Sony PSP marketing director John Koller has responded to the widespread rumors that a PSP 2 is in the works that would strip out the UMD drive and add dual analog pads.
Koller would not deny or confirm the rumors but did hint that digital downloads were becoming very important and that UMD might be removed.
"[I] can’t comment either way, but I will reiterate that the digital [download] component is very important to us," Koller says. "We’ve been making a concerted effort to really over-emphasize the ability for publishers to publish on the [PlayStation Network]. Fits our view of the world. Eventually the digital distribution arm will have some leverage. I think consumers right now are choosing some tangible benefits of the disc. But we saw how that movie ended with music. And we know there are certainly some benefits to promoting that part of it now."
There have been no new hardware kits sent to developers, noted Koller.
"[I] can’t comment either way, but I will reiterate that the digital [download] component is very important to us," Koller says. "We’ve been making a concerted effort to really over-emphasize the ability for publishers to publish on the [PlayStation Network]. Fits our view of the world. Eventually the digital distribution arm will have some leverage. I think consumers right now are choosing some tangible benefits of the disc. But we saw how that movie ended with music. And we know there are certainly some benefits to promoting that part of it now."
There have been no new hardware kits sent to developers, noted Koller.
