PSN Premium Service is a Smart Move for Sony

While I’ve seen a lot of hate towards the idea of paying for PSN, but after seeing what the new Premium service might add, I see it as a very amazing deal if it becomes available. ( http://kotaku.com/5429592/survey-sony-considering-premium-playstation-network-subscriptions ) Free PSOne classics, free minis, free themes, extended 3 years warranty on my console, and ect. What’s no to like, even if it would cost 70 dollars?

PSOne Classics- PSN has PS1 games such as, Final Fantasy 7 & 8, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Castlevania: SotN, Crash Bandicoot 1-3, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Metal Gear Solid, Oddworld 1-2, Resident Evil 1-3, Spyro 1-3, and many more. There are a total of 83 PS1 games available on the US PSN store right now, that’s a total of over 500 dollars worth of PS1 games. That alone is worth the 70 dollars.

PS Themes- There’s about 250 themes you have to pay for on PSN, over a 350 dollar value.

PS Minis- There’s already 25 Minis available on PSN as of now, totaling over the 70 dollars you would pay, again another great deal.

3 Year Extended Warranty- I’m not sure how much it would cost you to get a three year warranty, but its defiantly a plus, even if the PS3 has a way better failure rate than the 360.

Access to Betas- While people do get into betas now, if this gave us access to all betas without having to sign-up or anything and maybe even lead to more betas, it’s something that could be grand.

Cross Game Chat- While I’m sure every PS3 owner would like this free, Microsoft also makes you pay for it, so it’s not really anything you lose, at least you can play online for free, unlike the 360.

Full Title Trial (First Hour Free)- This would probably be like renting a game from like blockbuster, but you get the first hour free, so if you don’t like it within that hour, you don’t have to pay anything, which would give us a good feel on the game anyways.

Discount on Store Content- While this could range from PSN games to DLC, even at only 10% off or so, it would defiantly be a deal, especially if you buy a lot of games and DLC.

Member Only In Game Content- While this could give us an exclusive gun or free DLC, a lot of people fear it would ruin free content and leave them missing out on awesome content, it could be so or not, but ether way it would be a bonus for members.

Cloud Storage Space for Games- We've heard of this cloud thing for a while, but wasn't sure what it was. This indeed would be something I would love, because I always find myself deleting content so I have room for other content.

Those are just a few of the things the PSN Premium service could offer, which would put it above and beyond XBLs service. While Sony might lose some costumers along the way, I think a lot of people would find this an amazing offer and find some way of paying the 70 bucks a year, if not, at least you could still play online for free( Which is something 360 owners can’t even do).

I for one hope this becomes available, because if it does, sign me up.

Reader Questions- Would you pay 70 bucks a year for all that? (If so, whats the top reason you would? If not, whats the reason for not paying?) What else should Sony add to this to sweeten the deal even more? What are some of the things that shouldn't be on the Premium service?

(Heres a good idea from pushsquare.com, that would help sony get more people to pay: http://www.pushsquare.com/9471/playstation-network-premium-could-be-amazing-if-twiggy-the-pushsquare-opinionator/ )

[Saaking]

Great blog. I completely agree. If Sony does things right, their premium service will far surpass that offered by XBL and maybe even push MS to offer better stuff and/or lower the price.

[Forbidden_Darkness]

Exactly, but people still cant get it through there heads about Cross-Game Chat... Microsoft makes you pay for it too, but atleast the PS3 lets its fan base have the ability to play online still, not forcing them to pay, if they dont want to.

[Pixel_Addict]

if I have to pay for cross-game chat I am going to be pissed. I'm still going to use my PS3, but oooooooh I'm gonna be mad.

[Forbidden_Darkness]

@1.2: Wow, your not just paying for CGC, your getting a ton of other stuff with it. Is that the only thing that goes through your head? That CGC is included with the Premium PSN? It only makes sense that you have to pay, microsoft does that too, but atleast PSN will let you play online for free. This is from a bussiness stand point, a very good thing for sony and for its fan base, it gives existing and new owners a choice, but still allowing for people to enjoy playing online no matter what. It makes sony money, which in turn, will help them beef up their 1st party games even more and purhaps even secure exclusives.

[Raf1k1]

I think it would be great if they allowed you to purchase only the features you were interested in (though if you wanted to purchase just to be able to get into betas it might be fairer on Sony to have a minimum contract period or something).

There are some really great features in that list that I didn't know about. I might actually consider paying for it now as I wasn't bothered before.

[Sangria]

Some of those points actually are what Microsoft should have done with Gold members. I'm especially talking about discounts and free stuff. Being gold on Xbox 360 only allows you to play online. XBLA games, NXE themes, gamerpics, games on demand,.... still cost the same. So what services compensates the 50-60$ you pay for your Gold subscription?

Here in France, some big retailers make you pay a yearly fee in order to be considered like a gold consumer, and in exchange the consumer have a discount on everything he buys and can access to special offers.

Sony has at least the idea to pay something worth it, betas access (useless for me as I'm a Sony beta-tester but still great for other people), discounts on the Store, one hour trial (considering unlike Microsoft, Sony doesn't force PSN games developers to have a demo, it's a good thing), warranty extend (repairing a console not under warranty costs somewhere like 100-150$), etc...

Like I said in a previous comment, I am ready to pay for a yearly fee on PSN, especially considering the numbers of advantages you have for this. I already pay for Xbox Live, even though it's not worth it, and Sony gave me much things free (many PSP games, some PS3 games, from a snooker game to LittleBigPlanet, access to betas, etc...) so I can pay in exchange of what they've done for me, it wont be a problem. I just believe 70$ a year is not consumer-friendly, Sony should put it at a same price as Xbox Live or under.

[Forbidden_Darkness]

If Sony goes through with this, than i dont see how microsoft would still stick with what it has, and who would honestly still pay that much for XBL, when the PS3 had all of that for only 20 bucks more.

[Digitaldude]

One thing I fear the most is, Services like Cross game chat will be only able to use if you are on the premium, if they werent there everyone would get them.
I.E all additional updates to PSN will only be available for those who pay.
But Ill see if its worth it and its good we got a choice.

[Forbidden_Darkness]

Where did you hear that from? Sonys not going to cut off their fan base, you'll still get plenty of updates, just not everything.

[Digitaldude]

Like cross game chat, Of course they not going to cut off support but its wont be as great without the service.
Just a prediction I have no idea but you may be right. Well I hope you are.

[divideby0]

that would be a nice bundle depending upon price..

the 3 yr warranty I doubt will be in it and really is a non issue, since Sony hardware failure rate is BELOW industry standards...(lol, I keep thinking about MS openly lie about that)

x game chat for only prems. would be stupid...I dont use mine on Live that much so its a non issue.

playing games for an hr..that rocks

[Forbidden_Darkness]

Yeah, but still theres still that possibilty that it can happen, its happened to me, so an extra three years is nice.

[Raf1k1]

Yeh that extra 3 years peace of mind is a good thing.

[DarkBlood]

the free ps1 games n stuff peaked my interest as well betas. im going to assume this is linked to your account so man assuming some number of ps1 games i want to get i may need to buy my self a ps3 slim to go along with my 80 gig ps3 and slap on the biggest hardrive it can handle.

it'll be interesting to see how well sony will handle this definitly sign me up if the suppose rumours are true

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

See, the thing about cross game chat is, that if it's in a premium feature service, then it will be completely wasted.

The reason why it works on life right now, is because everyone pays to play online. Those who don't pay to play online, cannot have a cross game chat with anyone. Those who do pay, do, seeing as 100% of the people who use live already pay.

If sony were to implement this in a service package, then they are essentially splitting the community in two. What if I get the cross game chat package, and 95% of my friends list doesn't. Who am I supposed to talk to then? The wall?

Something like that should be free.

[PELVIC THRUST ACTION]

I'd pay only 30 dollars for that stuff right now in all honesty. 40 IF and IF they make an international section for PSone classics as I already purchased the ones I do care about. And some of that stuff DOES need to be free. Gameplay ones should be free like Cross chat and so forth. But stuff that is extra like Cloud saves where you can put your locked aves online and redownload them is fair pay. Stuff like Extended warranty is also fair pay. But things that hamper gamers themselves is NOT fair pay.

[DisgaeFanJason]

man all dose stuff sound great its a ok price my question is will there be a ultimate pack with all that stuff in one monthly fee like 19.99$

[TheGamerz4Life]

Sony droids now have the option to pay for something just like xbots do.

[Forbidden_Darkness]

But atleast this is actually worth the money, unlike xbl.

[CARRIERHASARRIVED]

I think it'd be neat if they had an optinal Sub fee that allowed you to take advantage of online storage (gamesaves and utilities, game downloads, not videos or music though since that's another part of Sony's business and things could get ugly there). Having all items paid for registered to you, much like how Blizzard lets you register cdkeys and you add them to your account as games you own and can download whenever you like. I think Steam does this too, but I'm not too sure.

Aside from the online storage thing, the next obvious thing would be to be able to get premium content for free, such as themes and select DLC. Or, have access to special discounts.

I DO NOT think it's a good idea for them to charge for any forms of communication, that is highway robbery and I would not be down for that. If I want cross-game whatever, I want it standard not as an added perk for paying the fee. Charging for services are fine, but communication methods are a no-no for me.

[randomwiz]

i dont see the point if making x game chat premium. That means the person you want to chat with also has to have premium.

[bozebo]

except the fact there WILL BE NO premium service :/

which was obvious from the start. some xbox fanboy said sony were going to charge for it

[Oldsnake007]

Xbox live has one major advantage over psn. EVERYONe as a Headset.

Also Xboxlive is better structered and designed than psn. Sony rly needs a new XMB (IMO)

[CARRIERHASARRIVED]

I wouldn't call it an advantage, but I do think it's convenient for people who know how to control their mouths.

[bozebo]

you are completely wrong, since the 360 far less people have headsets. On the original xbox most people did.

I will agree that the headset issue is an advantage over the ps3 however - sometimes it is important for the gameplay and helps you meet other people.

still... this article is total BS. sony are not making a premium service, they are adding all those features to their free service. a premium service would be complete suicide.

[xino]

"Free PSOne classics, free minis, free themes, extended 3 years warranty on my console, and ect. What’s no to like, even if it would cost 70 dollars?"

People actually believe all these things Sony are announcing a new and valuable service and more also free.

The truth is, this isn't what you are all thinking!

PS1 Classic: means Sony will continue to run this service and add more games. For PSN UK users, we currently have like 20 PS1 games right now, we don't even have ResidentEvil series. Basically each Sony region have their own responsibility to serve their country and make PS1 Classics. Just because Japan will have RE3 doesn't mean PSN UK/US will have exactly the same thing with different language.

PSThemes: Once again, not free, we just get more support on this content.

PS Mini: Again Sony will continue to support the PSP Mini service

3 Year Warranty: New feature and this is useful, but this is free because not many people will extend their warranty. Specially for ones who don't break their stuff easily and are always careful.

Access to Beta: Not new, it will still be the same like last time, whereas random people are chosen to take part or use of PSUnderground users to get into a Beta. I mean if every premium can get into the beta, don't you think 7/10 people would want to be premium sub just for this? And beta supposed to be handful of users to test out a game, not just to experience it before other people.

Cross Game Chat: People have been crying out about this, what is this exactly? Is this the Party system for Xbox 360 like? What ever it is, it will finally be free and accessible.

Full Title Trial: this is a plus! Its like Xbox 360's Trial Mode for Arcade games. I bet this will be for Arcade PSN titles not for actually full games like Spiderman 4 or Dante's Inferno or something. I like this feature as I don't know why PSN didn't have it in the first place. No wonder why I haven't bought Fl0w and fLOWER yet.
If it's a trial mode for games such as Halo/Dantes Inferno, remember that it's exactly like a demo, so this won't happen.

Discount on Store: Already happening, you get discount for games and Videos. (not discount like Wip3out HD+Fury). Xbox Live is currently doing it so does PSN.

Members Only Content: What ever this is sounds good, this will stop bastard developers from always milking money from us! I mean you buy a package that says Collectors Edition with free gold weapon. 2 months later you'll see the Gold gun for DLC for a fixed price. All you get yourself is a concept art and OST. Tecmo are the biggest abuser for this method. With their Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 and character DLC.

Cloud Storage for Games: Come the fark on, how can you use all your hdd for PS3? 2/10 people will only use this service. Reason why it is free.

User to User challenges: What ever this is sounds good, but details about "first friend to get a Gold in a particular game" doesn't sound interesting! It would be cool if it's a challenge such as playing one of the developers of the game, or fighting someone who finished Nightmare mode in d00m 3 etc

[markhenry]

yes because you get double the space for the same price but they still have the other 80gb that plays ps2 games and has all the extra stuff

http://ezinearticles.com/?B...

[Towers76]

You made some good points that I hadn't thought about. While I can't say I'm thrilled with the prospect of paying for any sort of PSN access, premium or otherwise, seeing as the current model will stay free then I can't fault Sony for trying to make a buck with this idea. If I had to be honest I really like the idea of cloud saves (especially if they imitate the Steam service in this regard) and all access to PS1 games but is it worth a yearly fee to me? Luckily I have a legitimate choice in this regard because I can stick with the free-to-play PSN service as it is without feeling pressed to buy premium service unlike my XBL Gold subscription. So long as Sony keeps on-line play free then yeah let them roll out a premium service. Maybe they can use the extra cash to buy more servers and speed up their slow ass network.