14 DAY TRIAL // Japanese gamers who bought the new PlayStation Vita handheld have received access to a UMD Passport system, allowing them to move titles from the cartridges used by the older PSP to the Vita, but the same feature is not offered in North America and in Europe.
One leading executive from Sony has explained why Sony has not implemented the UMD Passport worldwide and how gamers in the West can basically get the same deals without it.
Speaking to Wired Shuhei Yoshida, who is the leader of the Sony Worldwide Studios, has stated, “The system has been introduced in Japan, where there is a much larger demand for PSP games. When you look at the release schedule of new titles there are still lots of PSP games being released in Japan and being announced for release. Lots of people who are interested in trying Vita are also interested in playing PSP games that they might purchase before Vita comes out, and will not necessarily choose the digital version.”
Yoshida says that, because of how Sony prices its video games, it is easy for those gaming on the Vita in the West to get access to core PSP experiences for about the same price they would have paid for the transfer in Japan.
The executive also says that priorities, when it comes for digital Vita content, are to adapt and release all the PSP downloadable titles and then make all PlayStation One games compatible with the handheld.
He added, “From a PSP emu standpoint, we are almost there. Ninety-plus percent of PSP PSN games are already on the Japanese store to download.”
Sony also has plans to adapt the PS Suite application to the Vita, allowing for video games developed for Android devices to be played on the handheld, although it is not clear when it is introduced.
The PlayStation Vita is now available worldwide and Sony says that the device has a 10-year planned life cycle.