Good article on CGC and ps3 premium

Just recently a list surfaced that gave more detail to the features Sony will be introducing with their Premium PSN service. After looking this list over I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with what was offered. The Cloud Game Storage and Catch TV features stuck out the most to me. Who knows, if 2010 proves to favor me financially maybe I will give the service a try. There is one feature on the list a good number of PS3 fans don’t want to pay for because they believe it should be free (for understandable reasons), and that feature is Cross Game Chat.
First of all, PS3 owners have to realize that Sony did not confirm that CGC was definitely coming. Rumors always placed this feature in the next firmware update but Sony never confirmed it themselves with a definite time and place. However, Sony did heavily imply that they were working on it. I think that Sony should have kept their mouths completely shut if they weren’t planning on it being free because now Chatty Cathy gamers are acting like this feature is owed to them. Are they spoiled, or do they have a legitimate reason to feel cheated? Maybe it’s a little bit of both, but in my opinion Cross Game Chat isn't that important to fuss about.
When I play a game I do not want to be interrupted unless it’s very important. Why talk to you while I’m trying to immerse myself into a game? If I want to talk to you it will have to be online during a Multi-player session or in a regular chat room. I never knew why this feature appeals to so many, until I realized that some people will want something just because everyone else has it. That’s right, I think some PS3 owners only care about CGC because it’s on XBL , and 360 fans love dangling it over their heads like a carrot. When the Premium Service drops you will see a lot of PS3 gamers using the feature because it’s new to them. After they are done with their video game slumber parties I have a feeling that CGC could get annoying very quickly. Here are some reasons why.

• You get a beta or a game before everyone else. You know your friends will want to chat with you to ask “Is it cool?”
  
• Once the PS3 gamer realizes that he/she spends more time talking instead of actually playing games.
  
• Those long stretches of time where the gamers in the chat room aren’t saying much.
  
• You’re making progress in a game (like Demons Souls for example) but keep getting distracted by the invites.
  
• Not being able to account for your friend’s actions and hearing their commotion over the game’s music and sound effects.
  
• Sony better not implement a sound alerting you to a caller. If they do you better be able to turn it off.
  

I’m sure these reasons won’t bother the most hardcore fans of this feature. Just make sure your friends share your enthusiasm for it, or you might become a blocked caller.
In closing, this is how the list describes CGC:
“Get exclusive member-only access to cross-game voice chat. This is the ability to use your headset to voice chat with friends on your PS3 regardless of what they are doing on the PS3.”
To me this sounds more like Sony is also giving you the ability to chat with friends outside the white room. Being able to chat while having full access to the PS3 is more appealing to me then chatting during gameplay. If Sony does make CGC work in this manner then that will be the only way I use the feature.
Until then, leave a message after the beep…