To compete with the premium service offered by Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE, Sony released PlayStation Plus that doesn’t include just exclusive content to subscribers, but free games as well.
Everyone knows that the PlayStation Network offers free multiplayer whereas users of the Xbox 360 requires Xbox LIVE Gold Membership. For subscribers of the Xbox LIVE Gold, what they get are dedicated servers for multiplayer online play, an exclusive deal of the week, Netflix access, exclusive content such as betas and demos, and other premium services that Microsoft offers. It sure sounds like a great deal but with the PlayStation Plus now available, what makes Sony’s premium service so special?
Let’s take a look on the HOTs and NOTs of the PlayStation Plus. Recommending to subscribe to PlayStation Plus is hard. Future subscribers needs to weigh out the things that that they will get. In this article, we will post the HOTs and the NOTs of the service.
HOT
Free Subscription to Qore
Sony’s digital magazine on the PlayStation Network will be offered for free to anyone who is a PlayStation Plus subscriber. By downloading Qore, gamers are able to get exclusive content that only Qore members can get. For an annual subscription, Qore costs $24.99 to subscribe, and that is without the other things that PlayStation Plus offers at the same price as what Microsoft charges to their Xbox LIVE Gold susbcribers.
Weekly Deals
Every Tuesday that the PlayStation Store updates itselfs, subscribers can take advantage of the exclusive deals that Sony will be releasing. This varies from add-on content to downloadable games and subscribers can expect to save up to fifty percent off the original price of some content.
Free Games every Month
Xbox LIVE subscribers does not get any free games but with the PlayStation Plus subscribers, a monthly game will be offered for free as long as you are a subscriber. The free games that Sony offers varies from a PlayStation Network title to a PlayStation Minis title that can be played both on the PSP and PS3.
Automatic Download
A new feature called Automatic Download will be available to all PlayStation Plus subscribers. This feature allows gamers to download PlayStation Plus content automatically at a designated time. This can be a demo, or a patch for a specific game. Before this can be enabled, the subscriber must go to the System Settings to set it up.
Netflix and Hulu Plus DOES NOT need PlayStation Plus
If the Xbox 360 requires Xbox LIVE Gold to access Netflix or Hulu Plus, the PlayStation Plus will not be required to access these two premium services. Just download the client to the XMB (Cross Media Bar), and both PlayStation Network users and PlayStation Plus subscribers can enjoy watching thousands of TV episodes and movies for free.
Full Game Time Trial
As an exclusive subscriber of PlayStation Plus, a one hour time trial will be rewarded to the gamers who are thinking of trying out the game before purchasing it. Going to the path of the Xbox 360’s Games on Demand, Sony will be releasing FULL PS3 games on the PlayStation Store and subscribers can try the game out before they purchase it. The only good thing about this new service is that PlayStation Plus can STILL earn trophies even though they’re playing sixty minutes of it!
Exclusive Contents
Similar as to what the Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers get, PlayStation Plus will offer exclusive content such as demos, betas, and downloadable content. To try out this new feature, Sony already offered Hulu Plus preview to anyone who are subscribed to the PlayStation Plus, and soon an exclusive demo of Kane & Lynch 2 Dog Days this Tuesday.
NOT
The FREE Games are CRAP
Sure, PlayStation Plus subscribers get a free game every month but what sucks about it is that the game that Sony is giving out for free are the ones that were released several years ago. The titles are not AAA titles but rather than games that no one will probably play. Hopefully in the future, Sony will allow their subscribers to download ANY game from the STORE for free as long as they are a subscriber. As long as it’s not happening, that’s one of the things that I hate about the PlayStation Plus service. Yep, it’s free but what we get is not something I will be enjoying to play.
Still no Dedicated Server on Third Party
Despite of paying $49.99 a year for a PlayStation Plus subscription, gamers still does not get a dedicated server for online play. It is a fact that when it comes to an online multiplayer game, Xbox Live is on the lead. More users plays online games on their Xbox 360 than on the PlayStation 3.
IS IT WORTH SUBSCRIBING NOW?
In my opinion, it is not worth it at all. The current status of PlayStation Plus is that it’s still on the beta phase. The content that we receive every week IS NOT WORTH IT AT ALL. Who wants to buy a discounted add-on content for a game that was released more than three years ago? If Sony provides a more decent content for the service, then subscribing to the PlayStation Plus is worth it. For now, Xbox Live is still SUPERIOR than the PlayStation Plus.
WHAT WE WANT
– Improved XMB
– PlayStation Plus to include on the Video Store (What about discounted titles?)
– Cross-Game Chat
Jon
July 18, 2010 at 9:46 PMI disagree. LBP and Wipeout has good ratings. And if you played minis, you would know that they are pretty popular especially the field runner on phones.
stop your whining. If you want to say games sucks, why not check the reviews and price?? this is why ur article is straight up stupid.
retro
July 18, 2010 at 10:03 PMYou got that right, Live is still a better service until Sony comes out with a much better service than Live.
I would gladly upgrade to my PS3 to Plus if they given me more options… so for I’ve been using my PS3 to just play online games lol other than that.. I got nothing else to do with it… except playing Blu-Ray movies.
Truth is in the pudding...
July 18, 2010 at 10:20 PMAll PS3 Sony exclusive games are running on dedicated servers. Most of the other games excluding EA games are running on peer-to-peer servers.
Spriggers
July 19, 2010 at 12:04 AMHuh? Live has zero dedicated servers offered by MS for online play. They don’t even have any dedicated servers for Gears or Halo. Their biggest 2 franchises. In comparison, Sony generally offers dedicated servers for their bigger franchises. I can agree that Live is the better service in terms of features, but they gimp on having no dedicated servers and offer no content.
BulletProof
July 19, 2010 at 12:16 AMhow can you call live a far superior service when you pay just for the privilege to get online
People need to realize that its Microsoft that need to reinvent their service to catch up with Playstation Plus
having both live and plus you should know that live has nothing more than what the normal free psn includes
additionally if you knew anything about the free “crap” you would know that these free titles are some of the most popular content on the psn along with little big plant one of the biggest and most innovated playstation exclusives
you should research before you write articles where you state things as they were fact
as all PS3 Sony exclusive games are running on dedicated servers all of the other games excluding EA games are running on peer-to-peer servers
yes it may just be getting started “beta” but thats why they give you 3 months free with your purchase of a year so that once they get it started it will rise to be the best service for it core audience the audience that Microsoft has left behind with kinect
Brian S.
July 19, 2010 at 12:37 AMI think its funny, the whole dedicated server thing. If all Xbox games have it, why do I get a faster connection to lobbies on MW2 on PS3 wireless than my bro gets in the same room with Xbox Live? The dedicated servers aren’t helping any.
Your Mom lol
July 19, 2010 at 12:42 AMXbox Live does NOT have dedicated servers.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=246470
If Xbox Live did have dedicated servers, you wouldn’t see articles like that. This is also why you see servers for online games (usually from EA) being shut down. The difference between Xbox Live and PSN is that Microsoft runs the MATCHMAKING servers themselves. On PSN, developers run the matchmaking servers for their own games, not Sony. On either platform, dedicated servers are a choice left up of the developer.
I’d also disagree that the free games are “crap”. I subscribed yesterday and found that Age of Zombies is great, even though I thought it would be crap. Wipeout is a great game as well. It’s getting up there in age, but it’s still great. Fieldrunners is okay. The only game that I’d say is crap is Rally Cross. The rest are not.
And really now, with the extra three months thrown in for a yearly subscription, it comes to $3.33 a month. That’s not bad at all. Age of Zombies for me was easily worth that. Plus I got a few avatars and a some nice dynamic themes, and I’ll get the K&L2 demo a little earlier. A single theme and avatar would have cost me more.
PS+ is kind of a gamble, but odds are that you’ll be able to get $3.33 worth of content you’ll like each month. If one month is a bust, another month could easily make up for it.
Ad
July 19, 2010 at 1:20 AMI have a question here – how does the online play differ on XBL from PSN? Is all XBL online play hosted by MS, or the companies who make the games? Is this different from Sony?
ad-reply
July 19, 2010 at 3:51 AMonline play is relatively no different from XBL to PSN.
how things are hosted are up to developer
yet Sony does run dedicated servers for ps3 exclusives
additionally xbox live vs free psn there are pretty much identical at this point.
except for:
xbox live you cant access netflix/hulu without xbox live gold
ps3 you can access netflix/hulu without plus
playstation has exclusive contract with MLB and xbox has one with ESPN
yet on xbox you spend 50 a year just for the ability to play on line
on playstation you spend 50 a year to support them and there servers and they reward you with free content
with playstation you have the option to support them and still be able to play online
yet with xbox they force you to use there 50 a year service to play online yet they dont reward you with any content besides the exclusive content they secure for xbox yet this content is not given to you
Bumbuliuz
July 19, 2010 at 5:03 AMWhat I think is missing on this list, is the thing that if you stop subscribing you will loose your accsess to your “free” stuff! That is my dealbreaker with PLUS.
LBDz
July 19, 2010 at 12:13 PMAll PS3 Sony exclusive games are running on dedicated servers. YET XBL has zero dedicated servers offered by MS for online play. They don’t even have any dedicated servers for Gears or Halo which is their biggest 2 franchises. Anyway on either platform, dedicated servers are a choice left up to the developers and PSN uses more than XBL.
LBP and Wipeout have GREAT ratings and reviews. In FACT LBP has more online levels than any 360 game on the market to date, and thats now become over 2.4 MILLION levels created online by the game users. I would say that game is a success wouldn’t you.
Age of Zombies is great and well worth playing / Fieldrunners is okay and quite fun and well worth playing / Demolition Derby is really good and well worth it, ALSO all the minis games can be shared and placed onto the PSP, so kids with a PSP can share some of the fun as well.
Avatars and Dynamic Themes are given to PLUS members as well as Map-Packs, like Killzone II that was well worth playing, it brought a new lease of life to the game, and thats without the FULL GAME DEMOS given out to PLUS members, that when you play them you get a choice to buy them at a discounted price with upto 50% off.
How can you call XBL a far superior service when you HAVE TO PAY just for the privilege to get online TO PLAY THE GAME YOU ALREADY BOUGHT. People need to realize that it’s Microsoft that needs to reinvent their XBL service to catch up with PSN and it’s features. Example = GAME SHARING / VIDEO UPLOADING / FULL FACEBOOK / FULL TWITTER / YOUTUBE / ect..
LBDz
July 19, 2010 at 12:31 PM“” What I think is missing on this list, is the thing that if you stop subscribing you will loose your access to your “free” stuff! That is my deal breaker with PLUS.””
Ok i will answer this.
It’s better to have had something than nothing at all.?
With PSN Plus, members can always reactivate their PLUS account to get back ALL the ( as you put it ) FREE content. So it’s not lost, it’s just you need to be a PLUS member to use the content. ( LBP IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT )So in all fairness if members buy a lot from PSN for their kids, or themselves for that matter the PLUS membership will save them money.
With XBL the same thing happens about content being taken away from Gold members turning to Silver memberships. You have to be a GOLD member to play online. If you don’t pay this Fee you CANNOT play ANY BOUGHT CONTENT FROM XBL IF ONLINE IS REQUIRED, example would be MW2 MAP-PACKS, and the chance to play MW2 online.
So where PSN is still FREE TO PLAY ONLINE, all bought content will not be effected, unlike XBL. So XBL is worse than PSN and their PLUS service,.
REAL Gamer
July 21, 2010 at 2:22 PMUtter crap (not PlaystationPlus), but this “review”.
4 games a month, 48 games a year. Pretty much everything on PSN is worth getting, there are very few duds indeed. That’s exceptional value for $50/£40
kelly
July 25, 2010 at 1:14 PMI wouldn’t pay 50 bucks a yr more to sony for some temporary access to games I didn’t even want to play for 5 bucks. For 50 bucks a yr they should give us 100% more game content with options for new and improved game play for the old game we already have or something. There should be sony think tanks working to keep us glued to the controllers and alienating people from our lives. The new games have not impressed me as of late so I have started looking for the older ones that last more than 8 hrs of game play. If the new games had longer game play and better plot lines.. For instance, drake’s uncharted 2: if I wanted to watch 3 hrs of cut scenes I would watch a movie. If I jump toward the edge of a cliff, I should feel as though I barely made it, not that I was suddenly drawn toward the cliff by some unseen force which caused the move to appear unreal, what’s going on in these game creation rooms anyway? I guess I have to go to work for them to find out and correct these un fun games. It sucks to pay 60 bucks for something you’re through playing in a day and don’t want to go back to because you’ll have to watch some cut scenes that you’ve already scene and didn’t care to ever see again. Cut scenes do not equal game play!!!!! GTA4 turned out to be the least convincing graphically as the guy’s moves were slow and uninteresting, I was bored after an hour even though gta3 was my fave game on ps2. Infamous was fun for a couple of days but all I have left is a few tough building jumping missions. Drake’s uncharted is really a great game, just makes ya sweat being targeted constantly. Ok I wanted to rant about that for awhile so now it’s out of my system. So in conclusion, give us some games that seem never ending and can stimulate our senses as well as give us new and interesting memories and perhaps I will pay 50 bucks a yr. for the content. (previous posts stated it was 50 bucks a month and it’s actually 50 bucks a yr. plus 3 mos.) These discounted crap games are not in the least intriguing. Does anyone play the games and say they are fun in these game labs? I cannot picture anyone working a yr to create a game that no one can sit down and play for 5 min and walk away saying it’s fun. Do they just not want to lose their creations? I mean at some pt. there must be a team that plays the content and says “yep this is it!” Are they just tying to keep their jobs? I guess we have to keep buying crap games to find out.
LBDz
August 8, 2010 at 9:00 AM@ Kelly…..
You said…..” For 50 bucks a yr they should give us 100% more game content with options for new and improved game play for the old game we already have or something. “…….. They do give content for old games that also adds improved gameplay, ect………= Map-Packs given from Sony are to keep for life, NOT just while being a PSN+ member……..http://i38.tinypic.com/2z7032s.jpg ……. Thats without all the other Map-pack like Killzone II, or Avatars, the themes, ect………….The games they give you are NOT for life, but only while you are a PSN+ member…….. http://i33.tinypic.com/2hcdb4l.jpg …….. But from those two links i have given alone saves users £11.00, thats without all other content given to PSN+ members…….. Thats far better than what XBL give their Gold Members isn’t it……. But the rest of what your saying about the games, well thats just your opinion, and nothing to do with PSN or XBL…….But what i will say is this………Little Big Planet ( LBP ) was given FREE for users to keep for Life, just for joining the PSN+ membership, and lets face it, that game alone could keep people coming back to it due to having over 2.4 million online user created levels………So not all games are short or a 5 minute wonder like you make out…….
Carolyn Ronnfeldt
November 17, 2010 at 2:07 PMugg boots