That's pretty crappy. Especially since I want a PSP more than a PS3 at this point.

As long as i can get it for my psp without having to get a ps3 first, whatever. I'm really looking forward to this game.

you mean it costs more money to make a physical disc and ship them to stores? NO WAI!

Why is it costing that much to begin with O_o. I think more times than none phsyical media will cost more than digital media, but still I was expecting this to be like 15 or less. I guess I don't know how extensive this game is or something.

well that's what happens when people decide that downloads are actually worth something.

The price we pay for portability! ;)

Media = packaging. Media costs more than digital distribution. How is this surprising when most digitally distributed games cost less than digital ones?

@MoogPaul:

Oh?

Does the PACKAGING and SHIPPING costs $20 per unit?

There is no excuse for a portable version of a game to cost more than the home version... unless it gives you free blowjobs.

This is a huge indicator that retail just isn't quite ready to let go, and Digital Distro is COMPLETELY ready to take over. I personally am all for more PC Store downloads coming out, but at the same time im sure the HUGE majority of PSP owners buy their games UMD, and I don't want the PSP to fall from it's nice sales rate streak it has going on lately.

This is just growing pains I guess. The transition from retail to digital is just going to be really awkward.

Or you could... y'know... just get the PC version for free that allows you to make your own maps and just goof off with the technology.

[tserve01.aid.design.kyushu-u.ac.jp]

Really, in the end, when you buy from Sony you're just buying pre-made maps and some music... and the inability to use a mouse. ;)

That is simply outrageous if true. WTF??? I've got a PSP, and not a PS3, so if this comes to pass, I guess I won't be getting Echochrome... I was kinda looking forward to this game, too. Bummaaaaar.

@DaveKap:

Have you played the PS versions? Do you know if it's exactly the same as the free version?

plus I'm assuming the PS3 will be full hi-def and the UMD obviously won't.
If this turns out true then I guess I'll be playing this at home and not on the road.

<----------Not that bad, but it still made me scream---------

PSP disc can be resold. PS3 DLC is tied to the user.

Yeah, that is a bit crappy for PSP owners. I was planning on getting the PS3 version myself, so this wouldn't really affect me, but I think that $20 sounds like a bit much.

I know it costs more because of the retail packaging and the fact that it's going on a UMD and all the other crap involved with getting a game to store shelves, but is it really $20 more? Not only $10-$15 or so?

There's gotta be something more than just an UMD version. Just like warhawk, the online version was released before the disk version, and the disk version was something material and came with a bluetooth mic, so the discrepances were justified in the case of warhawk.

wont be buying it then

Boy, digital distribution just can't win! Everybody gets pissed when digitally distributed titles cost the same as retail box copies because the extra costs associated with retail just aren't there.

How many times have people said that Valve should sell their games at a discount via Steam since it was cheaper for them to sell that way?

And now we have an example of, yes, a digital copy that costs less than the physical copy... and people are still pissed.

For those that don't know, $37 is not out of line for PSP games.

DLC is an event. Discs are items. In other words, if I get the UMD, I can grab a random PSP in 10-15 years, pop it in, and it'll just work.

I planned to get the PSP version before, but now that I have a PS3... I'm planning to get the PSP version.

@Drakron: when you take into account that the store itself needs to make profit off the game too, yes it does cost 20 dollars to ship, package, and include that 10 dollar charge for resales.

If you check another post on Siliconera you would notice that the PSP version is twice the game the PS3 version is. PS3=50 puzzles, PSP=100. I'm pretty sure that both support user generated puzzles.

I need to find out more info. Currently, I want to think of it as Echoboring.

I can't find where I read this...

The PS3 version has 50 levels.

The PSP version has 100.

@blackadvent:

There is when the home version is a download and doesn't have to be pressed on discs, packaged, include a printed manual, be shipped to a retailer who gets a cut of the sale etc...

The whole point of downloads is that they are supposed to be cheaper. It pisses me off when a game costs the same amount to download as it does to buy in a store, or worse, even more.(Oblivion: Shivering Isles I'm looking at you) Why would I pay the same amount of money and not get a physical product?

That said, the price discrepancy between echochrome PS3 and PSP is a little nuts. If it's $17 on PS3, it shouldn't be any more than $30 on PSP.

ATTN MARK and Everyone. Perhaps you should have read this addition to the sourced article:

Yes, the PSP version of Echochrome costs twice as much, but there is reason for the extra cash. Walaber's comment (thanks!) prompted immediate research and all of the answers are found over at Impress Watch. The PlayStation 3 version is actually Echochrome: Jokyoku or Echochrome: Prelude in English. For 1,800 yen ($17) you get a get a sample of Echochrome by tasting 50 puzzles. The 3,980 yen ($37) PSP version contains 100 puzzles and multiple modes including a variation where you have to avoid walking dark echoes. Fortunately, both versions come with canvas mode, which lets players create and upload puzzles on the PlayStation Network.

[www.siliconera.com]

There's the reason right there. Please update the post with this new information :)

if this is going to be remote play only then there is a good incentive to buy the disc, i'm surprised that they haven't announced a pixeljunk monsters umd yet. remote play is cool but the resolution sucks and you're basically tied to your house.
and like notalk said you can resell the disc so it's not bad.

@Anemone:

yup, in fact that's true, but there is something extra the devs put to the UMD version, and that's something related to the PSP wireless wifi

Game + Media + shipping + *retailer Margin* = price.

The final battle between retail and DD has begun! Hark to the trumpets calling you to battle!

The PSP2 shall synch with your ps3 like a pocket pc--your digital content will be your *only* content! Ia Sony! Sony Ftagn!
(note: despite what this might sound like, I hate retail and the games they play with used merchandise, street dates, region-specific content, and shelf space--so I'm in favor of this. However... it *is* like watching godzilla fight mothra and wondering which monster will end up *destroying your city*).

Alot folks need to chillout. Is not the end of world.

Take out the middle man = cheaper costs. I'm just thankful they are passing some savings onto us!

Can people read my above post please. It has very little to do with packaging and retail costs and more to do with the difference in the game.

Please read the above post @ssjmichael:

@ssjmichael: Good find, case solved people, nothing more to see here.

why $17 and $37? sounds like bull to me. the good ol' "wait and see" seems to be in order.....

@ssjmichael: Ill give ya a hand here.

[www.siliconera.com] this is why the price difference

@DaveKap:

I really don't want to have to bang my head against my keyboard so I'm going to pretend you're joking and this is one of those cases where sarcasm just isn't coming across well. :P

Of course what you're paying for is pre-made levels. That's what we call a *game*. You can get the level editor for Oblivion, Half-Life 2 and COD4 also, that doesn't mean I want to go make the games myself.

@Rectangle:

Haven't seen that, but it would make sense. Sell the game cheap online but include less levels. For people who like the game they can buy the bonus levels as an add on for $10-$15 later on.

@Drakron:

What is this, communism - are they supposed to sell us what we want at cost?

The question is: is the PSN version one of those PS3/PSP joint compatible games? If so, you should be able to buy it off of PSN using a PC and download to your PSP, right?

@MoogPaul: exactly, not sure why people are surprised or bitching at this.

Really I think we are getting spoiled with DLC content. We are getting games that are just as deeps and long lasting as many retail titles for like 10 bucks. Last Gen would anyone have batted an eye at a Bomber Man Live as a retail release at a retail cost(with all the DLC included its still cheaper). And Alien Hominid was worth 29 bucks on PS2 for but not its 10 bucks on live. I wouldn't have minded retail releases of games like Everyday Shooter on the value 29.99 range last gen. Last Gen Nintendo was selling up old NES and SNES game on the GBA for 20 to 35 bucks. Even all the Pop Cap games are getting a 10 dollar discount thanks to console DLC.

I do think there needs to be some discount in cost for DLC for instance I do not like on Steam for instance and other PC DLC services the games cost the same as retail yet they dont have all the retail cost. I know that there are some Digital Distribution Costs but I would think their has to be some savings that could be passed along.

let's not forget the burgeoning piracy scene, this is what piracy costs you! it don't think it would be too extreme to guess that piracy costs us as consumers about 5 dollars per game...
and then there's all the other reasons, shipping, packaging, middle men, shops, the used-games market, the fact that they'll most likely sell more on ps3 due to it being easier to buy on impulse etc etc

"And Alien Hominid was worth 29 bucks on PS2 for but not its 10 bucks on live." now not not

@ssjmichael: nice catch! but what about us ps3 people? can we get the full version too? I'm sure i'm going to want the extra 50 puzzles.

actually, DO games have to be cheaper? think about it, how long do you have to work to cover the cost of a game? and how long are you going to play that game?
hopefully you see my point there, also think about the fact that publishers get their cut, shipping all that yadda yadda, but in the end the developers need to turn a profit or they won't get to make more games, and then YOU won't get as many good games.
baby's gotta eat

And people wonder why there's piracy *smacksheadagainstwall* Just this week I spend close to two hours on the phone trying to sort out adobe's support team and our retailer how to install a flash cs3 upgrade onto our macromedia studio mx. Seriously it makes you nuts how companys seem to throw stones your way any chance they get when it just takes seconds to google pirated software these days!

Manufacturing and distribution of UMD disks sit at about $3 per disk last time I asked, I assume the price has remained pretty constant to this day (14 months later more or less), the real difference is the content as ssjmichael pointed out, if getting twice the game is not worth twice the money for you then simple... get the DLC version.

I'll be getting both, sounds like a fun game to have during trips.

I would really like Echochrome, but there's no way i'm paying more than $10 for the PSN version.

SOLD!

surely this is the sorta game that can be remoted play(ed)

But either way ill buy the ps3 version regardless of the price :)

@comedy: And theres also the fact that the PSN version is not a complete version of the game, while the UMD one is.

PSN version will probably have more downloadable puzzles you purchase separately, while the UMD comes with all the levels.

[www.siliconera.com]

@cduran: It better have more levels available somehow, though now the PSP version is looking more appealing.