It has been a while since I last wrote on the blog. I’ve been looking to take the opportunity to talk about PLAYSTATION Network and thought today’s availability of the redesigned PLAYSTATION Store would be the perfect entry point to outline what we have planned for the broader PLAYSTATION Network this year.
First off, we’re excited about the new look and feel of the PLAYSTATION Store. Personally, I’ve been looking forward to this update for a long time as, in my view, the previous PLAYSTATION Store experience wasn’t one that lived up to our brand. But this new UI is much more dynamic and allows us to elegantly display and merchandise a lot more content, which is very important today, but will be critical going forward with so much great new content coming onto the Store. We look forward to hearing your input and reaction now that you’ve gotten your hands on it.
2008 is being called “the year of PlayStation 3” by a lot of press and analysts these days, and for good reason — there’s lots of momentum behind PS3 and we have a ton of great new exclusive games coming. This week’s launch of GT5 Prologue is one great example, and gamers are already in countdown mode for Metal Gear Solid 4, Little Big Planet, SOCOM, Resistance 2, and on and on. But another big reason 2008 will be a great year for PS3 fans is due to the big things we have in store this year for the PLAYSTATION Network. The PLAYSTATION Store redesign is the first step but it’s only one example. Our primary goal with PLAYSTATION Network is to form an evolving entertainment network where the PlayStation community can gather and discover new forms of entertainment. Some of the key pillars that will make this an experience a success are:
- The PlayStation community;
- Free online gaming;
- Digital media download services; and
- Original content
Of course, entertainment comes in the form of content, so I’ll dive in and discuss what we are bringing to PLAYSTATION Network that will help us achieve this goal.
One of the most critical elements to PLAYSTATION Network that we’ve focused on since day one is delivering quality games. We’ve always stressed quality over quantity (in other words, fewer arcade remakes and more original content) as well as games that show off PS3’s tech, and games like Everyday Shooter, Super Stardust HD and PixelJunk Monsters are proving that you can get a great experience for $10, or roughly the cost of a movie ticket. What’s equally exciting is what we have planned for you this year..of course one of those titles is available starting today- the world’s best-selling racing franchise, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. We also have coming this May the wildly imaginative puzzle-game echochrome, which frankly is a game I’ve been playing most lately. It’s as good as it looks in all the press you’ve been reading and is extremely addictive. We will also be bringing hugely popular franchises to PLAYSTATION Network for the first time, including SOCOM Confrontation and WipEout HD, as well as continue to deliver innovative indie games like flOwer, from the developers of flOw. So in short, content is what’s driving you, and we hear you loud and clear, and are delivering that quality that you want and deserve.
The strong lineup of games doesn’t stop there. Many of you have been hearing rumblings about a video service that will allow you to download full-length TV shows and movies via PLAYSTATION Network for North America. While I don’t have any new announcements here for the PlayStation Nation, it’s already been confirmed that we’ll be offering a video service for PS3 in a way that separates the service from others you’ve seen or used. Ultimately the goal of the PLAYSTATION Network service will be to break through the overwhelming clutter of digital media to give you the TV, movies and gaming content you want. More on this very soon …
Community-related services available via PlayStation Network have also been a big focus for enhancements here in 2008. We know you want in-game access to XMB features and we’re committed to bringing that, among other community-related services this year. They will be designed to allow more community development and collaborative gameplay, as well as recognize and reward you for your gameplay accomplishments across a broad portfolio of PS3 games. Of course, 2008 will also see the launch of PlayStation Home, and we’ll have more announcements on the expanding community functions within PLAYSTATION Network in the near future, so stay tuned.
Lastly, we feel your overall experience on PLAYSTATION Network should be rewarding. We hope the redesigned PLAYSTATION Store is a step in the right direction and delivers on your feedback, which is vital to some of the short and long term changes you’ll be seeing with PLAYSTATION Network. We understood from your comments on this very blog that you wanted the PLAYSTATION Store to have a more dynamic look and improved navigation. We want the PlayStation community to enjoy their experiences on PLAYSTATION Network and the online storefront is a key part of that experience.
And to wrap up with one of the many topics I know you ask about regularly, we are rolling out the PlayStation Cards to retailers nationwide as we speak. They will have the PlayStation Cards in denominations of $20 and $50 starting this spring. This will provide you with another option to get on board with the PLAYSTATION Store and enjoy the content that I’ve outlined above.
As you can tell, we’re extremely excited for what’s planned for PLAYSTATION Network. We believe the library of original and quality games and entertainment, combined with community services and continued enhancements to the overall experience, will deliver on our promise of an integrated content and community experiences. We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the near future.
Thanks and have fun!
@EVERYONE AT SONY
Look at comment 103. Review it. Follow it. Then, and then only will you achieve success.
i feel kinda warm inside of excitement. The games cat come soon enoug!!!
Sony, if you see all comments thus far it should be taken as creative criticism and a change for the better.
I like the new layout of the Playstation Store but the font is nearly microscopic without a component cable. Sigh.
atleast we know in game xmb is coming but i dont like the answer of sometime this year. i defintly dont like that too much
YES!!!!!! Finally PSN cards are gonna come. Would have been nice to have a specific date.
sorry but.. what the hell is XMB?? can anyone tell me?
XMB is Cross media bar
the PS3 and PSP’s main menu.
glad im on the ps3 boat
very good news ,I’m to be a PS3 owner .the PS3 just gets better and better.
The store update was awesome and I know even cooler updates will be coming in time.Thanks for the great service!!
soooo many promises….
i’ve always been a hardcore playstation fan but i’m losing it. sorry sony.
The new PSN is fabulous. I enjoy the design, the dynamic of it all…It feels seamless.
I am loving this whole PlayStation Cards. You now have my divided attention, I didn’t and was never going to use PSN. I will never, EVER post my credit card info on XBL, or PSN. Ever. So, these cards will help me buy things I want, but safeguard my credit.
The only suggestion I would ask for from PSN/PlayStation Online games, would be a direct, and robust competitive version of Xbox Live’s GamerCards. Yes. I want it here. I want it with my PSN ID.
I’m glad “YOU” mentioned ingame XMB. now we don’t have to sound like or appear to be such crazed lunatics over it. LOL! now since you DID mentioned it, please tell me/us that ingame custom soundtracks will be a feature included in that update. I heard a rumor that Microsoft owned a patent for that function basically making it unavailable to owners of the other nextgen consoles including our beloved PS3 and I just need to know if that is true or not. please say that’s totally not true. PLEASE!!!! thanks for your time and thanks for updating us on all the great things we have to look forward to. peace.
nice, im going this saturday for a psn network card i hope they have it by then :]
and now i just want HOME :]
@izeyah
I’ve been saying that for MONTHS :)
YES! I love SonY!!
I have a question and I was wondering if you could help me. I bought Jet Moto 3 and was going to take out my hard Drive and put in a new one and was wondering why it is not on the store any more.
Also if I delete it off my one HD will I never be able to get it again or is there a way to get it?
Sweet, Sony is going to live up to the hype after all
regardless to what #149 said (who seems to need it to be idiot proof), the store is great how it is. the only thing possibly is needed is xmb access and more video/picture previews for the games.
This isn’t something needed but what about making the video previews for games as streaming videos of the trailers/videos on the store. That way we dont always have to download the HD version if we just want to see a quick glimpse of it. And if we like the trailer/video, we could obviously download it for the HD version.
You guys are doing great.
Just keep up the good work, and maybe a little more info on Home, and you have it made.
Did I just read a XMB reference? Nice, I hope we get this soon. Next update should do the trick. As for the store, I love it, the only issue I have is that the icons take a lil while to load. Hopefully this will be fix shortly. Thanks for the post Mr. Dille.
sorry, the new playstation store takes too long to load the icons, i like the embedded part of it, please fix the speed.
finally one of the higher up are on the blog .Also here a great ps3 exclusion that would tip the scale in favor of the ps3 mega man legend 3 it would make so many people buy the game/system from japan to the usa if u can make this one sole game happen and i know this game isnt sony own but i sure you guys can make a deal to make its happen as a ps3 exclusion and i would promise u i was preorder it day 1!!!!
Finally, PSN cards are coming!!!!!!
Jisus Craist, it was about time. Rock Band, Castlevania, Everyday Shooter, PS1 games, HERE I COME!!!!!!
What ever SONY watch the IN GAME XMB be delayed like SONY is known for. Look at HOME how many times was that said to be released?? It’s still getting delayed and for the record the new STORE SUCKS. Its slow as Moses. We all want the old store back I mean what was wrong with it it was so FAST for me. You guys are all about saving your butts money and screwing us in the long run. Just the interface about the store looks ok if I can ever SEE IT that is. GOD if the speed isn’t fixed bring back the old store or give us users the option to pick what version we want. You guys are slow on everything and if your speed never changes then at least charge us 1 dollar a month for online and use that money to fix the speed. Being free I bet is the big problem with these issues. Xbox live is 4 bucks a month and there service is GOLD compared to yours. So charge 1 dollar and from every PS3 owner paying this, their should be enough funds for ya to get HOME out faster and the store fixed RIGHT!! I’d rather pay for PSN if it would make it FASTER for GOD sake!!
I still think the store has room for improvement. It should be listed text format like normal online stores. That’s the way everyone does it because it’s the best way to do it. Icons in a grid format are just inefficient. Were you concerned about SDTV’s not being able to display text?
With the icons… you can’t tell precisely what anything is until you move the cursor over it. You have to zig zag all around the grid to know what everything is. At least make sure the title of the game on the icon so it’s not just like, “Dude’s face” with “GAME” written under it.
To the entire Sony team:
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US!!!
Keep up the great work!
are these people seriousy complaining ALREADY on DAY ONE? get a life people.
“too little too late?” these are probably people who don’t even own a PS3. or those loser @$$ people who think it’s cool to hate everything. don’t you just wish those people would lock themselves up in a room and save us all the annoyance?
i think people support the PSN so much because there is quality products on there and not just old arcade rehashes. and the fact that you guys don’t charge us for PLAYING games online also makes people more willing to support the PSN and spend money on downloadable content.
games i’ll spend money on. playing rainbow six or motorstorm or resistance online with friends i will not. if i buy a game i shouldn’t have to pay MORE MONEY to play online. that’s what other companies don’t get.
they’re only advantage is experience and time. but compared to where Xbox Live was a year and a half after launch the PSN is LIGHT YEARS ahead in terms of growth and progress.
You guys are stupid wanting free PSN it will always suck. What good games to download?? I mean they all suck on PSN. And this only 5 downloads it should be UNLIMITED downloads for what we bought online from them on the same system. Different systems I can see the 5 but on the same make it always UNLIMITED. Just charge for online if that helps you SLOW SONY speed it up.
If this speed issue doesn’t get better by Thursday I’m selling this PS3 cause I’m sick of waiting year after year for HOME and XMB. Plus you never let us know news on games or Products till last minute. I have to Google most crap to find out about it when YOU guys make it and the info should be here first. I mean I changed from 360 over to your system cause we all know they never last or use to never last I haven’t had the new Falcon Chip 360’s so maybe I should go back to that company and ENJOY online. TIME IS EVERYTHING these days SONY. You guys wait minutes of my LIFE waiting for SHI* to load. We only have a limited life to live I don’t want a 3rd of it waiting for your crap to load. FIX IT or I’m one more % of another customer of your PS3 leaving to another platform. SERIOUSLY!!
@Peter
The store update is a textbook example of canoodling the canine. The color scheme chosen makes it extreamly difficult for me to read and micro fonts used are little more than a blur. Did anyone think about testing the new layout on something smaller than a jumbotron? Something with good old fashion 480x resolution? I will not be using the new store, not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t read it.
Thanks for the update I cant wait for the things to come ( Home & XMB!!! :-D). The newstore is really great but the ICONS TAKE FOREVER TO LOAD
@184
Please leave.or sell your PS3….your lowering the value of my IQ by the minute with your worthless diatribe.
Yes,I think you should go back to MS.They are a reputable company with solid Hardware….
@SLICKT8000
if it’s the 60GB model; I’ll buy it. How many controllers have you got?
I generally dislike long to read topic but wow, this one was great.
I’m ashamed I first bought an x360, lol(returned to bestbuy after a week of use).
I love how “home” is turning to be and the movie content is looking great. I was wondering if it’s gonna look like what mac made (iTv or something), for rentals and all. I mean, I’d pay 3$ for an online rental, that’s for sure. I saves you the 6$ it cost in my location clubs (lame) and you don’t have to move out of the house.
Also, I must say that I’m really happy the PSN is free for online play. I would have never paid for XBL. I mean, I play PC games online for free, why should it cost something on consoles? lol. Thanks again for that.
Also, it’s cool to have new stuff, but I was wondering if you could make a rebate or something on castlevania, symphony of the night, for, let’s say, 4,99$? I mean, it’s worth 10$ but I’ve finished it countless times. I just want it so I can play it again! :D I think the store should have, from times to times, super rebates on PS1 classics to stimulate the sales. :D
Also, I wanted to say that, for the in-game XMB, the only thing I really want from it is the user bar so I can play a mission in a game, then press the home button, change the user with my friend’s user, and let him play a mission in his game, without having to restart the game.
Thanks anyway for all! Looking like a great year! :D
Maybe I’ve missed this, but has there ever been comment as to why Sony doesn’t match Microsoft day and date with content for games (Rock Band and COD 4 come to mind?)
Is it truly that huge a deal to change the update day to Tuesday? If they could shut down the store updates for two weeks to change the way it looks, surely they could do the same to prepare for and implement a content day change?
I know it seems like kind of a small thing, but being at least equal (and in most cases superior) to the 360 would help to make a lot of Sony converts in the coming months and year.
If there really is a reason for this that I’ve missed and someone could point me in its direction, it would be most appreciated. Thanks!
Very good news.
Well done on the store – icons take a while to load, but that’s a piddlin’ detail; I’m sure it’ll get ironed out soon enough.
I look forward to future PSN innovations – keep up the great work! I hope you take the l@mer comments with a grain of salt…most of us really do appreciate that quality takes time, and we’re happy you’re committed to it, unlike a certain other corporation..*coughMicrosoftcough*
in game xmb and home bothbthe most waited releases in the ps3 supposedly coming well idk but I’ve waited a LOT for these things i wouldn’t be suprised if they say its going to come next year not at all well anyways good blog keep up da good work!!!! ( can’t wait for R2 !!! )
Kiss my A** 187. Looks like your a SONY kiss A**. And to 188 I have the 80 gig. With 2 controller’s 2 playstation eye’s and now a 320 GB hard drive installed. It won’t sell cheap lets put it that way lol
I love the new store layout. The kinks will be worked out, so give it time. I have read alot of people’s post which are pretty much negative. Remember, you get what you pay for. I have both the ps3 and the 360. Psn is years behind xbl. Ms was doing online long before xbl, so they have had many years of experiance. Basically what people want is xbl, so why not watch what Ms is doing sony and copy. Home is gonna be stupid. i wanna play games not talk to people and go to there little online home. The only reason you may outsell 360 at times is cause of Bluray. In game xmb is not the online solution. Just have quick access from in the game so people can play. I feel psn has alot of potential, but they need to to go back to the drawing board.
I geared up for the new store for downloads which was another waste of money.
See I was going to give my wife this system and buy the new 80 gig in June, only if that system will have a new 60 nanometer chip than the 90 it has now. DOES ANYONE know if that June 80 gig will have the new chip set in the PS3??
i love the games and the firmware updates
Thank You SONY!
Great job with the Store
this is definitely the yeah for the PLAYSTATION 3
so many great things i’m looking forward to this year
SONY, do me a favor, let me in the Home Beta
please, i love beta testing.
well keep up the good work i’m loving the updates!
PSN ID: S-E-G
I would like to know what efforts Sony are doing to support International Customers on the Playstation Store/Network..
What I mean is that foreign credit cards, namely that of the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago), do not work on the Playstation Store due to our Billing Addresses being not accepted. (not listed on the country list)
1000’s of users like myself have to register for US/Canadian Accounts with our relatives addresses, yet we can’t purchase from the store..
PLAYSTATION NETWORK CARDS:
Will they be cross-currency capable? That is, since I have a CA account, and I order the card down from the US, will I be able to use that same card on the Canadian store and pay the Canadian Price?
When will I be able to change my country of residence from Canada to the United States to get lower prices on the store in my Account on the Playstation Network?
These are questions that need to be addressed…. Sony don’t leave this Giant market in the dark…
We want to BUY from the store but CAN’T…
The last thing I want to hear is “We are not licensed to distribute in that region..blablabla..”
This post is basically saying, “Quit your b****ing. We know. We know. Despite the fact that we have continually been asking for your patience, we regret to inform you that you must wait even longer. Some time in the future, we will satisfy your requests. Yes, some time in the future.”
FINALLY someone on this blog mentions home and in-game xmb features! and on top of that, game achivements (of some sort). It took long enough. At least I walk away knowing that Home and in-game will come out sometime in 2008 and not 2009. or 2010 for that matter…
The playstation 3 is a evolving system that becomes more and more entertaining with age, this is executed in the form of games, firmware or the playstation network. SONY is making ever effort to bring you the best possible gaming and media experience that next-generation has to offer. History has proven that SONY has provided you with a reliable, high quality and complex console. Now with that said, quaility software does not occur overnight. Perhaps SONY has it’s own plans for in-game xmb, “why do what the other consoles are doing?” why not offer you (Playstation supporters) a whole new, fresh and unique way to offer in-game xmb. Perhaps…just perhaps this is what SONY is targeting, a completly new in-game xmb, setting the industry standards for xmb.
Trade secrets need not to be made public until we are confident we have a jump on our compeditors. When we say “soon”, it is our way of giving you a release date without giving a firm date. We appreciate your patience and thank you for purchasing SONY products.