Firmware code hints at upcoming games download service

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 2nd 2007 at 1:00PM }

Firmware 3.50 and 3.51 have hints at an upcoming new feature for PSP. Hidden within np9660.prx, coders have found that this will allow Sony to load official PSP games from Memory Stick. Although there will undoubtedly be plans for hackers to take advantage of this code, it's great to see Sony finally step closer to the promised PSP Store that we've been waiting for years. Upcoming firmware will most likely support downloadable PSP games. Imagine, being able to download Wipeout Pulse from your PSP, instead of walking to a store and buying the game. It can happen ... but how soon?

[Via Exophase]

Tags: 3.50, 3.51, firmware, store

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

kingofwale @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:12PM

if Sony had ONLY came up with this plan from the beginning, it would save me HOURS of converting all my UMDs to memory stick. *sighs*.

why must we jump through all those hoops first?

nevertheless. good first step, I wonder if you can get digital version of the game much cheaper, after all, they won't have to produce them via UMD and they'd cut off the middleman (retailers)

Bachus @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:16PM

I sincerely hope this is an indication that the psp redesign does include a hard-drive. i'm running 3.40oe-A and let me tell you, i run out of room with just PSX games. PSP backup isos can be huge (compared with the 4gb card). I've heard fan ideas of a psp "slim" with no UMD drive that just downloads and syncs. only e3 knows...

PocketGoddess @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:32PM

How big are PSP games? How many could you get on a 4GB or 8GB stick? I have a 4GB MS that is full to bursting with demos, music, videos, etc.

I'm not a huge fan of UMDs (they're so much bulkier than DS games) but I'm also not sure I like the idea of download only games--will I have to buy multiple 8GB sticks to house my games, in addition to purchasing the downloads? Could get very expensive, very fast.

rabe7thebest @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:42PM

multiple 8GB sticks? no way man, ONE 8GB should be more than enough for downloading games.

Joe @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:47PM

Well I for one think this sounds cool. I think it would be nice to see games built in mind for the PSP and be able to download them like the PS3 does with the PSN. So this just means that Sony is thinking of ways to bring PSN to the PSP.

Plus I for one hope this is another way to play games and does not make the UMD's dead. There are many great things about UMD's. Plus if future games were to only be able to be downloaded then the PSP would need a really big hard-drive.

Also I wonder if this means Galaxy's End would go this way. Back in April on PSPfanboy Kevin McCann from Tiki games said He was looking into making Galaxy's End a downloadable game.

http://playstation.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/galaxys-end-weekly-video-siege-mode/

So if that happens that way then this could lead to a whole group of game built for the PSP to be downloadable just like some are also for the PS3.

I for one think if future games could come out this way plus on UMD could really be some thing neat to see.

ClarkyCat @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:48PM

Wow, great. So rather than pay for a game I get to carry around and switch at will, I get to have one (maybe 2 if I don't want any music or videos) game(s) on my crappy 2gb memory stick whilst the rest take up space on my computer at home. That doesn't defeat the portable aspect at all, no sir!

ben @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:06PM

Andrew, Andrew, Andrew, I sent you a link to this the second it was revealed last night. Oh well.

ben @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:07PM

Weird, it didn't show my whole message in comment number 6.

Oh well, the rest was,

kingofwale @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:25PM

>3. How big are PSP games? How many could you get on a 4GB or 8GB stick? I have a 4GB MS that is full to bursting with demos, music, videos, etc.

it depends. UMD holds about 1.5GB, and most games are below that. so i'd say at least 3 games on 4GB? My choice is to put my ripped PS1 games there. so that means a 4CDs worth of FFVIII on the go.

kingofwale @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:53PM

>8. So.. its official. UMD's are a failure.

of course, let's go back to cartridge, that's the future right now.

pixelator @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:48PM

This, and perhaps ONLY this, could really save the PSP market and perpetuate the platform in a BIG way.

People being able to iTunes their games would be truly huge for the PSP, especially since it would move away from physical media. Make 1GB or 2GB cards dirt cheap, or sell a small slimline 20GB USB add-on drive and voila.

The PSP is uniquely suited for full game WiFi or USB/PC downloads with its ability to log in to any hotspot, great range and rewriteable, removeable flash cards. With 8GB and 16GB cards becoming mainstream in the years to come, that'll only get better.

This is the 'hook' the PSP desperately needs to grow some legs in the face of the looming DS/Wii Nintendo market domination. This aspect could truly bring console-level 'XBLA' and Nintendo Store functionality to the handheld world.

Extinction @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:34PM

"). I've heard fan ideas of a psp "slim" with no UMD drive "

You're retarded. UMD is needed to play games

" So.. its official. UMD's are a failure."

So.. its official. Xarek is a failure.

"of course, let's go back to cartridge, that's the future right now."

I hope you're being sarcastic

kingofwale @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:10PM

>People being able to iTunes their games would be truly huge for the PSP,

No game developer will make game for Sony anymore if Sony decides to go in that direction. and heck, it's not like Sony doesn't need games for PSP. ;)

Remember the huge fights Apple has with RIAA (and all the record company?), this will be EVEN worse for games. especially when it comes to Sony's ability to control Homebrew market.

Not gonna happen anytime soon.

eric @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:19PM

yea, at best it will just be xbox live arcade type games, or maybe ps1 games.

game publishers rely on their retail partners to sell games and simply making big new releases available for download and cutting out the middle man ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

kingofwale @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:24PM

considering I'm paying 20 bucks for PS1 games on eBay and spending hours ripping them, I'd MUCH rather if Sony can do all that for me.

Not to play some of the old classics on my psp.

johnxmzzhang @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:55PM

What is with everyone and hating UMDs? I think they are great! In fact I think that sony should create UMDs with bigger and bigger space and sell empty ones in which we can take the little disks out, pop them into the cd drivr and burn our music, movies into them. Than they can also sell easy open close shells and everyone will be happy! If they start making downloadable games why not be able to copy them onto our little UMDs, and those of you who think that they will be allowing us to download major/full games onto memory stick than thats a joke cuz UMDs aint gona go away that easily....

jetch @ Jul 2nd 2007 5:00PM

is this is true... then ManHunt 2 will see light some day :P

PSP-Retro @ Jul 2nd 2007 5:46PM

I think this is a great Idea, and to correct an earlier comment the UMD has a capacity of 1.8 gigs. I don't see the issue, the UMD IMO will not go away from the PSP for a long long time and even in its next incarnation there has to be a UMD type device otherwise ALL the games/movies that people own would be useless. So if you can download games to an ISO that is very kewl, but I am sure you will still be able to purchase the UMD version as well.

#14 Extinction (Ditto)

I wonder how much more battery life you would get by playing the current game you are into off of a memory stick?

Aaron @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:24PM

Wait!
You can already purchase PC games that are downloaded directly to your hard drive with DRM out the ying yang to keep from making copies.

What's so hard to fathom that the PSP2 wouldn't have some type of flash memory with the same type of DRM so you could download them straight to memory?

I really don't care either way. The thing it should really be for is making more demos available for download.

This way, more PSP owners could sample games they might not otherwise be interested in and perhaps buy. That't the area I think it could excel.