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SCEA Drops UMD for Patapon 2

Tom Ivan's picture

By Tom Ivan

April 16, 2009

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Experimenting with its digital business model, Sony Computer Entertainment America will release quirky PSP rhythm game Patapon 2 as a download only, meaning that a UMD copy of the title won’t be made available.

Consumers will be able to purchase a boxed download code for the game in stores or buy the title direct from the PlayStation Store.

"We're considering a digital only format for the Patapon 2 release as a one time test case as we continue to explore consumer preferences for digital content," Patrick Seybold, SCEA’s senior director of corporate communications, told Arts Technica. "The downloadable game will be available on May 5th at both retail and via the PlayStation Store.

“We remain focused on providing superior games and entertainment experiences in both the UMD and digital formats and are working closely with our partners to deliver the best PSP line up in our history," he added.

Acclaim’s David Perry recently claimed that a UMD-less PSP is in the works as Sony aims to transition the handheld to a download only platform in the long-term. Sony has labelled the claim rumour and speculation.

frostquake's picture
On April 17th frostquake said:

This is HORRIBLE of Sony. They were very sneaky about this. I pre-bought the game months ago for my Nephew who has a PSP, but not a PS3 nor access to the internet. With No UMD, that means No game for him.
Sony Should have been upfront with this to begin with, instead of waiting after all the pre-orders are coming in, and few weeks before launch, to let it slip "unofficially" that it would be a digital distribution instead of a Hard Copy!
On Top of this, if you pre-order the copy in a Brick and Mortar store the Price is $19.99, but if you just outright download it from the PSN it will be $15.00.
How many people are going to walk into a Game store buy a sealed copy of P2, without the 16 year old clerk telling them they are buying a code inside a UMD case, then they will get home, open it up, and if they don't Have internet they are screwed?
I will be getting a FULL refund on the game since I pre-bought it. I personally don't mind the straight distribution of a game via internet, what I do mind is how sneaky Sony was about not telling anyone on there "PataPost" Friday Blogs they do every week.
I also find the price a little too steep for just a down-load simple game like this. The magic mark for me is $9.99 and not any higher.
Thanks Sony for having me pre-buy the Game for my nephew, letting him know I pre-bought it, and now having to tell him I am sorry, I can't get it for you because it is download only and there is No UMD!!!
Sony, Why didn't you just state up-front that this was a download only?

rahvii's picture
On April 16th rahvii said:

Very insteresting, and this Box with code thing could be the future of retail too?. Maybe it will envolve in plastic cards?.

I can picture this, imagine a world were all game distro it's online. Now if you want a Special Edition bla bla with an artbook, a figure or whater extra for fans you can buy one of those at retail, just the box with the added phisical content and a code for the game. I think that way all the consumers will be pleased, the ones that want something phisical and the ones that dont.