The wait is over. A special community event entitled ‘PlayStation Life in 2010′ was held on May 18th at an exclusive location at Sydney’s Coogee Beach, to usher in the arrival of the PlayStation®Network video delivery service for Australia. Yay!
Now available, the PS Video Store allows Aussie PS3 and PSP owners to rent or buy hundreds of SD and HD movies, including the latest releases like Avatar, Inglourious Basterds, Up In The Air, Ninja Assassin, Sherlock Holmes, and Twilight New Moon. New movies will be added to the Store on a weekly basis for the movie junkies in us all, and you can browse the available movies right here on the new PS Movies web area.
Hollywood Actress Radha Mitchell (star of the recent film ‘The Surrogates’ alongside Bruce Willis) was a special guest at the event, along with Alison Turner, the Marketing Director of Sony Network Entertainment, and Michael Ephraim, Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Australia.
But the PS Video store isn’t the only product that was experienced at this exclusive event. Those who were lucky enough to attend also got the chance to experience true 3D gaming on PlayStation for the first time, using a prototype Sony Bravia 3DTV and Sony 3D glasses.
With demo versions of Wipeout 3D, MotorStorm 3D, and Super Stardust 3D all running on PlayStation 3 in true 3D, it was a real blow-away experience that no one was expecting.
Of course the experience wouldn’t be complete without a ‘hands-on’ taste of the new PlayStation Move motion controller, which was also present at the event in all of its ‘prototype’ glory.
Attendees were able to play a selection of the launch titles planned for the PS Move, of which table tennis, and a bow-and-arrow ‘tech demo’ easily proved to be the most popular.
PS Move with its ‘pick-up-and-play’ accessibility means fun for everyone, but we must admit… we have a sneaking suspicion that many people are simply attracted to the ‘light-sabre’ like glow of the luminous sphere that sits on top of the device. For those who aren’t aware, it has the ability to ‘illuminate’ in a variety of colours depending on the game or application it’s being used with. Cool no?
Oh, and did we mention that world renowned DJ, ‘Kid Kenobi’ was in da house mixing some of his latest material to help the PlayStation team celebrate the birth of the Australian PS Video Store? What a night!
The motto of the story……PlayStation Life in 2010 is going to be ‘big’. ‘Movies on demand’ have now arrived, and 3D gaming + motion controlled experiences are just around the corner….It’s all happening folks!
30 CommentsAdd Yours
1
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 2:39 am by jayyy91
Congrats on getting a video store, AU!
We’re still waiting for our’s here in CA.
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:17 am by Nino Kalogeropoulos
thanks! Yes it has been worth the wait. I’m definitely going to check out Sherlock Holmes this weekend
2
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 2:58 am by ozjad
Well done on the video store for Aus, can I ask when we will be able to download tv shows and also HD movies to own?
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:24 am by Nino Kalogeropoulos
No word on that just yet, probably more of a phase 2 thing later down the track, but as soon as we have some news, we will share it. I’m sure there are content distribution arrangements being discussed in many a boardroom
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:43 am by Nino Kalogeropoulos
Just another update on this – I believe there are indeed a number of HD movies to own currently, (I think I found about 5 of them myself). It’s very much on a title by title basis at this point, but will definitely grow with the service.
3
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:00 am by Shin-Ra
The glowing Move sphere is almost as striking as the lovely Radha.
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:25 am by Nino Kalogeropoulos
well agreed!
4
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:02 am by rakwarrior
WHO NOT THE UAE!?
5
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:28 am by Shin-Ra
Should have asked Radha to pose holding the Move MC like a flashlight.
6
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:35 am by Dark-Twisted
First of all, I think if you were going to release this in Australia you should DEFINITELY be doing New Zealand also >_>
(and on a semi-related note, commenting on an official PlayStation site with my very official PS3 browser was so much of a hassle it’s laughable. Fix it.)
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 3:50 am by Nino Kalogeropoulos
I hear you. We totally want to get the Video Store to NZ. It’s a massive undertaking from a technical / infrastructure perspective, (not to mention licensing arrangements etc). It’s just huge – but rest assured, as soon as it’s possible…
7
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 4:09 am by jhenstridge
Given the cost of bandwidth over here and the pricing, I don’t know whether I’d buy anything. I certainly couldn’t justify downloading an HD movie only to have that download expire 2 days after watching it.
I also noticed that the majority of the movies only have stereo soundtracks. This seems like a bizarre decision given that most movies come with a surround soundtrack. Surely the size difference isn’t that large?
8
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 4:33 am by FurySevenSix
I was lucky enought to be at the community part of this event and getting to use the “Move” and try 3D gaming was incredible, cannot wait for the “Move” to be released. As for the Video Download Store im finding it to be a great addtion to the PS3 and cant wait to see if / when TV shows will be added for rent or purchase.
9
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 5:39 am by Shnag
Awesome! =] Especially can’t wait for this to grow to where we can d/l tv shows. Going to check it out now
10
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 5:42 am by Zesty_Nachos
Great event, really enjoying meeting more people from the community and 3D Gaming + PlayStation Move demos were sweet! I was interviewed, hope I see myself on the video.
11
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 5:59 am by DaftMav
Congrats to AU of course, but just looking at the global internet speed stats makes me think Sony is just doing it all in the wrong order. ( http://www.speedtest.net/global.php ) Europe is at the top here (with NL at 10th), and arguably has a high percentage of PS3 users that will probably use the video store because of the fast broadband connections. Yet here we are, still waiting until SCEE figures out Europe is interesting enough. And by Europe I mean actually all countries in Europe, not just the UK as so often is the case with Sony and co.
At least MOBI will come to some EU countries, even though it’s in SD and I’ll probably not be using it. If I want to look at colored blocks I could just go and sit in the bathroom and look at all the pretty little tiles. Excuse the rant, I’m just getting fed up with progress going slow in places where it should have been going fast. Europe should have been leading this but I guess that’s just typical SCEE.
I just hope the old “translation/localisation” excuse isn’t the cause again, from what I’ve heard of the German videostore it’s basically useless because all audio are translated German tracks.
12
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 7:30 am by Bjarno86
When is Denmark and other minor European countries getting this? We’re sick of waiting…
13
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 7:57 am by iorkara
Well, it’s definately cheaper to buy a DVD or Blu-ray than buy on the Aus Store which is a let down. I was excited about Video Store however the prices are a huge let down. I really do not expect us aussies to purchase that much from the Video Store.
14
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 9:20 am by sumpunk
i too am extremely dissapointed by the pricing. it is cheaper to buy the physical media and also cheaper to rent from a store. considering there are almost no overheads for an online video store i expected a lot better.
thanks but no thanks.
15
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 9:42 am by kingkenny76
Is Sony taking the [DELETED] what way are you releasing the video store. So now Australia has the store but you don’t give it to New Zealand, Italy now has it but you don’t give to the rest of continental Europe and the UK gets it first and Ireland still hasn’t got it.
Are you intentionally trying to piss people off??
Are you seriously trying to say it’s easier to release the video store in Australia and Italy than it is in Ireland.
16
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 11:14 am by Carnivius_Prime
Is 3D on PS3/TV different to the stuff used in the cinemas lately? I saw Avatar and the 3D just didn’t work for me and the glasses irritated me (can’t say I enjoyed the movie either, what a load of crap that was). And does it make everything darker like that?
17
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 11:27 am by Bonyman
Tie me video store release date down, sport! :b
18
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 12:05 pm by Jarnzie
Have to say I too was disappointed in the prices of the download service. Most of the SD titles were more expensive to buy than the Blu-Ray physical version.
And with most people having download caps 1 title takes a fair chunk out of the monthly quota.
But with the high price of titles, is it a case of because the service is new and over time the normal new release price will come down?
19
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 12:08 pm by OttoT
Wow, Sony Playstation who is writing you business plan?
I bet this service is also going to be on Sony tv´s and stuff? Get to know your userbase and infrastructures of the countries you sell your stuff and start WORKING!
20
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 12:32 pm by thorgrimm
lol… No word on other countries…
Not A word ^^
Maybe that’s a good sign
21
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 12:56 pm by M3RL1NS_N3M3S1S
any news on when ireland will be getting the video store?
22
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 2:29 pm by sweetasman01
What a waste of time and money. Why not waste a little bit on New Zealand – the only place in the world where the NINTENDO went out of business (twice!!!!!)
23
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 4:37 pm by jase619
Disappointed I couldn’t attend this one like the KZ2, inFamous and MNR events!
24
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 6:45 pm by BalramRules
Finally!
The Ausies get the Vidz Store!
It’s about time as well!
25
Posted on 21 May, 2010 at 7:38 pm by thorgrimm
but but but…..we? lol ^^
everything will be on time
26
Posted on 22 May, 2010 at 9:05 am by Ivan_Krazy
Video Store – Ummm no thanks! Never wanted nor needed it because if your Hard drive goes corrupt it cant be recovered? Either way it would expensive so thank you but no thanks!
27
Posted on 22 May, 2010 at 9:24 am by DANNY3194
Next it will hit NZ. Later this year it will roll out to other European countries such as Belgium, Greece, KSA, etc…
28
Posted on 23 May, 2010 at 1:00 pm by wiktorclunk
When POLAND????????????????
29
Posted on 23 May, 2010 at 2:26 pm by way2easy
Yeah, I think Sony may want to reconsider the pricing of the movies. I could buy a Blu-ray for the same price or cheaper and not use half my monthly download quota. Great to see the video store up and all but the pricing is just wrong….
30
Posted on 24 May, 2010 at 11:10 am by toolfan2007
Great news for the Aussies but Ireland who we’re lied to about getting the video store blatantly by Sony still have nothing not even a date of when it might even make it’s debut…
We better be getting a free download for the mess we’ve had to put up with!
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