This week, Sony became the first console manufacturer to unveil the details of its broadband services for the PlayStation 2 system.
The service, codenamed PlayStation BB, will be available in Japan in April, 2002 and will allow users to download games, movies, music, webcasts, and digital publications.
The ehart of the services will be the BroadBand Navigator software package, which users will obtain from their ISP's. This package will provide connectivity to the Internet and cellular phones and will also include a PlayStation emulator and PlayStation 2 player in order for PS and PS2 software, downloaded from the network to the hard drive, to be played.
Obvious features, such as email and messenging where also announced as well as the ability to play downloaded music files through the PlayStation Jukebox. Streaming media will also be available to users courtesy of Real Networks.
As is usually the case with such announcements, exact fees where not revealed. NTT Broadband, a content provider in Japan, however, said that initial plans include a monthly fee of 1,500 yen (US$11) for a basic form of Sony's services. Plans also include a fee of 18,000 yen (US$135) payable in full or in monthly installments of 1,160 yen (US$8) for 18 months, that will give users access to downloadable games for PlayStation2.
Sony also announced plans to integrate PS2 hardware into othe electronic appliances such as DVD Players and released a list of online games currently in development by first-party and third-party developers. These are:
Arika
The Dungeon of Doruaga
Atlus
MMORPG (untitled)
Capcom
Auto Modellista
Resident Evil Online (working title)
From Software
Armored Core Sigma
Genki
Tokyo Xtreme Racing Online
Hudson
Bomberman Online (working title)
Koei
Nobunaga's Ambition online RPG (working title)
Konami
Music game (untitled)
Sports game (untitled)
Namco
Clockwork Online (working title)
Action adventure game (untitled)
3D flight shooting game (untitled)
Namco online sports game (working title)
Sega
Guru Guru Onsen PS2 (working title)
Hundred Swords
Simulation game (untitled)
Racing game (untitled)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Arc the Lad Online (working title)
Kuma-uta (working title)
Gran Turismo Online (working title)
Hot Shots Golf Online (working title)
Modiv Ribbon (working title)
Square
Final Fantasy XI
Takara
Network-compatible board game (untitled)
Tecmo
MMO action adventure game (untitled)