Playstation 3.40 Update and what it means to you.

The Playstation 3.40 update will add new features to the console but what does this mean to you.The



Playstation 3.40 will boast a new array of features. These features are:

• PlayStation Plus: PlayStation Network users will be able to purchase membership to Playstation Plus; a new subscription service on the PlayStation Network that provides you with new options to expand and enhance your gaming experience and enable you to gain an exclusive set of features and content. Friendly reminder, all of you PlayStation Network users will continue to have free access to PlayStation Network’s unmatched and expanding suite of new and exclusive features while PlayStation Plus subscribers will gain access to an exclusive and expanding set of gaming features, content and functionality.
• Photo Gallery: A new network based photo sharing feature is now available on the Photo Gallery. 
• Video Editor & Uploader: Video Editor and Uploader is a new function found on the XrossMediaBar (XMB), which enables you to edit, save and upload video files stored on the PS3 system to sites such as Facebook or Youtube.
• Five Star Rating Support: Users can rate the PlayStation Store content they have purchased with one to five star ratings.
• Power Save Settings: The default setting for PS3 System Auto-Off will be set at 2 hours, providing you with additional power save options and further improving power save features on the PS3 system.

While most of these you might use there is one there that stands out. That is the Playstation Plus Store. The new service will be a paid subscription service, which will have the following paid subscription fees: $18 for 3 months and $50 for 1 year. While everything in the Free service still remains the same as before the new Plus service offers exclusive content and features to people who pay for it.

Unlike the Xbox Live service the Plus content seems worth the price. Subscribers who join will have access to exclusives such as Free and Discounted PSN games, Download Demo's and have Access to Beta testing before anyone else and Full Game Trial.

Xbox Live offers services for Gold members such as online play, Download Demo's before Silver Members and the chance to watch Netflix. This is not the case with the Plus service from Sony.

Each month paid subscribers will have access to Free games and those games will remain free only when you remain a paid subscriber. If you decide to cancel the account or decide to take a few months off, those games will reactivate and you can continue to play them until otherwise you cancel or take a few months off. Each month there will be new games to download for free. Just like all other games you can delete and re-download the games as much as you want as long as you remain a member of the Plus service.

Discounted games will be a little bit different. Games will have a discounted price of 20% to 50% off however these games you can keep even if your subscription cancels or suspends.

Early Access to Beta and Demo's are self explanatory.

Try before you Buy or Trial games are full games you can download and play for a certain amount of time. Whatever is unlocked such as Trophies, Characters, Levels etc. will all remain in tact and if you decide to purchase it just go to the PS Store purchase it and continue where you left off.

While the other features are important this is the big Enchilada. The one that gives you the more bang for your buck. The only question in my mind is if Sony has enough PSN games to offer for free every month? I guess they can always loop every now and the to allow people who join in late to download the games they missed out on.

-Donny De Leon