Edge publisher Future and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have announced the launch of FirstPlay, the continent's first on-console, interactive show available in HD directly through PS3.
The weekly, subscription based show will be accessible via the PlayStation Network when it debuts in the UK next month, and across selected European and PAL territories later in 2010.
With content being created by a hand-picked team of TV and gaming veterans, FirstPlay will offer HD reviews and previews of the latest games from the Official PlayStation Magazine team, as well as exclusive access to downloadable content.
Registered PS3 users will be able to buy a three month subscription at £8.99 or purchase single episodes for 99p.
Featuring just six premium video advertising slots per episode, FirstPlay will also enable advertisers to target an engaged audience of gamers with HD video advertising slots. FirstPlay delivers total user views and other key user data as well as click throughs to deep web links and to the PSN Store.
"As PlayStation 3 moves the gaming experience to a more social and competitive online environment through the PlayStation Network, so it becomes critical that we’re offering gamers the very best content and services through this channel,” said Ray Maguire, senior VP of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and managing director of SCE UK. “FirstPlay is a great example of this. Future has an outstanding track record in producing content for gamers that is informed, impartial, relevant and with the right production values, so we see them as a natural partner to work with as we move to on-console media development."
Future UK chief executive Robert Price added: “FirstPlay is a groundbreaking development, not just for gamers, but for the media industry, and we are delighted to be partnering with Sony on this pioneering project. On-console delivery is an exciting next step in Future’s strategy of providing high quality content for readers and integrated media solutions for advertisers. We believe that we’ve created a product that will appeal to gamers in a uniquely effective and targeted way.”