We're not sure what Sony is getting at, but it certainly seems to be planning on charging
somebody for
something at
some point in the future. Kaz Hirai mentioned a new
premium level subscription plan for PlayStation Network last month, though we were told that the current level of PSN service was to remain free. Now SCE's Masayuki Chatani has chimed in, saying that Sony would face difficulties if it just leans on the "sell-and-forget model." Unfortunately, we're still not sure what the sell-and-remember alternative might be. Masayuki adds: "We can also accept payment in a growing number of ways. In addition to single-payment packaged software there are also schemes like monthly fees or per-item charges." The thing is, if we're not going to pay for basic PSN online play, what will we be paying for? We've clearly entered the era of being nickeled-and-dimed by DLC, and Microsoft has been making a tidy sum off our Gold subscriptions for some time now, much to Sony's ridicule, but if it takes charging us some amount of cash a month to make match-making in
Uncharted 2 a bit more bearable, maybe we'll hold our tongues when Sony has to go against everything PSN has stood for to do it.
posted December 16th 2009 3:56PM
Its clearly a double edged sword. On one hand they could make some easy dough... on the other they give up one of the better reasons to get a PS3.
@Sonic
dodgy online service (even if it is free) is not a better reason to get a PS3
@brendon Dodgy? Are you high? How the hell is it Dogdy? Have you even used a PS3? or played with one online? Or are you going some shit you heard from a 360 fanboy? I own both, while I like Live better (party chat ftw), the PSN certainly isn't BAD or AVERAGE by ANY means.
@brendon
While the online is dodgy, at least all the services on PSN are free. So you don't have to pay any auxiliary services (like Netflix, Last.fm, Twitter etc on XBL gold).
@brendon
define dodgy. i have never had a single issue with the PSN and i play COD online constantly.
@Cheesus Crust I do own both a PS3 and 360 and have played the same online games on both and can attest that the 360's network is better. PS3 might not be as bad as AT&T vs Verision, but it still is behind the xbox by a noticeable difference
@zcubed All i'm saying is that wether or not the service is free shouldn't be a factor in purchasing a PS3. i LIKE the PS3, i watch blu rays, play games, and listen to music on my PS3. But their online service isn't the best because it IS free, if they started charging for it, then we can all expect an increase in network performance, or some sort of premium service.
brendon says: "Cost should not be a factor in what you buy."
if only
LOL! at the Xbox fanboy brendon trying to justify Microsoft's joke of an online service!
Microsoft:
* 50 dollars a year in online fees
* Laggy P2P based networking for all major games
* Tiny player counts for game - only 5vs5 for Gears of War, only 8 vs 8 for Halo 3
vs
Sony
* Free online for every single PS3 owner
* Dedicated servers for lagfree online play for all major games
* Gigantic player counts for online games thanks to the standard dedicated servers. 32vs32 for R2, 16vs16 for Killzone2, and the insane 256 player MAG
PS3 owners wouldn't stand for a joke online service like Microsoft's - let alone actually waste 50 dollars a year for it.
@Yoyodyne
"PS3 owners wouldn't stand for a joke online service like Microsoft's - let alone actually waste 50 dollars a year for it."
I'm a PS3 owner and I pay $50 a year for XBL. I don't see the big deal about it. In the scheme of things, $50 is really a small amount of money, not to mention you can easily find it for $30-$40 online. I buy all my games for X360 except exclusives. Most of my time on the PS3 consists of watching blurays though, especially now that I have MW2, AC2 and L4D2 on the 360.
IF I didn't have either system and Sony came out with a service >= XBL, I'd actually consider buying multiplatform games for the PS3. However, I play with the same people all the time on XBL, and the lack of party chat sucks for the PS3, which is why I'll stick with X360.
@MJGAMER 1991 XBL
Yeah, I have a PS3 and I wouldn't mind paying $50 for a better online experience (I've never used Live so I don't know any of the extra features besides the often touted party-chat).
Free online was a nice incentive when I purchased my 40GB PS3 in 2007, but built-in wifi was the main reason I chose it over the 360.
@Sonic
ps3 online stinks, only for the reason that so many online ps3 games perform poorly because of no online standards. case in point? NAMCO. No standards has its own sweet set of pain for players.
but they are by far the worst company when it comes to online anything- just fucking terrible. Lazy fucks.
@MJGAMER 1991 XBL I'm a pc gamer, with a rather ancient video card lurking beneath my computer's case, (8800) and yes i bought it at the time the xbox360 was launched (4 months after). which means i haven't upgraded my hardware for 4 years now(slapped it on an old p4). now we get mods, free updates (thanks valve), and dedicated servers all for free, so yes xbox live is something of a joke compared to what we pc gamers get, heck even those free ps3 guys get dedicated servers lol
and yeah i own a ps3 i just don't know what to do with it other than turn it into a linux box and send it to my ma so she can check her e-mails on it.
@(Unverified)
I call shenanigans on that 4 month after Xbox launch bullsh*t 8800 Series didn't come out till end of 2006, 360 launched in 2005... Also the 8800 is still much more powerful than either GPU in the Xbox 360 or PS3(PS3 being based on a lowly 7900GTX)
@chaoscentral I live in australia, they didn't release the xbox 360 here till march 2006, so yeah bullshit we aussies had to wait for 6 months for something that was in the states to release here.
Probably sub based Video or Game rental service as they were talking about before. And they clearly stated the current services WILL stay free, so lets not jump to conclusions.
I would gladly pay for a better online experience on my ps3. But will not pay for the same experience. We all know Xbox 360 online is the best console online experience.
@dgood48080
They could add a $9.95 monthy fee for "premium" subscribers. In exchange, you get first dibs on beta testing, maybe a free monthly DL of an older online title (like Flower), throw in Qore. Something like that.
I'm sure if Sony does decides to charge for internet, it would lose a lot of users
I really dont care what features it has. here is the thing: My PS3 has changed the way that I game, I absolutely couldnt be happier. I would be absolutely thrilled to be able to pay for a premium service to sony even for the sole reason that my money might be put into more R&D to make the next gen even greater.
tl;dr I would love to give Sony my money
@Mills00013
I can't tell if you are, but I sincerely hope you are joking, especially about the tl;dr part.
@MrDiSante
I am kidding just a little bit. If sony sent me an envelope every month asking for a donation, I'd fill it with gay porn and send it back.
However, sony has a very fantastic opportunity here to make PSN absolutely awesome with a pay-to-play model. Especially if they undercut Microsoft's prices.
I guess my whole thing here is that i find it hard to think that sony could screw this up. (Enter the flaming on that). I just know that the PS3 has so much going for it now, I wouldnt mind one bit paying a little bit extra to make an already amazing system just that more epic.
@Mills00013
The PS3 somehow entirely "changed the way you game" and you're thrilled to give Sony your money? I'm hoping that was hyperbole.
@Mills00013
Um, so you're giving up your gay porn collection or are you going to spend money to buy it just so you can stuff it in an envelope for Sony?
I don't deny that they do need a pay PSN service. That would definately help them out on the backend of things. But to the consumer this is just another downfall.
The only thing I see it going to be good for is some sort of premium content. They can't charge for their existing model, and if they did start charging for it, well I could see a VERY VERY large class action lawsuit against Sony, for false advertising, and bait and switch, etc etc etc. The list of things could go on.
So you pay per month for say, Qore and Pulse and maybe some extra content that you normally wouldn't get, maybe a free PSN game a year like PAIN or Flower.
But god help them if they try to charge for what the consumer is already getting for free. Sony will be out of business after a million people sue them for a million a piece.
we already pay for the Internet service, cable tv everything in this world is pay pay pay pay do we really need to pay for online gaming too ? give me a break i can't even afford a new computer let alone pay for online gaming. if they do it i would switch back to the xbox 360 since xbox live provides better features and stuff
@(Unverified)
You do realize that everything you're getting now will remain free !?
Sony might be just talking about Qore.
@NeoDarkSaver
Your avatar is made of win..
P.S what is Qore?
@SolidSnake
Qore is basically a digital magazine for/on the PS3. it's 4 times a year i believe?
@NeoDarkSaver
Ahh, cool.
@NeoDarkSaver yeah it most likely is. with game demo's released exclusively to subscribers along with in-game items, weapons or maybe even virtual cash to spend in Home. i'll pay the premium if it includes a magazine.
@NeoDarkSaver
Its a monthly video magazine. There are 12 a year, and its only like $20 for the year or something.
If they charge online service, I'll sell my ps3.
Once Sony sets up a game server there's not a whole lot more they need to do. Updates to said game server can easily be payed for by new game purchases. Sony charging the user for a one time setup on their end is ridiculous.
As for why people pay for xbox live however is ridiculous. Probably cus all their friends do it, so they mindlessly follow. Only way to change the situation is for sony's next generation to hit a lower price point then Microsoft. Bring on the ps2^2
@liquidmeson
Everything you are getting now will stay free (according to sony execs)
You would need to pay for the new services they are thinking about adding.
"If they charge online service, I'll sell my ps3."
They won't. Sony has made it clear over and over again PSN will be free to play for everyone forever.
Just because Microsoft does something stupid doesn't mean Sony has any reason to do the same.
It is funny though that the worst possible news for PS3 owners is the threat of Sony switching to a Microsoft style online service...
@Yoyodyne
That's just because they realize it's not worth paying for.
@liquidmeson go buy a pc, multiplayer is always free unless your thinking of playing an MMORPG
@Yoyodyne pretty much, none of my friends with 360s have XBL Gold.
They don't want to pay $15 a month to get their asses handed to them. It makes online play a hardcore-only feature. Casual users just don't bother to try it out.
Sony want its casual users online, buying trinkets in HOME, it would be contrary to their whole philosophy to start charging for it. It would be like Nintendo saying no more Mario this generation.
@earthbound loveship
Oh, they'll fuck it up. I love my PS3 and PSP, but let's be realistic: Sony fucks up their marketing / ideas a few times before finally getting it right.
It'd be nice if they had a game rental service (like a NetFlix for games) and this is the subscription they are talking about. Would work for PSP, not sure about PS3 though ...
Run-on sentence much?
A premium service....hmm...
How about.... Playstation 2 Game RENTALS!!!
* There's a HUGE catalog of games I'd absolutely LOVE to play. All you can eat, $$ a month! That'd be a hit. We already know that software emulation on the ps3 is possible! (Hot damn that would be cool!!!!!!)
* Maybe throw in some points each month, or a discount on DLC.
* FREE/exclusive games.
* Access to ALL closed beta testing. (Wee!!)
* "Exclusive" multiplayer events (like xbox's game with developers/famous people.
* Game shows (to compete with xbox prime time)
* MMO games
* More/Better PSP integration/functionality. (think: dreamcast)
* Dedicated/persistant servers for games.
* An all-you-can-eat music service/subscription!
* FREE singstar tracks (okay, maybe that's selfish on my part...)
My point is: There are LOTs of things that could be done WITHOUT charging for BASIC multiplayer functionality on a $60 game.
MS may have a good online service, but no one loves them for charging for peer-to-peer multiplayer. Sony has an opportunity to do it right.
@zarthrag
I want to be able to use all the ps2 games I bought, WITH HD up converting. That would be my dream...
@SolidSnake Agreed. I don't own any, and don't really want to. So rental (two at a time?) would be nice (for me). But HD up-conversion would be a REALLY nice perk.
Another one to clarify on the DLC (Singstar would be a perfect example). Free access to all (or select DLC) for members as long as you're a subscriber.
"Sony fucks up their marketing / ideas a few times before finally getting it right."
LOL at the idiotic fanboys.
Sony's first console, the Playstation, went on to be the best selling console in history by some 40 million units worldwide.
Sony's second console, the PS2, went on to outdo Sony's best selling PS1 console and became the all time best selling console in history with over 140 million units sold worldwide.
Sony's third console the PS3 is the third fastest selling console in history. Only selling at a slower rate than the PS2 and Wii.
Sony's first attempt at introducing a new disc format in consoles, Blu-Ray, destroyed Microsoft's and Toshiba junk HD-DVD format.
So, yeah, Sony just can't get things right until a few tries...LOL!
@Yoyodyne
What about all the failures they've had? How many types of media have they had fail?
@Yoyodyne "Sony's first attempt at introducing a new disc format in consoles, Blu-Ray, destroyed Microsoft's and Toshiba junk HD-DVD format."
I wouldn't say it destroyed it. HD-DVD was to the market first and was a complete format to start off with, none of this 1.0, 1.1 or 2.0 bullcrap. On top of that, Sony bought the win by subsidizing all the BOGOs and buying studios to be exclusive to BR.
Each format has its pros and cons, but we would have been perfectly fine had HD-DVD won. However, I do believe that HD-DVD was a more consumer friendly format that BR.
I can just imagine Sony adding a PREMIUM on the actual subscription fee they want to start charging
Please do not mess this up Sony. I like my PSN the way it is.
I'm surprised they didn't do this sooner, and can only guess that Sony wildly underestimated the draw of an online service. XBL is a huge factor in the xbox's success and Sony has tried to match it with PSN but its a poor imitation.
Adding premium levels is a win-win for everyone, Sony makes money and fans who want extra stuff can now get it (since there's only so much PSN can offer for free).
If Sony decides to add a premium online service (better servers, more matchmaking, better game integration etc) then that would be a bad move.