[color=\"black\"]Playstation magazine has officially reported this week that the PS3 will not be equipped with a unified online gaming system, like Microsoft?s Xbox Live, or the soon to be released Nintendo Wi-Fi service. An unusual step that may cost Sony the chance to have the top gaming console in stores.
There will still be online capabilities with the PS3, though these will have to be installed by the manufacturers of the game. This does give manufacturers more freedom in how the want their games to run online, but it would be worse off for gamers, because for every game that you wish to play online, you would be asked to pay a subscription fee. Unlike using the Xbox Live system, where you pay one subscription fee and then you are able to play any Xbox Live enabled game online.
It seems that Sony should be better equipped to deal with online gaming, after releasing successful titles such as: Everquest for PC, Final Fantasy XI and SOCOM, some of the largest subscription gaming services in the world.
Is this all a plot by Sony to lull its competitors into a false sense of security? Has Sony actually built a flawless Unified Online Gaming System and isn?t going to tell us until just before the PS3?s release date? Only time will tell. The PS3 is due to be released March 2006.
James Vercoe
KillaGaming.com [/color]
PS3 says no to unified online service
Moderators: Moderator, Global Moderator
PS3 says no to unified online service
Mike has Socom 1, 2 and 3. With Socom 3, you have to provide a credit card number to "verify the user account" even though it costs you nothing to play. The benefits of having a verified account is access to all areas of the "arena" for clan play and being able to maintain a Friends List.
I think that if PS3 games are going to require a whole pile of credit card verifications and possibly the eventual charging to play for each game, Sony will see many parents refusing to either purchase the system or many of its games - I for one don't want a huge list of subscription fees so that Mike can play the online games. If anything, I would prefer the model used by XBox Live, one fee, limitless games.
I think that if PS3 games are going to require a whole pile of credit card verifications and possibly the eventual charging to play for each game, Sony will see many parents refusing to either purchase the system or many of its games - I for one don't want a huge list of subscription fees so that Mike can play the online games. If anything, I would prefer the model used by XBox Live, one fee, limitless games.
[color=\"#41211C\"]It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it
[/color]