Sony considering Xbox Live-like service

calidan

Sony may have a lot of things going for it in the gaming business, but one thing they don't have is a competing service to Xbox Live. Sony has steered clear of the managed online gaming service business, and for good reason. Microsoft has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on their online offering, but analysts to date have expressed doubts as to whether or not it really adds to the company's bottom line in a meaningful way.

Now it seems that Sony is considering getting in on the action. The company is sending around a questionaire to some gaming editors loaded with questions aimed at assessing whether or not people find online play fun, and what kind of (very Xbox Live-like) features they might like. Questions range from the innocuous, "On a typical day, how often do you play games online?" to more specific queries such as "Game Lobbies should be Eyetoy compatible[?]" Some of the more interesting questions are as follows:

3. What is your preferred Online gaming format?
6. A single identity and password for all online games?
7. Global Lobbies allowing you to play against anyone in the world?
8. Game Lobbies should be language based. (English, French, German etc)
9. Game Lobbies should be based geographically.
11. Headset support in all online games?
12. A QWERTY keyboard as standard for messaging.
14. Friend List allowing you to see online/offline status?
17. A feedback rating allowing you to choose who you play against?
20. Automatically filter opponents based on connection quality?
21. The ability to download music, game demos and other content?
24. Ability to take movie clips in game and share them with friends?
26. An in game grief reporting system?
31. A specific lobby only for Adults.
32. Service should feature a Global Ranking system for each game.
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Read More / Source: ars technica

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Steam Community :: ID :: calidan



"Don't try to be like Jackie. There is only one Jackie.... Study computers instead." - Jackie Chan

Tipstaff

Sony has always stated (for years now) that they would never put out a paid (make note of that word) service like Xbox Live. Their reasoning behind it was always that the customer should not have to pay more money to play a game after they already bought it (besides the MMOs, of course). To ask a customer to pay more money for a feature of a game ontop of paying for their internet connection, and paying for the game itself is unreasonable. Plus, as stated in the article, it would cost Sony more money than it's worth to maintain, and that such a service would never, ever make money. (This is their reasoning, btw, not mine.)

Now, here's the question I have for you guys: where in this survey do they mention "paid service"? Nowhere. All they are asking for are opinions on features of a central service that you like or want, but not once do they ask how much you are willing to pay for the service, nor are there questions regarding how you feel about paying for such a service. Sony never once said that they wouldn't put out service that had Xbox Live like features, but rather that they would never put out a PAID service like Xbox Live.

'Course, if they charge money for it... well, then you can start calling them two-faced liars, but as of now I see nothing in the survey that says otherwise.

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Master Shake

Not having to pay would be a MAJOR advantage.