Currency
Unlike Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace as well as Nintendo's Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop, which each use their own specific currencies (Microsoft Points and Nintendo Points, respectively), all purchases are made in the user's local currency. The PlayStation Store uses a 'wallet' system whereby funds are added to the wallet – either in set denominations or an amount dictated by the price of the current transaction – then debited from the account's wallet when the user makes a purchase.
The user can add funds to their wallet in a number of ways, the most common of which is by credit or debit card. Users in many regions can also purchase Playstation Network Cards or Tickets in set denominations from retailers including supermarkets or video game stores. These funds are redeemed on the PlayStation Store when the user enters the unique 12-digit code found on the card into the PlayStation Store. Nintendo themselves later adopted this currency system for their succeeding eShop. The Store's account however is region locked and generally only accepts credit card that is billed in and Playstation Network Cards purchased from the same country selected during the registration process, which cannot be changed afterwards.
In Japan, users may use the Edy e-money system. With a USB IC card reader/writer called PaSoRi, users can add funds to their wallet by swiping a smart card across the device.
Read more about this topic: Play Station Store
Famous quotes containing the word currency:
“There is no legislation—I care not what it is—tariff, railroads, corporations, or of a general political character, that all equals in importance the putting of our banking and currency system on the sound basis proposed in the National Monetary Commission plan.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“Money is the worst currency that ever grew among mankind. This sacks cities, this drives men from their homes, this teaches and corrupts the worthiest minds to turn base deeds.”
—Sophocles (497–406/5 B.C.)
“Common experience is the gold reserve which confers an exchange value on the currency which words are; without this reserve of shared experiences, all our pronouncements are cheques drawn on insufficient funds.”
—René Daumal (1908–1944)