PlayStation Plus; Check Out What It’s All About

Dear James,

Please enlighten us on the Cross-game voice/partychat matter.
Joystiq posted an article about it as if it was already confirmed, some of the EU PlayStation sites had the feature listed (but it got removed later on) and the comments on this blog are FILLED with questions about it.

Just reveal it already. What’s the hold-up? We already know that it’s coming, we only need to know when and how now!

Thank you.

two questions really if that ok

1. Will there be free or exclusive content for Home users?

2. The free games sound great, however i feel it will clog up my hard disk as i have the original ps3 with only 60 GB. are there any plans for sony to release a HD add on to help facilitate the additional space this service will require?

thx

Good morning,

Any plans to propose the ability to change our Playstation Network ID through this very subscription ?

This is a good idea, but it has a few flaws.

First off, if it’s full of PSN features why charge for something like automatic updates? By the explanation given, any PS3 should be able to do it and as many have said, it’s a function that should be in any console.

Cross-game Voice Chat, same as above. I see no reason no to have every user in on this function. Come on, you guys had Gabe on the E3 floor talking about the PS3′s social capabilities and are going to try pulling this one out?

I’ve re-watched the E3 show and it is in fact said that “In addition for a limited time we (SCE) will be offering 3 months free”. Care to shed some light on this situation, as many users have requested?

Last, but not least James, while your last post has many good points, I have to say that I do find the prices being charged “criminal”. $50 = €40 = £33, so are is the UK paying $59 (£40)and the rest of Europe $61 (€50)? If you could answer or comment on these, me and I’m sure a couple more would appreciate it.

Hey James one thing I would like to know that I reckon others will is if you download free content and then your sub lapses it obviously gets de-activated right? If you then resubscribe can you re-activate old content once again? Or will you lose all you downloaded for free as a punishment for letting your sub lapse.. I am wondering as people do often forget to renew there sub straight away.

with the PLUS+ will u be able to copy the game disc to the hard drive (like you can on the xbox360) – I know it will allow automatice downloads ?

I think sony should add a only store so members who sign up can buy products like MOVE and games straight from SONY with a discount for being a member….also add movies to the PSN PLUS roster..as its a network thing it all adds to the value of the consumer

Also James the free LBP is great but I already have that game I wish they could have give us a choice. I am definitely gonna subscribe that’s a given but a game I already got? That sucks

A stupid question but what will happen when Playstation stop with PSN in the future.. Will I be able to play all the bought games untill Im old and wrinkled? I’m afraid that all my content can dissapear in the future. I spend a loooot on the store and rising since i’ve got the psp go..-_-

I will subscribe to PSN + from day one!!

I’m not talking about PSN +.. But PSN free.. What will happen when the stop with that?!

Don’t know if James will be back to answer this but:

The PSN/PS1 and Mini games offered monthly as part of PSN+, will they be previously unreleased listings? If not, are substitutes offered for people who already own the content being offered?

I’ve got to say after originally reading this I liked the idea and could see the benefits.

On relfection however, the cons outweight the pros. You claim that you can get £200 of stuff for £40 not true. You can rent £200 of stuff for one year for £40 but at the end of the year it isn’t yours anymore. If you purchased £40 worth of stuff instead you would own the £40 worth of stuff. Yes you get to keep avatars and dynamic themes but I don’t think this is a massive incentive. Again you also get LBP but considering its sales the vast majority of users already own this making a second copy irrelevant.

A great idea Sony if you allowed people to keep their content after the period they jon for. Otherwise, as already stated by most others its a real deal breaker!

@vherostar, it was already answered that all the content you “rent” during the duration of the subscription will still be available even if you stop it and only resume at a further time.

@sparky2005, as far as info was released for Plus, nothing like that was announced. The most we learn is that apparently Bluray games like LBP will be downloadable. Regarding this could you give a size for the download James, I for example have 100mb internet, but other people might not be so lucky and may have a download limit or something that might limit their getting this offer.

@Danlisa, this was also discussed earlier. Basically if they offer something you already have, is “though luck, swallow it up, see you next month and don’t forget to renew”.

LBP, have already owned and sold so do not need it again.

How about a choice of games for joining, i’d like to see MS PR as an option as never got round to buying that but a wider selection would make more sense than a game that the large majority already own or have owned.

Well James, im looking forward to the service, I own a pspgo and if i get new content for it, and my ps3 plus exclusive offers etc im sold.

I think this is very unique in the sense none of the competition are doing such offers.

And in game chat “rumour” has it that its coming in update 3.40 this month…google people!

Still awaiting a response on wether or not FirstPlay will be included with the PlayStation Plus subscription, as it was noted during the press confrence that Quore, the US equivalent, would be.

Will we Get 3 free months if we purchase a year subscription like the US are getting ?

When you get the free games, and you forget to pay for another 3 month’s or year, and buy it later, what will happen to the games ??

I’ll buy this day one! Great job i like it…

The offers sound really tempting, I mean free games, early beta access, new features and content and discounts. Thats a lot stuff that Ill gladly accept.

And for 4,10€ a month, are you people serious?

1 12 month subscription for me please!
I have little big planet for Ps3 already tough :<

hi im new to the PS3 as i have just bought one,i currently have the 360 and after watching the E3 last night and saw all the great things that Sony have planned for the Playstation i think the PlayStation Plus is a great idea and i will be investing.

James can you tell us if you are allowed to comment on the recent ‘unveiling’ of cross game chat functionality and if so will it be announced properly soon? As in Tokyo soon?

I really don’t understand all the hate this announcement is getting, the PSN service as it is now, is free, NOTHING CHANGES, this is an added value service that if you want it you pay for it, simple. the services that interest me, are 1 hour trial, games are expensive and most demos are too short this gives you a better idea how the game plays, and automatic downloads , all i gotta do now is wait for my YLOD ps3 that broke to be fixed (luckily i took a warranty so i get it fixed for free hmmmmmm, kinda like getting something extra for a small fee ).I was chatting to a friend about this and he doesnt want it, i do, but we still can play games online together unlike a certain other console PS3 and PSN are still the best value together. PS What a fantastic line up of games are coming soon, MOH, Dead Space 2(collectors edition you will be mine), Killzone 3, Infamous 2, and TWISTED METAL (God Bless you David Jaffe you Potty mouthed liar)

I thought that Playstation Plus would be like Xbox Live, Crossgame Chat, Party Mode, faster online service. But it’s just a lucky dip on getting selected old games for ‘free’? Everyone already has LittleBigPlanet on disc. The free game should have been something brand new and tempting that nobody has yet, you know like Joe Danger if it hadn’t already come out. Oh dear

how big will the library of 1 hour games be?

You mentioned evolving the service, can I request a feature where we can change our PSN ID? I hate mine and don’t want to lose all my trophies / data in creating a new account. (Once changed it sends an automatic notification message to all friends)

I already own LBP (like most PS3 owners) what can I have instead for my £40? Why no PS2 backwards compatability/emulation? Cross game voice chat?

Simple questions that really need to be answered, & for the last 7 pages of posts you’ve refused to be drawn on these simple questions, why is this?

Please answer, it would only be polite to…

If i get LBP.. Will it be for as long as ive got a subscription or forevar?

Thanks for the clarification James.

I think I’ll sub for the first year. The free LBP will help offset the initial cost.

I’m not massively keen on the idea of content expiring. To be honest, I’d prefer one PSN game to keep per quarter than 4 to “rent” per month.

@grim_log you do know you can replace the internal hard drive very easily? I replaced my 40gb drive with a 500gb PC hard drive a year ago for £70 (probably cheaper now) and it took no effort at all. Well worth it.

Hello, James.
Please can you explain, why PlaystationPlus will not be in Russian?
thank you

it’s unfare!!!we want to get PSN+ in Russia!!!we are ready to pay for!

is it just me or does the recent reply keep on moving downwards with every post?

if we get it later then lbp will not be available for us as a present.

Sounds good to me, chances are I’ll sign up. Choice of free gift would be nice though :p Since I already have LBP…

Probably a stupid question but I’m assuming all the PS1 classics and Minis will work fine on my PSP without internet access?

James, 2 quick questions

1) The 4 games to choose from, will they be available throughout the subscription period, adding 1 game (out of the 4 to choose from) each month… or will it be more like a rental service where you can choose from 4 games every month and during the next month you either renew or choose new games?

2) Will Little Big Planet be multilingual or is that depending on store location? I prefer to play all my games in English and would be disappointed to be stuck with a Dutch LBP.

Hi James,

Is there any chance that you guys consider offering us, Euro users, the same deal that the US users are getting? Many of us already bought Little Big Planet when it was released, getting 3 extra months of the service would be a much more appealing welcome present for us. It would be great if we could chose between LBP (for those who don’t have it) or those 3 extra months.

James, instead of beating around the bush and talking about how this is a subscription based service and how great it is to get LPB(which most people own already) for free, can you answer some of the basic questions people are asking.

It seems the main questions are relating to Cross Game Chat and monthy content offered where users already own this content, how does that work?

I’m debating about this service but i must admit, some of the features listed i would agree with others should have been part of PSN from the start, getting the above questions answered will be the main deciding factor for me and i would imagine for many others as well.

I do hope you and the company you work for are consumer service based, and keeping the customer happy and in the loop should be your main focus point, this brings in the cash

Well really not very funny that way, no PlayStation + in Russia. We don’t a lot of content in our Store, and now also we won’t have that service.

Please just answer the questions that the paying public are asking , You type like yr dodgeing questions , stop beating about the bush mate please

are we getting cross game chat anytime soon

You guys really should listen to the comments, you can keep anything you’ve been given if you unsubscribe.

@James

Your or someone else is commenting on peoples questions, but those comments are not showing.

Movies in the EU, yes after 1 year of promisses they have to

except the @#$-s at BENELUX headquarters will prob find a reason not to

Yeah, the discount interests me, because I buy a metric ton of PSN content and I’d rather pay £40 up front and save money down the line.

I’m tempted, but I really need to see what other features do get added. My most wanted feature is still some form of cloud storage for saved games, that I could access no matter where I log in from and have them synch again so, when I am back home, I have the same progress. Hey, I’d even take the option to have saved games online and the ability to download them again should anything go wrong with my PS3 or I need to swap HDDs.

Thus far i’m not convinced.

It’ll take some pretty great content to get me interested and keep me subscribed.

Until that time comes, count me out.

I really dont see why people are making such a pointless fuss over losing the free games. The whole point of subsription services is to offer products and extras that are exclusive as long as you are a member, once you are no longer a member you lose access to them. Microsoft do it on Live so its nothing new.

And for the love of god if you dont think its value for money then stop moaning, PSN will remain free and Sony are in no way forcing you to pay for it!!!

Thanks for both replies James, this is looking very good and conveniant…Just a question, is the version of LBP the game of the year edition? Also, since you can trial full games from the Store, can you also purchase them from the Store?

I’m happy to pay for it as long as we’re getting the same or better content then the US. Currently you guys are still not even close to offering the same content they do – Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Tomb Raider. All we get are excuses to why we can’t get these PSOne games – I don’t know about anyone else but if the free game is just going to be a Disney game then I’m betting the chances of people subscribing for a second year/three months are low.

i don’t think it’s fair that yet again we are getting the short end of the stick

the yanks are getting qore for free with there’s and what are we getting?

oh and is there gonna be any symbols or anything on your ID on the ps3 to show you paid for the year?