Do you think Sony will end up charging gamers a fee to play online

before this generation is over? It has already been announced that they are releasing a 'Premium' PSN subscription but online play will still be free. Kinda makes me wonder if this is just a diversion to get PS3 users used to seeing a premium subscription before they transform PSN into a LIVE like service. I really hope that online multiplayer remains free forever but in the end all companies want your $$ and will do whatever they can to get it.

No!!! Next generation most likely, but??? They might keep online play free as their ace in the hole.

Not before this gen is over. I think that they'll want to get this gen behind them first. They're still on thin ice with some people, since they used the Playstation name just to win a format war and drive down the price of the Cell and bluray players. It took them ages to get a decent game library on the market...-GeordiLaForge-

[QUOTE="-GeordiLaForge-"]Not before this gen is over. I think that they'll want to get this gen behind them first. They're still on thin ice with some people, since they used the Playstation name just to win a format war and drive down the price of the Cell and bluray players. It took them ages to get a decent game library on the market...2beers_in_hand

[QUOTE="2beers_in_hand"][QUOTE="-GeordiLaForge-"]Not before this gen is over. I think that they'll want to get this gen behind them first. They're still on thin ice with some people, since they used the Playstation name just to win a format war and drive down the price of the Cell and bluray players. It took them ages to get a decent game library on the market...-GeordiLaForge-

[QUOTE="-GeordiLaForge-"][QUOTE="2beers_in_hand"] Yeah because it took them a year and a half to their first title above AAE. :roll: The funny thing is I played plenty of good games since march of 07. Whats your story AAe and Ae just dont cut it on your play list???2beers_in_hand

My point is, the games took a LONG time to develop, and even longer to look as good as they should. I'm not saying that going for a win in the format war was the wrong move, because it wasn't. But the result was people having to wait ages for the games that they really wanted to play. Some people are still waiting btw...-GeordiLaForge-

There's no doubt the PS3's launch sucked. Lets just hope they learned their lesson and actually make it easier for developers next time around. Stick with Blu-Ray and not come out with yet another optical disc.

They might, considering they are looking over microsofts fence and see nothing but them rolling around in cash, while they've lost 2 Billion dollars on the ps3 so far.

They might, considering they are looking over microsofts fence and see nothing but them rolling around in cash, while they've lost 2 Billion dollars on the ps3 so far.

DoomZaW

Oh it's coming in the next year or so. Sony will come up with a "we can no longer afford to offer such high rated services for free, and cannot continue to develop world class new content without charging for it" excuse.

Reality is we see Microsoft making money hand over fist and while we did start out free to try to gain an advantage. Now the PS3 is selling where we want it to, so we need to make some money.

[QUOTE="DoomZaW"]

They might, considering they are looking over microsofts fence and see nothing but them rolling around in cash, while they've lost 2 Billion dollars on the ps3 so far.

-GeordiLaForge-

On the ps4 i think, now there would be backlash.X360PS3AMD05

backlash? so what, Sony fans talk alot but I promise you if they have to pay, they will. and the backlash is worth it, so what if some people turn on you and stop supporting you, thats small fries compared to the money they willmake with subscriptions. they want your business but they need to keep their stock holders a lot happier than us. so its ok to stomp on the little people to get more for the big fish.

Oh it's coming in the next year or so. Sony will come up with a "we can no longer afford to offer such high rated services for free, and cannot continue to develop world class new content without charging for it" excuse.

Reality is we see Microsoft making money hand over fist and while we did start out free to try to gain an advantage. Now the PS3 is selling where we want it to, so we need to make some money.

coasterguy65

you sir, get a thumbs up! ack! we need a thumbs up emotion:cry:

They will offer what they offer now for free, but they will add features that PSN has lacked (cross console chat, party chat etc.) for a fee. That's just a guess, but it makes sense... chatting eats up bandwidth, and bandwidth isn't free. Personally, I won't pay for it since none of my friends have PS3's, and I don't want to payanother fee to talk to strangers.

No. They can't do that now. It would hurt them more than the revenue would help.Cherokee_Jack

No, I'll never pay anyone for online.

If Sony does that, then I'm moving to PC/Nintendo only.

[QUOTE="Cherokee_Jack"]No. They can't do that now. It would hurt them more than the revenue would help.donalbane

Playing online, making a PSN ID, downloading demoes= will remain free(like what we are doing now).

Paid subscriptons= early access to betas, you get the demos earlier, options like Qore, etc.

No, I'll never pay anyone for online.

If Sony does that, then I'm moving to PC/Nintendo only.

No, I'll never pay anyone for online.

If Sony does that, then I'm moving to PC/Nintendo only.

nope, dont expect it next gen either.

No, I'll never pay anyone for online.

If Sony does that, then I'm moving to PC/Nintendo only.

The problem with just charging for extra stuff is that no one will pay for stuff that they dont care about. The online play is something that much more people would actually pay for. Once Sony figures out that not enough people are paying for the early betas and such, then I think that they will start charging for online play as well.

The problem with just charging for extra stuff is that no one will pay for stuff that they dont care about. The online play is something that much more people would actually pay for. Once Sony figures out that not enough people are paying for the early betas and such, then I think that they will start charging for online play as well.

T-Aldous