[46480]

Hey everybody!

I was reading this interesting article on kotaku.

John Davison, chief of WhatTheyPlay and studier of all things iPhone believes the PSPgo is going to make PSP gamers re-think what they're willing to spend on games.

PSPgo, as we learned at E3, is a no-disc version of the PSP coming this October 1, one that will require gamers to download their games. Among the games people will be able to download will be full-sized games that would normally be released on disc for the system at standard PSP game prices: $20- $40.

But in the world of the iPhone, customers have become accustomed to buying games cheaply, and have seen game prices stay low, with few exceptions.

So what's going to happen if people bring iPhone App Store pricing expectations to the PSPgo?

It really got me thinking.

You see, prices of games on the appstore ranges from 0.99 to 10 or 12 dollars I think.
Now don't come telling me that it's a damn phone with no buttons, you can't hide the fact of the success of it and that the appstore is helping change the game industry.
Also inside that pile of apps and games, there are some really good ones like Rolando and others that justify their price.

So I wonder what Sony plans to do on their game pricing because consumers expect low prices from those downloadable games?

If Sony plans to get more customers, they should really take this into consideration.

Can you imagine the success of Patapon for the iphone at 6 or 10 dollars?

 

[Cid Highwind]

PSP games are bigger than the general iPhone game I guess. You don't see games like God of War and Monster Hunter on an iPhone. The problem is that for some reason these companies don't understand the concept of lower prices -> more sales. Yes, there will be less profit per unit, but since it's digital you don't have any production costs, just R&D, so there's no variable costs at all when you sell more units.

 

[Typhoon 01]

Patapon was released for 19.99 US on PSN, i think that it's great of great value. I don't own an iPhone and can't comment on games that are on the AppStore, but is there anything there that provides an experience as deep as Patapon?
I think having full fledged releases on PSN between 20-30 usd is OK.
It's funny that people complain for paying 20-30 US for a full game but will buy Guitar Hero or Rock Band tracks for 2-3 US.

 

[Cid Highwind]

We still have to pay €40 for Patapon, IF we can find it at all

No wonder Sony doesn't like importing, they'll lose their life support.

 

[Typhoon 01]

Why don't you just get a US PSN account? I have and i just buy PSN cards on eBay.

 

[Paratech]

I think having full fledged releases on PSN between 20-30 usd is OK.
It's funny that people complain for paying 20-30 US for a full game but will buy Guitar Hero or Rock Band tracks for 2-3 US.

I think that people are used to buying digital downloads of music and if the music helps them enjoy Rock Band or Guitar Hero more, more power to them.

There are times I question if it was a good idea trading in Rock Band from my PSP, perhaps it would have been better to give it a whirl and see if I liked it, after all branching out and growing is important for gamers, and is it really a good idea to keep buying the same game (i.e., Neo Geo games) for every system (PS2/Wii/PSP) that I own?

As far as pricing, if I can get the UMD version at the same price as the download, I'll buy the UMD version. I prefer hard copies of games over virtual versions. I did pay $23.99 for Left 4 Dead, but it was a rare decision.

 

[Ignis]

Pretty much every time I've compared, the UMD versions of PSP games are cheaper to buy. Sony's business model is way too dinsosaur if you ask me.

They should just stay out of the downloadable games business completely and stop embarrassing themselves at this rate.

We still have to pay €40 for Patapon, IF we can find it at all

No wonder Sony doesn't like importing, they'll lose their life support.

You guys do get massively over charged by Sony, but those crazy taxes you have aren't helping any.

 

[46480]

I think that people are used to buying digital downloads of music and if the music helps them enjoy Rock Band or Guitar Hero more, more power to them.

There are times I question if it was a good idea trading in Rock Band from my PSP, perhaps it would have been better to give it a whirl and see if I liked it, after all branching out and growing is important for gamers, and is it really a good idea to keep buying the same game (i.e., Neo Geo games) for every system (PS2/Wii/PSP) that I own?

As far as pricing, if I can get the UMD version at the same price as the download, I'll buy the UMD version. I prefer hard copies of games over virtual versions. I did pay $23.99 for Left 4 Dead, but it was a rare decision.

I wonder why do you do that Paratech.
I mean do you get any sort of upgrade when buying the same neo geo games, graphic update, new mods, etc.
In my case I would just buy them for the console that I have the best controller. I think that the PS2 versions is great for the fighting games.

 

[Paratech]

I wonder why do you do that Paratech.
I mean do you get any sort of upgrade when buying the same neo geo games, graphic update, new mods, etc.
In my case I would just buy them for the console that I have the best controller. I think that the PS2 versions is great for the fighting games.

The PS2 version so I can eventually "legally" play it on my PC, the Wii to pad the library and get some good 2 player games, the PSP for when I'm doing laundry, or if I get hospitalized again, like when I had my open heart surgery, I had my DS with me, and when I visit my mother during the holidays.

Yeah, PSP downloads for the PSP games is ridiculous, but $9.99 for Final Fantasy VII, and $5.99 for other Playstation games isn't bad, although I wish I could rip the 70+ PSX CDs I own. Why should I have to repurchase games to get digital images?

 

[46480]

That's a lot of versions.
But you have your reasons.

Another good side is that your keeping devs pockets happy by supporting them.

 

[runawayprisoner]

A PSP app store would totally own... at least it'll be an official alternative to homebrews. I mean... if Sony can't exploit the homebrew success of the old PSP line then they might well throw away the PSP GO and go make the PSP2.

Also pricing is a concern obviously... Hopefully Sony really allows this.

 

[Paratech]

That's a lot of versions.
But you have your reasons.

Another good side is that your keeping devs pockets happy by supporting them.

Yeah, I get legal emulation and they make money off the sale.

There are a few games that will never be commercially emulated that I'd like to have legally, i.e. Chinese Hero, Zwackery, the Glob, Crazy Kong Orca, Crazy Climber, but one can dream...

:innocent:

 

[Cid Highwind]

Why don't you just get a US PSN account? I have and i just buy PSN cards on eBay.

I'm no fan of downloadable games, I prefer hard copies. I cherish my boxart too much It simply doesn't have any value to me, if it's digital only I simply don't care about it. PSP games I prefer to pick from the shelf, pop in and play. It's a novelty ritual, just like blowing NES cartridges. Besides, if I have to go through such a hassle they really give me the idea that they don't even want me to buy their stuff in the first place.

Yeah, PSP downloads for the PSP games is ridiculous, but $9.99 for Final Fantasy VII, and $5.99 for other Playstation games isn't bad, although I wish I could rip the 70+ PSX CDs I own. Why should I have to repurchase games to get digital images?

Wasn't there an app for it, Popstation or so? I remember making my own PSP versions? I definitely won't be paying twice for a game I already own, it's bloody emulation, so there's always workarounds. Though you may need to have a "helped" PSP.

 

[46480]

Yes there are a lot of apps floating around that let you backup your psx game into a psp compatible iso.

 

[46480]

A little update on this topic.

Source: Kotaku,

Today at Sony's Gamescom 2009 press conference the company introduced PSP Minis, a range of smaller, cheaper downloadable games for the PSP and PSP Go.

Minis, which we touched on briefly last week, will be showing up in their own special section of the PlayStation Store come October 1st, giving PSP owners smaller-sized games at a lower price, perfect for the UMD-less PSP Go. Titles in the Minis section will all be limited to 100MB or less, meaning you can pack quite a few in between your full PSP titles.

Fifteen titles will be available for purchase when the Minis section launches in October, with Sony expecting at least fifty titles by the end of the year. Confirmed for release are Fieldrunners, Puzzle Scape, Alien Havok, Sudoku, Pacman Championship Edition, Championship Manager, Burn Zombie Burn 2D, Funky Punch, Breakquest, and Melody Bloxx.

The press release doesn't list prices, but we expect each will be below $10, if not much cheaper.

I also read that Sony is trying to draw appstore developers to release their games for the psp, there are confirmed iphone games coming to psp like fieldrunners.

 

[|-xA-|]

I still don't see how people with internet caps or slow download speeds will download whole psp games..

 

[46480]

They will surely implement some sort of pause and resume function to the downloads.

And the new Minis will mostly be 100MB tops.

 

[Noja87]

people with caps and slow net just got owned. Nice way to get more customers sony.

 

[|-xA-|]

people with caps and slow net just got owned. Nice way to get more customers sony.

Well they can live off minigames

It'd be cool if real stores could download games you buy straight to your psp. Hackers will probably find a way to use that though.

 

[46480]

It's the same thing as the iPhone Noja and you don't see people complaining.
There are enough customers to justify that decision.