PSP to Get Classic Game Download Service

Krishna Dagli writes to mention an Ars Technica story about a classic game download service for the PSP. It's supposed to work with the PS3 as well, and will at this point mostly consist of old PS1 titles. From the article: "According to Kawanishi, the new service will work either through a PC with a broadband connection, or through the PlayStation 3 itself. The user will be able to download games designed for the original PlayStation 1, which according to the Sony head works well. 'As for emulation power there is no problem,' he said, although he added that some changes have to be made to the games because the PSP only has a single analog stick and fewer control buttons than the PS1. He did not mention which titles would be made available, but he mentioned how Amazon had a list of "all books," indicating that Sony probably wants to put a large number of games on the service."

My advice:

[RichPowers]

It seems more and more consoles are providing classic game download services. This means that copyright holders will have a vested interest in shutting down ROM and Emulator sites, for these will take away business from the "legal" download service. So download ROMS while you can, before the packs of lawyers start searching for targets.

Re:and the sound you hear are the crickets....

[oahazmatt]

because no one will buy a psp anymore....

I despise the machine, but refuse to say no one will buy it. Also, it increases the game library for the system. It's no different from Nintendo releasing their NES line for the GBA. And yes, homebrew kits allowed for emulation of older content prior to this, but this one is actually...

*looks about... whispers*

Legal.

Re:bound to fail

[Manmademan]

maybe to support the people who's hard work went into the games? Just a thought.

Re:My advice:

[Abcd1234]

So download ROMS while you can, before the packs of lawyers start searching for targets.

Or, god forbid, buy a copy.

Re:missing 2 buttons

[MoriaOrc]

this is honestly a big deal, the lack of R2 and L2, as well as no right hand stick is going to flat out cut out a number of games from being played this way.

The analog sticks where barely even used on the PS1. And the games that did always worked fine with the classic DPad controller anyway. (Don't forget, PS1 didn't get the dual shock for quite a while).

As for L2/R2, that is a pretty big problem. Best solution I can think of off the top of my head is, analog stick for movement (replaces D-Pad), and use some of the PSP's DPad to replace the missing buttons (but that's very awkward).

Oh well, it all comes down to how they pull it off, if it is done correctly, then I can see this realy boosting PSP sales (there are some GOOD PS1 games out there).

I have a PSP, and I'd say that if this takes off and gets some good games in it, I would seriously consider getting a bigger memory stick (since I doubt the 32-meg it came with would work all that well for storing games), and even re-buying one or two of my old PS1 games (plus there were certainly quite a few good games in that generation I missed anyway).

Hell, I was already planning to buy Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth as soon as Best Buy (which I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole if I didn't have a 50$ gift card to spend) gets it back in stock, and it's supposed to be a "Remake with better cutscenes" deal (think the FF:Anthologies/Origins for PSX).

Re:My advice:

[puddpunk]

Also, I find it amusing that you don't trust E-Bay or second hand sites but a bunch of pirates and their warez on their spyware-ridden sites are a-ok?

Emulators are useful for developing homebrew

[tepples]

while emulators haven't received a lot of legal attention in the past, IP holders

I am an IP holder; my IP is 69.246.213.81, leased from my ISP. If you are referring to copyright, say "copyright" [gnu.org]. And yes, I am a copyright owner as well.

may also start attacking them as "adjuncts to piracy".

Could Microsoft reasonably attack Bochs [sourceforge.net], claiming that it "enables" the use of unauthorized copies of MS-DOS? No, because FreeDOS (which recently turned 1.0 [zdnet.co.uk]) works on Bochs. Likewise, when I use VisualBoyAdvance [ngemu.com] to run my own programs [pineight.com] and others' [gbadev.org], whose copyright am I infringing?

Re:Sony Innovation

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"I don't know why Sony keeps getting such a hard rap."

- $600.
- Blu-Ray.
- Delays.
- Controller.
- Root-kit.
- Real-time weapon switch.