CES 2009: Sony fires off PSN stats, MTV adds content to video service

by Ludwig Kietzmann on Jan 8th 2009 1:13PM

We here at Joystiq absolutely revel in statistics and can think of nothing better than smothering ourselves in warm, moist data. Did you know that approximately 54% of all posts written on our site contain frequently unnecessary statistics? And did you know that the only thing we like more than reporting on numbers is to make them up on the spot? Oh well. Here are some real ones, straight from Sony's CES 2009 keynote:

17 million! The number of PlayStation Network accounts ... accounted for. 17 million is a really popular number for online networking, apparently.
330 million! Numbering the pieces of digital content that have been downloaded through PSN.
2 million! That's how many users the Life with PlayStation service has. An updated version will be coming this Spring.
2,000 hours! The answer to the question, "How much video content is MTV Networks adding to Sony's video delivery service?" The deal, which manifests in February, includes shows such as "MTV's The City, Comedy Central's Emmy and Peabody-Award winning South Park, Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants and VH1's Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels."
4! The number of bullet points which encapsulate all that information! This one doesn't count.

Tags: breakingnews, CES-2009, PlayStation-Network, PlayStation-Store, PS3, PSN, PSP, Sony

Reader Comments (69)

Holy Crap!

I'm shocked at the EA news, myself.

That means Crash Commando should get 17 million purchases, the game is probably the best game in the last 10 years or so.

Dude! Yes! Completely agree, that game rules! Hell, Sony should just promote Crash Commando as the system seller lol

stuart and wayne bot can be cheap, but the game is a blast

MTV? Jesus, Sony.

I guess my PS3 will continue to collect dust...

You have to remember that these 17 million PSN accounts can't really be compared with 17 million Xbox Live accounts. People, and Sony, will claim that it means a higher percentage of users are online, however they are different in a few ways. First being that Xbox Live is subscription based and therefore its less likely that people will create multiple accounts. Where-as many people like myself have 3 PSN accounts, 1 for each region to take advantage of downloads from Japan and Europe. Another factor is that PSN is also available for the PSP. Meaning that you have an additional 40 million users that can create accounts. Its just stupid to compare the two and say "OMG just as many people use PSN for online games as 360". If Microsoft and Sony instead talked about active users (may be hard to define though), or average daily traffic, that would be a different thing and could be compared.

Dude I have a Live Account and dont even OWN a 360 yet......

Its Called Hotmail/Zune/XBL

and believe it or not I'm sure that if U log into an Xbox once or maybe even Xbox.com that then they count those stats as well.....

Well, there are 2 factors at work here
1. PSN has got way more multiple account users
2. However, every PSN account can go multiplayer anjd avail the full range of online and multiplayer while a big part of Live users are Silver accounts.

So, its really difficult to say which has the more number of active multiplayer accounts.

I would think the proportion would be higher on PSN because its free - while obviously its much lower than 17 million at the same time. Anyway, as MS does not give out exact figures of Gold accounts, I suppose Sony doesnt feel the need to come out with their corresponding active accounts number.

you can't pull the multiple account thing when i know people who create a new user name when they want a free month

David,

The MS stats are also misleading because they count SIlver members in their grand tally of people using X-Box Live.

"you can't pull the multiple account thing when i know people who create a new user name when they want a free month"

This is me right here. Ironically enough my newest tag for a free month is "PSN Is Free". Hit me up with a friend request and play some Gears of War 2 with me or a PS3 game!

@eNrique

I got up voted because I am one of the few PS3 users on this thread that isn't trying to blindly stand behind Sony and their deceptive numbers. PS3 and 360 both have their pros and cons and overall I like the PS3 better and play it everyday. However the only pro I see for PS3's online service is that it is free, other then that it is not near as good as 360s, nor does it have as many unique users playing.

David,

Everyone I know with a 360 also has accounts in different regions to download exclusive demo's. In addition to that MS counts the free silver and free 1 month gold memberships in their total tally.

Your just being a douche & a terd sandwich.

One story about factual information from Sony and allt he trolls come out of the wood work.

@Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5

I have never defended M$ claims to their numbers, I have only criticized Sony's numbers as this post after all is about Sony's numbers. If I must comment on M$ numbers then I will. Yes I agree M$ numbers will be inflated too, there satisfied? M$ isn't near as inflated though, go online on both of them, even most of the shovelware will have more users playing that game on 360 then some of the top games played on PSN. My argument is simple. Its about active users playing games online. Though they both spin numbers like there is no tomorrow, M$ is much closer to reality on this one then Sony.

Microsoft...it'd be a good time to feel threatened and make LIVE free....

While it would be nice, I have to say that the $50/year fee for Xbox Live is one of the more worthwhile expenses in my life. I know PSN is free, but as someone who has both consoles hooked up online, XBL is SO far superior to PSN that it's laughable. I would miss XBL a lot if it were taken from me. That's worth $4.16 a month.

In that case, Sony get your lazy ass and create a service that's better than XBL!

Jakka's in essence is right, but I love the service and am gladly willing to pay for it. I just don't wish it was 50 bucks. When I first got my 360, I could only afford ONE GAME because I had to put $150 towards a wifi adpater and a year of LIVE. 50 bucks is too close to a game's price. I bet if MS lowered XBL (13+1 subscription) to $25, no one would argue, no one would complain. Before you guys mention: "oh, its only 4 bucks a month" think that you have to pay in full right then and there. And if you're like me, some sacrifices will have to be made.

It's definitely a play every day system if you don't own a 360 too.

Me and most people I know have about 3 different accounts lol. Microsoft show UU (unique users), So should Sony.

did they SAY they showed unique users or are you assuming???

@eNrique

I highly doubt that you have even 1 xbox live account. What is the point in lying about this, all you do in the end is make other PS3 users look like idiots. It shouldn't be too hard to come to the realization that more people use Xbox Live and that Sony is simply spinning numbers in their favour to fabricate an illusion that just as many people use PS3 online as 360.

David,

Anyone can get a free 1 month gold account. MS spins numbers by couting Silver accounts in their total active user tally.

Sorry but I play Warhawk every day.....

at first glance I thought the headline read "Sony fires PSN staff"

you beat me to it. Thats what i read, too. lol

I like Home

as much as I would like to Jump up and down about this I know a few people, that like myself, have numerous PSN accounts(Japan, Hong Kong, Europe, and US) now I SERIOUSLY doubt its more than 1 million people that have more than one account at this point(considering that Japaneses and HK accounts are tedious to setup if you dont know the language)......but they should at least take into account that maybe 2 million of those are duplicates......

Comedy Central stuff on the PSN store tho is cool with me.....I might actually get some Daily Show/Colbert Show stuff for on the Go with my PSP

Having an account does not mean you play a game online. Downloading a "piece" of digital content doesn't mean you've bought anything online.

It's like advertising how many people picked up a free food sample in a grocery store. It does not tell you how many people bought the product.

oh, come on Joystiq, it is rather disappointing that you guys haven't posted the biggest news...

"1 million of goods sold via Home"

Never saw that one coming, probably in 2-3 months, but in less than a month...goddamn

I play my PS3 everyday, yet I may go 3-10 days without turning on my Xbox360. Strange? No, not really, I just think the PS3 experience is much better than the 360 experience.

Still waiting for the killer app for Home.

No, Griffin, Quincying doesn't count.

Why won't you wait until IT STOPS BEING A FUCKING BETA?

It's like complaining that the beta of a game you get to play is only two levels long and let's you use only two out of 20 weapons. Duh.

Sometimes I hate the internet.

The same goes with Quake Live. I got a beta invite, think it is an AMAZING, had fun testing it, but then I go to the forums and read comments of ten year olds complaining about every single f*cking pixel on the screen. Grow up, people. Nobody forces that on you. It is your CHOICE to use.

Ummm... if you're going to promote a product based on the number of users you've gotten to sign up to use it, its not a beta. You can call it that, but its a release. A full and free release.

Because you say so, lord of the internet?

Of course. I'm the targeted consumer and if I say there is reason for me to yet install and use Home, then there isn't for me. Which is all I said in my original post. There is no killer app. I'm sorry you slaved for 2 years on the Home dev team and are so sensitve about its lameness.

Maybe I'm in the minority but I could care less about multiplayer games, which Xbox 360 is better at. I bought my PS3 because of the free online and it's other good features. If I was into multiplayer I probably would have bought the 360. The games are basically the same between the 2. It's the small stuff that seperates them. Off topic: Sega Genesis NHL 97 Hockey is better and more fun to play than any other hockey game made yet. Even on the "Next Gen" systems.

I don't know much about Hockey (Sorry ._.), but have you tried NHL 09? I have been hearing a lot of praise for the title...

NHL 09 = runaway Sports GOTY

If you buy a PS3 and use it every 20 days or so "because it's boring and/or crap", you are a spoiled brat and deserve to die.

"*17 million! The number of PlayStation Network users that think Home BLOWS!"

Huh? how could it be 17 million, when according to data also released on the presentation, there is only about 3.4 million people that have downloaded Home?...

Also, Home, which has only been out for about 4 weeks and doesn't have that many items on sale, already made $1 million in sales...I guess it does blow huh?

Give it time to grow, or you are telling me that XBL was worth it from the get-go?...

Noshino

"or you are telling me that XBL was worth it from the get-go?..."

Yes. Yes it was.

"Huh? how could it be 17 million, when according to data also released on the presentation, there is only about 3.4 million people that have downloaded Home?..."

Maybe this would work if Home wasn't even out yet, but Home IS out and most have probably heard. "Home blows" Therefore probably not going to dl at all.

Leave it to you to go and defend Home, of all things. But then again I shouldn't be surprised, you defended Haze till the death but didn't show up tp the funeral.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/megaowch-haze-handed-4-5-review-by-ign/

;)

Oh come on Fenix.

The XBL 17 million figure also include the FREE Silver accounts as well. Both probably include duplicates also, I have 2 extra XBL Silver accounts different to download demos from other regions.

I tried the demo. The graphics look great and the controls are O.K. But for pure fun I just couldn't get into it. The shot stick sucks in my opinion.

Here's your award for Dumbest Comment of the Day.

You can pick up your meat and cheese basket on the way out.

A higher attach rate to online gaming is both good and bad. It implies the PS3's demographic is more hardcore, but also implies that the PS3 is having trouble reaching casual gamers (who can effectively subsidize a system for hardcore gamers).

You think Xbox Live was worth it from the get go?

Do you remember how shitty it was on the original Xbox when it came out? Try playing Doom 3 online on the original Xbox,and that was at the LATER years!

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CES 2009: Sony fires off PSN stats, MTV adds content to video service

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