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PSP trophies axed, UMD goodwill program reportedly planned

Hacking issues will prevent a portable extension of achievement system; plan to offer early adopters downloadable versions of disc-based PSP games. [UPDATE] Sony confirms PSP trophies a no-go.

During last week's massive 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo data dump, several revelations that would have made front-page news during a normal week slipped through the cracks--revelations like the PlayStation 3's trophy achievement system won't be coming to the PSP, as had been indicated during GameSpot's E3 2008 stage show.

Looks like no virtual glory for PSP owners.

Looks like no virtual glory for PSP owners.

Speaking to gaming blog Joystiq, director of PlayStation Network operations Eric Lempel--who first demonstrated trophies on the PS3 last summer--said they were no longer in the works for the portable. "You're not going to see trophies on the PSP," he reportedly said, before outlining the reasoning behind the decision.

"If people can artificially inflate their rankings and amounts of Trophies, it kills the whole system," explained Lempel. Given that virtually every PSP firmware update is hacked within days of going live, a combined PS3-PSP trophy system could be susceptible to manipulation. Lempel said that "keeping it secure [and] keeping it fair" were Sony's top trophy-system priorities and trumped a desire to bring the system to the PSP and its just-announced sibling, the PSP Go. The new sliding-control, UMD-drive free portable goes on sale October 1.

Speaking of the PSP Go, another Sony executive offered some welcome news to early adopters who stocked up on PSP games on the handheld's optical disc format, the UMD. Gizmodo reports that Sony Computer Entertainment America hardware marketing director John Koller, star of the leaked video that preemptively revealed the PSP Go, said that the publisher is readying a program to let UMD owners download titles they already own to the PSP Go.

"We're in the midst of putting together a goodwill program," Koller told the blog. "We'll be unveiling that soon [since] we actually think there's a significant group that will be upgrading. ... In the past, we've seen a 20 to 25 percent trade-up factor, and I assume that's going to be the case here. We've modeled that. So we're looking at a goodwill program--a short-term goodwill program that would continue for years afterward."

[UPDATE] SCEA reps have now confirmed to GameSpot that the PS3's achievement system will definitely not make it to its little brother. "We do not have plans for trophy support on the PSP at this time," a rep said. As for the goodwill program, the rep said that "we are considering various programs to support purchased UMD games, but do not have final plans confirmed at this time."

223 Comments

  • padfoot922

    Posted Jan 27, 2010 1:02 am GMT

    We want Trophies!!!! We want Trophies!!!! We want Trophies!!!! We want Trophies!!!! We want Trophies!!!!

  • athenian29

    Posted Oct 19, 2009 7:19 pm GMT

    And of course, they cancelled the UMD conversion program too.

    More like a PSP No-Go. I think I'll stick with the 3000, thank you very much.

  • Voltergeist

    Posted Sep 27, 2009 6:41 pm GMT

    One more reason to not get a psp-go.

  • shentonio

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:03 pm GMT

    Not too worried about the lack of trophies on PSP, but I do think that they are a good addition to most games. It can get a bit excessive chasing every last trophy, but if a game is worth replaying anyways then it doesn't really hurt when you get trophies.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 1:36 pm GMT

    how is it hackerable, what makes if different from a ps3 or ps2. you made it so fix it

  • maverick_76

    Posted Jun 14, 2009 4:24 pm GMT

    Also the goodwill program is nice because I do have about 5-7 PSP games on UMD, even though I might not get the GO, at least I know if I do upgrade I won't have to buy those games all over again.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Jun 14, 2009 4:22 pm GMT

    Trophies are nice but seriously I could care less about them, if I get one, great but I don't go play the game all over just to get that last trophy. If the game is good I will play it again but not for a silly virtual trophy.

  • masterds64

    Posted Jun 14, 2009 4:45 am GMT

    ...won't pirates abuse the good will system of the UMD's?

    Seriously...they are walking right into it..but at least it helps them out (psp gamers) and really there isn't much to do with them...

    As for trophies...being an anti social gamer I have no need for these crappy things..."oh look I got the trophy for 1 million hours of gameplay" woopty-bloody do!


    I can't believe I'm in the same age bracket of people who actually WANT these things...what about those rare proud gamers who would (once beaten a game 100%) would erase it and start again?


    ...if you think my opinion is bad, I know what my farther would say...


    'It's still the same old bloody thing!"

  • JayProBii

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 11:55 pm GMT

    Trophies would have been pretty cool. They are great on PS3 (but frustrating at times).

  • NuKkU

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 8:49 pm GMT

    ahh it would've been awesome if the PSP would have trophies

  • FinalDuo1886

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 5:10 am GMT

    @ Sins-of-Mosin

    I agree!

  • dbpvivi

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 1:54 am GMT

    Unless they provide a way for people to get their PSP games on the PSPGo for no extra cost then a lot of gamers are going to be put off.

    I have a Psp 1004 with cfw and 32gb SD card Hard Mod. However I have gone out of my way to buy UMD's to support the developers. There is no reason for me to upgrade if I can use any of the 28 psp game I own.

  • khaos12a

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 9:30 pm GMT

    I have a hacked firmware, and I think we could totally do it

  • BigBoss7460

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:37 pm GMT

    Maybe us modders could just make a trophy program ourselves..haha

  • tjoeb123

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 6:15 pm GMT

    What's a "goodwill program"? (in this case)

  • Chrysus

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 5:21 pm GMT

    Great news on the trophies being axed Now axe them... sorry. Make them an optional feature for the PS3. I've never been keen on the idea but I now feel they are dictating the way I play. Fair enough they add a bit of life span to a game but the majoirty of trophies are so simple to get it's pointless & there is no originlaity on the challenges.

  • mAD_ADaption

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 3:46 pm GMT

    A simple solution would be to go after the hackers...
    Ban the people hacking your system.
    Show them who's boss.
    Sue their ass.

    If your going to disappoint your fan base, don't do it by giving in to these people.
    Take a stand.

  • mouthforbathory

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 12:29 pm GMT

    Sony should've just created a whole new system instead of making another PSP upgrade. This whole Nintendo-ish practice is getting ridiculous.

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 12:00 pm GMT

    The Xbox 360 has piracy but probably affects maybe 1% of gamerscores as it requires more hacking ect ect. Sony just looking for an excuse.

  • gnrlstuart

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:13 am GMT

    oh and another thing to add, let psp owners transfer games to the memory stick like with xbox 360, but make sure that it is impossible to move the data, or hack, it.
    this would improve psp 3000 battery life, the disc noise, and loading times.

  • gnrlstuart

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:10 am GMT

    how about allow users to copy games to the psp go by putting the umd in an old psp, and transfer the data via 802.11b, or a special cable to the go. the good will programme sounds flawed, as i can then make money out of sony, just trade in the game i got a download for.

  • necronaux

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 9:29 am GMT

    How many games (umd movies, etc.) will fit on a stick? So, instead of collecting and storing UMD discs, you'll have to collect sticks, and keep track of what UMD is on what stick. Once uploaded, do you have to (?) turn in the disc?

    Sounds like it would be better to just keep your PSP, with the UMDs, and not even bother with the upgrade and 'goodwill' transfers.

  • Hawk456

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:39 am GMT

    I would be more willing to buy a PSP Go (IF AND ONLY IF) I can transfer my UMD games to it in one form or another. If they effectively become coasters, it will be a long time before I am willing to get burned again. Backwards compatibility matters to me - even if I don't use it much, I want the option! I didn't buy a 360 until there was sufficient BC and I bought a PS3 b/c they were discontinuing BC. Sony - respect the customer and they will pay you. Treat me like a cash machine and I'll move on.

  • zskrabs24

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 6:50 am GMT

    @zinoalex

    i don't understand your logic. you would only be getting a digital copy of that disc to play off of a memory stick. you won't have to REBUY the game. i don't know if you thought that or not. it is almost like using your UMD as a voucher for the download.

  • zskrabs24

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 6:48 am GMT

    for those complaining about not having physical copies of your things i pose this question, what about that most likely HUGE library of music sitting in your computer? do honestly own every single one of those songs on a CD? i have close to 5000 songs on my computer. at 12 songs a CD i would need to own 417 CD's. do you really want me to have to put one of those different CD's in everytime i want to hear a certain song. i tell you i don't need to have a physical copy for everyone of those songs. i gaurantee you don't either. so whats the big deal not having the UMD in your hand? it is more of a hassle in my opinion.

  • axtenren

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 1:54 am GMT

    I kinda excited with this....i travel alot. I need more portablility. I hate bringing umd disc..i have tons of them. They should make it a cellphone too so that evrything i need for travel is in one sleek unit. Well, an unlock cellphone where you can just plug a sim card and there you go. PSP go that is compatible to those counrty that I'm visiting like japan, s. korea, Philippines etc...

  • zinoalex

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:27 pm GMT

    This PSP Go does not enthuse me at all.I own a 2000 series model and I am happy with for the most part. The lack of trophies on the PSP is not a big loss to me but it would have made the games more fun.You could see goals clearer and also compare how you are doing against a worldwide community. The lack of the UMD is what really has me turned against Sony at this time.I don't rent a lot of games.I own 10-15 games and would own if more good titles were available.But they're not. I don't want to download what I already own unless there have been improvments made to the games. 'nuff said.

  • Da_Skull_King

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 5:08 pm GMT

    damn hackers ruining everyones fun....

  • Timbydude

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 4:18 pm GMT

    I don't think a lot of people understand that you'll still be able to download the new games to your old PSP. The only advantage of the new one is that it's smaller. Since I rent a lot of my games, I'm definitely going to buy the 3000, not the Go.

  • Eastcoast93

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 1:06 pm GMT

    oh right credit card...hmm the psp died for me...sony guys honestly don't you think about your decisions??

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 12:38 pm GMT

    Sell my PSP 3000, buy a PSPGo and transfer my lot over to that. Simples.

  • namdead01

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:40 am GMT

    I don't own as many UMDs and I am considering getting a PSP Go! but the only problem for me is, I won't be 18 untill Jan 2011 and only then will I have a credit card to buy DLC. I'll have to use like my parents credit card, with their permission and that I won't be too fond of, but hey, the PSP Go! is better then my broken old PSP-1000 series.

  • Megavideogamer

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:01 am GMT

    The Psp Go! is Sony's first download only gaming system. Download only, may fly on the iPhone as mostly they are shorter games. But this could easily end up as Psp Stop!

  • GC4ever

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 1:03 am GMT

    psp go really doesnt sound like my kind of thing
    i would much rather have the umd in my hand
    its just better for me knowing i actually own it, just like cd's, dvd'and other things
    it sucks that the psp trophy system is a no go
    i was just thinking about that the other day..........
    o well its not like i play my psp all the time anyways.......

  • theconvolution

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 5:11 pm GMT

    i wouldn't do this cuz i love owning physical copies of my games, but... there'll probably b the possibility to buy psp games, download them, then trade them back into Gamestop for credit to buy more games, and the cycle continues

    am i an evil genius?
    well, of course u could just hack the psp and download them all anyway, but this is more legal, just a loop-hole

  • willie699

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 4:11 pm GMT

    Hmm, this PSP Go purchase is swaying into the no catagory. Going to take some good news to sway it back.

  • GOAT_DUDE

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 3:56 pm GMT

    ZEDX and Ghost Ryda, if theirs trophies it gives you something more to play for thats why i wanted it not to get a lot of trophies and that stuff.

  • jshaas

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 3:26 pm GMT

    @Athenian29 & @Threesixtyci

    My bad on the screen size... for some reason I thought they said it was the same size in the press conference at E3. Anyway, it doesn't appear to be that much smaller in the pics here on GS. It's 3.8" on the Go... that's half an inch smaller than the 3000. Doesn't seem like much of a sacrifice to me.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 3:25 pm GMT

    i was hoping in the future they would use the blu ray umd. it holds about the same amount of data as the xbox disk does

  • SaitouZero

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 2:47 pm GMT

    Sony should start including a digital copy of the games in the UMD version similarly to how movie studios currently include digital copies with Blu-Rays and DVDs.

    At $250, there's little chance i'll upgrade to the PSP Go, but there would be ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE of me upgrading if they don't let me put all my UMD games on it for free, so here hoping that goodwill program works out.

  • Eastcoast93

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 2:38 pm GMT

    one of the worst ideas ever...come on guys...you mean you will be buying all games which come out in the future yourself...there will be no borrowing no lending to friends...from now on you will have to buy every game you just want to try...oh you don't buy games anyway do you??

  • Blu-Fan-Boy

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 2:16 pm GMT

    meh i like the idea of achievements on the Xbox 360 gives me more replay value in the game espesailly if its an RPG so yeah Microsoft had a really good idea on that point, seeing Sony do this whole trophy thing well its cool yeah but, not the same and i would hate to see it on my PSP!

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 12:58 pm GMT

    doenloadable content wont replace dvd or blu ray for awhile.
    you could buy a watch a hard copy faster that waiting for the film to download

  • ZedX-14Pilot

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 12:47 pm GMT

    I'm down with Ghost Ryda, all the trophy talk is lame. Just play, and who cares about your gamer score or trophy count. It is useless information anyway.

  • SplinterCellSC2

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 12:37 pm GMT

    The PSP GO should "go" already. I am not impressed with the thing and big deal if it is downloadable content. Also, how are they going to "Good Will" your old PSP UMDs? Like one poster said, if I have to send them in, to heck with that! Not to mention; forget trying to find your old reciepts from the original purchase! How stupid is that? Unless, there is some way you can login with your old system, let Sony run an applications query on your PSP and log every UMD game you own then base your DLCs on that list. Who knows....I just know I want my second joystick, not a wannabe slider phone! They should have designed the screen like a tablet PC, not like a slider. That way, the screen turns in on itself and closes flat, concealed and protected. Silly Sony...PSP GO....pfffft...

  • plasticbox1990

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 12:24 pm GMT

    i think the PSP GO should have a integrated memory & a umd drive i know it would make it bigger but there should be a choice of downloading games or buying UMDs but then it would be just like having a large memory stick in it so the PSP GO is kinda pointless plus there is nothing quite like the feeling of opening a new game box and putting it in your console to play

  • ToddHagen

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 12:24 pm GMT

    Sounds good, though it will all be in the execution of the program. Somehow they need to kjeep us happy, but not set themselves up to be ripped off. The Go is interesting, but we will see if it flies at the $250 price point. I could care less about trophies.....

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