Slashdot Mirror
September PS3 Launch, Online Service
Next Generation (which has generally been fairly reliable regarding information of this nature) has a report indicating that the PlayStation 3 may be launching in September of this year. They also have information about the Sony online console service that has been rumoured for the last few weeks. Apparently called HUB, they theorize details about that aspect of the console will be made available in the next few weeks. From the article: "PlayStation HUB is being described to developers as a 'subscriber service' suggesting a monthly charge. We understand the service is being created by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, although this is unconfirmed. Sony boss Howard Stringer is pushing for all media content to be available for distribution over PlayStation HUB, such as music and movies, thus opening up a powerful iTunes-like distribution network for Sony."
thus opening up a powerful iTunes-like distribution network for Sony.
Except it's not portable. Insert "wah-wah-wah-waaaaah" sound.
Come on, an internet-required playstation is about as portable as a grammaphone.
There used to be such a company that existed up until they willingly attacked the worldwide information infrastructure with malicious software and assumed all their customers were criminals. But now that company is dead as far as I am concerned.
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
Expect the ability to transfer stuff from your PS3 directly to your PSP for portability.
Also expect the ability to transfer music and small videos directly to your Walkman phone.
Or this "live" is an internet based service.
And, if it is an internet based service, then ISP will ask for their cut as the "Free ride" thing with Google?
Or this will be another reason to push the tiered internet?
Â_Â
This is so layer in speculation, that I can smother my pancakes with it. Probably doesn't taste as great though.
It seems wierd that they mention none of the details are specific, nor confirmed by Sony, but they can say that Japan and US might get it around the same time? Somehow, I think Sony would honor their Japanese market before it every makes it over the Pacific.
As for the subscription service, I would like to see it in action, and how well it can hold up to Xbox Live. "an iTunes like distrubtion"? Sounds like like you still pay seperately for each Online game you purchase. You might see a list of games on the server, and pick two, for like $9.99 each per month. Might be more convient to acquiring the game, but it would suck if they charge for each game's monthly subscription seperately. I know they hinted at it just beinga flat monthly fee, but still...
But remember, this is speculation.
The Galatic Freedom Force marches on! Defend!
A subscription model? You're kidding me, right? I'm sorry, if I am going to be paying $50-$60 for a new game, the last thing I am doing is shelling out more money on a monthly basis to play online. Furthermore, given the stupid subsciption model, where's the incentive to upgrade from my PS2? I can still play SOCOM and Madden online, if I'm inclined.
OTOH, I don't think there's a single PS2 game that has me inspired to play online -- of the four years I've owned my PS2, I've had it plugged into a network for maybe 10 days.
blog |
It will be interesting to see how this service does compared to the new XBOX Live available for the XBOX 360 users. XBOX Live over the past couple years has become the standard for online console gaming with in my opinion great service and the ability to download content for live-enabled games.
The online console era is the new thing for consoles and is now definitely here to stay as it looks like both XBOX 360 and PS3 both are going to be media centers in one form or another. I think HUB is going to have some catching up to do to match the growing success of XBOX Live.
The growing success, put into perspective.
10% of Xbox owners ever got on Live. Microsoft's Xbox sales were 20% of Sony's PS2 sales. Nintendo's sales were also around 20% of Sony's. Doing the math, we can see that Live stormed onto the scene and sucked in a whopping 1.6% of the console gaming market.
Holy cow! How will Sony ever catch up to that???
I highly doubt that the Playstation is "carrying" Sony in any way, shape, or form. I am sure that it contributes to its profits, but there is more of a world besides video games to Sony, as a company. I am sure that their publishing and a/v equipment carry the company more than the console does.
You are in a maze of little twisting passages, all different.
Which means it'll be out around Spring 2007 in Europe :(
...
So long to wait until the Xbox 360 drops in price
Will HUB bring anything new to console gaming? Or is Sony going to primarily focus on copying as much of Xbox Live as possible? It's pretty easy to point at an existing competitor and try to copy as much as their features as possible, but much more difficult to bring something new to the table. The concept of having HUB be a "media HUB" for Sony music, films, etc. is interesting, but I really wouldn't call that new. (And it's something that can already be done on the 360, and presumably Nintendo's Revolution)
As much as people like to whine about the 360's subscription model (which only applies to the "Gold" membership) and the lack of users so far, I do enjoy some of the new features introduced in the latest incarnation of Live. For example, the gamerscore and the achievement system have turned into "mini-games" in themselves (if you enjoy that kind of thing). However, there are definately improvements that can be made. I wonder if Sony's going to go the extra mile, or if they're just going to be content (for now) with playing catch up?
-- jchenx
FY 2004 (ended 31 March 2005)
(millions of dollars, converted from Yen)
Electronics -321
Games 404
Music 82
Pictures 597
Financial Services 519
Other -38
Total 1243
So, games was about 1/3 of Sony's profits for the most recent year. Certainly much more than music over that period.
And, to gauge against XBOX 360 sales, they sold 16.17 million PS2 units between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005.
Disclaimer: I worked on the microprocessor in the XBOX 360 and also on the Cell processor expected in PS3. I game on both XBOX 360 and PS2.
Microsoft has claimed publicly that about half of XBOX360 users have joined XBOX live. No word on how many are regular users vs. tried it once. Also, I believe that Xbox live access is required to run old Xbox 1 games on XBOX 360, so some folks may have joined just for that.
Don't forget that 50% figure is almost entirely composed of early adopter hardcore gamers, Xbox Live silver users who pay nothing (can't play games online, but can buy content and post scores) and trial users which are also currently paying nothing.
We'd have to wait a little longer to see if the actual, Live Gold user statistics are truly higher than the 10% who subscribed to Live on the Xbox1.
That's kind of misleading. By the time Sony's put out the PS3, they'll have to deal with an Xbox 360 that's had a good half year's head start in the channel, since the supply chain problems have apparently been fixed. Last stats I heard, _50%_ of 360 owners had put their console online. That's an excellent number, if they can maintain it.
-Erwos
Plausible conjecture should not be misrepresented as proof positive.
Perhaps it's because the PC has always been my primary game platform, but I simply am unwilling to pay a fee to game online. I see this as nothing more than a way to have a sustained monthly income for Sony and M$.
Don't forget that you have to pay to get patches for Xbox games, which ironically need patches... My PS/2 doesn't crash nearly like my Xbox (as in almost never).. Stupid Xbox thing...
Now if I can just defeat Malak..
And you'll get files in a proprietary format that only works with a specialized Sony player...
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
That's kind of misleading. By the time Sony's put out the PS3, they'll have to deal with an Xbox 360 that's had a good half year's head start in the channel, since the supply chain problems have apparently been fixed. Last stats I heard, _50%_ of 360 owners had put their console online. That's an excellent number, if they can maintain it.
If they are able to get actual 360's in stores, and add a couple of interesting exclusive titles to the lineup by the summer, they may have a chance. The supply problem has really squandered a lot of the initial launch excitement. When the PS3 launches, MS is going to be in the unenviable position of being "last year's" console in the face of Sony and Nintendo unless they have an impressive stable of games.
My opinion, obviously. We'll see what happens.