Variety reports (via Japanese press) that Japanese PS3 owners will be able to download video content to their PS3 hard drives from early 2008, with the initial wave of offerings set to include motor-racing videos and documentaries aimed at ramping up interest in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, which is due for release December 13.
Initial downloads will reportedly cost around $1.85 each, while Sony plans to add further content at a later date.
Sony previously confirmed its intentions to offer VOD content via PS3, although it has yet to officially announce a date for such a service launch.
Microsoft currently offers North American Xbox 360 owners access to VOD services via Xbox Live. The service allows users to download movies, TV shows and other media content on a pay-per-item basis. The service is reportedly set to launch in Europe before the end of the year.
Let's hope it's not like PS1 games where the Japanese gets lots and lots of content and the US gets anemic table scraps fit for a manged dog.
Also, I find this weird that it took them so long to get this going considering all the content they have instant access to like movies, music, and games. I was stunned to see that Microsoft which owns no media come out with the service first.
$1.85 cannot be HD. I fail to believe it. Unless it means rental wise. That'd be nice across both systems. It'd be interesting to see NetFlix and MS combine services to provide HD rentals through marketplace. Or even a rental program to keep videos for 3 days and they expire.
Indeed. This is good for us as consumers. So long as this media isn't also "exclusive" to any one platform.
I believe there's already been Sony films as well as HD movies (previously only available in Blu-Ray) on the 360's Live service. Sony is smart to distribute their media in as many channels as possible.
I believe there's already been Sony films as well as HD movies (previously only available in Blu-Ray) on the 360's Live service. Sony is smart to distribute their media in as many channels as possible.
It is sort of like how Microsoft releases office products on Mac, too. Not necessarilly every division of a given company is in direct competition with a different company. And considering that Office is how Microsoft butter's its bread, and movies is how Sony does as well, it only makes sense to get them to the largest audience possible.
It is also Sony Pictures and Sony Music who have suffered the most by corporate and the hardware group's stubborn opposition of digital distribution of content.
Ill say it again, when do we get it up here in Canada..
At least hook us in Vancouver up, If you dont we will cut off your water
It's Manitoba that'll cut off their water, we'll turn off the electricity in California. :P
By the way where the fuck is Divx playback? I've been pretty patient with Sony but jesus fucking christ can they move any slower on it? It's just another game/feature in a long line that 360 owners get first and better versions of. Hmm... *jump*
I read somewhere that they own the rights to something like 50% of all movies ever made. That's pretty crazy.
They do own a lot. I was thinking of how cool it would be to have a lot of the Cartoon Network stuff, among other things in Hi Def, on demand. I give Sony a lot of props for taking a chance on Emmy Award nominee Aaron McGruder(the Boondocks).
But they have also bought a lot of failing studios, and franchises over the last few years. Their recent acquisition of MGM was huge.
