UMD = The New Betamax

**xiaNaix** · 03-30-2006,03:46 PM

Exactly a year after it was launched in the United States, the Sony PlayStation Portable's days as a hand-held movie-viewing device might be numbered.

Disappointing sales have slowed the flow of movies on the proprietary Universal Media Disc to a mere trickle. At least two major studios have completely stopped releasing movies on UMD, while others are either toying with the idea or drastically cutting back. And retailers also are cutting the amount of shelf space they've been devoting to UMD movies, amid talk that Wal-Mart is about to dump the category entirely.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has completely stopped producing UMD movies, according to executives who asked not to be identified by name. Said one high-ranking exec: "It's awful. Sales are near zilch. It's another Sony bomb -- like Blu-ray."

That comment would be interesting enough, since Universal is one of the biggest companies out there. It is especially interesting, though, since they are also part of the BluRay Disc Association.

Source: Reuters

**faceless** · 03-30-2006,04:11 PM

actually, Universal is the only major studio not supporting Blu-ray...

**Shapyi** · 03-30-2006,04:56 PM

PlayStation 3 will help Blu-Ray a lot more than PSP helped UMD. The problem with UMD is it could only be played on a PSP screen. If you wanted to watch a movie in a home threater system or just on TV you would need to buy the DVD too. There is no point in buying a DVD and a UMD in my opinion.

Atleast Sony made a quick easy buck off of UMD Movies while they lasted. They were probably very easy to produce but being limited in quality and player ultimately spelled out their fate. Maybe if Sony included an official TV out in PSP it would be different.

**mike10** · 03-30-2006,05:05 PM

Well there are plans to start offering DVD and UMD combo packs
That will only cost about five dollars more then just buying the DVD

**Shapyi** · 03-30-2006,05:30 PM

Originally Posted by mike10

Well there are plans to start offering DVD and UMD combo packs
That will only cost about five dollars more then just buying the DVD

That actually sounds like a much better idea than selling UMDs seperatly.

**Drakonite** · 03-30-2006,05:40 PM

Originally Posted by mike10

Well there are plans to start offering DVD and UMD combo packs
That will only cost about five dollars more then just buying the DVD

Sounds like a rip off to me.. I'd still rather get just the DVD, and save the $5... Afterall, There are plenty for good movies you can pick up for ~$5 if you look around... Or grab some food on the way home

Personally the failure of UMD movies is no surprise to me.

**Stand** · 03-30-2006,06:28 PM

I wasn't surprise it would end like this for UMD. I'd hope it end too hahahhaha. I was wondering why SONY wouldn't release a standalone play for UMD disc? But what the point right? Sony can take its UMD and shove it up their own butt.

**mp-a** · 03-30-2006,06:32 PM

I never saw the point in paying full price for the movie and only being able to watch it on a gameboy screen.

**anigamer** · 03-30-2006,07:25 PM

I saw this coming as well. Besides you can just buy a big memory stick, buy the DVDs, and rip them to the stick. Easier than buying the overpriced UMD.

**HypERSoniC** · 03-31-2006,01:12 AM

you would have thought they would have learnt after memory stick

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