Buy Ps3 News

ARTICLES

BOOKS

PS3 Watch

Predicted months ago, after and interview with Epic's Mark Rein, plans are shaping up for Sony to go with an open architecture for its online model. What does that mean to the consumers and the rest of the world? In simplest terms, Sony's already successful online gaming plan impleted currently on the Playstation 2 will be carried over to the upcoming Playstation 3 gaming console, set to release November 17, of this year. Harrison has admitted that the Xbox Live online gaming service is one of Microsoft's better achievements. Sony manifesto for success in online gaming entails letting the publishers setup and regulate their own means for getting consumers online and gaming. This will also allow publishers to interact with consumers directly instead of using Sony as an intermediary in the online gaming experience.

Following this model, could still cause problems for Sony down the road, such as only a few games have had much online success in the online area on the Playstation 2. Games such as SOCOM, and Final Fantasy XI, are the only few games to see any high amount of online action during the Playstation 2 lifespan. Perhaps if Sony can manage to do a far better job of promoting the online experience of gaming like the Xbox has, and attempts to have some kind of unifying structure, Sony could see far better success this time around.

The Multiple-Sku Scenario

Microsoft as planned released two different version of their popular Xbox 360 console in November of 2005. One version was give the name Xbox 360 core system, package only included that basic such as the console, a standard controller and a faceplate, Standard Tv hookups, and a sliver membership to Xbox live, which does not actually allow you any online game play, but does give you access to most game updates and add-ons. The other system, the more complete package in addition adds a wireless controller, a headset, a media remote, these extras will only run the gamer and extra 100 dollars to truly enjoy there gaming.

Many loyal Gamers to the Xbox, are worried that this strategy would cause a division in the Xbox market much similar to the situation Sega faced almost a decade earlier when they introduced upgrades to their console, but were also selling a new console. "While we designed a no-compromises game system, a huge percentage of our customers are not like [hardcore users]," says J Allard, a corporate vice president at Microsoft. "Recognize that more than 75 percent of the folks on Xbox have not played Halo. By introducing the core system, we are sending a signal to the market that we are committed to this part of the market, just as we are committed to [the hardcore market] with the Xbox 360 premium bundle."

In comparison, Harrison stated at the Gamer Developers Conference Europe that the current plans is to only have one version of the Playstation 3 a launch, but the company still plans to start selling different versions of it down the line as new peripherals such as the EyeToy become available, but not before then. Due to Sony's massively overpriced, price tag for the system, SCE's own president, Ken Kutaragi, it might not be such a bad idea for Sony to offer different version, similar of that to Xbox. One problem that Xbox will face that Sony wont, is the fact that one version of the Xbox 360 will include a hard drive but the other will not, this will make it harder for developers to games, they will have to choose to use the hard drive advantage or leave a sector of the gamers out, who don't already own the hard drive, this most likely cause consumers to buy the hard drive anyways, Sony will not have this problem, with there one version marketing strategy. Again at the Game Developers Conference Europe proved to be a focal point of PlayStation 3 discussions thanks to Sony Computer Entertainment Vice President Phil Harrison, who revealed a broad range of information, ranging from online play to the multiple-SKU strategy that Microsoft has chosen to use with the Xbox 360. Also discussed is how the Playstation 3 will compete with the popular Xbox 360. To the Rescue The original Killzone featured some pretty decent online multiplayer game play, but the average gamer really wouldn't know it since Sony has not done a particularly good job of pushing online play for its games or for the PlayStation 2 in general. Online game play has been a struggle for the Sony Playstation 2 since it release in 2000, the consoles was quickly put in its place when it was found out that it would not include a internet adapter of the shelf, however the extremely popular Sega Dreamcast did include online game play and was free for the initial run of the console. With any luck Sony has learned its lesson and will kick off the PS3's online features the way it was meant to be done-with potentially great games like the next Killzone and Unreal Tournament 2007. But only time will tell if the open-structure model will be enough to give online PS3 games their due and take on Microsoft's excellent Xbox Live service, this generation of gaming console will for sure hold the most surprise for everyone.

PRODUCTS

New, open source PS3 jailbreak may get round piracy claims

A new, open source jailbreak for the PS3 has been released by modder Mathieu Hervais, with the claim that it doesn't promote piracy. read more

PS3 mod chip lawsuit first of many, says lawyer

Legal council representing defendants against Nintendo suggest the battle against pirates has only just begun.

Aussie Loses to Sony in PS3 OS Battle

Wanna run Linux on your PS3? Think again!

Sony launching 'Music Unlimited,' a PS3, PSP compatible music service - will it fail as hard as Connect?

At a media event in Berlin, Sony has announced a new music service which will allow users to download and play songs directly from their PS3 and PSPs. This comes a couple years after Sony completely crashed and burned with its previous service, Connect, which also encouraged PSP connectivity.

PSN Tuesday: Castle Crashers and Valkyria Chronicles 2

Two must-buy titles grace the PSN update this week. First up, for PS3, the Castle Crashers are finally set to rescue some princesses using classic 2D brawlin' -- you've put $15 aside for it, haven't you? Also, PSP-owning fans of strategy titles shouldn't miss out on Valkyria Chronicles 2, the worthy follow-up to the overlooked PS3 gem. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list ...