Sony Pictures just refuses to give it up when it comes to pushing movie watching on their handheld PSP gaming system. Earlier this year we brought you word here that Sony was forced to cut back on production of their UMD format movies for the PSP because well… no one wanted them. Rather than learn something from the buyer disinterest in UMD, they’ve decided to find a new way to get movies in your hands and on tiny viewing screens.
The Hollywood Reporter says Sony Pictures is launching a video-downloading service early in 2007, designed to push the PlayStation Portable as a multimedia all-thing. Third-party downloading services are already in negotiations with Sony to use it, and they’re working on technology to allow movie downloads directly to the PSP.
What Sony doesn’t seem to understand is that how they get movies to their handheld system doesn’t matter. The reason no one is watching them is the same reason no one is actually watching Lord of the Rings on their cellphone. It’s a lousy way to watch a movie, it’s a crap viewing experience. As such, it’s nothing more than a gimmick. A few people will use it for the fun of it, but watching movies on a 2.5 inch screen is a novelty no different from the brief interest America had in the Watchman. Seen any of those lately? Of course not. The PSP is on the verge of becoming a digital watch, when all anyone really wants to do with it is to be able to play a nice game of Pac-man.
Let’s leave movies where they belong: In theaters and on our hopefully awesome home theater systems. I want to be able to see the expression on Anakin’s face when Obi Wan throws him into the lava pit. I can’t do that if his noggin is the size of a pin.
