Sony looking for more online partnerships to provide gamers free content
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Aug 28th 2008 at 11:00AM }
Of course, that's not the end to Sony's ambitious plans. Shuhei Yoshida explains to GI.biz that Sony alone cannot manage all the experiences it wants to provide. "We can't support all the needs of the consumer," Yoshida admits. However, "there are great companies providing services on the PC already - so we're very open to provide the opportunity to those companies to reach our user base as well."
Once again, it looks like unique advertising relationships must be established. By offering advertisers a unique platform to highlight their goods, players will be able to enjoy an expansive lineup of services for free. "We like to provide as many services as possible for free - we already provide our network access for gameplay for free - and the interesting thing about the network side and the Internet business is that there's a variety of revenue sources," he said. "Not necessarily getting people to pay, but with advertising and so on."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael @ Aug 28th 2008 11:18AM
Hell yeah, go on and get me some Hulu content on PSN.
Popfrogs @ Aug 28th 2008 2:53PM
I'd totally pay like $5 per month for Hulu on PS3.
Albanian_Killa @ Aug 28th 2008 4:21PM
You can already get Hulu content via this new media server in beta stages. I tried it, it does stream YouTube, and all those. I can't get Hulu cause I'm in Canada. Can only get it through a proxy server. Anyway, yeah, there's a media server for Hulu, and a lot of other content. I think you have to pay for it after a while, but there is a free trial. Google it.
bambino @ Aug 28th 2008 11:19AM
LIVE is going to be irrelevant in the next 1-2 years.. if Sony deliver on their promises and continues to improve the PS3 firmware.
Saeth @ Aug 28th 2008 11:54AM
No, it won't.
Either company is going to crack... PSN going subscription based or Live becoming free.
In the end both services help each other out.... if a company innovates and succeeds in one area, the others will follow. cough trophies/achievements/steam achievements/blizzard achievements cough
maxdense @ Aug 28th 2008 3:40PM
Exactly.
kloteradyingrose @ Aug 28th 2008 6:41PM
Fact is Microsoft is greedy, and Sony is confident.
Sony believes that the right software, services, and prices can lead them into the number 1 position.
Microsoft doesn't pay 50 Million to get exclusive DLC for nothing. They wanted more sales on the game but more importantly they wanted XBL subscriptions. If they pay 50 million it would take 1 million people to become a yearly subscriber for them to break even. It would take 66.667 people subscribing 1 month to break even.
If they lead some people to try out the service for 1 month, then later they pay for it for a year because they liked playing online... They just dipped into both of those numbers.
Plus Xbox 360 already has advertisements on their main page and all over the service. Yet they still charge. They have hardware that's proprietary but they still charge.
Microsoft is greedy as hell they won't do a damn thing about getting a free XBL service until they HAVE to. They won't provide hardly anything for free or cheap unless they HAVE to.
Is XBL really going to be relevant when you can only store 120 GB on your 360 when Sony owners can do 160 or even 500GB on theirs? Which one has more long term potential.
kloteradyingrose @ Aug 28th 2008 7:05PM
Sorry I'm not feeling well my numbers are probably wrong i think I did 1 million instead of 50 million which woudl be 3,333,333 for the 15 dollars for 1 month subscribers and 1 million for the 50 dollar yearly.
Plus if they push a few more boxes that presetns more profitiability. You gotta remember that probably 10-20 percent of XBL members aren't Gold members and Microsoft wants them to pay for thos gold subscriptions otherwise it's money Microsoft is missing out on.
Bibbly @ Aug 28th 2008 11:20AM
Psychonauts for PSN!!
Saeth @ Aug 28th 2008 11:54AM
Please.
I'd settle for any downloadable last-gen game too.
Arnon @ Aug 28th 2008 4:49PM
Wasn't Psychonauts published by Microsoft? O_o
drdre74 @ Aug 28th 2008 11:21AM
this is one of the main reasons i play my PS3 99% of the time and my 360 just sits there. If i buy a 60 buck game I dont want to have to pay another 50 just to play the game online. I've already paid for the game why pay to play something i paid for?
Devin @ Aug 28th 2008 11:51AM
Live's $50 pricetag was justified at 360's launch, but now that the PSN is offering pretty much everything it does, but for free, I totally feel the same way. The only thing left is a couple updates on the in-game chatting with someone outside the game and something else I think, but IMO nothing crucial....
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 12:54PM
DrDre. Stop lying to yourself and please stop lying on the forums. You don't have a 360 and if you do you are lying about how much youuse it.
My dude who in the world buys a console with the purpose of not using it?
So you are telling me that you love PS3 games and dislike 360 games. Thats kinda iffy considering which console has had the better games in the last 3 years.
You sat out on Gears of War, Mass Effect, BioShock and Halo? WOW that is incredible. Thats like me owning a ps3 and sitting out on Resistance, Uncharted and MGS4.
Ridiculous, preposterous.
thinkofmeasmra @ Aug 28th 2008 2:13PM
@Ysleiro
Shut the hell up and learn to read. No where in his post does he say he likes ps3 games and dislikes 360 games. He basically said when it comes to games he wants to play online, all that online time goes to his ps3 games because its free.
Araskaz @ Aug 28th 2008 3:44PM
Dont listen to Ys, like everyone else haha.
He's been on PS3 fanboy for like a week and all he has been doing is saying stuff agaisnt it. It's a troll. Don't bother.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 5:24PM
Jeez. I've been discredited. LOLz..
I have blogged on here for a minute now.
And contrary to most fanboys I'm a logical thinker and a good listener.
@thinkofmeasmra: I will not shut the hell up. LOLz.. He might have not mentioned his preference in games but he implied it by saying his 360 collects dust.
So I called him out. Am I wrong in doing so?
I still think anybody that claims to have both systems and says one or the other collects dust is a bullsh*ter.
Nobody buys a system with the purpose to not use it.
Unless of course you only bought one game in which case I would have to ask you "why the hell did you buy both systems dumb ass?"
Skunk Ape @ Aug 28th 2008 6:01PM
I have both and I rarely play the 360. The only games I play on it are exclusives. With that said though I haven't turned my PS3 on in almost a week due to my crack-like addiction to Too Human.
YoYo-Pete @ Aug 28th 2008 11:32AM
Check out PlayOn by MediaMall...
Uses DLNA MediaServer tech to do some of this.
maxpontiac @ Aug 28th 2008 11:40AM
This is just one of the reasons the PS3 will pass the RODbox.
Sony seems intent on providing an outstanding customer service while M$ does nothing but look for ways to get more money out of you.
Saeth @ Aug 28th 2008 11:54AM
MS has pretty much eliminated the RROD problem and offered free repairs for the problem. That I checked... that's outstanding customer service.
Stop being a blind fanboy, thanks.
Fiddlesworth @ Aug 28th 2008 12:06PM
Outstanding customer service would be not having the hardware issues to begin with. Or now that there is a problem, giving a LIFETIME warranty for those early affected consoles, because some people are very light users and wont overheat their console within the current extended warranty period.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 12:53PM
Case and point fanboys.
He isn't saying it stopped being a problem. He is saying that the firmware and hardware has been updated (fact).
The reason it hasn't stopped being a problem is because there are still xboxes out there with the issue (the ones purchased during said time frame). Nevertheless the fail rate is not 100% and it will diminish as time progresses due to the updates that have already been implemented.
About the fanboys, guys stop using RROD as an excuse or a pun to "dis" other folk or console. It's old it's played out (come up with something new), people aren't saying "PS3 has no games" anymore. Right?
Speaking about exclusives though the ps3 at this moment does have a slight issue though. Yet folk don't even mention that anymore because it's old and played out. It's last year's problem.
KuroMiko @ Aug 28th 2008 1:39PM
@Ysleiro:
No, they have NOT fixed the RROD. RROD comes from a GPU overheat problem. The updated hardware in the 360 contains a more advanced CPU manufacturing process, not GPU process. As such, the RROD issue is still present on all versions of the 360 to date. If Microsoft valued their customers, they would have at least fixed the problem by changing out the heatsink or getting the GPU on the less expensive to manufacture and more reliable process. RROD is not any less problematic as it was when the console launched. It is just, somehow, Microsoft has brainwashed the masses into thinking that failing hardware is normal, just like computer software on their shitty operating system. Even the most hardcore m$ fanboy has to admit, Microsoft does not have a very good reputation when it comes to the reliability of any of their products.
thinkofmeasmra @ Aug 28th 2008 2:21PM
@ seath,
repairs arent always free. I know 2 people with crapboxes that were asked to pay $140 for repairs.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 2:34PM
@KuroMiko: I don't even know why you are bringing windows into the issue.
But so be it.
I'm not a MS fan. I'm a tech head. This is my take on why windows is always dissed on.
Yes Apple designs and maintains a smoother/silkier OS. So what is it? are Apple engineers aliens or something? Of course not. The fact is apple chooses every single chip that gets put on their machine. In other words their machines are "tailor made" to fit their OS. While windows is an OS that is made to work on all sorts of machines using all sorts of parts. I'm not saying apple doesn't. What I'm saying is that no other OS works with as many peripheral and third party devices as Windows.
Listen I'm not a liar and I'm not calling you one. I'm letting you decide. You can either be a liar or misinformed. To say that MS has not revised the hardware and firmware is bananas. I frequent Kotaku and Engadget and I swear I have seen several posts mentioning this as fact. As a matter fact I remember the post even had a picture of an opened up 360.
Furthermore in addition to those changes is the jasper motherboard update happening this August (ie. right now)
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/xbox-360s-65nm-jasper-chipset-in-the-works-for-august-release/
Popfrogs @ Aug 28th 2008 3:17PM
@Saeth: Yet another slow day on X3F, we know. But seriously, when you say "Stop being a blind fanboy, thanks" after saying MS has fixed the RROD problem, it's easy to see who the bigger fanboy is.
Truth is, revision after revision, the X360 still has the same old problem. Shame on MS.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 3:38PM
@PopFrogs: My friend. Take is a gesture of open mindedness. Yes it must be a slow day at X3F jaja..
But as a gamer I'm not here to bash X or Y company. Just discuss issues and have arguments for fun. jaja.
Anyways. Good day to you mate.
Remember: Gamer first. Fanboy last.
Jerses @ Aug 28th 2008 11:39AM
Free content? you mean like wallpapers and themes? because i dont see anything for free in psn. No even piyotama. I know online play is a good thing...but do you pay to play online on youre pc? nah... so thats nothing new. Good for Sony keeping that way but i hardly doubt companies release full games for free..
Fiddlesworth @ Aug 28th 2008 12:03PM
If you want free GAMES you're going to have to expect heavy advertising like in Free Realms.
Metal_Gear @ Aug 28th 2008 12:11PM
Home will be free, and the extra rooms and updates will more than likely be free too, you'll only be paying for clothing and items to put in your room and that wont include the items your unlock from getting certain Trophies in games.
wicko @ Aug 28th 2008 4:06PM
Sudoku is free, lol.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 12:41PM
Since you don't understand then I'll enlighten you.
The games they want to play are on only on 360 or are better on 360. Or it could be that the community is better on 360. It could also be a combination of both.
So yes paying $50 seems crazy to you. Just like buying an iPhone and paying at a minimum $120 monthly seems crazy to me.
Yet people still do it. Because the service provided is what they are looking for.
I do feel that PSN is catching up in certain aspects.
However Live has been offering things PSN JUST NOW got for the past 3 years. So you saying "I don't understand the idiots that pay $50" is kinda dumb considering for the last 3 years Live is unmatched not to mention that Xbox has had the better library in the past 3 years. So yeat PSN is catching up but don't look at me like i'm slow for wanting the better service in the past 3 years.
SnazzyD @ Aug 28th 2008 1:11PM
Hmmm, I would have to say the XBL 'community' is quite annoying if anything. Too many "little Timmy's" running around in games shooting their mouths off - I have yet to run into this kind of 'community' while playing online via PSN.
That aside, the thing that gets me is how fanboys on both sides of the fence view everything in its *totality*, as if anyone has the time to play every single title or take advantage of every single feature that comes down the road. I'm still only a fraction of the way through GTA4 and there are a ton of AAA titles coming my way this Fall. Who cares?
I bought a PS3 because Sony is doing things different, and not primarily for money. Home is a huge undertaking but not one that will make money for them any time soon - even that it won't be worth all the flack they get over it. Folding@Home is an admirable 'community' effort to aid in Cancer research - you won't ever see anything like that on XBL. Other innovative ideas like Afrika, Shikitei, and Flower are typical of Sony's appreciation of diversity.
And the ultimate 'community experience' will come shortly in the form of LittleBigPlanet - the one exclusive title that the other camps are cringing over. If ever there was a title that could turn the tides in a console war (they're already turning btw), this is it. Gaming will never be the same after October 21st...
itchy18 @ Aug 28th 2008 1:33PM
"I bought a PS3 because Sony is doing things different, and not primarily for money. Home is a huge undertaking but not one that will make money for them any time soon - even that it won't be worth all the flack they get over it. Folding@Home is an admirable 'community' effort to aid in Cancer research - you won't ever see anything like that on XBL. Other innovative ideas like Afrika, Shikitei, and Flower are typical of Sony's appreciation of diversity."
I really agree with you sir. That's why I also chose ps3 over 360.
John @ Aug 28th 2008 1:40PM
"Too many 'little Timmy's" running around in games shooting their mouths off - I have yet to run into this kind of 'community' while playing online via PSN."
Of course you haven't, and you won't, not until sony includes a basic accessory for online play: A simple microphone. The communication over the psn network is bad, even when using so called good and expensive mics like the one from metal gear or war hawk. If you hear "Little Timmy's" on xbox live its because xbox provides users the ability to chat immediately with a cheap mic...but hey at least it works.
aMIGA_dUDE @ Aug 28th 2008 2:14PM
Playstation aka Sony do lot different things. Playstation loves the idea of user content. They also allow developers to write software with this in mind, so users of games are the boss.
Just look at Unreal Tournament on the PS3 you can install a maps and items etc you like, this not allowed on XBox360 as Microsoft say so.
Also Playstation allow you to install any harddrive that is 2.5 SATA. Microsoft is only game in town for new larger HD for XBox360 as such this showen this in price.
There nothing wrong with making money, it just Microsoft are just money driven. The just have to make money as much they can.
Home will make lot more money then think, I will be amazed if Playstation do not get there money back within 12 months of becoming open to the public.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 3:20PM
@aMIGA_dUDE: So wait. Sony isn't money driven?
Wow I didn't know Sony was a non-profit organization. News to my ears.
Listen man. All corps are money driven (except the marine corps Hooah !!).
I don't want to bash Sony (they make some of my favorite phones and electronics) but they are a bit stuck up with their devices when it comes to pricing (excluding ps3 obviously).
Every company has to get theirs. People come here and brag about free services and dis MS when MS offers mad free stuff too. I know I got MS entire software development tools (Visual c++, Visual Basic,.NET and C#) for free through MSDN. I'm not hating on one or the other but don't make it seem like one is a Non-Profit organization. Because neither are. They wan't our money in their pocket.
aMIGA_dUDE @ Aug 28th 2008 3:07PM
@Ysleiro
Did you really read what I put down. No where did say Sony are Non-Profit organization, in fact I stated that there out to make money. Just not to make the mickey out of the public. Look at Home, I stated that I expect they will get money back 12 months.
Put this way when GMail started Microsoft charged to have an account with 10M of e-mail storage. Google change nothing for 1G. Today Microsoft charges you to have SMTP POP etc when Google charges nothing.
Sorry like it or not Microsoft is out to make as much money as they can. It strange that business that are out to make money but not much they can do better in long run.
itchy18 @ Aug 28th 2008 1:10PM
I think we have a 360fanboy here.. hahaha!
Name: @ Aug 28th 2008 2:06PM
What do they do when you buy a xbox these days, make you sign something saying that you must run your mouth about our product being the best machine out? Everyone with their xboxes has always got the same simple shit to say. XboxLive is so much better. Even if your (you have to pay for it) service is better on the X then thats all you got.Let me point out the facts that prove it. 1. grab a dictionary just because I want to be sure you know what the meaning of fact is. I'm sitting here typing this on the internet on my PS3, on my sixaxis controller with its rechargable lithium-ion battery that doesn't cost extra, through a wifi signal that isn't extra while listening to music by using my PS3 as a docking station for my ipod which my ps3 will also copy all my music,movies, and photos on to it if I choose. This crap about more games on the XBOX is obvious. Its been out longer. Once you hit a certain # of games released for a system throws that argument out the window, which I think the PS3 has hit that mark in my opinion. Microsofts releasing of the xbox before the PS3 since everyone thinks these 2 systems are comparable will hurt MS in the long run.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 3:04PM
I'm sorry to have to correct you.
Real quick since you are already online using your crappy browser look up "fact" and see what it says about "preference". While you are at it look up "opinion".
When comparing a service to another it's really just a matter of preference. Thus facts don't really hold as much sway as they would in an argument say.. in a court of law.
I agree with you on several points.
1)The ability to browse the internet is good
2)The rechargeable battery included is also good (but there is a drawback, will the battery ever crap out? how do I replace it if it does, rechargeable batteries crap out eventually)
3)The wifi included is also a good feature.
4)pretty much every feature included is a good feature
What I must say though is many of those features won't be used by every single user so 360 not having them isn't necessarily a negative on their part. If a user would like a certain feature then they could buy it.
Yes wifi included is great but if you truly want to have the best connection possible then you are going to want to be wired. We all know that wired is better than wireless.
The battery on the controller for PS3 is great. However rechargeable AA batteries are just as good if not better due to the fact that they are cheaper and probably last longer not to mention can be used for other appliances around the house.
The problem is many features are included and that's great but what if you don't need them. You don't have the option to say no. Could the price of the PS3 be diminished by dropping some features on a model and keeping them on another? of course. Is the price of the wifi add-on for 360 outrageous. Hell yes.
Pros and cons. Options versus no options.
ps. real quick I also don't agree that making the bluetooth move was a good one for Sony. Yes is modern. But it forces folk to have to get a bluetooth headset or some absurd USB headset (I have never seen one). Not to mention the problems encountered when trying to use a universal remote.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 3:20PM
I would also like to add that I agree with you that ps3 has been out a shorter time so comparing AMOUNT of games is irrelevant.
Keep in mind though that comparing RATIO of games per month is not.
Keep in mind that when a person compares products they compare available options. So unfortunately PS3 came out later and has been on the short end of the stick because of this.
Look at it this way. When comparing to cars you say "this Civic offers more upgrades and parts" your boy says "dude but thats because it came out a year before the XXYY" and you say "so what man? i'm comparing available parts and upgrades at PURCHASE TIME (in other words right now, at the moment)".
Yes it's unfair to the second option but hey. We are talking about the consumer's benefit not the companies behind the products being compared.
Finally. We have all heard that developing for ps3 is harder these days( ie. The other day Kotaku posted something and 360 had more developers working on games for it). Games for 360 are easily ported to PC. MS is a software company. MS being software company developed the better DevTools right out the door. So it doesn't surprise me if more games get developed for 360.
itchy18 @ Aug 28th 2008 3:45PM
@Ysleiro
are you working for microsoft? it seems like you really know everything about xbox. or maybe you're just an xboxfanboy who can't afford a ps3. hahahaha!! what a shame.
wicko @ Aug 28th 2008 4:43PM
@Ysleiro
I have to disagree with your last comment. I don't think that car analogy you gave cuts it. The ratio of games per month is also affected by the release dates of the products. You have a product thats out a year and a half before the other, you will have a headstart on the install base, enough to affect a dev company's decision on which platform to develop for. They know the 360 platform better than they do the PS3 as they've had more experience with it (the hardware is still considerably different from PC hardware, so experience still makes a big difference). You are correct about PS3 hardware causing problems for developers, since they need to adapt to a new programming style, and I think once they adapt, you'll see a much stronger library (you can even see that now with the ps3 lineup for the next year).
Arnon @ Aug 28th 2008 4:55PM
@ itchy
Quit acting like an idiot (sorry, but your comment was unnecessary lol)
@ wicko
The car analogy doesn't matter.. his point being, is that it's true that Microsoft is well.. a software company, and they would obviously know more about software than Nintendo and SONY.. It's also true that they churn out games on a 2:1 ratio compared to the PS3 each month. That doesn't mean the quality of the games are low, it just means that developers recognize the architecture of the console and know how to use it in a quicker way.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 6:41PM
I do no work at MS. jaja
I wish !!!
@wicko: I agree that the car analogy wasn't the best but it served it's purpose: to prove that because a product has been out longer it may or may not have more features available to the consumer.
I also agree with you that the PS3 line up is finally shaping up.
Ysleiro @ Aug 28th 2008 6:42PM
@Itchy: I plan to purchase a ps3 for holiday season 2009.
I have planned this since 2007.
j.howlett @ Aug 28th 2008 10:18PM
the sixaxis/dualshock3 batteries can be replaced, just refer to the manual. i used the usb headset i got with socom 2, a game that has free online clan support and is still going. i then switched to using the blue tooth from my phone but plan to get the official one with the new socom to have a dedicated headset. i tried live when it first launched with the headset and the moto gp game but after playing for free on PC and ps2 i don't think it's worth the msrp. it's getting better with more features but i think they should have basic online play for free on live.
cyberkinetic @ Aug 28th 2008 2:05PM
Actually it doesnt "work" the rrod box that is. Today i join the millions of consumers who have had to send in the "LOUD" console for repair..Silver lining. i own a ps3 and will no longer purchase 360 games..i started playing oblivion on it and cant transplant my character..otherwise it can party on ebay!