Sony’s PlayStation Network may not be free of subscription fees much longer, according to oblique remarks by its CTO.
SCE’s Chief Technical Officer Masayuki Chatani has this to say about Sony’s PSN plans in a recent interview, where he also explains how the slimlined PS3 and failed PSP Go were intended to appeal more to non-gamers:
Maintaining service will mean continuing cost. This is a major issue for a home electronics manufacturer, isn’t it?
Servers and the like have running costs, and we would face difficulties if our business depended solely on the sell-and-forget model. After we sell the hardware, though, we continue to sell products such as content and services.
We expect to see considerable growth in digital content, such as game download services, avatar items and the like.
We can also accept payment in a growing number of ways. In addition to single-payment packaged software, there are also schemes like monthly fees or per-item charges. I think this variety of payment methods will bring about a diverse range of playing methods, too.
Presumably making the entire PSN service require paid subscriptions, as with Xbox Live, would be a last resort, but it certainly sounds as though free access to online gaming services may in part give way at some point to a subscription based model…
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not a very decision to say this right when chrismas is around teh corner, is it?
And I was about to buy a PS3 ... not a good marketing move on their side
Well it's not like you have a better alternative out there, right? I wouldn't exactly count the PC as a good alternative to play current-gen console games even though I dearly love it.
Here here... PC is still limited on the games... and the menus are getting cut off the display for some games on HDTV's... Fixing that the best I can or sacrifice the HD quality.. makes a difference!
Love my PC games so dearly, still GOT FF7! And everyone is crying for FF7 for their PS3.
Crying for FF7 on their PS3? You can easily buy it for $9.99 on PSN right now and since forever. What are you talking about?
Just ran across one post
, "remake the FF7 for the PS3" maybe they didn't know. Don't use a PS3 anyways. Glad you know though, sorry about that!
I don't even play my PS3 anymore :(
Only reason I got the gunmetal one was because Hideo Kojima was coming to town and I wanted him to sign it (and he did).
LOL Sony quality for you, down the price of the console to introduce subscription fee's, I knew there would be a catch somewhere along the line, and people fell for it hook line and sinker. Think about it, PS3 slim sold like mad, and now all those new ps3 slim owners will be paying a subscription, which will ultimately make up for their price cut anyway. It's genius, but makes them assholes in the process.
Can I have your PS3?
I don't have any.
They didn't even mention subscription fees. They mentioned paid content.
By monthly fees, they likely would refer to specific games, eg the upcoming final fantasy 14 online.
ok now I love my 360 even more. sorry ps fanboys, looks like you gonna cough up some cash now for network play.
I still havent gotten past PS2 yet....damn im behind the times.
"HAH! YOU PSN PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING WHILE US 360 PLAYERS HAVE! NOW YOU HAVE TO PAY! BUT US 360 PLAYERS ARE ALREADY USED TO IT! I WILL NOW DRINK YOUR TEARS!"
'I wouldn't exactly count the PC as a good alternative to play current-gen console games even though I dearly love it.'
Huh? I don't see any reason why the PC would NOT be a good choice for playing current-gen console games. The PC gaming market has for the most part stayed completely separate from the console market until recently, more games are becoming tied closer to console-style than before. It is actually one of the reasons so many 'PC Gamers' are reluctant to buy games, as so many games are ported from consoles the performance sometimes suffers.
For the most part - if you have good hardware, games will always be better on PC. Assassins creed ran better on my PC as a console port, than it did on my PS3. Nicer graphics, smoother gameplay, and if you're into controllers, Xbox360 fits fine. Consoles are only focused on because it's EASIER to buy a console than building your own gaming PC, or buying an insane priced gaming PC.
Me too! i'm still waiting for the NA release of FF13 before i get my ps3! but then again, i dont use my ps2 anymore :(
I think this is a good idea, so long as they don't force you into a premium subscription for basic features like Xbox live does.
When you take into account how much running a network like PSN (or xbox live) actually costs, this could free up Sony's wallet for other things.
Ahh.. but since when is anything free or there's a drop in price? Only thing that never changes nowadays is our salary, unfortunately...
There's a lot of games that aren't released on PC that are on console that I'd like to play. There's also a lot that have much delayed releases on PC. I guess if you just want the big name shooters you're covered as far as games that are on console are concerned. My PC & PS3 combo covers me pretty well, but again, PC is just for those shooter games. I guess I'll play AC2 because I'm not going to pay for it but that is one of those large delay games.
Sure why wouldn't they do it. Since they saw the idiots on the X-Box side payed with no objections they saw that they can make there own pay and also get away with it since people seem to be a bunch of fools.
An article a while ago stated that psn you have right now will remain free with all its current features, but if you wanted premium features (I'm guessing like cross game chat and the like) then you would need to pay a fee. But playing games online like now will remain free.
http://www.qj.net/psp/news/kaz-hirai-current-psn-services-will-remain-free.html
'I was about to buy a PS3'...
First, if you really wanted a PS3 why don't you have it yet? Was it really less appealing $200 ago? Maybe you don't really want it that much?
Second, if an Xbox Live-esque fee is whats stopping you from getting a PS3, maybe you don't have the disposable income required to be buying one in the first place. Maybe you should be saving that money?
Go outside and do some sports and get laid.
Oh Noes. Loli-kun might have to pay 3 dollars a month to use some of their online stuff. WHAT A FUCKING TRAGEDY.
It's not as though they've already implimented this change. Whether people have a 360 or a PS3, you'd still have to pay to play. Just cross your fingers, hope they don't charge, and enjoy the (free) wealth while we got it.
idiots read the full details elsewhere. everything that PS3 has now like free online play (Modern warfare 2,Killzone 2) will still be free. It is other features that will cost. So no, do not love your 360 more (not like you ever did because he's cheating on you with wii)
i hope most of you have realized this but the CTO guy was just describing the different feature and items and such on PSN and the different payment schemes that go with those. in no way did the CTO say that PSN would at all be switching, it doesn't even have a phrase in there that saying anything along those lines, i think that most people saw the subscription fee line and thought the worse and assumed PSN would be switch when the evidence shows the contrary.
As long as they jack up the network quality to match the price, I wouldn't say it's completely unreasonable.
The inevitable has happened. However, only if the quality of service and maintenance is reflected in the pricing will if be successful. Sony better take notes from the only thing their competition can do w/ a lower failure rate.
You know I'm not all that interested in the console wars but if this happens I'll certainly get a good laugh at all of those fanboys who use that as the main attack against the 360.
I'd say the most used argument against the 360 is it's failure rate.
And it's game library of manly characters.
No he's right the subscription fee's are definately the main argument point for ps3. The reason is for 360 owners, in the long run, RROD is a good thing because it basically gaurantees the person a free repair because RROD became fully covered. I wish for my 360 to RROD on me everyday just so it saves me buying a new 360, BTW i've had it RROD once and had the same 360 since it was released.
The failure rate is just an arguement winner for ps3 in terms of company sales, not the fanboys themseleves. I own a ps3 and 360 though but whilst im prepared to pay for the 360 online, unless ps3 introduces voice chat all round any time like the 360 has then i won't pay for ps3 subscription.
Didn't say it was the most used. It's just another well worn argument that they use. Either way I own both systems and use them often enough that I feel I've gotten my moneys worth.
Exactly it. Xbox Live is the only thing MS has in the console wars that it does well efficiently.
Besides having the better (console, at least) version of almost all multiplatform games, save for those released on the PS3 a full year after, of course.
Again with this nonsense rumors. Sony has already told that stock meeting what their plans where and basic online would still be free what we have but they will offer more service that will start charging. I don't maybe like renting PSN games.
Word.
Sony has already said that there will be no change to the free services they are offering. They are just adding subscription-based services like Qore and Netflix on top of that. You can all lay down the pitchforks now.
Don't forget lots of DLC and well, more DLC.
mothafukken thank you.
someone that actually did his homework.
"Basic online" is also free on the 360, see Xbox Live silver accounts. http://i36.tinypic.com/20ixb9g.png
Eh? From that image you linked, "Online Multiplayer Gaming" is only a Gold Membership feature. Thus, it isn't free.
Try again, XBot.
The guy I was replying said:
"Sony has already told that stock meeting what their plans where and basic online would still be free what we have but they will offer more service that will start charging."
And then I said that yes, "basic online" is clearly also free on Live.
What, where did you read "Online Multiplayer Gaming" in either Anon's message or my reply to it, m'boy?
Oh sorry. I presumed that playing online was part of that "basic online".
Guess I presumed too much.
If paying to play online becomes the de-facto way of doing business on consoles, then I consider my PS2 to be the last console I buy. EVER. I was never gonna by an Xbox and now it seems I won't be picking up a PS3 either. Shame, I was looking for an excuse to buy one too.
Don't worry, if it becomes a de-facto way of doing business on consoles, it won't be long before it becomes the de-facto way of doing business on the PC also. And as Blizzard has shown, you can sue anyone who codes or runs a server emulator that doesn't do proper CD-key checking.
May I ask you what's the difference between not being able to download or play multiplayer games online at all (PlayStation 2, all official servers are dead and buried), and having the choice of doing it or not depending on a very reasonable fee? (if you take the year-long Live subscription it'll be just 4 bucks per month, even trailer rednecks can afford that.)
I don't understand where these supposed costs are coming from. PC matchmaking services like Gamespy and Steam having been doing this for free forever. Suddenly these giant companies can't afford it? These companies that don't just matchmake, but also have a giant revenue stream from their storefront services? Do you mean to tell me that the X-box's 10,000 ads I have to sift through to get to different things on their home screen can't pay for it?
This shit doesn't add up - just seems like more of a cash grab to me.
No shit? The number one thing companies like, and investors especially like, is money. If they can get away with it, they will. As Xbox Live has shown, they can get away with it easily. It's free money.
Exactly. If the stupid fucks that own an X-Box 360 had objected and didn't pay for it then other companies wouldn't be doing it. But since the fools had no problems the other companies saw that people are idiots that will pay no matter what so why not take there money.
They just started recovering the cost it took to make the !@$! things and now they are actually starting to make profit...
SO why not hit everyone in the world hard! Hahahaha... DO like Like Microsoft! Sooooooo Smart, glad I never bought one. Good luck PS3 Followers.
Whether Sony begins charging for online multiplayer or not is no reason to prefer Microsoft's system over theirs, or viceversa. Don't be silly.
If this particular rumor is true then I would agree with whoever brought up the fact that it would be one of the dumbest moves Sony would pull in the whole console war. If rumor is false then the comment about the extra payment for extra features would be okay.. Assuming extra features doesn't imbalance certain things,the worst case scenario would be OP MP.