No Xbox Live-style service for PS3

Sony has announced that PlayStation 3's online function won't feature a central service similar to Xbox Live. Instead it will have an 'open architecture' that allows games publishers to decide how they want gamers to get online with their games.

With Xbox Live, publishers have to work with Microsoft, which is something that prevented EA's Xbox games going online until 2004. It seems a similar service to Xbox Live does not appeal to Sony as its approach focuses on giving flexibility and freedom to individual publishers.

However, it hasn't worked especially well for PlayStation 2's online performance, which is well behind Xbox Live in popularity.

It's really unfortunate that Sony doesn't realize the potential there. They should set up a service first and foremost for their own games, and give other publishers the option to use it or not. It translates as 'open architecture' = "we don't want to spend the money, but feel free to do so yourself". I don't know the costs involved but I would guess it's not worth it for most game publishing companies to set up a service which essentially will help to sell more PS3's (or PS2's). Granted, it will promote their game(s) but why should they help to promote a company that's not supporting their product in return.