PLAYSTATION NETWORK

'PlayStation Network' is Sony's free online service provided for use with their PlayStation 3 video game console.^[1]

Contents

User registration

Services

PlayStation Store

Content

Currency

PlayStation Network Card

Interface

Multitasking

PlayStation Home

Features

See Also

References

External links

User registration

Registration is performed via the PS3 console. Two types of accounts can be created, master accounts and sub accounts. The master account, as the name suggests, allows full access to all settings including parental control. Sub accounts can subsequently be created with desired restrictions set and monitored by the master account holder.^[2]
The console has been launched in all areas as of March 23, 2007. Some sites speculated that potential PS3 customers from outside of Japan and the US would be able to pre-register their favorite user names online at the PlayStation Store.^[3] This proved to be true, as European gamers were able to register prior to the March 23 release using their PC, giving the added benefit of being able to quickly pre-register their details and more importantly, secure their chosen username.^[4]

Services

On May 15, 2006, at the PlayStation Business Conference, Sony confirmed that they are preparing for an online service tentatively named ''PlayStation Network Platform'' with free online play. Sony also announced some new features at their TGS 2006 conference.
The full list of planned services for the PlayStation Network Platform is as follows.¹
;Communication/Community

★ Account created through user registration

★ Lobbies/Matchmaking

★ Scores/Ranking

★ Game data upload/download

★ Presence/Friend List/Avatar (Gamers may also choose to use their own individual friends list)

★ Voice/Video Chat

★ Messaging

★ Free Internet Access

★ PlayStation Home
;Account

★ User Registration

★ Single Login ID/Handlename issue
;Commerce

★ PlayStation Store

PlayStation Store

'PlayStation Store' is a virtual market that allows game demos, trailers, and games to be purchased on the PlayStation 3. The store can only be accessed via the PlayStation 3 XMB under the "Network" category. A PlayStation Network (PSN) account is required to access the store.

Content

The PlayStation Store contains downloadable content for the PlayStation 3 as well as the PlayStation Portable (PSP), which is regularly updated every Thursday evening (in North America) and every Wednesday afternoon for EU and Japan.
This includes:

★ Downloadable PlayStation Network games and game demos (demos of PSN games and PS3 games), which can be launched from the HDD of the PlayStation 3. All game demos are free.

★ Trailers for upcoming movies and Blu-ray Disc movies, all of which are free.

★ Game videos (behind the scenes, interviews, etc) and trailers. All are free.

★ Add-on game content.

★ Emulated games of the original PlayStation, which can be played and downloaded to either the PlayStation 3 or the PSP with firmware version 3.00 or higher.

★ Music videos from Sony BMG artists (Australia only) ^[5]

★ Content can be viewed on the Official PlayStation Store Site.
It has also been recently rumoured that PlayStation Network users will be able to access Video-On-Demand services and possible Freeview before Christmas. An announcement is expected in Leipzig, Germany, between the 23rd and 26th August. No Official confirmation has been made as of yet.

Currency

The PlayStation Store uses local currency to purchase content. For example, one with a US PSN account would buy content in USD or one in Japan would use Yen, etc. This is unlike the Xbox Live Marketplace, which uses Microsoft Points, or the Wii Shop Channel, which uses Wii Points. Money can be added to the "wallet" via credit card, pre-paid credit card, or Playstation Network Card. (See below)

PlayStation Network Card

Credit cards and electronic money (via the Edy system) are currently the only ways PlayStation 3 owners in Japan can purchase content through the Japanese PlayStation Store, but on May 8 2007 Sony Computer Entertainment announced PlayStation Network Cards, a form of electronic money that can be used with the Store. PlayStation Network Cards, set to be available in units of 1,000, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen, can be purchased at convenience stores throughout Japan. Each card contains a 12 digit code which can be input to the PlayStation Network to place credits in the virtual wallet.
The cards will be available through electronic kiosks at 26,000 convenience stores, including Lawson, Family Mart, Daily Yamazaki, Ministop and Sunkus. There will also be 26,000 post office ATM machines for use to pay for the cards, although registeration is required first via a special mobile website.
This system is a bit different from the card systems that Microsoft and Nintendo use for their virtual shops. Wii and Xbox Live point cards are available for purchase at standard retailers throughout Japan. Sony has announce PlayStation Network Cards^[6] to be released at the end of August 2007 in Taiwan and Hong Kong, standard card retailing at NTD 800^[7] and HKD 200, along with Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection special edition cards valuing at, NTD 150, 250, 400.^[8]

Interface

The store has an interface based on the PlayStation 3's web browser. Which includes a mouse-like cursor and you must "click" on the links to the downloadable content. While the store is in High Definition, you are able to see a top downloads list, and new releases on the right side, which is sometimes replaced with links to feature downloads in the store. You are also able to view 10 links to content in HD. However, in Standard Definition, due to the 4:3 aspect ratio, it is only able to display 3 direct links to downloadable content, and the "new releases/most downloaded games side bar" is missing.

Multitasking

As of March 22 2007, background downloading became possible while watching a video stored on the HDD, listening to music, looking at photos, using the web browser and playing PS1 or offline PS3 games.^[9] Officially 6 downloads can be queued up at a time. However, it is technically possible to have more than 6. The status of the downloads can only be checked on the XMB under the "Network" category. It is currently not possible to check the status while playing a game. However, a pop-up message will appear in the top right corner of the screen to notify the user that a download is finished.

PlayStation Home

Main articles: PlayStation Home

'PlayStation Home' is a community based service for the PlayStation Network which will become freely available when it launches in late 2007. Home allows users to create an avatar character for their PlayStation 3 console. This avatar will get their own house, which can be decorated with items players can receive in several achievements. Also included in the online virtual world is the ability to meet other PS3 users, interact, play games, show friends different types of media saved on the PS3 hard drive, and much more. In the future home will also expand, allowing players to have more items such as clothing, luxury housing, household items, which can be purchased via PlayStation Store.

Features

★ All of the online services, from sign-up right through to voice and video chat, are free, as is normal multiplayer gaming. The only thing not free is paid-for downloadable content and subscriptions to premium services, such as massively multiplayer online games.

★ The PlayStation 3 has a fully functional web browser, developed internally by Sony. Much like the PSP browser, the PS3 browser also supports bookmarks and most other standard features found in modern web browsers. Its support of JavaScript is limited.

See Also

★ Microsoft Points

★ Wii Points

References

1.
2. Sony PLAYSTATION®3 System Software Online User's Guide
3. Three Speech semi-official Sony PLAYSTATION®3 blog site
4. Sony European Customer Registration
5. Australian PlayStation Network to trial free music video downloads
6. PlayStation Network Cards
7. PlayStation Network Cards Stardard in Taiwan
8. PlayStation Network Cards Tekken 5 DR special edition release in Taiwan
9.

External links

★ GameTrailers With "E3 2K6 PS3 Network" Video

★ Official Home Beta website

★ PlayStation Home @ JoyStiq

★ PS3Tag.com (PS3/PSN Gamercards)

★ PS3Tags.com (Completely customizable PSN Gamercards)