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Sony To Bundle UMDs With DVDs

Posted by Zonk on from the getting-the-format-out-there dept.

Eurogamer has the word that Sony is planning to bundle UMD versions of movies with DVDs in order to increase the public's exposure to the PSP-specific format. From the article: "From March 28th, PlayStation Portable owners will be able to purchase DVD-UMD bundles for movies The Grudge, Resident Evil, Underworld, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and The Terminator. April 25th will see the arrival of Ghostbusters, Mad Max, The Fifth Element and Snatch, and more bundles will follow in May."

3 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. UMDs With DVDs by Rapsey · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have no idea what this means, but it sounds dangerous.

  2. Re:Will they ever uncripple the video? by Claws+Of+Doom · · Score: 4, Informative

    While accepting that there's no good reason except pushing the UMD format for crippling the video, there's plenty of good software out there to convert from DVD to a format suitable (and eminently watchable) for the PSP. Sounds like you need DVD Decrypter and PSP Video 9. These might help: http://seamonkey420.tech-recipes.com/psp/dvd_to_ps p.html http://www.pspvideo9.com/ I live in a country that allows me to view the video as I please, having bought a copy of it. Just make sure you do to... (And yes, I advocate emigrating)

  3. Overall goal? by RyoShin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So, if I understand this correctly, Sony is bundling the UMDs with the regular DVDs to try and get the regular public more interested in the PSP, right?

    But, from the article, the bundles will cost around US$25. Most, if not all, of the movies listed are already available for $15 or so. Why would the average consumer spend an extra $10 to get another copy of a movie that they wouldn't be able to use? The only time I can see them buying this is that they either don't know what they're getting, or they have a relative with a PSP and want to get a cheap gift.

    All this will accomplish will be increasing the amount of UMDs sold, as those with both a PSP and DVD player will be more inclined to get the bundle, so he can choose when, where, and how to watch the movie. I don't see anyone buying a $200 portable gaming system because they paid an extra $10 for media for it.

    Sony can, of course, spin the result, saying that there is a higher UMD saturation in the market after the fact, or there is now a bigger system:UMD ratio.