Playstation Plus FAQ

Q: What is PlayStation Plus?

A: PlayStation Plus is a subscription service offered to enhance your experience on the already free PlayStation Network. It offers you, the user, exclusive services for added convenience:

• Automatic downloads where select game demos and other content get delivered straight to your PS3 system, so you don’t have to think about it.
• Full game trials which allow you to play up to 60 consecutive minutes of a game. When you purchase the full game (or when you insert the Blu-ray disc of that game), you will get the PSN trophies that you earned during the trial.
• Special discounts on the PlayStation Store and exclusive opportunities like select betas and select early demos.

Our goal is to deliver a valuable enhancement to your gaming experience.

Currently, you can purchase a three-month subscription at $17.99 or an annual subscription at $49.99 with an additional three months free. Subscriptions can be downloaded from the PlayStation Store, or you can purchase PlayStation Network cards at a retailer near you now; dedicated PlayStation Plus cards are coming in October.

Q: How do I use PlayStation Plus?

A: After you purchase your three-month or one-year subscription, your account will be branded as a PlayStation Plus account with a Plus logo next to your PSN ID. There is a PlayStation Plus category in the PlayStation Store where you can see all the offerings available to you at that time, or you can peruse other parts of the PlayStation Store and you will be able to see discounts, exclusive content and games, themes and avatars that are available to you in each category.

Q: What is the PlayStation Plus release schedule?

A: PlayStation Plus has a monthly rotating schedule of content that we post on a bi-weekly basis or, to rephrase, we post new content every other Tuesday. We plan to feature PlayStation.Blog posts the following Wednesday so you will see what’s coming (and what’s being taken down) for the next PlayStation Plus update.

Some content that was posted will be removed from the Plus category but not from the PlayStation Store. As long as you have downloaded the content and are an active PlayStation Plus subscriber, you will be able to re-download your content, even if it is removed from the Plus rotation or if you have deleted the content.

Q: What happens when my PlayStation Plus subscription ends?

A: The content you have downloaded as part of your PlayStation Plus subscription at no charge is only accessible as long as you are an active subscriber. The exceptions are free themes and avatars, which you will continue to have access to, even if you are no longer a subscriber. Anything you have purchased (even if you purchased it at a discount) will remain available to you even if your subscription ends.

Q: My subscription expired, but I renewed it late. Will I get my content back?

A: Yes you will.

Q: What do I currently get with PlayStation Plus?

 A: PlayStation Plus offers a variety of discounts, games and exclusive content. In general, you will have access to at least the following, which rotate monthly:

• 1 PSN game or PSone Classic game
• 2 minis
• A monthly Qore single episode

Currently, there are categories from our partners at Midway and Tik-Creat Games that offer 20% off PSN games and free add-ons.

We will continue to regulaly update PlayStation Plus with XMB themes and avatars, exclusive items, select game demos and additional discounts. We will also offer exclusive opportunities only made available to PlayStation Plus members such as our current Hulu Plus Preview and the discounted two-year PlayStation Protection Plan.

Q: Is Qore included in PlayStation Plus?

A: Yes, the current monthly single episode is included in PlayStation Plus — the same episode found on the PlayStation Store (regular price $2.99 per episode). Annual Qore subscribers still receive their monthly subscription including their additional downloadable content.

Q: What about those exclusive game betas?

A: Betas have limited invites and based on selection criteria not every PlayStation Plus member will get access to every beta; however, we’re working with game developers to make qualified PlayStation Plus members the first to gain access.

Many game betas are done to test certain parts of a game or certain functionality (like previous game add-on integration) so that when the final version of the game launches, it’s the best it can be. Oftentimes, betas are extremely limited as well. We need to ensure that members of Plus meet that individual beta’s requirement to be issued an exclusive invite.

There are two betas for PlayStation Plus members coming up shortly and more details will be announced soon.

Q: Why did X country get this and we didn’t?

A: Different countries have different rights, release schedules and, as many of you know, have different things available in their PlayStation Store for this reason. We are constantly working to align our content globally, but to also ensure that our North American audience gets the content that is available to them as some games are released globally on different schedules.

Q: What about Cross-Game Chat (or other functionality)?

A: We are constantly working on new services and features to enhance your PlayStation experience; however, Cross-Game Chat was not announced as a part of PlayStation Plus’ features. We know that Cross-Game Chat is a functionality our fans are extremely interested in and we are always striving to improve the PlayStation Network experience and services.

Mafia II Banned In the UAE

The National Media Council has banned Mafia II in the United Arab Emirates and the game won’t be officially sold at any retail outlets in the country. A ban was almost expected on this game as its predecessor faced a similar predicament.

No specific reasons have been cited for the ban but the ESRB content descriptors make it fairly self explanatory.

The game is rated 18+ for:

Blood
Intense violence
Nudity
Sexual content
Strong language
Use of drugs and alcohol

Mafia II joins the fairly large list of games to receive the ban hammer this year. Others on the list include God of War 3, Dragon Age 2, Mass Effect 2 and Heavy Rain.

Apple vs. Sony and Nintendo: The Smack-Talk Continues

It was all fun and games when Apple slung mud at Sony and Nintendo during last year’s iPod press event, but this year’s smear was just nasty, and not entirely accurate.

Before Steve Jobs introduced the new iPod Touch, he immediately started bragging about the device’s gaming dominance. He claimed that the iPod Touch accounts for half of the portable gaming market, with more sales than and outsells Sony and Nintendo’s handhelds combined.

A claim like that needs a bunch of asterisks. As I pointed out a year ago, fighting a console war means manipulating statistics to your favor, and Apple is guilty once again.

Maybe the iPod Touch outsold its rivals recently — Apple sold 9.4 million iPods (all models, not just the Touch) last quarter, compared to 3.15 million Nintendo DS sales and 1.2 million PSP sales. But the Nintendo DS alone has shipped well over 100 million units , and the PSP topped 50 million sales in February 2009, compared to 120 million iOS devices shipped to date, by Jobs’ own admission. Lifetime iPod Touch sales are not even close to the PSP and Nintendo DS.

That’s not to say Apple doesn’t deserve to talk a big game. The company is hitting a stride now, with next week’s launch of Game Center, a set of cross-game social features that the Nintendo DS and PSP lack. Also, the new iPod Touch will have a gyroscope and the same A4 processor as the iPhone 4, for faster and more accurate gaming. Towards the start of today’s press event, Apple even brought out some people from Epic Games, who showed off a 3D sword-fighting RPG. Indeed, it’s getting harder for Sony and Nintendo to argue that iOS games are insubstantial distractions.

All of which makes me wish Apple didn’t distort reality when slamming Sony and Nintendo. The iPod Touch, and iOS, have momentum and forward-thinking features on their side. There’s no need to mislead the people who watched Apple’s press conference but weren’t inclined to fact-check Steve Jobs.

PlayStation Move Review

closeAuthor: Anthony Severino Name: Anthony Severino
Email: sev1512@playstationlifestyle.net
Site: http://twitter.com/sev_pslsAbout: Editor-in-ChiefSee Authors Posts (1253)

When the PlayStation Move was first debuted on stage during Sony’s 2009 E3 press conference by Dr. Richard Marks, it was easy to see that the device had potential. On the other hand, the prospect of a motion controller scared a large portion of the hardcore crowd that makes up the PS3 fan-base. To many, the Wii and it’s accessible motion controller is synonymous with casual gaming, and even more so, low budget titles with very little content. This fact struck fear into the hearts of many PS3 owners that have been stereotyping motion controllers as the anti-hardcore device. However, after more information trickled out it was clear that Sony was intent on not letting that happen, asserting that the Move would appeal to both the casual and the core games that have given face to the PS3 since it’s inception.

At the 2010 Game Developer’s Conference, the PlayStation Move was officially named and a final controller design was shown. Along with that was the first glimpse at the software that will accompany the launch and aftershock of Move in September. Although there was SOCOM 4, which is considered one of the most hardcore games on any console, the rest of the software shown was geared toward a more family-friendly fare. Despite the lack of hardcore titles, it was obvious that the PlayStation Move’s precision would translate into much deeper gameplay experience than what was previously seen in the motion controller market.

Since the PlayStation Move has been detailed, Sony (more specifically the PlayStation Blog) has hosted quite a few Move-focused events which has allowed average gamers to get hands-on time with the device. The general consensus echoed by the press and their hands-on time with the controller at both GDC and E3 2010 has all been consistent – the PlayStation Move is by far the most accurate motion controller on the market. 

The PlayStation Move’s unique design features include a glowing orb and an intelligent camera which when coupled together allow for surreal experiences in the gaming world.

Now, with less than a month away from the PlayStation Move’s launch, we’ve got our hands on a pair of Move controllers and the demo disc included in the PlayStation Move Starter Bundle. We’ve thoroughly tested the controller which is set to release September 19th in North America and the 17th in Europe and we feel we’re ready to tell you what the experience is like and whether or not all the hype has been worth it.

The PlayStation Move set up was extremely easy. Plug-in the PlayStation Eye to a free USB port, press the PS button on the PlayStation Move and it will work right out of the box. The PlayStation Move isn’t just an add-on meant to be foreshadowed by the Dualshock 3. No. It’s going to be a standard for the PS3 moving forward. Not only is it able to play Move-enable software, but it can also navigate the XMB by squeezing the T (trigger) button to grab and drag through the icons. The PlayStation Move features most of what a Dualshock 3 features – all 4 face buttons: square, triangle, X, circle surround the Move button in the center of the controller. There’s the aforementioned T trigger button and there’s both a select and start button on either side of the controller. Holding the select button in most of the games we’ve played, instantly prompted you to recalibrate the Move controller with the PS Eye. The part of the controller’s design that is of most significance is the glowing orb on the end of the controller. This orb is used to track the controller’s exact position via the PS Eye. The end result is 1:1 precision and a flawless translation of movement into on-screen actions.

The controller acts and reacts with unprecedented accuracy and can be applied to nearly endless applications within games. We’ve seen it do everything from simple pointer-based actions, to moving around in a completely 3D plane taking on the appearance of any object developers can dream up. Using it as a pointer you can easily see how it could be effectively used in a first or third person shooter taking the role of the aiming reticule. We’ve even seen it’s movement translated into a camera and flashlight functionality, or using the trigger button it can replicate a human hand. Basically, the PlayStation Move can do pretty much anything – it’s all up to the creative minds at development studios across the globe to come up with new and exciting ways to use the controller. Think of the Move controller as the paintbrush to an artist’s canvas.

The Move itself is sleek and ergonomic. It has a slight curvature to it that allows for better gripping and a more realistic sensation pertaining to everyday objects; almost feeling like a handle to various tools one would use in normal everyday life. It’s also surprisingly light, which will lead to less fatigue during particularly long and intense gaming sessions. As we’ve learned from the Nintendo Wii and various YouTube videos of smashed LCD screens, the PlayStation Move comes with a wrist strap attached and it’s best you use it. I know it’s odd to be impressed by a wrist-strap, but even it demonstrates the extra touch of sophistication Sony is known for, featuring a PlayStation logo embossed locking mechanism allowing for speedy, on-the-fly adjustments of the strap.

The controller even features feedback functionality, not only in the form of built-in rumble vibration, but by the LED color changing inside the glowing orb. Taking damage emits a red LED glow. In Kung-Fu riders, each different movement has a different color effect, such as turning yellow for jumping. We also witnessed at a previous Move demonstration with PlayStation R&D’s Anton Mikhailov the Move being “dipped” into a color palette and dragged across, all while the orb changed color, mirroring the color being touched in the palette. This color changing also helps the Move stay accurate. In a room where you have bright blue walls? The PlayStation Eye senses the color and tells the Move’s orb to display a clashing color so it’s more easily recognizable. This is amazing stuff.

Whether you’re interested in motion controls on the PS3 or not, the PlayStation Move is here to stay. It’s going to become a staple addition to the PlayStation 3’s line-up and both casual and hardcore gamers are going to be better off because of it. Though, casuals are sure to benefit the most from the initial software offering, Sony has promised again and again that the hardcore will not be left out. With games like SOCOM 4 and Killzone 3 supporting it, we aren’t at all doubting their commitment to backing up those claims. When you finally do pick up a PlayStation Move you’ll realize a few things: this isn’t just another motion controller, it’s precision is unmatched, it’s going to open up a host of new game experiences, and it’s going to revolutionize the PlayStation 3 experience moving forward.

Xbox LIVE – why should we pay for online gaming?

Get ready to pay more for multiplayer gaming on your Xbox 360. Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE has been hailed by some as the pinnacle of online console gaming, but should we really have to pay to play online?

 

You’ve just splurged 200 quid on an Xbox 360 and spent another pretty penny on a bunch of multiplayer games. But when you want to take Halo ODST or Gears of War 2 for a spin online, you’re met with a charge.

You’ve already bought the console, the games and pay a monthly fee for your broadband, so why should you have to pay a subscription to Microsoft for all of the Xbox 360′s online gubbins?

The issue has been around for years, but yesterday Microsoft announced an Xbox LIVE price hike. From 1 November, a one-month’s subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold will cost £5.99 instead of £4.99 in the UK. Unlike in the US, which will now cost an extra $10 a year, there’ll be no change to the UK’s yearly cost of £39.99.

 

Is Xbox LIVE still the best?

Xbox LIVE has been around for eight years, debuting on the original Xbox and later expanding onto the 360 in 2005. Most would agree that it revolutionised console gaming for good, putting online services right at the centre and forcing other gaming companies, like Sony and Nintendo, to push their own online offerings.

Sure, Microsoft’s service has long been ahead of the pack, but the gap between its competitors is closing. Sony offers its PlayStation Network to PlayStation 3 gamers for free – and with additions like trophies and cross-game text chat, Microsoft’s justification to charge is becoming very taut.

Of course, people will pay, because what other option do they have? But does it really offer value for money? Should you really have to pay to play a game you’ve already bought?

 

Shouldn’t online gaming be free?

I don’t really have much issue with paying for premium extras, but coughing up for online gaming itself seems like a cost too far. Especially when the service is still plastered with ads even when you do pay. You don’t get that with your BBC licence.

Sure, Microsoft has server costs to pay (not for the games themselves – most are peer-to-peer) but Sony gets by without charging (its new PlayStation Plus service still offers free online gaming) and PC gamers don’t have to pay either.

Why can’t online gaming be built into the cost of the game itself? Of course, you can buy your subscriptions when they’re on sale – but it’s the principle that counts. It’s a tax on gaming that you almost feel obliged to pay.

It’s also my view that if we didn’t have to pay for the service itself, we’d feel much happier to spend our cash on extras we actually want. At least, I know I would.

Stores Breaking Street Date for Halo Reach Already

 

When it comes to Halo games, fans are going crazy when it comes to stores selling it early. With Halo Reach coming in just a couple of weeks, it seems that some retailers are already breaking the embargo.

According to our anonymous tipster, an unnamed retailer is starting to sell Halo Reach. It is not clear as to what retailer is selling it. To someone that sent us this picture, we hope you don’t play it yet online as Microsoft will surely ban you for playing a pre-release. It doesn’t matter if you get it legit at a retail store.

Halo Reach is expected to release this September 14th. Check back with us at the day of release for our EXCLUSIVE coverage.

Rumor: More Retail PS3 Games To Hit Playstation Store Soon

When Sony launched PlayStation Plus, they released the service with Sony published retail PS3 title, inFamous. Allowing PlayStation Plus subscribers access to a 60-minute demo of the full game, it was a feature like no other before it. Since then, no other retail PS3 games have been released, and not many were released prior, though EA did release Burnout: Paradise on PSN and Sony had released Warhawk. It looks like Sony will be making more retail games available on PSN and it'll be very, very soon.

When asked if more retail games will arrive on PSN, Sony's Jeff Rubenstein replied with: "Stay tuned for the next PS Plus Update!" The wait to see which title it'll be will be over fairly soon, but it's encouraging to see Sony sticking with the plan by offer more retail games over PSN and giving PS Plus subscribers some bang for their buck.

If you had to pick, which title would have Sony add to the PlayStation Store next?