PS3 Gets First Pay-To-Play Game
Trash Panic appears in Arcade form, includes Home Rewards.Published 16/07/2009 at 6:30 by nofi
We liked Trash Panic, but we didn’t know Sony liked it enough to give it another chance. On the Japanese PSN Store today the game, which is called Gomi Bako in its native country, has been re-released as a pay-to-play game: for ¥100 you get 3 lives, and unlike the ‘full’ PSN game, you can unlock Home Rewards.
100 Yen is roughly 69p, which gives you an idea of the cost. Whilst I’m all for new ideas, this one makes me feel a little uneasy – I’d rather pay more up front and keep the game free, and yes in this case that’s entirely possible but if Sony go down this route for other games in the future they’d be on groundbreaking territory.
Still, it’s probably more effective than a demo, especially with the Home Rewards. There are no Trophies for this version of the game.
Thanks, Kassatsu.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.« Previous 1 2 3 Next »
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Erroneus | 16/07/2009 09:44
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
2981 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Lol and off course they are going to do this on Japanese games, where you have to spend 30 minutes and a lot of lives, just to figure out … the menu. Yeah I’m talking to you Trash Panic!
3shirts | 16/07/2009 09:51
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2494 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
It’s a good idea IF the price is very low. I suspect that will be the stumbling block.
A game like Trash Panic is one that I’m not too sure about, I think it looks kinda fun but I don’t know I’d want to buy it. This is a bit like a demo and if after 3 lives I decide I like it, I can buy the full game. There should be a discount if you choose to do that though.
Of course the flipside is that some games (Battlefield 1943 being a good example) take a while to get into so the 3 lives (or equivalent in other games) might not be enough to get you into it and you’ll dismiss it.
I bought Battlefield straight away (didn’t try the demo first) because of the great review on here. The first few games I wasn’t feeling it but because I had bought it I persevered and now I love it
hannes_truce | 16/07/2009 10:00
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2919 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
an interesting concept, i’ll give em that. not one i’d subscribe to though. although thinking about it I have bought quite a few psn games on a whim that i’ve played once and then never again so this could potentially save me some money… although the thought that this could be the end of free demos bothers me.
Downey92 | 16/07/2009 10:09
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632 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
I essentially rely on free demos for a quick pick up and play game experience, had better not get rid of them..
Hodgi92 | 16/07/2009 10:09
The Thumb
1059 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Interesting.
I supposed if a game doesn’t get a demo then this would be a cheaper way of trialing it.
hazelam | 16/07/2009 10:12
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3951 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
sod that.
i’m not paying for demos
ms make demos mandatory for every downloadable title on 360, sony can go to hell if they think i’m going to pay for a demo from them.
maybe this is why they never bothered with demos.
BadBoyBoogie | 16/07/2009 10:25
Let There Be Rock
2689 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
It’s a big NO from me I’m afraid!!
I want to buy a game and then not have to worry about losing silly lives (and as a consequence money) while I get to grips with playing it.
Carl | 16/07/2009 10:37
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734 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
Good idea but that’s gonna cost a bomb. You may aswell throw your money in the “trash”
Home rewards are good, but payign 89p for 3 lives to get them? No thanks
Timesh1993 | 16/07/2009 10:39
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1180 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
This could either be a good or a bad thing, just depends how the Japanese take to it as i’m sure Dev’s everywhere will be keeping an eye on how it sells.
Hopefully they won’t like the idea and they’ll scrap it all together.
liquidgfx | 16/07/2009 10:44
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2 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
PS3 Gets First Pay-To-Play Game????? What the hell has Microsoft been doing since day 1??? Thats why i refuse to buy XBOX! I refuse to pay for something i already have! Microsoft charge you for live and as a result this meens they are charging you for demos, extra for full games and for access to the online part of games you have already payed for! If you look at the bigger picture the 360 costs you a HELL of a lot more than any PS3 and dont even get me started on reliability!
Watchful | 16/07/2009 11:07
Team TSA: Writer
2084 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
You can download demos and buy games off of Xbox Live with only a silver account which doesn’t cost you anything.
Erroneus | 16/07/2009 11:33
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
2981 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
All demos? I thought some demos where for gold members only, but that’s maybe only “time-exclusive” demos.
jonny_bolton | 16/07/2009 11:08
Chooses The Impossible
1986 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
It’s an interesting concept, but I cannot see it working. Maybe in Japna but not here. There’s a reason why Arcade’s don’t exist any place other than Blackpool and Margate!
The Home rewards are a nice touch to incite the user, but then that has alienated me as a man who purchased the full game. Why am I being punished for paying the full entry fee? Yes I get Trophies, but I can’t do anything with those. At least with Home rewards there’s a level of interactivity. Even if it is a little statue…
BioEye | 16/07/2009 11:22
Team TSA: Writer
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I can see Kojima getting involved in something like that, as he wanted a game where if you died, the game itself would become unusable.
TheDoctor | 18/07/2009 19:34
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I took it as meaning that your gamesave was unusable, not necessarily the game itself?
joooo | 16/07/2009 11:35
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121 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
so you pay 69p it probz be better to just purchase the game if u werent a big fan of home
Snebjnr | 16/07/2009 11:39
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1612 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Pay to play? not sure on that.
I’d rather keep the game afte purchase personally
ghosthunter68 | 16/07/2009 11:57
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41 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
You can see why Edwards mentioned pay2play in a recent interview about Home. So the potential is there to pay2play for certain Home areas and or mini games. Bit worrying to be honest.
B1GbOnG | 16/07/2009 13:36
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143 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
but if Sony go down this route for other games in the future they’d be on groundbreaking territory.
You say this is ground breaking, but any body who has got or had a Three mobile has known of this sort of gaming for a long long time since the launch of 3 to be precise and it is a comparable 50p.
TheDeathAvenger | 16/07/2009 14:49
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1656 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Hopefully this option will expand to many other titles and also outside of Japan. However i also hope that demos are not going to be replaced with the option to pay-to-play the game. It would be great to have both options, but i don’t want demos being replaced by a pay-to-play version of the game. On a side note, i’d like most games to have demos.