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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."
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.
Why not, 5.5 million WoW users do it every month?
Subscription service may even let us see free games in the coming years as developers realize that the majority of their income is from the subscriptions and not the sold box; especially once they stop selling boxes and start providing downloadable content. Of course, faster network connections and a very large audience is need to support that; but that's what this all about right? M$ vs $ony for the title of network/distribution owner?
You think M$ is willing to lose millions on the XBox and 360 because they hope to make it up in game sales? No way, they want the network and control. Same as $ony.
- I voted for Nintendo and against Bush
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
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.