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13 Mar 2006 19:01 | Webmaster | Playstation 3 PS3Today.com | Link to this article 
According to development sources close to Sony Computer Entertainment the firm is planning a major digital distribution service for game content, which could be a key element of PlayStation 3.
The news comes from Gamesindustry.biz who have talked to several senior developers who have confirmed that Sony is looking into a digital distribution service. [Several senior developers have confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that they have spoken informally with Sony about the question of digital distribution on consoles, although these discussions were described as being "purely about technology, not business models" by one source.
However, even the technology discussed could be very revealing regarding the Japanese giant's plans for the coming years - with one source from the development arm of a major third-party publisher claiming that Sony has been discussing the technical feasibility of providing PSone and PS2 titles over digital distribution with them.
This could indicate that Sony is hoping to provide a service for the PS3 similar to Nintendo's Revolution digital download system, which will allow users to access a back catalogue of Nintendo titles through the next-generation console.
In Sony's case the challenges may be significantly more difficult, since PlayStation titles were customarily several hundred megabytes in size, and PS2 titles spanned multiple gigabytes - compared to just a few megabytes or less for NES, SNES and N64 titles in the Nintendo back-catalogue.
However, as Internet connections speed up downloads of this size will be far more reasonable - already, several Xbox Live demos for the Xbox 360 are over 600Mb in size - and our sources indicated that Sony may also be investigating the possibility of remastering certain PS2 titles to allow them to stream later content over the network while the player is already playing early parts of the game.] Add Comment  1 -
Unregistered - Just passing 03.13.2006 19:36 Sony wont be distributing just games through PS3, they have their CONNECT music store and film business too, I can see Sony distributing more than just games. You will probably be able to do your weekly shopping through PS3 too, just like you can on PC today, not that I use this service, I like to get out and do my weekly shop for groceries. 2 -
Unregistered - -KNIFE-01 03.13.2006 19:39 Damn this is good news! 3 -
3Unregistered - 3 03.13.2006 20:30 This is sweet but will it add to the total cost. 4 -
#3Unregistered - -KNIFE- 03.13.2006 21:07 i don't know. My guess it would add to the cost of the online service, not the actual PS3 hardware. the only way the price of the PS3 could go up is if Sony decides to make the HDD standard, in which this case it should be if you ever want to download those games. 5 -
Unregistered - .. 03.13.2006 21:20 How much would a game cost? 6 -
Unregistered - someguy 03.13.2006 21:30 a game will cost less than buying it at the shop, cos your not paying for packaging, and no it wont add to the cost of PS3 for these services, it doesn't cost me anything to brows Sony Connect, it only cost's me if I buy music. 7 -
THIS IS GREAT!Unregistered - Mr. Spectator 03.13.2006 22:13 I could imagine Sony doing this. It'd be very smart and convenient for customers. Instead of going to Gamestop and paying for the packaging, having tons of game discs laying around in the future, and try not to scratch the disc, it'd be wise to buy it digitally. Downloading the games to the removable hard drive for the PS3 would be awesome too! This is the next-gen console and Sony should really do something REVOLUTIONARY compared to the ordinary.Viva la Sony! 8 -
Microsoft is also doing this and is YET ANOTHER reason why they didn't include a HD-DVD / Blue Ray optical drive in the 360.Unregistered - Rocky 03.13.2006 22:14 It has also been practically confirmed that Microsoft is getting very close to offering full game distribution online for all 360 games as well and this coincides with recent rumors that the 20GB hard drive that is currently shipping with the premium pack is going to be replaced with a 100+ GB harddrive. Gates’ comments on the future of the HD DVD and Blu-Ray formats have been reiterated many times - that in the future optical discs would become obsolete and content delivery would take place via the internet. One interview that I read qouted him as saying: “The format that’s under discussion right now, HD versus Blu-ray, that’s simply the last physical format we’ll ever have. Even videos in the future will either be on a disk in your pocket or over the Internet and therefore far more convenient for you.” It's nice to see Sony matching this sentiment and future 360 service but it really makes you wonder why on earth they decided to include a Blue Ray drive in the PS3, instead of something that would actually improve the games, and feature set - like, oh I don't know, ...a hard drive maybe! 9 -
YAYUnregistered - TIMMY! 03.13.2006 22:14 This is some good news, it's not for certain, but still... It seems as if Sony is trying to be competative and keep up/ ahead of the game in every aspect to beat its two main competetors. Although this information could turn out to be false, we still can hope and believe, it can't hurt 10 -
To #9 - Maybe you should have read #8 because it is true that Microsoft is STILL the one leading.Unregistered - James 03.13.2006 22:26 The most recent rumors that I have heard one 360 sites is that all of these services will be up and running on the 360 sometime in May or else by the end of the year - i.e. still before the PS3 even launches. Major 360 dashboard upgrades will 1) add a Direct TV blade, 2) allow you to rent (and potential purchase) high definition movies by streaming them off the network, 3) stream and purchase 360 and other large games online, and 4) offer a downloadable music service (similar to iTunes) in collaboration with MTV, 5) etc, etc. 11 -
How long would it take?Unregistered - T1 03.13.2006 23:06 Screw that!! It would be faster to drive to the mall, play a few arcade games, eat at Wendy's, go to EB and buy game, drive home, take shower, let dogs out, call buddy telling him about my new game, turn ps3 on, insert disc and start to play than it would be to download 4,5,6,? gig worth of game. give me a break! I'm no internet provider, but i'm sure they're not going to be all that pleased with a bunch of dudes hogging all the bandwidth for games!! Could this be a reason for a return to download caps? then what? not to mention spending more cheese more a monster hard drive. great thought on paper, just not practicle. IMO.... 12 -
#11BillGatesSucks 03.13.2006 23:18 I agree with what you said about downloading and the affect this could have on bandwidth caps etc. Plus, there are other concerns. No technology is fool proof, a glitch with your console ie. an accidental eraser of the HDD and you can lose content - downloaded games or movies - and then where would you be? You've lost something you've paid for. With a hard copy that you buy from the store this problem couldn't happen. Plus I think most people are more comfortable with having a physical object to show that they've actually bought something, something they can hold in their hands and say "this is mine." 13 -
Unregistered - say word son 03.13.2006 23:40 you can ruin or break a disc also. in that case your still out of something you payed for. if they do this, there will probably be some type of backup system where as you can retain the product without repaying, up to a reasonable amount of times. 14 -
#13BillGatesSucks 03.13.2006 23:54 What are the odds of breaking or ruining a disk as compared to an accidental erasure? Actually, now that I think about it and how notorious the xbox is for scratching disks, the odds could be even. And yes there MIGHT be a back up plan for the poor sap who loses a game or movie from an erased HDD, MIGHT be. Would it be free? Who knows? I bet MS would be willing to sell you a patch to fix that little glitch that keeps erasing your downloaded content. 15 -
Unregistered - PAUL CERULA 03.14.2006 00:24 Bill, I read most of your first post and I agree with you that people won't have online and prefer materialistic proof of purchase. So I guess they'd buy a bundle of CD's or DVD's like PC games. Also something to consider is, isn't the PS3 not coming with a hard drive. Probably not confirmed but likely to keep costs down initially not to frighten away customers. Hey...20gb for 360 at launch that's interesting. Upgrade later on both platforms... Anyways what I didn't like what you said is that the xbox 360 is prone disc scratching. Do you even have one, cause I do. The only reason a 360 would scratch is if your retarded enough to significantly move the 360 while running a game. Like laying it down to picking it up. That's the only reason disc scratching occurs. Also to note the 3-5% of 360's overheating is cause a major factory making 360's didn't remove a small layer of foil on the CPU so it'd cook itself literally. No big beef just be more fair and level headed next time and that's real... 16 -
To #14 - The infrastructure already exists on Xbox Live, ...expect Sony to just try and copy it.Unregistered - Burly 03.14.2006 00:48 The Xbox 360 does not scratch disks unless you move it from the horizontal to the vertical position while the machine is reading it - so basically this only affected stupid people. Any ways, when you first get a 360 you are prompted to chose an Xbox Live "Gamertag". When you download any Xbox Live Arcade game or any other paid for download, Microsoft immediately sends you a receipt via email, and their database automatically keeps track of any downloads associated with your gamertag (regardless of how many times you change it - which also costs like 800 points). In effect you have purchased a license that essentially never expires during your playtime on the Xbox 360 and if you delete downloaded purchases (either on purpose or by accident) you can re-download it again at any time. One of the updates to the 360's operating system is going to allow you to play a game while you download something in the background, which means that you basically would have instant access to those games - regardless of how big they are. Also, remember that the game saves are still a seperate entity so if you pass a downloaded game and then decide to delete it, your game progress / saves will still be there if you re-download it (for free) again in the future. This is how you would manage the limited amount of space that hard drives gives you. This infrastructure already existed on Xbox Live in primative form on the original Xbox, ...was dramatically improved for the 360, and will only get better and better with constant dash board and 360 operating system updates. [As a side note, you can save an entire Xbox Arcade game on to your memory card, bring it to your friends house, sign in as your gamertag and play it there. Or you could just bring your hard drive and do the same.] [Also, since gamer preferences, info, purchased downloads, scores, etc are stored on Microsofts database - so you can log-in on someone elses machine, download your games, and play them, but when you log off your friend won't be able to play them unless he purchased them himself.] [Also, one really cool thing that I found out is that there is memory in the 360's wireless controllers that also keeps track of your prefernces and certain gamertag info - incase you bring a controller over to your friends] ...A-N-Y--W-A-Y-S, expect Sony to just follow Microsofts lead here. Peace. 17 -
#15 #16BillGatesSucks 03.14.2006 03:02 #15 - I was just be fecicious, I saw an opportunity to bash and I took it. My point is, I don't think the odds of a scratched or otherwise somehow ruined disk are going to be the same as a malfunctioning console erasing your downloaded content. But, according to #16, it doesn't matter. Still, I'd like to be able to hold something in my hands and say "This thing cost me the better part of a day's pay." And not just a print out of an email receipt. If Sony plans on taking digital distribution seriously, then that pretty much means an HDD of some size will have to be standard. 18 -
the next-gen sucksUnregistered - Khalil 03.14.2006 04:55 actually next-gen sucks because its made up for rich people and not middle or poor ones, im still enjoying my ps2 im playing now onimusha 4 ff7 dirge of cerebrus... believe me ff7 dirge of cerebrus is one of the best ps2 titles its even graphically better than many 360 titles..so yes let us enjoy current generation and yupee god of war 2 is cuming to the ps2 also... 19 -
#18Unregistered - the_drummer 03.14.2006 05:38 ARE YOU FROM MARS ?????? 20 -
That ol' Patent.Unregistered - SOME GUY 03.14.2006 06:52 This is awsome. Remember when everyone thought that sony got that patent which made it so you could only play a game on one system meant that you could not rent games. THIS IS WHAT IT WAS FOR. If you want this service.. you need to buy a HDD... just like microsoft... Each HDD has a MAC code (all hardware does and is specific to the hardware).. When you download a game / movie to your harddrive from your online account.. the mac address is embedded in the file and it can only be played from that harddrive. If you lose your HDD or it gets damaged... simply log in with your new HDD and notify Sony on your new mac address and everything you purchased is still available to you online though your account. 21 -
once again....Unregistered - again 03.14.2006 07:35 Once again something that sony was interested for, is taken as a promise for PS3.The developer was just asked if something like that is possible.Of course it is.Its about older games from the PS days, like lets say ridge racer and tekken 2.Ridge Racer is like what?40mb?The music is what fills up the disc, but since now you have sound compression like mp3, ogg and so on, you could shrink the whole game to 60-70mb max.Thats less than a xbox360/PS3 demo.But it isnt anything thats gonna happen 100%, it could, but its not sure. 22 -
???Unregistered - Ultimate PS3 Fan 03.14.2006 13:54 Why are Microsoft fans talking about th X Box 360's format and stuff? if you're going to talk about that BEAT IT. Hit the bricks! Get a life! Always trying to compare 3-6 crap stuff to the PS3 stuff. The PS3 is WAY better than the X Box 360! PERIOD.Yay yee haw the 360 is a good system But let's face it. Sony has got this in the bag! To do 7 things at the sametime as playing a PS3 or PS2 or PS1 game. To download PS1 and PS2 games is going to be awesome! PS3 is #1 23 -
This is the Future, This is the Future, This is the Future.Unregistered - 132123 03.14.2006 15:10 All computers will reach = NO moving parts/no formats. -- Windows will Die. (Hench -Software- ;Not Apple.) 24 -
DOWNLOADING SUCKSJoe 03.14.2006 15:22 So this is Sony's strategy behind piracy??? This is weak!!! If you experience load times from DVD, then you know that the speed is even slower if you're trying to do it over the internet. DOWNLOADING GAME CONTENT OVER THE INTERNET IS TOO SLOW. 25 -
Unregistered - Fu@kdvill pop.Xbugs 03.14.2006 17:30 If Sony does this it will suck just like MicroSh!t i hope they never do this.How the fu@k m i going to resell the fu@king game they can take this idea and shove it up Bill Gates as$.What about the HDD it would have to be at least 50GB if not more.And when i pay for something i want to see it in my hand not some stuped as$$ email saying i bought a game.As for your paper shredder 360 xbugs you can shove it up your fu@king as$es. PS.Xbugs your end is near the real next gen console is comming(PS3) so enjoy it while you can dumb fu@ks 26 -
24Unregistered - 24 03.14.2006 17:52 WTF!!!!!!!!!! You stupid fanboy... Downloading is the best thing ever created to do pryracy. I download a 9gb game in 1 day thanks to my conection I can´t imagine someone downloadinmg slow F*ck you, With millions of people sharing pyracy is the best strategy for the ps3, do you think ps2 only won because of the games? hahahaha it was how esay to pirate the console and games 27 -
To # 26Unregistered - PS gamer 03.14.2006 20:16 Your actualy right there, this could be a problem for PS3, thats if PS3 doesn't go through its own service like X360. If the PS3 is left open to browse anywhere online like PC, then it will be easy to download PS1/2 game images (ISO's) instead of what Sony are thinking about, which is buying the game from a Sony online store, then downloading it. I cant see Sony allowing piracy to happen, so if they do have online plans to distribute PS1/2 games, they will defenately need a service like Xbox Live. 28 -
GAMERUnregistered - JOHNPLAYER 03.15.2006 03:19 Sounds Good cant afford to buy all ps2 games but if its part of signing up to ps3 and there free god help ms 29 -
Spec?Unregistered - Otar 03.15.2006 08:43 Does any one know if the PS3 spec is going to be improved from last year’s e-3 spec prediction? It seems a long time to wait, if the spec isn’t improved just because of the blu-ray drives. I hope it is. 30 -
opinionsCB75 03.15.2006 12:24 okay first off let's address the downloading sucks comment, get off freakin' G@Y-O-L dial up and you will see downloading is cool with a high speed connection. now, i sure in the he!! hope they don't make NEW games download only anytime soon. that would totally run (actual not virtual)video game stores into the ground. 31 -
downloads are greatUnregistered - sony fanmail 03.15.2006 13:40 This is a cool idea and would be more exciting if it was region free. There are some good PS1/PS2 games that were only released in Japan.(I know I am asking for too much). Why is it no matter what Sony says they are planning, people find a reason to complain. I read here that downloading will suck and it won't work, but yet Xbox owners have done it for years...? If you have dial up it pretty much sucks to be you. Sorry you have to miss out. Yes this system seems to have all the bells and whistles that will make it expensive, but remember gaming is not just for kids anymore. Sony is pushing this as a mom and dad console also, so If I were a kid and I wanted one I would start looking for ways to earn it rather than cry that "it is unfair because I can't afford it". Be creative and do extra chores, GET A JOB, you have time to make plans now that we all know when it will be released. If you are an adult, it is like every other toy that you want just do the overtime (sell your soul) and suck it up! Do you actually believe that Sony would limit the system for the couple of people that complain about the expense? That is what Nintendo is for, a bare bones system for the average joe. No I am not rich. Yes I did come up with a plan two years ago to insure the money would be there for this system. (I sold my house and currently reside inside the shell of an XBOX, I use the original controller as a bed) 32 -
so funnyUnregistered - ewre 03.15.2006 18:25 I love this, all of you PS freaks did nothing but bash the 360 marketplace and how stupid it was to be able to download ancient games and pay for extra conent. Now Sofony is doing it and its "AWESOME" "SUPERB" "STUPENDOUS" how pathetic you guys are. 33 -
Unregistered - g 03.16.2006 14:29 a lot of people are saying future ps3 games will use more space than a dvd (that's 9gb). wouldn't that also mean your download is going to be larger than 9gb? that's a long and big download, broadband or not. letsay, at a minimum, these blu-ray games, were 10gb. that would mean that you could only really fit 6 games on your hard drive, IF sony was to even include a 60gb hard drive (it's not even official yet). that's not even counting all the other content that might go in your HDD like your music/online software/os/etc. what if you want a new game? do you erase the game to make more room? if you wanted to play the game you erased again, do you re-download it? how about the games (future gta for example?) that fill up a blu-ray disk which would be around what, 30gb. is anyone here really willing to download 30gb? the average speed rate for most cable/dsl goes 200kb-700kb/sec which would still take forever to download a 30gb (31457280 kilobytes) game. you do the math. thats 2 games you can fit on your "might be" included 60gb hdd. even if you were capable of downloading that fast, will the servers be able to upload to everyone at that rate consitently. in other words, this whole digital distribution thing is the worst idea. 34 -
digital distibution is here to stayUnregistered - sony fanmail 03.17.2006 10:43 Digital distribution is here to stay. Bill $. Gates says it, and George Lucas says it. Storage is the next big thing. This Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD vs. Holographic Disc format war is over before it even begins. With digital distibution being the future the two key factors are storage and bandwith. I doubt Sony plans on releasing full PS3 games over the network just yet. More like demos, videos, and PS1 and PS2 games. Maybe the Cell will upscale or uncompress the info or something so it will take less time to download files? Add Comment |
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