Socom 3 DLC - a sign of things to come on PS3? (USB flashdrive/PSP/HDD storage)

[Titanio]

Sony has announced downloadable maps for Socom 3 on PS2 - interesting in itself, but more interesting is that you'll be able to download them onto the PS2 HDD or any "compatible" USB drive, or even your PSP's memory stick!

http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2006/2/21-34

Each SOCOM 3 Map Pack can be purchased online for $5.99 per pack by logging into a SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs online account. Using either a compatible USB Mass Storage Device (such as a USB Flash/Thumb drive), internal hard disk drive (40GB) (for PlayStation 2) or a PSP (PlayStation Portable) system with Memory Stick Duo Media (minimum 32MB) as storage, SOCOM fans can download any of the SOCOM 3 Map Packs, take them anywhere and access them online using their SOCOM 3 account for all-new tactical military action.

Seems the speculated "open" storage model for PS3 may not be so far fetched afterall (perhaps even with USB drive support!).

(Mods: Wasn't sure if this belonged here, or in Games chat, so feel free to move if appropriate).

 

[speng]

Hopefully they bring back some of the more popular Socom 2 maps. Socom 3 maps aren't that great.

Speng.

 

[drpepper]

this is good news, and i hope they carry this capability over to the ps3.

 

[kyleb]

Yeah, sounds good. Storage directly to networked drive would be even better, but I'm probably asking too much there.

 

[mckmas8808]

yes I love the signs of things to come.

 

[rounin]

So you have to pay $5.99 for a map pack? There better be a lot of maps...plus I think you'll only be able to play with people who buy the map packs. Then again, I guess thats one way of separating the kids from the adults.

 

[superguy]

This is alright but who cares about maps.

When people kept talking about how alledgedly neccesarry a Hard Drive is, they would bring up "new downloadable maps" all the time. Right away this is disingenious as very few people care. How many downloadable maps have actually been seen on Xbox live I wonder?

You cannot give the attention to graphics on a modular map that you otherwise could I suppose. So they dont have much thrill factor. Maybe they are good for a few games like Countestrike. Besides the cool maps in my PC experience are user created, which wont happen on a console anyway.

 

[AlNom]

How many downloadable maps have actually been seen on Xbox live I wonder?

Quite a few, actually. Xbox.com List. Of course, there is no mention for a couple games like FarCry Instincts or Pariah where users can make their own maps and release them on Live.

$5.99 for a map pack isn't too far off (if even) compared to some of those on Xbox Live. "Hardcore" multiplayers will pay for it.

 

[superguy]

Well my only point is they're hardly burning up the videogame world.

It's a nice little extra, is all.

 

[AlNom]

Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to get numbers of downloads from publishers. Just because you don't hear people raving about it doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't produce decent results. How much can you talk about a multiplayer map anyway?

 

[scooby_dooby]

Well my only point is they're hardly burning up the videogame world.

It's a nice little extra, is all.

it's not just 'maps' a hdd enables, it's ANY addition, extension or update a game maker decides to release.

We already have developers commiting to releasing episodic content between major game releases which is just plain awesome, Mass Effect for example is a trilogy that is going to have additional downloads between releases to further along the storyline.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg really.