Sony charging Hong Kong PS3 owners to download themes

by Nick Doerr { May 16th 2008 at 12:30PM }

It's starting. Maybe. What we thought was a marvelous adventure of free online courtesy of Sony may start to end up slapping price tags on more or what was initially free. The first offender is this screenshot taken from the Hong Kong PS Store -- when you try to download a PS3 theme for the upcoming title Dark Mist, you're asked to pay $7.00HK -- roughly $1 in the US. It's not much, but it's infinitely more expensive than free.

Xbox 360 owners will be familiar with this practice, as many dashboard themes and gamerpics will cost a dollar or two. Will this new idea bleed onto the other PS Stores? Would you pay for a theme on your PS3?

[Thanks, Colin!]

Tags: dark-mist, ps-store, psn

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Christian @ May 16th 2008 12:34PM

Considering Sony allows us to make our our themes, I cannot see this taking off. Why would we pay to download a theme when a talented user can roughly replicate that theme and share it with the rest of the users. *shrug* I guess they would get a few dollars out of it, which could go towards their $120 loss per PS3 system.

Lars @ May 16th 2008 3:05PM

Agreed. Why pay for a theme when you already have a ton free from Sony, and a bajillion free ones from the general public. Besides, nothing beats the original theme for me (just wish the stupid PSN icon matched).

Now I could see this making more sense if you bought the add-on character and as an extra incentive/bonus you get a matching theme.

Paul (PSN: heypaul) @ May 16th 2008 3:23PM

PSN icon sticks out like a sore thumb, but the playlist one is even worse. None of the themes change it.

leiwei @ May 16th 2008 12:37PM

I think Japan does it too.

reson8er @ May 16th 2008 12:41PM

Nope they don't. I've d/l plenty of Japan Store themes for the low low price of nothing.

Would NOT pay, as you can get many for free. I always thought the 360 stuff was a real rip off.

leiwei @ May 16th 2008 12:51PM

really? cuz I swear I went on the Japanese store last week and i'm looking at it now but Dark Mist theme costs 100 yen buddy

leiwei @ May 16th 2008 12:54PM

to my above since there's no edit to this comment system.

Looks like Dark mist is the only one on PSN. Anyone know a reason to why they charge for that one? Also anyone w/ the game can give me a review of it and why they like it? Looks like another top-down shooter to me. =T

Ben @ May 16th 2008 12:40PM

No way!

never$$hort @ May 16th 2008 2:29PM

Hell NO I aint payin for no dam themes!!!

Steve Childs @ May 16th 2008 6:16PM

Hell, I don't even download the free themes, no way I'm doing it if they ain't free.

For god's sake Sony, themes are basically advertising games, stop treating your customers as whores you can repeatedly screw for $/£/€ etc...

Instead of charging us $1 for themes, why don't you get us stuff we would actually pay for - decent PSN games (heck, decent blu ray games would be nice), Home etc..

But then, you haven't had to delay a theme pack release yet, so you must be able to produce *something* on time ;)

Phileoca @ May 16th 2008 12:41PM

China is the Piracy capital of the world. CHARGE THEIR ARSES!
then charge 'em again!

Eggy @ May 16th 2008 12:43PM

Hehe.

glenn @ May 16th 2008 12:43PM

you can make your own so why download one, let alone pay for it?

William @ May 16th 2008 12:47PM

Would I pay for a theme? Yes. I've paid for a few different 360 themes.

Would I pay for a bad theme? Not a chance. So far, very few of the PS3 themes have been worth downloading, let alone buying.

And almost every single one has been an advertisement. I'm certainly not going to pay to put an advertisement on my XMB.

Eggy @ May 16th 2008 12:49PM

Isn't that what these themes and wallpapers are. Advertisments for games. lmao.

William @ May 16th 2008 12:49PM

LOL @ 'customerize'. Appropriate since only customers (people who pay) will have this theme.

Nerdkiller @ May 16th 2008 12:49PM

I'd basicly find the same themes on PS3 Themes or some other website. I don't see the point in this.

Wolfster @ May 16th 2008 12:52PM

That's right keep telling yourselves that....

It'll start off with themes then other stuff will be priced as well. It's obvious most of the PS3 owners are greedy. Everyone wants a handout.

Fiddlesworth @ May 16th 2008 12:54PM

Really depends on the quality of the theme. If it's really polished with unique, not just recoloured default icons, something the average person couldn't make then it may be worth it.

These paid Dark Mist themes have been available for a few months now so not sure why this is only just getting reported now.

leiwei @ May 16th 2008 12:56PM

btw you guys should check out the HD bobo videos on the HK psn store. LOTS of Sony advertising in those videos. TONS! I highly doubt they're even playing the PSP while making a music vid.

Mikezula @ May 16th 2008 12:58PM

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.....

...no.

I will not EVER pay a single penny for something so superficial.

T-P-M @ May 16th 2008 1:00PM

Wouldn't this be Game Republic's doing? I seem to remember Sony saying they let the people producing the content price it.

Rob @ May 16th 2008 1:03PM

I will not pay for a theme, or for online gameplay.
If this does continue I will probably sell my PS3 as well since it will become useless and I will just use my PC.

adolson @ May 16th 2008 1:10PM

I don't even download the free themes, so no, I wouldn't pay to download them.

hatmantc @ May 16th 2008 1:11PM

i wouldnt pay, especially considering. i have like 5 or so sites bookmarked on my ps3 webbroswer that i can get different themes for free.

Christian @ May 16th 2008 1:13PM

Doubt it ever will become common. Since Sony has made it an open system people will just go elsewhere if PSN charge for the themes available, like ps3-themes.com for instance.

d1rtyhabit @ May 16th 2008 1:25PM

Try www.allps3themes.com or google interfacelift (wallpapers) from your ps3 browser for more FREE direct downloads than you could shake a stick at !

Omen_20 @ May 16th 2008 1:27PM

I was just telling my friend last night how themes and wallpapers are free on PSN and he said that was nice because of M$'s stupid charges on stuff like gamer pics. I think Sony should keep stuff like this free as it is one advantage, no matter how small, that they have on XBL.

tonyt3rry @ May 16th 2008 1:34PM

I wont be selling my ps3 but it wont be geting much more attention if they start to charge for online, if they up the anty then id pay (eg, more dedicated servers etc more support no more eu shafting with content release dates etc, pain and high velocity bowling is two prime examples)

Lars @ May 16th 2008 3:07PM

NO! I'd rather keep the service as-is than have a Live-like service that I have to pay for.

CM @ May 16th 2008 1:48PM

Never. Unless it was amazing. haha.

Livi70590 @ May 16th 2008 1:53PM

NOOOOOO! IT BEGINS!

Robobagins @ May 16th 2008 2:07PM

Aren't these more then just themes though? I think you're getting the theme AND a add-on character for Dark Mist.

Popfrogs @ May 16th 2008 2:11PM

Nope, it just says it "features" one of the characters from Dark Mist. That's like saying a Resistance theme features Nathan Hale.

SnipersParadise @ May 16th 2008 2:11PM

I would never pay to download this type of stuff, all it is, is ads. So when you download it, you think about playing it or getting it. Why pay for something like this.

Nodgedafunk @ May 16th 2008 2:28PM

No, I can make one of my own, so why pay.

exolstice @ May 16th 2008 2:41PM

I don't even download the free ones. So no. I wouldn't pay. I also wouldn't pay for downloadable content (standalone games excluded).

Peter @ May 16th 2008 2:50PM

Nope. The poll police need to check this out.

Andre @ May 16th 2008 3:02PM

Well given from the pic it states that your getting a character to use in the game along with the theme.

Juthan @ May 16th 2008 3:10PM

Will I pay for a theme?

One word: NO, or
two words: HELL NO!

I spend most of my time in a game...playing, crazily enough. I do not stare at my dashboard long enough to warrant paying for a theme.

Phoenix8387 @ May 16th 2008 3:26PM

I wouldn't pay for a theme unless either: 1. It was a theme I could literally not live without, or 2. The theme provided something additional to it. (eg. a special contest entry)

I personally use the original XMB theme anyway, so charging me for a theme almost guarantees it's not getting purchased.
On a side note, it's likely that with the proxy trick that someone could download the theme and then distribute it themselves.

proArchy @ May 16th 2008 4:01PM

they give us the ability and tools to make our own for free. If Sony decides to charge us for one that they've created that's fine with me. I still have the option not to buy it, and the ability to make a comparable one on my own, or find one on any number of websites. Now, if Sony took away my ability to make my own i would be disturbed.