Sony won't allow multiplayer, download content or updates for PSP Minis
But it's all for your benefit, so you should be thankful
Speaking to Gamasutra at GDC Austin, Sony's Justin Cooney has been elaborating on features for the PSP Minis games - or more accurately, attempting to justify the lack of features.
We'd already heard rumours that wi-fi multiplayer wasn't being allowed on Minis - the new range of bite-sized, digitally downloaded games for the PSP - though Gameloft had also announced that UNO was going to include online multiplayer, so it was unclear what Sony's intentions were.
Those intentions have now been laid bare, and it's not good news.
"When you look at it from a testing perspective, you have to do more QA. [Allowing wireless multiplayer, DLC and updates] would defeat the purpose of having a dedicated service for smaller content," Cooney suggests. "It increases the barriers."
He goes on to say that Sony will be approving games within three to five days, deriding Apple for its typical approval time of two weeks.
"From our perspective, if we're going to reduce the time it takes to get through our internal process, it helps that we don't have to check multiplayer features," he continues.
Pass-to-play multiplayer will still be allowed, so at least you'll all be able to crowd around a single device and take turns at chess, or virtual tiddlywinks or something.
The upshot of this revelation is that PSP Minis will compete with iPhone games in just one regard: time from submission to approval. In terms of multiplayer and updates, the PSP will continue to be lacking.
While Minis were looking like the most exciting thing to happen to the PSP for a long time, there's no way to put a positive spin on such a disastrously myopic move on Sony's part.
Whether this Major Minis Mistake #1 will send developers running remains to be seen, but we can find out how it will affect gamer's opinion of the platform right here.
Does the lack of multiplayer, DLC and updates matter to PSP Minis? Should Sony make a quick about turn on this and rescue Minis from their disconnected purgatory? Your thoughts in the comments section, please.
