Topic: The Value of PSN+

@cheezy... trust me you don't want it. Its ancient.

I'm not paying for hulu either. Netflix is great and I'm happy with it. Also you can hook your laptop to your tv and watch hulu easily.

@jk... only disagreement i have is that ps3 was really high because of bluray. Trust me i still didn't buy it for years either

PSN+ is pretty much a huge demo of stuff you can buy and stuff you can keep as long as you subscribe, altho im sure most would agree the added background download is a bit of a cheek should be available to all ps3 owners from the off. considering the awful wait some have to sit thru everytime you get a new update.

Added background download? It already does that on the PSN and PS1 games I've taken off there since I got it.

[quote=J.K.]Added background download? It already does that on the PSN and PS1 games I've taken off there since I got it.

[/quote]

No, if your a PSN+ and major updates, game updates, etc come up, instead of when you go to play the game you get stuck with an update you have to wait for, now the system will come on at your specified time and update itself so you never get stuck anymore..... really should be available to ALL users imo.

Oh is that what you meant...setting the clock like a Windows Task Scheduler event. Now that could save someone a headache already if they jump in not before your appointed time of check/download you set in. I agree, anyone should have access to that as it's just kind of rude going PLUS with that feature as if PLUS didn't exist it would be a standard firmware update -- count on it.

You can probably expect that to happen a lot going forward, J.K. Added features that COULD have been regular PSN going to PS+ just because they can. There's already good credibility to the idea that PS+ will be in some way necessary for cross-game chat, for example. No telling how far they could go with that if they really wanted to. But as long as they don't remove regular features to tack onto PS+, they aren't actually breaking any promises; just being what some would consider dirty.

I hope those of you with PSN+ have given Rally Cross a chance. It's one of the best and most underrated PS1 racers I have played. I played that game countless hours when I was younger lol.

Hmm, I wonder, what is the take on the PSN+ business, how many people have signed up vs total users that actually use PSN. I hope for subscribers sakes that if its not successful enough that they at least allow you to keep your free games if they cancel the service vs what I think Sony would actually do.

@brooks83: Having attempted to play it, I can gurantee you that your love of the game is 100% pure nostalgia at this point. There is NOTHING in that game to appeal to newcomers whatsoever.

@brooks.... yep I did and much like you I played it a good bit back in the PSone days. Thing is as a big racing fan, its one genre that has aged horribly. Even if you go back to PS2/N64 days, games outside of slower paced kart racers only get better and better with the new consoles. Going back to Rally Cross will remind you of this. There is a bit of fun to be had if you can handle it, but its all pure nostalgia.

The following information is not for those who are truly happy with PSN+ service. I'm not knocking it and good for you guys.

Anyways, good news to the unhappy PSN+ users out there! I was browsing PlayStation Blog and apparently people that are unhappy with what PSN+ is offering are canceling their subscriptions by phone for a full refund. Quite a few people are unhappy that it already appears to have become just another Qore where they only give you free avatars and themes, only 3 weeks in, that was fast! Anyways, I'm sure PSN+ will be better than what many think as the worst case scenario, but in case you changed your mind and don't feel Sony will take it seriously, which is justifiable in certain regions, you can now back out and get your money back. You'll most likely get to keep whatever discounted purchases you've made without having to pay extra.

With the release of DeathSpank last week, its occurred to many that a discount on a new title would be great for PSN+ users, but its not very likely to happen until sales have slowed. Many feel that this means they either need to pay full price for new releases like everyone else or wait and hope it'll eventually show up discounted for PSN+ users. They could remedy this and take a note from Nintendo(Wii Browser) and simply refund/credit the difference for people that purchase a game at full price if it goes on sale on PSN+ during their term, but yea, that makes sense and its Sony, so don't count on it. =]

@syko... you mean the while one time Nintendo discounted something? Lol. Sony discounts stuff way too much to give money back. Nintendo fans have been screaming for wiiware sales like psn/ live. Cool Sony is letting people out though.

It's not fair to pass judgement on the content that's being released for PS+ on random mid-month weeks; the actual GAMES are only supposed to be coming once a month anyway! Matter of fact, they never said they were going to be doing weekly releases at all, so I consider that stuff extra.

I think they're probably doing the refunds because the announcement of the service made it sound like there would be a free three-month trial period as opposed to three free months when you buy a year. Even so, it's VERY unlike Sony to acknowledge a percieved problem in this way (or at all, really), so I'm impressed. With Sony, not with the people who actually think it's a crappy deal.

@Stuff... well said and I agree completely. I dont see how it could be a bad deal. Its exactly what it was said to be. Ive enjoyed my subscription very much, and I keep seeing more and more on my friends list get that little + sign. Well except the Free 3 months, I thought it was a trial as well.

New Totals:
MAG Dynamic Themes x3 @2.99 a piece =8.97

PSN+ Total: 64.84
Total:

Hey, just letting people know that they can cancel. Looking from the outside, I feel PSN+ is a pretty bad deal personally, but in case anyone has paid for it already and regrets it, they should be informed of an option for a way out and make the decision for themselves. As I said, my last post was for those unhappy with the service so far.

@Stuffgamer1: It is fair to judge actually because people are paying for the service and these first 4 months should be the best offerings from Sony. How do I figure you ask? Assuming Sony works logically, which they aren't exactly known to do, the 3 month sign-up and the free 3 months with the year sub have a lot of people that are on the fence checking out the offerings before committing. Once that 5th month shows up and people are already locked in and can't cancel, they can then release crap for the rest of the year like they did with Qore. I agree with you that it is impressive that Sony is allowing people to ditch PSN+ if you complain to them, but its not explicitly stated anywhere, so that's why I'm mentioning it.

@slapshot82: Although Nintendo doesn't have sales for their digital services, they've went out of their way to refund their customers for the browser purchase, and they weren't required to. Yes, it was a one time thing, and I know its not in MS and Sony's best interest to do so for all their customers, but I think it'd be a good thing to adopt for PSN+ customers, even though I'm not one, it'd definitely be a good incentive since you don't know when or if they'll actually discount games for PSN+ such as DeathSpank, which is awesome btw, and doesn't discourage PSN+ users from picking up new purchases too. =]

@sykotek.... actually I have to completely disagree with you. PSN is run much like a video game game retail store, offering weekely sales and promotions. Why should they give you your money back for buying new and not waiting for it to go on sale? If its something you have to have day one, you will pay more for it, just like a regular retail release. Why should you pay the same release price 4 years after the game releases just because its a Digital Download? Your not going to in a retail store. That is unless its a Nintendo First Party Game then you will just about always pay full price as there retail games AND digital downloads hardly ever become cheaper for the gamers.

As for PSN+ you pay for the 1yr subscription and then you get 3 months Free Trial and you do indeed have to option to back out and keep all your Themes and Avatars, etc. Its not a call and complain, you simply have the option hence the Free Trial additon to it

As for a longtime Sony fan (longer Nintendo of course) Ive been using PSN since it was in its beginnings with Everday Shooter, PAIN, etc. PSN+ has lived up to exactly what it said it would be. You have to buy it as its completely optional and for anyone dropping the money without research... that is their own fault. Making guesses about the future of it is just that, guesses. Me and Stuff both have already gotten our money and more back in less than a month of service. That isnt counting we still have 14 months of service. Never will there be a service that fits everyone. I just dont see any other service out there that even compares to what PSN+ is doing.

@sykotek: No, I meant you can't pass judgement based on the second and third weeks not having anything good. The first week of the month is the one that's supposed to have the games, generally (I still have no idea why Fieldrunners was held back). The service hasn't suddenly become nothing but avatars and themes as you say, it's just adding those as EXTRA stuff while we wait for next month's games.

@slapshot82: I said the refund/credit would be a good thing to adopt for "PSN+" customers not everyone who buys content on PSN since they're paying a premium to provide them with a refund or credit on something they purchased during their subscription period(3 month/15 month term) and it went on sale. I think that would be a benefit for PSN+ customers. That doesn't even apply to people like me since I don't pay for PSN+, but the way it currently is potentially punishes paying customers when purchasing new releases and rewards late adopters, that is a backwards way of business. I've managed a few game retail stores, you can't compare that to a digital store, but if you wanna know how the business side of it is, game retail wants to garner the most profit period(hence used/trade) and clear out the junk for more profitable merch(hence sales). Digital is a different beast, its most profitable at the beginning and becomes significantly less profitable as market saturation occurs. A guarantee of this sort would realistically not cost Sony much if planned price drops occur correctly, but would be helpful for people that bought an item at full price a week before it went on sale along with giving you and Stuff actual reason to praise Sony for giving the impression of customers 1st as well as being good business.

@Stuffgamer1: Don't shoot the messenger, I'm saying that PSN+ users who are unhappy are saying its become Qore pt.2, I'm not saying it since I don't subscribe to PSN+. You can join the lynch mob against people who are bailing on PSN+ here.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/07/20/playstation-store-u...

Anyways, I get tired of posting and clarifying the same things to you two. The cancellation info wasn't meant for you guys anyways. By all means, continue to enjoy your subscription. Laters.

@sykotek... i didn't realize you meant for psn+ only. actually i so agree there. Seeing as I've bought lots of psn games. If the free download come Tuesday i already own then it would be really nice to get a credit to get something else. I have a feeling many times this will happen and that sucks but i knew that from the day i got the service. Ill still get the psone and minis, betas and demos.

Oh my ps3 auto downloaded the psn+ exclusive demo. Kinda cool actually.

Oh... i was thinking about it and i kinda expect to see MAG to end up being a fee full download title for all PSN+ members. Haven't heard it anywhere it would be a huge draw to the service.