Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai outlined Sony’s strategy for 2009 at today’s keynote speech during the Tokyo Game Show. Sony’s strategy seems pretty clear – an emphasis on network play, and creating an attractive price point for the PlayStation 3. He said there are eight elements of network gaming: watch, create, communication, learn, play, share, and discover.
All these elements are necessary to create a truly enjoyable gaming experience, he said, adding that the popularity of games like LittleBigPlanet and Singstar highlight the importance of the network. He went on to explain that since the PS3 Slim launch in September, and the subsequent price drop, Sony has sold more than 1 million units.
As reported in past press conferences from Sony, the company plans to bring the video service to European PS3 gamers, according to Sony’s head Kaz Hirai. The video service will roll out in European countries starting in November. It appears different countries will roll out video stores at different times, but you can expect some countries to get the service starting in November, and running into 2010.
The PlayStation Network is a beast when it comes to online communities. Kaz also said today that there are some 29 million PSN accounts with some 600 million pieces of content downloaded. Again showing off the effectiveness of the network, Hirai said that Media Molecule’s hit LittleBigPlanet now has some 2 million user-generated stages. In case you are wondering, you’d have to spend about six hours a day for nearly 30 years to play every level.