trade my DS for an iPod Touch. It does what I want it to do, keeps me occupied for small amounts of time.
I meant real gamers who own DS' and PSP's.... not people who buy them to be fashionable lol
Arguing on the internet is like the special Olympics. Even if you win, your still a retard.
That is comparing apples and oranges. VHS to DVD was a generation change, not to mention VHS was an open standard in the end, it wouldn't be ONE company's responsibility to provide the conversion options; it would be the responsibility of the film studio. In fact, several film studios DID offer trade in deals.
The UMD is NOT an open standard and is still controlled by Sony, so it would be solely Sony's responsibility to provide that service. And, this is not a generation change; it is the same platform just in a smaller package. They should offer a service that allows you to send your games and get them converted for a small fee. But to tell them that you are sol for your entire game library is completely asinine.
And secondly if it was the film studio's responsibility like you said, why wouldn't it be the game developer's responsibility to offer the free digital version of a game? You are contradicting yourself.
Stupid consumers are treated like morons by the likes of Sony and Apple into giving up their ownership rights over the software they purchase and they should own and do with it as they please, including selling it as used or buying used copies.
Maybe they are treated like morons because they act like morons. Oh... gee whiz... downloadable crap... wow... it's so modern.
Stupid, isn't it?
PSS
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Use absorbent in a Sentence
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?adjective 1. capable of absorbing heat, light, moisture, etc.; tending to absorb.
?noun 2. something that absorbs: Tons of high-powered absorbents were needed to clean up the oil spill.
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Please get a dictionary before your next post. lol
If the the PSP GO would be a totally different unit with a different core engine , I would accept not to be able to convert them (like switching from PSP 2 to 3 for example). But in that case , this does not make any sense. It is like if Sony is trying everything they can to make it difficult for us to buy the new model.
If you buy a downloaded movie, you are stupid and you give up your ownership rights.
If you buy a downloaded game you are stupid and you give up your ownership rights.
If you buy a downloaded book you are stupid and you give up your ownership rights.
If you buy a downloaded song you are stupid and you give up your ownership rights.
Sony, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft are conning you and brainwash you into believing that you are advanced and sophisticated consumers while, in fact, all they do is milk your wallet, over and over again.
Vote with your wallet and don't go for these cons. Non-disk, solid state, pirate-proof, uncopyable distribution media - like memory cards - are okay. Buying DRMed files that you can't buy or sell used, lend it to your friends, or borrow from your friends is stupid in the n-th degree. And those who go with Apple's cons vs. Sony's cons are as stupid as everyone else who falls for these schemes.
Let me see if I can feed it to you slowly enough for you to process it:
Assume we're friends we both have iPods or PSPGos. Could I borrow one of your songs or one of you games? Can you sell yours to me or on eBay? I rest my case.
Is this an 'option'? Not exactly. The idiots who encourage this with their downloads have been brainwashed by 'the industry' into believing that this is 'the future'. It probably is, but it is so because there are so many dumbed-down consumers who don't know when to say 'no' and, every time they are conned they are so afraid of looking uncool, they ask for more.
Question: what happens to your DRMed iPod crapware if your grossly overpriced Pod breaks and you switch to Zune? Oh, I forgot, you can do it, ILLEGALLY, using some illegal DRM-ripping software.
See how STUPID and ABSURD it gets?
First, you have the traditional physical goods model, where you own a single copy of a work, and can re-sell that physical item at-will, with no impact on the underlying IP rights to the work itself..
Second, your have the download model, where you essentially license the right to use a piece of content, rather than owning a physical copy of it. While perpetual, this license is not transferable.
Obviously, the first model has some advantages for the end-user, including that very important re-sale of the physical product, but the second offers a lot of new flexibility as well (think of how Steam lets you re-download content onto any machine you're logged from your account).
Here's another question to ponder -- when books go all digital/Kindle, who's going to donate their old books to the local community library?
Dropping the Gameboy slot is just saying the DS is no longer BC. Just like the PS3, and there where complaints about Sony for doing that, including one from me. Now if you want to compare the DS to the PSP then you can say that DSi will be DL only any you can?t use you old DS cartridges, which would be the same for the PSP and the PSP GO. Thank fully that has not happened. But we don?t know what?s going to happen with the PSP. Sony has not said what they will ultimately do to the UMD. Or if they will still sell PSP-x000 along with PSP GO together. All we know now is that you can buy a PSP GO that will not have UMD and the PSP-3000 that does have the UMD. Both will be able to DL games. Everyone stop calling other people stupid, because we do not know the future. Hopefully Sony is able to get the Legal situation straightened out so that we can turn our old UMD's into digital format, but yet still keep the physical copy.
Sigh. So what's your complaint again? Sony is offering the first STRICTLY handheld gaming system and you complain??? They are offering people with the original PSP the same services as before but they just wanted to give consumers another option. Just like you can get a shuffle, nano, or IPOD touch. Different versions for different people. How simple minded are you that you can't see that??? You all are just so ready to condemn Sony that you can't even see that instead of waiting for the next handheld they opted to offer this new versatile way of gaming for it's present consumers. How can you be angry about that???? Just admit you're an idiot and move on and never comment about anything gaming ever again.
Its simple.... if you don't like it, don't buy it. You can continue to play with your current PSP.
When the PSP first came out with UMDs, EVERYONE complained about their limited capacity (1.3GB) and the fact that there was no UMD burner available at the time.
Apple came out with their App Store for digital downloads, and now when someone else tries to do the same thing, everyone's complaining? (NO, I am NOT an Apple fanboy, and do not own an iPhone or iPod touch)
My only real problems with the PSP Go are:
- why do they have to change the memory card to YET ANOTHER proprietary format? Wasn't the Memory Stick Pro Duo expensive enough?
- their control layout could be better - a second joystick...is that too much to ask? Not to mention that control pad looks CRAMPED.
- if their new PSP is for use with digital downloads ONLY from their Playstation Store, what about countries in which it is not available? I live in the Caribbean, where Apple's app store is unavailable, and my PS3 has been unable to connect to it...why should I even bother, Sony?
- by C_G_K September 28, 2009 7:39 PM PDT
- I knew Sony and Micro$oft would eventually go this route. There is a hidden agenda here. Now your ownership of a game will be limited to having a downloaded copy and no physical media. I'm sure they hate that people can buy and sell used games as this cuts into profits. So years from now when your system dies, your whole library which you paid handsomely for will go with it. My son still plays SNES games, but will Sony still be operating the download system for the Go even 10 years from now? Doubtful, and what constraints and limitations will they arbitrarily put on your use of the game you purchased (but don't physically posses)? Make no mistake about it, this is a disaster for consumers!
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- by viper396 September 29, 2009 9:58 AM PDT
- What does this have to do with Microsoft? The last I check Microsoft has no intention of removing the DVD-Drive from the 360 and still sells alot of physical media. Nobody is required to download games from Xbox live especially since the arcade 360 package doesn't even come with a harddrive.
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- by C_G_K September 29, 2009 1:12 PM PDT
- @ viper396
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- by Jawknee1 September 30, 2009 9:41 AM PDT
- digital downloads will simply be another option. Just like Mp3s. I own and iPod and use it everyday but that doesnt mean i dont buy CDs anymore. I buy a CD and rip it onto my iPod. The Go is no different. Eventually Sony will have a conversion program in place and all wil be well. The UMD haters will have their all digital device and those who like to have an option will have our option. You nerds need to relax. theres more important things to argue about then what Sony plans to do with their products.
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (93 Comments)This is going to be curtains for stores like EBGames who thrive on the used game trade.
I hope consumers give products like this where you will never actually own anything physical a pass. My hope is for a consumer revolt. I doubt Nintendo will try this, and they should benefit from Sony's stupidity.
The PSP has a Memory stick slot where you can store, add, and remove games you download. Save them to there and you would never have to download them again. God forbid it occurred to you to buy more then one memory stick. The memory stick can even be backed up to computer. Even if the Sony servers do go down you don't need an internet connection to continue playing those games. That's the way it works today with the current PSP and games downloaded from Sony's network, the PSP Go isn't going to be any different in that respect.
You're obviously just doing alot of blabbering without actually thinking about it. The only "hidden agenda" is the one you've conveniently made up to suite your bogus assumptions.
Are you kidding? You can't legally copy PSP games onto a memory stick, you can only save game data onto a memory stick. You can copy games onto your memory stick if you have hacked firmware which of course is not legal.
What recourse am I left with when Sony eventually decides to terminate their download service? What am I left with? Zip, Zilch, Nada.
Why shouldn't I be allowed to buy and sell used games? I can sell my car, I can sell a book or any of my other possessions, why not a video game? This is just an attempt by Sony to give you very limited legal rights to your purchase, and I say no thanks, and I think many others will to.
I've spent thousands of dollars buying legal copies of new games, so I don't have to apologize to anyone about not supporting the gaming industry (and I am a software engineer myself)