Sony Enters The Qore
Future US, the publisher of PlayStation: The Official Magazine, announced today that it will be producing a "monthly digital program" called Qore to be delivered over the PlayStation Network beginning on June 5. The show will be hosted by Veronica Belmont, who I've never heard of, but would probably recognize if I saw her since she's apparently made guest appearances on Attack Of The Show. However, Qore would seem to be more of an interactive magazine, as it's meant to include playable demos, game previews, and strategies as well as interviews and trailers.
The launch episode is sponsored by Burger King, Universal Pictures, Activision, Codemasters and others. I love the way the press release tries to make ads sound cool: "Qore will be supported by an innovative ad model that incorporates HD rich-media advertisements such as trailers, interstitials, and contextual ads into the presentation." Ooh, sounds like fun! Qore (Which, by the way, that's the best title they could come up with?) will cost $2.99 a month, but they call that an "introductory price," so I guess it could go up. But there's also a 13-month subscription that'll run you $24.99 if you're interested in saving a few bucks. I guess it's cheaper than OPM. Then again, I wonder what this means for OPM. If this takes off, could Future US decide print media isn't worth the trouble?
I'm not sure I'd pay for something similar for my Xbox 360, but how about it? You PlayStation users interested in something like this?
Full press release after the jump for the detail-oriented!
FUTURE US TO PRODUCE GROUNDBREAKING MONTHLY DIGITAL PROGRAM FOR SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA'S PLAYSTATION® NETWORK
QoreTM: Presented By The PLAYSTATION® NETWORK to be the first-ever interactive HD program available through a games console
Launch sponsors include BURGER KING®, Universal Pictures, Activision and Codemasters
South San Francisco, CA (June 3, 2008) - Future US, Inc, the leading publisher of cutting-edge special interest magazines and websites, announced today that it has an exclusive development agreement to produce a monthly digital program to be delivered across Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA)'s PLAYSTATION® Network. Future US holds the exclusive right to sell advertising on the program, which will debut on PLAYSTATION® Network on June 5, 2008.
Powered by Future's renowned editorial staff and developed on its proprietary Future Distributed Media Initiative (FDMI), Qore™: Presented By The PLAYSTATION® Network marks the first time gamers can download interactive high-definition games coverage directly through their console's broadband connection for viewing on their living-room TV screen. Qore will be supported by an innovative ad model that incorporates HD rich-media advertisements such as trailers, interstitials, and contextual ads into the presentation.
Future US is the publisher of PlayStation®: The Official Magazine, which premiered in the US in November 2007. Like the magazine, Qore™ will offer users unprecedented access to the world of PlayStation®. Content will include exclusive playable demos, game previews, strategies and interviews with developers and key industry figures.
For advertisers desiring to reach gamers in an active media environment, Qore is the most direct and efficient way to connect with them while they are on their console, their gamepads in hands, as they are fully captivated by what they see and hear. Qore is already generating huge interest from advertisers. The launch episode will feature support from BURGER KING®, Universal Pictures ("The Incredible Hulk"), Activision ("Guitar Hero: Aerosmith"), Codemasters ("Grid" and "Overlord") and others.
Users may either pay an introductory price of $2.99 (MSRP) for the first episode or sign up for an annual 13-episode subscription for $24.99 (MSRP). Subscribers will have special access to game demos, betas, add-ons and other downloadable and game-related content.
Veronica Belmont, the host of numerous online video programs and podcasts, will be the host of Qore™. Veronica is the co-host of Revision3's tech-centric show Tekzilla and is a frequent guest on G4's "Attack of the Show" as a gaming and technology expert. Formerly, she hosted the popular web show "Mahalo Daily" and was co-host of CNET's programs "Buzz Out Loud," "MP3 Insider" and "Crave." Ms. Belmont is represented by International Creative Management.
"We couldn't be more excited to extend our partnership with SCEA to the PlayStation® Network," commented Future's President Jonathan Simpson-Bint. "This is an opportunity to create a branded media environment unlike anything else in the world and an example of how Future is uniquely positioned to create powerful integrated media solutions for readers and advertisers."
"Qore is a uniquely targeted product, reaching gamers in the interactive, high-definition environment of the console itself," said Future Publishing Director Simon Whitcombe. "For consumers it is a relevant and compelling new format for media, and for advertisers it's a pipeline straight to the game-playing audience."
Wootini
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 3 June 2008
· Comments (7)
Other stuff like this: future us, playstation 3, playstation network, PlayStation The Official Magazine, qore, sony, veronica belmont
I just adore paying hard cash for the privilege of being advertised to, don't you?
I just adore paying hard cash for the privilege of being advertised to, don't you?
I think this is a major failure...
Charging us, for things that we've already been recieving for free, for over a year, and forcing us to watch advertisements...
It's Bullshit.
Isn't OPM dead as of two years ago? I think you mean PSOM.
Veronica Belmont was with CNet on Buzz Out Loud, then moved over to her own show on Mahalo and then shortly after vanished for a secret project... which must be this.
I'd like to see the show, but there is no way I'm paying for it. Not even if there weren't ads. I'm sure if it is worthwhile it will be ripped and available on the net.
Poke around Youtube for a bit and it should be immediately apparent that you can't spit without hitting a video game show... for nothing.... with no ads.
I just hope the failure of this thing doesn't cause them to blame the medium or delivery system.
They need something with more of a hook to get people to care about the "show" content. On another forum someone suggested that if they got someone entertaining like the Penny Arcade guys or Zero Punctuation guy that they would have more of a chance to appeal to yeah... *sigh*... "QORE" audiences.
Without something like that to draw people in, this is basically paying $3 for a socom beta, which I think is pretty evil/wrong/misses the point. Shouldn't demos (and I'll include betas on this too) be something that should be open to as many new audience members as possible so that their game can reach more people? Charging money for a demo seems like they want to keep that content out of the hands of people they are unsure of a game and only made for people already excited for a game so much that they'll pay for early access to content.
This sucks though. With Live, you're paying too much for dedicated servers for matchmaking. With PSN, you're going to be paying too much for high profile betas/demos. And with Wii, you get free semi-busted online and DS demos. How come nobody can get this right?