UMD Not Over Yet Says Sony Boss

[wraggster]

Via spong

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s UK MD, Ray Maguire, claims that the heavily criticised UMD format has a future, despite a number of film studios opting out of producing movies on the format and numerous retailers scaling down their UMD* offerings.

What is the heavy criticism to which we allude? Unacceptably high cost and the fact that it’s become increasingly harder to actually find them in-store of late, will do for two.

Speaking to trade magazine, MCV, Maguire told explained, “We’re pretty pleased with UMD… UMD has a fantastic attachment ratio. Where we’ve struggled a little is getting a decent proposition for full-length movies.”

He continued, “UMD is not the problem – it’s getting the right content that’s the challenge. When we put shorts on UMD they sell really well, and that’s related to PSP usage. It’s about getting the offer right, and we will do that.”

Let us know your own thoughts in the forums. Do you think the format has a future? Do you still buy UMDs? And if so which ones?

[shrimpidy]

First comment. I think the only way that umd's could have a future is if Sony or some other company releases something like a umd writer/reader. I do have a problem with durabuility though. With about 6 of my games, the clear plastic top cracked in but luckily not all the way. If you start the umd with the plastic down, the disk won't spin. Does anyone have any suggestions other than tape which is what I did to my gta that cracked in all the way.

[TCLCloud]

I will still buy UMD's at the right price, between £5-£10 is about right i think, seeing as it doesnt include bonus features or exclusive PSP content like wallpapers you can download from them. Also if they included the soundtracks as listenable on your PSP that would be cool.

[Nookadum]

All they have to do is lower the prices on UMD movies (and maybe games, but they're just as cheap as GBA/DS ones now too) and they'll get even better sales.

I for one would like to see the Godfather trilogy in UMD format.

[FOL]

I will still buy UMD's at the right price, between £5-£10 is about right i think, seeing as it doesnt include bonus features or exclusive PSP content like wallpapers you can download from them. Also if they included the soundtracks as listenable on your PSP that would be cool.

I agree, but they will never go for £5 to £10 price tag, they have and always will be greedy. Its just like games, you look around the shops and almost every psp game is around £40 (even if they are really crap games), even the platinum range sucks at £20 a game, they should be much cheaper at around £10 to £15. Just means I have to wait until I have enough money for a game I really like the look of, then buy it to find out I wasted money (i.e. Field Commander, it looked like a C&C clone, but suprised was I to find it was turned based, ).

[mcvader]

My gta case is broken too (it did get a lot of usage in my e-loader days) , the only UMD i ever brought was FFVII advent children for $35, I got it home and realized it needed 2.6fw so it sat on the shelf for a couple of months (EBgames dosn't let you return UMD's) untill 2.6 devhook came out, lucky it was a good movie. I'd buy UMD's for $10-15 but thats about it (and even then only untill I get myself a 4gig memstick) .

[mr_nick666]

A UMD player (a pocket size player that plugs into the TV) might save/revive the UMD If there was a recorder too then that would definately be a lifeline

[ceriaz]

Personally, I don't think that the UMD format in its current state has a future. It is most times unbearably slow. From turning the PSP on from a cold start to game play is just too long.

[mnuhaily22]

Screw UMD's, they are way over, For me, I just buy a game, then rip it, and then let it collect dust in my room, because of the following:
1.Way too slow
2.Way way too slow
3.I'm not pirating anything, so why not?
4.Too loud(Can't play in class.lol)
5.Too big to carry around
6.All my games now fit on my 2GB memory stick(CSO).
So why not?

[mnuhaily22]

Sorry, I know iso talk is not allowed on this site