PSN Now also on PC, adds PSP support

[Arwin]

Look at that ...

Sony Computer Entertainment America Unveils PLAYSTATION Store for the PC, Expanding PLAYSTATION Network Online Entertainment to PSP (PlayStation Portable) Users

PLAYSTATION Store for the PC Marks Evolutionary Step in PLAYSTATION Network, Providing Access for PSP Users Via the Internet

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today unveiled PlayStation Store for the PC in North America, enabling PSP (PlayStation Portable) users to access PlayStation Network games, video content and services over the Internet through a personal computer at http://store.PlayStation.com/. This new free service allows users to establish a PlayStation Network account, download free content or purchase content directly from the PlayStation Store for the PC to their PSP without the use of PlayStation 3 (PS3).

Through the PlayStation Store for the PC, PSP users can now download classic PlayStation game titles as well as all-new PSP titles only available from the PlayStation Store. Available immediately, full-game downloadable content exclusively available on PlayStation Store for the PC include titles such as Syphon Filter: Combat Ops. Users can also download existing PSP games such as Gangs of London and WipEout Pure, as well PS one classic titles including favorites such as JetMoto and Crash Bandicoot. In addition, trailers for forthcoming titles, add-on game items, promotional videos and themes for PSP that allow users to customize their PSP menu color, background and icons of XMB (XrossMediaBar) will be available through the PlayStation Store for the PC.

Through PlayStation Store for the PC web site, PSP users will be able to establish and use their PlayStation Network accounts and "virtual wallets" for PlayStation Network, providing a seamless online commerce experience on both PS3 and the PC. In addition, users who already have a PlayStation Network account can use their existing username and password to log in to the PLATSTATION Store for the PC.

"The library of innovative, downloadable games, videos and entertainment content available through the PlayStation Store provides a new way for PSP owners to get content and demonstrates the continued evolution of PlayStation Network," said Peter Dille, senior vice-president, marketing and PlayStation Network, SCEA. "PlayStation Store for the PC will give the millions of PSP users who do not yet own a PS3 access to PlayStation Network, and enhance the online entertainment experience for users who own both a PSP and PS3 whether they are at home or on the road."

Exclusive PlayStation Store tiles for PSP
Check out the exclusive PSP games from the PlayStation Store including Syphon Filter: Combat Ops (US$9.99), the latest addition to the Syphon Filter franchise.

Play PSP UMD games
Play some of your favorite PSP games without the UMD (Universal Media Disc), exclusively available from the PlayStation Store, including WipEout Pure, an adrenaline-filled racing action game, and Gangs of London, part of the hit franchise The Getaway.

Classic PS one games for PSP
Now you can bring your favorite PS one games, from the original Crash Bandicoot(R) to Hot Shots Golf(R) 2, on your PSP by simply downloading them directly to your PSP from PlayStation Store. It has never been easier than now to play your favorite games across all PlayStation platforms.

Download free PSP playable demos and trailers
Download the latest PSP demos from PlayStation Store for the PC including the anti-terrorist thriller, Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike, the latest addition to the popular SOCOM gaming franchise. At no cost, you can check out the latest PSP games today before you decide to buy them tomorrow. Check out exclusive previews of upcoming games for PSP including game trailers for exclusive PlayStation Store titles such as Beats, an enthralling rhythm action game based on the PSP owner's music collection.

Doesn't seem to work yet here in the Netherlands, but apparently you can also see your PS3 download history and everything. Just log in with your PSN details ... (that already works for me at least)

 

[infinity4]

What? You can download PSP retail games as well?

 

[patsu]

T_T

Haven't read the details yet. But yes, Sony... please break the game console mold many seem to held so rigidly in their mind. Till this days (and after taking some hints from Sony's "constipated" moves -- for the lack of a better word), I believe many more interesting models and features are possible once Sony connect all the dots together.


EDIT: Ok, I checked out the store. Some random comments:

* It shares the same user database as the PS3 one, which is good and expected.

* The categorization need some rework (same as PS3 version):

+ Featured Items : Should not be a laundry list of misc. items. They should give more space to the icons so that it's less cluttered. There doesn't seem to be any organization/structure to the list. I can't tell PSP features from PS3 or PS1 ones. This makes the interface very clunky to see, let alone browse.

+ Games : This is a misnormer. If we click on it, there are Wallpapers folder, Themes folder, Demos folder, PS1 Classics folder, and yet another Games folder. May be they want to rename the top level "Games" category to "Playstation Media" ? or take Wallpapers and Themes out into a separate category.

+ Videos : This is another hodge podge of video collection so far (PSP game trailers, PS3 game trailers which are ok; and then why is Playstation Eye video, PSN video and PSP video at the root level ?). Can we have more descriptive names for these movies (What in the world is "PSP(R) featured video" and "PSN video" ? Isn't it more meaningful to have *real* names like "Playstation Store Introduction (Recommended)" ?). This shows that either the store manager is sleeping, or the video section is a place holder. >_<

+ All Items: It may be more intuitive to give each letter its own (small) button... instead of lumping 4 letters into 1 big buttons.

 

[Limanima]

I don't like the PS Store either. It should look more like a normal website that sells stuff. Things are hard to find and the navigation should be simpler. There isn't even a "find" option.
I hope PS Home has a whole new store with this issues addressed.

 

[galson]

Sweet. If only it worked properly

 

[patsu]

That's odd. My Vista IE works. Firefox is not supported ?

 

[galson]

My XP IE works as well, but I hate IE and am not going to use it only because Sony is too damn lazy to take different browsers into consideration. I wonder if it works in Opera, though.

 

[patsu]

Hm... yes, it's strange that they block FireFox since it's a piece of cake to support it with IE.

 

[tuna]

I just accessed it with Epiphany (gecko-engine browser). No problems to view content, did not try to download anything.....

 

[DigitalSoul]

They could've done better with the site design, imo.

 

[one]

Firefox works for me though I use a 3.0 beta version.

 

[PARANOiA]

Works with my Vista 32-bit + Firefox. Maybe an x64 bug?

 

[one]

Apparently the full-blown rollout of PSN is planned to be at the beginning of FY08.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djhighlights/200712110316DOWJONESDJONLINE000122.htm

He also said Sony's network for its next-generation PlayStation 3 game consoles is a major focus for the upcoming year, and that it will allow content from outside developers.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=a27U1NWATFJ0&refer=japan

Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Sony Corp. Chief Executive Officer Howard Stringer plans to connect the company's flagship PlayStation 3 console with its other electronics next year as part of a new business plan.

The world's second-largest consumer electronics maker will hook up the PS3 with its PlayStation Portable console online before extending the links to products such as mobile phones, Stringer said in Tokyo today. The plan starts April 1, he said.

 

[Betanumerical]

Works with my Vista 32-bit + Firefox. Maybe an x64 bug?

Nope, works here fine Vista 64 + firefox.

 

[one]

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9843429-7.html

"We will see if we can enter the battle against the software companies. This is probably the year we need to demonstrate that," Stringer said during a meeting with reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Monday morning.

One of the first examples of this strategy will be an expansion of the PlayStation Network. The network now is mostly used by gamers. Sony wants to turn it into a platform to deliver video, too. Sony will hold a press conference in two months to discuss changes to the PlayStation 3.

...

--Sony is also looking at incorporating its Cell processor, which currently sits inside of the PlayStation3, in other products. Cell is particularly good at manipulating video streams. The company even held a contest among engineers to design new applications. However, Sony didn't put a firm date on when some of these devices might come out or what they might be.

--The PlayStation 2 will become the device that Sony will use to take on the Nintendo Wii. Titles like Guitar Hero have sold well with PlayStation 2 and consumers can expect to see more casual games and non-core gamer games coming out, said Kaz Hirai, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment, which oversees video consoles.

Playstation Meeting in Feb, or at GDC? Home launch? The plot thickens.

 

[Zassk]

So this is just to sell PSP stuff? They aren't going to tie any of Sony's PC games into this store? How odd.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

No, it's a platform to deliver content to the whole range of Sony (and beyond?) products AFAIK. Their music service is being closed down this year, and PSN will take up the mantle, being a single platform on PS3 and PC and PSP to find and download music and movies to play on, PS3, PC, PSP and portable media players. Whether they'll service non-Sony media players I don't know, but it'd be stupid not to where possible. They don't have the advantage of Apple in having successfully locked the mainstream into a software/hardware combo, and there's enough non-Sony devices out there to make a lucrative market that they'd lose out on if they lock the software platform into Sony products and expect people to buy Sony just to use the Sony network service.