I've been thinking about this since I first saw the rumor surface yesterday. I'm not sure I'm happy about it either. I like the idea of Sony trying this as an option, but not as the only option. Especially since I've already placed my preorder on Amazon.

Is it too late for us to cancel? If not, should we?

My buddy who is a Gamestop manager had a funny reaction to this:

"Can you believe it? they're releasing Patapon 2 as a download only game, like Lost and Damned. They want to kill the brick and mortar stores!"

I think we're a loooong way from the time when a majority of games will be downloadable only. At least I hope so.

If they released all the games like GTA IV Lost and Damned, with a box and inserts or instructions, it would make the download only thing much easier to swallow. I like my schwag!

You know, you guys can buy it from the Playstation Store. You're making it sound like there's no way to get it now

I think this is great. I've actually avoided picking up some recent PSP releases because I don't want any more UMDs. I enjoyed the first Patapon and planned on picking up Patapon 2, but now I'll certainly get it to help support the digital distribution model. Given the choice I'd never buy another UMD again and just direct download all new releases.

I'm a fan. Hopefully all future releases will have digital download options at a discounted price. That'd be awesome.

I have absolutely no problem with titles that are digitally distributed. What I have a problem with is the lack of information. Now that I know that I am not receiving a physical copy of the game, I'd like to know something about this digital copy. At this point, there is no additional information on Amazon or PSN. I'd like to know what it is I pre-ordered!

How big is this download anyway? Is it 500+ mb like the JP/EU versions? Or is it compressed? How much will it cost on the PSN store compared to buying a retail code?

I think $15 is a great price but PSN has a "funny money" system. I can currently add $5, $10, $25, $50 or $145.99 to my account to buy a $15 game. :/

I've been contemplating picking up a PSP but I'm having trouble deciding whether to get the most recent one with the UMD drive or wait for the new version which will not have UMD.

Anyone that can help me make up my mind?

That is my biggest problem with this decision (we don't get the choice). It doesn't help that I've already submitted the preorder only to have it change after the fact.

I've become a huge fan of digital distribution (thank you, Steam and Stardock) but I still want to be able to have the choice.

Yes. For a long time now, you've been able to use a PC.

Recently, the PSP gained the ability to access PSN directly.

Oh, sweet.

Don't suppose I can get Super Stardust HD for my PSP, eh?

Oh, yeah, good point.

You can add however much you want (minimum of $5) via the PS3 and PSP. I'm assuming that's the interface using the media manager PC app? Guess in that case you are kinda screwed Just go directly to the store on your PSP and you should be good to go.

You're serious? That is stupid. My god. Thank you Sony for making my life just a little more difficult by implementing a convenient way of paying for games and pairing it with the most inconvenient gateway imaginable. :/

I'm actually very curious to see how this pans out for Sony. I think that it's an interesting idea. They have already experimented, on the PS3, with games that are available as boxed copies in Japan and digital downloads in North America (Siren: Blood Curse); this is, so far as I know, the first full PSP game that Sony has elected to sell both digitally and as a boxed copy.

Via Ars Technica:

That's what makes it so interesting: they're still courting more casual buyers who would pick up the game in a store, but they're largely doing away with the physical media associated with the product. The retail box will contain a code for the download; I don't know that that's been done yet with a Sony product, but I don't own any of them, so I might be wrong.

I think preordering gets a bad rap - if you're going to buy a game on release day, it's the way to go. Buyers being able to reserve copies (and, barring shortage, guarantee copies - including titles that that might not have otherwise been stocked at that store), and retailers being able to accurately determine how much stock to acquire and, in the case of brick-and-mortar, where to allocate stock among their millions of individual stores, is mutually beneficial.

However, I find myself in your corner on the race to spend money on a game that lacks even a ship date. There's no prize for being first.

It's supposed to be out today. Anyone get it?