Most of us weren't at all surprised when Sony announced PlayStation Plus at their E3 press conference. The paid online plan was said to offer free monthly games, automatic downloads, and a handful of other benefits for a mere $49.99 a year (naturally, they said this right after mocking Microsoft for the 360's $49.99 yearly Xbox Live subscription). Details were scarce and vague at the show, but more information has arrived on the PlayStation blog, including a date for the program to begin: next week, on June 29.

In addition to free PSN games, minis, and PSOne classics (which, keep in mind, you only get to play as long as you still have PlayStation Plus), the service will offer "full game trials", which will give you access to full games for about an hour (unless otherwise stated). System and game updates will also occur automatically, with your PS3 able to wake up from stand-by at any time to download these often lengthy things. The blog also answered a few more user questions:

• Cross-game voice chat is a feature we know our passionate user base has asked for and we’ll continue to look at as a viable offering for the PlayStation Network.
• You need to be the master account holder on the PS3 and be over 18 to purchase PlayStation Plus, but other accounts on that PS3 will be able to play the games you download for as long as you are a subscriber.
• The “free” games you can download each month are yours to keep for as long as you are a subscriber.
• PlayStation Plus is for PS3 owners as subscribership can only be purchased on the PSN Store. However, some of the content – minis and PS One Classics – available each month will also be playable on your PSP if you have one. Download them on the PS3 and transfer to your PSP, or download directly from the PSP Store or Media Go for PSP.

The services offered with PlayStation Plus do sound really convenient, and it would probably pay for itself with one free game a month, but I'm still not completely convinced that I need to pay another $49.99 for an online gaming service. Automatic downloads are great and all, but playing online with friends on the PS3 is still much more of a pain in the ass than in needs to be, especially when compared to the ease of Xbox Live. I'll probably give it a couple of months before I take any sort of financial plunge, just to see how the initial reaction is. In case it sways your decision, Sony is currently offering three bonus months with a one-year subscription, making it fifteen months for fifty bucks. If you're still hesitant, a three-month sub is $17.99.I'm pretty sure I can already hear Sony fanboys forking over all of their cash.