PSN Premium Option Details

What were those different features in that table?

Published 22/12/2009 at 8:30.
By Greg A [Watchful].

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This is a follow up to Lewis’ post that listed the options for a premium PSN service. Amidst all the reactions was some confusion about what the different premium features, such as Trophy Alerts, were. Now thanks to Engadget here is the list. The table from the earlier post is included again at the end.

Customer Service Priority Access
Priority access to PlayStation’s customer service both online and via phone should you need technical help or have questions about your products. This feature gives you support with little to no waiting.
Exclusive Experiences with Sony Brands
Get member-only access to attend exclusive Sony events and experiences throughout the year, including those offered by PlayStation, Sony Pictures, and Sony Music.
Extended Console Warranty 3 Years
Get your PS3 warranty extended to 3 years as part of your overall subscription (requires you to keep your subscription active). The standard warranty on your PS3 is 1 year.
Access to Beta Games
Get access to Betas of popular games not yet released at retail (Betas offer bigger experiences than typical game demos). You will have the ability to play these games before others do.
Early Access to All Store Content
Get early access to select free and purchasable game related content on the PlayStation Store before it’s available to everyone else. This includes games, add-ons, themes, avatars, as well as free game demos.
Member Demo Sharing of Full Game
Share a level of a game that you just purchased for your PS3 with a subscriber who doesn’t own the game. Your friends could do the same. This would be an exclusive demo not available otherwise to those who haven’t purchased the game.
Cross-game Voice Chat Access
Get exclusive member-only access to cross-game voice chat. This is the ability to use your headset to voice chat with friends on your PS3 regardless of what they are doing on the PS3.
Full Title Trial – 1st Hour Is Free
Download full versions of select Blu-ray and PSN game titles and have the chance to play the entire game (single or multiplayer) for free for the first hour. After that time you will have the option of purchasing the game to continue playing.
Token Wagering
Get a fixed number of tokens per month you can wager with other players in competitive online games. These tokens could then be built up and redeemed for free PlayStation Network games and other content.
User-to-user Challenges
Unlock developer-created challenges while playing games. Compete with your friends to see who can be the first to complete these challenges. The PS3 will automatically offer and track challenges and winners and would post results. An example of a challenge is ‘first to get 10 trophies’ in a particular game.
Free Access to PSOne Classics, PSP Minis, and PS3/PSP Themes
Get a fixed number of PSOne Classic games, PSP Minis (bite-sized games), and PS3/PSP themes per month to keep for free for as long as you are a subscriber. The PlayStation Store offers these types of content for $2-6 each.
Discounts on Store Content
Get weekly member-exclusive discounts on specific games, game add-ons and themes on the PlayStation Store. Discounts may range from 20-50% off regular retail prices.
Member Only In-game Content
Get exclusive member-only in-game content for your PS3 or PSP such as new game play options, unlocked in-game weapons or player slots, exclusive levels, costumes/skins, and PlayStation Home spaces.
Trophy Alerts
Get automated alerts on your PlayStation XrossMedia Bar, PlayStation.com, and via text message (if you so choose) that alert you when your friends get any trophy or a specific one. This feature is customizable – you can choose which friends to receive alerts from and what kinds of alerts.
Cloud Storage Space for Games
Store your game saves on a virtual secure saver. This would allow you to access your game saves at any point in time, and from any PlayStation 3 or PSP console you are logged in on.
Online Music Service
Get a streaming music service that allows you to choose your channel based on music style, artist type, etc. and listen to an unlimited number of tracks. This service would be for use outside of playing a game and similar to Pandora or a Last.fm.
Online Music Video Service
Get a streaming music video service on your PlayStation 3 that lets you stream music videos from a continuously growing catalog of music and allows you to create a custom playlist to play back. [Presumably an ad-free VidZone? ~Watchful]
Automatic Downloads and Updates
Customize the types of updates you want your PS3 to download automatically. These include game updates (patches) for games that you own, firmware updates, and game demos downloaded on your PS3 without manually having to select them and wait for them to finish downloading. Your PS3 can be set to automatically turn on for updates and turn off after completion.
Loyalty Program Rewards
Get rewards the longer you are a subscriber and also earn rewards by engaging with PlayStation such as buying games, downloading movies, and rating products. Rewards can include full versions of PlayStation Network games and digital movie rentals from the PlayStation Store.
Facebook Connectivity
Access to member-exclusive Facebook features on your PlayStation 3, such as viewing and linking your Facebook accounts with their PSN ID’s, updating your status, editing, uploading and sharing photos, and viewing photo albums of your friends on your TV.
Catch-up TV
Get access to popular TV shows and movies through service providers such as Hulu, simply by clicking an icon on your PS3 XrossMedia navigation bar.
Netflix Access Without Disc
Access the Netflix video streaming service on your PS3 without the need to insert a special disc into the drive each time to access the service. A separate Netflix subscription would also be needed to enjoy the service. Netflix offers over 17000 popular movies and TV shows for streaming on your laptop or a supported device such as a PS3.

Via Sony Insider.

Comments

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hannes_truce | 22/12/2009 08:36
Member
3417 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008

Some of those actually sound like awesome features. If they’re real, and sony pull them off (particularly the 1st hour free and the demo sharing) then this is something I’d def pay for.
- samall32 | 22/12/2009 15:30
  Member
  3 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
  
  why do they not have a $69.99 plan with all the features? if im gonna pay that much then i’d like to have it all
Joe | 22/12/2009 08:36
Member
325 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009

where do i sign up? :D

the 3 year extra warranty should be incentive enough to purchase this premium service… not to mention cross game chat and cloud storage…

i’d be more than happy to throw a few extra dollars sonys way to get an even better online experience than i already have… just as long as its worth it and they don’t take our money for granted…
- shields_t | 22/12/2009 12:01
  Member
  2241 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
  
  It would be interesting to know whether they would honour the three year warranty from the date that you purchased the console, or the date that you upgraded to the premium services.
  
  I would assume the majority of people going for the premium options would be those who have had their PS3s for some time.
- tom_lord | 22/12/2009 18:46
  Team TSA: Writer
  623 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
  
  Well, the 3 year warranty is worth the price alone in my opinion. I really want this right now!
  - bunimomike | 22/12/2009 18:52
    Member
    8858 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
    
    You’ve jogged my attention back to this thread and I thank you. I give my PS3 an absolute rinsing with Folding@Home (it’s pretty much on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) so a 3-year warranty would be a cunning stunt and no doubt.
    
    *checks for spelling and accidental swapping of letters*. Nope… all polite. 8-)
Bartarak | 22/12/2009 08:39
Member
122 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008

Cross-game Voice Chat only for premium subscribers?? Please don’t do this sony…
- nofi | 22/12/2009 08:50
  Wants a custom tag.
  5421 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
  
  That was always going to happen, wasn’t it? I assumed that’s why they were so quiet.
  - illogicology | 22/12/2009 08:54
    Member
    971 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
    
    makes sense to me.
  - Ed the Penguin | 22/12/2009 09:05
    Member
    434 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
    
    I’d pay for any premium service they offered me, but cross-game chat being premium would cause an uproar! It would also piss me off as it would’ve come in handy with myself and my mate, but I know he would never pay for it!!
  - illogicology | 22/12/2009 09:27
    Member
    971 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
    
    I don’t think it’s unfair at all really. Every time one of the Cross-Game chat rants starts up people always chime in with “They have it on the 360, why can’t we?”
    
    Well they pay for it on the 360 too.
  - X_Yoshy_X | 22/12/2009 10:14
    Member
    615 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
    
    actually if u have a silver account (wich is the FREE one) on the 360 then you can still use the cross game chat feature
    
    all i ask for is cross game chat to be free for 3 way chats and if you want more like 10 way then you have to have a premium account
  - TTP | 22/12/2009 13:44
    Member
    245 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
    
    I can understand a premium party system a la Live, but simple voice chat cross game should be free.
- Severn2j | 22/12/2009 09:07
  Member
  2019 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
  
  This makes no sense to me.. Unless everyone you speak to is a premium subscriber, it wont work. Also, whats the point of making it subscriber only, when its an easy patch to do for everyone?
  - illogicology | 22/12/2009 09:33
    Member
    971 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
    
    I think that’s a fair point made more important when you think that it’s very unlikely this will attract the same sort of numbers are xbox live.
    
    It’s like motion controllers on anything else than the wii, you ship with it in place and it becomes an integral part of everything the console does. You try to add it later, a few people catch on but most people are happy with what they have.
  - sideshow | 22/12/2009 12:57
    Member
    304 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
    
    Of the items in the list, the ones which will cost Sony an ongoing charge to provide are (roughly):
    
    Customer Service Priority Access (assuming they hire more staff to meet the demand and don’t just bump non-subscribers to limbo)
    Cross-game Voice Chat Access
    Full Title Trial – 1st Hour Is Free
    Free Access to PSOne Classics, PSP Minis, and PS3/PSP Themes
    Discounts on Store Content (sort of)
    Cloud Storage Space for Games
    Online Music Service
    Online Music Video Service
    
    Cross-game chat requires servers and bandwidth, so I can see why they’d want to charge for it. I agree with you though – it doesn’t gel well with non-subscribers. You could have a system where the chat requires a subscriber to initiate the room, which non-subscribers could then join, but it’s a bit clunky.
    
    I’d be more annoyed if the Automatic Update scheme detailed above is restricted to subscribers only – that’s something the console should have right now, and is just a firmware implementation detail.
52pickup | 22/12/2009 08:47
Member
363 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009

Social networking and TV catch-up services should be free, as the majority of those services are free to access via the PC or PS3 web browser.
- cc_star | 22/12/2009 10:27
  Team TSA: Writer
  11320 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
  
  Stuff like SkyPlayer isn’t free to access… and in the US I think Hulu is going subscription as the ad-supported model is making enough money for the content providers.
SeaBeorn | 22/12/2009 08:48
Member
218 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009

Some stuff sounds really nice and some should be free as mentioned
52pickup | 22/12/2009 08:52
Member
363 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009

A monthly movie rental package would have been nice. something like 5 SD movies or 3 HD movies to rent per month.
legalisemurder | 22/12/2009 08:55
Member
320 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008

When you look at all the free improvements Sony have made to PSN and compare the launch day PS3 with what we have now i think we got a lot of bang for our buck.I for one would not begrudge shelling out 20 or 30 quid a year for those features particularly the loyalty scheme,challenges and betas.
52pickup | 22/12/2009 08:59
Member
363 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009

$69.99 for that one package! Isn’t that like £50 or just over? I don’t think be inclined to pay that price. 25-30 quid aye.
- legalisemurder | 22/12/2009 09:03
  Member
  320 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
  
  £50 is a bit steep on the face of it but throw in free PS1 classics and store discounts and you might even end up saving money.
- theberzerka | 22/12/2009 09:06
  Member
  288 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
  
  Even if it is £50 thats less than £5 a month which i think will be worth it in terms of savings.
  - illogicology | 22/12/2009 09:09
    Member
    971 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
    
    When my 360 still lived I paid for Xbox Live, I shall probably pay for this when it inevitably rolls around and whatever form its in but considering you’re paying Xbox Live level prices that supposedly don’t include the cost of online play, they would have to offer something way in excess of what Live currently offers to keep me paying.
  - theberzerka | 22/12/2009 09:13
    Member
    288 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
    
    I don’t know what xbox offer so i’ll remain in the dark and pretend this is awesome lol.
  - Watchful | 22/12/2009 09:22
    Team TSA: Writer
    2679 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
    
    Off that list, Xbox LIVE Gold gives you early access to store content, cross game voice chat, discounts on store content, online music service (last.fm), facebook connectivity, netflix access without disc. Also arguably an equivalent of full title trial (1st hour free) as all XBLA titles have a demo.
- cc_star | 22/12/2009 09:18
  Team TSA: Writer
  11320 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
  
  Don’t forget Xbox Live subscriptions are about 30% off as you can get them for around £26, so a £50 PSN sub would work out at only £35
  - legalisemurder | 22/12/2009 09:29
    Member
    320 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
    
    The big difference between xbox live and psn is on live you can do virtually nothing unless you pay but the core feature of psn-online gaming will still be free.
illogicology | 22/12/2009 09:01
Member
971 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009

I’m in two minds about this. Some features I think are great and perfect to offer premium subscribers (Token Wagering, Trophy Alerts) these seem to be cool extras that don’t impact the core service. Others I think are good ideas but when they’ve been implemented in the past, are usually abused and become cons. (Discount good unless they price new content higher and let the discount bring it down, it happens a lot with other businesses.)

Finally, some I think are wrong and if they implemented them I’d be very disappointed. Mainly this idea that subscribers could get early access to new content. There’s no way that could be an advantage to anyone, we all get access to content as soon as it comes at the moment. This just threatens to make artificial delays and give you the privilege of paying for the same level of service you had before the premium model. The only way I could see this being of any benefit is if it actually means SCEE will start putting content out on time for SOME people but I don’t expect that to happen.

A certain number of free PSOne Classics, Minis, Themes? Well, themes should be free anyway in my opinion. As for minis and classics, I’m uncertain. Depends on how it’s implemented.
- Pitcher-T | 22/12/2009 11:29
  Member
  577 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
  
  There’s no good PS1 games on the EU store anyway. Iv bought all the good ones (crash’s, mgs1, FFVII)
  Also the delay thing sounds mean, lol. If the cud bring out content BEFORE the official date, then gud. But they’ll most likely just make non subscribers ait a few weeks :(
  Does anyone know the exact price of the service for UK?
  - kevatron400 | 22/12/2009 13:47
    Don't call him Kevatron400.
    2125 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
    
    I don’t mean to be pedantic… actually I do:
    “There’s no good PS1 games on the EU store anyway. Iv bought all the good ones”
hypermole | 22/12/2009 09:02
Member
365 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009

Well I have heard that this is to help pay for servers to help improve the already good online service. So I am in if it helps. And the list of options are lal great ideas. Nothing just plain and boring.