WhiteWolf Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Sony shows subscription services how it's really done... Sony has made a lot of mistakes over the years, and I've cheerily called the publisher out on many of them. For all its hubris, however, and for all its missteps, the PlayStation brand owner is prone to having some really quite brilliant ideas now and then, proving itself surprisingly savvy and innovative when the need arises. Among these ideas, PlayStation Plus is undoubtedly one of its best, though I was cynical towards the idea of a subscription-based PlayStation Network service at first. Early propositions made it sound quite undesirable, and given Sony's other attempts at aping rival Microsoft -- Trophies spring to mind -- I expected something pointless and poorly implemented. That's not what we got. Instead, PlayStation Plus is one of the most consumer-friendly, convenient, and worthwhile ideas to hit the PlayStation 3. More importantly, in an industry where publishers are trying to take more money than ever for less content, Sony's the guiding light in how to draw a steady payday from users in a way that makes everybody happy. PlayStation Plus is a subscription-based service that offers free games, major discounts, and exclusive downloads to customers for $49.99 a year. Every week, the service offers new freebies and cheap titles, giving away not just classic PlayStation games, but current-gen titles including big hitters like inFAMOUS and The Walking Dead. In keeping its commitment to offering free online play, Sony had to work extra hard to ensure PS Plus was worth paying for, and the results can be measured in numbers. The company recently revealed Plus' discounts and giveaways amounted to a cumulative $2,472 in 2012. While it's unlikely a customer downloaded absolutely everything required to get these savings, it would be quite easy to at least make back the $50 entry fee in content. It sounds almost ridiculous to say it, but Sony has been pioneering the practice of giving stuff away in exchange for consumer loyalty. Yes, it seems like a no-brainer tactic, but the idea seems to have eroded in so many areas of the industry that Sony's remarkable for doing it. You give Sony money, and Sony gives you stuff in return. It doesn't unlock stuff that was gated off, it doesn't provide what the competitor was already providing, it just gives you things. It's almost crazy to see that now, especially on consoles. And yes, it's true that PS Plus doesn't let you keep the free content once you unsubscribe, but if you weren't getting your money's worth while still tied to it, then frankly, you have nothing worth missing. Even as a "rental" service, it's a killer deal, and the discounts are nothing to sniff at. & Now Xbox live Compare this to Microsoft, a company struggling more and more to justify its subscription service with a straight face. The Xbox 360 owner has systematically worked to hold its content to ransom in an increasingly futile bid to make Xbox Live Gold look worth its fee. The biggest feature is, of course, online play -- something available for free on PS3, Wii U, and PC. The company took something that was already a given, and held it back. It's done this with practically every feature on Xbox Live Gold. Netflix, Amazon Video, and (before retirement) social apps like Twitter and Facebook all require Gold subscriptions to use, despite these items being freely available on almost every electronic device on the market. Hell, my television can access Netflix, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, and a Web browser, and they're all better than the Xbox 360 versions -- they browse faster, they stream more consistently, and their search functions blow the 360's pathetic offerings out of the water. This is the reality of Xbox Live Gold, a service I believe only continues to thrive due to the habitual nature of consumers, and one that I don't think can sustain itself indefinitely. Xbox Live Gold has never offered the consumers anything. It's never actually exchanged a feature outstanding enough to justify an outstanding payment. All it does is take away. Even demos are held hostage, given a delayed release for Xbox Live Silver users in a fantastic example of just how desperate Microsoft is to create the illusion of worth instead of providing actual value. Xbox Live Gold is all smoke and mirrors -- a delayed feature here, a withheld app there, a carefully constructed facade. So carefully constructed, in fact, it may have been less effort to actually give consumers something. Oh, and let's not even get started on the ads Xbox Live run on its paid service. Read more at http://www.destructoid.com/plus-points-sony-s-ps-plus-humiliates-the-game-industry-243470.phtml#ZAuG9VmRRgD7q1zp.99 User comment - PS+ is by far the best thing i've subscribed too. Got Infamous series, Arkham City, Bioshock 2, Motorstorm Apocalypse and more AAA Ps3 games + the Vita and PSP instant games collection...all for 30 quids. Just amazing. And that is only in the 4 months that i've had it. Right now you can buy games worth 17,000Rs just for 2000Rs by subscribing to 1year PS+ service :)/> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sackboy Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 For me PS3 was the better choice just because of free online play. For a kid, its down right impossible to justify a 60$ a year service to my parents which doesn't add much extra value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 For me PS3 was the better choice just because of free online play. For a kid, its down right impossible to justify a 60$ a year service to my parents which doesn't add much extra value. You're right about the first point. But over the course of a year you do get a ton of games to play for the price of a single game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusharngf Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 nothing beats xbox live ...not even psn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Boss Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 inb4crossgamechat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keano Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 +1 to that User comment - So many free games and games at discounted prices. Have some 30 odd games installed on my PS3 and I know few members on IVG who have over 60 games installed on their PS3 all thanks to PSN PLUS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keano Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 nothing beats xbox live :D/> ...not even psn... PSN may not be better than Live .. but PSN PLUS is definitely worth its price tag and just because of the free content that comes with PUS makes it a better option than subscribing to Live. inb4crossgamechat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDribbler Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Nowadays i wonder shud i even buy AAA titles as soon as they release.. ? Coz They eventually popup on plus... Plus has evolved like crazy since its inception... earlier peanuts...now....the bloody honey jar is overflowing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sackboy Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 But over the course of a year you do get a ton of games to play for the price of a single game. I meant XBL I was a PS+ member till last year and will be one again soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sackboy Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 nothing beats xbox live ...not even psn... Ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Boss Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 I only switch on my X360 for Halo 4. Which sucks +1. Halo 4 does suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtheK Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 What is a Xbox Live?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikushimi Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Just bought a year long sub for XBL, just for the online functionality, all the other bells and whistles are useless extras I'll never use. Absolutely hate the fact that Microsoft makes you pay for something that should be free in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insane_killer06 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 What is a Xbox Live?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwiksilver Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 well...it certainly is a god send for trophy whores ....to them all the potential platinum trophies is worth much more than the subscription cost for a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keano Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 well...it certainly is a god send for trophy whores :bigyellowgrin:/> ....to them all the potential platinum trophies is worth much more than the subscription cost for a year never knew you are into trophy hunting kwik .. how many plat's do you have ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman™ Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 never knew you are into trophy hunting kwik .. how many plat's do you have ? Check his signature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HundredProofSam Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 I wonder what sort of increase in subscriptions they've seen after introducing the Instant Game Collection. I hope it's good because I really don't want to see this go away. Warhammer Space Marine, Vanquish. These are games I probably would never have played if not for PS+. And they're both fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keano Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Check his signature I've disabled signatures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insane_killer06 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 I wonder what sort of increase in subscriptions they've seen after introducing the Instant Game Collection. I hope it's good because I really don't want to see this go away. Warhammer Space Marine, Vanquish. These are games I probably would never have played if not for PS+. And they're both fantastic. True that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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