Sony thinking about charging for online

IGN had a little chit chat with Sony's Peter Dille (the company's marketing and PSN chief) a few days ago on Feb 4th about the PS3 and the directions its heading. One topic that stood out to me was the topic of charging for PSN. Here was the quote from the article :

"Why don't we charge for [PSN]?" said Sony's VP of marketing, Peter Dille, to IGN. "It's been our philosophy not to charge for it from launch up until now, but Kaz [Hirai, head of Sony games] recently went on the record as saying that's something we're looking at. I can confirm that as well. That's something that we're actively thinking about.

Machael Pachter, a high-profile game research anaylst, says "...gamers just have to accept that online multiplayer is going to go subscription...its got to. The publishers can not afford to continue to give this stuff away for free...its cannibalizing used game sales and new game sales." (see him talk about it here )

With DC Universe Online's dramatic success of being Sony's fastest selling game ever in just one week, its been proven that a subcription to play a game won't phase gamers.

Everything is pointing in the direction of an online subscription. Its not longer an "if" but a "when". So my question is what will you do?

People are not phased away to pay a subscription fee for an MMO, that's something the gamer know he will have to pay to play online because that's the only way to play it. Try to tell people they will have to pay to go play online black ops, killzone or uncharted, and most of them will tell you to go f yourself. If it happens, then it's really simple, I will stop playing online, sell my ps3 and everything, and stick with PC. Free online is the reason why i bought the ps3, if it doesn't have it anymore, then I don't have a reason to have one anymore. They want us to feel sorry for them because theymade 200 millions of dollars instead of 220 millions dollars becasue of free online ? Boo hoo you poor multi millionnaire bastards.

I really wouldn't mind, I hope they have something like XBL Silver though where you can still be online for free you just can't play games online.

This...this can't be. It better stay free or else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

People are not phased away to pay a subscription fee for an MMO, that's something the gamer know he will have to pay to play online because that's the only way to play it. Try to tell people they will have to pay to go play online black ops, killzone or uncharted, and most of them will tell you to go f yourself. If it happens, then it's really simple, I will stop playing online, sell my ps3 and everything, and stick with PC. Free online is the reason why i bought the ps3, if it doesn't have it anymore, then I don't have a reason to have one anymore. They want us to feel sorry because they are making 200 millions of dollars instead of 220 millions dollars becasue of free online ? Boo hoo you poor multi millionnaire bastards.jack00

what will i do? pay the subcription cost. he's right about gamers having to accept the fact multiplayer having to go subscription.

you ppl expect them to continue to give this stuff away for free? suck it up and stop being so cheap ppl and start paying the piper.

I would sell my PS3 and not look back.

I don't play much online anyway, so I guess I'd stick to PC for online from then on, for that rare game I would play online.

idiots that play CoD or BF:BC2 on a console.magnusm1

It's all that stupid DCUO's fault for this.:P

I hardly play online anymore anyway, so it'll just be the end of what little online gaming I still do.

Not to mention the quality of online is going downhill as every dev tries to jump on the bandwagon without any innovation from one game to the next. Why pay for less. Games are overpriced as it is, so I'm not paying any extra for lackluster online play.

Haven't we all got this random message on our PSN from random senders? Then Playstation + came out. I don't believe it will happen.

what will i do? pay the subcription cost. he's right about gamers having to accept the fact multiplayer having to go subscription.

you ppl expect them to continue to give this stuff away for free? suck it up and stop being so cheap ppl and start paying the piper.

LP4EVA2005

Yeah maybe for consoles. Online PC gaming will always be free.

Since the invention of online gaming using your own internet has always been free. No we don't have to accept it. Just because the economy took a dump and they are hurting (as well as everyone else) doesn't mean they should follow m$ and change they way online gaming has worked from the begining. And Im sorry there is no way I'm giving them my money for their crappy online service (most of which is p2p gaming) when the free alternative is much better (PC).

Yeah if Sony wants to take away one of the biggest incentives for people to play the PS3 over their competiter, do it. See what happens.

[QUOTE="jack00"]People are not phased away to pay a subscription fee for an MMO, that's something the gamer know he will have to pay to play online because that's the only way to play it. Try to tell people they will have to pay to go play online black ops, killzone or uncharted, and most of them will tell you to go f yourself. If it happens, then it's really simple, I will stop playing online, sell my ps3 and everything, and stick with PC. Free online is the reason why i bought the ps3, if it doesn't have it anymore, then I don't have a reason to have one anymore. They want us to feel sorry because they are making 200 millions of dollars instead of 220 millions dollars becasue of free online ? Boo hoo you poor multi millionnaire bastards.Ninja_Zombie83

what will i do? pay the subcription cost. he's right about gamers having to accept the fact multiplayer having to go subscription.

you ppl expect them to continue to give this stuff away for free? suck it up and stop being so cheap ppl and start paying the piper.

LP4EVA2005

what will i do? pay the subcription cost. he's right about gamers having to accept the fact multiplayer having to go subscription.

you ppl expect them to continue to give this stuff away for free? suck it up and stop being so cheap ppl and start paying the piper.

[QUOTE="magnusm1"]idiots that play CoD or BF:BC2 on a console.Texas2089

I really wouldn't mind, I hope they have something like XBL Silver though where you can still be online for free you just can't play games online.

StealthMonkey4

I hope that happens, most of the time I'm just talking anyway, I still have sinlge player... as long as they don't charge me more to get in the PS Store I'm fine :)

PC gaming here I come.Fightingfan

You wont regret it.

I am hanging onto my PS3 for the release of Dark Souls then its goin on ebay. First I convinced my friend to leave the 360 for the PS3 and then pushed him in the direction of building a PC. He just finished it this week and just yesterday he thanked me for opening his eyes. Its more expensive initially but its much more than a gaming machine. Game prices are a lot lower too if you wait for the deals.

you ppl expect them to continue to give this stuff away for free?

LP4EVA2005

They will probably do something like the Xbox does for used games. Prolly charge PSN points to enable the online play if the product was not bought new. Makes sence and i would be totally okay with it.

[QUOTE="LP4EVA2005"]

what will i do? pay the subcription cost. he's right about gamers having to accept the fact multiplayer having to go subscription.

you ppl expect them to continue to give this stuff away for free? suck it up and stop being so cheap ppl and start paying the piper.

Mr_Ditters

Yeah maybe for consoles. Online PC gaming will always be free.

Since the invention of online gaming using your own internet has always been free. No we don't have to accept it. Just because the economy took a dump and they are hurting (as well as everyone else) doesn't mean they should follow m$ and change they way online gaming has worked from the begining. And Im sorry there is no way I'm giving them my money for their crappy online service (most of which is p2p gaming) when the free alternative is much better (PC).

Yeah if Sony wants to take away one of the biggest incentives for people to play the PS3 over their competiter, do it. See what happens.

i know whats gonna happen..they're going to pay it. why? because they have no choice in the matter. so either they become PC gamers or give up give up gaming altogher just because of some annual fee.

[QUOTE="Ninja_Zombie83"]

[QUOTE="jack00"]People are not phased away to pay a subscription fee for an MMO, that's something the gamer know he will have to pay to play online because that's the only way to play it. Try to tell people they will have to pay to go play online black ops, killzone or uncharted, and most of them will tell you to go f yourself. If it happens, then it's really simple, I will stop playing online, sell my ps3 and everything, and stick with PC. Free online is the reason why i bought the ps3, if it doesn't have it anymore, then I don't have a reason to have one anymore. They want us to feel sorry because they are making 200 millions of dollars instead of 220 millions dollars becasue of free online ? Boo hoo you poor multi millionnaire bastards.jack00

PC gaming not doing well and those games that are keeping PC alive happen to charge a MSF. Granted there are some terrific games for the PC, it amounts to an incredibly small amount of revenue in the gaming industry every year...and is declining.

Although a computer is cheap, upgrading one to play current games is not and will require upgrades every few years, much sooner than the release of a new console. Buying a computer for $1200 dollars negates a $15 MSF for a $299.99 console does it not? Even ifyou are able to find a PC cheaply, you run into the argument of getting what you pay for, namley the inability to play console exclusives.

I'm not saying "this is better than that" but rather what is cost effective in terms of gaming and only in gaming. Not enjoyment, not functionality, but cost.

[QUOTE="Texas2089"][QUOTE="magnusm1"]idiots that play CoD or BF:BC2 on a console.magnusm1

Everything is pointing in the direction of an online subscription. Its not longer an "if" but a "when". So my question is what will you do?

Ninja_Zombie83

I won't pay. The free online is one of the things I liked about PS3.

If it costs, I'll just spend the next five years or so finishing the single story games I've never got around to because of online play.

[QUOTE="Mr_Ditters"]

[QUOTE="LP4EVA2005"]

what will i do? pay the subcription cost. he's right about gamers having to accept the fact multiplayer having to go subscription.

you ppl expect them to continue to give this stuff away for free? suck it up and stop being so cheap ppl and start paying the piper.

LP4EVA2005

Yeah maybe for consoles. Online PC gaming will always be free.

Since the invention of online gaming using your own internet has always been free. No we don't have to accept it. Just because the economy took a dump and they are hurting (as well as everyone else) doesn't mean they should follow m$ and change they way online gaming has worked from the begining. And Im sorry there is no way I'm giving them my money for their crappy online service (most of which is p2p gaming) when the free alternative is much better (PC).

Yeah if Sony wants to take away one of the biggest incentives for people to play the PS3 over their competiter, do it. See what happens.

i know whats gonna happen..they're going to pay it. why? because they have no choice in the matter. so either they become PC gamers or give up give up gaming altogher just because of some annual fee.

Where's the third option? I hate PC gaming, besides StarCraft and Diablo, and I could give even less a crap about online functionality lol.

i know whats gonna happen..they're going to pay it. why? because they have no choice in the matter. so either they become PC gamers or give up give up gaming altogher just because of some annual fee.

LP4EVA2005

Good.

If that's what it takes to get cross game chat, something that should have been on the PS3 years ago.

[QUOTE="jack00"][QUOTE="Ninja_Zombie83"]Xbox users pay a subscription, and they seem to have a pretty good user base. An often heard argument isn't "go f yourself." its "you get what you pay for" and the vast majority don't seem to have a problem. Its not an extra fee if you arn't being charged to begin with, like PSN users. (Not to confuse this with a system wars arguement of which console is better, but its a noteworthy similarity.)

PC gaming not doing well and those games that are keeping PC alive happen to charge a MSF. Granted there are some terrific games for the PC, it amounts to an incredibly small amount of revenue in the gaming industry every year...and is declining.

Although a computer is cheap, upgrading one to play current games is not and will require upgrades every few years, much sooner than the release of a new console. Buying a computer for $1200 dollars negates a $15 MSF for a $299.99 console does it not? Even ifyou are able to find a PC cheaply, you run into the argument of getting what you pay for, namley the inability to play console exclusives.

I'm not saying "this is better than that" but rather what is cost effective in terms of gaming and only in gaming. Not enjoyment, not functionality, but cost.

People are not phased away to pay a subscription fee for an MMO, that's something the gamer know he will have to pay to play online because that's the only way to play it. Try to tell people they will have to pay to go play online black ops, killzone or uncharted, and most of them will tell you to go f yourself. If it happens, then it's really simple, I will stop playing online, sell my ps3 and everything, and stick with PC. Free online is the reason why i bought the ps3, if it doesn't have it anymore, then I don't have a reason to have one anymore. They want us to feel sorry because they are making 200 millions of dollars instead of 220 millions dollars becasue of free online ? Boo hoo you poor multi millionnaire bastards.jack00

PC gaming here I come.Fightingfan

This ^

Never thought I'd see the day but if Sony initiate a pay-to-play service then I'm out. (Rich coming from the guy playing DC Universe, huh? :P )

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]PC gaming here I come.volume_three

This ^

Never thought I'd see the day but if Sony initiate a pay-to-play service then I'm out. (Rich coming from the guy playing DC Universe, huh? :P )

I could see Sony charging PS3 users to play online. I can see them Sony charging $50 for a year for Playstation Plus which should include internet play. If they want to charge extra to use netflix, internet browser, use PSN store, etc., then I would be real upset.

[QUOTE="jack00"][QUOTE="Ninja_Zombie83"]Xbox users pay a subscription, and they seem to have a pretty good user base. An often heard argument isn't "go f yourself." its "you get what you pay for" and the vast majority don't seem to have a problem. Its not an extra fee if you arn't being charged to begin with, like PSN users. (Not to confuse this with a system wars arguement of which console is better, but its a noteworthy similarity.)

MrSelf-Destruct

If they do start charging then they will have to improve the XMB and online experience as a whole. I wouldn't be too bothered about paying a fee to play online as long as the service is good.

Wanna charge online sony? I want Faster downloads Cross game chat, and more :).

Or I'll sell my PS3 and build a gaming Desktop Computer that won't be outdated for a few years and when it is outdated buy more parts to upgrade it until it dies :P

If they put in WAY more features like Xbox LIVE has, I would probably pay for it. In its current state? Not as likely.

If they put in WAY more features like Xbox LIVE has, I would probably pay for it. In its current state? Not as likely.