PS3 to see VOD in Japan

Sony launching video-on-demand service that caters to game-focused programming in early 2008.

In May, Sony confirmed speculation that a new SKU for the PlayStation 3 was in the works with news that an 80GB version would be coming to South Korea in June. Later that week, the Japanese giant said to the Korea Times that a video-on-demand service that takes advantage of the PS3's spacious new hard drive would also be available in the tech-savvy nation.

Now, Sony is preparing to launch a similar video-on-demand service in Japan, as reported by Japanese news service Nikkei Net (registration required). The service is currently slated to be available in the Land of the Rising Sun in early 2008, and it will reportedly focus on game-related programming.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, which is currently slated to arrive in Japan on December 13, will be the focus of the first bits of content arriving on the service, with a BBC documentary on automobiles and races related to the game being available for download for 200 yen (about $1.80). The report notes that movies and other game-related content produced both in-house and from outside Sony will follow shortly thereafter.

180 Comments

  • dragonSmoke69

    Posted Aug 27, 2008 6:42 am PT

    when is the video service for the ps3 coming to japan?

  • OnlyTbone

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 8:01 pm PT

    No, America is not the only place in the world....but we are the best. US that is.... We help anyone in need and normally get the Europeans out of tight situations.....WWI, WWII.... but they still hate us onvlive. wow this is a totally mean comment....just a joke... I didnt fight in those wars anyway...omg I'm typing my thoughts gotta go now!!

  • DeadBoy660

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 2:13 pm PT

    this sounds cool. I'm new to my ps3 but am amazed at the different functions it has, pretty amazing stuff. this could be a neat feature if we ever see it!

  • murder_tool

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 5:24 am PT

    @ blackplague1

    You live in japan? Well you must as you never post unless the subject 100% relates to you, do you? well sir your English is great.

  • NeoNavarro

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 5:49 pm PT

    I think I'm going to pass completely on this one. Apple's iTunes is great and I use my Apple TV to watch my media on my TV's. Sorry Sony Apple has gotten to me first.

  • DDSolar

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 5:23 pm PT

    BlackPlague1
    shut up, i love 360 but I aint a fanboy. I dont understand why people that like 360 have to be sad or happy depending on sony or wiiis succes

  • Xeiphyer

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 4:26 pm PT

    Good news north america! VOD for our PS3s in 2143!~ T_T" Sure would be nice for us to get these great functions over here. ...I want a PSP that can watch TV x_x"

  • xboxlover09

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 3:57 pm PT

    sounds good to me.

  • BlackPlague1

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 3:06 pm PT

    the title of this article was "PS3 to see VOD in Japan"

    nowhere did it say 360 owners come and leave posts telling us how this affects you.

  • masiisam

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 2:14 pm PT

    Hummm...and why would I use my Game system to need such functions?...maybe for some people..but for myself....

    ZZZZZZZZZZ.....who cares....Just give me soild games..

  • Montrealien

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 1:10 pm PT

    Luffytuffy said..

    The problem with 360 is just that:

    And I stopped reading. Good news for Ps3 owners though, VOD is the future.

  • LuffyTubby

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 11:55 am PT

    The problem with 360 is just that:

    1)limit space. 120 gb is pathethic compared to how much crap people have. most people have 120 gb of music alone! 2)few codecs. very few codecs are supported and does there are wma and stuff sucks. particularly for high quality video. no avi, no divx, no ogm, no xvid!
    3)UI. the interface is poor, and not very customizeable. its not very good for making playlists, or put a personal touch on it. the blade system is not very good for handling a big amount of files
    4)streaming sucks. you get worse quality if you stream, compared to when it can be played right of the box, and since you cant rip content from your external harddrive, ipod, mp3 players, or cameras or any other things(besides a ripped cd) everything has to be streamed, which sucks.


    i dont got a ps3 so i dont know how it handles as a media portal, but at this point in time i much rather just plug my pc to my hdtv and watch it like that.

    360 is a good machine, but as a media machine, lol. if sony was smart and got something like Itunes on ps3, they could kill xbox live, or at least force them to drop that stupid fee for a freaking simpe p2p service.

  • zgreenwell

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:19 am PT

    There are a lot of nice videos on the xbox live marketplace, and most of them are free. Unfortunately there is no way to look for content off the internet, but if you've already downloaded it on your computer it is likely you can watch it on the 360.

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:08 am PT

    Thats cool but, I can download interviews from Video game sites and, youtube on how video games are made.

  • zgreenwell

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:04 am PT

    The Xbox 360 can stream any video off your PC including TV recorded on Media Center. I've been using my 360 to do that since I bought it near launch.

  • skirlnik

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:01 am PT

    You may be able to pay for content on Xbox Live, but I've been streaming tv & video off the internet for free on my PS3 since day 1. Can your Xbox do that?

    Edit: The usual response is "I use my computer for that." My response to that would be "I use both."

  • swamptick

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 9:11 am PT

    I think it is a good move for the embattled machine. I don't think it will be enough though.

  • L15_eric_Wavo

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 8:51 am PT

    yeah man get uncharted it's ment to be awsome

  • Gamemaster1588

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 7:30 am PT

    I just bought my PS3 now owning all 3 consoles. I am kinda stuck as to what game to buy, I rented Heavenly Sword but wasn't impressed. I guess I was expecting a God Of War and it wasn't. Any suggestions?

  • HardCor1981

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 6:40 am PT

    I wonder how the VOD will be accessed...Will there be a separate tab on the Playstation store for movies and TV? hmmmm...

  • deadkingdg

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 5:34 am PT

    reeve92
    and get rid of the horible controller lol they hurt hands They don't hurt the hands of those with 5 fingers on each.

  • vampiredust99 posted Dec 3, 2007 2:50 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    vampiredust99

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 2:50 am PT (hide)

    Xbox Live kicks Sony's service to the ground. If it's ever going to be a hit, have better content.

  • reeve92 posted Dec 3, 2007 1:40 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    reeve92

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 1:40 am PT (hide)

    video on demand were have i seen that befor o yes xbox 360 kinda not new really is it they should bring summin that nothing else has done. and get rid of the horible controller lol they hurt hands

  • Stoo2k

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 1:04 am PT

    @swatpup102 I still think such a limited VoD service is next to pointless... although I was a lil drunk at 3am when I posted last night Facts were not my concern right then!

  • APOLLOCJD

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:49 pm PT

    topgod, what do you expect from Sony (a JAPAN BASED coorporation)
    And they only et the best playstation wise..which in reality isn;t that great

  • swatpup102

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:11 pm PT

    @Stoo2k

    PLEASE learn your facts before you speak ever again. I do this same thing on my ps3 everyday and do it much faster than i was able to on a 360 and it works much better, being able to copy everything i stream onto my ps3 very quickly. If you think the 360 has a ps3 beat in this aspect you are SORELY mistaken.

  • Acidtwist

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 9:37 pm PT

    Boycott

  • topgod

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 9:06 pm PT

    Why does japan always gets the best stuff when it comes to gaming?

  • Fauij

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 9:01 pm PT

    they should of never done prolouge, it would have been better to keep working in the finale game

  • lemec78

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 8:53 pm PT

    Hey Briskbaby, how can you call reviews accurate, their subjective, you either agree with them or you do not. My problem comes with a game company buying good reviews, and a game webiste pandering to corporations instead of the people who read their articles, and trust what they write. And amen Barrott-Rob Rich was, and probably still is awesome!
    Rich and Jeff made this site.

    ps. boo to gamespot

  • capitalthoughts

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 7:58 pm PT

    Rumors are stupid to begin with, and get them in the hands of hot-headed ignorrant people, and you have the War of the World's infamous radio broadcast. People make comments one way and down the other about Jeff. WHO CARES? Who knows the real reason behind him being fired. Gamespot owes explanation zero to any of it's subscribers for their staffing situation. Find something new to worry about. Seriously, people can find proof too any rumor if they squint their eyes hard enough and plug their ears with cotton. There are, afterall, people who believe that a plane didn't hit the pentagon on 9/11, even though I was there and watched it fly into the building. Can I convince them even though I saw it with my own eyes? No. Stop the rumors and assumptions.

  • Rafinator

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 7:05 pm PT

    cool

  • Stoo2k

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 6:59 pm PT

    @ItsBriskBaby -

    What, back episodes of Top Gear and some other 'game-related programming' is great news? I think it's too little too late. Digital distribution is pretty much the way of things to come, and for over two years I've been able to stream TV from my media center PC to my lounge 360, save what I need and watch when I want. VoD is great, but when I can download stuff for free off of 4OD or BBC IPlayer and stream it to my 360, why should I be excited about such narrow prospects from Sony?

  • citizen-legend

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 6:08 pm PT

    cool

  • truenextgen

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 3:39 pm PT

    A buck 80??? I know its not GT 5 in full "not even close." But a dollar and 80 cents.

  • oscaritoqueloco

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 2:34 pm PT

    @lemec78

    Dude whats your love for jeff?

  • redskinStu

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 1:50 pm PT

    Gran Turismo should have been a launch title.

  • Franzkill

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 1:03 pm PT

    @playstation_wii America isn't the only place in the world you know

  • jofy

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 12:35 pm PT

    Excellent news!I can't wait to get VOD,SONY has tons of MOVIES and content since they own movie studios,great news

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