Online Plans + HDD Price Revealed

[Perfect Stu]

Sony opted for a free, open online game environment. But as we all know by now, nothing is truly free.

Players need to spend $40 for a PlayStation 2 network adapter, which ships in August. This peripheral combines a 56k dial-up modem and Ethernet port for high-speed connectivity, and a startup disc to guide you through the process of taking your PS 2 online.

Sony says its PS 2 adapter will work with any Internet provider. But if you're not already online, the startup disc comes with broadband and dial-up subscription offers from a number of providers, including America Online, AT&T Worldnet and Earthlink.

Subscription

The PS 2 online service may be gratis -- but Sony won't prevent game developers from charging a monthly subscription for online play. Some, like Activision, will continue offering ``networked play'' as a bonus feature. (It's Tony Hawk ``Pro Skater 3,'' which shipped last year, was the first PS 2 title to offer an online component).

Other developers, including Japan's Square Electronic Arts, plan to charge a monthly fee for Final Fantasy XI online sometime next year. That charge comes on top of the $50 price for the software -- and the $80 you'll need to spend to buy a PS 2 hard drive to store Final Fantasy's lush, detail rich environments.

$2 per GIGABYTE. I doubt I'll be buying the HDD this year...but when I see more games support it, I'll probably buy it eventually, maybe after a price drop. The price is lower than what some people were saying...$150? At least $100? Nope. Just like I said, it'd probably be less than $100.