Sony free service = Xbox live Silver?

[njiska]

From Major Nelson's Blog:

As you can imagine, I look at an online gaming service with a pretty close eye. So imagine my surprise when I was reviewing Sony’s briefing from earlier this week where they announced more details of their online service, and noticed a glaring omission. Sony has said that their online service is free but on the slide they showed during the briefing, where they listed all of the free services, I did not see match-making or online play mentioned. Thus, it seems quite likely that Sony's free service is merely the equivalent of the Xbox Live Silver level of membership, which is also free. So, if I’m right then Sony’s cost advantage for their online service is non-existent. What do you guys think?

Related YouTube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8qhMg3NvJ0

The Major makes a pretty good point when you watch the clip and listen to just what Kaz Hirai has to say.

It's the "These basic services are available for free" line that makes you have to wonder.

Yes, it could just be poor wording, but then again this is Sony.

[s1lence]

I would believe that it would be just like the silver service. They didn't go into the specfics of how their online service is really going to function. Considering what people pay for live and all the features of live it Sony would be stupid not to charge for the good stuff.

[pacmanhat]

Why am I not surprised by this...Sony, you never cease to amaze and sadden me.

[GrayFox]

This doesn't come as a surpise to me in anyway, but I'm gonna wait til we get some confirmation.

Major Nelson probably isn't our most reliable source for Sony stuff, but at least he has a good point.

And I got a feeling Sony likes money, so they'd probably like to charge us.

[tholly]

if it does end up being like xbox live silver, then i wouldnt be the littlest bit surprised.....

[Apossum]

that's immediately what I thought when I heard that line. so basically, the 360 and PS3 are exactly the same this gen, except there's a little more horsepower in the PS3.

looks like I'll buy a wii, sit back and watch the sony and MS libraries grow, then decide on one in a couple years.

[jonnyutah]

ps3 has a little extra hosepower? where is it at? I hope your not counting br disks.