Sony: Kings of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

http://kotaku.com/5177036/publishers-unhappy-with-playstation-network-bandwidth-fees

I'm not amazed that they shoot themselves in the foot like this. I'm totally amazed at how fast they reload though.

Edit to add quote:

Quote:

The According to MTV Multiplayer, the PlayStation Network Bandwidth Fee Sony charges for content downloads could have publishers thinking twice about what downloadable content they offer on the PlayStation 3.

The PlayStation Network Bandwidth Fee, instituted on October 1st of last year, charges game publishers 16 cents per gigabyte of free and paid content download via the PlayStation Network, which presumably helps Sony cover the cost of the bandwidth. The fee only covers the first 60 days of downloads for free content, while paid content accrues fees until the content is removed from the service.

While 16 cents may not sound like much, as MTV Multiplayer points out, a one gigabyte demo downloaded one million times equals an additional $160,000 a publisher has to pay Sony, on top of licensing fees to get their games on the PlayStation 3 in the first place. Needless to say, publishers aren't too happy about the fee.

Quote:

It definitely makes us think about how we view the distribution of content related to our games when it is free for us to do it on the web, on Xbox Live, or any other way - including broadcast - than on Sony's platform," one publishing source said. "It's a new thing we have to budget. It's not cool. It sucks.

The whole story has been uncovered by the folks over at MTV Multiplayer, whose request for comment from Sony on the policy were declined, garnering only an assurance from Sony Computer Entertainment America spokesman Patrick Seybold that the quality of content on the PlayStation Network wouldn't be affected.

Quote:

Of course we work closely with (publishers) to bring their amazing content to our growing audience, and we are focused on ensuring we, and our publishing partners, have a viable platform for digital distribution. We foresee no change in the high quality or quantity of demos and games available on PSN.

So is this the cost of the PlayStation 3 maintaining free online as opposed to the Xbox 360's subscription fees, or a result of Sony's overall financial problems? As of right now there's no way to tell. All we can do, as MTV Multiplayer suggests, is keep an eye on what DLC shows up on the PlayStation Network, and hope publishers don't start holding things back in response to the unpopular new policy.

TheVision · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 18:07

Am I right in working out that the £40 we pay for live, equates to 250 gig worth of downloads if each 1 gig download cost 16p?

So.. to get our "Sony's money worth" out of live.. we'll all have to download 250 gig a year!

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

TheVision wrote:

Am I right in working out that the £40 we pay for live, equates to 250 gig worth of downloads if each 1 gig download cost 16p?

They're charging the devs, mind -- not the users.

TheVision · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 18:13

I understand that bit, but didn't really come across like I did in my post... I was thinking hypothectically I guess and imagining if it cost us 16p a gig rather than the developers.

Just making sure we get our moneys worth out of live... Which I do with Street Fighter 4 alone.

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10206

Quote:

an assurance from Sony Computer Entertainment America spokesman Patrick Seybold that the quality of content on the PlayStation Network wouldn't be affected.

Heh. Way to avoid the issue, dufus.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 18:56

So that's how Sony make their money back on their online service then. I think I'd rather pay £40 on Xbox Live and get some decent content.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

So now sony are fucking up to the extent that they are making paying for live seem good.

Wow.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11916

Quote:

an assurance from Sony Computer Entertainment America spokesman Patrick Seybold that the quality of content on the PlayStation Network wouldn't be affected.

Actually, I think it would be considerably affected. It is more likely that developers will hide content on discs for unlocking if they are going to be charged. Therefore the development time will be significantly reduced, affecting the quality of the product.

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10206

If it's on the disc, it's not on PSN. Some people will try harder, some will whack it on the disc instead, some won't try as hard; the result is the average stays the same, meaning Mr Evasive Spokesperson isn't lying.

Until there's nothing being put on PSN, anyway.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 21:05

The amount of demos etc is alreay poor on PSN, and is in part responsible for my not buying anything for the ps3.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11916

BikNorton wrote:

If it's on the disc, it's not on PSN. Some people will try harder, some will whack it on the disc instead, some won't try as hard; the result is the average stays the same, meaning Mr Evasive Spokesperson isn't lying.

Until there's nothing being put on PSN, anyway.

That is my point, instead of having an extra x month's dev time for the dlc, they will either a)not bother, or b) put it on the disc as a dlc unlockable so you pay to unlock the content (I don't have a PS3, I assume they do this like the 360?) like on soul calibur, etc.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 23:27

TheVision wrote:

So.. to get our "Sony's money worth" out of live.. we'll all have to download 250 gig a year!

Including demos, acrade games and online multiplayer, I'd imagine you'd do that easily.

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Sony: Kings of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

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