| Cross-X said: Sony needs to add FEATURES and not DISCOUNTS the whole time with PS Plus. People pay for XBL because it's the only means of playing Online games with friends whereas PSN can already do that without Plus so for the majority of PSN owners, PS Plus is not really needed because all it is is basically a bunch of discounts. Cross Game Chatting The above are just a few examples of some of the features PS Plus should intergrate so that it gives Gamers the reasons why they should subscribe for PS Plus. Remember they named it PlayStation Plus and not PlayStation Network Plus. Give Gamers features of the PlayStation and not just discounts on the PSN. |
I only agree with adding services that both cost money for Sony to support and that people don't really need to Plus. Adding features that cost little/nothing to support wouldn't be right. Such things shouldn't be restricted to certain users.
This is why I believe cross game voice chat shouldn't be added to Plus, as it's a P2P feature inherent to OS that should cost little (if anything) for Sony to support once implemented. Plus it would be a pivotal feature for the community aspect of PSN, one that I don't feel should be limited to some people just because they're willing to pay.
Cloud Storage, on the other hand, is a luxury service that would cost Sony a decent amount to support, and it's something that I believe is justifiable to charge for, and it's something I'd gladly hand over money for given the benefits it provides. I actually hope they announce it soon.
What I like about PS Plus at the moment is that it consists mostly of special deals on various content. It's basically a rewards program for frequent PSN users, and in the future, it looks as if they'll only be adding more content (like betas) and/or services (Hulu, etc.) that would make sense to charge for. It's all extra stuff that some people would be willing to fork over cash for, but for those who do not want or cannot afford to pay the fee, they're not missing out on anything. No important features are currently restricted to Plus members.
I honestly think future betas for first party titles could be a great boon for the service if they handle it right. Guaranteeing access for ALL Plus members to a beta exclusively, or at least for a set amount of time before others are allowed in through other means (random invites, pre-order bonuses, w/e), would probably get a decent number of people on board. Within the next year and a half we'll see betas for LittleBigPlanet 2, Socom 4, Killzone 3, and probably Uncharted 3 and Resistance 3, so they'd have the opportunity to get a good chunk of the fanbase of each series on board (though there's a good bit of overlap between each series, I'm sure).
Also, simple math should make you realize making MMO fees a part of the service is a pipe dream. Most MMOs go for $15 a year. $50 a year would cover three MMO fees PLUS all the other stuff you get free. It would make both Sony and any the companies behind any MMOs involved lose an assload of potential revenue. This is why Hulu Plus will not be free for PS Plus members.
