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PSP Online Store - What It Is and Where It's Going

Stephen T of MTV Multiplayer's got a huge interview with the Director of PlayStation Network Operations, Eric Lempel, a man partially responsible for the recent rollout of the PSP Online Store. Right, that's the same store that lets you download games and demos onto your PSP from your computer. Here are some of the highlights.

Besides getting small games in the same arena as PS3's flow onto the PSP (not going to happen right now, but may come in the future), Eric also says it's a way to distribute PSOne titles without the PS3.

Looking in the future, stuff like iTunes-esque syncing of content when your PSP is docked is a possibility, more UMD titles available and lack of support for PSOne titles that use dual analog controls (because the PSP doesn't support it). Other than that, there's not much really fantastic stuff unless you count some handwaving about future Mac support, but head on over if you're really interested in downloading titles to your PSP via your PC. [MTV]

12:45 PM on Tue Dec 4 2007
By Jason Chen
4,310 views
13 comments

Comments

Sqube at 01:04 PM on 12/04/07
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So... PSP2 with dual control sticks? Then you can resell your entire PSOne library.

I don't understand how that's not exciting.
OLEDRevolution at 01:33 PM on 12/04/07
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"...store that lets you download games and demos onto your PSP from your computer". Really? Why not use the PSPs own Wi-Fi connection to do this direct without needing the middle-bot?
Evan394 at 01:41 PM on 12/04/07
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@Sqube: you gotta remember from the original PSP pre-release info about why that right analog stick got the axe. There's key switches, the power button, the hold switch, the AV socket, and the right speaker all up in there. There just isn't room enough to put the right analog stick and make it asthetically pleasing. Now they could've moved the shizzle around, and really spent more time and money to get it in there, but then we still wouldn't have it.

But I'm totally with you, that would be totally wicked if they had the second stick and all the games from PSOne. But honestly, i'm hard pressed to name a title other than Gran Tourismo that uses the right stick effectively. Anyone want to jog my memory?
gattsuru at 02:12 PM on 12/04/07
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People have modded a second stick in place, but seldom elegantly.

Really? Why not use the PSPs own Wi-Fi connection to do this direct without needing the middle-bot?

Because the PSP uses a 802.11b connection, has 32 MiB RAM, and a Memory Stick interface that really, really isn't designed for bit-by-bit writing or interruptions.

It might be possible, but it would be slower, tedious, and reduce the practical lifespan of the memory stick.

Nice to know, but the lack of a lot of good games on the PSP Store means I'll probably stick with emulation through other means. When the add Legend of Mana or parts of the Armored Core series, I'll be much more interested.
Kamalot at 02:42 PM on 12/04/07
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@Evan394: Any FPS uses both analog sticks. Sounds like you didn't play many original Playstation games.
Evan394 at 02:56 PM on 12/04/07
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@gattsuru: [to piggy-back on your response to OLEDRevolution] , Lempel also explains that the interface of "using computer to access, search and download content" is easier to market because the consumer is already pre-trained thanks to "itunes-esque" type downloading content to your device from a computer. He also explains that the keyboard and mouse interface of the computer lends itself to a quicker release of the service, because developing a way to do the same thing with the PSP controls would take longer.
Evan394 at 03:04 PM on 12/04/07
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@Kamalot: Holy crap, I can't I believe I missed that!! Honestly I could only think of my absolute favorite PSOne title: Tenchu: Stealth Assassins. You can jump on dudes shoulders, and stab them in the top of the head, squirting their blood everywhere, all without any analog sticks.

However, I'm a huge SOCOM fan as well, so I shoudn't have missed that one. sorry dudes, I'll buy the beer this time.
firesign at 03:54 PM on 12/04/07
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no dual stick = no bushido blade for psp = fail.
OLEDRevolution at 04:33 PM on 12/04/07
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@gattsuru: good points. Learned something new, thanks.
OLEDRevolution at 04:35 PM on 12/04/07
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@Evan394: didn't think about your points either when I commented. Very true.
slingblade at 07:21 PM on 12/04/07
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I don't care. The internet browser still sucks balls. Remember, this was in a time before the iPhone or iPod Touch where full page browsing was near impossible without some kind of horrible "scanning" of the full page.

A second analog stick would be nice, I understand now because after playing games like Medal of Honor Heroes and Syphon Filter, ugh... the face buttons just aren't precise enough.

Honestly, I really don't care anymore. I have my custom firmware thanks to Dark_Alex and I'm quite content.
jrghoull at 10:03 PM on 12/04/07
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i just discovered ir shell thanks to a post mentioned in the forum on giz a few days ago about a linux pc.

i'm back to the idea that if sony came up with a kick ass portable keyboard, and made the system open sourced, they really wouldnt need any of this extra stuff they are doing.
Evan394 at 02:25 PM on 12/28/07
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@jrghoull: Yeah because using opensource stuff is a great way for a billion dollar corporation to pay its bills.