Premium themes come to the PlayStation Store
- Posted October 8th, 2008 at 21:25 EDT by Eric Blattberg
- 6,065 views
- 59 Comments
To complement the various free and user-created themes currently available, Sony will begin to offer premium themes -- at the price of $1-2 -- on the PlayStation Store.
Now, just to clarify, new free themes will still be offered weekly. For those of you who shout doom and gloom, simply pretend these premium themes don't exist. For others willing to spend a buck or two on an immaculately crafted theme, however, that's now an option.
Themes will range from game-oriented (like the BioShock theme pictured above) to beauties on the beach to original cartoons and anime. Sony will offer about six to ten premium themes a month.
While the themes sure look great, we can't but help prefer the magical word free (warning: blatant plug for our theme section up ahead). You know where you can find thousands of free themes? Right here on PSU.
Do you approve or disapprove of this addition to the PlayStation Store? Let your voice be heard in the comment section below.
Comments
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primalbreath |
jdawg222- 9:38pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 4
its dumb. i dont like that move. ill be getting my free ones anyways. which are freaking sweet by the by
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mrwonderr
- 9:49pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 5
No, a microsoft move would be allowing only Premium themes and no user themes.
There are plenty of users who are great at creating themes. I don't care, really. Heck, if this gives Sony more money (which they need to fund 3rd parties *cough cough*), it's cool in my book.
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tristan88888888 |
Tristan88888888- 10:16pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 8
i dont like this at all. that means now all the free thems will be the bad ones with only different backgrounds and the good ones like the bionic commando rearmed themes will cost money. seeing as people like modus can make amazing themes for free ill stick with those. also people could just recreate the premium ones and distribute them over this very site.
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StarLotusVII |
StarLotusVII- 11:01pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 15
This is really great move for the psn stores diversity. I think it's a great idea to have free content complimented by quality premium cash content because sometimes I want to spend money on quality items. Can't wait to see what's next, xDD
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BlueSteel18 |
BlueSteel18- 11:14pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 16
I think it's a good idea. We don't pay anything for access to the magical services that are the PS Store and PSN so we can't complain if they want to add items that cost a few bucks. If you don't want to buy it don't pay for it. With Xbox live, you have to pay annually for the service PLUS more money for any theme that you want to download (unless you want to just download stupid BK Lounge and Mtn Dew themes). I applaud Sony for offering us free access AND a mixture of themes (some free and some for a fee). And don't forget people, you can find awesome themes for free online, or you can make your own.
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Algonath |
Algonath- 11:17pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 19
laughs @ yal
the irony, the fact that PS Fanboys make fun of the 360 fanboys for not having free themes on the Marketplace is now the vice versa. LMAO the tables have turned.
***My bad guys for my attitude lol. I love my PS3 but I could'nt shake of the fact that irony is involved and its sorta hilarious Lol. But those themes look good tho. If I had a buck laying around I might spend it on it.****
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hvnlyswrd08
- 11:22pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 21
wow our economy is that low...anyways im staying with my awesome theme. I really appreciate that psu is not that cheap as to charge for themes thank you..And bioshock rules!!
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Staticneuron |
Staticneuron- 11:23pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 22
@Algonath
This doesn't change the fact that you can download and create your own themese for free. There is no sane reson ANYONE should be crying or complaining about.
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rahstar2003 |
explosive78- 11:24pm BST - October 8th, 2008
- 23
Of course I approve. Sony has to make money also, it is a business.
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Morganator |
Hero_Nakamoura- 12:02am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 24
To be honest, if these themes were animated like the original theme when you first boot up the PS3, ( the ocean wave or whatever you call it) then I would gladly pay the one to two dollars asking price. An animated Matrix theme, water drops, steam pump, steam, moving clouds, rubics cube or just about anything you can think of would work well. This could work well if it's done right.
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Xdeth |
Xdeth- 12:53am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 26
I really dont see why everyone is upset. Sony is not forcing you to buy them. Their are more then enough free ones out there both user generated and official. This is just a way for them to generate a little more money considering all the cash they have dropped for free online gaming and Home whenever it comes out. As long as the theme's are something that interest me, I will probaly pic a few up.
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Anim3Fr33K |
Anim3Fr33K- 2:05am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 30
No botherd to me, im happy with my manga theam i grabed ages ago and have never changed
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UnasFortuna |
Unas_Fortuna- 2:32am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 31
Yes, there are nice ones out there for free; however, if Sony makes some sweet ones... I am more than happy to put out a 1 or 2 dollars (if it is worth it). I don't know how to make my own nor do I have the time to learn. Sony gives us alot for free already and I harbour no ill will towards them for finally charging for something as simple as this which is not required. I never understand all the bashing honestly for Sony when they do something so simple. We currently have the best bluray player on the market that just also happens to play some amazing games with free online play. What is there to gripe about really? It doesn't mean it is the end of the world.
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Graham |
RhesusVX- 4:41am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 33
Wow, now that would be one huge waste of money right there. Still, they are optional, so can't complain. My GT5 theme, that was FREE, is still the best out there IMO. Besides, until SONY allow you to change the font colour in the XMB, most of these themes are pointless anyway.
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bilbo_bobbins |
bilbo_bobbins- 4:52am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 34
why pay for a "premium" theme when you could get something similar for free. Pointless.
To be honest, I don't spend time looking at my XMB enough to want to pay for them.
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Atreides
- 5:15am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 35
I like this idea. Not to insult the various people who put them together, but in the thousands of free themes on PSU, I have not found any both looked good, and were useable. Of course I didnt look at _all_ of them, but after 30 or so pages of nothing but garbage (and some high rated garbage), I gave up looking.
I would definitly buy a good professionally designed theme, and I am glad to see that they will finally be available. Hopefully this will give Sony more reason to allow us to change our text color in the XMB. This ruins many themes because a bright background, and white text do not mix...
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HalfOfZero |
HalfOfZero- 5:58am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 38
There better be something really f**kin special about these themes for me to throw some D's at it (always wanted to say that lol) Theres already a huuuuge selection here on PSU, albeit theres only a handful thats really original...
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Atreides
- 6:53am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 39
@ Carl
And that of course would be a copyright violation.
Premium themes means that we will get themes designed by talented people who do it for a living, not by anyone who happens to throw together some random icons with a backdrop (or two) that usually doesnt work well with the XMB font color, which is what PSU is flooded with.
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Ocelot1987 |
METSTM- 6:59am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 40
Why not? I hope Sony does make some money off it so they can put it towards their new games. Its not like they are taking away the free ones. :)
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The_Sorrow_Gamer |
The_Sorrow_Gamer- 7:02am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 41
1 or 2 dollars guys thats not alot only when everything is free >:(
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morrelli43 |
ONEmanFIGHTclub- 7:34am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 42
they should give them free depending on your trophy score i think... other wise pay the tiny fee.... my opinion... ooh ooh, or a corresponding theme could be free if you have that game and/or enough trophies on it..
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GamingGumper
- 8:42am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 45
I certainly dont mind. It takes time to create a well crafted theme, and if the additional price is reflected in the price I would be willing to pay. I don't know about paying for game related themes as these are essentially free advertising. Some of the free ones I have downloaded are pretty but impractical since they have been difficult to read.
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Whitman |
Whitman- 10:43am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 47
I don't understand what all the beef is about... really... you've been given the tools to design and make your own theme's for free for quite some time... you've got plenty of places to get free theme's if you are too lazy to make your own... and if you are really lazy and want something better now you can pay for it... sounds like a lot of choices to me.... isn't that a good thing?! you people are all crying like they took away your options and holding a gun to your head now to pay for stuff... I wish people would just stop looking for something to beach about
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Cyphers_Lock |
Cyphers_Lock- 10:50am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 48
I think its a great idea. Free ones for the people that want them. And for those that don't mind, premium ones for cheap. And Sony is giving talented people a way to express themselves and get paid. Not everything can be free, and if you're quibbling over 1 or 2 bucks, you need your head examined. Nicely done, Sony :)
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SamuraiClarke
- 11:27am BST - October 9th, 2008
- 49
No way. This is ridiculous! I can't understand why Sony would charge for themes, this is blasphemy! I love having quality themes, and most of the free themes are excellent.. But I don't want to have to buy themse....
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Xandure |
Xandure- 12:43pm BST - October 9th, 2008
- 50
@12 you must be, becuase in the gay book it says that only gay people may use that word, unless you some kind've homophob, but whatever i dont mind paying for themes if it means having a theme that someone else doesnt more power to me and for those of you willing to pay, i mean come on the psn cards are readily available at retailers so i dont see why everyone is complaining, if you dont want to pay then too bad dont complain.
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