Sony drops PlayStation Network details

By Walt Wyman, GameSpotPosted Oct 26, 2006 2:51 pm PT

Japanese office of electronics giant outlines AV Chat and puzzle games headline services and content from the PS3's online service.

Sony has stated that online capabilities will be an integral part of their strategy for the PlayStation 3, but up until last weeks' Sony Gamers Day, specifics were hazy. With the PS3 launch just over two weeks away, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan today further clarified what gamers can expect from the system's out-of-the-box online capabilities. Covered in the statement are basic online services and games that will be available through the PlayStation Store using Sony's online infrastructure, the PlayStation Network.

In addition to account creation and the ability to sign in or out of one's account, Sony listed a number of basic, free services provided by PlayStation Network. These included block and friend-list features, and a message box for storing messages and file attachments from other users. Furthermore, the chat feature will allow users to talk to each other via video and voice.

Online gaming features will consist of a matching service, lobby where players can exchange pleasantries, scoreboards, and a shop service for purchasing game items. The press release gave Ridge Racer 7 from Namco Bandai and Resistance: Fall of Man from SCEA as examples of launch titles confirmed to support online modes.

Downloadable PS3 games that will be available through the PlayStation Store were also detailed. On November 11, when the system launches in Japan, three games will be available for download: Blast Factor (working title) and the free game Mainichi Issho from Sony Computer Entertainment, and a Ridge Racer 7 demo from Namco Bandai. Sony is also working on flOw, Lemmings, Kazuo, and Puzzle (working title) for this service, but release dates are as of yet unknown. Free demos of all the pay titles will be available so players can try before they buy.

Next, the Game Archives service, which will bring retro games to the PS3 and PSP, was discussed. Sony also states that 10 new titles will be added to the lineup each month from the start of the service sometime in late November. Initially the focus will be titles for use with the PSP, but PS3 titles will be added later. Below is an initial list of 10 PlayStation titles slated for the PlayStation Portable, which includes two compilations of MSX games ported over to the console in the late 1990s.

Resident Evil Director's Cut (Survival Horror, Capcom)
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 1 (Miscellaneous, Konami Entertainment)
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 2 (Miscellaneous, Konami Entertainment)
Bishi Bashi Special (Miscellaneous, Konami Entertainment)
Arc the Lad (Role-playing, Sony Computer Entertainment)
Jumping Flash! Aloha Danshaku Funky Daisakusen no Maki (Action, Sony Computer Entertainment)
Hot Shots Golf 2 (Golf, Sony Computer Entertainment)
Silent Bomber (Action, Namco Bandai Games)
Tekken 2 (Action, Namco Bandai Games)
Mr. Driller (Puzzle, Namco Bandai Games)

Sony also said items and expansions, such as characters, levels, and costumes, would eventually be available. However, the details are still to be announced. A service for distributing video content is also in the works, but, again, the press release did not go into specifics.

Finally, regarding payment for all these downloadable goodies, Sony stated that users would have access to an online "wallet" through their master account. For now, the only way to move funds into the wallet is by using a credit card, but Sony says other payment methods will be adopted in the future.

262 Comments

  • classicfan

    Posted May 5, 2007 1:49 pm PT

    Imports on the PS3 to PSP would rule! Especailly The MSX Collection 1-2 lets have it Japan quit being so damn greedy! Bring them over here.But Unfortunely The Wii is killing the PS3.Well what ya expect $599.99 is a big mistake from SCEA!.They even have rude tech support! Contact the Webmaster? Bull!.They need a better way to contact the people who make there products and a better server!.Hint Hint Socom 3!

  • Gunfan9x19

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 1:41 pm PT

    So, Sony, where's Resident Evil?

  • el3fitness

    Posted Nov 9, 2006 9:34 am PT

    CAN I USE MY PS2 USB HEADSET WITH MY PS3 ?

  • lrsp

    Posted Nov 5, 2006 9:09 pm PT

    Everybody likes free stuff. Alright! Eventually the XBOX 360 WILL GO DOWN.

  • _Sam_

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 8:34 pm PT

    The fact that it's free put sony ahead in my book

  • GodLikeLee

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 9:42 am PT

    Oblivious everybody know's that Microsoft dominate's the online gaming service , their mile's ahead of sony in that department. But with time and LOTS of patients , (along with some growing pains) eventually Sony might get with the program. Will they ever rival Microsoft in that degree ? probably not but let's hope they at LEAST try !..

  • shockg2000

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 7:19 am PT

    Yeah PS3 is the better system. Microsoft rushed their system so they could get ahead in the competition. As far as PS3 online goes. That is the only place I can admit where Sony falls behind. I mean I love playing online and it sucks to have it ruined by people who want to cheat and do whatever it is that ruins the online gaming experience. I wouldnt mind paying for online service from Sony. For great online game most of the time, I'd pay that 50 bucks EASY!. I mean what IS 50 bucks a year. Hell, people blow big money on cigarettes every day. Just imagine how much they spend on cancer in a year. Way over 50 buck,LOL 50 bucks is lunch money. I can tell you that much. Even though everything with Sony is high priced, that what your getting yourself into when buying from this company. Remember Sony isn't cheap now. None of their electronics are cheap. I'm a Playstation fan but as long as the service online is free, XBOX will always be on top when it comes to online gaming. Unless Sony does something this time that makes the free online service impressive as hell. PS3 is going to be the SHI*. DAMN I CANT WAIT TILL LAUNCH!

  • apu99992

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 3:42 am PT

    this is what i've been hearing about why the online service is free:

    1) It's not good

    2) the download are expensive

    3) it's copying xbl and will never live up to it. Look guys put urself in a consumers shoes, yuo've just got a PS3 for $600, and resistance fall of man (I'm an insomniac) for $60. What would your reaction be when u turned on the playstation online, and saw that u had to pay $50 a year ON TOP of that? Sony doesn't want to kepp on chraging the consumer. The PS3's price is good for what it is, and the materials to build it, the games are priced good (this was the cost of some xbox360 games when they first came out). Sony only wants to price where it's neccessary. PS2 game downloads are great because u don't have to go 2 the store, no shipping and handiling, and they're only $20. They could do the same things with PS3 games, couldn't htye? If u look at it this way u can see that the three statements above are false

  • gimlifn

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 10:35 pm PT

    Well if it turns out like the PS2 online network Xbox will have things rapped up. I just hope they follow through with a good online match playing system that is similar to Xbox live. PS3 looks like a really cool system though, I just want to know who is going to win between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

  • kljohns2

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 10:24 pm PT

    wow, at some point everything is going to cost something, free service equals insanely priced downloads. i love sony, but i wish that they wouldnt conform to xbox standards. whatever happened to paying for a game, playing it, and thats it. online multiplayer is fun but paying for online downloads isnt. anyone else agree?

  • theKSMM

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 2:00 pm PT

    I'm more excited about the online possibilities for the PSP than for the PS3. Not only do I think that old-school games are much more suitable for gaming on-the-go than on a 60-inch HD screen, I also think it's about high time that Sony offered a simple, easy way to get multimedia content (i.e. videos and music) onto the PSP. Apple and every cellular carrier in the world is way ahead of Sony in this regard.

  • Dan_Lero Site moderator

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 1:17 pm PT

    at least its free

  • manolobrown2

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 5:28 am PT

    I don't think sonys online service is going to be as good as xbox live, so for I am not sold on the idea!

  • Hayabusa_san

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:12 am PT

    Hmm...this is some very good news...

  • buccfan

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 5:10 pm PT

    Been waiting for the PS3 to come out, not sure about the price; but the equipment it comes with make it worth while.

  • APEZE

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 3:34 pm PT

    U R RIGHT I LOVE SONY PRODUCTS

  • Patelaka

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 1:31 pm PT

    who cares 360 was rushed everyone knows that microsoft were trying to get a headstrt on sony so they cn boast whereas sony learnt their lesson and chose not to rush, no1 can critise sony as the ps3 is yet to be realesed
    BTW........................
    PS3 RULZZZZZZZZZZZZ

  • jimjim350

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 12:38 pm PT

    playstation box live

  • darkangel_78589

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 10:04 pm PT

    I see alot of "XBox Live may be "such-and-such amount of money", but to look at what it offers...But, let me ask this off-hand, then....What if...say...I get the system...and, Live....Which, truth be told, I rarely, if ever, play any games via online. Anyway, how exactly would be worth it for one, such as myself? (In other words, why should I pay for something continuously, that I would rarely ever use?) Yeah, sure...There's also the Silver version of Xbox Live...But, then, even that would be on the same boat as Sony's online service. Would it not? Either way, we only know what has been stated of Sony's "free" service...However, since anyone's yet to log into it, one really can't judge it, much less criticize it at all.

  • lee7373

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 4:40 pm PT

    where can i get these downloads?

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