Sony reveals PS3 online plans; confirms new controller

CNNMoney's "Game Over" columnist, Chris Morris has the scoop on Sony's PlayStation 3 online plans, which were panned immediately by analysts who believe Sony's expectations are too high for game publishers, meaning they don't believe the revenues Sony plans to bring in from these online plans are realistic.

According to the article, Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, believes the game industry is moving from the "product era" to the "service era". This explains Sony's decision to go beyond competitive gaming with its online service and, "plans to offer publishers the capability to produce episodic content and hopes to be able to offer other entertainment programming such as movies, music and television shows."

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Personally, I find the statement that the game industry is moving from the "product era" to the "service era" to be more of a Sony wish than a reality, and I truly hope it doesn't end up kicking Sony in the butt. Everyone is expecting the PS3 to be the most expensive console on the market, by far. I'm willing to spend a chunk of change on an awesome gaming machine, but I'm already perfectly happy with my iTunes, my DVD player and my Tivo. Not to mention, I'm already online with Xbox Live, which also promises to offer these things in the future. Sony is going to have to explain to me why I'll be forced to spend a lot of money on an entire entertainment system, when all I want is a great gaming machine, if this is the path they choose to take.



While I'm at it, I'd also like to remind Sony that they have had to cut back on the production of UMD movies for the PSP, as gamers (aka, the people who purchased the PSP) weren't buying them. Finally, because gamers were so critical of the PS3 boomerang controller prototype revealed at last year's E3, Sony has confirmed that a redesigned controller will be unveiled at this year's E3.



Sony needs to start listening to the gamers again, and forget their own hype. We'll lead you in the right direction. Give us good products and we'll show you a "product era" like you've never seen before. However, give us a very expensive gaming machine with more bells and whistles than the average gamer wants, and we'll set our sights elsewhere.