Rumor: Shiny Entertainment Founder says PSP 2 will not have 'the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive'

VG Tribune writes: "The past few days and weeks have been abound with rumors about PSP 2 features and debates about whether Sony is even ready to release a PSP 2 or not. Now Twitter, the internet phenomena status update service, enters into the mix. Early this morning we spotted a "tweet" David Perry, founder of Shiny Entertainment and mastermind behind Earthworm Jim, had, well, "tweeted" this morning.

'I hear Sony FINALLY has the PSP 2. And thank goodness, they've removed the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive. I'm excited!'"

[PotNoodle]

Having the PSP2 fully based on DD would be great imo, it is silly having to carry out those big UMD's for a portable system.

[Lord Anubis]

i really hope they continue to have it so that we can store and hopefully play the games on the PSP2 and PS3/PS4 platforms. So that it becomes a portable experience but we can enjoy them through emulation on the big screen if we please to do so. Also important to be able to store it on the PC/external hard drive and or PS3.

[Megaton]

Agreed. DD is perfect for portables, as long as they have a decent amount of space. Getting all your games from the PSN store would be ideal on a PSP2.

[pain777pas]

I will get this system day one if it has 2 analog nubs and HDD. They should use sd cards for games at retail and everything else on PSN. Should be BC with all psp games so there is a UMD drive but no future releases should use this medium or I'll just use the current PSP and download the standouts from PSN. Please Sony 2 analog nubs please and you may compete with home consoles if you include all the functionality enhancements of the current PSP 3000.

[DeadlyFire]

Its going to support Blu-Ray. All this DD and other stuff isn't going to fly. Sony is going with what Sony owns which is Blu-Ray. Mini-BD ROM discs! 15 GB discs. Thats a hefty disc size for a portable device.

[swiftshot93]

I agree UMD sucks, but sony has to think of something because they'll lose lots of sales of they rely on DD only.

[iamtehpwn]

Maybe an OPTIONAL functionality of being a cellphone?
I mean, it doesn't have to, but It makes my pocket cluttered,
to carry my psp in my pocket with my phone
=\

[RememberThe357]

Probably the Memory Stick Duo or something similar.

[SynGamer]

No UMD drive is the right way to go. They need a flash-based storage medium for the PSP2. I was thinking people could send their games in and get a code to download them on the PSN (i'm sure the PSP2 will be backwards compatible). It may take a while, but i think it's the best compromise and it allows Sony to then resell the PSP games to users who have yet to get a PSP2. That, or they could have a program setup with GameStop/Walmart/any big chain where we trade our games in there and get the code automatically...

[edwineverready]

hope it will be something like that. i want to know what graphic capabilities the psp2 will have

[SynGamer]

I'm hoping something on par with the Wii (but on a smaller screen so it looks better). Anything more and the battery will drain just as quickly as the PSP does now.

[Sanhlami]

Maybe games should be permanently printed on memory stick pro duo. Thats the only way I can think of.

[Tony P]

Besides being smaller, how is that functionally different from a cartridge?

[SynGamer]

I was thinking the same thing. Though Sony needs to combat piracy big time with the PSP2. Perhaps they could use there M2 memory stick format but improve the security?

[TapiocaMilkTea]

It seems like everything is going back to non moving storage mediums. It makes a lot of sense for portable devices, flash memories are cheap enough to make now.

[Ldubbz]

Is def the way to go. But if anything I have nothing but praise for the PSP's battery life. No complaints there from me.

[1ikedamaster]

Imagine with no UMD though...10 hour sessions that's what!

I would buy it only if it looks like in the picture.

[-EvoAnubis-]

Flash based and DDs are the way to go, particularly now that flash memory has gotten so massive.

[ZuperAmazingCooKie]

It's too slow and not many have access. PSP is the way to go for quite a few years. Hell UMD2 with Blu-ray reader and 8-layers, why not? I think UMD could have some more life left if Sony makes it cheap and finds a way for it not to suck the life of the battery.

[DJ]

But then there's the issue of piracy, since there's no internet connection involved. UMD was the only option for PSP since flash media and cartridges were far too expensive.

But cartridges are now a viable option, and Digital Distribution looks like the safest and cheapest bet.

[RememberThe357]

Downloading games limits the PSP2's accessibility. And people with slow internet connections could get frustrated with how long it would take to download a game.

I am almost positive that PSP2 game will have some sort of retail presence.

[kwyjibo]

Sony wanted movies on their portable, I reckon that to appease the studios, they chose a format which was harder to pirate. I think they've now recognised that the benefits of having a cheaper, faster, non-moving storage system beats out the advantage of UMD movies.

[KidMakeshift]

I hope they continue to use UMD's because I no longer have a PSP-1000, and I don't want to replace it with the cheap feeling and looking 2000 or window-screened 3000

Plus, I still want to be able to import games like DJ Max and Princess Crown

Full on digital distribution is a long way off before it's even possible

[DJ]

For connection to the PS Store, allowing users to manage their purchased titles on their PC. That way disc and cartridge based media can disappear entirely. Simply make a 32GB and 64GB PSP2, similar to the tier that they use on the PS3.

UMD games right now are below 2GB each, and a lot of games don't even use have the disc space of UMD. I'd be all for it.

[Karum]

There is already something like that actually.

It's called Media Manager for PSP and you access the PSP Store on it and use it to browse the store and buy/download games and manage any other media you want to put on your PSP.

[Obama]

what I am concerned is whether it will be using duo memory stick. I got a 16g but haven't bought a psp yet.

[Enigma_2099]

... People complaining about the battery life really need to cut down on the ammount of time they play the thing non-stop. And try charging the thing while you're asleep instead of trying to go several days ona single charge...

... that being said, someone tell Perry to do something that makes him relevant again... or STFU.

[rhood022]

I think DD could work for the PSP2 under two conditions:

1. You have an internal memory in the 10s of GB--including the option to buy additional memory sticks should you need it.

2. Create a PSN store interface with the ease and accessibility similar to iTunes--You can dl from the computer and connect the PSP2 to transfer your games. But also have the in-device PSN store, like it has now, that you can download directly from the PSP2.

Hell, I'd even say partner with Apple on creating the interface. I mean, both Sony and Apple are trying to get their blu-ray partnership off the ground, why not expand that to include shared DD?
------------

I honestly believe that the PSP2 SHOULD be DD only. I know there will be those that argue against it and I understand their reasoning. But taking out the UMD (if it's true) leaves Sony with few options when it comes to distributing content. Unless they move to offering games on flash memory or cartridge (which is a step backward), then DD only makes sense. Plus it adds the benefits of lowering prices for games.

[Harry Pothead]

Cause the one i'm using... it ain't mine, and it sucks ass... Can i have it for free too... cause, well i don't want to pay for wifi, and pay for games at the same time. Oh yeah did i mention how crappy wifi is, and not everyone has it like myself, and how the signal does be all over the place. In 1 minute its 75%, 2 secs later its at 12%....

[rhood022]

Except you wouldn't have to rely solely on wifi. It would be option just like it is now.

Having a store interface like iTunes means you can download a game via wifi OR wired connection and, through a USB, transfer the game to the PSP.

Hell, IF you're intent on using wifi, or if you don't have decent wired speeds, you could even use a public wifi hub if you want. I downloaded tons of songs to my iPod wirelessly or movies to my laptop using my colleges high-speed wireless network. I've even used free wifi at places like the Honda dealership or certain restaurants to dl music or movies.

As for price concerns, if it's online then publishers wouldn't have to worry about the extra costs of packaging, copying and the distribution of the games. You could be paying a lower price for content--$29.99 instead of the standard $39.99.

Sony's first party titles could even be priced lower.

[thehitman]

A horrible idea for something like the psp. Idk maybe they could put the games on small SD that be better but not DD. They lose a shyt load of money and I dont wanna take the time to sit and dl games etc an option be cool but strictly DD would be a disaster. Maybe they should make a blue ray mini disc for movies.

[rhood022]

I could get behind putting games on a memory stick, but I wouldn't want to pay extra for games or movies using mini-blu rays.

[SpartanGR]

Ok you DD lovers one question. How am i gonna load all those 70+ umd game discs that i have on psp2?

[kwyjibo]

You can't.

Had they been DD'ed and backed up onto flash, you would be able to.

[Kain81]

cause they are very cheap now and have large Space. A 2GB sd-card cost 3-6€ here in Germany

[McLuvn]

I'd rather have the BC function, so I could play my old games.

[ceiltsei]

Yeah the UMD drive sucks but what the hell am I going to do when my psp dies and is no longer available, and I want to play a game from my massive UMD collection?

There is a solution to this but I doubt they will go this far: External UMD Drive.

[BlackIceJoe]

I hope this is not true. I think it would be nice to see more PSP PSN only games but I don't only want to be able to get my games online.

I really hope Sony allows the mini Blu Ray Discs in the PSP2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Because the Mini Blu Ray allows on one side 7.5 gigs and on a duel layer MBR you will have 15 gigs so that allows for some really cool PSP2 games.

Having the Mini Blu Ray would allow the UMDs to work in the PSP too.

So I hope this is not true because I like to own my games discs over being able to just own them from online. Plus this would keep the stores happy too. It also would allow bigger games because I do not want to have to wait on long down load speeds.