Today we are announcing that Qore: Presented by the PLAYSTATION Network, a highly interactive, monthly lifestyle gaming program covering the world inside PLAYSTATION is on its way to PS3. Qore has been developed to give PS3 users early access to game related content at a level of quality, interactivity and depth. Everything is filmed in HD. Qore will feature exclusive news, developer interviews, in-depth game previews and behind-the-scenes looks at PlayStation games and special access to game demos, special beta invitations, game add-ons and other downloadable game-related content.
Our premier episode will be available on Thursday, June 5. The premier episode includes in-depth exclusive and never-before released content on upcoming PlayStation titles such as SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Secret Agent Clank, Soul Calibur 4 and Afro Samurai, as well as the latest Blu-ray Disc trailers, an exclusive SOCOM: Confrontation theme with an invitation to the SOCOM: Confrontation beta, art galleries and other surprises. We also know that many of you are big fans of Veronica Belmont, the widely-known host of numerous online video programs and podcasts and an avid gamer, so we’ve chosen her to be your host.
To get Qore, simply log onto PSN and go to the PLAYSTATION Store, as you would purchase any other form of downloadable content. Once the single Episode or annual subscription is purchased, that month’s episode will be downloaded under the “Game” heading on the Cross Media Bar (XMB). Users who purchase the “Qore Annual Subscription” will notice only that month’s episode is available to download. The following month, the new episode will automatically appear in your download list. The introductory price for Qore is $2.99 for a single episode and $24.99 for an annual subscription of 13 episodes, using your PLAYSTATION Network wallet.
As Peter Dille mentioned in a previous PLAYSTATION Network post, the broader service and community initiatives launching on the PLAYSTATION Network this year such as Qore, PlayStation Home and the Video Download Service are all evidence of our dedication to delivering an all-encompassing entertainment experience for PS fans. Qore is the first in a series of planned original programming specifically created for the PLAYSTATION Network community and we hope you enjoy it.
I like how some of you are fueling the ignorance. This is a subscription for an online video-“magazine”. Why are you upset because others CHOOSE to reap the benefits in such a service?
You’re not losing out or being forced to pay for anything else. Do you get angry because your cable television provider is charging you for channels too?
Where’s the buying demos? Where’s the paying for PSN online play? It’s not there, so quit jumping to baseless conclusions.
man, I only have a few days left at my job. This service looks promising.
With all the complaints about not enough content on the store, you now decide to make over half the content we do get to be paid for? Hmmmm…..
151 Clinton514 | June 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 am
You are so naive!
I hope its not a sign of a future pay for demos for PSN
@149
Hey gamesblow, Playstation Blog’s toughest critic. Long time no see.
Anyways, in response to your response, when you can show me when downloadable content and psn games were ever free, let me know.
If you meant demos and stuff that was already free, what are you basing that on? As far as this article and other reports elsewhere, demos and the like will still be freely available on the Playstation Store, albeit at a later date.
Sony has delibritly put off giving us anything the last 4 weeks on the store updates for this reason. They had to have content for us to pay for after all… what a joke! Why not stock pile all those pointless rockband songs onto this service and give us what we really want… decent damn content for the over priced system we’ve paid for with inferior graphics!
@151: People do lose out though
– If you don’t pay you are forced to wait longer for demo’s (or not get them if they choose to release exclusive ones)
– Content Sony originally issued free of charge now being charged for (expect less content for those that don’t pay so loss of content).
– May be restricted from beta (no other ways to get beta) unless you buy this (so loss of beta oppertunity) Beta was usually free aswell with Home being an example.
– More content to be charged for coming as said in the article (possibly just taking more stuff that was free and putting it with a price tag)
people getting a free service are going to see less content and worse content as the better stuff is filtered to those who pay.
Good comparison on the Cable TV Clinton514.
But it’s easier than that… take the service for what it is. An online, super cool magazine and the price is good. No changes to the PSN will be made.
People, it’s not like I like to pay for stuff, I hope Sony releases a lot more free content on the PSN, for example, All the South Park episodes… but this do not apply to everything, I read some people complaining that they will withhold content because Qore is a Sony magazine, but it is not uncommon to have some level of independence on these things, will they have access to exclusive content… I hope so, but so will Kotaku and so will the Official PlayStation Mag, and so on. There is nothing new here, but the fact that the world is becoming more and more online driven. I hope they open up the engine they are using to publish this to other magazines as well so we can have actual online Channels where media companies can publish content, free and non-free.
Once again. Great move Sony!!! You guys rock! (at least when you are not delaying things or trying to become control freaks. But I do believe that is changing inside the company)
@158
it don’t matter, man. We’ve been getting jack **** out of the psn store updates since the ps3 hit anyways. Sony knows we won’t miss anything. After all, we’re used to not getting anything and the only thing we’re going to miss is the feeling of hope we all had every Thursday as now we’ll know… If we want it, we have to pay for it.
Sony, you really blow my damn mind sometimes. I hope this service blows up in your damn face.
This is a terrible idea for a number of reasons.
1. Demos should not be linked to this at all. Betas are ok b/c they are typically exclusive in nature. Demos, on the other hand, are promotional tools for games. Delaying/restricting access to those demos for non-Qore people is shameful.
2. I own 19 or 20 PSN games, 8 Blu-ray games and ALL the DLC for all my games. I bought most of these games due to either a demo play-through, or a game-share (in the event there wasn’t a demo available). I wouldn’t own even 5 PSN games today if it weren’t for demos.
3. There is already a severe lack of content on the store. The truth may hurt, but as a loyal and “valued” customer, I expect better treatment than this. Rather than trying to get more content on there (hello, barren PS1 game release schedule), they are trying to charge for access to extra content. They should want to get more games on there so I can spend more of my money on them.
A digital mag will never get a penny from me. On the contrary, I might end up buying fewer games as a result. Whoever makes these decision is misinformed. Someone needs to do some better polling/focus-grouping of the PSN community before coming up with ridiculous suggestions like this.
Here’s a clue. If people aren’t going to shell out $3-$5 for Rub-A-Dub or CAC or PJR, why will these same cheapskates shell out $3 for a digital rag? These are the cheapskates that read mags on the rack without buying them. It seems that Sony is determined to undermine every good intention behind PSN with some of their decisions lately. Fire whoever is responsible for this and hire someone from the blog or any of the countless gaming forums out there who actually talks to PSN users and uses the service themselves. Whoever came up with this idea obviously hasn’t used PSN lately.
This is [DELETED]. I stopped playing my 360 because we had to pay for a service and now you’re doing it Sony.
Coming also to Europe???!!!!
This bad news is rated pretty high.
Average 3.94 out of 5
@163
Cause all Sony consumers are idiots. they don’t know a bad thing when they see it or own it in the ps3’s case.
It’s a third party making a digital mag, you don’t see PSM being sold for free right?
Thanks carbrito.
To the other one calling me naive, I find it naive to complain about something we haven’t even witnessed yet. There’s no reason to feel slighted because of exclusive PREMIUM CONTENT.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/premium
Are some of you upset that you didn’t get a chance to beta test MGO and Battlefield BC at the same time as those who pre-ordered it too?
Take a step back and think objectively. Opinions are opinions but some of you don’t seem to be thinking clearly and are all juiced up by the thought of others gaining premium content.
There seems to be a lot of confusion. Can someone clarify more about the state of demos and trailers on PSN, will they be delayed for non Qore subscribers? Is Qore a app. like PSN? etc..
@160: I’d say that Sony did do well to say it was a free service though. You get less content but since your not paying for it that was expected. Now that there’s some money going in I’d expect to see that change though.
MS has you pay for online gaming and get free content and Sony does the reverse. I’d rather have the Sony option since it’s not only cheaper, but you also get to choose if you want the content before buying it while still getting online gaming. I’ve been a bit harsh here but I’d have to say overall it’s not the worst idea. Just make sure it doesn’t effect the non-subscribers too much and it’s not a bad thing in my books.
Hey gamesblow, I do understand your concerns, all this could happen… I also noticed the “slowness” in the PS store, and I really think this is related to the Qore realease… BUT, I don’t think they are holding things that will only be released inside Qore. Why don’t we wait 1 month before drawing our conclusions, I promise you, I will also get pissed off if they stop publishing stuff on the PSN Store.
This is great! This is the kind of content the PSN will really benefit from. Looking forward to it!
And by the way… I’m so happy they got Veronica!! She’s super ultra (how should I say it in a polite way???) beautiful!
It’s a digital mag, whether you want to get it or not its up to you, just like a normal magazine shesh
@ Susan Panico
I would like to see more of it before I comment on it. Please tell.
when in japan and asia?
So those of you that say that $25 is equal to a magazine subscription… Ever bought a subscription? Ever subscription I have ever had in my life to a real print mag is less than $15- and they have signifigant costs to cover. An online mag should be much, much cheaper. This is just Sony looking up to their idols (ms) for more bad ideas of what not-to-do.
@88
You know what sucks…
The first I saw of this was the article on Wired which it titled…
Qore : New PS3 Online Mag Charges You For Game Demos
If you read this post.. it says…
Qore has been developed to give PS3 users early access to game related content
Key word Early…
This is not really mentioned in the article.. The article is making you think that you’d be paying for demos and stuff..
I mean episodes may not always include “early access” to demos and such.
It’s like people can really take something that’s pretty cool and put all the focus on something to make it negative.. In this case.. incorrectly.
@166
According to the Wired article, it was implied by Sony that there would be a delay for non-subscribers for some demos and other content.
If it is the case that Sony has purposely held back demos for the launch of Qore, yeah, that sucks. In order for Qore to actually be awesome for demos, the demos need to really be early, and not just withheld from non-subscribers to create the illusion of early. Of course, since demos don’t have release dates, usually, it’s going to be difficult to fight that perception. Maybe getting a demo a month before Live? I dunno.
I was about to say don’t support this crap pay for stuff you see in other places for free,art?…please,I can live without game demos…but then again we live in a money waster country or maybe world where everybody buys every piece of crap out without thinking.
Edit:but the AGAIN!! if it gets the psn better ok…
I’m definitely getting this!
Look, this is what has become of the OPM. I can’t be quoted here but I believe with the PS3 OPM was stopped.
So this is a magazine and demo disc. Just digitized. You have to pay for any good magazine, especially with a demo disc. PSN is still free, this is just a bonus option. Everyone that had a PS2 didn’t [DELETED] about buying an Official Playstation Magazine, did they? No, they chose to buy it or not, and thus got the intel and demos.
So…quiet down kiddies, PSN is still free, and demos on the PSN have been free and will continue to be free. Buy a subscription to the magazine for additional content.
Clear?
Btw, 2.40 better have ingame XMB. I have prayed to all the gods of all the religions on this.
Capitalism people!
If someone was asking you to do something for them don’t sit there and tell me the ones paying you wouldn’t get priority!
This is only a video magazine subscription with a “demo disc” No one said we have to pay for demos no one said the PSN is going to change this is just a piece of pay content on the PSN nothing more.
lets reserve judgment until we get it on Thursday, HD goodness
@Susan or anyone else that would like to respond.
My one question is….
Isn’t the BLOG’s purpose to provide these very same “Highly Interactive coverage, exclusive news, developer interviews, in-depth game previews and behind-the-scenes looks at PlayStation games”???????
and do it for free??
So is the way its going to be. Slowly all the good content is exclusive on Qore.
This sounds great but I’m not paying any more than £10 a month if it comes to Europe.u
According to Joystiq: For a limited time, annual subscribers will also receive a free copy of David Jaffe’s Calling All Cars.
Also, noticed we get 3 Stories – one on Star Wars: Force Unleashed where we’ll have access to concept art, etc.
I already have Calling All Cars – so it makes it less tempting to buy.
Also, does the playstation forums being closed have anything to do with Qore?
i believe PSM does the same too
I smell [DELETED]. Other people already hit it on the head. Whats essentially free is now going to be charged? You guys arent taking my $2.99 or my $24.99 just to play demos and watch videos. Looking at this from a business stand point, I think its a horrible idea. For instance, Ive purchased games off of the PSN by playing the demo free, now Im going to get charged for certain demos? Then I just wont play them, therefore I wont know if its a good game or not, therefore I wont buy the game.
Sorry but all you guys are doing is taking the PSN and now putting a fee on it. Qore is going to drop like Larry Kings blood pressure. Hah, and the only ones who are going to purchase this are your 10-15 year olds…more than likely. Not to mention, any video can be typically accessed at the official website of the developer or youtube. Whether we want to spend the extra bills for “HD” content is ludicrous.
Dont get me wrong though, people will be brainwashed into this gimmick, but you dont have my vote. But hey, whenever you guys update the store and give free stuff, I’ll be there…for however long that lasts.
*Charging for Blu-Ray movie trailers, ahhahahahahahahaa.
I don’t know why people are complaining about the price, if you do the math it comes out to about $1.90 or so a month. I think its more than worth it for the service as long as the exclusive demos and betas are kept coming down the pipeline.
sounds great guys, dont be cheap, you get beta invites and everything. good job sony keep it up.
Are you really going ot charge for this?!
I mean it’s a great idea, however surely Sony will be charging the games manufacturers and film producers to promote it to us, so why do they feel the need to charge us as well?
It’s a digital mag, like an online PSM
I just want to know one thing: I am European (Portuguese) and my credit card works on the American PS Store. Can I get access to this service and get an invitation for the Socom Beta and all the Qore goodness? Will you guys block IP addresses that are not from the USA/Canada?
If, and that’s if, I purchase this can I save each episode to my HD to watch when I want or will last month’s episode be overwritten by the new episode each month?
this is way too much for a non psychical thing. this is not a mag so why does it cost more then most mag?its should be 12 50 a year like game informer or like all other mag.
As is this is one of the suggestions I and others had for the PSN Store (interviews, Store excluisive content, etc) I’m definetly excited about this. BUT….. I was hoping this would be part of the free access to the PSN and would bolster the Store’s updates on week’s that it was light on content.
However, this is defintely an improvement to the PlayStation community, so you have still have my gratitude.
Damm, Sony is dammed if they do and dammed if they don’t.
I really like this, can’t wait until Thursday to check out the first issue, if I like what I see Ill definitely subscribe.
People need to stop being cheap and learn to appreciate other people’s hard work.
Wow.. that’s what I hate some people with ps3. The ps3 have a free service to play online and now you want everything free. No wonder why the evolution of the ps3 is so slow. Now I see some people asking for free episodes of south park… WTF? isn’t that means they will lose everytime the post a new video? This is just a separate service that will be an exclusive magazine with more opportunity to participate in betas and all. Without mention that looks so awesome. It’s a shame that ps3 fans become this… remember the old times that people pay to be in playstation underground.
LOL and LOL
All the people trying to spin this as a negative… Are you for real or is this blog a hive of 360 viral marketers posting as fans?
This is an innovative new product, directly addressing you, the PS3 owner, with targetted content that you won;t see anywhere else.
WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE?
Frankly, there is very little media anywhere that you don;t pay for, either directly by buying it… or by supporting the companies that advertise in the said media by buying products and services from them.
Jeez… can everyone just get off the damn rag for 5 minutes…
Firmware 2.4 is nearly here, MGS4, and now a community product that’s genuinely innovative.
Have you all got so used to bitching on these pages that you can’t break the damn habit?
Tell you what, move to europe – SCEE don’t seem to do anything, so Sony wouldn’t upset you so much if you did.
I don’t know how jeff and the team cope with all this constant moaning.
Jeff, i salute you.
YES!! I’ve been awaiting another opportunity to PAY for advertising!! PLEASE KEEP THE GOOD IDEAS FLOWING!