Top
430°

Hirai – Current PSN service to remain free, subs for "premium content and services"

VG247 writes:

"Stand down, soldiers. SCEE's just sent us a Kaz Hirai quote from the Sony business meeting is was confirmed PSN was getting subscriptions today, which confirms that online PSN gameplay is to remain free."

BubbleSystemSuck4961d ago

PSN reamain free for online Play? No problem...

Cwalat4961d ago

what's "premium content and services"?

Don't tell me they'll start charging people before you can enter PSStore. That would be one of the most stupidest things Sony could do.
Why limit the sales of digital content and games by limiting the numbers of customers they could achieve? Makes no sense.

As for premium content and services, i think Qore is in mind there when he said that and something similiar for the EU.

I swear, if any of the PSN services online right now, apart from Qore, gets subscription based payments it'll be the downfall of PSN.

Many people are just now realizing that Microsoft is charging them only so customers can give them more money later by buying games and stuff. And alot of people from Live are converting.

sikbeta4961d ago

It'll be more like promotions than anything else, more like rental subscriptions service and stuff, well IMO

talltony4961d ago

They said themselves that they rather you spend that money on games. They are just giving you the option get something more and their is nothing wrong with that.

Why o why4961d ago

probably things like Qore or a game rental service.

4961d ago
Snoogins4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

Sony is doing every PS3 owner a great service by allowing us to play freely online, while offering (in most cases) dedicated servers. If Sony can discover more venues to keep that service available indefinitely, then I encourage them. As several have stated elsewhere, I would love to see:

PSN Video Rental subscription
PSN Game Rental subscription
Comic/Magazine/eBook subscriptions for PS3/PSP

All of which, I would most likely support. One of the things that turned me off the 360 was having to pay to play online. For the year I had my console, I had a 13 month Gold subscription card (gift from my brother when I got my system) I never used. I just didn't see a point in paying for it.

Edit: Sony considering an App store? Makes sense to me. Keep game-related aspects free while charging for new applications to be used on the PS3/PSP like Apple's iPod.

YLOD Service Tech4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

Cross game chat will not be free. lol. It's a premium feature.

vhero4961d ago

So they give you everything MS do FOR FREE and then charge you for the extra stuff?? So if you pay a sub for PS3 its actually better? There is only one winner here folks. Free online play is always gonna be the winner. I mean 360's main selling point is online play but if you gotta pay for it whats the point? I always say.

StanLee4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

So Microsoft rapes you on the front end while Sony rapes you on the back end; you're still getting raped but fanboys don't see it that way. They'd like to be wined and dined and date raped rather than forcibly held down and raped. Apparently, there is a difference.

Edit @ z-hayden

Oh no, I understand what he means; as PSN has grown they've identified ways of generating revenue from the growing number of users and that's understandable. It's business. Rather than expanding a service with features that expand the community, you create features that take advantage of the growing community. No, I get it.

SnuggleBandit4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

Stanlee i don't think you understand what "subscriptions" they are talking about. Qore, possibly movie subscriptions, stuff like that,

they are not talking about not being able to play online, or have cross game chat, or things like M$ does.

4961d ago
Saigon4961d ago

a long time ago sony had a survey to users asking them would they like to pay a monthly subscription for PSN that would automaticly give them free content...similar to Qore but not exactly the same...The subsriction would give you dedicated points or Money to buy items such as PSN DL games, themes, DLC, Movies, etc...

So lets say you pay $10 a month...you would get 2 free DL games or DLC, and 2 free movies with that subscription...the more you pay...the more items you get per month...

I beleive sony started the beta for this subscription service in Japan and it must be doing well for them to decide to go full blow with this idea...

baum4961d ago

As long as playing is free, no issues for me. However, playing is what most people want, so Sony won't be able to monetize As much on this as XBL

ChozenWoan4961d ago

... and must likely including Porn!!!

LOL

I kid I kid... web browser is free so paying for porn would just be ridickulus.

Redempteur4961d ago

Prenium services like qore ?

those who use it are already paying it ...

As long as i can play for FREE i don't really care ...

Saaking4961d ago

this is EXACTLY what MS should do. Offer online for free and all the other services for a fee.

TheReaper424961d ago

probably a fee to rent games or get into betas.

Darkstorn4961d ago

As long as nonsubscribers retain everything they've always been able to do, I'm all for it.

+ Show (17) more repliesLast reply 4961d ago
oohWii4961d ago

"Current PSN service to remain free"

I wonder why he used the word "Current"?

Stay tune folks this could get interesting.

PirateThom4961d ago

At the right price, I could be tempted by a "rental sub" for the video store.

PirateNinjaBunny4961d ago

Netflix is OK but PSN has a lot more recent stuff and the entire catalog is already online so I doubt 'licensing' issues will crop up.

For 9.99 I'd sign up right away. For more than that...I'd have to wait and see.

PirateThom4961d ago

We can't get Netflix here anyway, but looking over the video store today, there's a lot of stuff there I'd watch, but not pay their current prices for.

Pennywise4961d ago

I've been saying that since day one. Give me $8-10 a month and I am in.

OpenGL4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

A subscription based rental service would be great as long as they stick to the current download model. I've used Netflix on my 360 before, and the image quality changes drastically depending on network conditions.

I'd much rather be able to download the entire movie to the hard drive and watch it from there. I'm sure with a slight tweak of their DRM, they could make an unlimited rental service feasible without any major changes to the way movies are distributed on PSN.

lightningsax4961d ago

Ahhh... That's a great idea. I find myself looking at the video store and never wanting to spend a giant amount of money, but a subscription-based rental service?

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4961d ago
rtonaey4961d ago

Thought PSN was about to become pay-to-play like the Xbox 360? I thinks not.

Gostosa4961d ago

I'll gladly pay 50$ a year for Xbox Live to get a superior online experience anyday :)

That's what I bought my console for atleast.. The games you know.

But if you guys are buying consoles for movies and stuff, be my guest. You're missing out on the best online experience available.

St04961d ago

superior? lol, keep telling you're self that if it makes you happy.

Think I'll just play some exclusive ps3 games with DEDICATED, lag free servers ;)

divideby04961d ago

superior.....blinded and clueless....sorry I have been a charter Gold member since day one and Live is NOT superior...
gameplay is gameplay.....creature features are creature features...

This is the model I was hoping Live would go to, BUT they know if they gave online gamplay for free like PSN...they would lose paying subscribers....
PSN is doing the smart thang...if you want features pay for it, but gamming is free...thats the way to do it..

lightningsax4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I need you to elaborate on why it's still worth the 50 bones. I don't know why, as I don't have a 360.

Shadow Flare4961d ago

You stick to your superior online service and pay $50 for your laggy 4v4 games while we play 128v128 games with dedicated servers, for free

rockleex4961d ago

Sony is offering you the chance to do the same on the PSN.

The difference though, is that on the PSN, you can still play online whether you pay for the superior online experience or not.

Sounds pretty good to me.

Why o why4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

little bo peep has lost her ..........

ultimolu4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

Then you go ahead and waste your money like that. Not everyone shares your opinion.

Superior? Don't make me laugh. Not everything you pay for is superior.

blogz4fanboyzz4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

and the usual sony fanturds line up for the attack and bubble raping, you could do a check-list of the usual suspect turd-fanboys that come to the defense of sony time and time again.

i have both, 360 and ps3. and although i think the psn is a decent service, i think that live is better...and by alot! i use both consoles on-line, but i couldn't imagine giving up live.

and all this dedicated server lag-free bs is just a figment of overactive imaginations of know-nothing fanboys. coz i've experienced lag and latency problems on both killzone and r2! and i've experienced lag and latency on the dedicated server games that can be found on live aswell....perhaps it's my 18meg down 1meg up connection that's at fault ey???

having a dedicated server doesn't mean that it can over come the laws of physics. if you live in the EU, try playing on a server in the US or vice-versa then tel me what you experience? or try playing on an asian server?

i know it's hard to face reality when you want to stick your head in the ar8e of a sony executive or make love to your ps3, but the mighty psn and even it's super-duper-able-to-break-the- laws-of-physics servers aren't what you make them out to be. dont get me wrong, i think killzone2 is one of the best on-line shooters to ever grace a console, and i thought the MAG beta showed just how great that game is going to be...and the ps3 is without doubt a superb console.

i just hate reading the same sh!t wrote by the same idiotic sony defenders dat in day out. i seriously struggle to understand what goes into making a pathetic no-life fanturd....does someone want to explain??

mastiffchild4961d ago

Well, Gotosa, you're very entitled to that opinion but I don't sahre it at all. Thios week, for the first time, I decided NOT to renew my Live subs. I don't play enough on it anyway and when I do it's no better performance wise-plus many of the games I play on PSN have dedicated servers while they didn't on Live. Had Gears2 had dedicated servers it would have been a much better game, had fewer problems and I MIGHT even have considered staying where I was but, it didn't and paying that price(which is a game a year or over the course of me paying another PS3 if I wanted)became really unjustifiable to me.

PSN has almost the same level of fearues(and I HATE vross game chat for the cheating and the distraction it causes) plus it isn't always great that everyone has a headset, really it isn't.

Then there's the Avatar they force me to have which makes me, as a dad of three, feel like a little girl given a gimpy wee soll to dress up. I don't like it, I'm always forced to see it and I don't know, for one minute, why they thought everyone would like to have one. It's just not my thing and it puts me off the 360. It might seem a little thing but it REALLY winds me up that they won't allow me another character to stomp it to death and banish it forever. Or giver me the choice not to have one!

Whatever, I can understand people preferring Live but not saying it's worth the price difference. MS should allow some online play for Silver memevers, though, and then make more of premium services. Looking to me as if Sony Europe are talking Qore here and not much more than that-unless it's something about a planned Vid Store rental service in future-plus getting Qore is cool for Vetas-it's a true premium service with a point whereas the bog standard Silver on Live may as well not exist, imo. Whatever, I feel silly now I've left Live Gold for paying for so long.

Why o why4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

i think ur taking n4g waaaaaay to seriously but even though ive said that kudos for calling out both sides.......are you a wii fanboy??;)

ill oblige you with a brief explanation

when the ps3 was lunched there were MANY doom n gloom articles about everything ps3 related from blu ray to graphics to games to whatever. At that period the 360 fanboys were rife and outnumbered the ps3 fans 3 to 1 maybe. Long story short is the tables have turned and two wrongs dont make a right but this is what some may call karma now the 360 fanboys are in the minority as everything they used to say has been packed up their fudge holes buy their former whippin boys. Round and round goes the cycle but if you want proof just check the comments from 2 + years ago. Yes we can live in harmony but this is N4G. Hope that clears things up

EDIT

nah nah, not really calling you a wii fanboy at all cause they dont exist. I wouldnt of replied like this had i thought you were but you have to know n4g's past to understand whats happening now (sounds waaaaay to serious i know)

Also this site NEEDS flame bait articles and has used them AND the fanboys to get where it is today...sad but true. The forums are a lot more civil

blogz4fanboyzz4961d ago

no, i'm a fanboy of games not consoles. if it's a good game then it's a good game no matter what console it's on imo. i own them all, and will continue to own them all until arthiritus stops me from holding a pad..lol

lol @ taking n4g to seriously. how can you take this site seriously? are think you are confusing me with the guy who posted below me. check out his past comments to see what i mean.

i just a little fed up with the community on here, and leech sites that write blogs just continue the nerd war that is raging on here now.

insomnium4961d ago (Edited 4961d ago )

If I play on EU servers (I live in Finland) I have virtually no lag at all and there is no host advantage. Additionally I won't be thrown into a game against people from far away (Americans for example) unless I want to.

Laws of physics apply for sure don't be silly but the advantages are GREAT!

I believe the reason for the current fanboy war is payback. This is exactly what we said that would happen even back in the day when the PS3 was launched. We knew the ps3 would take off when the price was right. It's just sweet to see the people you've had to listen all the crap from all these early years eating their words. The media too.

Whatever happened to "the ps3 has no games" and "we don't want to pay extra for all the bells and whistles"...? Oh right they are "oh noez teh saleeeez" and "zupeerior zervice" today I forgot. It's just like whatching a chameleon changing it's colours to protect himself. If you're proven wrong just change your tone and shout harder. "I'm sure there's some way we can win". It's f*cking hilarious.

And to think how many times this has happened already. HDMI, 1080p, Blu-Ray, standard HDD, PS3 has the best games (according to metacritic), we get same features but don't pay for them on psn.

It's an onslaught for the x360 fanboys so there's bound to be an uproar of some kind. The best of all they have only themselves to blame for this. We tried to tell them though.

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 4961d ago
bot slayer4961d ago

PS3 Head and Shoulders Above FLOPBOX 360.

Show all comments (124)