PS3 Back Catalogue Download Service

lee87 · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:10

Reports from development sources close to Sony Computer Entertainment are indicating that the firm is planning a major digital distribution service for game content, which could be a key element of PlayStation 3 - or even of a relaunched PS2.

This could indicate that Sony is hoping to provide a service for the PS3 similar to Nintendo's Revolution digital download system, which will allow users to access a back catalogue of Nintendo titles through the next-generation console.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15294

I don't think that this will be a good idea as the ps2/ps1 games would take ages to download as they are around 4GB for ps2 and 650mb for ps1.

bingham67 · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:20

Indeed your need a big hard drive

McManicMan · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:36

and a ISP that doesn't have stupidly low caps

Oops Dead Again · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:37

and a PS3!!!!!!!

Ren.182 · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:39

I don't see it as a problem. Internet speeds are slowly creeping up. And to download a Gigabyte of data only takes about an hour on average now (if it's maxed out and depending on your internet speed).

Nice idea. Nintendo had the idea first though

NokkonWud · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:21

Wouldn't be too hard to have the PS3 download a game overnight...

Smit · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:29

The Xbox 360 demos are around 1 GB so there would be no problems with PS1 games, also as said you can leave it on overnight for the bigger games.

However the ISP cap problem is quite a big one... seen a number of ISPs that only have 1GB or 2GB caps

JimmyEatWorms · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:36

I can't see this working without some way of burning them to disc...unless the PS3 has a huuuuuuuuuge HD (which would mean it would be even more expensive).

As for ISP caps...well, you can change ISP's you know.

NokkonWud · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:39

NTL apaprently have a cap... I've never had any issues with either up or downstreams...

DaveyD · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:43

JimmyEatWorms said:
I can't see this working without some way of burning them to disc...unless the PS3 has a huuuuuuuuuge HD (which would mean it would be even more expensive).

As for ISP caps...well, you can change ISP's you know.

Plus if I recall correctly, the PS3 HDD will be an optional extra, from a news post / rumor I read on here, though don't know how much truth is in that.

Would be good if the PS3 would let you downlaod to your own external HDD, then you could use as many as you wanted.

jklc · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:15

If it does catch on, we'll probably see ISPs putting all these extras on for PS3 exclusive downloads or something. I guess Nintendo sticking to carts all those years ago has a benefit today

Phil99 · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:27

jklc said:
If it does catch on, we'll probably see ISPs putting all these extras on for PS3 exclusive downloads or something. I guess Nintendo sticking to carts all those years ago has a benefit today

Problem is the ISPs still have to pay BT (mainly) for the bandwidth so the ISPs aren't just going to turn round and say "oh, it's for legitimate use, you can download tens of gigs uncapped", they're going to want you to pay for the bandwidth

Unless you mean them having a fixed cap for normal usage and a PAYG bandwidth model for PS3 etc? (A bit like Eclipse Flex)

Ren.182 · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:14

Ahh. The luxuries of un-capped internets. :cool:

Ultra_Extreme · 15 Mar 2006 at 01:13

aol platinum for the win, none of the software and multi computer uncapped goodness, used to do 15gig a day thru the newsgroups

Tunney · 15 Mar 2006 at 10:04

NTL apaprently have a cap... I've never had any issues with either up or downstreams...

75GB per month on their 10Mbit service, though I've never seen it enforced.

Assuming Sony hosts the games on a fast server, I don't see there being any problems downloading a 1GB game.