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D3 Says Bye-Bye To UMD, Hello To PSN For PSP Releases
Posted by Michael McWhertor at 11:30 AM on September 9, 2008
D3Publisher is bringing its PSP library to the PlayStation Store, meaning that games like Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords and WTF: work time fun will shed their UMD mortal coils, becoming glorious digital downloads at prices well below their real world retail predecessors. Over the next two months, the following PSP games will be added to the PlayStation Stores on both the PlayStation 3 and PC, giving you a chance to play some potentially missed gems without having to get up off your arse.
Cube - September 18, 2008 for $US 9.99.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - September 18, 2008 for $US 14.99.
WTF: work time fun - October 2, 2008 for $US 9.99.
PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient - October 2, 2008 for $US 9.99.
PQ2: Practical Intelligence Quotient 2 - October 16, 2008 for $US 14.99.
Dead Head Fred - October 16, 2008 for $US 14.99.
You know, for ten bucks, I could maybe see some PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient in my life.
D3Publisher to Bring Classic PSP (PlayStation Portable) System Games to the PLAYSTATION Store for the PC for Download in North America
PSP System Gamers Will Now Have Access to Favourite D3P Titles Including the Original and Wildly Popular Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, Critically-Acclaimed Dead Head Fred and more—no UMD Required!
Premier publisher of interactive entertainment software, D3Publisher (D3P), will bring its classic PSP (PlayStation Portable) system titles to gamers for download via the PLAYSTATION Store in North America beginning this September. PSP system owners will no longer need a UMD to play critically-acclaimed PSP system titles such as WTF: work time fun, a crazy collection of fun and addictive mini-games, the original Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, 2007's multiple award-winning cult hit that blends match-three puzzle gameplay with strategy, character-building elements and a persistent storyline, Dead Head Fred, a head-swapping, third person-action game and more.
"D3Publisher is always looking to make fun and original gaming experiences easily accessible to everyone," said Yoji Takenaka, president and chief executive officer, North America and Europe, D3P. "We believe that making these classic PSP system titles available via digital distribution gives the games a new opportunity for discovery and the gamers a second chance at hours of enjoyment."
D3Publisher's Line-Up Includes:
Cube - Offering highly addictive puzzle solving action, Cube challenges players in single or multiplayer modes to make their way through suspended 3D worlds of platforms and mazes jam-packed with collectible items and obstacles. Cube will be available for download on September 18, 2008 for $9.99.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - The genre-bending title that took the gaming community by storm at the top of 2007 incorporates strategy, role-playing elements and a persistent storyline into a match-three puzzle board setting, has received numerous awards including Best Downloadable Game at the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, a Best Puzzle Game of E3 2007 Award from IGN.com and the esteemed iParenting Media Excellent Product Award for 2007. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is designed specifically to entertain both casual and hardcore gamers-on-the-go with its deep immersion, five to fifteen minute play sessions and turn-based play style. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords will be available for download on September 18, 2008 for $14.99.
WTF: work time fun - A crazy collection of fun and addictive mini-games, WTF drives players to perform sometimes trivial, sometimes mind-bending, but always fun jobs in pursuit of the almighty dollar. WTF will be available for download on October 2, 2008 for $9.99.
PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient - Using a measuring system that was created under the guidance of Professor Masuo Koyasu of Kyoto University in Japan that determines players' 'Practical Intelligence Quotient' or PQ, players move blocks, avoid walls and lasers, pull switches and manoeuvre with maps to reach their goal to solve more than 100 3D logic puzzles. As players solve the puzzle within a shorter time frame and with fewer moves, their PQ scores improve. PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient will be available for download on October 2, 2008 for $9.99.
PQ2: Practical Intelligence Quotient 2 - A follow-up to PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient, the critically acclaimed PQ2 calculates players' intelligence by using the PQ scoring system as they solve more than 250 mind-bending puzzles. PQ2 will be available for download on October 16, 2008 for $14.99.
Dead Head Fred - In Dead Head Fred, players will adventure as Fred Neuman, a private detective savagely murdered and then resurrected in a bizarre scientific experiment without his memory or his head. Players will embark on a quest for vengeance as they solve their own murder by using the severed heads of enemies to battle their way through challenging but bizarre environments. Dead Head Fred will be available for download on October 16, 2008 for $14.99.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
dsmx
Posted 12:24 PM 9/9/08
expect them at twice the price in 6 months time on the PAL store.
dsmx
Tychonius
Posted 12:20 PM 9/9/08
This thing reeks with awesomeness... Imagine if Sony just throws the UMD idea and use the PS3's online store capabilities and purchase games from there and put it on the PSP using remote play... life would be easy.. but they'll need to get the UMD socket off the PSP and replace it with a Hard Drive...
but.. too bad I don't own a psp, if only they put a second analog stick to it, I'll be happy.
Tychonius
June
Posted 12:20 PM 9/9/08
I glanced at the names PQ and PQ2, and thought this was about a NEW Puzzle Quest (ie. like the 360 expansion). But sadly, the groggy brain lies!
June
ruba-dub-dub
Posted 12:13 PM 9/9/08
as much as i like owning a real working copy of a game to smell and taste, i see digital downloading as a more economically friendly means for mandatory game distribution becoming a reality more and more.
ruba-dub-dub
-EDGE-
Posted 12:11 PM 9/9/08
Dead Head Fred is an often overlooked highly under appreciated game IMO. I hope this gets it into the hands of a few more people.
-EDGE-
MrBionic
Posted 12:11 PM 9/9/08
I have Puzzle Quest for the PSP on UMD, but it's broken. Your companions don't work, and they never did release a patch for that.
Anyone considering picking this up might want to look into whether or not they're fixing that particular bug before you get it.
MrBionic
Amazon_Chris
Posted 12:10 PM 9/9/08
@boringjob2:
Especially considering the game is an XBLA title.
Amazon_Chris
boringjob2
Posted 12:07 PM 9/9/08
@Amazon_Chris: Yeah, why isn't it yet?
Seems the perfect time for a package deal: You get it for PSP, and in a couple weeks (the time it would take for a port) when it came out for PS3, you get it for free.
Or people without PSPs could just buy it for their PS3.
boringjob2
DukeOfPwn
Posted 12:06 PM 9/9/08
If you've never played Work Time Fun, slap yourself in the face. And then get this from PSN when it comes out there!
DukeOfPwn
DethKl0k666
Posted 12:06 PM 9/9/08
wtf... moar liek what the fuck?
DethKl0k666
Tilimorf
Posted 12:05 PM 9/9/08
Hmmm. I always wanted to give Puzzle Quest a try. Maybe if I get my PS3 on the internet again by the 18th I'll get it.
Tilimorf
jackal888
Posted 12:03 PM 9/9/08
WTF ... I may get that.
jackal888
Ad-hominem
Posted 12:02 PM 9/9/08
This would be a great deal, if not for the size issues involved. Buying that many memory cards just causes me to pay twice as much.
Plus, I managed to pick up WTF and Puzzle Quest for under Ten Bucks at gamestop already.
Ad-hominem
Amazon_Chris
Posted 11:59 AM 9/9/08
Make Puzzle Quest playable on PS3 and you got a deal.
Amazon_Chris
Krytha
Posted 11:56 AM 9/9/08
Aw damnit! I thought this was a new post about diablo!
...I am so desperate.
Krytha
-EDGE-
Posted 12:50 PM 9/9/08
@enewtabie(wants a job at Insomniac Games in NC):
Thanks for the link, that is indeed a kick ass price. ;)
-EDGE-
u_nick
Posted 12:48 PM 9/9/08
Sweet, I've wanted to get my hands on Dead head fred. 15 bucks seems like a good price.
u_nick
enewtabie(wants a job at Insomniac Games in NC)
Posted 12:45 PM 9/9/08
It's a ok deal,but here's a 8gb stick for 46bux :)
[www.pspfanboy.com]
enewtabie(wants a job at Insomniac Games in NC)
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 1:06 PM 9/9/08
Cab we get Puzzle Quest 2? I don't care if it's UMD or not, give it to me!
LittleBigPlaneteer
enewtabie(wants a job at Insomniac Games in NC)
Posted 1:01 PM 9/9/08
@Grocerspride:
I think you eventually start seeing dual releases.Stores and the PSN getting new releases at the same time.
enewtabie(wants a job at Insomniac Games in NC)
Grocerspride
Posted 12:53 PM 9/9/08
And by psn games I meant UMDs.
Grocerspride
Grocerspride
Posted 12:52 PM 9/9/08
That's great. I hope more publishers release PSP games for the PSN. I don't like carrying around PSN games.
Grocerspride
TheLoudCowboy
Posted 1:22 PM 9/9/08
Dude, Dead Head Fred?
I wish they'd do this with all PSP games. The number of UMDs I've broken... hoo boy...
TheLoudCowboy
boopadoo
Posted 1:57 PM 9/9/08
I can only imagine that the PSP is going to come out in a discless format with this kind of news.
boopadoo
HaydenTenno
Posted 1:55 PM 9/9/08
Dead Head Fred is one of the best PSP games out there, but was criminally overlooked. If you haven't played it yet, then what the heck are you waiting for? John C. McGinley does a fabulous and hilarious job voicing Fred. All the other characters and their voices are all top notch, too. Great story, also.
HaydenTenno
Laughin_Caulk
Posted 1:50 PM 9/9/08
Well I'm glad I haven't bought any D3 games on UMD then! Thankfully, I have an 8gig stick, and might be upgrading next year if they can get 32gigs for under $100.
Laughin_Caulk
Thunder-1
Posted 1:42 PM 9/9/08
@TheLoudCowboy: Do you act like a retarded monkey with your PSP games or something? If you've broken more than one UMD, you've seriously failed as a gamer.
Yeah they aren't the most durable thing out there but common sense prevents accident.
Thunder-1
acelout
Posted 2:27 PM 9/9/08
now all we need is street fighter alpha 3 max and patapon(is it already on psn)?
acelout
Orionsaint
Posted 2:26 PM 9/9/08
Pretty soon I won't even have to get up off my couch. Everything will come to me, Muawahahaha!
Orionsaint
Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.
Posted 2:54 PM 9/9/08
@acelout: Indeed. I want Xenogears, FFVII, Resident Evil2, Oddworld, MDK and Colony Wars2 on PSN. Castlevania SoTN looks great on PS3 and PSP. I need more PSN retro love.
Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.
NeoAkira
Posted 3:03 PM 9/9/08
@ruba-dub-dub: Maybe for small, manage-able game files like PSP games, but could you imagine downloading MGS4 for the PS3? Me neither, and neither could the other 80% of video game owners who don't have the bandwith for such a feat.
NeoAkira
Antiterra
Posted 2:59 PM 9/9/08
PSP owners who haven't played Dead Head Fred owe it to themselves to buy it ASAP.
It's not perfect, and it does lose some steam towards the end, but it's nevertheless one of the most original, atmospheric, funny and well-written games out there (across all platforms).
And John C. McGinley's voice acting is impeccable (as is the rest of the cast's). Not to mention that the brilliant dialogue is a definitive compendium of "head"-related double entendres.
It's depressing that such a great game should bomb sales-wise. New rule: if you haven't played Dead Head Fred, you have no right to make snarky (and usually ignorant) comments about the PSP's library.
Antiterra
dowingba
Posted 3:45 PM 9/9/08
@NeoAkira: Considering how much bitching there was about the 4gb mandatory install of MGS4? Yeah, no.
dowingba
Garo
Posted 3:45 PM 9/9/08
Dead Head Fred is cool. Wish I had a PSP :(
Garo
dowingba
Posted 3:45 PM 9/9/08
@MrBionic: I remember hearing that. I have the DS version and I can tell you with 100% certainty that the companions are completely useless anyway.
dowingba
ruba-dub-dub
Posted 4:07 PM 9/9/08
@NeoAkira: internet gets faster and cheaper every day. who knows how fast a zilllion tetraquads of info can be sent in 10 years from now.
ruba-dub-dub
Kia
Posted 3:50 PM 9/9/08
Ugh. Any time I see a move towards digital distribution it makes my blood run cold. The death of gaming, that's for sure...
Kia
dowingba
Posted 4:45 PM 9/9/08
@ruba-dub-dub: It's getting slower and more expensive where I live. IE: North America.
dowingba
hagridore
Posted 5:06 PM 9/9/08
Kotaku-ers, do yourselves a favor and play Dead Head Fred!
hagridore
animexplorer
Posted 7:21 PM 9/9/08
WTF - brilliant compilation of fun games!
animexplorer
excaliburps
Posted 7:53 PM 9/9/08
@NeoAkira: I don't either. Not to mention what if your friend wants to borrow your game and other such circumstances.
@ruba-dub-dub: You're talking in the US right? Maybe it'll work there. Here in Asia there are still a lot of people who don't have stable internet access or it's just too damn slow. Yeah you can upgrade but it'd be too much money involved.
Don't get me wrong I would love to have that alternative be there. As it's more Eco-friendly and it is a lot more convenient. I just don't think it's going to happen soon.
Oh and where would the camping-out before the game is released be then? That could certainly kill it. =D
@hagridore: From the lot of you saying that it is indeed nice. I'll try it within the weekend. I did read a lot of good things about it when it was released.
@LittleBigPlaneteer: Oh yeah! I'm itching for more Puzzle Quest love and they're shafting the PSP?! Why?? Didn't it sell that much to release the sequel on it?
excaliburps
Edge of Blade
Posted 11:12 PM 9/9/08
@excaliburps: In places like Japan, let the stores do the downloading for you and the stores can work out a cut of the profit. The economy is moving toward services and game stores should adapt.
Edge of Blade
Edge of Blade
Posted 11:10 PM 9/9/08
And just like that, PSP has become relevant. Now, it can compete with DS on its own terms. More publishers need to jump on board with this.
Edge of Blade
PulpZero
Posted 11:18 PM 9/9/08
Puzzle Quest is truly a blast. Sure, it has some issues, like bugs not allowing companion abilities to work, and AI that 'cheats', but the game is addictive enough. There is no penalty for dieing, the story and writing far exceeded my expectations, and there is a whole host of things to do in the game, including different minigames.
Highly recommended!
PulpZero
greeble
Posted 12:52 AM 10/9/08
How do psp digital downloads work? (DRM wise) If I get a new psp can I download to them as well? What happens if I decide to get a psp-3000 for me and give my old psp to my wife. Can we both play?
greeble
dowingba
Posted 12:48 AM 10/9/08
@PulpZero: Puzzle Quest (I have both the DS and 360 versions) is pretty much my favourite RPG for a couple reasons:
You retain the EXP and gold you got during a battle when you die. Your life points don't carry over from battle to battle. Those two things pretty much make it the most perfectly addictive thing ever made.
Also, the story is ridiculously hilarious (not sure if it was intended that way).
dowingba
Daisuash
Posted 2:24 AM 10/9/08
Wow, i´ll be thrilled by this announcement if it wasn´t for the fact i can´t buy things from PS Store, since i live in México...Thank you very much Sony!
Daisuash
Ryodestined
Posted 3:16 AM 10/9/08
Imagine if PSP became the first handheld to only use downloaded games.
Ryodestined
armless-phelan
Posted 4:09 AM 10/9/08
@greeble: You actually download to the Memory Stick, not the PSP itself. So getting a new model shouldn't be a big deal.
armless-phelan
artofwar420
Posted 7:28 AM 10/9/08
This is really cool, if I had a PSP I'd be more excited.
artofwar420
kingofallcosmos
Posted 5:27 AM 11/9/08
Based on the other comments, it appears that my copy of Work Time Fun was broken because it was terrible. There are very few worthwhile games on it and you have to do a level grind equivalent to get enough money to buy a chance to get a game. Spending hours a day making money only to spend it in the course of a minute and having unlocked no new mini-games is ridiculous. Were it not for the Lunar Lander clone, it would have gotten nearly no use at all.
kingofallcosmos