Why PlayStation Plus is Better Than Xbox Live

PSLS writes: "Among the handfuls of information Sony revealed at E3 2010 was the announcement of the long-rumored PlayStation Plus. After months and months of rumors regarding a pay-to-play PlayStation Network, it was announced that the new PlayStation Plus will be an optional subscription-based system which rewards the consumer with several cool incentives including free games, early beta access and more. While the reception has been largely positive, several PlayStation 3 owners have voiced concerns about what the service will entail. However, when looking at what Sony is offering with PlayStation Plus side-by-side with Microsoft’s competing Xbox Live platform, PlayStation Plus is undoubtedly the better service..."

[seij555]

Yup makes sense, we still need x game chat though.

[Donny]

im loving psn+ for the fact that i get custom themes, STEAM, cvc is coming, and i get numberous discounts from psn. did i mention "STEAM"...drools

[Dramscus]

They didn't say anything about steam being a part of plus.
For all anybody knows it could just be part of the regular psn.

[SOAD]

We're not getting STEAM. Stop spreading misinformation.

[LtSkittles]

it's STEAMWORKS. Did I mention STEAMWORKS?

[OpenGL]

Steam is not going to be an actual part of PSN, but simply a feature built into Portal 2. I would compare its implementation to the KONAMI ID system used in Metal Gear Solid 4.

[Dramscus]

They haven't released any details at all, but yes likely it will just be the steam updating and patching system.
If they ever do sell games digitally on the ps3 it will be through the ps store where steam would have it's own section.

[Donny]

soad, you have got some nerve to assume im some fkn bandit spreading lies. screw u guys

[HolyOrangeCows]

They didn't insult or assume anything about you.
They have asked you not to spread misinformation.

Your comment reminds me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[NastyLeftHook]

they were not insulting you.

[Syronicus]

Why is PSN+ better than live? Because I still don't need to pay to play online with PSN+. I think that's pretty simple if you ask me.

[Menech]

Yeah makes perfect sense costs more then live yearly and does half the stuff xD

[Syronicus]

Gee that's funny... I didn't know that you got 4 free games every month when paying for live... Oh wait, you don't? So psn is better the? I thought so.

[Rainstorm81]

If sony added x game chat i think it would be worth the price of addmission for alot of gamers.

ME? Give me the games, discounts and all the other extras plus i cant wait to see whats down the line. In comparison to XBL i think the the differences were minimal when psn was just a free service but now you are get more tangible things out of PSN+ than XBL unless you count online play but that should be free.

I think ill get the year of PS+ and if its not vastly improved in a year then no need to continue it, but im willing to adopt early besides im addicted to Dynamic themes. Best thing since the custom evo dash on my modded xbox 1

[beardpapa]

I suppose a reason why Live can never be free is because part of the money goes to funding and supporting the bandwidth usage necessary for VoiP in x-game chat. I only say this because I read that part of the PSN+ fee goes towards xgame chat, hence why free users can't initiate a xgame chat convo [and the entire convo drops as soon as the PSN+ member quits].

Anyway, I wouldn't mind paying for PSN+ if I get free PSN games a month since some of them can be like $5-9 a pop. I wish Live had free XBLA games a month. Early on I had hoped that my gamerscore could be used to redeem stuff (like those tickets @ Dave & Busters), but since accepting that the gamerscore/trophies are just that ... I hadn't bothered with trying to get everything. So ... a free game a month for this annual PSN+ service sounds good to me. Granted I don't get to keep the game if I cancel.

Although ... I wonder if we get a cheaper subscription rate for FF14. I'm looking forward to that a lot, and would probably pay for that over an annual PSN+.

[FACTUAL evidence]

Yeah keep acting like the ps3 doesn't need cross game chat....I mean it's only the #1 feature mostly wanted with the PSN. I kind of agree with you, but psn really has no sort of "group contact" during a game.

I did get to the point that I have no hope for x game chat on the PS this gen, but now I at least want voice messaging. I hate getting my hopes up for FW, but if at least voice messaging isn't in update 3.40....let's just say I'm going to be livid.

[strickers]

What do you mean PSN has no group contact in games?Most games have squad or team features will the ability to mute others.In KZ there is voice for local(people near to you in game)and squads of 4 you form who have map wide voice.Many games are like this but it's not a PSN feature,it's a game by game basis.
Cross game chat does not matter to me.It would be a nice little add on but I wouldn't pay for it.I cancelled Live and cross game chat is the only feature over PSN worth having.It's not enough.

[vhero]

PS+ blows it away as XBL gives you nothing in terms of value everything you get from XBL is worthless after 12 months you are left with nothing to show for it.

[zerocool3397]

Everything you get from XBL is always there if you pay or don't pay for your subscription.

Everything you get from PS+ wont work after your subscription ends.

[dangert12]

just the free stuff like the games wont be there
we get to keep themes and gamer pics etc
we keep what we brought

[BigPete7978]

I think both have their advantages. But as the first commenter said, PS3 does need cross game chat.

[ps3gamerkyle]

I can see why cross game chat can be important for some people, but for me? Not a big deal.

[Dramscus]

Same. I'd rather talk to the people I'm playing with in pretty much every game I play.

There was that one time though a friend just wanted to talk over mic and asked me to leave game.

Generally though if I'm playing a shooting game I'm talking tactics with my squad, if I'm racing I'm either not using the mic or smack talking. Why would I want to just chat with friends while I'm gaming. Get a phone.

[Megaton]

I actually really don't like it. I like chat with my friends while I play the same game with them, but not cross-game. I tried it once and it was pretty annoying. I was playing Mass Effect 2, and he was playing... shit, I don't even remember. My point is that it was hard to concentrate.

All we really got out of eachother was "yeah" and "nice", cobbling together a sentence or two when one of us would hit a load screen.

[beardpapa]

@Xiphos

I'm with you on that. There's a reason why when someone calls me on my cell and I'm doing an mp session of MW2 that I purposely lie to them and say that I'm busy eating dinner with guests.

Equally frustrating when someone calls and I'm in the middle of my daily ritual [Geometry Wars] trying to get a higher ranking.

[Rainstorm81]

I was never a fan of XGC but it does come in handy at times. For instance talking to someone trying to find that killzone 2 room your in is far better than pausing the game & typing message.

BUt if online multiplayer is your think and you actually use ur headset then XGC would do anything for you.

[Boody-Bandit]

used cross chat one time with a close friend for 5 minutes.
Never used it again. When I game I don't talk unless it's team chat and only if friends are on. When I am playing a single player game I don't respond to text, chat request, cell phone or house phone. Leave me alone I am GAMING! This is my time. Talk to you when I'm done, maybe.

Personally what I would prefer more is private or party chat. That way you can ignore the undesirables and still have communication with people interested in playing the game.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Hey xiphos you must have a serious issue with concentration and hand eye coordination in a slow pace game like mass effect 2 while talking (a non requirement to play that game) poses a significant problem for you.

Can't you come up with an excuse that makes sense? That has to be the dumbest thing I ever read. You have issues talking to other people with a hands free headset not doing what you are doing. Stay off the drugs kid. If you said you were plotting a course on a sectional chart I can see your point. But, mass effect 2... nah kid... that is a boo boo excuse.

[SixZeroFour]

i really like party chat with bfbc2 and halo...bfbc2 cause having to only be able to talk to 3 other ppl isnt as helpful as having 7 other ppl with mics...3 is good enough, but with 7, you really have more to work with and coordinate with. And the reason i like it with halo is cause i really do have a fun time just chatting with friends most of the time (not too competitive in halo) and not be annoyed by the other ppl

[Megaton]

Mass Effect 2 has this crazy thing called dialog, and quite a bit of it too. Sometimes you can even, hang onto your seat here big guy, respond with your own dialog! I know a connoisseur of shooters like yourself wouldn't know anything about that, but for some of us it's actually a key part of the game. Shocking, I know. It's like talking to 2 people at once with cross-game chat if you're actually paying any attention to the game's story and what the characters are saying.

But please, by all means, keep calling me an idiot/child/junkie if it makes you feel better about yourself.

[Anon1974]

I never once used cross game chat on XBL, I wouldn't use it on PSN. If I'm playing the same game as others I'll talk. Different games? Forget it. Have you ever tried to talk to someone over the phone while they were playing something or watching a movie? It's maddening. If you can't give me your attention when you're talking to me, call me when you can. It's just downright rude. If you want to talk, the PS3 already has audio and video chat outside of games when you can actually pay attention to who you're talking to. Or you could use the phone.

Useless feature, in my opinion. It's not even a feature. Features add value to something. Cross game chat is a gimmick.

[thematrix1298]

Agreed. I think cross game chat is boring. Why would I want to talk to my friend who is playing another game. Developing cost/Benefit for this feature is high which means it's not worth it :)

[SixZeroFour]

maybe cause sometimes they just want to talk to their friends even if they arent playing the same thing

i dont know how many times ive had friends over and they go on computer or something or just watch/take turns while we play single player online games and just chill and chat...its basically the same thing except they arent at my place

[JonnyBigBoss]

Cross game voice chat is coming. I know it has been a long time but once it's out people will realize they don't use it that often and will forget how long it took for it to come out. Doesn't mean I don't want it, because I do, but I think it's a bit overrated.

[ps3gamerkyle]

Sony, on the US PS Blog today, outright said Cross Game Chat is being "look[ed] at as a viable offering", which should be interpreted as: it is coming soon. Whether it is either across the board, or limited to the premium service, is the big question.

http://blog.us.playstation....

[Big Frank]

I cant believe you retards are trying to say cross game chat is not that useful. It's only useless if u have no-one on your friends list.

Have you ever tried to organise a game with multiple friends? If you did you would no PSN is a nightmare to do this because of the lack of cross chat.

Cross game chat is a HUGE feature used by tons of people.

Stop lying to yourselves. Cross chat is one of the many things that makes Live a way better service.

[ExPresident]

I have and do organize games with multiple friends almost daily. I jump on MAG, they see I'm playing it on my profile, they turn on MAG. If I'm not in a game I send a party invite, they join the group and we go. If I'm in a game they join the game and finish it out (sometimes in the same squad if a spot is open) and if not then we are still in the same game, finish at the same time, and group up from there.

Really not that hard.

[Nathaniel_Drake]

So what about the free GAMES?!? You would take XGC over free GAMES?!?! Wow?!?!

[FreeFalling]

There are two reasons PSN+ doesn't appeal to me.

1)All of the "free" games given to you every month ends after the year is up you PAID $50 a year for. Sure the random games given to you outweighs the $50, but you see, the games are ones Sony chooses to give to you, they're not even by choice. You might end up with games you don't even want.

2)I doubt you're gonna be playing those games a whole lot when you have complete/full games to buy for your PS3. The games PSN+ gives are more like secondary options when you're bored w/ the games you already have, and to me $50 doesn't cut it. ESPECIALLY since it may not even be games I want.

Okay, I don't mean to encite flames, but can I get a decent response to these complaints?

[vhero]

No it doesn't why do people go on about cross game chat like its a big feature? I tell you why! Because its the only 1 feature 360 still has that PS3 doesn't forget the crap load of features PS3 has 360 don't oh no they don't matter. Let's all concentrate on the 1 feature 360 has ps3 don't. I wouldn't mind but it's not even that important. Only 360 fanboys care because they got it and a few ps3 fans want it because they feel left out. If you are that bothered get a mobile/cell with skype DONE!

[PopEmUp]

I rather have custom soundtrack as default to every games over cross game chat anyday

[ingiomar]

if only xbox live was free to play online.

PSN+ is what xbox live is supposed to be..NOT a moneymaking machine and offer great stuff for gamers not that it doesn't right now but still it could at least have free online play

[Dramscus]

M$ Is all about the money making machines.
They are the very stereotypical big evil greedy corporation.

[Al Bundy]

I agree with the author.

[Sev]

Since when did male gamers turn into such broads?

Who needs cross game voice chat? What is this, the party line? There is an 800 number for your type of loneliness.

For a long time I supported those of you wanted cross game voice chat just because if you are a PS3 owner and you want a feature, you should have it (reasonably speaking). But I cannot deal with all the whining for a feature that lets you whine some more to your friends online while they play a DIFFERENT game.

Quite frankly I would find it annoying and I firmly believe you should only talk to those in the same game, mode and match as you.

/rant

[SOAD]

Please don't downplay features just because PS3 doesn't have them. Everyone does this with everything.

Oh, we don't have so and so? Well, we don't need so and so. Oh, you don't have so and so, well, sucks for you because so and so is really important.

The fanboys are incessantly doing this. Just because you don't have something doesn't mean it's not good or useful.

You guys sound like the fox that hungrily stares up at the bird in the tree, and, seeing that he cannot reach the bird, he says, "ah, it probably doesn't taste good anyway."

Cross-game chat is a good feature. It allows friends unrestricted communication when they're playing different games.

[Boody-Bandit]

different games"

Do you talk on your cell when you are at a movie theater?
Watching a movie or show with you friends or family?

Why would you want to chat with a friend if you are playing different games? The immersion goes right out the window. I prefer to be totally engrossed and pay complete attention to what I am doing. Surround sound cranked, kicked back in my comfy chair with my feet up.

I don't know, maybe I'm just old and set in my ways but when I am gaming or watching any program I want it to be quiet with no distractions and I want to be left alone. If it's a team game I will chat on my mic but if I am playing a single player campaign of any kind? Leave me alone!

If my friends see that I am playing a single player game on PSN or XBL? They might send me a text on my cell but that's it. They know when I'm gaming I go hardcore and don't want to be bothered.

Private chat or party chat would be nice but cross chat? I don't know many people that bother with it. I have used private chat more on XBL then an open mic. Now that I would like to have but it's not really that needed either. You can just mute all and unmute your friends. Basically it's the same thing and allowed in all games. Party chat is starting to be excluded from certain games but for good reason (cheating).

[Nathaniel_Drake]

XGC is coming, so I don't have any idea what the excuses of Live being better are going to be. It will be fun to see that, can't wait

[Sev]

I think you are confusing me with one of these rabid fanboys common on N4G.

I just personally don't care about the feature and am not downplaying anything. I know what a big deal Cross Game Voice Chat is to gamers, I know because I've been hearing them whine for 4 years.

I'm a launch PS3 owner, I'm a launch Wii owner. I'm a launch owner of every damn console pretty much ever (sans the sucky ones like Jaguar and 3DO). I'm a 360 owner but a tad late to the game. Games are what sell me, not features. I pick my consoles by what games they play. Not because I can chat with my buddies (I have a Droid for that). The feature is just not that important to me.

Then again, I've been gaming since the Atari 2600, and I've been perfectly happy thus far in my gaming career just playing f***ing games on the console. I really don't need additional bells and whistles as long as the games continue to be good.

You sound like that fox that stares up at the bird in the tree and says "I better go call my friends up on Xbox Live to chat about this bird I am looking at"

How about you play the game?

I really need some more bubbles so I can talk more... I have so much to say... :)

[SOAD]

"You must be that fox that stares up in the bird in the tree and says "I better go call my friends up on Xbox Live to chat about this bird I am looking at"

I don't even have XBL anymore. Nice try, though. I just think that if a useful features exists, then people should be applauding it and demanding it for their console instead of downplaying it.

I understand why the PS3 fanboys are downplaying it. They don't like to hear the 360 fanboys lording it around as if it's the greatest feature ever, which it isn't. I think the mature people on this site don't pull this bullshit. Cross-game chat is a good feature and I want Sony to implement it at some point. I'm not going to keep bitching about it, because if you check my comment history you'll see I haven't spoken about it at all, but my opinion on the matter is that I want it on my PS3.

[Nathaniel_Drake]

Careful Sev someone my mistake you for a gamer, you know one that only cares for GAMES

[FreeFalling]

and be sociable and have friends too.

Just saying~

[Big Frank]

@Sev1512

You're special. In the wrong way.

"Quite frankly I would find it annoying and I firmly believe you should only talk to those in the same game, mode and match as you."

Thats priceless! You should start a new Nazi gaming regime where people aren't even alowed to look at people that don't play the same game as you.

[T9X69]

Na, I'll stick with my basic PSN account and XBL Gold.

EDIT: @Sev1512 - You clearly never used X game chat have you? Single Player games don't have modes or matches with other players. You don't know what your missing because you never had it.

I'm telling you, it doesn't sound good on paper to some people, but when you actually use it, you will understand how useful it is. Until PS3 gets X game chat there is nothing I can say to convince you otherwise. You just have to try it for yourself.

@midgard227 - You clearly don't own an Xbox. Half of the features in PS+ are included with a basic account with Xbox Live...

[Sev]

@T9X69 there are a lot of things I have never used before but know if I would or wouldn't like them. I enjoy relaxing to a nice single player game and I would be annoyed if someone was trying to chat with me while I was focusing on kicking some ass.

Also, when I game single player, last thing I want to do is to talk to others. I do enough of that throughout my normal day. Unless I am playing MP with some friends. There is a time and a place.

----------------------------- -------------------------

I'll be getting PSN Plus, but I don't have much of a reason, I own most PSN titles and big PS3 titles, and I am a Qore subscriber. So in all reality it's not getting me much. I really just want to see what all the hoopla is about and hope Sony impresses me.

Plus, I don't mind supporting the PlayStation Network as a platform, look at what all those $50 a year subscriptions has done for Xbox Live... oh wait...

Kidding ^there BTW, Xbox Live is fantabulous too. Just would think there would be more value for 50 a year.

[ExPresident]

Concur, well said. Have a bubble on me.

[midgard227]

u mean u'll stick with paying to play and u get nothing more than what the free PSN gives u besides cross game chat. HAHA.

I mena damn, ya dont even have an internet browser and ya bring out the mugs when ya get facebook.....how sad.

PSN+ is 1 million times better, y? cuz u actually get something. not just access to a demo lol.

o and when ya get a game that has more than 16 players and doesnt lag tell me :)

[duplissi]

@t9x69
uh no... almost all of what xbl gold offers is offered in psn....

please tell me that i dont have a 360.. please.

[Taggart451]

The mounds and mounds of content that's given to you on a monthly basis really is the kicker for this service. I mean, it's paid off for by the first month, then the rest of the year you get free stuff! We all win!!

[T3mpr1x]

Agreed, Sony's got my $50 next week. Let's just hope the launch rolls out alright and not slow as molasses...

[Capital Dream]

but what happened to its bad to pay for online services even if your able to play online for free? nothing but double talk!

[ps3gamerkyle]

I am just a little hesistant about this whole thing. SURE, the first two months do look very inviting. Heck, even if the service was just for two months, you are getting $50 dollars worth of content. But the service isn't for two months, it is for a year (or three months. However, for all intensive purposes, I am just focusing on the yearly subscription)

But what about after the first two months? I just hope Sony has a continual stream of salivating content that makes my purchase all-the-more worth it.

[thebudgetgamer]

i for one enjoy getting completely different experiences on my two main gaming platforms. why people would want xbl and psn to be similar confuses me.

http://www.directdigital.co...

[Sev]

That's an interesting point.

I think it's just due to the fanboy in everyone. Sony fans don't like the fact Xbox fans have had Xbox Live and cross game voice chat as something to brag about that the PS3 doesn't have. Although I would think that is Sony's feeling too. I am sure they don't want the PS3 to be missing features in Xbox 360.

Hell look at motion control. The Wii made a fortune for Nintendo and now Sony and MS are trying to do the same.

The fact is these guys all want their console to be the best, and more importantly sell the best. Since third party console exclusives are dead, features are what drive sales to one particular console over another. So each console wants to have the most robust offering to attract the most consumers.

[StarScream4Ever]

Honestly thats a great compare and contrast article.

I might actually be sold to the Plus plan.

[Omar91]

i rather wait and see how psn+ goes before i lay down 50 bucks a year. i hated paying 50 a year for live and this needs to win me over big time to get 50 bucks. it does seem great though. like ive said before, still dont like that you have to pay for you ps3 to download updates and whatnot faster... just doesnt make sense. it should be a feature for EVERYONE.

[Omar91]

wasnt there suppose to be 3 months free to try it out? is that still going to happen?

[Jeff257]

There isnt a trial for it. The three months free comes with a yearly subscription in the US. Pay for a year and get the three months free added on to it. Basically 15 months for 49.99. In the EU region they get LBP as a digital download for their one year paid subscription bonus.

Im buying PS+ during the first week. Wont have enough money for it on day one but will be getting it on July 2nd which is payday for me.

[karl]

ill probably get it.. but i dont get how is it that u can get a PSN game every month... u think that would include full games? that are usually like 40 dollars.. that already sounds like we are riping sony off

[ThePlaystation3guy]

If I had broadband still, I would be a PS+ member!!

[mittwaffen]

Please mods, clean this god forsaken website up.

[andrewf91]

Right now I mean I don't see the necessity for PlayStation Plus because I mean PSN basic is what most PlayStation gamers will stick to for now. I mean getting more content/games/discounts is great and all but, there's just nothing in it right now that wants me to buy it once it releases.

[Godmars290]

Then its better than XBL.

Until that happens, if it ever happens, its not.

[Capital Dream]

bubbles for you sir

[A LIVING LEGEND]

It isn't rocket surgery or brain take off.
One requires a fee for basic online play.The other affords basic online play and asks YOU if an additional fee is something desired for additional content.
Not alot to compare outside of the monotonous drone that bellows 'XGC'....XGC.
Alot to compare outside of the fact that I have NEVER payed anyone other than my ISP.....but let us ignore such triviality.?

[ForROME]

This article is EPIC FAIL all over it, from the title till the end

[Capital Dream]

bubbles for you too sir

[Nitrowolf2]

I will be honest
I like the service but after reading the EU blog post only a few things got me a bit dissapointed and that was the fact that Themes and Avatar are also selected by sony. Also what of those people who already own the free game do they get anything? That's the only issue i see with it.

[Capital Dream]

Lmfao rofl lmfao

[Games_R_Us]

This is a great read for when your on the toilet doing a crap.

PS+ is no where near or even in the same planet of Xbox Live.

[playnation]

cry me a river xbox fanboys! =P

[LedZeppelin]

Psn+ = more bang for your buck

[Tony-A]

In value, PSN and Plus obviously offer more than XBL for what you're paying.

Just over $4 a month with Plus and they give you 4 games worth much more than that. By the end of the year, you'd be getting free stuff from Plus with all the content you get, as opposed to just getting the privilege to play your $60 games online and internet content that's normally available for free everywhere else on XBL.

If you find that fanboyish, fuck you. Sorry..... don't care. How would that not be the truth? Last time I checked, you don't get free games with XBL's Gold. What you get instead are privileges.

If it makes you haters any less butthurt, hear me out: I'm not getting Plus. The only subscription I've ever had was XBL, but that was only about $100s worth and it started before I got a PS3. I don't do subscriptions. I'm against them, which means no Netflix, Plus, Gamefly, XBL, Game Informer, nothing. Just the way I am.

[ActionBastard]

4 XBL Gold services I have for free currently on my PS3:

Twitter
Facebook
Netflix - separate fee, but I don't have to pay Sony to use
Online Play

PS- is better than XBL for me, let alone PS+.

[OSIRUSSS]

I was gonna state the same thing. And Add XBL has Laggy Multiplayer.

[FreeFalling]

@ last comment,

Please don't ruin a post w/ a few points.

The websites may not be as easy to navigate/use as on XBL, but you have some points.

[SpitFireAce85]

But i just want to say Iam getting this just for the fact
that you get something in return not just to play online,
and to X game chat. you get:

1 free PSN game a month 5-15$
1 free PSX game a month 5-10$
2 free psp mini games a month 1.99-3.99$

that alone is worth twice the subscription fee.Plus you
get the yearly sub for Qore which is 24.99$ by its self.
On top of that you get early beta access,One hour Try
before you buy a game.Exclusive Dynamic themes and 20-50%
off at the PSN store.

So don't be hating be loving Sony like i do!

[N4GayFanturds]

It's all geared towards the casual gamer - like all these BS motion control devices...what's in it for me, the hardcore gamer?

Can I connect to better servers? Is there any features that will make me at least visually outstanding to regular PSN users? Free CASUAL games that I can't choose nor keep if my subscription expires??? Oh yea, that is so worth $50.

BTW How many BETAs has been on the PS3 since 2006? Two maybe three?? B4real! 1 hour to try a game but no trophies will be unlocked? What's the point? I'll know if I like the game in the 1st 10 minutes.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

It kills me with the crazy reasons sony and ms gamers come up with to not like X-game chat. It is too distracting... it is too hard... it makes no sense. Are you kidding me. I guess it is difficult when you guys have no friends.

[Trexman89]

Looks like I came late to the fanboy wars. :( who's winning?

[SnukaTheMan]

on n4g its sony ...the rest of the internet..the wii.

[N4GAddict]

Both have their advantages and disadvantages

[GrizzlyMedia]

then XBL users that's a big A+ for those who want to pay for it including me of course.

[SnukaTheMan]

Because its sony right....right.....playstation plus is missing features like cross game chat but its better...how can something be better when its missing basic components.

[strickers]

Depends on if you value those basic functions.You used the plural but brought up the same 1 feature which half of us care little for.I had Live and PSN is better for 3 reasons.
I found it more reliable,less disconnects.
I found less lag
The 32 or more player count appeals to me and I play 32 player matches where I can and no smaller.It's more enjoyable.Live has pitiful player counts.
I won't get PS plus but at least it has tangible value unlike Live whose BASIC features are free on PSN and PC.
You are being ripped off and then claiming how good that experience is.MS fans are self harmers.

[Jack Klugman]

Come on, look at the site it's coming from.. This kind of crap is laughed off any other site but N4G.

You get someone like strickers who just talks out of his arse for a service he never used. He seems to know all about Live but then closes with YOU are being ripped off and speaks of MS fans in third person.

He obviously doesn't know about a game like Frontlines when talking player counts on XBL. T

Some examples

Universal match making system
Truskill ranking
A completely integrated system where things feel connnected unlike the hogpog PSN is now.
Achievements for every game, not missing the first year and a half.
Custom soundtracks in every single game, not tacked on but integrated into the console itself.
All the integrated social networking stuff, instant 1080p streaming, larger movie selection, more XBLA games than PSN games, ESPN, etc.

I could go on, but it's just a waste of breathe. Just let them pretend it's the uber cool!

They don't realize that by charging for this stuff now Sony isn't giving them anything early.. All they are doing is making the non PSN+ members wait longer.. Things everyone would of gotten are now going to be reserved for the paying subscribers.. The rift has begun just like on XBL with Gold and Silver.

The difference is all can play online gaming for free on PSN that is a huge plus.

[BX81]

Live is better than PSN now. I'll wait to see about after the new crap

[Keltik82]

Looks like all the bashing of the PSN is coming to an end. PSN+ is a welcomed addition, very nice Sony! Doesn't look like Xbox360 has anything on Playstation any more in fact the online PSN service looks a lot more appealing then the Xbox Live. Only thing is Cross-Gaming Chat (I personally don't use it) because I'm usually chatting within my game otherwise it would be a distraction. Now, if I'm playing like let's say Flower then Cross-Game Chat would be awesome :)

Can't believe how far Sony Playstation has come, seriously. Exclusives/PSN+/3D/Precise Motion control, they're really gaining some crazy momentum!

[zerocool3397]

If you get the majority of what live does for free why would you pay?! 4 games a month is all well and good but if you dont want to play any of the games on offer then you're paying for nothing really.

Still no cross game chat and party rooms so its pointless. Avatars on home... home is like second life for consoles but with nothing to do, a complete waste of HDD space.

The article fails to point out that you can get early access to betas without paying for anything. The whole idea of a beta is to get a small group of people to test a game in a controlled environment. Then allow more people to play, thus testing the stability, not allow millions of people to play and essentially break it before it starts.

If you get a free game through Playstation plus and the following year you decide not to renew it, you wont be able to play the game till you resubscribe, essentially you are renting the games.

I think it would work out cheaper to get a rental account and buy the games you actually want, rather than clog up your HDD with games you don't really want. At least you know that you can play the games you buy anytime you want.

[darkdoom3000]

12 PSN games
12 PS1 games
24 minis
24 themes
24 Avatars
?x DLC

Less than the price of a retail game

Per year. Keep aslong as subscription. Not bad on paper.

[kasasensei]

The key of the success will be that : you do not pay to play online, you pay to have real advantages. That is the most important point, because sony will not separate the community like microsoft do it.
PSN+ will be an huge success. I can bet anything on that.

[Roozium]

that it's always Playstation fanboy sites that write this stuff. I almost never see a Xbox 360 site write something like this because they respect Sony and Nintendo. It's sad, really. I hate fanboy wars.

[WalMartFTW]

I been debating on whether I should or should not get a ps3. I can get one (ps3 fat, hdmi cables and everything, one controller, and CoD W@W I know a old game) for 200$. I have right now a 360. I plan on getting a ps3 for the Blu-Ray, free online, and Exclusive, but still buy Multi-Plat games for 360 cause I like the XBL community (I know SHOCKER) and of course because of Gears of War 3! Any suggestions on what to do?

[gamer7804]

Services are totally different, I myself much prefer XBL. Keep in mind also that these free games on PSN+, all become unplayable the moment your subscription is no longer being paid for.

[mcgrawgamer]

both have advantages and disadvantages. I pay for xbl because most of my friends are on xbl guys I actually know. we will all more than likely purchase psn+ if it offers features that cater to our group.

The constant bickering of what's better xbl or psn is pretty old at this point. to be honest sony could add xchat and party chat nothing else slap a 40 buck tag on it call it psn+ and MOST ps3 owners would support it because it enhances their gameplay experience. Just like xbl gold users pay for that service. To bad mouth one or the other is waste of time and oxygen. the guys paying for xbl will stop when they want and the guys who'll pay for psn+ will stop when they want to stop bottomline.

[iOmegaSeriousi]

who wrote this a ps3(Sony) fan boy, Sony nd Microsoft are going to rip us off whoever with all the console including myself r going to be paying $100 annually for those service they both give the same so there's no difference nd i heard a rumor that sonny is going to do the same taking out the free internet