The Digital Age of Comics Takes a Huge Leap Forward with PlayStation
Two weeks ago at the spectacular Gamescom conference, Sony announced a digital comic reader service for the PSP. The app, which launches in December, will provide free-flowing comics from Image, Archie, IDW and industry giant Marvel, with more publishers to follow soon after. The digital reader uses a technology developed by iVerse Media, which already offers digital comic readers for the iPhone and Google Android mobile devices.
The comic industry, like most other forms of media, has struggled to cope with the new digital age, seeking a viable digital platform to sell their wares, but ultimately failing to combat the rising piracy that plagues the industry. One of the many issues faced by the distributors is that there is no standard distribution service for comics with cross-publisher support that sells computerized comics, similar to Steam for PC games.
Marvel, possibly the foremost leader in the digital crossover allows a considerable selection of its back-catalogue to be read online, although not downloaded, in digital format for a subscription fee. Additionally, Marvel has recently begun releasing motion comics on iTunes which, much like DC’s Watchmen Motion comic series, border upon being animated episodes rather than true comics. Marvel’s digital comic service has had considerable success and their motion comics are also expected to sell well, however consumers have still not truly embraced the formats.
PC based digital comics suffer from the discomfort caused by reading from an electronic screen as well as the decreased portability of a computer system, thus the move towards a portable alternative seems obvious, and it seems consumers have shown great interest in smaller comic displaying devices, with iVerse Media recently exceeding one million downloads for their digital comic reader.
Sony’s decision to bring comics to their handheld marks another step towards a truly digital age for comics, the large install base of the PSP and PSN, which will surely grow with the release of the PSP go, is a perfect platform for comics to be released. The success or failure of such initiatives as the PSP Digital Comics Service will ultimately determine the future of comics as a whole, with Comic distributors certainly watching the outcome of the platform as they struggle to decide how to tackle the issue of the new digital age.
However, it is important to note that the retail side of comics is still vastly larger than the digital side and will probably remain so for the foreseeable future, but as retail sales continue to shrink and online sales continue to grow the importance of network providers such as Sony cementing themselves as online comic book suppliers will become increasingly important. iTunes may have cornered the online music market, but the comic book market is still up for grabs, Sony’s push to create a true open platform for the PSP could show an important move into this industry where the electronics giant could see massive success in the future.
Digital Comics for PSP will be launching on the US and EU PlayStation Stores this December, with major comic publishers including Marvel, Image, Archie, IDW supporting the format with major releases as well as local content. Will you be embracing the Digital Age of Comics with the PSP? Post your comments below.
17 Responses to “The Digital Age of Comics Takes a Huge Leap Forward with PlayStation”
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August 29th, 2009 at 12:29 PM
hopefully the screen rotates, so you can view one panel as large as possible.
I hope this catches on, I’m sure a lot in the younger generation of gamers are
pretty clueless about comics and the worlds they contain.
/nerd mode off
August 29th, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Aw crap. By “US” do you mean “US and Canada” or just “US”?
August 29th, 2009 at 1:07 PM
hmmm have to wait and see if this is a good thing or bad thing, really will come down to a cost issue
(downer is also you’ll never have a “collectible” due to no hard copy, hence the value will never be there
August 29th, 2009 at 2:10 PM
That’s pretty cool. I was wondering what they were talking about at GamesCom.
August 29th, 2009 at 3:15 PM
@capt.fodder
Sorry, It wont be in Canada at launch, unlucky – http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/08/19/digital-comics-store-for-psp-coming-in-december/#comment-256035
August 29th, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Sigh. Thanks for the info man, as disappointing as it is. I get the feeling that the PSPGo is going to be a lot more useless in Canada than it is in other parts of the world…
August 29th, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I’ll pay whatever they want as long as I can read FABLES!!!!!!
August 29th, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I love innovations but I’ll probably stick to retails for now.
August 29th, 2009 at 5:27 PM
this is the best idea and partnership that Sony has done. l got a free marvel digital comics subscription from MvC2 and l love catching up on issues l missed or didn’t collect and now the psp will have it; now this is making my head explode from excitement.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:18 PM
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:13 PM
I’ll take hard copy, fresh ink thank you.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:12 PM
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:20 PM
only if they’re decently priced around like half the price of a brand new issue, include some back catalogues, and let me enjoy Spawn comics once again.
Otherwise I don’t give a shit.
A subscription plan might be nice though.
August 30th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
I’m all over it. Trade paperbacks were taking up too much space…
September 10th, 2009 at 4:00 PM
@ SolidCake:
“hopefully the screen rotates, so you can view one panel as large as possible.”
The PSP already allows image rotation by default when viewing pictures. They’d be fools not to allow it for comics.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:53 AM
How much do these Digital Comics or the Marvel Subscription cost?
I am not a comic reader but I can see that have the occassional look – hopefully a pay as you go service is available for casual readers.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:38 AM
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