Blog Report: September 30th

Blog: Gamasutra (substitute for ‘Set on Stun’)
Blogger: Leigh Alexander
Post Title: Sony: No UMD-To-Digital Conversion For PSP Upgraders
Date: September 25, 2009
Link: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=25407

Set to Stun has not updated in over a week, show I chose a post recently from Gamasutra, an industry blog that is the equivalent of a trade magazine to video games. The PSP is trying to move out of last place and its success seems more and more uncertain as Sony continues to handle PR/Marketing for the device so poorly. Since its inception, the PSP has never been a success in the portable market. Limited capabilities, lack of software support, rampant piracy and all coming with a hefty price tag has placed the device lagging behind the Nintendo DS or even iPhones. Moving into the future Sony now intends to release a 4th update to the current hardware, a re-design called the PSPgo, which has forsaken its “software on disc” days (via the UMD drive) to utilize the growing popularity of digital download. So now much like the iphone, you can log onto the internet (via Wifi) and download your titles directly onto the PSPgo, no disc required. But if you currently have a PSP (which can also download), but additionally still utilize the disc drive, do you even want to upgrade? When Sony was first addressed about the concern of UMD drives becoming obsolete, they felt confident in saying that they were looking into a program to allow existing PSP owners to convert some of the UMD games they already own to digital versions playable on the PSPgo, though declined to say how many games will be convertible. Well, that’s because it now looks like that will not be an option at all, making the PSPgo a poor investment for anyone that has UMDs. Not only is this a huge turn off to the consumer, the price point is as well, selling for $250! Now, a PS3 is $299, which can do a whole lot for the price, and a PSP3000 is $170, which can do everything a PSPgo can, plus play UMDs. Starting to get the picture? Compare this with a Nintendo DSi going for $170 or even and iPhone 3G being $100, I think this is a serious mistake on Sony’s part. The business model for this device is all sorts of wacky and until it release, Sony seems oblivious to the magnitude of the situation. Hopefully, it won’t cost them much more than they put in.

Blog: Official Sony U.S. Playstation Blog
Blogger: Mark Valledor // Marketing Manager, SCEA
Post Title: LittleBigPlanet: Sack it to Me – The “Lots of Videos, Corrections, and FREE DLC” Edition
Date: September 25th , 2009
Link: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/09/littlebigplanet-sack-it-to-me-the-lots-of-videos-corrections-and-free-dlc-edition/

Little Big Planet is an exclusive IP (intellectual property) for the Sony Playstation 3, who after its release in 2008 was met with critical acclaim and currently holds second place for the highest rated game on the PS3 (according to Metacritic). One reason why this title has met with so much success is its ability to generate content for free, via an online community and the tools provided in game. The idea is, the developer (Media Molecule) could make a traditional platforming game (a la Mario Brothers) and develop a creation kit in game, so that once you play through the story, you could download other user levels. Combine that with strong support from Media Molecule for new designs, costumes and abilities; the game comes complete with a never end stream of new stuff to play and see. There have been so many user generated levels, that the game is getting a Game of the Year Edition re-release, which will not only include all the on-line content, but have new content created specifically by the top 18 level designers in the community! In this post they show of some new downloadable content, levels, and an up and coming designer. This is an excellent example of PR 2.0, since Sony is going into the community and seeking out its most passionate consumers to advocate for this game. These advocates bridge the gap in communication between Sony and its consumers, making the conversation a “two-way street”. In doing so, it creates an impression that you too can play, create, and share.