Playstation Plus – Auto Cloud Save Uploads

[Groo The Perverted]

What are your thoughts? I'm definitely gonna get this.

Just my thoughts.




http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/...its-all-about/

Hi Everyone, you may have heard in all the E3 hype that we are launching a new premium subscription service called PlayStation Plus, so I just wanted to give you all a quick heads up on what you can expect to get from this great new service so you have all the info before launch on the 29th June.

The first thing to note is that PlayStation Network is still free to join and all the current features will remain free. PlayStation Plus will be offering you a service above and beyond this, including loads of content and exclusive, member-only, PSN features.

From 29th June you’ll be able to purchase a 1 year or 90-day membership from PlayStation Store and instantly get your hands on the following premium features. Plus, if you sign up for a 1 year membership between 29th June and 3rd August, we’ll also throw in a free downloadable copy of the award winning LittleBigPlanet.

Games:

As a member you can expect to get your hands on at least four games a month at no extra charge. Each month there will be a selection of one PSN game, two minis and one PS one classics available on PlayStation Store for you to download. You also get premium avatars and dynamic themes each month, many of which are exclusive to members.

Talking of exclusive, there will also be discounts available on loads of PlayStation Store content, just for members, so make the most of them as these will change each month as well.

Finally, wherever possible we’ll be making sure that members are included in some selected demos and beta trials before they go live to the public so you can be the one to tell all your mates about the next big game they ‘must’ get.

Just the games, avatars and themes alone are worth at least £200* per year, so even before the other benefits, this service is great value for money

Full Game Trial:

This premium feature gives you the chance to try PSN and Blu-ray disc titles before you buy them in a whole new way. We are not talking normal demos of selected parts of a game here. With Full Game Trial, you can download the full game and play it as if you owned it for approximately one hour, depending on the game, before you decide if you want to buy it or not. So you can check out the online modes, play against friends or anything else you’d normally do with a game.

The other great thing is that your progress and trophies from the trial will all be unlocked if you buy the game so no need to go back and start again.

Automatic Download:

We wanted to offer members the speediest service possible so sign up and you can set your PS3 to automatically receive the latest game updates for all the games you play, PS3 system software updates and even have game demos sent directly to your PS3 without lifting a finger.

Just set the time you want to receive them and your PS3 will automatically wake up and download everything, ready for when you next want to play. No more waiting to play your favourite game because there is a new patch or having to remember when the latest system software is launching, let your PS3 do the work.

Details of this great new service, including a list of content available for the first 2 months will be on playstationplus.com between now and the 29th, but don’t forget to get on the Store and sign up before the 3rd August to get the added bonus of a free copy of LittleBigPlanet.

It would be great to hear what you guys think of this new service and I’ll be back one here on Wednesday morning to try and answer any questions you have.

Cheers,
James

FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS) REGARDING THE PSN PLUS:

NOTE: All of this information was provided by PSN's James Thorpe on the EU PSN Blogpost for the Playstation Plus announcement.

HOW MUCH IS THIS?

49.99 a year or 17.99 for three months.

In Europe if you buy a year's worth between June 29th and August 3rd, you get a free DL copy of the retail PS3 version of "Little Big Planet" (not GOTY edition).

In the USA if you buy a year's worth between June 29th and August 3rd, you get 3 months free, therefore getting 15 months for 49.99

Features and Other things.

1. Crossgame chat.

not available in the Plus thing at this time, it hasn't been decided when it will be applied and whether or not it'll be free or Plus.

2. "If I unsubscribe do I lose access to all the stuff I bought?"

no. You only lose access to the free stuff. If you free trial a game and then buy it, it's yours forever, whether you cancel the next month or the next year. Anything you PAID money for while a plus member, you get to keep forever. Anything that you got FREE (such as demos, free trials, free avatars, themes, etc) you lose access to. If you re-subscribe later, you get access to all that stuff again)

3. "How are trophies affected by the free trial?"

if you do a free trial game -- using as an example "Infamous" -- and you play it for the hour trial, earning various trophies along the way, those trophies will not be credited to your account, unless you buy the game. Once you buy the game, suddenly your account will trigger all the trophies you earned in that one hour.)

4. How does the Game Trial work? Does it work with Blu-ray games such as "Infamous and LBP?"

Yes. Using the inFAMOUS as an example, you will download the entire game (not sure on the size, but I've heard the games will be streamlined as much as possible (such as language files) without losing any features of the game). You play it like a PSN demo for an hour. There's no limited features on the demo, you have access to the ENTIRE GAME like you would if you rented it. But only for an hour. Once that hour is up you have the choice of buying it or not. If you buy it, much like a PSN title you'll get a license code or unlock key which will unlock the entire game, along with any trophies you earned. The Unlock key essentially gives you the license to the DIGITAL DOWNLOAD. You do not have to buy the blu-ray disc of the game.

Not sure how large the games will be, and how this will work with those that have small hard drives. Thorpe suggested people look into upgrading their HD, as it's very easy to do.

5. Can I pay for this with PSN cards?

Yes. You can pay for this via anyway you've ever bought anything on the PSN store. You can also set up your credit card via PSN to auto-renew so you don't forget to.

6. If I sign up in August do I get access to the July freebies and game trials?

No. You get access to everything from the moment you sign up forward. Every month there will be new game trials. So while inFAMOUS may be available in October (just an example) in November, it will not be available and another game will. So if you buy it in November, you missed out on the October and earlier games/freebies.

7. What sales are there?

Much like the current free PSN there will be sales, only there are sales every month on PLUS varying from 20% to 50% off of select games.

No word yet on whether the Game Trial games (including blu-ray retail games) will only cover 1st party games or also including 3rd party games.

8. Can family members sharing my account on their PS3's in my house play the PSN+ purchases and demos?

From what I understand, YES. You do not all have to pay 49.99 to play, but you have to be logged into that account to play them, I think. not 100% on this, when I get more confirmation I'll update this.

9. Do I have to pay for online gaming now?

NO! Everything you have in the PSN right now, you will still have even if you don't subscribe. Nothing that you get for free right now, will be switched over to the Playstation Plus. So to reiterate, Online Gaming will remain FREE OF CHARGE!

10. How does this affect DLC? Do I lose any free DLC if I unsubscribe?

From what I understand, if you have FREE DLC you will no longer have access to that DLC, whether it's characters, skins, maps, etc. If you PAY for the DLC before unsubscribing, it is yours forever.

11. How does this affect trophies for the FREE PSN GAMES?

I am assuming that if you are getting complete games for free, the trophies are unlocked as you get them. Not 100% on that, and when I find out for sure, I'll update this post.

[Shin-Ra]

I think you'll keep anything you just got a discount on from PS+.

[Simplayer]

Hm, are we sure that games you bought with a discount will be under the rental model?

Also:


Looks like the changed some stuff last minute.

[Groo The Perverted]

Now I got this info off the EU PS Blog, but that bit about Little Big Planet, am I reading that right?

If I sign up for a 1 year deal between June 29th and August whatever, then I can get a free download of THE ENTIRE GAME of Little Big Planet????

That's AWESOME!

[Groo The Perverted]

Simplayer I'm not sure about that snapshot.

Did you take that or was it posted somewhere else? Why is that CrossChat thing the only bit that's in English on that page? lmao

[Shin-Ra]

Free LBP PSP.

The PS3 version's pretty big on BD.

[Darkhawk9587]

I like the overall concept and think it's a fair price to pay, whether for three months or a full year. Plus, it's also nice to still retain full online even if you don't want to pay. I'll give the free month rental a try and see how I like it, then decide whether it's worth the $50 price tag for a year.

[Simplayer]

Originally Posted by Groo The Perverted

Simplayer I'm not sure about that snapshot.

Did you take that or was it posted somewhere else? Why is that CrossChat thing the only bit that's in English on that page? lmao

I didn't take the picture. Some fellow from the Netherlands did. The same thing appears on the Italian PS+ page. Again, only that statement in English.

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

Free LBP PSP.

The PS3 version's pretty big on BD.

They should specify that it's PSP. I suppose it SHOULD be a no-brainer, and I briefly wondered that as well, but it didn't say PSP so I kinda thought (hoped) that it'd be the full game. lol

[Shin-Ra]

They specified with the link in the original blog post.

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

They specified with the link in the original blog post.

In the comments, James Thorpe says the LBP is the PS3 version!



EDIT: I guess it doesn't matter for me, because while SCEE gets a free copy of LBP SCEA gets 3 free months. *unenthusiastic smiley inserted here* yay.

[PA_Kid]

Originally Posted by Groo The Perverted

In the comments, James Thorpe says the LBP is the PS3 version!



EDIT: I guess it doesn't matter for me, because while SCEE gets a free copy of LBP SCEA gets 3 free months. *unenthusiastic smiley inserted here* yay.

You'll never please everybody. Since I already have LBP on disc PS3 and digital on PSP, three free months has a lot more value for me. (Edit: That came out snarkier than I intended, just meant no matter what they give away different people will find different value in it.)

Wonder how Minis are going to work with the PSP? (Or the "rental" model at all I guess). Will they be activated for a certain period of time and then end after a date (or need to be checked on by going on line)? Will you have to log into the PSN whenever you want to play?

It's pretty natural to log into the PSN whenever needed on the PS3, but it seems like it would almost be more trouble than it's worth to make Minis on the PSP rentals. The best case scenario I can think of is making them recheck after your subscription end date (short of just giving them). Wost case scenario would be that they only work on the PS3 - though I doubt they'd do that after selling the PSN content over both systems as a plus.

[STARSCREAM]

Ok, this has changed my attitude towards Playstation Plus! This seems like a way better deal than what paying for a Gold membership on Xbox Live gives you. Plus, Giving away LBP for free!! I sold my copy long ago but this is awesome because I've been thinking of getting it again. I wonder if the downloadable version will have the game of the year content on it?

EDIT: I've been reading the US isn't getting the LBP game for free!????? If this is true I probably won't mess with buying Plus.

[androvsky]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

Wonder how Minis are going to work with the PSP? (Or the "rental" model at all I guess). Will they be activated for a certain period of time and then end after a date (or need to be checked on by going on line)? Will you have to log into the PSN whenever you want to play?

It's pretty natural to log into the PSN whenever needed on the PS3, but it seems like it would almost be more trouble than it's worth to make Minis on the PSP rentals. The best case scenario I can think of is making them recheck after your subscription end date (short of just giving them). Wost case scenario would be that they only work on the PS3 - though I doubt they'd do that after selling the PSN content over both systems as a plus.

From what I read in a comment on the EU blog, you'll just have to sign in with the PSP to verify that you're a PSN+ subscriber (and how long it lasts, I'm sure). After that, whatever games you've downloaded as part of that will work offline until the subscription runs out.

Also, since the OP is the SCEE version, it might be worth pointing out that SCEA PSN+ subscribers get Qore for free.

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

You'll never please everybody. Since I already have LBP on disc PS3 and digital on PSP, three free months has a lot more value for me. (Edit: That came out snarkier than I intended, just meant no matter what they give away different people will find different value in it.)

Wonder how Minis are going to work with the PSP? (Or the "rental" model at all I guess). Will they be activated for a certain period of time and then end after a date (or need to be checked on by going on line)? Will you have to log into the PSN whenever you want to play?

It's pretty natural to log into the PSN whenever needed on the PS3, but it seems like it would almost be more trouble than it's worth to make Minis on the PSP rentals. The best case scenario I can think of is making them recheck after your subscription end date (short of just giving them). Wost case scenario would be that they only work on the PS3 - though I doubt they'd do that after selling the PSN content over both systems as a plus.

Yeah I have it on disc as well, but it'd be nice to have a digital copy of it. :-)

I'm gonna get the year subscription no matter what, and with the 3 month bonus it equals out to 15 months for 49.99 so that's nice as well.

I was just excited over the LBP. lol

BTW: I saw somewhere that there's an Infamous 2 Demo with the 1st month (as freebie for the month ala the Wipeout game), and then somewhere else it just said "Infamous Demo"

That had to be a mistake. lol.

BTW #2: I heard that cross game chat image was a screenshot of a hacked page. They've fixed it from what I've heard, and that is not part of the Plus package.

[Groo The Perverted]

Wow @ this!

focalpoint: im interested in this ‘full game trial’ system.

But i have a question.

if i download a full game trial of a blu-ray game (lets take infamous as an example)

if i decide to buy it do i have to purchase the blu-ray or do i purchase an unlock key for the downloaded full game?

If the latter is the case then im sold… i want ps3 digital downloads.
If its the former than pfft, not wasting my bandwidth only to delete it after 1hr.

james thorpe: hi, then consider yourself sold, it’s the latter! when you download the full game trial you will only need to purchase the liscence and the full game will be unlocked, including trophies and game saves from your trial period. enjoy

[silversnake]

^^ that is pretty neat.

I'm curious to see which games though , I'm assuming most of them are more than 10gb minimum.

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by silversnake

^^ that is pretty neat.

I'm curious to see which games though , I'm assuming most of them are more than 10gb minimum.

Well someone asked about Little Big Planet supposedly being 40 gigs or so, and Thorpe said that it had been stripped down (all other languages removed, that kinda thing) to the smallest it could get.

[Groo The Perverted]

Damn, I feel bad for James Thorpe man. lol. He answers questions and then people reply IMMEDIATELY in the next post with that same question.

There are questions that he's answered and gets asked repeatedly and then almost mocked for supposedly "dodging" the question THAT HE ALREADY ANSWERED!:

[partridge]

I need to fully understand what was meant by "content is available for as long as you subscribe"

So if I buy a PSN game as a PS+ user, do I lose the game if I decide not to renew my subscription? I don't like that business model, so I want to know what you lose if your subscription ends. If you lose everything you bought while a member then I won't be taking this up.