Survey: Sony considers Premium PSN Subscription

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Survey: Sony Considering Premium PlayStation Network Subscriptions

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2009/12/500x_surveysmall.jpg

Source Kotaku.com (http://kotaku.com/5429592/survey-sony-considering-premium-playstation-network-subscriptions)

A survey sent from IPSOS Online Research indicates that Sony is considering premium subscription plans for the PlayStation Network, detailing potential prices and premium services, including full hour game trials, free access to PSOne Classics, and cross-game voice chat.

Reader Brenna sent us PDF files containing the Sony survey, which begins with the following bit of text:

"Sony is considering offering a premium PlayStation Network subscription in the future. The subscription offering would provide new premium features you could choose to pay for and are in addition to the features currently available for free such as access to online multiplayer gaming (current features would remain free)."

Following the introduction is a series of definitions of terms such as Token Wagering - a set number of tokens given to subscribers per month that can be used to be on games and exchanged for PSN content - and Cloud Storage Space for Games, which would allow players to save their game online rather than on their hard disk, protecting their data. Other notable services listed as potential premiums include loyalty reward programs, automatic updates, member-exclusive Facebook Connectivity, an online music service and music video service, Hulu TV catch-ups, member-only game content, discounts, demo-sharing (sharing exclusive member-only demos from your full games with friends), and Netflix without a disc.

By far the most attractive premiums are full title trials, which give the user one hour access to full PlayStation 3 games, and free access to PSOne Classics, PSP minis, and premium themes. The list also indicates that some eagerly awaited features could be subscriber only, such as cross-game voice chat. Having waited so long for the feature, I doubt fans would be particularly happy to have to pay for it. The chart below details four potential plans, with three costing $69.99 a year or $9.99 a month - more than an Xbox Live Gold subscription, and one running $4.99 a month and $29.99 a year.

We've contacted Sony for comment on the survey, but have yet to hear back as of press time. Just keep in mind that companies regularly test the waters by sending out questionnaires like these, and they by no means represent any concrete plans on Sony's behalf.

You can checkout the full layout here:

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2009/12/survey.jpg

Personally I'm a bit concerned of where this is going, mainly because of the price and the lack off features some of the options get. Like Options 2 & 3 - no trophy alerts? Does that mean we'll either be
a) not unlocking trophies
or
b) we may have but don't know it?

Trophies should be default no matter what option you're choosing & I'd much prefer a mix & match & work out the costs from that so I can save myself some money from features that I'd never use - Facebook Connectivity/Online Music Service/Online Music Video Service/Exclusive Experience with Sony Brands? Yeah, that can get f***ed. I'd only be interested in my trophies & discounts on store content which shouldn't be anymore than US$30 per annum (if they chose to have that kind of customisation)

[Lazlow]

As long as the existing free system doesn't change - which from what I gather it wont - then there shouldn't be too much drama. The trophy alerts thing is a little odd though. :/

I'd definitely be tempted by the package that offers the most game related bonuses, and less of the superfluous extraneous entertainment shit (ie Facebook, Music Videos, etc).

[Slippery]

Not particularly fussed, though when you look at it as some of those things (cross voice chat for example) probably would have been updated in for free it can seem like a bit of a rip.

[consoul]

Cloud storage.
Free access to PSone Classics & Minis.
First hour of new PSN games free.
Discounts.

These features are interesting to me. Everything else, meh.

[buckstwits]

It's strange there's no option that includes everything...

[JubeiSaotome]

Does free access to PSone games mean I can download the whole lot, then change subscription and keep them?

[/backslash]

Does free access to PSone games mean I can download the whole lot, then change subscription and keep them?
Wouldn't think so, unless you've already paid for a whole year & since these are US prices it'll probably be AU$100 (from US$70)

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

Seems a little pointless in Australia considering how shitty our ps1 releases are, though maybe offering a service like this would make Sony pick up their shit. But hey as long as they keep the current features free, Sony can do whatever they want.

[borgster101]

Yep it needs to be additional services that result in a subscription, if anything exisiting is turned into subscription models, then thats bullshit!

[klee123]

Sounds good to me as long as online play remains free.

I am interested in cloud storage tho, gonna be getting a second PS3 for downstairs and it'll be much better to be able to access my save files from any PS3.

Discounts also sounds good too, since I do buy a lot on PSN.

[/backslash]

Is Cloud storage an online save file system?

[Creedy]

It is indeed, Steam uses it on PC. Log in anywhere and resume your game.

Which begs the question, if Valve can offer it for free on PC, why should I have to pay for it on PS3?

[borgster101]

Is Cloud storage an online save file system?

Ah that is pretty cool.

[AranchineD]

For the record: anyone who thinks that you should be able to pay money to get "priority customer service" should be shot.

[Creedy]

For the record: anyone who thinks that you should be able to pay money to get "priority customer service" should be shot.

For the record: anyone that thinks it's OK to pay for peer 2 peer online should be shot.

[AranchineD]

For the record: anyone that thinks it's OK to pay for peer 2 peer online should be shot.

Bro, just because you can't handle that the Microsoft pay-model is better than Sony;s, you don't need to take it out on other people

[Shorty]

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/zerosignal/not_this_shit_again.jpg

I don't mind the idea of free access to PS One classics and the discounts (assuming they'd be worth paying for). The rest is all a bit "meh". The "1 hour full title trial" is an interesting idea, but I can only imagine that taking off in places where you can get blazingly fast Internet.

One thing I did notice is that some of the proposed annual fees were higher than an Xbox Live subscription. Can't imagine that being too popular.

[Creedy]

Though the fact remains you are getting much more for your money on PSN than you are with Live. Face it, like I have said a million times all you are paying for is the ability to peer 2 peer. OH You get early access to demos too! wow

[AranchineD]

But it should be for free.

[Citizen Erased]

Just bring all the good PS1 and PS2 games to PSN and I'll be happy.

[SOX]

Is Creedy seriously already defending this shit?

[Shorty]

The irony is that the free play he champions undermines any argument for this proposal. If most of what people want to do online is already free (because I'm pretty sure nobody's hooking up their Ethernet or typing in their wireless key just to get those lovely title updates), what reason would people have for paying more than what they already pay for Live? Some of the stuff on that list sounds interesting (and some of the other things Sony should have got the lead out on ages ago), but is it worth more than Live? I doubt it.

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

I'm really confused with the conversation in this thread, at first Creedy is disappointed that PSN isn't going to give us something that steam does for free (yeah ok fair point), then he points out that the PSN subscription service gives you more than Live does (which it does), and now everyone is ripping on creedy for some reason?

[Lex]

Cross game chat.

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

Can you cross game chat with people if you don't have a Gold subscription? (serious question)

[Sweating Bullets]

I could be wrong but without Xbox Live Gold you can't play online and some of the exclusive demos come to you a bit later.

[AranchineD]

I'm really confused with the conversation in this thread, at first Creedy is disappointed that PSN isn't going to give us something that steam does for free (yeah ok fair point), then he points out that the PSN subscription service gives you more than Live does (which it does), and now everyone is ripping on creedy for some reason?

I don't know man, my 360 lets me save my games and I don't even have to pay $60 a year to do it

[Shorty]

I'm really confused with the conversation in this thread, at first Creedy is disappointed that PSN isn't going to give us something that steam does for free (yeah ok fair point), then he points out that the PSN subscription service gives you more than Live does (which it does), and now everyone is ripping on creedy for some reason?

Well, if he insists on beating the same dead horses every time a subject like this comes up, he should expect to be mocked.

But even if you remove Xbox Live from the equation altogether, I'm not sure that this premium subscription service even offers a value proposition above the existing PSN service. There's some interesting ideas in that list, but are all of them really worth >$80 a year? If they're going to charge for those things, I think they should start with the lowest price in that list.

[Creedy]

But it should be for free.

Yes Live should be free.

[AranchineD]

Yes Live should be free.

Incorrect.

[Creedy]

Furthermore a fee that gives you discounts, instant access to all PS1 games, instant access to betas, and 1 hour trails is worth it at the right price. Is it worth $80? Hell no, but for the right price it will feel like your part of Sony membership with benefits.
Your not paying to play online so you don't feel like you are being ripped off. Sony membership club is completely optional. Lives fee offers nothing but peer to peer.

Also good to see AranchineD has no clue about cloud saving. Cloud should be free, access to Facebook should be free, access to Netflix should be free, access to Twitter should be free, cross game chat should be free.

Microsoft are ****ing shit.

[Creedy]

Incorrect.

What valid ****ing point is there to pay for Live?

[Lex]

Lolcreedy. Never stop being the biggest manchild this forum will ever see. Never stop :)

[Shorty]

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/zerosignal/dead-horse.gif

It's like our Forum's own Godwin's Law. As any discussion tangentially related to Sony goes on, the probability of Creedy blaming Microsoft approaches 1.

[AranchineD]

What valid ****ing point is there to pay for Live?

You get to play against other people.

[Beinkasaurus Rex]

Sounds like absolute shit. I ain't payin no tree fitty for my ps3!
I mean, I know I won't have to pay but that premium customer service or w/e is ridiculous.

[Creedy]

You get to play against other people.

Steam offers everything Live does but for free.

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

Online gaming is for jews anyway

[StorminNorman]

That isn't really true. You can't use Steam on an XBox 360, for example.

Honestly, if Sony are going to start charging me so that they can finally bring PSN up to feature-parity with XBL, then I'm all for it. Bring it on, I say.

And seriously, if this is what it takes to make Home an actually worthwhile thing, then I'm all for it.

[AranchineD]

Steam offers everything Live does but for free.

Maybe because you have no friends this is hard for you to understand.

But I would do anything and give anything for my friends, nay, for my brothers and they would do the same for me. We care absolutely for one another, and one of the ways in which we reveal the extent to which we care about each other is through Xbox Live.

We use Live as a way to connect with one another as often as we can, and we never lose contact with one another through it. By paying $50 a year, we are showing, to each other, that for another year we are committed to the covenant that we have established together, that we are committed to the brotherhood we have enacted, because we have given some of our own 'blood', as it were, to be a part of it.

This is something that you just, just cannot understand with a soulless, emotionally and spiritually empty PS3.

[Shorty]

And seriously, if this is what it takes to make Home an actually worthwhile thing, then I'm all for it.

I'm not sure that any amount of money could make that happen, Norm. :p

[REQUIEM]

I knew it was only a matter of time. Here in Australia we would be charged as already stated around $99 for the service IMO. As long as it stays free to play online it wont effect me but in the end I cant see that happening for very long once Sony starts charging.

[StorminNorman]

I'm not sure that any amount of money could make that happen, Norm. :p

You're probably right. I don't think anything short of violent, bloody revolution will fix Home.