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!
I’m hating the new store — its too slow. It looks nice, then I wait 2 minutes for the icons to load.
I have a 10Mbit connection here, I download videos as fast as i can watch them and I can’t get the store icons instantly?
More importantly, the icons aren’t being cached (if I exit and reload the store, i get the same problem), and aren’t being pulled through my proxy server (which I have configured and was being used by the old store) which would also improve performance.
Come on Sony!
TRIX_BOL why does it take years to create a new version of Windows? How come it still crashes? Why does it take years to design a new car? How come there are still recalls?
Get a life and a taste of reality. Engineering takes time.
@Commander Lander and others:
I’m actually somewhat annoyed that the new Playstation Store wasn’t designed around the XMB or at least partially integrated into the XMB.
I should be able to go to Videos -> Store -> New Videos -> _____ -> Download/Stream and not have to browse a completely different UI to find new video downloads.
Ditto for game add-ons, why not a context option on games? A little marker indicating new content available when you put Motorstorm in, you click Triangle then “Add-ons” and see the list of available Motorstorm add-ons.
Now THAT would be well-branded work. The new store, personally, is just the same as the old store, in fact, IDENTICAL to the old store with a layout change and fade-ins and slower icons.
Yes we will forever be quiting and re-entering games to give the password to the friend who just hopped online. We will forever jump out of a game to read the “LOL” message. We will forever have to hop out of a game to tell a friend to hold on a sec before he gets tired of waiting for a response and logs out. We will- Forever.
In-game XMB by summer maybe? Achievements/gamerscore for PS3? I hope we hear more soon. Good post Mr. Dille, glad to see it
please update the friends list
because 50 friends are not enough
i got more than 50 friends around my way
with a ps3
i think 150 friend list is a start
JUST GIVE US IN-GAME XMB AND HOME NOW.
Sony needs a Official Ps3 Podcast!
just wanted to say i love my ps3 and i will wait forever for anything sony promises to release. you know why? because they believe in quality. when these features finally get released, they will be so mind blowing that every impatient commenter on this blog will suffer from “foot in mouth disease” shame on you for whining and complaining. we have the greatest system on the market, and the greatest electronics company looking out for us. thank you sony for everything. you have never disappointed me, and i just thought you’d like to know that.
It would nice if Sony would consider music purchase downloads, rss feed and internet radio. Music have been left out in the dark.
white knight story 2008 plz, i need rpgs :)
Awesome news Peter and Sony ninjas:)
can you guys also add a auto install for demos in a update please,just have a option when downloading to auto install when done downloading. Same type a thing would be VERY nice for the browser and the plug-in crap, just have a check box to auto skip it if you want so its not a hassle.
This is all fantastic if you live in North America but I’m sure us Europeans will continually get shafted by Sony. I want to know what you’re doing in regards to how all European gamers feel like second-class citizens due to poor treatment and late releases?
Even the new Playstation Store is totally bodged if you have a European account due to crappy organisation (if you can call it organisation).
And again it sounds like this video service is going to be launched in North America first. How long will Europe have to wait for this? 6 months? A year? I expect more if SCEE’s track record is anything to go by.
Hell the EU doesn’t even have a playstation blog despite massive demand for once. It seems like Sony only cares about if you live in North America, if not then you can [DELETED] off.
It’s great to hear that in-game XMB access is coming our way and I can’t wait to see what other new features are in store for us. But is there any way in all of this development that Sony could add better functionality to the web browser built in to the PS3? Almost every where I go on that browser it tells me that the Flash version is too low so it won’t play the animations. Can we possibly get an update to the browser so that maybe we could actually use it as a browser?
These kids that cry on here about anything and everything their spoiled little asses feel like crying about are an embarrassment to the Playstation community.
Learn to appreciate what you have for once, and I hope someone slaps a bit of patience into you people. If Sony says it’s coming, then it’s coming. It will be here when it’s ready…..WHATEVER it is. At least they even decided to acknoledge you friggin whiners with a post about the things we all want. I appreciate the fact that they reconfirmed that these things are coming….THIS YEAR even. It’s like you have some sort of inferiority complex with your 360-owning friends. It’s like you want these things just for the sake of bragging rights rather than actual good use.
Grow up.
In-game XMB August 2006 Video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lluUBPzMcOw
Playstation FTW!
… but I could never betray “The Originator” Nintendo.
– J Starks
i really like the new UI of the PSS, one thing that i would love to see is a feature that will let you link your PSN ID and PSU ID
10 Things I want for PS3 in 08
1) An RSS videocast and podcast services like psp
2) Downloadable Tv show service
3) in game XMB
4) more Buddy icons
5) Updated flash support
6) Play TV/ DVR in the USA too
7) Little Big Planet
8) actual release date that you can make
9) an official play station podcast
10) HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I always have preferred the playstation network over any other online play. I had the opportunity to download v.2.3 virtually the second it was available, and was able to tour the store and download some items. I think the revamped store is great, the UI is easy to navigate and control, it look and feel are painless. I do have 2 gripes though slightly related. 1 is that I was extremely bitter that the new COD4 maps are not available with the launch of 2.3 as XBOX users have had them for over 2 weeks now .. very disappointed. 2nd is i download an awesome “game” for my ps eye for free, which I have TONS of fun tinkering with, the only problem I have with it, is basically what in the world is the point of being able to record Video or edit/make a movie clip, if I cant send a video message to my friends? When creating a message you can only attach a picture (which can be dond with eye create). Neither of my friends have a cam, so I can’t do a video chat, but it would be nice if I could send them a little video message created with my eye create. Anyone having a cam, I strongly recommend you download the “game” you’ll love it with all the effects you can do, but after you do please pass on the word to the Execs that you too would like to be able to send video messages you created to your friends in your list. Other than that everything rocks . . . except maybe the wait for Home to be released :)
OMG,
this is so crazy, i cant wait, the in game XMB, the PSN cards, HOME,
THANK YOU SO MUCH SONY!!!!!
I’d really like to see PSN game statistics exposed via an API of some sort. How fun would it be to have access to what my CoD4 stats look like (kills, deaths, accuracy, wins, etc) as well as what I did in game last night (even more if possible). I’m pretty sure Bungie does something like this for Halo, don’t they?
Great news but any update you can give us on the Home status or when we can get a update
Ok now that store is out what is needed to improve it is to make the icons load faster. Cache them per page you are on and not randomly.
Freaking try to get in-game xmb faster than freaking summer, come one it’s been wanted forever work on it faster Sony.
The new revamped store looks good, maybe it’d be a great idea to let the user customize the store layout, e.g. color, size of textbox, size of icons, front page and so on, since we all have different thoughts how a good store should be like.
As for the rest I’m looking forward to it, good things always takes some time.
The new store looks and feels GREAT!!PS3 is defedently the only system worth paying for.I do wish the icons in the store would come up a little qucker,but over all very pleased with the upgrades being made 2 my already awsome PS3. Thanx sony
Can one of the PSN people explain why the PS store content images load so slow? I hope we don’t see this after every store or firmware update.
ps. the new store is a great improvement.
More hope and promises rather than deliverables and features.
I didn’t buy a system to wait around for software updates so my system is playable, I bought a system to play games on it. I need games, I don’t need home, I don’t need anything else. The only thing I really would like is the in game xmb, and some games. It’s great that your service is free, but most games that are multiplatform work better on the 360, most of my friends are on the 360 as well, for those two reasons I tend to buy the 360 versions of games. On the Ps3 you tend to get what you pay for (with the exception of the price of the system itself).
So let’s stop touting “coming features” and DELIVER on some of these promises, the store is a nice touch, but let’s see something I want to use, rather than a new way to bilk money out of me.
Getting the blog tied to actual PSN usernames would be a great step.You could only post if you actually had a PS3 username..
GET.
MORE.
PSone.
GAMES.
At least one a week, good ones. Thanks. (seriously, even half of what Japan has would be a good start)
hey what is that xwm
i hear it a lot and why big deal about
@ 328
If you want PS1 games that much, try this site. It’s a lot faster, and then we don’t have to see you complain about being able to play 15 year-old games on a $600 piece of state-of-the-art electronic equipment.
/sarcasm
Seriously guys, do any of you remember what it was like in the days of the PS1 or even the PS2? You got the console and if you were lucky, you got the capability to play a few games from previous consoles on it as well. Why do you complain about not having 15-year-old games to play on your brand new console? Sheesh, get a life…
@334
I fail to see how wanting better support for a feature of my console indicates a lack of “life” on my part, could you please explain how that works? Thanks.
@334
I fail to see how wanting better support for a feature of my console means I need to get a life, can you please explain to me how that works?
Just want to say its a real nice post, so much great news. Just hope you guys will fix the few bugs from the store the sooner you will can, because its really a better store :) And im happy you finally give us a answer about the canadian price hope you will fix this soon to. Thank for the great work Sony. Cant wait for the end of this year to see all this news come to life :)
hey i was wondering what is XMB
@ 338 its the icon bar where you choose music, video,etc … we want to access this from games so if a friend send you a message you dont need to go out from your game to read it :)
Whats the point of having PSN gift cards, and the new store set-up when there isn’t anything to buy in the store. Theres so much junk on there its absurd. Please concentrate on bringing actual games, like PS1 originals, and not crappy demos and video previews. They give demos out in almost every single gaming magazine and if I want a video preview ill go on the internet and save time and HD space.
Can someone tell me if the Playstation Store will become TRULY international some day? I know those were just rumors but many of us residing in other countries besides the ones listed in the PSN account management bought north american ps3s (Sam’s Club, Sears, Liverpool, etc. sold them to us in Mexico, so they’re not illegal) and can’t BUY ANYTHING because the north american PS Store doesn’t accept a Mexican billing address for an INTERNATIONAL visa or mastercard and keeps telling us our credit cards are not valid. Why’s that? I know Mexico has its own ps3 and its own PS Store, but since my ps3’s a north american one, I can’t access that store either.
I wonder: How can Amazon be a fully international site where yours can’t? Or business is not business anymore?
So what’s up? I am totally willing to give you a big chunk of my hard earned MONEY (like I already did when I bought your console). But now you don’t want it????
Or was it a truly deadly sin to have purchased a north american ps3 in Mexico and I have now to pay the price for that with your commercial abandon?
So yes, the new Store is and looks great; GT5 prologue will be awesome, along with Bionic Commando Rearmed, Super Stardust HD, Echochrome, Loco Roco Cocoreccho, the upcoming video service, etc. Those titles are truly greatand I’m truly excited!. But… hey… am I forgetting something??? what was it… if I only remembered… Oh, yes! I forgot I can’t BUY any of them because I live in Mexico and I made a very very bad deal with SAM’S Club, so why should I care about all of these ground-breaking news????
Did Peter Dille mention any news about PS1 games? I know that there releasing more and more is coming to the store in the near future. I remember a Sony rep telling us that but I just want to be reassured again.
Sorry to remain so skeptical but – I’ll believe it when I see it.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my PS3 and I love the new store design. However, I have read twice on this blog to how you guys are “listening” to your customers. …Listening? I highly doubt it. Or, at least, it seems like you hear what your customers want but would rather release bugfix updates every 3-4 weeks which take 1-2 hours (for everyone in my area) to download.
I am simply stating how this seems to your customers. Every single blog post, every Playstation forum since this thing was freaking released has asked for ONE thing that is the general consensus of all members: IN-GAME XMB. Yes, I know, you’re “working on it.” Can we really believe that? It’s bad enough that the simple, fundamental feature of message-checking was not built-in at launch, but it’s just embarrassing and even arrogant to ignore it this long. We see updates coming out constantly that provide small, unneeded features, like themes and an information bar. We see revamps and tweaking of current functions. All this is just great, but why, WHY have you not put all efforts into putting in such a crucial, fundamental feature? Yeah, the store revamp is nice, but I much, much rather would have had something so basic as in-game message and friend checking than an improvement to an already-existing technology.
It seems like you guys are doing it backwards – get in the fundamental, basic features, THEN work on redesigns, revamps, and refinements. The other way around is just not logical, and has led to a deluge of useless downloads that just suck up any PS3 playing time I get.
This is why I remain skeptical of the sincerity of this “working on it” claim, and I am constantly losing my trust with Sony. If you’re really listening then why not, you know, actually do something about it? I am sorry to be so blunt but it has been frustrating as it seems like all this feedback for improving the PS3 is falling on deaf ears with this illogical system of improving pre-existing elements before adding crucial ones.
Please take my comments into consideration. Although, if the past is any indicator – and it usually is – then I doubt that we’ll have in-game XMB anytime soon, and Sony will keep further distancing itself from their loyal customers. Please, please, please prove me wrong. I want Sony to succeed, but it would also be nice to have a company that truly listens to their customers.
@Silenseking
Only 5 games?!?!? Are you crazy?!!?!
In 2008 there will be:
LittleBigPlanet
MGS4
Resistance 2
Heavy Rain
Killzone 2
GT5 Prologue
Motor Storm 2
SOCOM
inFamous
Haze
SingStar
PlayStation Home
White Knight Chronicles
plus great PSN Games like:
echochrome
Wipeout HD
flower
Future Pixel Junk Installations
Original/ Creative PS Eye Games
I know there are more, especially seeing how this is only April and more specific information will be released later, but that’s off the top of my head.
Hope this will help build your library a bit this year, and makes you realize that when people say the PS3 has a great line up this year (and almost definetly the next), their beliefs are not unfounded.
Thank you very much for this blog post! Even though it’s kinda vague and not specific, it helps to know that you are listening and haven’t forgotten our requests.
HOWEVER, this does not mean people like me are content with updates on progress without the actual content. I’m hoping that when you say digital media download services you mean music and movies/TV. Cuz that would be a great and much needed feature. It would also be great to get a few features that the PSP has, but the PS3 lacks.
Namely,
1. Skype
2. Radio
3. A visible clock on the XMB (w/ option to hide it of course)
If we do indeed get all these feature you talked about in the near future (in a matter of months and not a full year!) Then the PSN will defintely be a whole lot better off, and as long as it stays free, it will squash any opposition from Xbox Live (in order to fully decimate all opposition, the Store should really have daily or nearly daily updates, at least for the major demos and expansion packs).
I know this blog post has gotten A LOT of long comments, but if you just take the time to really read them, you’ll see how many helpful suggestions are there.
While all your work deserves a lot of praise, don’t stop now, keep improving the PSN (and all other aspects of the PS3) until perfection is attained and all opposition is crushed. :)
the6one……..
SONY……….it seems that the new playstation store, much like the PS3, is off to a less than favorable launch. However, despite its early hiccups, I would say that this store will only get better overtime. And besides, these problems “should be” fixed within a matter of days. I personally think the new store works and will appeal to our online consumers. Good job, everyone at SOE. This was indeed a great effort to at least to put the new store out to the masses. Now, lets fix those bugs and hiccups…..and show M$ that we are able to deliver an even better online service than theirs.
the6one……..
What are some of you guys talking about waiting up to 5 minutes for the icons to load?? its takes a few seconds thats all. Yea it takes a bit long but not 5 minutes geez. the store is fine. work out the bugs and its good to go. also stop whining about in game xmb my god. and why are some of you so intent on home?? most of us are gonna spend like 10 minutes and say hm ok this is cool let me go back to playing a game. patience is a virtue people.
@Sony
Once you bring in Game XMB, HOME, and all the other great stuff you’ve promised us :) , could you work on bringing a Dashboard w/ widgets on to the XMB. Instead of just having a poorly updated information board, it would be great if we could receive live PlayStation and World News Headlines; Weather; have easy access to converters, translators, and calculators; have easier access to Date/Time; and any other features a user might want to download on to their page.
My image for this is something like Apple’s Dasboard or the iGoogle page and I think it would be nice if the PLAYSTATION 3’s capabilities were expanded to even more potential areas, and thus reducing the need to unglue myself from my PS3. :)
Definetley would love to see some more about home and how its coming along…. Release Date would be great too.
I know im certainly DONE listening to all the “oh were working on it” or “coming this year” or whatever other nonsense you want to shove down our throats…WE’VE BEEN HEARING THE SAME CRAP SINCE NOV 2006
DELAYSTATION 3…..enough said!!!!!
Well now, Xbox Live is getting Soul Calibur HD, where’s the PSN version? How come third parties aren’t supporting PSN?