PS3 online to be charged?

[unreal]

Yeah wasn't there like a chart with the varying packages and what benefits they'll give you?

If it all goes off, maybe it will inspire Microsoft to adopt something similar with free online play as part of the basic Silver package, but subscriptions to Movies etc with the higher up ones.

[jackobyte]

found this snippet on 1up.com gaming site:

"The free service of the PlayStation Network had some thinking it would force Microsoft to follow suit and drop their Gold charges; but it now looks like the situation may turn out the other way around. Eurogamer reports that a presentation from Sony mentioned a "new revenue stream from subscription" for the PlayStation Network. In a statement, Kaz Hirai said the company is "studying the possibility of introducing a subscription model, offering premium content and services, in addition to the current free services." Right now any of these plans seem to be in the brainstorming phase, but we could see the new model coming. No doubt the ailing economy would affect this decision.
That said, there's no reason for PlayStation 3 fans to panic just yet. Hirai's wording was careful, but seemed to indicate that the current services, like free online play, would stay free. Even if Sony introduced some new features and charged for them, free online play would mean most users could get by just fine without. This would still make it a far cry from Microsoft's model, in which the popular feature of online play requires a Gold membership. We'll let you know if Sony outlines more specific plans."


article on this link
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3177014

seems its just one of many ideas sony are banding about

[Nersha]

I think it's just rumours, PSN should remain free

[Prime]

I think it's just rumours, PSN should remain free

scroll back, its for premium PSN deals. online gaming and general use (like we use now) will remain free

[syphab12]

sorry but i have heard this all before. what it realy means is what the thread says, this is just a test bed for everything being pay to play. it seems our initial money used in purchase is just now going to be the beginning 40 pounds upfront then 10 pounds per dlc x4 i.e stuff that should of been there from the beginning + 4 pounds a month x12 and what do you get. well you get a 40 pound game that now cost 128 pounds and like suckers we will fall for it

[syphab12]

sorry but i have heard this all before. what it realy means is what the thread says, this is just a test bed for everything being pay to play. it seems our initial money used in purchase is just now going to be the beginning 40 pounds upfront then 10 pounds per dlc x4 i.e stuff that should of been there from the beginning + 4 pounds a month x12 and what do you get. well you get a 40 pound game that now cost 128 pounds and like suckers we will fall for it

by the way that game is called fifa 11/madden 11

[Rob_B]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=235285

Well, seems like we now know why Sony we so slow to bring cross-game chat into existence, might end up the first of the chargeable features.

[Grey M@a]

Seems its going live on 29th June with PlaystationPlus

£39.99 a year for it and it offers a few bits and bobs:

http://uk.playstation.com/playstationplus/

Join PlayStation Plus today and start getting even more from your PlayStation 3 with a whole host of premium and exclusive features, including games and content worth at least £200* a year, member only PSN features and much more.

Games: enjoy loads of PlayStation Network games, minis and PS one classics plus premium avatars and dynamic themes, all worth at least £200* a year.

You'll also get exclusive PlayStation Store discounts and early access to demos and beta trials. Content is updated every month on PlayStation Store, so there will always be something new to enjoy.


Full Game Trial: try before you buy with a one-hour trial of selected PlayStation Network titles and Blu-ray Disc releases.

Automatic Download: receive the latest PS3 system software updates, all your game updates and even game demos without lifting a finger.


* Approximate value based on average RRP of available content, excluding discounts, calculated using exchange rates as at May 2010. Actual value may vary. Access to some content, excluding discounted content, terminates at the end of the subscription period.

Games

Get your hands on at least four games a month at no extra charge.
Each month, use your PlayStation Plus membership to download a selection of games from PlayStation Store, including PlayStation Network titles, minis and PS one classics. In addition, you can download premium avatars and dynamic themes, many of which are exclusively for members only. Games, avatars, themes and all the other PlayStation Plus content are updated each month so there is always something new to enjoy.

Members also get access to exclusive discounts on PlayStation Store content, so make the most of them as these will change each month as well.

Finally, wherever possible PlayStation Plus members are included in selected demos and beta trials before they go on general release so you can be the one to tell all your mates about the next big game they simply must have.

All in all, with games, avatars and themes worth at least £200* per year, even before the other benefits kick in, this service is great value for money


* Approximate value based on average RRP of available content in a one year subscription, excluding discounts, calculated using exchange rates as at May 2010. Actual value may vary. Access to some content, excluding discounted content, terminates at the end of the subscription period.

Full Game Trial

Try before you buy on selected PlayStation Network and Blu-ray Disc titles

This premium feature for PlayStation Plus members gives you so much more than existing demos on PlayStation Store. With Full Game Trial, you can download the full game and play it as if you owned it for one hour before you decide if you want to buy it. So you can check out the online modes, play against friends or anything else you’d normally do with a game for the whole hour, then decide if you want to buy it.

You can download two games a month as a Full Game Trial and if you buy the game at a later date, all your progress from the trial, plus any unlocked trophies will be immediately available so there's need to start all over again.

Automatic Download

Automatically receive the latest system software, game updates and demos.
Set your PlayStation 3 to automatically receive the latest PS3 system software updates and game updates for all the games you play and even get game demos sent directly to your PS3 without lifting a finger.

No more waiting to play your favourite game because there is a new patch or having to remember when the latest system software update is launched, let your PS3 do the work.

Just set the time you want to receive updates and demos and your PS3 will wake up and automatically download everything, ready for when you next want to play.

[Gunbuster]

Combined with discounted PSN network cards this *might* be a reasonable deal if you play PSN and 'Minis' games often. Otherwise vanilla PSN it is.

[danroyle]

if you can choose the games you get this might not be that bad a deal certainly better than microsofts £40 a year and get nothing at least sony are sweetening the pot a bit.

[Rob_B]

If you can pay with PSN cards (~ £17/£18 for a £20 card) and it costs £40 then your looking at £34-£36/year, thats not bad at all

[Gunbuster]

Worth mentioning that Live is a network subscription with content bonuses and PSN+ is a content subscription with network bonuses. It's Apples to Oranges a bit with these two.

[Terbinator]

Worth mentioning that Live is a network subscription with content bonuses and PSN+ is a content subscription with network bonuses. It's Apples to Oranges a bit with these two.

Yep - that was my thought, just seems some are trying to say the Sony kool aid tastes better.

[Gunbuster]

Yep - that was my thought, just seems some are trying to say the Sony kool aid tastes better.

It's hard with anything that costs hundreds of pounds to not get defensive and protective. Thats why owners of more premium products that can just afford them tend to defend them to the hilt (Macs) as apposed to owners of my value products (Netbooks).

If you can only have one console, Sega Megadrive Vs Super Nintendo, you sure as hell will join a side when games exclusives come into it or rhetoric.

Although its not quite what he meant. Kevin Bulter at the Sony E3 event said: "If you friend gets a really hot girlfriend and so do you. Who wins? Everybody!". He meant motion control for casual and hardcore gamers. But really that applies to Live & PSN+, 360s & PS3s. If you get a service/console you like and so do other people it doesn't matter which one it is, everyone is good.

[roorooroo]

Was bound to happen sooner or later i suppose..as long as PSN multiplayer gaming remains free.

[Terbinator]

Snip>>>

From my experience, people get offensive not defensive.