Six reasons why PSN is the BEST

by Ludwig Kietzmann on Feb 5th 2009 8:00PM

Free access / No double fees: Unlike Xbox Live, there's no annual service fee to access PSN. You also don't have to pay a Netflix subscription (because there's no Netflix!) and have the FREE ability to purchase whatever video content you want!
Video content on the go: The PSN's video delivery service allows you to transfer certain types of content between your PS3 and PSP at no additional charge (unless your PSP's battery is in need of ... a charge).
Faster download speeds: After a lengthy study, the respected scientists at the MTV Multiplayer labs have proven PSN downloads to be faster than all other current systems. Especially if you're downloading Mega Man 9.
Quality HD experiences: The PSN gives you HD content in a reliable way -- there's no waiting for streaming connections like on Xbox Live. Connections which might not ever be made.
Blu-ray and streaming: Streaming is awesome, especially when you use it to watch videos through PS3's web browser! You can also download HD movies from the PlayStation Store or buy them on Blu-ray disc.
Relevant new releases: Um, Max Payne is out now on Blu-ray!

So, what do you think? Would you take this argument seriously if we published it unfettered on Joystiq? What if it was a tongue-in-cheek repetition of a press release Sony sent us? Like the one we've published verbatim after the break.

Subject: PlayStation Network

Just a few reminders..

As you may know Microsoft announced its recent partnership with Netflix and
latest subscription number. PlayStation 3 and PlayStaiton Network offer a
comprehensive digital entertainment experience of its own.

Free Access/No Double Fees: Instead of paying for a separate monthly
Netflix subscription on top of an annual service fee for Xbox LIVE,
PlayStation Network users have free access to the content they want.

Video Content on the Go: One of the main value propositions of the
PlayStation Network's video delivery service is the ability to
transfer standard-definition content from the PS3 system to the PSP
system. For one price, consumers can transfer and view certain types
of content on multiple devices.

Faster Download Speeds: In a recent study by MTV Multiplayer,
PlayStation Network was found to be the fastest service for
downloading games amongst current consoles, whether through wired or
wireless connections.

Quality HD Experiences: PlayStation Network provides HD content
reliably without waiting for streaming connections that might not
ever be made.

Blu-Ray and Streaming: PlayStation 3's browser and Flash 9 support
allows users to easily stream content and watch videos through
internet sites on their TV's. Users can also download HD blockbuster
movies from the PlayStation Store or enjoy Blu-ray movies.

Relevant New Releases: The Rocker, Swing Vote, Traitor, Max Payne
(Unrated), Step Brothers, Eagle Eye, Mirrors (Unrated), Pride and
Glory, Dead Space, RocknRolla, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist,
Resident Evil: Degeneration

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tags: Blu-ray, Netflix, PSN, Streaming, Xbox-Live

Reader Comments (192)

I would only consider it a double fee if he signed up for both services solely to stream Netflix. By your logic, you should be calling it a triple fee any way - he has to pay for his internet service too, right? Or maybe a quadruple fee, because he has to pay for power in order to use his Xbox as well? See how stupid that is?

Whynot and acefondu, the argument would ONLY even make sense in the first place if Sony offered a comparable service to the NetFlix streaming for free on their service. I suppose they could even offer it for single free and it would be valid (only one fee for NetFlix streaming).

THEY DON'T.

And this will never happen unless Sony does their own streaming, because neither NetFlix nor Sony would do it for free, and to have one fee one of them would have to give it away.

I dont get the reason for the sarcasm. Sony's problem for the last 2 years has been the media's own bias and refusal to acknowledge the things it can do. Why rip on them for simply trying to do what they havent been able to do previously; get the word out clearly to people about the things the system can do. There dosent need to be any fanboyism one way or the other, just say okay cool thanks for reminding us and move the fuck on.

how dare the PR company that works for Sony tries to promote the product they have been hired to promote!!!!!!

ITS AN OUTRAGE!!! RAAAAAGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

We got blu-ray!! We got free online services!! We got mgsIV!!! We got home!! We got faster downloads!! -We got..

-"BYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

psn FTW
psn anytime over p2p.. have you played COD4 on ps3/3fixme? all those disconnects for host ended game.. even if the actual Host did not actually end the game.. that's XBL. only in XBL, you have to pay for that sh!t.. how about R2 and warhawk (KZ2 too) on dedicated servers? none of that ever happens. ever.

Can anyone please tell me what is so much better with live? Everyone praises it but I don't see anyone giving a real reason for it.
I own both consoles (though the 360 went rrod) and personally think that it's the same kind of online service except that you have to pay for live (which I don't really mind that much).

Can anyone please give me a good reason why live is the better one for me as a gamer, besides the fact that it's for a more popular console.

What's the big deal? Company shill says something stupid. This happens all the time.

Did people forget MS denying the RRoD until they couldn't get away with it? What bout MS shills saying "1080p doesn't matter this generation" until they discovered their own machine could output it?

These companies will say anything to get your business. Both of them.

RRoD is yesterday's news.

Sony is damned if they do, damned if they don't. No advertising, they get lambasted. If they send out PR's to publications to try to get the word out, they get made fun of. Every company does this.

What would you guys think if Sony was sending reviewers Playstation 3's in a duffle bag with review copies of Killzone 2? That's exactly what MS did with Halo 3 and everyone thought it was the coolest thing ever.

The double standards here and flamebait articles like this is what drags the gaming media down. You are doing a *disservice* to the industry with this tripe, Joystiq. Instead of having an actual intelligent post on the matter, refuting the statement if need be, you take the low road for fanboy traffic. Nothing new of course, but man does it get old.

The double standards here and flamebait articles like this is what drags the gaming media down. You are doing a *dis- BYAAH-BYAAAH!!!

I.... like.... lesbians... BYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!

We have all seen spin. MS just had one about being second place last month. Ninty was trumpeting their place as well.

However, I don't like them calling the MTV "test" a "study". Anyone can tell you D/Ling from the net can vary highly depending on the file, demand, time of day, day of the week, etc. If the had a long average of several files done properly, I'd give it more credit. That "study" is as solid as a 6th grade science fair. I hate when spin leans so close to misinform consumers, like Wii's killing people and pets and RRoD's happening in 99% of 360's.

"However, I don't like them calling the MTV "test" a "study". Anyone can tell you D/Ling from the net can vary highly depending on the file, demand, time of day, day of the week, etc. If the had a long average of several files done properly, I'd give it more credit. That "study" is as solid as a 6th grade science fair."

Took the words right outta my mouth, couldn't agree more

Oh, Ludwig. Articles like this are why I love you so.

Microsoft did something similar to this... back in September '08 they claimed that XBL is the only video game console on the market that you can download movies and TV shows from..
Oh really? I remember PSN getting movies and TV shows back in July of '08.. Sony isn't the only company that does this..

I like that Sony says that their streaming is able to be used due to Flash 9 support--which was added what, a little over a month ago?

....not to mention you can pay UP THE ASS for BluRay movies--buy 2 movies and that's your yearly XBL membership right there.

the press release is laughable, but it's nice to know I have multiple choices as to which of my systems I want to use for streaming/downloading/watching stuff.

I don't have an xbox 360, but I know on my ps3, I downloaded the killzone 2 beta today at about 3 megabytes per second on wireless. So, that's plenty fast for me. Can't complain.

"You also don't have to pay a Netflix subscription (because there's no Netflix!)" idk y but i just burst out laughing when i read this

RocknRolla was awesome

Just watched it. Worked out to be a decent film

Looking forward to another

silly post.
come on, what is blu-ray to do with psn?
yup, psn has to be free, cuz there's not enough players online if charged.

Sony's Back!

I've never noticed that PSN is "Faster" in terms of downloading.

This list seems nothing more than Fanboy fodder.

Why PSN is the best?
Braid, Worms, Castlevania, Castle Crashers and that upcoming R-Type thing aren't on PSN (at least collectively) so it isn't the best.

It's good. It's not the best. Crazy move Sony.

Hilarious.

I use playON (www.themediamall.com) to get Netflix and Hulu to my PS3. Its pretty decent and with the PS3 upscaling it looks good too. The DLNA feature is pretty underrated.

Most of their downloadable games don't have any kind of demo -- even horribly crippled ones. This alone makes me hate the store.

As for the PSN as a whole... um, I can't recall ever playing a PS3 game online at all.

Whoever said that the PSN is faster than XBL is a liar liar, pants on fire. I have both systems, and have used both services on 3 different ISPs. Every time, comparing the download speeds of XBL to PSN is like comparing the the speed of a cheetah to a deer. If you plan on downloading a demo on PSN anytime after 5pm, you may as well cook a 5 course meal and a 2 course desert, eat it slowly, then contemplate a plan for peace in the middle east, and then MAYBE your demo will be downloaded. Ludwig, don't use an obviously f-ed up Mega Man 9 demo as your speed test. Try some real world application experiments.

I've heard the same thing from a co-worker... But I download everything when I get home from work 5pm or later and my downloads never take that long, I'd say average 15-20mins. Maybe I'm just lucky, but right now I have no complaints on PSN D/L times.

"PlayStation Network users have free access to the content they want."

The content on PSN I want is Qore.

I own both systems

PS3. Its free but the online gaming is a pure failure. I drop signal non stop. It can be so frustrating. I do like the internet browser, but most online streaming like CBS, ABC and such do not support the PS3. I don't want to pay for each movie to stream.

360. The online gaming is great. NETFLIX...I can get streaming or the actual disc. I don't like the way they organized the game section/store.

Either way, owning both systems is the best way to go to avoid rabid fanboyism.

I don't think one should have to dish out $700+ just so they can avoid being called a fanboy. How about you buy the one you think you will enjoy the most first, and then if you absolutely have to, you go get the other one? Seems like a more financially sound plan to me, especially with the world's economy in the toilet.

I have a 360 and I´m pretty happy w/ it. I have all the games I wanna play, all content I want to watch, and especially, a console that privileges online and multiplayer gaming w/ all my friends.

But, indeed, there's two things that PS3 is better than Xbox360: the blue-ray disk player, and the upgrade-free option to use large capacity disks for gaming.

But, I guess that no other than Sony exclusive games will use that extra gigs, because Xbox360 gamers are a market share that no one wants to lose, and, splitting a single game content into two different developments are simply waste of money/profit (the PS3 owners would already buy the game without that extra content).

That leaves us to the conclusion that only the blue-ray disk player is a plus on the PS3.

Whoever sent that can't spell Playstation correctly. Surely a Sony exec will know enough about propaganda to actually spell what they're advertising right. Right? Seems like bull.

As a PS3 owner, I have the following thoughts
1- While Blu-Ray is great, Sony is crazy for closing their PS3 system from Netflix or Amazon Video Store
2- The PS3 Video store is very lackluster, not a easy store to navigate, nor amazing content, its just um... merely ok. it's NOT itunes or Amazon.

Well, thats it, i wish Sony would open up their system, it is a great box, but unless they start opening it up a bit, they are going to keep getting lower sales than xbox or Nintendo.

I'm not on either side. I have a PS3 and an Xbox 360 and I personally like the PSN more. I don't care what anyone says. That's their opinion and their entitled to it.

I use both and I prefer the PSN.

Tongue in cheek or not, I really expected better from you, Ludwig. At least add some humor to it!

My only complaint about PSN downloads is that you have to install the items after they're downloaded. They aren't just available for use.

The XBL interface is better, but for not having to pay for anything on the PSN I'll deal with it's shortcomings :)

Both systems are great. The only one of the 3 current gen systems I don't care for is the Wii.

Killzone 2 is a generic game that looks good every once in a while. There are TONS of areas that reminded me of Gears of War 1 levels that had just loaded and I was waiting for the textures to pop into place... only in KZ2, those WERE the textures. I'm not seeing what's so special about it. Haven't played MP yet but the campaign is underwhelming, especially considering the development time.

And if any of you non-PS3 owners want to know if Guerilla got close to those "target renders"... no, no they did not.. unless you watched them on a 20-year old television set.

*gives Sony a shovel* You'll need this...

Seriously guys, it's about time to STFU and try selling your system without the patented Sony attitude. It would be nice to see you guys around after the PS3, whenever you decide the next-gen starts, but if you keep digging this hole, you won't get out.

What does it matter what console you use? It's like racism and segregation, except now over what game console brand you like most. Me, I have a Wii and a 360, and am planning on getting a PS3 soon, and each has their strengths and weaknesses. I have Live, and believe it's worth it, because I like playing online multiplayer, it's convenient, and it's really not that big a deal. Everyone just stick with what they like best, but keep an open mind to different opinions. Also, remember this: in internet flame wars, neither side will convince the other that they're right, but there will be a whole lot of pointless fighting in the meantime. Not that it isn't damn funny to read.

For a gaming blog its a disgrace to see such a poor comparison when ever anyone tries to defend the PS3 they always forget the 3 main points.
GAMES
GAMES
GAMES
The two systems just don't compare on this front and its why the PS3 continues to fail.

does the 360 have internet browser ?

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Six reasons why PSN is the BEST

Reader Comments (192)

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