The PSP Games Download Issue

The release of the PSP Go last October, 2009 was quite a debatable issue among gamers. The fact that the PSP Go no longer supports the UMD or Universal Media Disk format used by older versions and replaced by expandable flash memory proves to be both beneficial and disappointing to current and future PSP gamers. Nonetheless, this doesn't stop Sony from releasing a huge selection of games for download on the Playstation Network, specifically on the Playstation Store. To some, this is good news. However, the way Sony is pricing these games, they may need to stop first and reconsider their marketing strategies.

In the wake of Apple's App Store selling games at a dollar each, gamers are left with mixed emotions and unrealistic ideas regarding the prices of downloadable games specifically for the PSP Go. It seems, there is something wrong about the pricing as the general consensus implies.

At the moment, many digitally distributed games that are available on the PlayStation Network are priced a tad lower as compared to games on UMD format. Sony's aim, however, is to make the price equal for both UMD games and digitally distributed games.

There are several benefits, or arguments that work to Sony's favour if this is the case. First, the gamer still gets the same game. Not having the game in its physical form means, physical storage space is saved. Game manuals are stored in-game or available online. Therefore, shelf space is saved. Second, gamers need not worry when they lose a game by accidentally deleting them from your memory stick. They can just download the same game for free. If a gamer loses the UMD, then the game is forever lost. Third, the physical packaging does not really add value to the game but adds to the production costs and marketing costs of developers.

On the other hand, there are arguments against same pricing of digital distributed games and UMD games. First, gamers might feel that they are being ripped off. Since it is cheaper for the developers, savings should be felt by the end-user in the form of lower prices for digitally distributed games. Second, reselling of used games are no longer applicable. Once you download a game and finish it, you can't trade it or sell it because the game is tied with the gamer Playstation Network account.

Whether Sony can convince it's users that there should be parity between prices of UMD games and downloaded games remains to be seen. It seems obvious though, that the arguments for cheaper downloads versus UMD games is stronger and more solid.the savings should be passed on to the consumer in the form of lower prices for downloaded versions of games. It might be argued that because there is no physical game for buyers to see in the store, some of that saving is spent on extra marketing. Since many gamers get there game news and reviews online anyway, though, that argument feels a little hollow.

Did you know that you can legally download videos and movies on your Sony PSP console? Find out everything about it from our free PSP Movie Downloads guide!

Learn how to connect you PSP to the Internet from our PSP WiFi guide!