Beats: transforming from UMD to downloadable game

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 5th 2007 at 6:00PM }

The PSP Store will be updated tomorrow with a brand new game: Beats will be available for only $4.99, making it the second original game available on the Store since it launched. As fans of the music game genre, we're excited for Beats. Just like every other music game, players will tap buttons and move the PSP's analog stick in sync with icons that appear on screen. However, the game's biggest appeal is the ability to import your own MP3s and let the PSP generate playable levels based on them.

Originally developed by SCEE's London Studio, Beats was going to be quite different when it started as a UMD title. "Originally, we were going to have it as a UMD [PSP disc-based] title, but as plans for the PlayStation Store developed, we decided to change over and make it downloadable," Daimion Pinnock told MTV. It was going to include licensed music and videos from the British pop band Sugababes. Thankfully, Sony went for the more creative route instead -- opting to generate code that will allow players to play with their own music.

Expect a full review of Beats later this week.

Gallery: beats

Tags: beats, store

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

cj @ Dec 5th 2007 6:08PM

this is gonna be ridiculously good...

John the Snake Man @ Dec 5th 2007 6:22PM

Bloody Awesome!

Xoonaka @ Dec 5th 2007 6:36PM

So is it released on the US PSP store the same day, I hope?

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Dec 5th 2007 7:35PM

It's coming out tomorrow on the US Store and the EU Store has had it since it launched.

But the EU store price is more expensive than the US store price....which I find peculiar.

theMediaman @ Dec 6th 2007 6:50AM

The Canadian version of the site is the same as the US version, except that the games are more expensive (Destruction Derby was $6.99 plus Canadian taxes vs. $5.99 in the US).

Doesn't make much sense since our dollar is only 1 or 2 cents difference.

Kattleox @ Dec 5th 2007 6:45PM

I hope it's on the PS3 one, too. I have yet to DL the driver for the PC one and I really don't want to. I hate having to put forth effort to spend my money in new and innovative ways.

Andy @ Dec 5th 2007 9:13PM

$5? That's really nice. I was expecting $10-15... At $5, there's no way I'll pass this one...

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Dec 5th 2007 10:02PM

Definitely. That's a great price for some nifty software.

LM2007 @ Dec 6th 2007 8:39AM

For six bucks is a great deal and the the info sounds promising.

Kspraydad @ Dec 5th 2007 8:49PM

I'm likely not going to like it much (no dexterity!) but at that price I'll buy it just to support the idea of more downloadable titles.

B1gC72 @ Dec 5th 2007 10:21PM

from the looks of this game $5 is a steal. i will most certainly be downloading this game 2morrow. i was just going on about how i was so jealous of iPod users getting that music game from Harmonix but this seems to be very similar to that but for my PSP! i wonder if it will come to the PS3 PSN as well though cause i dont like keeping my PSP stuff on my computer (demos and stuff), i would much rather have it on my PS3. guess we'll find out 2morrow.

Kylock @ Dec 5th 2007 11:40PM

When does the store usually update?

B1gC72 @ Dec 6th 2007 1:21PM

its usually updated by the time i get home from school on thursdays and watch TV. so im going to guess between 6 and 9. im prettys sure they do it in the evening though at least. but dont quote me either way lol.

Goffee @ Dec 6th 2007 6:06AM

Been playing this in the UK for a week, its good fun since you can use your own music but lacks much pf the variety or extras that a full price game would have to throw in.

Micah @ Dec 6th 2007 7:08AM

If it's anywhere near as good as Elite Beat Agents or the Ouendan games, I'll definitely jump on this one. I'll wait for reviews though.

PocketGoddess @ Dec 6th 2007 10:52AM

There's no story mode or characters that I'm aware of, so comparing it to the $30 EBA seems seems a bit off. It's only $5, so I just don't expect it to be as deep and involved as a full release game.

Am I expecting it to be fun? Definitely, and the concept alone is enough to get me to drop $5--if for nothing more than to support more rhythm games on the PSP. I'm tired of having to import everything!

bish @ Dec 6th 2007 7:52AM

Since they have not added a Mac compatible interface to the PSP store I really hope they make this available through the PS3. It irks me that after all this time of waiting for the PSP store it's PC only.

Jason @ Dec 6th 2007 10:30AM

I'm a Mac user too and I found that when I went to the PSP PC store and clicked the download now button for the Syphon Filter and SOCOM demos it downloaded the file that should launch the PC downloader. Of course nothing happened, but when I went to my PS3 and looked at my download list under account management both demos were there. I was able to download them to my PS3 and then transfer them to my PSP via USB.

I will probably try this with Beats as well seeing as its only $5.