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[Jonnyram]

You bet. I also think that they might be planning Sony Electronics PSP's with video-out and maybe optional add-onms to the PSP to provide secure video-out as 720x480 is a high-enough resolution for DTVs.

Why? There is absolutely no space in the market for something between DVD and whatever new HD format prevails. UMD w/ MPG4 may use half the bandwidth, but it has half the volume too (at least), so there's no gain other than physical size. Unless you believe they cost less to manufacture than DVDs, even at this stage.

They said that SCE's PSP was not the only device using UMDs, so why lock the UMD video resolution to 480x272 ?

Presumably, if the video is stored at 720x480, the PSP will have to do quite a bit of work to resample it down to 480x272. Video playback on the PSP faces a number of problems - constant disc access, MPG4 being CPU-intensive, and the fact that you can't get away with using reduced brightness for watching a lot of films too. It's going to be tricky getting people to buy them, IMHO.

 

[Pimpwerx]

UMD's only hot spot will be when they make them rewriteable. It's been a major PSP beef of mine, the fact that they're introducing yet another ROM format. If UMDs stay ROM, then it's a complete and utter waste, and I wish the standard a worse death than Betamax. But my hope is that someone at Sony eventually comes to their senses and they pump out RW UMD drives, in which case I'd gladly use a PSP as a music device, b/c 1.8GB of caddied RW storage is much better than those HD-based devices like the iPod. But if we're stuck with memory sticks as the only option, then forget it. PEACE.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and the ability to record movies to UMD and then watch them on the go would be awesome too. Again, UMD in its current ROM format is super-castrated and useless for anything but games. And IMO, a collosal waste by Sony.

 

[Panajev2001a]

Johnny, I think the VME and AVC decoder chips have all they need built-in to handle UMD video: the VME in particular is strill the nice 5 GOPS monster we all appreciate .

 

[kaching]

EDIT: Oh yeah, and the ability to record movies to UMD and then watch them on the go would be awesome too. Again, UMD in its current ROM format is super-castrated and useless for anything but games. And IMO, a collosal waste by Sony.

It'd be nice to have RW UMDs supported, but I don't get how a ROM only format is a colossal waste by Sony. It's basically just a mini-DVD so I can't imagine there's much cost involved in its implementation or production and if the PSP is a success, then UMD production will be justified just on the basis of burning game software onto it.

 

[xsarien]

It'd be nice to have RW UMDs supported, but I don't get how a ROM only format is a colossal waste by Sony. It's basically just a mini-DVD so I can't imagine there's much cost involved in its implementation or production and if the PSP is a success, then UMD production will be justified just on the basis of burning game software onto it.

It's less a matter of cost, more whether or not they'd make it up in terms of sales. Maybe it's just me, but if I had to buy a movie, purchasing the UMD version seems - to me - like a colossal waste of money.

 

[kaching]

It's less a matter of cost, more whether or not they'd make it up in terms of sales.

If its not really a matter of cost, what's to make up?

 

[DCharlie]

"It's less a matter of cost, more whether or not they'd make it up in terms of sales. Maybe it's just me, but if I had to buy a movie, purchasing the UMD version seems - to me - like a colossal waste of money."

Yup, the pricing in Japan will be important.

A few places have had Advent Children down at 5040 yen, which would be stupidly overpriced.

DVDs are expensive here, they can get up to 5040 yen for anime stuff, but most of the time , they are around 3100 yen.

5040 yen for a UMD, which is touted as cheaper to produce than DVD (Kutaragi specifically said he expected certain magazines to now come in UMD format because of the low costs... ), would be taking the piss and potentially shooting themselves in the foot.... unless of course they sell like hot cakes, and i'll hush my mouth!

 

[Belfast]

I'm still curious, though...anyone know the viability of preordering off of a site like Play-Asia at this point? Would I be able to get in the first batch and perhaps have it in time for Xmas or would I be forced to wait a couple months for my PSP?

 

[mrklaw]

You'll likely be stuffed. Worth trying though. Keep an eye on this board too - some people may have spares or be able to find units in Japan after launch.

 

[Amir0x]

I'm still curious, though...anyone know the viability of preordering off of a site like Play-Asia at this point? Would I be able to get in the first batch and perhaps have it in time for Xmas or would I be forced to wait a couple months for my PSP?

I doubt you'll be able to get any in the first batch, unfortunately.

 

[Belfast]

That's what I'm thinking. I would've preordered earlier for sure, but there was still a lot of confusion around whether or not the games were region free. Well, I can think about it I guess, I'd probably still be able to get it before the US release in any case.

 

[Amir0x]

That's what I'm thinking. I would've preordered earlier for sure, but there was still a lot of confusion around whether or not the games were region free. Well, I can think about it I guess, I'd probably still be able to get it before the US release in any case.

They announced it was region-free pretty early on, it's unfortunate that it wasn't made more clear to you. I guess it would have still been difficult to pre-order, the second pre-orders go up on a Japanese site they end up being swamped and they sell out in seconds.

 

[Belfast]

Yeah, I'm just wondering about the import sites who, no doubt, attempt to secure their own small batch of pre-orders. I thought it was region free, but there were some people on this forum who were creating some doubt, thus I abstained from preordering until, well, the past couple of days. Nobody would ever give a straight answer and there were conflicting reports. I pretty much just gave up on trying to figure it out then and hadn't realized it was officially stated.

 

[Amir0x]

Yeah, I'm just wondering about the import sites who, no doubt, attempt to secure their own small batch of pre-orders. I thought it was region free, but there were some people on this forum who were creating some doubt, thus I abstained from preordering until, well, the past couple of days. Nobody would ever give a straight answer and there were conflicting reports. I pretty much just gave up on trying to figure it out then and hadn't realized it was officially stated.

Dang, too bad I didn't read your posts about that cause I would have just linked you to the IGN article

Ah well.

Anyhoo, what games would you get for launch?

 

[DCharlie]

Ridge
Mingol
Vampire Chronicles
Armoured Core
Lumines

or at least, that's what i have on order.

(the only other games are Mahjong fightclub and AI *whatever it is*)

Tower of babel has been "delayed indefinitely" or something like that

 

[xsarien]

Ridge
Mingol
Vampire Chronicles
Armoured Core
Lumines

or at least, that's what i have on order.

(the only other games are Mahjong fightclub and AI *whatever it is*)

Tower of babel has been "delayed indefinitely" or something like that

Don't suppose you know what Lumines' status is as far as a US release goes, huh? I'm getting the PSP just for that damned game, and I'd like to avoid importing if possible.

 

[Belfast]

Dang, too bad I didn't read your posts about that cause I would have just linked you to the IGN article

Ah well.

Anyhoo, what games would you get for launch?

Ideally, Ridge Racers, MGA, and Lumines. There's others I would pick up, but assuming I could get the PSP along with the games, that'd be about all I'm prepared to spend. I suppose those would be my first three choices though because I like the idea of MGA, RR provides a nice showcase for the handheld, and a puzzle game for when I get tired of the first two. Would need something to play long-term until the US release.

 

[mrklaw]

play-asia has closed preorders for PSP now. Sorry Belfast :/

 

[DCharlie]

"Don't suppose you know what Lumines' status is as far as a US release goes, huh? I'm getting the PSP just for that damned game, and I'd like to avoid importing if possible."

No idea, but Tsutaya chain seems to have sold out of Lumines (and Ridge)
so that's encouraging.

I could see it making it over, but i have no idea if anything is planned for certain.

 

[Mejilan]

Sony's smoking shit if they think I'm going to drop DVDs for UMDs as my movie media of choice. And smoking even FUNKIER shit if they think I'll be buying ANY movie twice.

 

[snapty00]

Sony's smoking shit if they think I'm going to drop DVDs for UMDs as my movie media of choice.

I'm going to go on a long limb and say that I doubt they expect that.

 

[Mejilan]

I'm going to go on a long limb and say that I doubt they expect that.

And I doubt it as well. The whole UMD movie thing just has me scratching my head. Unless it simply is not meant to be anything more than a novelty thing, like the GBA Video (only better, obviously.)

 

[X5z]

And I doubt it as well. The whole UMD movie thing just has me scratching my head. Unless it simply is not meant to be anything more than a novelty thing, like the GBA Video (only better, obviously.)

Yeah. UMDs might work well for things like music video compilations (or singles depending on price) and music concerts. Things where the portability of the PSP would offer a clear advantage over a DVD release. I'm not sure if focusing on movies would be the best way for Sony to go.