The SCEA CEO also shed some light on how users will set up their PlayStation Network Platform accounts. "From day one as you take the PlayStation 3 out of the box and you're connected to the Internet you're able to first and foremost do the important things like registering your ID and picking your online name," he said.
Hirai continued: "After that as you enter the online world, we're talking about the ability obviously to play online games--games with people across town, across the country, and sometimes across the world. That also means taking advantage of the rankings of the game, taking advantage of the lobbies for the game, and finding other people who want to play the same game."
Hirai also outlined how the console will be able to download non-game content. He promised PS3 owners would have the ability to download "a variety of other content in the digital space, for example music, and/or video material--all of those things we'll make available basically free of charge to consumers," he said. However, the then said premium content will be sold via "microtransactions--so the downloading might be free, or in some cases, that will be for a fee."
Hirai went on to re-emphasize the PS3's video and audio chat capabilities would essentially be gratis. "We'd like to make sure that some of the basic community and communication functions is done for no charge at all," he promised.
Perhaps most importantly, Hirai said that, despite the fact it was not shown off at TGS, the PlayStation Network Platform will be online from "day one" of the PS3's launch in every territory. "Most if not all of the functions I've talked about will be available day one to the consumers as they first take the PlayStation 3 out of the box." ...
