Playstation Plus is Destined to Succeed

I was and still am an XBOT. But I do love my PS3 too. After reading all the doom and gloom posts about how the PSN+ is going to fail, I thought I would highlight some reasons why I think it will succeed. So here are some points to consider:

1. The PSN+ is new! This is virtually day one for the fledging new service. Remember how horrible XBOX Live was the first day is was available? And you still had to pay $50/year for far far less content and services than you get from just the free PSN now, much less the PSN+.

2. Predictions state that 1 million subscribers will sign up the first month alone. That is a $50 million dollar cash influx to Sony on the start of the PSN+. And that number will likely double this time next year when subscriptions run out and word of mouth increases the subscription base. Granted not all of that money will go to the PSN infrastructure, but it is a safe bet that a good portion will. That will allow Sony to spend more time and resources on making the PSN/PSN+ better. Remember, XBOX Live took years to get to where it is today, it did not happen overnight. And their success was fueled by the $50/year subscription fees each year. Sony should now enjoy the same improvement curve for the same reasons.

3. For $50, you will no doubt get at least $50 worth of content back over the course of the year. 15 months, if you signed up early. Sony obviously does not have the services (i.e. voice messages, cross game chat, party system, reporting system, reputation system, etc.) yet. But they more than make up for that with "content". Games, themes, Qore, etc.

4. Services. Voice messaging, cross game chat and all that will most likely come to PSN+ (not free PSN). I would expect to see some if not all of these in the next 15 months. Imagine the value when you get all the XBOX Live services plus all the nifty extra "content" that you get now. I don't mind waiting for that.

5. The yellow PSN+ symbol by your PSN ID. Petty? Yes. Cool? Oh, yes. Sure, it's "shiny beads and shallow flattery" on Sony's part (anyone remember that quote from M*A*S*H?). However, little things like that can have a huge impact on people. Who wants to be on the only person on their friends list without it?

6. The install base. Sony now has the install base that makes the publishers/developers take notice. Hence, Valve and EA focusing on the PS3 in ways they did not previously. And they are not the only ones. With the much larger install base, that is growing nicely every month, there are sufficient numbers now to fuel and sustain the PSN+.

Anyway, those are my 2 cents from an old XBOT who sees his PS3 as being his more played console going forward.

And keep in mind that we, the consumers, WIN when both Microsoft and Sony are neck and neck. Because they are in full swing competition and innovation mode.