UMDs killed at Target

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 12th 2006 at 6:18PM }

The UMD movies keep on coming but it appears that Target stores simply don't care. GamePro recently got the scoop that UMDs are now discontinued in all Target stores, as of last week. Could this be the beginning of the end of yet another one of Sony's proprietary formats? What will the death of UMD mean for Sony's other format baby, Blu-ray? And more importantly, if UMD does ultimately fail, what lessons will Sony learn? (none?)

I know I haven't bought a UMD movie in ages. Personally, I prefer not to pay an extra $10 for a movie that doesn't come with extras and only plays on a single device. I think a majority of ~~Target customers~~ PSP owners share the same opinion.

Tags: target, umd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

UMBphobic @ Jul 12th 2006 7:53PM

LOL I never bought any movie UMDs and never ever ever ever will.. tell me what is the point? if i can rip my DVDs and play them on my psp and carry them in a memory card that can be used over and over and... again? and actually the mem sticks are so much smaller.. UMD movies make no sense and sone could've engeniered something less bulky to carry... half of the psp size is due to the UMD drive... $ony only thinks of ways of getting your money, not ways of making it easier and more pleasurable ways of spending your money... stick it to sony again.... GR8!!

Silver R. Wolfe @ Jul 12th 2006 8:30PM

They're still at the Target locally and at the local Wal-Mart too.

As for Blu-Ray, which is really the more important thing here rather than the success of the floptastic UMD, I think that it will fair a better chance. It has more support than the UMD did and is not just limited to one device (truly a media killer). BD-R may be more expensive than DVD, but with the higher quality and more hardware support it shouldn't befall the same fate.

Jamesology @ Jul 12th 2006 10:13PM

Well, it was a clear view it was gonna end. I mean, no third party support even made a player that supported the format.

Blu-Ray has a better chance though, there are several other companies that already made devices that can use it.

BeDammit @ Jul 12th 2006 10:55PM

Target is very sensitive to demand and availability of products.
When Apple could not fufill Mac Mini orders last year they announced that they were not going to be carrying the Mac Mini.

If Sony lowers the price of UMDs they could gain sales.
It is however unlikely that they will do this due to licensing from the movie studios and the profit they would LOVE to see.

Sony should try with their OWN titles lowering the cost of UMD's. Once sales increase they could more easily negotiate with the other movie houses.

BeDammit

BeDammit @ Jul 12th 2006 11:18PM

Aha!

Maybe its because Sony has decided to REALLY move to memory sticks!

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/memory_stick/release/23411.html

pixelator @ Jul 13th 2006 2:51PM

I really don't get what the big furor is in the fanboy communities about the UMD issues (other than the Sony haters, which apparently makes the topic of particular interest to several PSP Fanboy bloggers). I mean, OK, there are a bunch of $22.99 titles. Not all, there are lots of titles at my local stores at $14.99.

I guess it just doesn't seem like such a bizarre situation to me at a time when RENTING a video ONLINE can cost you over $3.00 just for a day of use, and then it's no longer playable. Or when 'buying' a copy of a film online costs $9.99 or more, and it's not even a physical copy with a case.

True, these aren't high resolution DVDs with full features. They only play on the PSP. The point is, that's why you're buying it. Full screen res video that does look better than ripped vids. Comparing the pricing to the well-matured DVD market is a bit unfair - this is a brand new format on a new size disc, requiring the movies to be re-authored for the lower resolution screen and the framerate adjusted to match the PSP LCD response rate. I'd bet it costs more to produce a UMD at this point, barring extras and other material in some DVD releases (which in turn usually cost more, themselves, at least some of the collector and special editions do).

As a previous poster indicated, pricing could shift on UMD and who knows, Sony could start putting UMD slots in their car stereos or in the backs of airline seats. The format isn't dead & buried, and I can still find them at all my local chain stores: Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, CompUSA.

Maybe it's because I have a JP PSP and I can't play domestic UMDs anyway, but I just don't see the big deal surrounding this, other than it being fodder for haters. The rest of us either don't care or figure the format will live or die, but that it doesn't herald any significant impact on the PSP or games.