PSP Movies Now Showing in Japan
You can now watch films through the magic of "connectivity" - with Sony's own PSP thing.
In addition to the raw gaming power provided by Sony's new PSP handheld, the portable is also a potent media playback device, with support for popular video and audio formats.
Get your movies on PSP right now... sort of.Sony is also in the process of convincing movie studios to release movies on the company's proprietary PSP storage format, the Universal Media Disc (UMD), but for the most part UMD movies are still a way off.
Downloads, though, are another option for movie distributors, and it's one that Japanese company PDA Cinema Contents is putting into use right away.
Starting on Thursday, the company is putting up four of its Japanese titles for download. After a credit card payment, the movies are downloaded on to Memory Stick on the PSP.
The movies are all Japanese productions, and there has been no word yet from Hollywood regarding a similar setup any time soon.
Sony has been keen to push the PSP's WiFi and Memory Stick functionality. The majority of the company's first batch of games for Europe have been confirmed to feature downloadable content.
And with the PSP set for launch in both North America and Europe in the next few months, Western movie studios are bound to get into the downloading act soon.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games
Satoru Iwata Video Interview - the late Nintendo president spoke with Kikizo in 2004 as 'Nintendo Revolution' loomed.
Kaz Hirai Video Interview - the first of Kikizo's interviews with the man who went on to become global head of Sony.
Ed Fries Video Interview - one of Xbox's founders discusses an epic journey from Excel to Xbox.
Yu Suzuki, the Kikizo Interview - we spend time with one of gaming's most revered creators.
Tetris - The Making of an Icon: Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers reveal the fascinating story behind Tetris
Rare founders, Chris and Tim Stamper - their only interview? Genuinely 'rare' sit down with founders of the legendary studio.
The History of First-Person Shooters - a retrospective, from Maze War to Modern Warfare