PS1 Digital DL Classics For Store: Not Worth The Effort?

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While Japan has received plenty of PS1 downloadable classics on the PlayStation Store, the other parts of the world haven't been so lucky. Sure, we've got a few great ones, but nothing like the catalog currently available in the Land of the Rising Sun. But according to SCE Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida, it's about third-parties being reluctant, and the fact that profits wouldn't be significant enough.

Joystiq's PSP Fanboy spoke to Yoshida about the subject, and asked why North America and Europe didn't have the selection of PS1 classics on the Store that Japan has. Yoshida responded by saying, "I'd like to see more games on that as well...[but] we haven't done enough with third party publishers." He went on to say that digital downloads like these aren't exactly lucrative and called the income potential "insignificant." Furthermore, there are added obstacles that always come from licensing issues, especially in regards to the music in those old games. All in all, the combined difficulty of bringing a large number of more of the PS1's greatest titles to the Store isn't really worth the effort. However, this doesn't mean Sony is abandoning the idea; they just have to do some convincing: "Maybe if you can convince the third parties," Shuhei finished.

Much like the case with backwards compatibility, it seems that Sony retains its forward thinking with the PS3, and while they always want to keep their loyal customers, this remains a business. If PS1 classics aren't worth it, they're not worth it...or would you rather pay a lot more for them? That's a question one might want to ask PS3 owners.

7/17/2008 Ben Dutka

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