Starting this November, some Blu-ray releases will include digital copies that only play on PSPs.
Godzilla and The Ugly Truth—both Sony Pictures films—will include extra discs that won't do anything special when placed in a standard Blu-ray player. But when played in a PS3, users will be able to download a PSP-exclusive digital copy. The PSP copy can be downloaded over USB (we doubt it will work over Remote Play, but that'd be pretty handy).
Whether or not you own the necessary PS3/PSP combo or have any interest in digital copies of your Blu-ray movies, this news seems like yet another reason why the PS3 makes for the most attractive BD player on the market. While it doesn't have features like Netflix streaming, Sony will always put the new stuff on the PS3 first
Just awesome. Soon we will have...
Blu-ray Disc
DVD
Digital Copy
PSP Digital Copy
3D Version
All in one case!
doctorthodt
09-30-09, 11:17 AM
As long as it doesn't bump the price tag, more power to them.
Of course, it probably will bump the price tag, so screw them.
Yavin
09-30-09, 11:31 AM
I don't mind digital copies, so long as:
a) The price isn't jacked up to reflect the extra "content",
b) The digital copy isn't included on the same disc as other bonus features,
c) The digital copy disc is included in a paper sleeve rather than having a spot reserved for it inside the case, and
d) The inclusion of the digital copies isn't advertised on the actual cover insert or (movie) disc art
It's silly to have to keep a useless digital copy disc in the case only because it would otherwise make the package look incomplete.
But having a PSP digital copy is something I might make use of (since I also have a PSP).
Drexl
09-30-09, 12:54 PM
I don't know why they haven't gone to download codes yet. Are there really people who know how to use the DC disc and want portable copies, yet aren't tech savvy enough for this? They wouldn't have to manufacture coasters, they wouldn't have a DC potentially taking disc space from the movie/extras, and it would make it easier to accommodate different formats. BTW, this compatibility mess may be more confusing than the disc format war.
But, I guess they're doing this because they can. There are bound to be people who think it's really neat that they can put the disc in the PS3 and extract a portable copy. It's also a nice feature for those who exclusively love Sony movies.
Yavin, don't be surprised if you have to update your firmware to use this. ;)
GenPion
09-30-09, 01:00 PM
Just awesome. Soon we will have...
Blu-ray Disc
DVD
Digital Copy
PSP Digital Copy
3D Version
All in one case!
I hope your wrong. That would be terrible.
dsa_shea
09-30-09, 01:08 PM
I would rather them include the PSP copy right on the BD disc. It's not like they need a second disc for less than 1GB of info.
jiggawhat
09-30-09, 01:14 PM
That's great...
Sony... first the pspgo now this. If they think this is going to help adoption, they are so wrong.
emachine12
09-30-09, 01:17 PM
The PSP copy IS on the Blu-ray Disc itself.
Re-read the first post. If you insert the BD into a stand-alone player, you get the movie and extrs features (if any). When the same disc is inserted into a PS3, you get the movie, extra features (if any), and the PSP digital copy option (if available).
By using the PS3 as the "middleman," it negates the reason to have a DVD disc just for PSP compatible copies only. It also means that you will not need a PC to redeem and load the PSP digital copy. Everytihing is done through the PS3 system.
However, releases that are compatible with PSP and iPods will still have a DVD disc due to the inclusion of iTunes compatible files that are copied to the iTunes library. But again, the PSP digital file is stored on the BD, the DVD just holds the iTunes digital file.
GizmoDVD
09-30-09, 01:17 PM
I would rather them include the PSP copy right on the BD disc. It's not like they need a second disc for less than 1GB of info.
It would actually make sense if they did.
I thought Sony titles always had a PSP option anyway? iTunes is MP4 and so is the PSP so I don't really understand why they are doing this.
GizmoDVD
09-30-09, 01:19 PM
I don't know why they haven't gone to download codes yet. Are there really people who know how to use the DC disc and want portable copies, yet aren't tech savvy enough for this? They wouldn't have to manufacture coasters, they wouldn't have a DC potentially taking disc space from the movie/extras, and it would make it easier to accommodate different formats. BTW, this compatibility mess may be more confusing than the disc format war.
Download codes would require then (or iTunes or whomever) to store the file on their server. That would mean bandwidth, slow download times etc. It's cheaper to just produce a DVD and use a code to 'authorize' the unlocking of the file. I assume that's how it's always been with these DCs unless the activation code also downloads a small file as well.
GizmoDVD
09-30-09, 01:20 PM
The PSP copy IS on the Blu-ray Disc itself.
Re-read the first post. If you insert the BD into a stand-alone player, you get the movie and extrs features (if any). When the same disc is inserted into a PS3, you get the movie, extra features (if any), and the PSP digital copy option (if available).
odzilla and The Ugly Truth—both Sony Pictures films—will include extra discs that won't do anything special when placed in a standard Blu-ray player
Seems like another disc will be included. I doubt it would be a Bu-ray disc but rather a DVD.
Drexl
09-30-09, 01:35 PM
iTunes is MP4 and so is the PSP so I don't really understand why they are doing this.
MP4 is just the container format. The copy protection is different. Sony won't adopt Apple's DRM, and vice versa.
edstein
09-30-09, 01:44 PM
It sure took Sony a long time to work this out. This was announced at CEDIA in January of 2008. I think the original idea was to put any BD movie and rip it to a PSP. Now it sounds like you have to buy special "PSP digital copy included" versions of BD movies. Sony sucks.
Matthew Chmiel
09-30-09, 01:47 PM
Download codes would require then (or iTunes or whomever) to store the file on their server. That would mean bandwidth, slow download times etc. It's cheaper to just produce a DVD and use a code to 'authorize' the unlocking of the file. I assume that's how it's always been with these DCs unless the activation code also downloads a small file as well.
In the case of the digital copies that go through iTunes, once you enter the "code," you have to wait for the file to download from iTunes unlike the WMV files which are stored on the disc themselves.
Yavin
09-30-09, 01:47 PM
Yavin, don't be surprised if you have to update your firmware to use this. ;)
I hadn't thought about that aspect ... :( ... in that case, boo to the whole idea. I'm still waiting for Sony to get their shit together and release a new stable firmware revision so I can download the free Arkham Asylum and Ultimate Alliance 2 DLC!
emachine12
09-30-09, 02:00 PM
Seems like another disc will be included. I doubt it would be a Bu-ray disc but rather a DVD.
From Engadget.com:
What Sony is doing now is something that was demoed at CES 2008, which is to store a PSP friendly copy, on the actual Blu-ray Disc. This way all you have to do is insert the disc into a PlayStation 3 and transfer it directly over to a PSP -- no computer required.
All this fun starts November 10th with the release of Godzilla and The Ugly Truth, both of which sport the PSP copy on the Blu-ray Disc, but only The Ugly Truth will also come with the DVD with the traditional Digital Copy.
The new technology, which will bow with the Nov. 10 catalog release of Godzilla and separately, The Ugly Truth, eliminates the need to include the PSP file on a separate DVD packaged with the Blu-ray Disc, which normally contain the digital copy files.
New release The Ugly Truth will also include, on separate DVD, the digital copy playable on a PC.
Sony will include the new Blu-ray feature on Nov. 10 release Godzilla, upcoming release The Ugly Truth and select other releases. For Godzilla, the only Digital Copy included will be the new feature on the Blu-ray disc, meaning that it will only be available to owners of both the PSP and PS3. For The Ugly Truth, Sony will include a Digital Copy on the Blu-ray Disc for PSP and PS3 owners and on a separate DVD-ROM for transfer to Apple iTunes or the PC.
Buy: