OGDC: Sony Details PlayStation Network Expansion Plans
During a panel discussion on the topic of new opportunities in console technology at the Online Game Developers Conference in Seattle, SCEA’s director of third-party developer relations took the opportunity to explain to an audience of developers — as well as detail the PlayStation Network with many fresh specifics.
“So what is the PlayStation Network?” asked Sony’s Michael Shorrock. He proceeded to state that it was a ‘loyalty catalyst for PlayStation platforms.’ “It’s designed to be a profitable eco-system for both developers and publishers. And it’s a marketing platform for games and content.”
What Shorrock hopes the Network enables is “creativity in development, and flexibility in business models for both the development community, and the publishers.” He then showed a slide outlining Sony’s ‘Wheel of Services.’
“You’re probably most familiar with the PlayStation Store, and what we can do with online games,” he told the audience. But this, he said of the graph, is “our entire scope of services that we’ll be developing and releasing in the coming months ahead.”
There are six key components. Shorrock began with ‘Services/VOD’ which delivers full-length movies, television programs, or music direct to users. “Obviously we want to take huge advantage of our member’s capabilities, and of the storage capacity.”
‘PlayStation Store’ is where Sony has its commerce for downloading digital content. ‘Home’ which was announced at GDC in April, is the 3D avatar based world which will facilitate communication amongst consumers. ‘Online Games’ adds the human element to traditional gameplay.
Read the full article here...N. Evan Van Zelfden
May 11, 2007
Source: Gamasutra