Will Sony charge for online gameplay?
by Adams Briscoe 
{ May 16th 2006 at 2:00PM }
An astute observation by x360Central (and a few readers as well) points out the absence of online gameplay and matchmaking from Sony's "Basic Community Services." These were outlined at E3 last week, but we never explicitly heard about the former features.
This brings up the flamebait regarding the Sony online platform and similarities to Xbox Live. Should they choose to leave out free multiplayer after all, then it would reduce the PlayStation Network Platform to a musty spin-off of Xbox Live Silver.
Sony has stated that they plan on giving gamers free online gameplay though, so until they come out saying that they will definitely charge for it, let's keep that in mind. This will be an interesting issue to watch develop as we get closer to the launch date.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
greg @ May 16th 2006 3:03PM
The online structure will be just like the Xbox Live silver (for free) and Xbox Live gold (for a fee). There is no way that sony will offer free online gaming. They just announced it before to hype their product more. Sony needs to come out straight about their product just like Microsoft did all at once on MTV and in magazines more than six months before their launch.
boots (former bd) @ May 16th 2006 3:06PM
In the video, Kaz Hirai states: "The service will offer a variety of services *beyond gaming*...". I didn't hear him say "it doesn't include gaming". So this is left to interpretation. But apparently, X360central thinks that the word "beyond" means "that don't include". Until Sony says it's official, this is BS.
bobeotm @ May 16th 2006 3:38PM
On the floor the representatives were saying online gameplay would be free. This was from an E3tv interview with a sony representative. So until they explicitly say that online play wont be included, I will withold judgement.
SuicideNinja @ May 16th 2006 4:47PM
Multiplayer will be free. I don't see how they can possibly charge for it at this point. Especially since the setup won't be much different from their current online offering except with a friends list and media downloads. They may recoup costs in the form of other charges though.
My favorite response to this picture is something similar to, "Wow, free Account Management? That's great because I'd hate to pay for account management..."
Kendal @ May 16th 2006 4:47PM
#1, What do you mean they got rid of USB? Both the 20gb and the 60gb versions of the PS3 still have USB ports in the front of the console.
As for the HDMI, WiFi, and Memory Slots; they were only taken out from the 20gb model. The 60gb model will still have all three.
When did they get rid of the support for up to 7 wireless controllers? I don't remember them saying anything about getting rid of this feature.
As for HD support, I don't see that as a big deal. HD support is nice and all but, since HD is still rather expensive, I don't see too many people that actually have HD-TVs. Until HD-TVs become more common in homes I don't see this as a big deal.
About the online structure, the only thing Sony has said is that it will be free. Whether or not that means a "Silver" and "Gold" type thing or not I don't know. There will be some sort of free service though.
Always,
Kendal
Cage @ May 16th 2006 6:06PM
Boots...where are you?
Please respond to:
Clearing up some PS3 confusion
Posted May 14th 2006 10:00PM by Christopher Grant in Joystiq
"Boots (bd-whomever you are this week), and I quote "
Now, if I do recall ( and many people including myself DO recall your PS3 comments when the 360 was coming out)...
PS3 - DUAL HDMI OUTPUTS - 360 is junk using analog
PS3 - WILL NEVER COST MORE THAN $500 - SONY WOULDN'T BE THAT STUPID
PS3- BLU-RAY WILL RULE AND MS IS STUPID FOR NOT PUTTING HD-DVD INTO THEIR MACHINES
PS3 - WILL HAVE SINGLE SKU'S CAUSE MS IS MORONIC FOR USING 2 SKU'S
Shall I continue?"
Posted at 12:56PM on May 15th 2006 by Kevin D
Stop running from your comments...
Fan @ May 16th 2006 11:10PM
Hi The Hedon.
Allthough you are right about the 2skus there are a couple of mistakes in your post.
"They took away wifi, hdmi and memory slots."
They only took it away from the base model. And as Sony stated the only non-upgradable feature of the base model is the HDMI port.
"They took away USB ports"
They took away 2 ports there are still 4 left, that should be enough. It does however baffle me why all those 4 are on the front. Bring some to the back please.
"They took away the built in router."
This was confirmed removed along time ago. So its not like a broken promise.
"They took away support for 7 wireless controllers."
This is not possible since they use Bluetooth. Bluetooth makes a Personal Area Network(PAN) with up to 8 connected devices. 1 will be in the Ps3 the other 7 can be anything, including controllers.
"They took away "gaming" dual monitor support."
Im not sure what youre talking about but the Ps3 can stream a second screen view via Wi-Fi, as showed in the gt4 demo using the psp.
"And now the base sku can only play games in 1080p via blu-ray and component cables, but will not play 1080p movies."
This is again not true. Please read up on the technology. I think youre reffering to High Definition Copy Protection(HDCP) beeing a feature of HDMI. HDCP is yet to be mandatory and it will probobly not be for a long long time. Also its the choice of the movie studios to include it or not.
You seem a little desperate saying so many wrong things about a console. IMO you come off as just wanting to trash talk, wich is kinda stupid. It is just another console.
Fan @ May 17th 2006 8:14AM
Hi Hedon
Im not trying to defend anyone, im smply pointing out factual errors in your post. But if youre upset that the specs changed before launch this is obviously the first time youre following a product pre-launch. Things change with almost all products and nothing is final until the box is shipped.
So lets go though your new post.
"hey did say it was going to have a built in router, and now they don't."
They publicly stated they removed this feature a long time ago. About a year or so. Its was removed because of cost.
"And, yes they did take away the 7 player supported wireless support"
I have not read anything that says they took out support for 7 controllers. It would require some work from their part to block out the controllers and to me thats seems like a waste of effort. Loss of 7 controller support is hardly anything important IMO. But we will know come launch. The four leds on the controller is not proof of anything.
"I just said they took away USB ports, which they did (they did leave some though). So yes, THAT HAS CHANGED"
Yes it has changed. But things change... Nothing is final about a product until it launches. 4 ports should be enough though. I do however hope they move two of them to the back of the console, for asthetic reasons. I hate wires all over.
"They said that the PS3 will come standard with dual HDMI slots, memory card/memory stick readers and WIFI, but obviously that is NOT true because it comes standard WITHOUT those now."
It does come with all those features, except the dual HDMI wich is kind of a let down. But I was not gonna hook up two HD-TVs to it any time soon anyway.If you buy the cheap version you can allways upgrade everything except of course the HDMI port.
"And yes, it is true about the HDMI and HDCP, and Sony has already announced that as well."
This is false. I dont know why you think this but its not true. Its not true for neither Blu-ray or HD-DVD. HDCP support is NOT required and wont be for a long time.
Read these:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/14/sony-wont-downsample-blu-ray-flicks/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/27/universal-wont-downsample-hd-dvd-content/
"They also said 100% backwards compatibility, meaning ALL TITLES FROM PS1 AND PS2. And NOW they change their tune and say only the TSR titles will be 100%."
Yeah im not seeing them pulling off perfect BC. Since its software emulation wich is notoriously hard.
So to sum it up: Im not defending anyone, im simply siting facts. Please attemt to debunk me but I think if you do som research you will find that im correct.
Jake @ May 17th 2006 12:05PM
In order for you to have a ranking (a feature of Sony's online service), it seems like you would be required to have previously played online... This is yet another Xbox fanboy rumor.
Goobers @ May 17th 2006 5:17PM
to Hedon
do you know binary? well, and led is just that, on or off... i suspect that for controllers 5-7, all they have to do is light up TWO leds instead of just one. keep the fourth one on, and light up one of the others, which works out math-wise, 4+1=5, 4+2=6, and 4+3=7, seven controllers.
nah, too easy!! /end sarcasm
the difference between this is actual binary is, you could do 7 with only 3 leds if you want, but i would think, having no leds on or all on would confuse some folks, and then you'd have to remember what the pairs are... using left to right (as most americans are used to it),
(0 is off, 1 is on)
000 = 0 (fine, you don't need to use this one)
100 = 1
010 = 2
easy so far...
110 = 3
001 = 4
101 = 5
011 = 6
111 = 7
complicated yet?
with four using "simplified" all you have is...
led position/numbered
1234
----
1000 = 1
0100 = 2
0010 = 3
0001 = 4
1001 = 5
0101 = 6
0011 = 7
don't need to use 0000 or any triple combinations, or 1111... and i kept the last one on, because, like i said earlier, it adds up in math... they could keep the 1st one on, and it'll still be simple... keeping 2nd or 3rd on is more complicated.
and there you go, simple identification of 7 controllers using four leds... why not use 7? cause it's cheaper just to send a second signal to one of the other 3 than mounting 3 more leds. why not use 3? cause it's just a little too complicated for the average person (ie, you'd have to LEARN at least basic binary).
personally, i think the "double" leds are more easily recognizable, i mean you see two leds, first thought, not 1-4. you're left with 5, 6, or 7.
1001 vs 0000100
0101 vs 0000010
0011 vs 0000001
with 7 leds, 2-6 are not immediately recognizable (or at least 3-5 is harder, cause they all look about 'middle').
anyway, long enough for ya?
so yeah, having only 4 leds doesn't mean they took out the other three... it only means someone put some thought into it (even if it just screams "cheap" compared to using 7 leds).
but this is "conjecture"... don't "assume" one way or another... wait for an official statement or when the system comes out, then we'll know for sure.
boots (former bd) @ May 18th 2006 2:18AM
Cage:
Stupid troll, why are you in such a hurry? I am busy, I have stuff to do you fucking idiot. I already responded. If you always write from work, why are you so busy posting here still??????