PlayStation embraces online world

Sony's PlayStation is to challenge Microsoft's Xbox in its one undisputed area of dominance - the online world.

The PlayStation 3 will be "network ready" out of the box when it launches in November and will offer a range of services similar to Xbox Live.

Speaking to developers, he said online games would transform the industry.

Mr MacDonald, vice-president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Worldwide Studios, said: "The PlayStation 3 has been designed so that the network experience is part of the PlayStation experience.

"It is easy to connect, easy to download files."

He said development studios had to re-think their strategies for games releases, arguing that the online space gave them a powerful new relationship with studios.

He said: "But the relationship will only start at the point of sale in the network-centric world. Developers have to change their whole approach."

[Captain Tuttle]

Sony wants to use it's online service for episodic gaming, downloadable content and web surfing. What about being able to play with my friends online and how much will it cost me?

[CAPS LOCK]

thanks for this nice article and others u have send...anyway u wont be charged to play against ur friend or add a friend list, but u might be charged for dowloadable content or maybe mmorpgs like WOW or maybe EVE ONLINE and u might be asked to pay for tracks or maps for games.

[Nodoze]

Um isn't Sony supposed to PROVIDE the network infrastructure similar to what Microsoft is doing, or are they going to pass that off on the devs? It sounds alot like the later. Easy to connect...to WHAT...easy to download files....from WHERE? It sounds to me that the only similarity this has with Live is that they both use A network connection.

The proof is in the pudding, and time is running out. Let's see the network Sony. Playstation Official Online Presence = P.O.O.P.

[DJ]

Sony gives developers the option of either maintaining their own servers or using Sony's internal network. Some developers actually prefer to have full control over the online features of their games, which is why there was some strife from developers over the way Xbox Live was run. It's kind of funny that in order to play FFXI you have to first sign in to Xbox Live, and then sign in to PlayOnline in order to access SquareEnix's servers.

Sony's giving developers choice over how their online services are maintained, and i think that's a great decision compared to the way Microsoft runs Xbox Live. Most games will be free to play online, while the ones we've come to expect (MMORPGs) will most likely be fee based. Technically, you don't have to pay for anything to use the PS3 online service which is awesome.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Devs can run their own servers on xbox-live + you contradicted yourself. You DO sign on to Xbox-live the You DO sign on playonline And you Do play on playonline servers Because you do play on-line with sony ps2 and P.C. gamers. And, as YOU stated most devs will allow you to play online FREE well...You pay once with microsoft and you play 99.9% of all games free on-line. Minus Final Fantasy. And you will as YOU said pay to play some games online on PS3. Only to state "technically you don`t pay anything on Ps3," wtf-Contradiction. Yes, you do pay...as you stated. Think before you type. And please state how this un-associated network is going to work. Remember you can not connect to Ps3 on-line (which doesn`t exists anyway) and then log on to the games server through ps3 online. So what do you do? How do you associate with gamers accross different games like xbox-live. Voice chat, and messages. Please do tell.

[nstott]

Which next gen console will be the first to get a virus PS3 or wii? Anybody want to start a console antivirus/spyware company with me?

[drewdrakes]

I voted lame because there is absolutely no new information here. Ive seen at least 3 other articles that are basically the same.

[Gamer13]

But lets see what sony brings to the table next month when the ps3 is launch - when the ps3 is out we will see if its the best or its just like the rest of the next gen consoles.

[GioneBurnz]

Although this article doesnt announce much. I hope Sony will come out with a service robust enough to compete with XBOX LIVE. I've been a Live member since it first came on on the original XBOX yet I hope the market can bring competition. As usual, competing companies need to work much harder and offer much more to their customers in order to br suceesfull. Same goes to the Wii, lets hope they release something big.

[Boink]

no new info here...just some sony guy talking about how great it will be without actually giving any info or proof...dissapointing.

[bilal]

of xbox you are in for a dispointment...
it takes time to create something great,
like microsoft spent 4-5 years on it...
like sony spending 4-5 years on making cell...

[The Snake]

IBM made cell, not Sony.

[Watapata]

Cell is the product of a collaboration between Sony, IBM, and Toshiba and in addition, Sony has been involved with online gaming for many many years, its not like its completely new to them. They have numerous persistent online games. Admittedly, more goes into creating a central hub such as Live, but the extension is fairly logical and not necessarily that complex compared to some other aspects. Give Sony a chance with it, If they really have committed to making their online play better, many a gamer could be in for a very large surprise.

[DJ]

since the Network Adaptor was released (which was 2002 I believe). That means that they've been working on the PS3's online service for 4 years, which is nearly as long as Microsoft has been working on their service. =]

[BIadestarX]

Wow you know more about Sony's network than their VP. Wow! You even gave very specific information that their VP did not, "working on the PS3's online service for 4 years". Too bad your resources are so secret and you are not able to show us proof.

[Watapata]

bladestar, while I agree that proof would be great, is the dripping sarcasm really necessary. You've claimed in the past to be unbiased in all of this, but your every post seems to indicate otherwise (I'm not at all trying to claim that I'm not bias here) Simply put all of this is drastically uninformed. No one knows one way or the other except those working on it at Sony, and since they are keeping their mouths shut on the topic, why not just wait to see, its not like anything anyone here says is going to change what it is they are planning nor any of the details about how the planning has gone in the past. As the saying goes, "all will be revealed in due time."

**EDIT** I stand corrected bladestar, the last comment of yours I read was a somewhat refreshing read, though you do have to admit that more often than not you're rather pessimistic about the PS3 and optimistic about the 360 ;)

[bilal]

ps3 online would get very good but wit would take at leats 1-2 years for that, and by the time developers would be provided with tools to incorporate it in the games easily....

[BIadestarX]

You are right about, "You've claimed in the past to be unbiased in all of this, but your every post seems to indicate otherwise". At this moment prefer the 360 since there is nothing else to chose at this moment. I never owned an xbox, I do own a 360, and own every gaming device from Sony, since super nintedo. Will I buy a PS3? Most likely I will; since I want to play some of the games. But just because I want to play FF or MGS and owned everything from sony does not mean I believe XBox live sucks and Sony online service is better which no have seen. DJ is always (on every post) trying to lie to people about facts that only exist in his mind; for which I feel the responsability of commenting on (i.e. programming and technical stuff due to my familiarity with those topics). Notice that most of the time it's about technical stuff.

[bilal]

is second in command after TheMart for the microsoft mission... he is just paid to say such things otherwise in his heart he is a very innocent boy who knows the truth!

[BIadestarX]

I guess I have a fan. Most of your comments start with my name. Careful you do not wan't to make your girl friend jealous.

[bilal]

some game is using xfire..... and the only games that have implemented online in aproper way is resistance...
online support is their but from the developers who provide different functionalities.....
i think the servers from developers or sony is not an issue... but every ps3 game should use a unified online model just like xbox live....
right now its the developers who are choosing how they would implement online....and some droping it.
until sony provide the basic tools that can be used by every developer to include basic online functionality that is uniform to every game..sony online innitiative wont succeed.

[Mr Murda]

MS made a conscious decision to weigh in on how developers approached the XBL experience, because there was some crap that was being put out by developers on XBOX. They wanted to have unified and regulated support for every 360 game. Letting the developers make all of those decisions isn't necessarily a good thing. It usually tends to delay the games by a few months and is added stress to developers, which can detract from the game before it's released.

Please Fanboys, find me an article or interview where a MS developer has not like the new XBL guidelines. I beg of you. If there is this "major outcry" from developers, then I would like to know.