Tokyo Game Show 2009: SCEE confirms there will be no PSPgo UMD conversion method

PSP owners have just been given another reason to think twice about upgrading to the PSPgo. The first pause would naturally be caused by the PSPgo’s $249.99 price point, about $100 more than a standard PSP and now even $50 more than a Wii. The second pause will be caused by the latest news from Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) – there’s no method for converting UMD games to digital ones in sight.

That’s right owners of PSPs with a UMD drive. If you decide to upgrade to a PSPgo, all of those UMDs are useless. They’re even to small to use as coasters! Last night Kotaku reported the heartbreaking news that the UMD conversion program was a pipedream. The SCEA representative spoken to said the program won’t be available “at this time.” So much for the conversion kiosks people were teased with at E3 2009. Now, at TGS 2009, SCEE has announced that there won’t be any UMD conversion method available in Europe either.

Yes, SCEE is going to offer you three free games with the PSPgo Rewards Program if you have an existing PSP and UMD, but IndustryGamers has gotten word from SCEA that residents of North America aren’t going to have that luxury. It’s a shame, really. Even more so when you consider how many people probably own a PSP. I suppose there’s a brightside – the PSP is a haven for RPGs and RPG lovers, and that list of 17 games SCEA had didn’t have a single one on it.

Let’s review who the PSPgo is really designed for now. It’s obviously not made for current PSP owners, since current PSP owners likely have between one and five UMD games that they don’t want to have to pay full price for so it can be played on a new unit. It’s probably not the first choice for PSP hackers, since those users could pick up a cheaper PSP and add their custom firmware. It isn’t for parents with children under 13, since they tend to get their kids the cheapest handheld system possible and a slew of affordable used games. Given the cost, let’s rule out college students as well – anyone eating packages of 10 cent ramen and two day old pizza doesn’t have a spare $250 lying around. Better make that more like $275 – you can’t have a system without a game after all. Teenagers are probably out too – they may be willing to spend their money on practically anything, but they’re smart enough to know an old PSP and games would be a better choice. I’m stumped. Who do you think will be buying the PSPgo?

Read [GameSpot] Also Read [Kotaku] Also Read [IndustryGamers] Via [Joystiq] Also Read [Gamertell]