Sony Planning Virtual Console Service for PSP?

Kris Erickson • Mar 5, 2009 • Comments (5)

Nintendo's Virtual Console allows Wii owners to download and enjoy classics from the golden age of 8- and 16-bit gaming. Amazingly, Nintendo has managed to release titles from the back catalogs of old rivals like the Turbo Grafx 16, Sega Genesis and Neo Geo. By all accounts, this paid service, which charges between $5-10 USD per download, has been a major money maker for the company. Now, Sony marketing boss John Koller says that his company would also like to get a piece of the retro gaming action. Specifically, he envisions classic downloads coming to the PSP handheld through the newly-accessible Playstation Store. Earlier this week in an interview he said:

“In general there’s a lot of discussion about [publishers'] back catalogs that will finally find its way to PlayStation Network in the back half of this year. PSOne is included, but everything is on the table…We look for some of those big hits from all of the past games in their history and look for ways we can bring them over. It’s not always easy. There’s obviously technical areas that need to be bridged. But when those are solved, consumers will see a wide variety of retro games and brand new games coming to PSN.”

We think this could be a fantastic move by the company, however considering the sad state of the PSOne catalog here in North America, we think that Sony needs to sort out their own game catalog first. Hackers have already proven adept at turning the PSP into an emulation heaven, but it remains to be seen if Sony can coax gamers to pony up additional cash for old games. It works with the Nintendo console, but that could be because Nintendo gamers are older, more affluent, and more nostalgic for 8-bit titles. Tell us what you think in the comments below. Should Sony introduce a VC service on the PSP, and if so how much should they charge for games?

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[Source: MTV Multiplayer]

Comments

bidona

- March 5, 2009 8:25 AM

Sorting out the lack of new titles with old ones? Why make companies make new games, when we can just use the ones already made. And have profit. Nice. Emulators FTW.

KMack

- March 5, 2009 10:58 AM

I think this is a great idea! There are plenty of old PSONE games to choose from that would be sweet to have on the go. it would be sweet to see if they could incorporate some NES titles but i doubt that would happen. as far as price goes, id say anywhere from 2 to 8 bucks per game is reasonable seeing as how when we all traded our psone games back we got 50 cents for them

C'wick

- March 5, 2009 10:22 PM

YES-YES-YES! Finally! Dude, I have been all around the internet leaving messages to the people who make retro games compatible for newer systems (especially the PSP) and have had very little response. I pray they make this happen and then listen to the fans to see what we really would be interested in for download. I'm looking to have games like PSOne's Apocalypse and Oddworld, Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country's and Sega Genesis has a ton of games I would buy for download to my PSP for on-the-go gaming like GODS, Bio Hazard Battle (Best shooter ever!!) and those great pinball classics "Dragon's Revenge" and "Dragon's Fury"! I'd gladly give 3 to 6 bucks a piece to own these games on my PSP! C'mon Retro!!

BradicaL

- March 6, 2009 2:35 AM

I have already got emulators running on my PSP. Yes it has CFW and if Sony didnt take so long in getting these available. Instead fighting piracy (which they will never win). I would have bought the games on PSN. What they need to do is use the profits to generate more content for the PSP instead of fighting everyone who wants to use it to the full extent. The extent in which they advertise back in 03/04. Instead they lock it so tight that it is hard to make it do anything unless signed by Sony. So Sony... Please make homebrew compatible so the war between you and the so-called pirates can stop. There wouldnt be pirates in the first place if you didnt sell us so many bad games at the beginning of the PSP life. Now that the internet is running good. You must realize that piracy doesnt exist. Its called "Try and buy" If we like the game. Then we buy it. Were tired of crappy games. Made it into our own hands to deliver emulators ect to yuour users that you should have made it in the beginning for. You are creative company, but your mind is not open to the way the average person is learning computer usage. We are becoming a very strong force. A force in which you have never before seen.

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