Sony Computer Entertainment has unveiled information on the UMD Passport program, which allows PlayStation Portable owners to re-download their games on the PlayStation Vita for a reduced cost. Details for the program apply to the Japanese market, but hopefully a similar (or better) solution will be available globally.
PSP owners will have to download a program, insert their UMD games into their system, and connect to the PlayStation Store. Once this is done, a downloadable version of their (participating) game will be available on the Vita for ¥500 to ¥2,400 (roughly $6.50 to $30). An initial list of participating publishers and games was posted by Sony but, again, this applies to the Japanese market.
I like that Sony is rewarding its PSP customers with this program. I also expect many gamers to bitch about having to re-purchase their games. The reality is that there was no easy solution for this “problem”. No matter what Sony did, it was going to get dinged. I see it as a, “Hey, they’re trying!” situation.
What do you think of the UMD Passport program for PlayStation Vita? Is Sony doing its best to reward loyal customers? Or is it double dipping?
I'll bitch just to bitch…that is so damn stupid. By inserting the UMD you show ownership but get charged to download the same game. This is why ppl use torrents.
I agree with the people who are going to be bitching. If I'm showing you ownership by connecting to your network with my UMD game then the first one should be free and that any additional downloads should be charged.
First one's free? You want Sony to follow the crack-cocaine model?
Yeah why not? Other than getting a discount there really isn't any benefit for me owning the game and continuing to show my loyalty to Sony by wanting to transfer a game I owned from a previous system to a new one.
I say "Don't bite the hands that feed you". They didn't actually HAVE to do anything, but they feel obligated to do SOMETHING. This is the alternative to buying everything over again. Besides, if I were to do this, I would only buy maybe 3-4 of my old games over again because I now know just how much fun each one is. I know the game now, so I can choose better. Also, this leaves more options open for me to buy new Vita games, rather than worry about my old library.
This is a good offer from a company that didn't have to offer anything. You don't see people complaining about buying their GBA and N64 games over again on Nintendo's 3DS very often. Why complain here? Just keep the old system if it means that much to you.
That's the point. If Sony did nothing, people were going to complain. People are complaining about this solution. The only way it would have been fine is if it were completely free, which is somewhat unreasonable. Service and support for this solution costs Sony and its third-party publishers money. I'm not saying this is the best solution possible, but it's better than nothing.
I think a better solution should have been implemented whenever they released the PSPgo.
If they had incorporated that, the PSPgo might have actually done well. Then again, if it did well, would we be seeing a PS Vita in the media, or a Go 2? That sorta makes me glad it didn't work out.
Unfortunately for them the bad decisions and pussyfooting with that system and distribution model have put me in a not likely to buy state of mind. Granted I think the hardware shows promise with the touch back and PS3 connectivity but I do not trust them because of the Go fumble.