Survey Shows Possible Playstation Network Subscription Features

[Queasy]

It has long been rumored that Sony will start charging for access to the Playstation Network just as Microsoft charges for access to the Xbox Live. What they will charge for and how much they will charge has been the primary concern, however, with many worried that the ability to play multiplayer games online for free will be lost.



A survey was leaked to Kotaku.com that shows different option for features and and prices that Sony is considering for the Playstation Network. The most important news in this is that current free features such as online multiplayer will remain free. Features that Sony is considering charging for include:

• Cloud storage
• Free access to PSP Minis, PSOne Classics, and Themes
• Disk-less Netflix access
• Loyalty Rewards
• Cross Game Voice Chat
• Customer Service Priority Access
• Exclusive Experiences with Sony Brands
• Extended 3 Year Console Warranty
• Access to beta Games
• Early Access to All Store Content
• Member Demo Sharing of Full Game
• 1st Hour Free Trial of Full Games
• Token Wagering
• User-to-user Challenges
• PSN Store Discounts
• Member Only In-game Content
• Trophy Alerts
• Online Music Service
• Online Music Video Service
• Automatic Downloads and Updates
• Facebook Connectivity
• Catch-up TV

The survey shows that proposed prices for different arrangements of these features runs from $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year to $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year. We will say again that these features are merely a proposal in a survey sent to users to get feedback. None of this is definite but some features users will likely not be happy to pay for (such as cross-game chat and disk-less Netflix access) while others features will be more appealing (like free access to PSP Minis and PSOne games and the 1 hour demos).

 

[RedRooster]

Loyalty Rewards would be awesome. 6 year Live subscriber, and I haven't even been offered a free theme.
I guess Cross Game voice chat was our loyalty reward.

 

[JoPh]

if they do charge to play that could be the end of ps3?

no way they would give up there one big multiplayer advantage...... thats the major thing going for the psn. if they do charge i could hear the fanbois now... lol


cloud storage--- my save games online? that would be interesting.

 

[DaveSimmons]

> if they do charge to play that could be the end of ps3?

They've already promised not to, no need to fear that.

This would be annoying, since it should stay free with or without a disc:
# Disk-less Netflix access

I could see paying (something) for these:
# Free access to PSP Minis, PSOne Classics, and Themes
# Loyalty Rewards
# Extended 3 Year Console Warranty
# 1st Hour Free Trial of Full Games
# PSN Store Discounts
# Member Only In-game Content
# Online Music Service
# Catch-up TV

Repairs are $149 after the first year, so $30/year to upgrade to a 3 year warranty might be worth it by itself.

 

[Thraxen]

The universal chat should be free for everyone. Everything else seems reasonable.

 

[Trader05]

3 year extended warranty on a ps3? crazy!

 

[DaveSimmons]

3 year extended warranty on a ps3? crazy!

Are you thinking that the xbox has a 3-year warranty? It does not, except for covering the RRoD design flaw.

The 360's DVD drive, HDD, ports, fans, etc. have a 1-year warranty just like the PS3.

 

[zerocool84]

Sounds really similar to Playstation Underground. Nothing is too bad on it and I'd hope it'd be $30/yr and not $60. They'd need to undercut live but damn so much free stuff and discounts make it cool.

 

[Dari]

Looks fine to me.

 

[biggestmuff]

if they do charge to play that could be the end of ps3?

no way they would give up there one big multiplayer advantage...... thats the major thing going for the psn. if they do charge i could hear the fanbois now... lol


cloud storage--- my save games online? that would be interesting.

No. It wouldn't be the end, but you'd see fanboys turn red-faced for a minute and then make an excuse defending the company's change. It's all about money. I hope nobody ever expected a continuously free PSN.

 

[mmntech]

> if they do charge to play that could be the end of ps3?

They've already promised not to, no need to fear that.

This would be annoying, since it should stay free with or without a disc:
# Disk-less Netflix access

I could see paying (something) for these:
# Free access to PSP Minis, PSOne Classics, and Themes
# Loyalty Rewards
# Extended 3 Year Console Warranty
# 1st Hour Free Trial of Full Games
# PSN Store Discounts
# Member Only In-game Content
# Online Music Service
# Catch-up TV

Repairs are $149 after the first year, so $30/year to upgrade to a 3 year warranty might be worth it by itself.

The first one makes it worth it alone. Free access to PSOne classics for $30 a year isn't bad. Wish they'd get more out though.

 

[victorm]

any updates on this? an integrated music online service as an alternative to itunes would be great...

 

[jspeicher]

Facebook Connectivity, would pay $100/month for this alone!

 

[jspeicher]

any updates on this? an integrated music online service as an alternative to itunes would be great...

You would really use this on your video game console?

 

[Queasy]

Facebook Connectivity, would pay $100/month for this alone!

Send $100 to my Paypal account and I can tell you how to get to Facebook via your PS3 now!

 

[Queasy]

You would really use this on your video game console?

I use Last.fm on my 360 quite a bit.

 

[BoberFett]

Sounds really similar to Playstation Underground. Nothing is too bad on it and I'd hope it'd be $30/yr and not $60. They'd need to undercut live but damn so much free stuff and discounts make it cool.

How is it free if you're paying for it?

Fanboys piss and moan about XBL and how it should be free, but it already provides a number of those features. XBL is worth every penny of the $50/yr.

 

[BigDaddyD]

Excuse my noobness here, but I just bought a ps3...it isn't even here yet. One of the main reasons that I bought it was because I was under the assumption that all of this was free. That was how this was explained to me. So now, they are going to charge for it? Isn't this the PSN network? I am really not all that familiar with it. I haven't had a console gaming system in a long time.

 

[Queasy]

Excuse my noobness here, but I just bought a ps3...it isn't even here yet. One of the main reasons that I bought it was because I was under the assumption that all of this was free. That was how this was explained to me. So now, they are going to charge for it? Isn't this the PSN network? I am really not all that familiar with it. I haven't had a console gaming system in a long time.

It is currently free. What the survey is suggesting is that Sony is going to start charging for services that does not include what is currently free.

 

[BigDaddyD]

It is currently free. What the survey is suggesting is that Sony is going to start charging for services that does not include what is currently free.

Oh ok, as long as the currently included services remain free, then I really don't have a problem.