Pata-post Friday Presents: Rumors are True! Patapon 2 is Going Digital!

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TGIPBD Patapeeps! (or Thank Goodness It’s Patapost Blog Day!)

We’ve got some great news and then we’ve got some other great news. So let’s skip the formalities and jump right in.

First off, I wanted to invite you all to the epic launch party we’ll be having for Patapon 2. Location: your house.

Now you might be asking yourself: how the jebus are we planning to host an epic pata-party at *your* house? Quite simple actually, we’re going to harness the mighty power of a little thing I like to call “the internets” and give you all a chance to download Patapon 2 directly to your PSP.

Now the mighty power of the drum is but a point-and-click away.

Yes, the rumors are true (way to ruin a surprise, ars technica!): Patapon 2 offers fans a new way to get their Pata-on with a digital-only release for your PSP.

For the Patapeeps who want and need a box on their shelves:
No worries, on May 5th, (Cinco de Pata-yo) Patapon 2 voucher cards will ship out to retail stores in the normal PSP packaging along with a printed manual. The voucher will have a code which you can redeem on the PlayStation Network so you can get drumming.

PSP Patapon 2 retail package

For those of you who don’t want to change out of your jammies to go shopping:
On Thursday May 7th, Patapon 2 will go up on the PlayStation Network for your download pleasure.

What about us, the faithful pre-order-ees?
Well, you guys will get what’s coming to ya… via mail, or whatever form of shipping you requested from the online shop you pre-ordered from. If you have any questions, please contact the retailer you pre-ordered from.

Of course there are hundreds of questions you must have about Patapon 2 as a digital only version, how to download, how to install, other Patapon 2 features, etc… and the answers will come to you via this blog, on the same pata-time, in the same pata-channel so stay tuned.

Did someone say epic party? Yes, I did, which leads right into the second great news: Patapon 2 Multiplayer!

So this is how it works….

Chris…sorry dude, you’ve run out of Blogspace…come back next week…like Wednesday-ish. – Jeff

Oh man…looks like I we got Pata-pushed today…

So I guess more details (and maybe a new trailer?) on this great feature on Patapost Wednesday!

See you then!

Comments are closed.

224 Comments

  • (1250 characters!? Are you kidding me!?)

    DD only is bad. Here’s a couple reasons why:

    * Lack of storage space. Not everyone has a new Memory Stick Pro Duo… they shouldn’t be forced to buy if they want to continue their Patapon experience.

    * Waiting. Not only would the kid have to wait to get home (no responsible parent would let their kid run around a store with an expensive item only to have it get lost or stolen)… then wait for the game to download. That could take extra hours, depending on circumstances.

    * Why Patapon 2? Why not a new IP? Someone is trying to pad their numbers to justify this as the right time to go DD only. Judging from the other comments, it’s not.

    I’m not saying DD is a bad option, but it should be just that: an option, not a requirement.

  • I was going to be buying 2 copies of this, but as it stands, I now won’t be renting two copies from you for the same price.

    This is a terribly anti-consumer move and its stupid to try to push people into it. You should at least be giving people choices about how they’d like to play the game.

  • While the decision to make this DDL only in the US will certainly polarize those afraid of change – I WHOLLY support the move to the format and appreciate the fact that you’re even providing an empty UMD case for the “shelf-obsessed game collectors”.

  • UMD or no buy

  • One more thing.

    This is why lagging behind everyone right now.

    You keep pushing your consumers to pick up things they don’t want. (Blu-Ray, DD-only games). You have even gone as far as to remove choices from the consumer.

    Your dealings with the PSP since day one have felt antagonistic. You released a great device with great potential and then you spent 3 years trying to keep people from using that potential. You sacrificed developing the system for fighting a small number of pirates.
    Now that the system could actually turn around, you’re antagonizing your customers again by trying to force digital downloads on them.
    Just stupid.

  • LOL, going back and re-reading some of the responses in the middle pages is hysterical.

    The “death grip” that gamers have on “physical media” is pretty absurd.

    Here’s a question for everybody who claims that DDL for this game (or for all future PSP releases) is a “bad move” … do you still load your computer games individually off of floppy discs or CDRoms? Do you carry around a backpack full of CDs or cassette tapes? Do you buy a DVD or Blu-Ray copy of EVERY SINGLE MOVIE that you watch?

    While I’m sure that some of you probably could answer yes to all of the above … why not just take a step back and think about what you’re saying. “Physical Media” while nice from an aesthetic/presentation standpoint does little more than to pad to pockets of brick & mortar establishments.

    As long as a company like Sony gives consumers quality DRM (I do have personal issues with the console-tied DRM that Microsoft provides on the 360) and allows multiple “activated” units (5 PSPs, 5 PS3s) WE are the ones who will benefit via NO shipping window, LOWER overhead on game development/production costs, NO scratched/damaged/defective/deteriorating media …. and MASSIVE saved storage space in our collections.

  • In fact … look at the face of the market … all three current gen consoles and both current gen portables have “software stores” which have both full versions of retail games available on disc as well as exclusive DLC only games. The market is shifting whether you like it or not. You can be a luddite about it if you’d like, that’s your perogative but the move is happening this is just a taste.

    Seriously. Do you own an iPod? How many songs are on it? Count them up. Would you like to go back to carrying/storing/transporting the same amount of CDs?

    Again, good move Sony I hope that you don’t let the “growing pains” of some consumers let you not consider more bold moves like this one.

  • One last thing.

    There’s a REASON that the iPhone is one of the largest money-making application & GAMING devices on the market today and it has VERY LITTLE to do with the QUALITY of the software available. (Because anybody who owns one knows that it’s full of shovelware.)

    That reason – Inexpensive. DLC only. Software.

    zing.

  • This kind of news gets me more interested in what the Pandora battery has to offer. I’m a man who likes choices and my first choice was UMD.

  • @156 – There is *no* such things as “quality DRM”.

    DRM is intrusive, abusive and wholly anti-consumer.

    Being against DLC not being a Luddite, it is being pro-consumer and the people who are making that stereotype need to wake up and remove their heads from their rear ends.

  • @FlyingBurrito76
    Your argument is flawed for one reason: My ipod has a hard disk that holds 120GB and my laptop has a hard disk that holds 200GB. My psp has a memorystick that holds 4GB. Which will fill up first? Before factoring in the cost benefits of removing the overhead of retail stores, you have to account for the much higher price of flash memory as well as the pain in the a** of re-downloading all your stuff every time your memstick fills up.

    Some people like download copies. A lot of people like physical copies. Both have benefits, and some content is better suited for one form of media than others. Instead of picking one or the other (and worse, not making it the same across all regions) it would be better to release both UMD and digital versions simultaneously. Then everyone would be happy. That’s an idea I could really get behind.

  • So far we haven’t seen any simultaneous digital releases on the psp like we have on the PS3. We’ve seen UMD legacy games hit the PSN years after they were released in stores, but that’s it. We’ve also seen PSN-only games, but those tend to be somewhat small and simple.

    So the real question is: How big of a download will Patapon2 be? If it’s big enough that I have to start deleting other stuff off my memory stick, then I’ll probably end up importing the UMD version

  • @FlyingBurrito76
    There’s more to it than that. CrystalX3D touched on just one reason. Here’s another:
    An iPhone is a nice item. It is capable of many things, but it’s not for everyone. There’s the cost of the phone as well as the monthly service charges, but people aren’t spending $400+monthly charges for just a phone. They’re also often people who can AFFORD to do such things, unlike a PSP which is half the shelf price without monthly fees.

    Also your analogy of CDs is rather glib. Many still buy CDs. Yes, not everything people have is on CD, but the choice is there between CD and download.

    Again, my stance is to have a choice between DD and UMD, not shove DD down our throats… at least not with an otherwise highly anticipated sequel.

  • Digital release only = FAIL
    Simultaneous Digital/Physical release = WIN

    I will not be buying this game until it gets physical release or used Eur import so as not to support this game in protest.

  • i am all for it. if more games were available for download i would buy more games. i hate gamestop, i hate going into that store, having them try to upsell me on crSTUFFp i dont need/want or care about, looking at you edge. video games carry a premium price, i want a premium experience when i shop for them.

  • @Friendly_Mugger: Yes people still buy CDs.. to listen AT HOME. Not on a PORTABLE device. Much like we buy Blu-ray games to play AT HOME. I don’t see how UMD helps on portability.

  • @156, I don’t know about you but I do know that a lot of PC games still require you to have the disc in the system in the first place. Screw all that ISO copy nonsense since the point remains valid. The Digital Download is going to be the future but to remove the option of choice between hard copy and digital is absurd considering all the other regions had a retail disc and the option to just download as well.

  • I would buy but I suck so much I haven’t beaten the first game yet.

  • @Dark_Vincent:

    People still have portable CD players… and car CD players. UMDs aren’t even as difficult to carry around. They’re small enough to actually carry in a pocket no problem… and depending on method of transport, easy to have a bunch in a protective case… which, oddly enough, still fits in a pocket. That often can’t be said about CDs and CD cases.

    I don’t buy CDs, but it isn’t really price as much as giving money to the RIAA, but that’s a whole other can of worms.

  • @ 159 Whiskey_14

    “This kind of news gets me more interested in what the Pandora battery has to offer. I’m a man who likes choices and my first choice was UMD.”

    Isn’t this just a contradiction. Using the Pandora battery is all about stealing the game from the UMD and storing it on your memory stick….a digital download and no UMD. If your first choice is UMD then that way is not for you at all? Right?

    I myself am of two minds: I LOVE having the games sitting on my shelf. However, carrying them around with me for a portable divice is a pain in the butt. Not to mention the space they take up in my house. I would like it to work similarly to the digital copies coming with Blu-ray these days. I would have the best of both worlds then. I guess I like having the choice because if the digital copy fails I would still have the UMD to fall back on.
    But I also like the convienence of having the PSN/PSOne games on my memory stick. I AM SO CONFUSED!!!lol

  • kvadair

    1. You can use a PS3 copy, your memory stick, AND use the media manager thing. So.. there’s 3 ways you can back the stuff up without relying on Sony servers. Also this is Sony Computer Entertainment, not the other companies that you’re talking about which are very loosely related to Sony Computer Entertainment.

    2. Patapon is less than 400-500 MB. That’s not big on a 4GB mem card. They are not planning on this being done exclusively yet, but they want a test for future markets. When 16GB cards are more affordable I think we’ll see this more often.

  • I like it, I have 2 memory cards filled up with LEGAL games from the ps store. Good move sony.

  • What kind of pocket do you have Friendly_Mugger? My PSP barely fits in one. Let alone several small UMD discs. And I have to carry my keys, wallet, 2 cellphones…

    Sorry dude, no matter how hard you try, DD > UMD in terms of portability.

  • Ah, but you’re arguing something different now, Dark_Vincent. You were commenting on the portability of CDs, not DD. UMD, while not being as portable as DD is definitely still very portable. So to update: DD > UMD > CD in terms of portability.

    And to answer your question: jacket pockets. My car keys, wallet, cell phone, etc. can fit in my pants pockets with a couple still free for yet other things. If worse comes to worse, UMDs can still fit handily in a fanny pack, backpack, laptop case, satchel, and other things even CDs can fit in.

  • Oh then we are in agreement. Sorry for the confusion =) I agree that UMDs are much better than CDs. But they are still a pain for me in terms of portability. :(

  • DD does not bother me as long as I can back it up somewhere. I am looking forward to this game no matter what format it comes in.

    If this test succeeds then good for the DD supporters (I might get a 16 GB memory stick if this is popular enough). If it fails, then hopefully Sony will release this great game on UMD.

  • @176 – They should do it at the same time to avoid issues.

    This is the problem.

  • Digital only? That won’t fly in my household – my girlfriend and I each have our own PSP, and digital-only means we’d need to buy two separate copies. Thanks, but no thanks.

  • @178- You could still just let her use your PSN account to download it. I think you can download it to five PSP and five PS3 systems or something like that.

    @177- I am not saying that it would not be better if they release both, but I don’t think that they will release it on UMD soon, or even ever if it sells well enough.

  • Congrats on the new marketing technique–please do more full retail titles on both PSP and PS3 like this!

  • @MakaiOokami:

    1. You can only copy it to your PS3 if you own a PS3. That’s too expensive a solution to solve a problem I shouldn’t have. You can’t just copy the program by connecting the memstick to the computer, that’s the whole problem with DRM. I’m not sure about media manager, I believe it requires the program to contact Sony’s servers in order to authenticate your right to the game. As long as it requires Sony to maintain the servers it is an unacceptable solution.

    The suggestion that either the connect music store or mini-disc are unrelated to SCE is just silly. It’s the same parent company, and all subdivisions are intertwined. Why does the PS3 have a Blu-Ray drive? Because Sony digital pictures created the format and wants it to be the new DVD. What is the UMD, it’s a variant on the mini-disc. What was the Connect music store? A place for Sony Music to support the products from Sony electronics. Sony constantly cross pollinates ideas and attitudes across divisions.

    2. Patapon 2 may only be 400mb, but other games are filling UMD’s. This is being done as a test in the process of moving all games to DD only, before that happens we need somewhere we can put all those games at once.

  • @Flying Burrito76: You’re saying that, to save space at shops and stores, you should REMOVE THEIR INVENTORY? Not only is this bad for the stores that sell disks by removing their inventory, this is also bad for the developers, producers, and the consloles themselves, because games on the shelves are advertisements in themselves, gift ideas, what games are out now, and reference points if you want to see what games are out from your favorite developer, producer, and for your favorite console(s).

  • People WANT brick & mortar stores out of business??

    I want to know, what about future gamers? I came into the game kind of late and I was able to build a very nice collection of very old games. Does DD mean once we move on to the next generation we will not be able to go back and collect those older games? Will companies continue to offer the games for download say 10+ years from now? My entire PS1 and PS2 collection was built from Ebay & 2nd hand game stores.

  • To be honest I prefer buying the UMD version because what is the point of wasting the space of the precious memory card?
    I haven’t touched my PSP for like 6 months now and eh don’t plan to make any purchases on it anymore. Yeah and like the DS is so cool because you can get heaps of *LEGAL* games and play with mates all day long!

  • How much space will the digital version take up? Also a good point was brought up, this method is got friendly to video game sharing amongst friends and family.

  • LOL! I loved how this blog was written, now I cant wait for Cinco de Patayo!

  • @184

    Then your comment here is just a waste of cyberspace lol

  • This makes me feel a bit shameful…

    Am I the only one? Am I the only one who feels like videogames are NOT any kind of fashion… Games on shelves for about 3 years. Then, they disappear.

    I DO believe they are MUCH MORE, they are culture, education. I cannnot understand why we still can purchase music or movies from many decades ago and we can’t do the same with videogames. It’s beautiful to see great collections of great games…

    Maybe it’s because because of casuals. They rule the market, you just have to take a look at Wii and NDS.

    And now, those videogamecollections are going to be valuable, as videogames are about to disappear. Too sad. I won’t buy any console without physical support.

  • I think this is just an attempt for Sony to get more people signed up on PSN. This is a pretty dumb idea though. It should be on UMD AND PS Store. Why have only one option when its so easy to have two?

  • This is a GREAT way to experiment with the whole downloading full games thing… BUT I can’t download anything for my PSP through my PSN any more! Me and my brother have been through so many PSP’s that we can’t register any more under my account, and (since we’ve already sold/broke our old ones we can’t un-register them)

    I can’t even download DEMOS for my PSP any more! IT’S TERRIBLE!!!!! I’ve purchased Beats and Everyday Shooter and a few PS1 Games and I can’t even play those anymore! :(

    I wish I could get all the systems unregistered from my PSN account without having to attach the original PSP to the PS3… Otherwise I would LOVE to get Patapon 2 on my Memory Stick! Unfortunately though, now I’ll never be able to play Patapon 2 on my PSP… :(

  • will i be able to download the game on multiple psp’s as long as its the same account? also will their be news on a new psp/psp2 so i now whether or not i should keep my current psp to play my umd’s?

  • this is so cool!!!

  • I want my games on physical media. I have already ordered and paid for this game, at the time expecting I would be receiving a UMD in a case with a manual. I will not be spending money on binary code. Since this is not acceptable, I will be selling or destroying the plastic case that contains the piece of paper which is supposed to be a game. Im very, very angry.

  • Ive been gaming for 25+ years. I want cartridges, discs, umd, etc. I will not support downloadable games. Its not because sony thinks i should ‘catch up’ it is because i want games..on a shelf. I want to insert the game into the unit, console, etc. Poor choice sony because i spend a lot of money on videogames much like most people with jobs that also like videogames but i will not be supporting digital or downloadable media. ESPECIALLY PATAPON 2. I have patapon on umd in a case on a shelf. I WANT PATAPON 2 ON UMD IN A CASE ON A SHELF-NEXT TO PATAPON.

    bad move sony

  • I am actually considering buying a PSP again if all the games are released digitally. The idea of being able to take my entire game collection with me on a memory stick is great. I am interested in Sony’s plans to release older PSP games though.

    I’m going to check what games they have on the store now and if it’s a good selection, I’ll be buying a PSP and buying this game when it’s released.

  • If Sony had any morals at all, they would address this thread.

    But it appears, as I rightly assumed, they are cowards.

    You should be ashamed of yourself Sony.

  • Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against physical media, however – everybody who has an issue with my defense/support of the digital downloads, you can try to pick appart my logic or claim that it’s “flawed” all you’d like.

    But there are epic positives in digital distribution that simply aren’t being seen because people have blinders on regarding the mere thought of the loss of physical digital media with disc, cartridge or instruction manual.

  • Rest assured whether you support it or not, if you step back and look at:

    A.)How pervasive Digital Distribution already is in the marketplace.

    B.) Realize the fact that “hardcore” “collector” gamers actually make up a microscopic portion of the marketplace.

    C.) That to the development/corporate side of the industry how attractive the prospect of eliminating the COSTS involved with middle-men (package manufacturing, distribution, shipping, brick & mortar retailers, etc.) would be.

    You’ll come to the realization (sad or otherwise) that while perhaps not fully during this generation – that it WILL become the future of the industry and there’s not much that you’ll be able to do about it other than pissing and moaning on internet message boards about it.

    Sorry.

  • There are no “boxes” on shelves for the iPhone marketplace. There are no “brick & morar” retail establishments selling copies of Bejeweled 2 or Word-Fu …. yet self-contained within the device itslef there are both VIRTUAL retail establishments and user-created ratings and reviews.

    And the total software sales for some iPhone apps ECLIPSE lifetime sales for top-tier PSP games.

    The PSP in its current state may not be able to support this model, but if Sony can manage to include legitimate high-capacity storage on the PSP 2 (even upwards of 30GB) the device can perhaps carve out a marketplace with MANY MANY more games of caibur of some of the great stuff already exclusively available on the PSN store.

    It’s no secret that there was a drop-off in 3rd party development for the PSP in 2007/2008 … in this marketplace I’m guessing that devs would be MUCH more likely to get behind games that wouldn’t need to be distributed on physical media.

  • Make it OPTIONAL

    I actually bought the pre-order even though I was against the get the pre-order for the demo rule
    But come on….
    Some people want to put demos, videos, music, and maybe pictures into psp
    but now your limiting it

    If you want the digital copy of thee game
    Good for you

    But I prefer the UMD
    Just in case my memory stick gets corrupted…again

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