Kotaku on Sony’s Online Gambit
freedesign pointed out this article in the sidebar, but I liked it enough I thought I’d give it a special mention. Kotaku talks about Sony’s online play, and how it’s different that Microsoft’s Xbox Live implementation, with regards to the content available for download.
Kotaku mentions that people think of short, arcadey games when they think of content from Xbox Live Arcade. Sony is trying to push things further into next-gen saying that “products you have seen on arcade are ‘been there, done that’, some feel like PC shareware practically”.
While you can definitely say the same about games on the PSN like Calling All Cars, Blast Factor, and Cash Guns Chaos, upcoming games like Warhawk, PAIN, SOCOM: Confrontation, and LittleBigPlanet don’t easily fit that mold. These new games are real next-gen experiences, and they’ll be available for download.
Read the full article for more. Interesting stuff.
Try now - 
June 19th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I think the best analogy I have heard so far is that when developers think about making a game for XBLA, its a “XBLA game”. However, what sony wants is when developers think about making a game for the PSN, its making a Playstation 3 game. Sony wants to change how downloadable games are viewed.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
It is funny, I play everyday on a XBOX360 (am still desperately waiting to get my PS3) and never spend much time on XBOX Live Arcade, while there are almost weekly new games there… but game demos are not much available lately.
I think Sony will score higher with their online service! It is looking more and more impressive (after all, lets remember MS themselves spend some time until the level where XBox Live is now, Sony deserves the same but probably will be quicker to get there as they can look at the XBox past experience)
June 21st, 2007 at 3:43 pm
It is a good approach, but if it can be sold as a disc than what is the big deal? I drive past 5 games stores on my way home. The cost is usually the same online or in store and I would rather have a disc.
I like the XBLA approach. Its not perfect by any means. The size limit is good because it keeps games small. It is bad because it limits developers.
I hope the PS3 starts getting the in between games. I hope that makes sense. Not remakes (which can be cool) and not a full game. Maybe games that look like a disc game but are simpler and not as time consuming or involved.