Music video service for the PS3!

WolfForager

http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/979/979978p1.html

Yes it is a worldwide release, not just for the Aussies!

Can't wait personally...

Australia, May 6, 2009 - As part of Sony's Pause event in Sydney, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia announced a new service coming exclusively to the PlayStation 3 - Vidzone. The new service is an optional download that places a new icon on the cross-media bar (XMB), allowing access to a massive number of music videos on demand.

VidZone will also be bringing live concert videos, as well as behind the scenes, interviews and making of footage, to your TV when it launches on PS3.

According to Michael Ephraim, Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Australia, the service is aiming for a June launch, possibly to coincide with E3 - though this is subject to change.

The service itself, which is listed under 'music' on the XMB as a small TV set with a 'Z' in it, is free to all PS3 owners who choose to install the application. However, revenue appears to be generated from ad placement within the browser window.

While in the Vidzone, you can search for artists, by track, genre or album and you can save playlists. The menu is a simple up/down scroll through letters, rather than the pop-up menu generally used.

The selected video can be maximized with a tap of select, instantly filling the screen with sharp, streaming video content. You can also pause, fast-forward and rewind these videos.

We were impressed by the quality of the streaming video - loading without delay and running smoothly in a decent resolution - at this stage, the specifics are unclear. That said, Ephraim confirmed that the service would be cached locally, to ensure that every user, regardless of location, could expect excellent streaming.

That's not all - the service also allows you to set up playlists on your PSP while you're on the go, so they're cued up when you get home to your PS3 console.

Region-specific content is also on the way, and Sony hopes to have 10,000 videos on the service in the near future. Most major labels are currently in talks to bring their artists to the service; Sony has declined to comment further on this.

Stay tuned for more details on Vidzone and other announcements soon.

GothPunk

WolfForager wrote: »

Yes it is a worldwide release, not just for the Aussies!

I read on Eurogamer that it was only available in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia. Either way I don't care about that because I'm just happy we're getting it, I do love a good music video. Let's just hope they have a good selection of videos.

WolfForager

GothPunk wrote: »

I read on Eurogamer that it was only available in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia. Either way I don't care about that because I'm just happy we're getting it, I do love a good music video. Let's just hope they have a good selection of videos.

Hmm, the subject of that article said that it was a "world wide release", even though you can't see it on my extract there. Meh, IGN get alot of things wrong :P

demanufactured

heh it'll probably videos from chart music , zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Gummy Panda

I bet this is going to be a version of the planned Sony Ericsson system that is launching around June.

TestTransmission

Email received from Sony with the following info.

"When you download the VidZone music video application for PLAYSTATION®3, you’re getting thousands of music videos to watch whenever you like, absolutely free.

The videos are streamed to your PS3, so there’s no time wasted waiting for downloads, plus they look great on your TV. You can even create playlists for your next party or have all of your favourites in the same place – there is no limit to how many videos you can add or how many playlists you can create.

The VidZone music video application places thousands of videos at your fingertips, so download it for free when it comes to PlayStation®Store soon"

WolfForager

Soon?? How soon?? 3months??? Woot!!!


I love Sony and their "soons"

acidburn51737

WolfForager wrote: »

Soon?? How soon?? 3months??? Woot!!!


I love Sony and their "soons"

Same here lol

TestTransmission

demanufactured wrote: »

heh it'll probably videos from chart music , zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

hopefully it wont be,if it isnt it could be a great thing...great for house parties and the like

Mossy Monk

Is there any idea on how long soon is for this?

TestTransmission

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Is there any idea on how long soon is for this?

Summer 2009 :cool:

cotwold

I cant really see whats exciting about this, i can already access youtube and muzu for all my music video news. Id much prefer to see an update allowing us play our own music ingame.

WolfForager

cotwold wrote: »

I cant really see whats exciting about this, i can already access youtube and muzu for all my music video news. Id much prefer to see an update allowing us play our own music ingame.

Possibly because you can stream high quality music? As far as i a can remember youtube is not the creme de la creme when it comes to music quality.

cotwold

WolfForager wrote: »

Possibly because you can stream high quality music? As far as i a can remember youtube is not the creme de la creme when it comes to music quality.

Not the best quality no but nowhere has a better selection of videos. Anyway muzu.tv is great quality.

RangeR

cotwold wrote: »

Not the best quality no but nowhere has a better selection of videos. Anyway muzu.tv is great quality.

Doesn't play all that well on PS3 though.

gloobag

From what I remember, the Vidzone website was basically just away to sell you ringtones and videos for your phone, plus all the music on it was pop ****e. I wouldn't get too excited.

WolfForager

gloobag wrote: »

From what I remember, the Vidzone website was basically just away to sell you ringtones and videos for your phone, plus all the music on it was pop ****e. I wouldn't get too excited.

Surely Sony know that most people who own a PS3 don't listen to Pop? I doubt they'd launch something that only a small percentage of the ps3 population will enjoy.

Mossy Monk

WolfForager wrote: »

I doubt they'd launch something that only a small percentage of the ps3 population will enjoy.

They did launch Home

RangeR

WolfForager wrote: »

Surely Sony know that most people who own a PS3 don't listen to Pop? I doubt they'd launch something that only a small percentage of the ps3 population will enjoy.

What's the demographic breakdown of PS3 owners. I'd say a lot of them are pre-pubescent / teenagers. Just the market for shoite ringtones and the like.

However, and I'm not that into pop, but the service would still be good for a bit of music for a home party [which I have 4 or 5 times a year]. PS3 hooked up to 42" Plasma pumping out music videos of my choice. Sounds like a winner to me.

Rev. Kitchen

RangeR wrote: »

What's the demographic breakdown of PS3 owners. I'd say a lot of them are pre-pubescent / teenagers. Just the market for shoite ringtones and the like.

However, and I'm not that into pop, but the service would still be good for a bit of music for a home party [which I have 4 or 5 times a year]. PS3 hooked up to 42" Plasma pumping out music videos of my choice. Sounds like a winner to me.

I think the average age now is about 25-30, people that grew up on consoles but are now working and not married with kids so they can afford these things.

WolfForager

Mossy Monk wrote: »

They did launch Home

Touché :P

RangeR wrote: »

What's the demographic breakdown of PS3 owners. I'd say a lot of them are pre-pubescent / teenagers. Just the market for shoite ringtones and the like.

However, and I'm not that into pop, but the service would still be good for a bit of music for a home party [which I have 4 or 5 times a year]. PS3 hooked up to 42" Plasma pumping out music videos of my choice. Sounds like a winner to me.

The 360 is more aimed at your prebuscent teens, the PS3 is more aimed at the older generation of gamers.

projectmayhem

RangeR wrote: »

What's the demographic breakdown of PS3 owners. I'd say a lot of them are pre-pubescent / teenagers. Just the market for shoite ringtones and the like.

I think the most users are the 18-35 age group. This is down to cost and the fact that this age group has the most disposable income at hand. There are pubescent users, but a lot less then the 360, who's price point is perfect for them spending their pocket money or part-time job money. You can also tell it's all 13 year olds when playing a round of halo3 online. Apparently I'm a homosexual black gentleman.

RangeR

projectmayhem wrote: »

Apparently I'm a homosexual black gentleman.

WolfForager

projectmayhem wrote: »

Apparently I'm a homosexual black gentleman.

Well the general consensus on Xbox Live is that i'm a gay dancing leprachaun

thebman

This is exactly why I mute everyone when playing Halo 3 right at the start. The only annoying this is it doesn't remember this preference. I only want to hear friends, not the other jackarses.

It still doesn't stop you seeing offensive gamertags like one I saw the other day was sixmillionjews etc....

Keith C

slightly off topic but when your playing music thru the PS3, you have the solar system/planet screensaver thingy, is there a way of downloading some differant ones?

thebman

I don't think so, the standard one sucks though. The 360 visualisations look way better IMO.

Would be great to just get support for plugin stuff like that or have goom or something as an alternative.

WolfForager

It's going live today

http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/993/993797p1.html

thebman

Cool, must check it out.

Has potential if implemented properly :-/

Thank for the info.

Its actually launching tomorrow for EU:
http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=bANZ_announcements_events&view=by_date_ascending&message.id=1592

bucks73

thebman wrote: »

Cool, must check it out.

Has potential if implemented properly :-/

Thank for the info.

Its actually launching tomorrow for EU:
http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=bANZ_announcements_events&view=by_date_ascending&message.id=1592

Your link is for the Aus/NZ forums. Its launching in Europe today.

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/06/11/vidzone-lands-on-playstation3-today/

thebman

Ah okay I was wondering about that after reading here. I just ran into it on google looking for a time for launch.

Anybody know what it is supposed to go up at?

edit--

I clicked the link 3PM :P

It is up now

Downloading, I'll update here when done. Its installed now.

Keith C

ok have it downloaded, trying to get into vidzone application, took a while, now "updating vidzone music viseo catalogue" (may take several minutes)

Keep getting error message, hopefully this is just launch day syndrom due to heavy traffic!

thebman

Yeah me too, I've gotten some timeouts trying to get in TBH. Getting error messages for updating feeds and accepting Eula.

Guess they weren't expecting the traffic, feed download failed for second time now lol.

Thought it might be my connection so at least other people are having the problems

Was playing Halo for about 2 hours earlier so I don't think it could be my connection. Its an 8Meg connection too so speed not an issue.

okay its borked, the only thing happening faster now is the error messages :P

WolfForager

Dling now

And yep it's taking quite a while to boot up..

GothPunk

From the EU Playstation Blog:

Vidzone Rep wrote:

Oh, and for all who suspect we will be catering for just you pop loving people only… think again! VidZone is launching with over 10,000 music videos, 4,000 artists, 2 Major and thousands of Independent labels, across 12 main genres. You will find all your favourite acts including Metallica, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, System Of A Down, Oasis, The Killers, Kings of Leon, 50 cent, Eminem, Kanye, Jay-Z, Aphex Twin, Rage Against The Machine and Pearl Jam as well as Lady GaGa, Britney, Beyonce, Leona Lewis, Sneaky Sound System, Jamiroquai, Justin Timberlake…and tonnes of dance acts from Ministry of Sound and other huge global stars like Tiesto, Fatboy Slim, Maura Picotto, Eric Prydz, Armand van Helden, Basshunter, Freemasons and more! We will be adding loads of videos all the time so if you can’t find your favourite video to start with it shouldn’t be long for us to get it so keep checking back and you may be pleasantly surprised.

So as I was hoping it's not going to be pop focused. Hope they have some Placebo on there

WolfForager

Would be cool if they somehow intergrated it with music and we could play the sgons whilst playing games... Probably infringes on some copyright or something though.

thebman

That rocks, I really hope it fooking works this time :P

WolfForager

Ffs, apparently i live outside the EU and i can't use it. BS.

thebman

WolfForager wrote: »

Would be cool if they somehow intergrated it with music and we could play the sgons whilst playing games... Probably infringes on some copyright or something though.

I think Ms own the patent on that. Still failing lol

thebman

WolfForager wrote: »

Ffs, apparently i live outside the EU and i can't use it. BS.

It works off IP, which ISP are you with?

Its failed about 20 times so far for me to retrieve the feeds. What the hell is going on?

WolfForager

PSI.. My IP hails from Washington DC apparently. Gah. I wonder if contacting these people would help...

thebman

It doesn't really matter at the moment seeing as the bloody thing won't work for me and I'm in the EU.

Been trying to upload feed for about 10 minutes now, lol.

Keith C

my error occurs "while checking country"
mine was bought in ireland so doubt its that yours was bought in america is a problem.

woo hoo im in!!

looks slick, even has recomended playlists, 90's, hard rock, ibiza, indie

apex twin & take that in same playlist!!!

sweet first video is Korn frak on a leash, great vid, colour looks bit dark, sound is perfect

thebman

No their servers are borked so it can't get that information from the server for your PS3 account/IP address which is causing the problem.

That is worrying considering how small that information would be. Their servers must be completely screwed. If it doesn't work shortly, I'm just going to give up.

edit another error how surprising.

WolfForager

Apparently deleteting and redownloading it works... trying it now.

WarZoneBrother

Very good service imo well worth the download anyways

thebman

lol how the hell are people getting into this thing. I quit out and launched it again and now it won't even download the EULA.

WolfForager

If this doesn't work for me i'm rining my ISP and gonna scream down the phone at them for being cheap bastards.

amacachi

WolfForager wrote: »

If this doesn't work for me i'm rining my ISP and gonna scream down the phone at them for being cheap bastards.

Good plan. On the other hand I'm just going to leave it a while til people get bored of error messages and the server load is less.

WarZoneBrother

Well I got an error message about some country thing a few times and then it let me in so I updated it and then I was in the vidzone menu so started playing some tunes and it's awesome

thebman

At least it has lots of error messages. I've got about 8 different ones so far.

New one is at least honest

Vidzone is experiencing high levels of demand. Please wait a few moments then restart teh application to try again.