Sony Japan unveils new PSP demo download service

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has launched a new service that will allow PlayStation Portable owners to try out new software for the handheld by downloading demos from special hotspots.

The new service, PlayStation.Spot, was unveiled in an announcement on SCEJ's website partially translated by Gamasutra. From today, PSP users can visit specified branches of the Gourmet Pia cafî chain to take advantageof the service, which uses the handheld's 'gameshare' feature to enable demo downloading.

Users can only access the demos for as along as their handheld is powered up and switched on as they cannot be stored on memory stick. PSPs must have been upgraded with firmware version 2.0 or higher to use the service.

According to Sony, more than 150 Gourmet Pia cafîs already have PlayStation.Spot technology installed, and the number is set to grow on a daily basis over the next few weeks.

Sony has yet to confirm whether a similar service is planned for Europe, with a spokesperson telling GamesIndustry: "There is no further news on the PSP download hotspots. It's something we're looking into."

The news follows Nintendo's recent announcement that it plans to roll out a series of DS demo kiosks across North America shortly. Earlier this month a retail source told GamesIndustry.biz that the demo kiosks would also arrive in Europe later in the year.