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PlayStation Plus update for Oct. 19: Abe's Oddysee, Bloons
Whatever you do, if you're a Plus subscriber, do not purchase Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, Bloons or Burn Zombie Burn on the PlayStation Store during the next two weeks! You'd feel awfully silly for doing so, since they'll all be made free in the October 19 PlayStation Plus update.
PlayStation Plus retail cards spotted at Target
You'll soon have an easy way to give the gift of Hulu Plus eligibility and discounts on random PSN games. Tipster BlindNoir photographed a PlayStation Plus access card found at a Target store, redeemable for one year of membership to the premium service (see a picture of the whole card after the break). Plans for these cards were first (casually) revealed by Sony's Susan Panico in June. Of course, you could just buy a PSN retail card and use that to pay for a Plus membership (or anything else), but this move gives the fledgling PlayStation Plus more visibility during the holiday shopping season.
PlayStation Plus update for Oct. 5: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood beta, Alien Breed
The next batch of offers lined up for PlayStation Plus subscribers looks to be incredibly enticing -- that is, of course, if you're one of the lucky lot chosen to participate in the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood beta. Otherwise ... um, 25 percent off Alien Breed: Impact! Yay?
PlayStation Plus update for Sept. 21: Zen Pinball, Red Faction Battlegrounds beta
The next round of bonuses for PlayStation Plus subscribers looks to be the beefiest yet, with early access to Romino Games' PSN strategy title Sword and Soldiers, free downloads of Zen Pinball, Echoes and Syphon Filter 3, and -- for select members chosen at random and informed via an XMB message -- access to the Red Faction Battlegrounds beta. Click past the jump for the full list of rotating offers and freebies coming in the September 21 PlayStation Plus update.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta demo for PlayStation Plus next week
Now this is totally cooler than discounts on PS3 service plans: next Tuesday, September 7, those with subscriptions to Sony's PlayStation Plus service will score an early download of the God of War: Ghost of Sparta demo. No word yet on a non-subscriber date for the demo. We'll keep you posted.
PlayStation Plus subscribers get access to fantastic ... protection plan discount
We supposed that, when dealing with an announcement as tremendously dull as the fact that protection plans for PlayStation 3 can now be purchased via the PSN Store, you have to appreciate even the smallest sparkle. In this case, it's that PlayStation Plus subscribers can purchase a two-year extended console warranty for what the unwashed masses must spend for only one year. Yes, your dues for being a part of the PlayStation Plus service entitle you to ... the opportunity to pay for another PlayStation service -- at a discount, mind you! We're talking $44.99 for a two-year plan, down from $59.99. Sony is keen to point out that a one-year plan costs non-subscribers $44.99; we're keen to point out that you can't get something for nothing. (And that PS+ updates have already gone bi-weekly.)
What happens when PlayStation Plus games expire?
In about a month, people who purchased a 3-month subscription to PlayStation Plus will be faced with one crucial question. What happens to my games when my subscription ends? Joystiq had access to a press-only 1 month trial, and recently found out the answer. Sony's premium online subscription service has offered a number of "free" games -- full PSN games, like WipEout HD and Critter Crunch, and a variety of Minis and PSone classics. However, these titles were all made available with a caveat: they'd remain accessible for as long as your subscription remained active. Attempting to launch an expired game will trigger this prompt: "This content can be used if you renew the license in PlayStation Store." You'll be able to launch directly into the PlayStation Store, where you will be able to purchase the expired title. For example, we could purchase Aero Racer for its full price of $2.99 from the PlayStation Store. We could also choose to purchase a new PlayStation Plus subscription to extend the license. Curiously, PSone games (like Syphon Filter) appear to work even after the Plus subscription ends. Although clearly marked as Expired under the game's "Details," the game launches normally. It's unclear if this is simply an oversight, or if this content is meant to be free, even after the end of a subscription (much like downloaded avatars and XMB themes). Nevertheless, we've asked Sony to clarify because, hey – permanently free games makes PlayStation Plus a much more palatable offer! If it's a glitch, you can look forward to another mandatory firmware update sometime soon (sorry!).
PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap available today for PlayStation Plus members, free to existing Racers
PlayStation Plus users will be able to get a headstart on PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap -- not in the actual races, which would be incredibly unfair, but in terms of access to the game itself. The updated, mercifully easier version of Q-Games' puzzle/racing/party game (now with Trophies!) will be available to PS+ members today, and to everyone else on August 24. If you already have PixelJunk Racers, the update will be free, and will allow you to play the new version without overwriting the original content. If you're new to the game, 2nd Lap will be $6.99 in the PlayStation Store, with an extra 25% discount thrown in for Plus members. Accelerate past the break to see a new trailer.
EU PlayStation Plus subscribers get Mafia 2 demo early
Sony announced this morning via its EU PlayStation Blog that the demo for Mafia 2 will be a "24-hour exclusive" to PlayStation Plus subscribers on the EU PSN (people presumably still reeling from their bonus copies of LittleBigPlanet). Non-subscribers in the EU will get the demo tomorrow. The demo went live via Automatic Download and on the PlayStation Plus section of PSN this morning. If you can patiently outlast today, you'll find the demo available to every European PS3 owner tomorrow. It's also available worldwide on the Xbox Live Marketplace right now and should be added to the US PSN later today.
PlayStation Plus updates now coming every other week
PlayStation Blog has announced that PlayStation Plus subscriber content will now be updated every other week (instead of weekly). With no Plus additions to this week's PSN update, subscribers can look forward to new content coming next Tuesday, August 10, including a timed trial of Red Faction: Guerrilla, the August episode of Qore, a discount on PixelJunk Racers: Second Lap and a free copy of the Minis title Aero Racer. Of course, a few previous items will be pushed off the PlayStation Plus carousel in order to make room. Click past the jump to see the particulars of next week's update.
SDCC 2010: Up, up and away at the DCUO panel
Are you pumped for DC Universe Online after watching the recent "Who Do You Trust?" trailer or our own interview with John Smedley? We can hardly blame you -- it's tough being a superhero waiting in the wings. While we count down the days until its November 2nd launch, there's a lot more DCUO goodness to be had. Massively was on hand at the DCUO panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, where Jens Andersen, Chris Cao, Marv Wolfman, Jim Lee and Mark Hamill (who is reprising his voice work as the Joker) were on hand to answer questions about DC's upcoming title. Hit the jump for the full skinny on time travel, heroes, villains and Bat-shark repellent.
Hulu Plus on PS3, hands-on (update: video)
Sure, we already told you what Hulu Plus looked like on iPhone, iPad and a Samsung TV, and not much has changed since that juncture, but we expect a number of you care quite a bit about how it will operate on PlayStation 3, especially considering you'll (presently) have to cough up an additional $50 annually for the privilege. The good news is it's absolutely nothing like the PS3's disc-based Netflix solution -- here, you're looking at a responsive experience through and through, and the interface is about as simple and full-featured as we'd hoped. After a 28MB download, we were invited to either log in with an email/password combination or link our console at Hulu's website, both of which launched the program nigh instantly from the hard drive. The interface afterwards is a dead-ringer for the Samsung TV version, except optimized for console control, with the analog stick and shoulder buttons smartly seeking through programs at high speed, or tapped to jump ahead in fifteen-second increments. You can similarly adjust video quality (and thus, bandwidth usage) with a press of the R1 button, watch picture-in-picture programs while you browse, and the search function admirably narrows down Hulu's content as quickly as you can type the letters in. It does have its bugs, like when we tried to watch High Fidelity and were asked if we wanted to subscribe to the show, and there was the time we got caught in an unending advertising loop for body wash, but that time we think the app was just trying to tell us something. Yeah, we'd better run out to the store, but don't go away -- hit the gallery below for a brief tour. Update: Our friends at Joystiq have a video walkthrough; check it after the break! %Gallery-97526%
Hulu Plus preview now available to 'select' PlayStation Plus subscribers
PlayStation Plus Hulu = A console Hulu Plus preview, which will become available to "select" subscribers of Sony's PlayStation Plus program. Posting on the official PlayStation blog, PSN senior director Susan Panico has explained that all Sony subscribers may download the Hulu Plus software as of today and "request an invitation to the exclusive preview." If you're already a member of Hulu Plus (you can request an invitation to subscribe online), you'll be able to access the preview today through your PlayStation Plus account. Hulu's enhanced streaming service, which provides access to TV shows from ABC, FOX, NBC, ETC, will incur a monthly fee of $9.99 -- even to PlayStation Plus subscribers participating in the sneak peek. It'll become available (and effectively cheaper) to all PS3 owners "in the coming months," Panico said (so much for that "July" launch, huh?). An Xbox 360 version is slated for launch in early 2011.
Hulu Plus launches on PS3, exclusive to Sony's console through 2010
The Sony Defense Force has reason to celebrate today, as the circle is now complete -- where Netflix HD once spited PS3 for Xbox 360, today Hulu Plus has chosen the PlayStation for limited console exclusivity through the end of the year. Today, "a select group" of PlayStation Plus subscribers can download the Hulu Plus app and start watching immediately, while regular ol' paying members can ask nicely (via the same app) and wait patiently for the privilege of shelling out an additional $10 a month. Those who aren't dropping $50 a year on PlayStation Plus aren't entirely out of luck, they'll just have to wait till the end of the preview period to get their Hulu on. Press release after the break, more info at the official PlayStation.Blog.
Hulu Plus on PS3 only requires PlayStation Plus during preview period
Though it originally seemed like you'd need to drop an additional $50 annually to get your on-demand TV fix via PlayStation 3, it turns out that the PlayStation Plus is not technically needed for Hulu Plus functionality. Concerned console owners emailing support@hulu.com are being told Sony's premium service is "only a requirement during the preview period," after which point "you should be able to download the Hulu Plus app," which will still require Hulu's own $10 monthly subscription, of course. We reached out to a Hulu representative and confirmed the above for ourselves -- so the only question is how long you'll have to wait without shelling out.
Hulu: 'Playstation Plus service is only a requirement during the preview period'
Last week, Hulu's own webpage said "you must be a subscriber of the Playstation Plus Network" in order to access the subscription-based Hulu Plus service, and neither Hulu nor Sony were willing to clarify that requirement with Joystiq. This week, we've confirmed with Hulu that it's emailing customers a statement to address the "rumors" and "remedy the situation." We'll cut to the chase: "The Playstation Plus service is only a requirement during the preview period," according to Hulu. That means that during the Hulu Plus preview period, you need to be a member of PlayStation Plus to access the service on your PS3; however, with Hulu Plus currently in its "preview period" and "launching to the public very soon" and the PS3 app nowhere to be found for PlayStation Plus subscribers, it's not clear how many potential users there will be on the PS3 before it goes public. Full statement from Hulu after the break.
Hulu Plus will be a downloadable app on PS3, require PlayStation Plus subscription?
The mathematical symbols are aligned... and they're pointing to a greater cash outlay if you want to have (a legitimate copy of) Hulu on your PlayStation 3. Technologizer recently discovered the highlighted line above in the source code for the Hulu website, and if correct, you'll need a PlayStation Plus subscription on top of your Hulu Plus one in order to stream the best brain-numbing shows from broadcast TV. While that adds up to an additional $18 for three months or $50 annually on top of your $10 monthly Hulu Plus fee, it's not like you'll get a better deal on a different game console -- Microsoft has confirmed Hulu will require Xbox Live Gold when it launches on Xbox 360 next year. Besides, this isn't like those janky Netflix Instant Streaming Discs -- further down the source code, there are hints that Hulu's developing a bona fide app for PlayStation 3. See the relevant section of the code right after the break.
Hulu page: Hulu Plus on PS3 will require PlayStation Plus [Update: only during the preview period]
[Update: Hulu has removed this specific language and begun emailing customers the following response: "the Playstation Plus service is only a requirement during the preview period." Read the full statement here.] Much like Hulu Plus on Xbox requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription on top of the $9.99 monthly fee, some language found on the Hulu Plus site says that only PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to use the service on PS3. The HTML source for the Hulu Plus "Devices" page includes specific instructions for the PS3, which are presumably meant to be displayed when the service goes live. The instructions describe how to redeem a code in the PlayStation Store to download the client (which means that Hulu isn't planning to release this as a disc-only service like Netflix -- yay!) with the following caveat: "Note: you must be a subscriber of the Playstation Plus Network." While this seems pretty clear on the surface, the fact remains that neither Hulu nor Sony have intentionally told the public anything. Sony's Patrick Seybold told Joystiq that "We'll have more info on how and when Hulu Plus will be coming to PlayStation 3 soon." It's quite possible that the specifics of the agreement are still being worked out.
PS3 Firmware 3.40 now available
Initially given an uncertain release date of "soon," PS3 firmware 3.40 is live in North America as of last night, enabling PlayStation Plus subscription, video editing and more. The new PSN Facebook application is also now available, allowing you to make new PSN friends and show off your trophies.
PSA: PlayStation Plus launch details
In case you're still hazy on the precise services included with Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription (and, let's be honest, that's not your fault), Sony recently detailed the initial offerings on PlayStation Blog. This should help you decide whether or not to subscribe when the service becomes available later today. (Protip: You'll need the latest firmware update, 3.40.) Basically, you pay either $18 for three months or $50 for a year (plus 3 additional months if you sign up for the full year now). Each month new games will be available for you to download and play as long as you keep your subscription active. For the initial month, you'll get access to Wipeout HD, the, Age of Zombies Mini, PSOne Classic Rally Cross, Qore epsidoes, and an inFamous "Full Game Trial" (with option to purchase the full downloaded game and continue where the trial ends). You'll also be able to set up automatic downloads of this content, if you want to feel like you're paying your PS3 to bring things to you. Update: Find the full list of PlayStation Plus launch content in our PSN Tuesday update. [Thanks, Vcize]
