Launch of movies on PSP sparks Lovefilm rumours

IF you're a gamer who also likes movies, then life may have just got a little easier for you this week after Sony released their movie download service for PS3 users and, if the rumour mill is to be believed, a Lovefilm branded service won't be far behind.

To rent or buy

After a successful run in the USA, Sony has now brought movie downloads over to Europe, with the service being launched earlier this week in the UK, France, Germany and Spain.

With a catalogue of over 800 flicks, they can be downloaded straight from your PS3, and rented, with prices starting from £2.49, or bought from £6.99.

If you like your movies crystal clear, then you can also rent or buy your films in Hi-Definition, though these have a slightly heftier price tag. The catalogue includes movie content from some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including 20th Century Fox, Universal, Warner Bros. and Sony.

Rented movies are kept around for up to 14 days before you activate them, and they are valid for 48 hours once playback begins.

The movies are stored on the PS3 hard drive, but you can also transfer them over to a PSP for films on the go.

As an incentive, PS3 users who are quick to sign up to the PlayStation Network, where the films are available, you can get a free download of Transformers, and existing users of the Network can take advantage of a buy one get one free offer on The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Lets hope there are a few Tom Hanks fans out there.

Rumours

Meanwhile, the guys over at NowGamer have got the rumour mill in full swing after revealing that online DVD rental giant LoveFilm has been in discussions to bring its subscription streaming service to TV.

According to the site, the idea was mentioned in discussions with its sister publication, Play magazine, which is dedicated to the Sony PlayStation. Does this mean you could soon be seeing LoveFilm services from your PS3 soon too?

"It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to work out that we have Europe's leading mail service and have developed a streaming service, which is growing very, very quickly and all I can tell you is that we have very firm plans to bring that to the TV," said Simon Morris, CMO of LoveFilm.

Is the end nigh?

Does all this signal the end for DVD rental? The quick and easy answer is: Probably not. The concept of movies through a console is definitely nothing new. Sony's new service is a rival to Microsoft's already existing one, available through the XBox 360, which has been running in the UK since 2007.

The prices would need to be given a sharp whack on the head before it became anywhere close to rivalling online or offline DVD rental, though they are reasonable for the occasional renter.

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