I own a PSP 2000, and it is a pretty good device. I play Field Commander, Patapon, Lumines and LocoRoco with some regularity. For that reason alone, I had almost dedicated myself to not buying a PSP Go. Not only will the device cost more than I payed for my original PSP (as much as a Nintendo Wii costs - $249), but I would lose my current gaming library that is on UMD. That would mean I would have to pay a hefty price to get a PSP Go to be as useful as my old PSP. Luckily, Sony has a plan; I hope it is a good one.

Gizmodo interviewed a Sony executive at E3 about this very topic. Specifically, they wanted to know how Sony would protect or even reward a loyal fan base that already owns a number of PSP games on UMD. Even Apple, who constantly updates the iPod, allows for users to transfer files, applications, and games to the new device. That is one of the blessings of digital distribution. The problem is that UMD games cannot be copied (legally), and therefore they could not be transferred. Here is what Sony's John Koller had to say:

"We're in the midst of putting together a good will program... a short term good-will program that would continue for years afterward."

To me, goodwill needs to mean free or very low cost. In my dreamworld, I would be able to get all of my current games through the PSN. I do not know how the details regarding anti-piracy or honest ownership. My best guess will be that current PSP owners will be able to get "credits" at the PSN store to purchase their origin games back by trading their old disks in. Whatever the plan is, I hope it is a good one. Replacing even a modest number of games would be a deal breaker for many users when it comes time to buying a new PSP Go.

Via Gizmodo