The world wide web that PS3 Online weaves

Listed in: Previews, PlayStation ´Hub?´
Tags: Sony Between all the previews and the rumors, we still never really had an intimate look at the PS3 Online service. Never had the feeling of surfing the Web through the SIXAXIS, or Square-X-Circling through different download options. Well, one man finally had his hands on PS3 Online long enough to talk about it, and talk about it he does - Rob Fahey of Eurogamer.

First highlight is that the PS3 will support multiple induvidual user profiles on the same console. Useful, says Fahey, for when you have friends over or are sharing the same console. Online will have a fully functional web 2.0-compliant browser, and friends networking will support both text, voice, and video chat, with both the SIXAXIS and a variety of accessories (EyeToy, USB keyboard, etc.).

Second is accounts management. There are two types: Master and Apprentice Associate. Associated accounts could be used, say in families where a parent would like to limit how much his or her kid spends in the online store. Register for accounts in a simple set of on-screen forms, and hook up with any registered User ID from around the world. That´s right: all sign-in IDs are global, so you can add friends from all over the world.

Speaking about the online store. First, the only time you´ll spend a penny, pence, farthing, percentage of a euro, a few yens, or whatever is when you purchase something. All online and multiplayer services are free. Rob said the Sony Connect Store looked like iTunes, complete with wide filtering and sorting options to help customers find the items they may want.

Prices are not advertised in "points" of any kind. They are marked up in local currency. Which means you will see prices in dollars, yens, euros, pesos, marks, pounds, and sea shells and pebbles, wherever you may live. The Sony Wallet (the online means of online payment on the PS3) can also be used to pay for third-party purchases and subscriptions - like third party MMOGs. No credit card details, no exchange of sensitive personal info.

So there you have it. Three major highlights of Sony´s PS3 Online and PlayStation Network. Next we hope to cover other items, such as the Achivement-esque "Entitlements."

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