Sony’s NGP is touting its 3G mobile connectivity features, but Sony has unsurprisingly confirmed this will not be free, and consumers and even Nintendo’s CEO all appear extremely hostile to the idea.
SCE’s European boss has confirmed that the NGP’s 3G connectivity will not be a free service, meaning contracts with mobile phone providers will almost certainly be involved.
If the market for smartphones is anything to go by, this will likely mean $20-$100 monthly data plans, minimum contract periods and a variety of other inconveniences, all without the benefit of actually being able to make phone calls or do much beyond play games (which of course also have to be bought).
Nintendo’s CEO actually rubbished the NGP for just this reason, saying he thought it would be extremely difficult to persuade consumers to stomach the costs of a mobile data plan:
“I won’t deny we’ve been looking into [3G support for the 3DS]. However, with the separate subscription fee required it is a very difficult option to consider.”
Of course, this was the man who said a console with a battery life under 10 hours would be “no good” only to release one with a 3 hour battery life.
That the NGP’s 3G will be a hard sell, if not an impossible one, is already in evidence from the 2ch reaction to the news that a fee will be involved:
“It’s finished.”
“If this is true, then it’s already done for in the Japanese market.
Consumers will never accept the notion of paying ¥3000-¥4000 monthly for a game console which they can’t use as a phone or for anything else.
And the parents will never let their kids have these. Without schoolchildren it won’t take root.”
Providing a non-3G model (which is confirmed) and carefully marketing the subscription plan to both buyers and those who want no part in it may prove marketing hassle Sony could do without.
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Just don't use the 3G. Problem solved.
I already have a 3G sim card for the sole purpose of mobile surfing.
Oh yes.
From what I understood, it's more like signing contract with AT&T or Verizon to use the iPhone, not only getting access to mobile Internet.
That is just their theory. Devices like the iPad require a subscription, but no contract. You can activate and disable the account monthly, and there is no long term contract. It doesn't HAVE to be like a phone.
I'm still baffled by the negative reactions in the article. You'd think you had to buy a 3G plan just to use the system.
It's 2ch. They enjoy crying out for the apocalypse on the littlest of details.
"I won’t deny we’ve been looking into [3G support for the 3DS]. However, with the separate subscription fee required it is a very difficult option to consider.”
Why can't Sony think like this more often...
“It’s finished.”
Sums up 2ch's reactions to the fucked up news in a single couple of words, classic hilarity...
So playing online using 3G huh .... That's gonna suck Coz I know it's gonna be slow...
I can game online using my HTC EVo (no 4G just 3G) as a hotspot and play games on my laptop with little to no lag. Call of Duty Black Ops for one runs with almost no lag online unless I am in a very weak signal area. 3G is perfectly fine in most cases for Computer gaming, if It can handle that, I'm sure it can handle a Much easier and weaker Portable game.
Damn telco, always up to no good
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/9084/1296016726425.jpg
Its already confirmed there will be Wi-fi ONLY models.
http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/01/29/hirai_ngp_details/
Now this is a smart move on their part as the wifi only ipad is a about $130 cheaper then the 3G ipad.
Plus many users may own a mobile wifi hotspot which would make a 3g modem in their individual devices pointless.
and the Ipad can't make any calls either.. yet still offers 3G.. If the NGP was just a game platform.. no.. not worth it.. but as basically and Ipod touch killer ( don't know, hoping) then its a nice option for those on the go..
and like said.. you don't have to buy it , or use it if you have it! its a convinent option for those looking for it.. so in turn sales will increase! To me this is a great marketing idea!
From some reports, it seems sony is planning on releasing two versions of the NGP - one with wi-fi and the other with 3G enabled - like apples iPad.
So, simple - just get the (cheaper) wi-fi version.
I don't understand the big problem here. Everyones acting as though Sony will require anyone who buys an NGP to purchase a 3G plan. It's just another feature that's offered on the device. If you don't want to use it then, well... don't. Dumb fucks...
Really isn't a big deal and has already been rebutted quite a bit..
Once again, the nintendo fanboyism is showing artefact..
Especially if people read the whole article and see that there are two versions of the NGP: One with 3G and one without.
So you don't even have to HAVE a system with 3G, let alone pay for it.
Thank you for putting some reality back in here.
This. Theres different skus for a reason. People will find anything to complain about.
did you miss that you need to get it?
Where does it say you need to get it? I doubt you need 3G. Sony has to be retarded to do that. 3G is really just for the hardcore CoD players.
Yea I missed it too care to point that out?
At least they are not asking you to connect to 3G and require u to pay for it just to play single-player
still has (Wi-Fi)!? if so i see no problem.
I honestly don't see the problem.There are models that do not have 3G.
Who the fuck needs 3g anyway?
it does have Wifi still, so the option to purchase games and whatnot is still possible. 3G is part of the ipad but the ipad doesn't force you to make use of it since it also has wifi. I can see the NGP having it for individuals who DO want to pay the monthly fee, and wifi use for people who don't want to pay the fee. I think metropolitan japan is covered with wifi hotspots so that shouldn't be what kills it.
it does, they have two SKUs for the NGP, one WITH the 3G and one without, but both with Wi-Fi
It depends on the teritory though.
Europe is getting wifi and 3G SKUs, where as Japan is only getting 3G SKUs (wifi included with it of cause).
There's been no announcement for the NA SKUs last I looked but I'd say it would be the same as the European.
I don't think the US will get the 3g one as that could mean it would be legal to jailbreak it as it would be legally close to a phone.
So, this shit can't make phone calls? what's the point of the 3g?
If someone ports skype or similar to it you could use it as a phone.
No the 3G connection is so that you can play online multiplayer and access the devices store and such when you are unable to access wifi.
It's not to do with 'near', 'near' works the same as the DSs proximity gaming.
I think it's for the one of the features.. I think it was "Near." Basically uses the GPS to see what other users around your area are playing, or something like that.
most likely online gaming while you can't access Wi-Fi
More sensationalist journalism by the triangle-man.
Says who? I wouldnt be surprised if they added such feature when they find out their battery anti piracy protection is no good...
All they have to do is make a deal with a cell provider for an inexpensive data only plan like the iPad has. This would simply be a feature that would not be used much until it catches on.
Or kids would rather spray this new piece of junk with sticky white semen and just go play other owner friendly handhelds such as DS or the old PSP.
really now, I wouldn't spend that much on a monthly subscription that doesn't come with a blowjob from a beautiful secretary
Shhhhh don't give them ideas!
LOL NO thanks, go to hell! -.-. I'm pissed of them that they don't try to find a better solution than this. FU .. NO sorry, I mean I really like the PS games because much of them were exclusive, but no thanks, I don't need a PAY TV for games
Are you people fucking retarded? Everyone and their dog knows the details on NGP by now, and it's been made clear that 3G is not only optional, but there will be a wifi only SKU. So no, NGP isn't finished because of the 3G. Imbeciles.
Wow....and people actually down voted this post? I guess logical points combo breaking the silly complaints aren't wanted?
No, he was downvoted because he's agressive and insults people. Upvoting this is the same as insulting people all over again...
If 3G is the ONLY way to get online and use online features then yes I see this as a big fail. The NGP also has wifi, so it's not like you can't get online that way. The only advantages of 3G is just for the convenience of getting online outdoors (ie on the train etc) without having to look a wifi hotspot.
Even with a perfect 3G connection you are still going to have lag problems due to the latency overhead of 3G technologies adding anything from 250-500 ms on top of any existing latency. AFAIK 4G don't have such overheads, but thats besides the point here.
Having 3G functionality on top of wifi isn't going to make the NGP a fail. But trying to game online via 3G will be a pain and you'll end up playing via wifi anyways. At least the option is there, and it's not like you HAVE to take out a 3G data plan either.
There will be multiple SKUs. I believe this already confirmed by Sony. All will have wifi, but not all will have 3G. Just look at the iPad as an example of multiple skus. I believe they will have not only 2 skus (3G and non 3G), but between those they will also have different internal storage space. Probably the base model will be non 3G with 16GB of space, and the most expensive one will be 3G with 64GB of space (or maybe the can push it to 128GB).
And before anyone complained that the space is too small, NGP also have SD card slot (yes, not memory stick).
People from 2ch are being WAY too fast with their judgement. No one from Sony's camp said you can ONLY connect online via 3G. It's an option for when your out and about. You don't want to pay? You don't have to. But having that option, in my opinion, is invaluable. Especially since 3G, in most cases, will be way faster than a lot of Wifi connects found outside the home.
From the way it sounds they probably assume it will be 3g and wifi only, and a separate wifi only model won't be made... Especially since not alot of information has been given about it officially...
Actually there are 2 models of the NGP being released
One with 3G and wi-fi
And the other only with wi-fi
2channer are to stupid to read the details of the product
This is great. Obviously they won't force you to utilize the 3g, but now they give telecoms an incentive to subsidize the device to get people on contract. If you don't do that, you can probably pay by the month similar to iPad plans. No voice number? Who cares? Some sort Skype (likely since it's already on PSP) or VOIP/SIP combo will come along and then we have the dream. Think about why you pay separately (okay, not so much now with all the "unlimited" everything plans) for so many minutes, so many texts, when it's all just data anyways. Anyone who thought the service would be free in the first place was deluded anyways.
I actually think the 3G model is there just for the telecom subsidies. The NGP with no 3G contract will probably cost a fortune, but Sony will only advertise the highly subsidized 3G model perhaps as being cheaper than the 3DS or whatnot, while carefully hiding the fact you will be paying for your console during the next two years by asserting those fees are just for your 3G connectivity.
Unless SONY will NOT sell the PSP2 without a mobile contract, this article and the complaint doesn't make sense...
When was 3G ever free? if they just sell the device without 3G contract, what's the problem?? wtf... this thing has wifi... why are people complaining?
Because haters are gonna hate. That's really all it boils down to. It doesn't matter how little sense their reason makes. Artefact is just another ignorant hater in a sea of the haters unfortunately.