PSP UMDs not selling

[DigitalSpace]

Link (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117938320?categoryid=18&cs=1&s=h&p=0)

I'm not that surprised. Kotaku (http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/rant/psp-umd-movies-not-doing-so-hot-155296.php) says it best:

Guess what? Just because the PSP can play movies on it, doesn’t mean that the majority of people want to run out and watch movies on its screen. Variety reports that Sony’s handheld hasn’t turned out to be the second coming in movie viewing that Sony hoped it would be. UMD sales aren’t blowing anyone away (they for the most part blow) and as a result studios are cutting back the number of UMDs they make. Gee, what could’ve caused UMD sales to sag? Could it be that the UMD format movies were grossly overpriced? Could it be that watching movies on a handheld doesn’t appeal to the “average consumer?” Could it be that not everyone has a public transportation commute where something like watching a movie on a handheld would be a pretty decent way to pass the time? UMD Prices were too high from day one and with studios starting to pull back the titles they were going to issue on UMD the window of opportunity that otherwise may have been there - is closing.

[tholly]

if they were full featured, could be played on a home tv (or at least had a cable that the psp could use to hook up component video w/ optical sound, and were drastically cheaper than dvd, then they would have done good....but, with no real reason to buy them....and already having an extensive dvd collection, there was no reason to buy them.....

[s1lence]

The price of the UMD's hasn't helped either. The funny thing was at one of the gamestops a week ago, an employee was telling a customer that the PSP disc is what everybody is going to be using LOL .

[njiska]

Already talking about it here: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53521&start=50

Still it's great news.

[Haoie]

Not helped much by the battery life either.

UMD, the next Betamax?

[slapdash]

UMD, the next Betamax?

I dunno... Betamax was actually a better format than VHS. Are UMDs better than DVDs?

(Well, the smaller cases are nice I guess)

[hezeuschrist]

Not helped much by the battery life either.

UMD, the next Betamax?

UMD, the current Betamax.

[digitalpress]

I've never understood the format or the logic behind making movies for the "small screen" but let us all remember as COLLECTORS... bad sales often means "rarities" later.

Let the UMD collecting begin.

[Cmtz]

I've never understood the format or the logic behind making movies for the "small screen" but let us all remember as COLLECTORS... bad sales often means "rarities" later.

Let the UMD collecting begin.

No. No. No. Stop. Please stop. Wait. Hold on. Let's research this subject a little more.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/11862

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050829-5252.html

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/01/137211

http://www.pspworld.com/sony-psp/umd-movies/umd-sales-strong-sony-to-boost-production-001384.php

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/4940/

Okay. You may continue.

[stressboy]

I have 1 movie for the PSP, which is Sin City. My wife hated the movie so she bought it for me on the PSP. This way, she will never have to see it on the TV.

The movie is nice and all, but for the price, I would rather buy the DVD that I can play on my tv, pc at home, pc at work(ssshhhhhh), or on a laptop if I had one.

Now if these things were $10 or less, than maybe I could have seen myself picking up a few here and there. But $15 - $25? No way in hell.

[chrisbid]

ive been saying this since the day the PSP was launched.

convergence is bad for gaming

[badinsults]

I've never understood the format or the logic behind making movies for the "small screen" but let us all remember as COLLECTORS... bad sales often means "rarities" later.

Let the UMD collecting begin.

No. No. No. Stop. Please stop. Wait. Hold on. Let's research this subject a little more.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/11862

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050829-5252.html

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/01/137211

http://www.pspworld.com/sony-psp/umd-movies/umd-sales-strong-sony-to-boost-production-001384.php

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/4940/

Okay. You may continue.

Oh please, have you looked at the dates on those articles? The most recent one is from early September. A lot can change in 6 months. It is almost like saying the Xbox 360 has an insurmountable lead over the PS3 right now.

[crazyjackcsa]

Hey CMTZ, all those articles you posted are at least 6 months old. It will beinteresting to see if this is just a natural "lull" much like systems go through with games right after launch. I know when I'm working we rarely sell PSP movies. If people aren't buying them for the games, or the movies, why are they getting them, just for mp3's and ripping movies?

[njiska]

I've never understood the format or the logic behind making movies for the "small screen" but let us all remember as COLLECTORS... bad sales often means "rarities" later.

Let the UMD collecting begin.

No. No. No. Stop. Please stop. Wait. Hold on. Let's research this subject a little more.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/11862

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050829-5252.html

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/01/137211

http://www.pspworld.com/sony-psp/umd-movies/umd-sales-strong-sony-to-boost-production-001384.php

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/4940/

Okay. You may continue.

Oh please, have you looked at the dates on those articles? The most recent one is from early September. A lot can change in 6 months. It is almost like saying the Xbox 360 has an insurmountable lead over the PS3 right now.

I was gonna say that, but as i'm hardly an impratial party i decided to hold my tougne. Back then UMD through launch success, but now it's just wearing on.

[Cmtz]

Opps. Sorry forgot to put the //sarcasm after my post. :embarrassed:

[Mattiekrome]

Never liked the idea of UMD, but maybe thats just me getting old... I have a nice sized collection of DVD's and do not own a PSP, so theres really no reason for me even consider UMD, but for some reason seeing it not do well makes me smile, and I'm not real sure why http://www.digitpress.com/forum/images/smiles/scratchhead.gif

Maybe too much too soon?

[RCM]

I was under the impression that the PSP's saving grace besides coming from a strong "family" was the UMD sales. The system is still selling well and all but will the PSP actually have to rely on games to keep it in competition? That rumored E3 price drop is looking good!

[Ed Oscuro]

UMD, the next Betamax?

I dunno... Betamax was actually a better format than VHS. Are UMDs better than DVDs?

(Well, the smaller cases are nice I guess)
UMD is 1.8 GB; for the size that's really damn good (but wouldn't you just rather have the extra two inches of radius and the nearly 3 extra gigabytes of space?)

Betamax started off better than VHS, but play times were too short. Later revisions of VHS mopped up the quality difference pretty well.

[Yago]

UMD, the next Betamax?

I dunno... Betamax was actually a better format than VHS. Are UMDs better than DVDs?

(Well, the smaller cases are nice I guess)
UMD is 1.8 GB; for the size that's really damn good (but wouldn't you just rather have the extra two inches of radius and the nearly 3 extra gigabytes of space?)

Betamax started off better than VHS, but play times were too short. Later revisions of VHS mopped up the quality difference pretty well.

It is not just that, but hardly any 3rd parties were allowed to make players for Beta movies. That killed the idea right there. As above, if UMD had support over multiple platforms, it may be more popular, but being only for the PSP, naaa, they just shot themselves in the foot.

[SirDrexl]

I think them relatively cheap (compared to movies) had something to do with their early success. After spending $250 for the system, it would be easier to throw down $15 for a movie as an impulse buy rather than $50 for a game. I haven't been following the game prices; have they come down at all? I thought that once the earlier titles started getting reduced to budget prices, the UMD sales would drop considerably.

I haven't been interested in UMDs at all. If I had a PSP I might buy one or two for the novelty factor, but it's not something I would get into, even if I could watch them on a larger screen. The resolution is lower, there are few extras, no multichannel sound, and many of the 2.35:1 titles are reformatted for the 1.78:1 screen. No thanks.

[McBacon]

The PSP has too many movies, not enough TV stuff. I rarely have 1/2hrs alone with my PSP, so I can't watch a movie, but I'm cool with watching an episode of family guy or scrubs, thats whats wrong IMO.

[dbiersdorf]

I haven't been following the game prices; have they come down at all?

Not at all. It's ridiculous actually, even the launch titles are still at there $40-$50 initial price, with a few original $50 games bumped down to $40. There's been a few sales here and there at various stores, but they always end up going back to high prices. A few games have launched at $30, like Midway Arcade Treasues, but that's a given really.

[petewhitley]

Not at all. It's ridiculous actually, even the launch titles are still at there $40-$50 initial price, with a few original $50 games bumped down to $40. There's been a few sales here and there at various stores, but they always end up going back to high prices. A few games have launched at $30, like Midway Arcade Treasues, but that's a given really.

We've had this discussion before (in this thread already I think ...), but I don't understand why anyone would think a $50 price point for new games is ridiculous. It's been that way for many, many years. We're talking console-quality titles on the PSP; the development costs certainly aren't any less. As an adult I accepted a long time ago this price point. The Gameboy titles of yesteryear were at a lower price point as they were primarily aimed at a younger market (ala the "Greatest Hits" titles we see for many of the current consoles at the $20 price point).

[dbiersdorf]

I don't have a problem paying $50 for a game I want. But when I don't think the game is worth the $50, why would I pay that much? We're closing in at a year now since some of these games have been out, and all of them are still at their initial launch price. Typically console games will drop their price within 6 months of it's release (decent selling games will drop from $50 to $30 and the stuff that sits on shelves will make the plunge to $20), so why hasn't that happened with the PSP?

So again; it's ridiculous.

[RCM]

Not at all. It's ridiculous actually, even the launch titles are still at there $40-$50 initial price, with a few original $50 games bumped down to $40. There's been a few sales here and there at various stores, but they always end up going back to high prices. A few games have launched at $30, like Midway Arcade Treasues, but that's a given really.

We've had this discussion before (in this thread already I think ...), but I don't understand why anyone would think a $50 price point for new games is ridiculous. It's been that way for many, many years. We're talking console-quality titles on the PSP; the development costs certainly aren't any less. As an adult I accepted a long time ago this price point. The Gameboy titles of yesteryear were at a lower price point as they were primarily aimed at a younger market (ala the "Greatest Hits" titles we see for many of the current consoles at the $20 price point).

I despise that "console quality" term. A "good" amount of PSP software are console ports. How is $50 justified in that instance?

Contrary to popular belief, the PSP is not a tiny PS2 with a screen so I wonder how much effort is put into these ports. It's not like throwing code from PS2 to Xbox.

I'd be willing to pay $50 for a great original title on any system. I'd pay $100. THe problem with PSP being so much like a console is a majority of the titles are shit and worth as much.

[Griking]

I've never understood the format or the logic behind making movies for the "small screen" but let us all remember as COLLECTORS... bad sales often means "rarities" later.

Let the UMD collecting begin.

I'll sit this one out. Even though they're movies designed to be played on a poratble gaming machine, they aren't games and therefore don't really interest me. Is there a DVD or VCR movie collecting scene? Because if there is I see these being more of an interest to them than to gamers.

[slip81]

The PSP has too many movies, not enough TV stuff. I rarely have 1/2hrs alone with my PSP, so I can't watch a movie, but I'm cool with watching an episode of family guy or scrubs, thats whats wrong IMO.

I agree, the format would probably do much better if the videos, like handheld games, were geared toward commuting.

Much like most handheld games offer short levels, minigames, save anywhere features, to allow for people to play for hours, or in the 20-30 minutes spent on the subway/bus on the way to school or work.

Things like, ATHF, and any of the Adult Swim stuff would fit the bill perfectly because it's short and funny, and you can watch on or two episodes in the time you spent getting to work.

Even though they are exspensive, I don't think price in the main issue, I think mainly people aren't flocking to them because a)most people don't spend 2 hours on their average commute, and b)most people buy a handheld game system to play games. It seems in our current culture consumers would rather have a seperate component for each funcntion (MP3 player, poertable DVD player etc) rather than one thing that can do it all.

[Jibbajaba]

I agree with what dbeirsdorf is saying. I understand new games being $50, but the PSP launched almost a year ago, and most of the the launch titles are still full price. I've been defending the PSP for awhile now, but it's been nearly a year, and I've yet to see anything that I would consider a "killer app". Now this is total speculation on my part, but perhaps the reason that UMD numbers are starting to wane is that PSP numbers may be starting to do the same. One of you folks who is more interested in sales numbers than I am can look it up. If I hadn't already bought a PSP, I would see no reason to all of a sudden buy one now. Nothing has come out that would make me say "well NOW I have to get one!" The PSP needs a Final Fantasy or a Gran Turismo. That would move systems, and increased interest in systems would boost UMD sales I think. That and lowering the price. $14.99 is my limit as far as what I would pay for a UMD movie, if it was a movie that I really liked. That being the case, I have bought zero movies since I bought the system.

Chris

[dbiersdorf]

Well in terms of sales, the PSP has been selling well all around the world. The DS cleans house in Japan, but they are fairly neck and neck in Europe and America, so people are buying the system, that's for sure.

It's the multimedia functions that appeal to the mass market, not the games, to think if Sony would have released this without all that stuff, it would have flopped right on it's face.

While you might not consider it, Grand Theft Auto: Libery City Stories proved to be a killer ap for the system, it's remained on the Top 10 Sales in America since it was released in October. That's impressive.

[Darth Sensei]

I'd buy Liberty City Stories if it didn't upgrade my firmware everytime I wanted to play it.

Oh, and I love my PSP. I've been watching the first season of WKRP from my memory card. God I miss that show.

As god is my witness... I thought turkeys could fly...

[98PaceCar]

I guess I'm definately the minority here, but I like the UMD movies. I've got just as many movies as I do games (somewhere around 25 each). I do spend a pretty good amount of time in airports and flying cross country, so the convenience factor is very high for me. I don't always want to play a game nor do I always want to listen to music or watch a movie. The PSP allows me to do all of these in one easy to carry form factor. Maybe it's not the best at any one of it's functions, but not having to carry 3 dedicated machines is a great boon to me as I always try to travel as light as possible (ask any seasoned traveller, lighter is better in all cases).

Besides, there are going to be people that buy the PSP just to watch movies. Sure, they are most likely a very small minority and the DP readers are not a part of this group, but they are out there. All this does is help pump the sales numbers of the unit up which in turn, makes the decision for a developer to come out with a new (possibly killer) app for the system much easier to make. If a system doesn't sell, nobody is going to put the money into making games for it. If the UMD movies help move units, then I say it's a good thing. It's not like it's the same people putting out movies as it is games. Neither one directly impacts the other with the possible exception of shelf space (I've never seen this be an issue myself, but I can see the possibility). I doubt any publisher has ever had to decide whether they should put out Liberty City Stories or Godzilla on UMD.

[dbiersdorf]

And yet up until this point the UMD's have been selling and yet 90% of the systems library is watered down console port crap.

[RCM]

I would see no reason to all of a sudden buy one now. Nothing has come out that would make me say "well NOW I have to get one!" The PSP needs a Final Fantasy or a Gran Turismo

GTA came out for PSP. GTA is the biggest selling franchise of the PS2/Xbox/GC generation.


Well in terms of sales, the PSP has been selling well all around the world. The DS cleans house in Japan, but they are fairly neck and neck in Europe and America, so people are buying the system, that's for sure.

It's the multimedia functions that appeal to the mass market, not the games, to think if Sony would have released this without all that stuff, it would have flopped right on it's face.

While you might not consider it, Grand Theft Auto: Libery City Stories proved to be a killer ap for the system, it's remained on the Top 10 Sales in America since it was released in October. That's impressive.

Do you have links backing that up? I pay attention to hardware sales more than software. I don't remember GTA hanging in the top 10 for so long, but like I said I don't pay attention as much.

[Jibbajaba]

I would see no reason to all of a sudden buy one now. Nothing has come out that would make me say "well NOW I have to get one!" The PSP needs a Final Fantasy or a Gran Turismo

GTA came out for PSP. GTA is the biggest selling franchise of the PS2/Xbox/GC generation.



Yes it did. I was very excited about that game for a long time. But it got delayed and delayed and delayed until finally I threw up my hands and bougth a used copy of San Andreas instead. After playing that game, I just can't get excited about LCS.

Maybe it's just that I don't like my PSP as much as I *WANT* to like it. I still prefer my GBASP, and if I were forced to choose between them, the PSP would be out the door. If I ould get a fair price for it, I think I would part with my PSP stuff. I tried selling it once but all I got was the jerk around from one of the flakier members of DP.

Chris

[dbiersdorf]

@ RCM

Well the forum I typically go to to get the numbers isn't up for whatever reason right now, so I had to Google.

December numbers:

NDS Mario Kart DS: 800k
PS2 Madden NFL: 700k+
NDS Nintendogs: 600k
PS2 Need for Speed: 500k+
PS2 WWE SD vs. Raw: 500k+
PS2 Battlefront 2: 500k+
PSP GTA LCS: 350k
NDS Mario & Luigi 2: 250k+
NDS Animal Crossing WW: 250k
PS2 Call Of Duty 2: 250k
PS2 Dragon Quest VIII: 220k
PS2 Shadow Of The Colossus: 100k

I'll try to update you with January's, which I know for a fact that GTA was in the top 5, with Madden at number 1.

[Clong]

Im not real big on UMD movies either. I own two Spiderman 2 (It came with the PSP). I also bought Snatch for 20 dollars because I was in NYC with a friend for a few days and decided to pick it up to watch on the way home.

[portnoyd]

The iPod Video may be making the UMD format less favorable in the consumer's eyes. I mean... I could either pay $15-$20 for the 2-ep pilot of Lost, or $2-$4 for that same pilot for the the iPod Video.

The iPod Video does a better job of offering mainstream video to the masses, and it could be hurting the advantages UMD has to offer. And it also offers no removable media as well as music playback, making things more palpable to the consumer.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the iPod undermines and outdoes the multimedia functions of the PSP, which undermines the UMD format.

If they want to save the UMD movie side of the business, they need to empower the strongest side of the PSP, the games, and hope it revitalizes the movie side. They need a Halo-type killer app, and they need it last month.

[Darth Sensei]

In all fairness tho, there is no beating the screen of the PSP. It's far better than the Ipod.

[portnoyd]

This is true. It is really nice, probably the best portable screen you can get.

But the iPod video screen is no slouch either. I saw someone watching video on it the other day, and the quality was totally acceptable for watching video.

[ClubNinja]

Maybe it's just that I don't like my PSP as much as I *WANT* to like it. I still prefer my GBASP, and if I were forced to choose between them, the PSP would be out the door.

Replace GBASP with DS and I'm in the same boat. The PSP is just so awesome looking, so functional, so everything I could ever want in a handheld. Then, when it's time to play, I grab the DS. Poor little PSP. If it wasn't for Wipeout Pure, then I'd completely regret even having the PSP at this point.

[dbiersdorf]

In all fairness tho, there is no beating the screen of the PSP. It's far better than the Ipod.

The next iPod is rumored to have the whole front as a "touch" screen. With music a wheel will appear, but with videos it uses the entire screen and you turn it on it's side. Which in a sense would make the iPod video all that much better then a PSP.

[petewhitley]

In all fairness tho, there is no beating the screen of the PSP. It's far better than the Ipod.

The next iPod is rumored to have the whole front as a "touch" screen. With music a wheel will appear, but with videos it uses the entire screen and you turn it on it's side. Which in a sense would make the iPod video all that much better then a PSP.

Not necessarily. There is no info on resolution, screen quality, etc. Apple would need to do more upgrading than just "widescreen" to put their iPod video screens in the same league as PSP screens. And that's coming from an iPod supporter.

[Richter Belmount]

suprisingly I have more fun with my gba micro , even if its just another gba player :/

[kevin_psx]

UMD, the next Betamax?I dunno... Betamax was actually a better format than VHS.

Betamax sucked. Only held 1 hour in the highest-quality mode---- and only 4 hours in the longest mode. Versus VHS holding up to 9 hours!

VHS is better for timeshifting.

The original article says not many people ride subways-- think that's the main reason for portable movies to flop. This is not Japan. Most americans drive cars and have no time for on-the-go movie watching.

[Joker T]

I only own Family Guy...mainly because it was cheap and I don't mind watching a 30 min episode on my PSP.

[Damion]

I like the UMD Movies. I know they are not "taking" off and I doubt they will ever be anything but a novelty. It's just fun to pop a movie in once in a while. espically if I forgot my laptop at home.

I haven't paid more then I would have paid for a bargin bin DVD though and I don't think I could ever pay more then that to be honest.

I have 9 or so movies I think. I'll have to check.

[hydr0x]

...neck and neck in Europe...

uuuh... no, not really

[njiska]

UMD, the next Betamax?I dunno... Betamax was actually a better format than VHS.

Betamax sucked. Only held 1 hour in the highest-quality mode---- and only 4 hours in the longest mode. Versus VHS holding up to 9 hours!

VHS is better for timeshifting.

The original article says not many people ride subways-- think that's the main reason for portable movies to flop. This is not Japan. Most americans drive cars and have no time for on-the-go movie watching.

True and in time VHS evloved to be just as good, if not better then beta.

[kainemaxwell]

We got least twice as many movies as PSP games at my FYE. To help sell off the UMDs we've got a "Buy 1, get one free" sale.