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[Pandemic]

A PS3 ebook strategy will be unveiled by Sony at E3, MCV understands.

It will be called ‘Storyteller’ and will see PS3 – and possibly Vita – used to present interactive documents and books, with a particular focus on children’s content.

This content will form another sub-section of Sony’s PlayStation Network Store – the rejuvenation of which is expected to constitute a large part of the company’s E3 offering.

Speculation has also linked Nintendo to the ebook sector, with both its portable 3DS and upcoming home console the Wii U seen as viable platforms.

Sony will have to take on major players like Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPad, however, if it wishes to claim meaningful slice of the market. It’s a sector the company has dabbled in before with its now closed PSP comics offering.

When contacted by MCV, Sony said that it does not comment on rumour or speculation.

Source: MCV

This could work well on the PS Vita, but I'm skeptical about the Playstation 3..

Thoughts?

 

[DECK'ARD]

I hope this takes up a substantial amount of the E3 conference for the GAF reaction and gifs.

 

[Sendou]

Who would want to read books from a TV screen?

 

[Mama Robotnik]

Well, that's ten minutes of the Sony E3 conference accounted for.

 

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

Who the hell reads ebooks on their TV?

 

[DECK'ARD]

Who would want to read books from a TV screen?

Throw a ball for Spot the dog using Move.

 

[Cjdamon042]

Oh a handheld, sure, but who would want to read a book off their TV or monitor from a couch 6 feet away? I can't imagine it being comfortable or practical.

And the name...Why are Sony so meh when it comes to names?

 

[vagabondarts]

Sounds like a great idea.

 

[Pie and Beans]

I'm still a bit confused as to what Sony's strategy is with apps on the Vita. Still no Vita, and one would think allowing an Comixology app or something would give it feature parity in that area too.

Oh well, another thing to sit through at E3 while anticipation builds and is as ever, never fully met.

 

[Glass Rebel]

What they're actually saying is "Keep your GIF machines in check"

 

[DiscoJer]

There's actually a woman on Mobileread (a big forum for e-reader fans) that reads on her TV screen. But yeah, it's pretty rare.

I'm still perplexed that Sony never added e-reader support to the Vita (and PSP for that matter). People read on their phones, why not their Vita/PSP? (Heck, there is a homebrew e-reader app for the PSP). Then again, this is Sony, that would require the e-book division to work with the gaming divisions...

 

[mr_toa]

Needs to be on Vita and PS3, good opportunity to promote another angle of the "cross play" selling point.

 

[C_H_T]

I think Sony wants to add an ebook sector to their Sony Entertainment Network (SEN), which will be compatible across their Sony Devices (TV, PS3, tablets, phones) and even on 3rd party devices. Sth silimar they want to achieve with PlayStation Suite.

 

[Bojanglez]

Presumably these wont be traditional books, but some kind of interactive medium more geared to TVs, Tablets and handhelds?

 

[spwolf]

I think Sony wants to add an ebook sector in their Sony Entertainment Network (SEN), which will be compatible across their Sony Devices (TV, PS3, tablets, phones) and even on 3rd party devices. Sth silimar they want to achieve with PlayStation Suite.

yep... e-readers too.

 

[DECK'ARD]

Presumably these wont be traditional books, but some kind of interactive medium more geared to TVs, Tablets and handhelds?

Sounds like the self-contained kid's books on the App Store.

 

[ShinobiFist]

If true, good. Is not a feature I would use on my PS3, but on a Vita, sure. Options are good, so is synergy across all SONY devices. More of this needs to happen....

 

[C_H_T]

yep... e-readers too.

Oh yeah, Sony also releases e-readers.

 

[michaelius]

There's actually a woman on Mobileread (a big forum for e-reader fans) that reads on her TV screen. But yeah, it's pretty rare.

I'm still perplexed that Sony never added e-reader support to the Vita (and PSP for that matter). People read on their phones, why not their Vita/PSP? (Heck, there is a homebrew e-reader app for the PSP). Then again, this is Sony, that would require the e-book division to work with the gaming divisions...

Yeah - any ebook reader on vita would be great

 

[Wolf Akela]

Where's the market?

Who wants to read on TVs?

Tablets are so rampant right now. It's more practical to read from there instead of the smaller Vita screen.

 

[Oddduck]

There was a rumor in January about Nintendo experimenting and looking into Wii U controller and 3DS as being a potential ereader.

http://www.forgetthebox.net/mag/culture/forum-m/nintendo-e-readers.php

 

[TheOddOne]

The part that struck me was that PSN is expected to constitute a large part of the Sony’s E3 offering.

 

[Taker666]

Where's the market?

Who wants to read on TVs?

Tablets are so rampant right now. It's more practical to read from there instead of the smaller Vita screen.

True. The Vita screen is too small to attract many users as an eReader ..and although the Wii U screen is of comparible size to an eReader..it's not truly portable. Neither would be the first choice for people interested in the functionality.

I think Sony and Nintendo would be wasting their time in setting up their own store for eBooks (other than for exclusive content/free books). Far better just to talk to Amazon and get a Kindle App for their devices...that way it will at least be useful as a secondary reading device for another member of the family.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

Sony the PSVita should be nothing more than a portable gaming device, stop with the distractions.

 

[Bojanglez]

Yeah - any ebook reader on vita would be great

books.google.com in the browser is not ideal, but it works.

 

[Protome]

Oh a handheld, sure, but who would want to read a book off their TV or monitor from a couch 6 feet away? I can't imagine it being comfortable or practical.

And the name...Why are Sony so meh when it comes to names?

What do you mean!? Sony names are great and catchy, I love my Sony NWZ-A865!

Spoiler

its an MP3 player...

 

[greycolumbus]

Can't wait for the inevitable hilarious internet backlash during the conference.

Something like an interactive storyteller app sounds cool but I honestly don't see Sony being the one to be successful with it.

 

[HiddenAway]

Who would want to read books from a TV screen?

The same people who were cheesed off when the comics reader was only released for PSP for a start...

 

[Oddduck]

I know this has nothing to do with Sony, but since we're on the topic of ebooks on game consoles....More evidence that Nintendo will do ebooks.

http://www.linkedin.com/company/2269096

Founded in 2000, Evergeek Media Inc. is a leading news syndicate providing consumer-technology news stories and product reviews to print and online publications everywhere. Serving such discerning clients as The Canadian Press, AOL, The Toronto Star, MSN, The South China Morning Post and the Rochester Post Bulletin, Evergeek Media's article archive is updated daily, delivering press-ready copy and graphics through XML Web Services and other propriety methods. Designed to meet the growing demand for impartial coverage of digital lifestyle products and trends, from the Wii U to Facebook, Electric Vehicles to iPad2, Evergeek Media's cost-effective content solution bridges the gap between mainstream media and the enthusiast press by providing a unique, independent voice backed by a wealth of knowledge, humanizing technology with information that is both entirely useful and fun to read.

 

[jiggles]

Just bring back the comics store, Sony.

 

[Trevelyon]

Sony should invest in an episodic Henson/HBO's Storyteller next-gen game by SSM.

 

[RobotChant]

I know this has nothing to do with Sony, but since we're on the topic of ebooks on game consoles....More evidence that Nintendo will do ebooks.

http://www.linkedin.com/company/2269096

That just sounds like the news channel stuff on the wii that will probably continue for the wii u.

edit: On second read through, they're a tech media outlet and have nothing to do with Nintendo, let alone ebooks.

 

[watershed]

I thought one of the knocks against Sony and their current financial state was them having products in too many markets and thus spending too much in too many markets. Without knowing the exact details this seems like more time and money spent in a market they shouldn't be trying to compete in.

 

[thuway]

Sony the PSVita should be nothing more than a portable gaming device, stop with the distractions.

Thats what the current marketing strategy has been...

 

[Maedhros]

Sony the PSVita should be nothing more than a portable gaming device, stop with the distractions.

No. Bonus are nice.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

Thats what the current marketing strategy has been...

Good point, time to try something else I guess.

 

[M.D]

SCEE Trademark time of the year

I dunno what the hell is DIGGS NIGHTCRAWLER tho

 

[Byronic Hero]

They should just invest in Booktrack and put it on the Vita. If it updated as often as an app like that should, I'd buy a Vita just for that.

 

[Dead Prince]

i wouldn't mind the vita version. they got the backcamera. they can get some AR type story telling going.

 

[Ra1den]

Damn I had this idea a long time ago. Good shit Sony.

 

[Vinci]

I absolutely think Nintendo should go this direction and also include an educational software platform on the Wii U for children. A bit surprised by Sony going in this direction (sans the educational part), though, but it's not a horrible idea.

 

[Scrow]

Who the hell reads ebooks on their TV?

i get the feeling that "book" is the wrong terminology here.

interactive books i.e. educational games

 

[LiquidSolid]

So this is what the comic store team was working on I guess? And this e-reader will sell comics as well? Could be good, though it really shouldn't take up more than a couple of minutes in the conference.

 

[Ashes]

Bet there are Disney collaborations.

 

[B.O.O.M]

Sometimes GAF feels a bit jaded. Sony announces an app, complain about some other app. They announce that too then complain their focus is not on games etc etc.

OT: I would love this app on my vita. Could be really useful in a long commute in addition to the games.