Film and Video Store Announced for PSP

[fitbabits]

Thanks to The Unknown Soldier for the tip.

Los Angeles, California – December 29, 2005

29HD Network announced today that it is set to launch 29MP4 Video Store Beta (29MP4VSBeta), the first full-length feature film and video download store for Sony's PSP platform in the U.S.. The first such service for the prolific PSP platform.

Beginning on December30, 2005 the 29MP4 Video Store (http://www.29mp4.com) will offer full-length feature films and videos priced at $2.99 each. During the initial beta launch over a dozen films will be made available with a ramp up to over 200 movies and videos planned by mid 2006 when the U.S. sell through of PSPs are expected to reach over 8 million.

Like iTunes and other music download services, 29MP4VS Beta will allow the browsing, selection and purchase of MP4 PSP formatted films and videos that are then downloaded and stored on either a PC or Mac for later transfer and playback on the PSP.

In keeping pace with Sony's projected goal of 12 million PSP units sold world wide in the first year, over 5 million PSP have already been sold in the U.S. Sony also projects $250 million in movie and video sales in year one.

According to Joseph Shak co-founder of 29HDN, 29MP4VS will give PSP owners an affordable choice for starting a legal collection of MP4 encoded films at a reasonable price. Bob Caird of 29HDN, who headed up HBO's launch of HBO and Cinemax as a paid satellite service for dish owners explains, "with the right pricing and selection available through 29MP4VS, this service is laying the ground work for the PSP to emerge as a true multi-media portable platform, in the same vein as itunes and the iPOD".

29HD Network

29HD Network LLC (http://www.29hdnetwork.com/). a California based company, mission is to bring interesting, intriguing, enlightening and visually stunning programming for the twenty and thirty-something cosmopolitan crowd via innovative media delivery platforms including a cable and satellite network delivered in HD and 5.1 Surround Sound formats and similar content designed for Broadband, and PSP users.
29HDN offers a daily online broadband guide (www.29hdnetwork.com) for the lifestyle of a 25-40 broadband cosmopolitan, 29GUIDE (www.29guide.com), a broadband media guide updated daily for the best of music, audio recordings and video. 29GUIDE was the first US site to allow direct download of MP4 videos for PSP through a PC or MAC during at the initial launch of the PSP in the U.S. 29HDN also launched PSP Direct (www.29hdnetwork.com/pspdirect/), the first video direct download video service through WIFI for 2.5+ browser enabled PSPs. 29Guide is a featured video feed on Sony's official PSP Media Manager software and is also available as a video podcast on iTunes.

29HD Network is comprised of an award winning team of people from the worlds of TV, Magazine, DVD and Broadband. Its key people have worked for media heavyweights such as HBO, MTV and Disney. They were pioneers in satellite broadcasting, and the first with sponsors such as BMW and Levis integrated into DVD content and distributed through POLYGRAM FILMS and Warner Bros.
Press release-tastic!

[rein]

This is awesome. Like. Totally.

[Acidpoptart]

Very exciting! However, those titles they have now are pretty craptastic. I wonder if all of their titles will be of the B-Movie type.

[bobbler]

Kind of neat, 2.99 for a movie is pretty cheap (and they are about ~300mb on average it seems so its a quick DL for the broadband crowd). Wonder how it turns out.

[bKangy]

Hooray, more detraction from it being a machine for games.

[fitbabits]

Hooray, more detraction from it being a machine for games.
It's not, I repeat, NOT a gaming machine! It's a supercalifragilisticexpialidoceous machine built to take control of every part of your life - from when you get up to when you go to bed. (And, just sometimes, while you're actually in bed.)

[TrackZero]

A much better work than this UMD movie fiasco. Especially if you can push the movies onto your computer for storage.

[Cool AN]

A much better work than this UMD movie fiasco. Especially if you can push the movies onto your computer for storage.

How are the UMD movies, in any way, a fiasco?

Other then that, most of the movies they offer right now don't really interest me, and I doubt they are any good anyway. But if they can can get some good movies then it could be a really good service, since the price is so small.

[Eric_T_Cheng]

Why would I want to pay $18 to $35Cdn for UMD movies that have no extra features when I get get DVD movies for about $10 to $25Cdn with features? I have over 300 DVDs and I rather rip them to watch them on my PSP when I go on a trip (easier on the battery than a UMD, which drains the battery after two UMDs)

[spacerat100]

bah yuo need firmware 2.5 for it, which is fucking stupid since it won't let you run homebrew. Screw em.

[GrinR]

I would love to find a use for my PSP. WHY ARE THERE NO RPGS??? WTF???

ALL the RPG franchises are on PSX/PS2 - what the F??

[spacerat100]

i would also like some desent RPGs on it.. i would LOVE to find a convertion of Xcom for PSP

[TrackZero]

How are the UMD movies, in any way, a fiasco?

Other then that, most of the movies they offer right now don't really interest me, and I doubt they are any good anyway. But if they can can get some good movies then it could be a really good service, since the price is so small.

I said fiasco, not failure. They're movies. They play. If you want to spend $20 to watch a flick on a proprietary format and a small screen, be my guest. Everyone with common sense will be doing something else with their money.

[spacerat100]

eh im in the navy and they're handy cuz they're so small. I toss a few in a sock and throw it in my sea bag when i go on deployment so I like them. I only buy them from sams or frys for $10-12 each so it's not a bad deal. The whole 18-35 price range for them is insane.

[earthworm48]

I respect people who join the military, but let me just say that the phrases "sea bag" and "toss a few in a sock" along with me thinking that you were a "sea man" had me rolling with laughter. I am very immature.

[Cool AN]

I said fiasco, not failure. They're movies. They play. If you want to spend $20 to watch a flick on a proprietary format and a small screen, be my guest. Everyone with common sense will be doing something else with their money.

I quickly changed it to fiasco. I am not saying I do this myself (the only UMD movie I have is Spiderman 2, and it was free because I was one of the first million to buy a PSP in Europe). But UMD movies have been selling rather well, and I can see why people would buy them, since they are pretty usefull when they have gone down in price.

[SMES]

I can see why people would buy them, since they are pretty usefull when they have gone down in price.

I will buy UMD movies when they are $5, and when I can get a PSP for about $100-$150. I think a lot of people are in the same position as I am. I might be wrong of course, but I personally have no use for either a PSP or UMD movies at their current prices, even from heavilly discounted locations like Fry's.

[TrackZero]

I quickly changed it to fiasco. I am not saying I do this myself (the only UMD movie I have is Spiderman 2, and it was free because I was one of the first million to buy a PSP in Europe). But UMD movies have been selling rather well, and I can see why people would buy them, since they are pretty usefull when they have gone down in price.

They keep saying UMD movies are selling well, but I've yet to meet a single person who owns one in real life (hell, most people don't own a PSP to begin with). Only claims from a few people online. I'm assuming with the numbers, it's the usual Sony case where they claim shipments to stores as "sales".

[spacerat100]

They keep saying UMD movies are selling well, but I've yet to meet a single person who owns one in real life (hell, most people don't own a PSP to begin with). Only claims from a few people online. I'm assuming with the numbers, it's the usual Sony case where they claim shipments to stores as "sales".

i was really wondering about this as well. Every store I've been to has scads of the damn things stacked everywhere. I keep waiting for major closeout sales or somthing.

[Cool AN]

They keep saying UMD movies are selling well, but I've yet to meet a single person who owns one in real life (hell, most people don't own a PSP to begin with). Only claims from a few people online. I'm assuming with the numbers, it's the usual Sony case where they claim shipments to stores as "sales".

Actually from the lastest numbers I have heard, there are 12 million UMD movies, sold. But those numbers are rather old now so there may have been sold a lot more.

[Cool AN]

I will buy UMD movies when they are $5, and when I can get a PSP for about $100-$150. I think a lot of people are in the same position as I am. I might be wrong of course, but I personally have no use for either a PSP or UMD movies at their current prices, even from heavilly discounted locations like Fry's.

Of course the PSP isn't for every, but neither are any other electronics. I was willing to shell out the money because I was really hyped up about it, and I was really amazed by the things it could do. At this point, I am not disapointed. That isn't to say I am a fanboy, I can still see the problems and not gonna defend it ruthlessly.

[TrackZero]

Actually from the lastest numbers I have heard, there are 12 million UMD movies, sold. But those numbers are rather old now so there may have been sold a lot more.

Yeah, again, read what I just said. Sony always reports things shipped as "sales". I highly, HIGHLY doubt 12 million UMD movies have actually been sold.

[dotbomb]

I bought a PSP several months ago. Bought the few games that were getting rave reviews. Currently my PSP and all games are on eBay. The proceeds are funding my new DS addiction.

The DS library of games is just plain and simple more fun. I watch movies on my 53" television. I find the picture is much better than on a small handheld screen... go figure.

Too bad my battery drained when playing my DS today while out of the house. Right in the middle of a good Advanced Wars battle. Talk about harsh withdrawal. That will teach me to make sure it is charged before leaving.

ps. I never took my psp out of the house. Ever.

[Cool AN]

Yeah, again, read what I just said. Sony always reports things shipped as "sales". I highly, HIGHLY doubt 12 million UMD movies have actually been sold.

Actually it was sold, I just checked it. And it was 9 million not 12, that was a mistake on my part.

[KidCactus]

bah yuo need firmware 2.5 for it, which is fucking stupid since it won't let you run homebrew. Screw em.

Why does it need 2.5?

[Player 1]

Yeah, again, read what I just said. Sony always reports things shipped as "sales". I highly, HIGHLY doubt 12 million UMD movies have actually been sold.

Hey kids! This is way stats, specs and sales figures are totally worthless.

1) They can be skewed to present any view.
2) Supporters will believe them, protestors won't.

UMD movies aren't about giving a great product to the consumer. They're about bolstering Sony's handheld in the non-games industry. If you're MGM, Universal or any other studio PSP UMDs are, basically, a licence to print money. To create new revenue from your existing stock for very little expenditure.

UMD movies are more of a strategic plan on the PSP's image to the entertainment (not games) industry.

They're not really invented for the benefit of the consumers.
They're not really aimed at your hardcore electronics enthusiast
They're totally not aimed at 'knowledgeable' gamers.

Which is why you get people on gaming sites claiming that UMD movies are either a failure or a fiasco. When you stop assuming that everything is based around what YOU expect you'll stop making judegement calls that highlight poor assumptions.

[fitbabits]

[stuff]
Hey, Player1 - where you been? Wishing you all the best of the season.

[TrackZero]

Which is why you get people on gaming sites claiming that UMD movies are either a failure or a fiasco. When you stop assuming that everything is based around what YOU expect you'll stop making judegement calls that highlight poor assumptions.

Oh Player1, I missed you.

Well, different opinions on this. But if they were that popular, I would know someone who actually bought a single UMD movie, and I don't. 'nuff said. (And don't even think to try and make comment about me socially, that's not in question.)

[Cool AN]

Oh Player1, I missed you.

Well, different opinions on this. But if they were that popular, I would know someone who actually bought a single UMD movie, and I don't. 'nuff said. (And don't even think to try and make comment about me socially, that's not in question.)

Every thing is relitive. The people I know, with a PSP, haven't bought any UMD movies either, but I have no doubt that they are a success because there has been sold a lot of them, and more and more studios begin using them. Most of the time you can't compare your own experence to a larger scale any way.

Besides your logic isn't really, well logical. I don't know any body at my entire school who owns a DS, but it is a big success pretty much every where. If I were to use your logic on this, then I could say that the DS is a utter fiasco and no one owns it.

[Kamalot]

PSP isn't for gamers, it is for people who don't mind paying again for portable versions of content they already own, be they movies or ports of games with more craptacular controls.

[Jukey]

29MP4 Video Store Beta (29MP4VSBeta)

WTH? Worst. Name. Evar.

[Metal Jesus]

There are some RPGs for the PSP now:

Kingdom of Paradise
Legend Of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion
PoPoLoCrois

You can even through in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse if you like the whole Diablo style of action/RPG.

[Speed_D]

Add Prince of Persia Revelations to that list (if you can call it an RPG). Fun game anyhow. UMD disc reading is painful in parts, though.