Sony's new Qore service

So first Microsoft brings out the 360 Core edition, then Sony brings one out too, right? Not even close.

Sony has just announced their new Qore digital magazine. It will feature 1-2 hours of HD video content each month, at $3 an episode or approximately $25/yr for 13 episodes. Like many game magazines, it will feature some exclusive previews, content and the like.

And while you're still asking, NO, Sony does not appear to be selling out on the free PSN concept. As "amurphy" says here in a reply on the official blog,

you will have access to exclusive content that would not be available otherwise - it does not impact the availability of the great content found on PSN, nor does it change our free play model.

I've seen a lot of response already to this subject claiming this is Sony trying to charge for content that was free before. Of course its not -- no such 2 hour HD programming existed for free before this. Would the demos have come out anyway? Possibly, but its more likely that there will be demos either available earlier than they would have otherwise been or made because of market pressure that exists from a magazine with a paying demographic that would not have otherwise been made.

Do I think I'll personally subscribe to this? Not immediately -- I'll definitely buy the first episode and see what I get for my money first. If its at least an hour worth of interesting content then I'd be willing to pay $2 an episode (the yearly cost), sure. More importantly, I think this is an excellent way for Sony to test the waters themselves on digital PPV type content on the PSN to prove to other parties that it would in fact be worth investing in. Should Sony have their music store online, for example, or their movies, or offer TV shows? Should other companies be publishing to the PSN on a fee basis? This will be a good example to them of whether or not such a thing is profitable to this market. Hopefully it work out, because more options for content access is always good.

Speaking of content access options though, I sure hope the content is PSP downloadable. Now that my beloved Kratos embossed blood red PSP is available, and I sure hope to get one soon, it would be nice to download such video content to watch elsewhere at my convenience. At the very least, I hope to be given remote play access to it. We'll see what happens on Thursday.