It's not the exact same at all. Publisher's need Sony's support in the console to be able to prevent used game sales and Sony isn't putting anything in the console to support it. All it means is that the publishers still have the choice to do something like online passes.
Just like multiplayer being LOCKED unless you download a pass, it's completely possible to have a file you must download to acess the single player content. The most recent Dead or alive game had an update you had to download manualy from the Game's store. failure to do so Resulted in the most recent automatic update Locking out ALL features of the game. you couldn't PLay single player, or multiplayer, or even acess the games option menus.
For third party games, the publisher can choose to make that a requirement. Simple as that. Slap a " internet connection required" label on the game, and stick a registration code in the box. And make the game require a file downloaded from their servers to work. This isn't a New idea. Half Life 2 needed this EXACT system when it was first released on PC.
I'm not saying it's a smart Idea. In fact, it's an incredably stupid Idea. But the fact remains that publishers can choose to do this, or do something like it. And sony has given them Carte Blanche ( just like microsoft) to do as they see fit in this manner.
Is it EXACTLY like What Microsoft is doing?
No, not Excatly, but the end result is the same.
REgardless, however, teh big question is how publishers will take advantage of it.
