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Sony Says UMD Is Here To Stay

Posted by Zonk on from the well-that's-a-relief dept.

PlayStation Portable senior marketing manager John Koller spoke with the Pocket Gamer site about the much-maligned UMD format. The disc used in the PSP for both games and movies, few stores carry UMD movies any more. Just the same, says Koller, Sony supports it 100%. From the interview: "'UMD possesses many strengths, from size to form factor to portability,' he says. The same can easily be said of the UMD's cartridge counterpart on Nintendo DS. However, ease of UMD manufacturing is seen as a winning benefit. 'Duplication of UMDs is much easier, cheaper than cartridges,' Koller adds. 'We've really optimized time and cost by going with a disc-based format.' On the topic of UMD weaknesses, Koller is candid: 'There's no question the biggest weakness is related to porting games from other platforms. Publishers are concerned about the size of UMD because they can't cram a DVD game on to it.'"

5 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. 1000 per cent jump as a result of deep discount by MSRedfox · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Sales in Japan, however, have been astronomical - in autumn of last year, UMD movies underwent a 1000 per cent jump in the region as a result of deep discounts by retailers." Well, yeah. That's an easy way to get sales. My local Circuit City blew their discs out fast when they were discontinued and marked down to $2 each. Last I knew, most movie distributors other then Sony had stopped releasing UMD movie titles due to poor sales. Sony just needs to let the format die, everyone else has.

  2. Re:Missionaccomplished? by MSRedfox · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "I just don't understand why they even need to, are there any advantages that other formats don't (and wont) have?" Yes, it has one big advantage for Sony. They can collect fees on UMD discs. If another format is used, they don't get paid for it. It is all about them trying to push their proprietary format so they get extra income. It is the same reason they want Blu-ray to take off. Nothing is better then getting paid for simply controlling the underlying media format.

  3. Re:They needed to cut costs years ago. by SCPRedMage · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Hmm... do I buy the UMD version of the movie and watch it on just my PSP, or do I buy it on DVD, rip and convert it to play from a Memory Stick, using less battery power, and costing less to boot...

    Tough decisions...

    --
    My sig can beat up your sig.
  4. Sony wouldn't lie... by earthbound+kid · · Score: 5, Funny
    Allow me to quote a post on the last /. Sony story:

    • "$499 PS3 rumored"

    • "$499 PS3 denied by Sony CEO"

    • "Sony rejects $499 PS3"

    • "Sony Spokesman says $499 a hoax"

    • "$499 PS3 confirmed"


    Allow me to add one more bullet:

    • "Sony Says UMD Is Here To Stay"


    Anyone have a guess about tomorrow's headline?...
  5. The title of this article seem incomplete. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Sony says UMD is here to stay; consumers not buying it."