Data shows Vita's missing backward compatibility could cost Sony sales

Ars Technica were perfectly ready to speculate wildly on that very topic, but it turns out there's no need. Someone has actually crunched the numbers and tried to develop a statistical model to show just how valuable backward compatibility is for a portable system's overall market share. And the results show that Sony just might pay a price for its decision to ignore all the UMD owners out there.

[Mikhail]

If you go all digital, it functions the same way as iDevices. PSminis and PSP titles can be redownloaded for free.

[KeybladeMaster]

The only two games I really cared about on the PSP was Birth by Sleep and Crisis Core and they aren't on the PS Store.

I signed this pention a few days ago and it needs more signatures if Square will take it seriously: http://www.change.org/petit...

[Mikhail]

I love those games too. I just wish Sony would force Square but I doubt that would happen. They are pretty lenient with 3rd party.

[f789790]

Again, I'll promote hacking your device when it's possible.

I was able to play FF7 on my PSP a year before it was sold on the PS store. It played just fine and the battery life was insanely high.

This gen I'll be hacking my Vita and putting iso files of my PSP games onto it.

[darthv72]

the ability to play older titles is a bonus. This device is about moving games forward not back although I do like the idea of being able to play my existing psn games on it that i already have on my psp go.

The loss of umd support isnt that huge when you think that if you have umd's you obviously have a device that can play them. Since getting the GO i havent the need to play my umd collection as much.

I do get feel for popping in powerstone collection or metal slug anthology from time to time but the go has the games i play most right now.

[Soldierone]

Trying to find a good for sure answer. So ALL downloaded PSP titles will work on the Vita right?

I plan on buying a bunch of them since I missed so many when I sold my PSP.

[f789790]

I heard something about compatibility issues with some but Sony is working on it. All big titles are pretty much guaranteed to work on launch day.

[Knushwood Butt]

Almost all from what I can tell.

I have the digital version of SNK Arcade Classics, which for some reason (presumably emulation issues) is not possible to copy over to my Vita, but that's the only one I'm personally aware of.

To be honest though, what with the Vita full games and demos I have, I really haven't played any PSP stuff on my Vita bar about 30 minutes of Peace Walker.

[rexbolt]

ACULLY psp gaes cant be redownloaded for free theres a fee of 12 dollers if im not istaken or was it 5

[Neko_Mega]

Zero fee, I have redownload my stuff more then ten times.

I don't see the lack off a BC for UMD being a big deal, that is like saying DSI would do bad because it lack GBA support.

[SactoGamer]

The lack of UMD support is the main reason why I'm not saving up any money to buy a Vita.

[zeal0us]

You know there's nothing stop you from playing your UMDs on your PSP.

[SactoGamer]

Let's just say I don't want to carry around a PSP-2000 and a PSP Vita at the same time when I travel just to play PSP games.

[yesmynameissumo]

I know when I buy a new portable, I want to play the old games from the previous portable I've already played/beaten. Do they really expect me to use the Vita to play Vita games? Or download PSP games I don't own and play them on the Vita?

And why would you carry a Vita and a PSP while you travel if you just want to play PSP games? Do you really have to try and find a reason to moan?

[FriedGoat]

@yesmynameissumo Added battery life, also if you have the UMDs anyway (which im assuming you would if your complaining here) its FREE. Jesus this argument is stupid.

[knifefight]

People reading game websites don't realize that they are a little more hardcore about gaming than Joe Everyman. Your view, while probably not popular on N4G, is shared more commonly than people leaving comments on game sites will ever realize.

[eferreira]

why would you carry so many games at once, cant live without both devices? My vita will for vita games, what its designed for. If your going to cry over a little thing of bc. Then you're missing out on a great handheld.

[knifefight]

Equating criticism with "crying" and assuming those being critical "cant live without both" is presumptuous at best, dickish at worst.

People can disagree without making sweeping generalizations about each other's intents and lifestyles.

[ThePhuq]

That's why I love my 3DS. Allows me to still play my massive library of DS games without having to lug around two handhelds.

[AbyssGravelord]

except you have to lug around all of your little DS cartridges.

[darthv72]

to be fair, that is why the ds carts are little. Easier to lug around 10-15 ds carts than it is 10-15 umd discs.

[MasterCornholio]

He could also just get a flash cart and download the games he already bought. That way he can carry his collection with him without worrying about multiple cartridges.

But anyways. It is sad that the Vita isn't backwards compatible but axing the UMD drive was necessary to give the Vita a decent battery life and shorter load times. So in the end it helps more than it harms. Which ie why I believe that if your a PSP owner and you are interested in the Vita you should get one. Not buying one because of backwards comparability is a poor excuse because it you do that you will be stuck on gaming on the PSP for all eternity.

XperiaRay

[smashcrashbash]

That is why you can download them. I don't think anyone is buying the VITA so they can just play PSP games.

[thedude44]

and bingo was his name oh

[Animals_as_Leaders]

"so they can just play PSP games."

I'm fairly certain most people don't want to have to buy the largest ( and extremely overpriced ) 32gb memory cards ( or multiple 32gb memory cards ) just so they can download their PSP games.

Nor would they want to waste hours downloading them.

The fact that the 3DS plays DS games is a big reason why people upgraded from a DS/lite/DSi.

You don't lose anything in doing so and it doesn't cost you anything to play them on the 3DS.

It's definitely going to be a massive deterrent, especially to the Vita's largest consumer base...people who own PSPs.

[fear88]

You're argument against the Vita helps support the reason for no backwards. Why bother if you already have a PSP?

Isn't the reason for buying a new system is to play its games?

The vita has an impressive launch lineup compared to what the 3DS had when it launched.

3DS needed it because it had virtually no killer apps except what was on the DS. Pokemon Black and White was the only game in many 3DSs for months.

[Silly gameAr]

fear88.

Using common sense.

I'm pretty should you would have to spring for one of those extremely expensive memory cards to play PSP games on the Vita anyway Animals. There's no getting around that.

I understand wanting to play your older games, but I would keep the system that plays those games, instead of getting a system that would rather focus on the new then the old.

[Blaine]

On my PSP Go I have 18 games and 16 demos, plus trailers and music, and that takes up 14gb. I don't know how much space Vita games will take up, but I think it's safe to say you won't be needing a 32gb card (let alone multiple ones) anytime soon. Buy a small one for now and upgrade in a few years when you *might* need it (if ever) and the prices will have dropped.

Unless the lack of UMD put you off the Vita for good... In that case I'd just say: your loss.

[JaredH]

Why are you all justifying not including backwards compatibility?

I have a psp and all the games I have are umd other than lbp and modnation that I got from the psn hack. I'm getting a Vita but this is a bummer imo and I don't understand why you guys say things to make it seem "right". Nothing would have hurt them if they included it and you don't need to defend Sony in every decision they make. If they included it I GUARANTEE you that you guys would talk about how it was a smart decision and include it in your many "why I'm buying a Vita and it's the greatest thing ever" comments...

On a side note they waited till a week or so before the launch of the psp go too say no umd conversion too which I find odd.

Also I have the Vita preordered and I'm getting it day 1 and I'm not saying it's the worst thing ever. It's just a minor let down and I don't see how you can look at not including something, that's common in handhelds, in a good way.

[NeoBasch]

I'm starting to switch over to the digital space with PSP games, just as I did PSOne, and hope to do for PS2. I will still keep the physical copies, but they're a bit obnoxious. It's easier just to scroll over to the games tab and just pick the one I want.

Not only that, but a 32 gig stick can hold at least 20 PSP games, and there's no way I'll have 20 PSP games downloaded at any one time. I might have 10. Also, you can download any number of PSP games. You could buy 100+ PSP games off the PSN store if you want. You can download them as much as you want. So even if you delete them from the stick, you can always re-download it later when you want to play it.

Now, if AT&T would give us a larger bandwidth to play with, we could download these games from anywhere at anytime. Now, that's convenient!

[MGRogue2017]

Custom Firmware to the rescue! :D

If all of the hacking stuff happening nowadays is any sign of what's to come.. It shouldn't be too long after the system's launch that the device is hacked wide open.

Of course, there will most likely be piracy.. but you'll be able to play all PS1 titles as well as put all of your Vita & PSP titles together on your memory stick so you won't need to carry around all of those vita cartridges with you all the time..

You'll also be able to increase/decrease the quad-core's clock speed at free will in order to save battery life. It's your PS Vita, control it the way you want to. :)

[TheFirstClassic]

Why won't they offer the umd transfer thing worldwide? If they offer it in Japan, why not the rest of us?

[SaffronCurse]

Because like 99.99999% of the time, Japan gets the cooler stuff it's just how things work.

[Edward75]

I agree knifefight, many who comment all for Sony just look at the hardcore side of it. I'm so excited for the Vita release, BUT realistically, no matter how great it is to me and many others on N4g Sony is doing a horrible job with pushing it to the masses. Horrible marketing, btw I saw the first non taco bell ads watching the Milwaukke Bucks game against the Raptors. It was on the court side ticker. Bad decisions with the memory cards. Bad decisions with the UMD transfer not coming stateside. A questionable price point (not for us hardcore peeps cuz we will pay for the quality regardless). I also think that it would be in Sony's best interest to make more mini , angry birds type games. This isn't for us, but for casual players. I am worried about its future, but I hope it sticks and does great.

[smashcrashbash]

Yeah when you actually own a multi billion dollar company THEN you get to criticize. You see all the crap people say about Sony doing it wrong? Half the time it is not as simple as people believe.

Like the people who said 'They should have made a Superbowl commercial and they missed their chance' There are so many things that stand in the way of things like that. Protocol, schedules, prices, budgets. I do business and entrepreneurship ,I should know. Throughout the years since the PS1 till now people have been yelling 'your doing wrong' even when they showed they weren't doing it wrong.

People this gen are so ignorant. You make stupid predictions and gloat if you are right and backslide if you are wrong. You keep listening to the @$$holes giving you wrong information and nitpicking at every little detail instead of looking at the nice things it does have. Why do people keep judging the VITA on what it is rather then what it isn't.

The 3DS doesn't do a lot of stuff but you never hear anyone say that. But with the VITA it's 'Why doesn't it play phone games', why doesn't play UMD' Why does one game cost $50.00? Why isn't it a phone? Why isn't the web browser better? Why can't I plug into the TV? Why is the camera not high quality? And you completely forget the main reason you buy it for is to play games. Everything extra is just icing on the cake.

And if Sony left it out it would be 'The VITA is so behind the times why can't it at least go on the internet or take pictures or play PSN games? Even a cheap phone can do that. Why couldn't you do that Sony?'You didn't buy a VITA to play PSP UMDs and if you want them they gave you an option.They didn't HAVE to give you $hit. Microsoft's 360 had NO BC at all but I don't see people not buying it because of that.

[Blaine]

Honestly, I don't know where all this negativity and hate towards Sony comes from. It really started with the PS3, where every single media outlet was just bashing the thing for absolutely no reason. Then the PSP GO, which was actually killed off because of it. I own a Go, and love the hell out of it. I know all the people who were bashing it do not own one, and probably never had an interest in owning one, but I don't know why they feel the need to bash it.

Also I find it kind of funny to see everyone finally turning to the positives of digital distribution now (it's convenient to have all your games without carrying discs and, funny twist of fate, DD could actually give your games a longer life-span, since they're not tied to the device that can read their discs, as the Vita is proving now).

But I'm rambling. I just wanted to say I agree with you that everyone nitpicks Sony devices on things they do ON TOP of gaming, when their primary purpose is to be gaming machines.

[Soldierone]

I just want to know who says for them to make a Superbowl commercial (not attacking you, attacking the idiots that think thats good idea)

Thats MILLIONS of dollars for a 30 second spot that isn't even targeted at your crowd. What NFL junkie is going to buy Vita? They could take those millions and turn it into SEVERAL ads during hockey games, hockey banners, other sports, and market it more directly to the actual target audience.

[Edward75]

Numbers don't lie. Losing money for 4 years straight. For a company that adds up to bad choices. Changing the people in charge/people stepping down. That is a definite show things are going bad. Now let's just go by how we as normal people, on billion dollar companies,can tell how bad decisions are made.... The companies stock. Take a look. Smashcrashbash is exactly what it is doing. That sir is how people criticize big companies, then decide with our money.

I love the vita, I'll repeat that for everyone. As far as BC compatible, people don't bring this big thing up when comparing the vita to home consoles. You can have as many home consoles in YOUR HOME. Ps3 not BC, have your ps2 rdy and hooked up. With portables it defeats the purpose if you have to carry multiple Systems around when you could have one. Just agree with me on this at least, we all would've liked to have THE OPTION for umd BC.

Last thing I want to say, for those saying stuff about not picking, If you live in North America like I do, we get shafted by Sony as a company all the time. Features left out, PSN games not getting brought here, and the big business side of it.... We don't get the deals offered to Japan... Or even Europe. The products I own from Sony are all awesome. But just not as awesome as they are elsewhere.

[Scribe81]

I hardly ever play my UMD games anymore since I've beaten them like crazy and started making the digital switch a few years ago. Still don't fully like the idea of the Vita not being compatible though and the only reason I never picked up a PSPGO was because they never came through on their promise on the UMD program where if you had the game, they'd let you download it from the PSN. Supposedly they're doing this for VITA, but I think I read that you've got to pay for it.

It's things like this that make the Custom Firmware/Emulator carrot dangle far too close to where I might take the plunge.

It's not that I know for certain that I'll play my PSP games again, it's that I want the option of being able to if it ever crosses my mind. Obviously, the only sure-fire way around this is to keep my PSP, but then like some other people have said, I don't want to have to carry 2 PSP devices around.

[mcstorm]

I think its funny when things like this come out. Its like saying people are not going to buy a ps3 because it wont play ps2 game or people will not buy a cd player because it will not buy lp's.

Technology moves on and if you want to keep playing videos or games you have on a umd then keep your psp simple as that.

The only thing that is putting people off the psv at the moment is the price but once bundles start coming out with a memory card and game sales will pickup.

[Sithlord-Gamble]

I have a psp and I could give a crap if the vita is backwards compatible or not. Im buying the Vita to play VITA games, NOT psp games ... that's what I have a psp for!

The super nintendo wasn't backwards compatible with the NES and we all survived ... etc ...

Gamers are spoiled today by technology. Too bad they don't make digital pacifiers for all the crybabies.

[_Aarix_]

Wow thats the wrong way to think about. This is 2012, not the 80's. The vita can easily emulate psp games and use them. Would you want to carry around 2 handhelds or one that does it all. Why would any gamer be against this. Its stupid. "spoiled", bitch please, you know how much money people like me shelled out for psp games. The ps2 had it and it was a giant sucess cause it felt like an upgrade AND a new console.

[Sithlord-Gamble]

Wrong way to think? Ummmm from the looks of it, the majority of the comments agree with my perspective ... so maybe im not the one thinking wrong.

Obviously I wouldn't carry two handhelds:MY psp is getting boxed away or sold.

I nvr said I was AGAINST backwards compatibility;anything extra is always a plus ... Its just not a big deal to ME if it doesn't.

What I am against is all the damn boohooing from crybabies everytime something doesn't go their way.

Vita isn't backwards compatible, u know this and bitchin about it isn't gonna change it ... so knowing the facts, u either buy it or u don't. Plain and simple.

I WILL b buying it and if something as MINOR as backwards compatibility is a dealbreaker well then u will b the ones missing out bc the ones who do buy it will b enjoying the nxt great experience.

Enjoy ur PSP ... lmao

[_Aarix_]

Oh wow 4-3 thats really a majority /s and I havent even agreed or disagreed. People will ALWAYS complain about anything but its not wrong to want to play psp games on your vita, especially since it wouldnt be that big of a deal if you use emulation and hell they can make a little more money with a umd add on. If you have a big problem with complaining then get off the comments because thats all there is. Lastly its not a minor issue. Statistics have shown the more fincially successful consoles and handhelds have always had backward compadility.

[Sithlord-Gamble]

Wow bro u are not the brightest crayon in the box ... I didn't say MY comment specifically ... read all the OTHER comments ... a majority of them are all saying the same thing I am ... so not only r u one of the crybabies, u can't read either.

Bottom line is ... I got money. Obviously u don't. I don't need backwards compatibility, u do.

So let me help u make ur decision easier:
you obviously can't afford a vita or r too in love with outdated technology ... so DON'T buy the vita, just stick with ur psp n do all of us noncrybabies a favor. Thx.

[Smashbro29]

Holy crap! A SMART article on N4G?! Finally!

[bradgrenz]

Not that smart. Weirdly flawed, actually. The Ars article makes no acknowledgement of the fact Vita IS backward compatible with digitally distributed PSP games, or the impact that has on the cited study which does not anticipate or acknowledge such a possible scenario. And that's without mentioning the weirdness of trying to make PSP games sales look larger than they actually were by comparing them to the GameBoy Color's games, despite it being a half step portable mostly used to play dual compatible original GameBoy games and which was replaced by the GBA within 3 years. By the articles own logic, the average PSP owner only having something like 3 UMD games, and the vast increase in power and capabilities of the Vita over its predecessor, actually combine to minimize the importance of backwards compatibility, WHICH IT STILL HAS!

[PCE]

Yeah, more like .01% of potential sales. Big deal. These idiots make up for the PS3 boycotts for having no PS2 compatibility. Looks like the PS3 is selling just fine without it.

Guess what, morons, you're going to still buy a PS Vita in the end if you want to play the games. If not being able to have your little nostalgia kick is the reason to boycott and miss out on all the fun then you weren't going to buy one for the right reasons to begin with.

[JoeReno]

Seriously, I still have a BC working 60gb PS3 and ask me how many PS2 games I've played on it since I made the purchase....... ONCE! To test it out, but that's it, ONCE. I have a good amount of PS2 games, and I have little desire to replay them again, but even less time to relive last gen. I can hardly keep up with this gen's games coming out. By the way I still own a PS2, and a PS1.

So why are people maken a big deal about UMDs? Probably most of the "mass market" old UMDs are scratched to all hell and or free disks out of plastic shell. I don't think Joe Gamer take very good care of their games. Like kids and comic books.

[Soldierone]

I think people complaining about UMD are just finding something to complain about, then created this band wagon of anti fanboys that will run with any excuse you give them.

I mean PSP isn't online, its not like you are sitting there playing Call of Duty all day. You beat them and you move on. You want more games? Go buy a Vita. You are asking Sony to stick around and kiss your arse because you don't want to upgrade, no ifs ands or buts about it. Sony needs to make money, and they learned from PS3. If they push the new and not the old, they make more money and people won't stick around and use old things non-stop.

Vita is offering you amazing games, once you play them you won't want to go back to PSP. Let alone people need to realize how much the UMD killed battery life and how much they are likely to break. Cutting it out saves Sony TONS of money.

[Moerdigan]

actually, I figured backward compatability was a big win for the used game market in the long term, which would discourage the purchases newer games, whether it psp or vita games.

also download psp games in the japan launch for vita has exceeded their expectations, so I think Sony is confident with their strategy right now

[ziggurcat]

people really need to stop concerning themselves with backwards compatibility and start focusing on the *new* games that are being developed for the system.

[remanutd55]

i could care less , i want my vita to play vita games not ps1 or psp games

[Animals_as_Leaders]

"i could care less"

lololol.

So what you're saying is that you do care that it doesn't play UMDs?

[Hicken]

I may be wrong, but what is there in his comment to "lololol" about? And he very clearly states what he's saying when he followed up with, "i want my vita to play vita games not ps1 or psp games."

I find it interesting how people interpret things that should be very simple and straightforward as anything but.

What purpose does backwards compatibility have, honestly? In my opinion, it's only if you plan on getting rid of your old tech for the new tech, but still want to play the old games. Well, if you can't play the old games on the new tech, why would you get rid of your old tech? I mean, since you still want to play those old games and all.

It really doesn't make sense to make ANY deal out of this, because the solution to the "issue" is so obvious: don't get rid of your PSP if you still wanna play PSP games.

And hell, unlike most of the other stuff out (3DS, PS3, 360), it's not a direct replacement as such, but a completely new system. That's why it's not, say a PSP2 or something like that.

It's a Vita. It plays Vita games.

Playing PS1 and PSP games is a bonus. Playing UMD is as backwards for the Vita as making a tablet with buttons: it's already evolved beyond that point, so adding something from the past is not advancing... obviously.

Seriously, it's not a big deal. Sucks a little, but that's what PSPs are for, and the only people who should have ANY complaints are people who already own PSPs.... and therefore, they shouldn't have ANY complaints, as they can still play all their PSP games on their PSP.

[maniacmayhem]

@ Hicken

There's the old fallback:
"We'll be fine without the extras."

- actual quote from Hicken

[dcortz2027]

I'm with you bro. I'm going to buy my PS Vita to play PS Vita games like I bought my PS3 to play PS3 games. I'm so sick of people complaining about everything!

[SaffronCurse]

I'd Prefer having my games via digital download for handheld games, Umd's stack like crazy and are cumbersome to carry around, kinda defeats the purpose of being a portable device.

[Allowen]

Backwards compatibility is just fine with the 3DS/Vita.

I want to see you all real mad when you noticed that 90% of all virtual console games bought from the Wii will not work on the WiiU and I bet that MANY PSN/LIVE games will also not work on the PS4/Xbox3.

Will not be funny to have to rebuy games we already own.
For consoles I think the oposite might be the best solution to evade problems.
I mean, buy games on disks rather then in DD to make sure they will work on the new consoles.

[PirateThom]

Apart from Peace Walker and Wipeout... there's no PSP games I would personally be going back to and one is getting ported and one is getting a new version.

I will, however, be downloading the three PSP Persona titles.

[Derpy]

What I don't understand is why Sony doesn't offer some kind of trade in policy (if the game is available)where if you send in your UMDs and they put the game on your PSN account. That alone would probably be a big sales booster.

[madjedi]

First problem, is the game even available for digital download not all titles are, second they are not required to do anything. 3rd we are getting rid of anything disc related ,the ps4/720 is the last to use a actual disc.

For gaming we need to ditch optical as soon as it realistically possible(and no idiot dd pushers the bandwidth is yrs away for it to be practical), a flash media cartridge is the most likely choice or dd for some in limited areas.

Right had the same fud when sony dropped bc on the 40 or 80 gig ps3's, it's relevant/depends the first yr or 2. But when you have a good size lineup, it's importance dwindles.

I hate stealth fanboy submitters.

[Derpy]

Actually I said if available.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of digital distribution and I always buy retail when I can. My comment has nothing to do with the digital versus retail argument.

Unless boxed collections are released like PS2 game collections are for the PS3, the only way likely to play PSP games on the Vita will be by download. All I was saying is that if a game is a available to download, then Sony should not force gamers to re-buy a game they already own.