Why the PSN outage shouldn't matter...

[mysteriouspants]

The negatives highly outweigh the positives, but in this dark hour, let's find the silver lining.

I'll kick it off with my reasons.
1. The service is free. They don't owe us anything for something we don't pay for. (PS+ should be receiving some compensation)
2. You probably have another game system. If you're part of this website, you possibly like games so much, that a PS3 is not your only outlet for fun.
3. The real world wants you back. Many addictive and fun games have been released for the PS3, and now that you don't have to worry about returning to level up in Uncharted 2, you can go outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Those are my reasons. But I'm still pissed.

 

[Elamdri]

What about all the stolen personal info? Shouldn't that matter?

 

[CoverYourHead]

These sound reasonable. Then you look at the fact that all your personal information was probably stolen, and that kind of makes it matter a whole lot.

 

[mysteriouspants]

I said positives, not the mind-blowingly terrible negatives.

 

[Valagetti]

Tee hee I converted to PC so it doesn't to much to me, unless steam crashes or gets hacked. But those guys really know what their doing.

 

[The Common Hours]

im pretty sure identity theft tips the negative scale off the charts

 

[Katana314]

1. Just because it was a one-time fee (Buying the PS3) it shouldn't matter; it is still a paid service. We have Xbox Live Gold for comparison, but that one doesn't make any sense as they don't really run the game servers.
2. You misunderstand; some people don't. I don't know many people that own more than one recent-generation console. I myself only own a PC.
3. This one I guess I can agree with. Unfortunately, the weather around here has been spastic.

 

[Brawndo]

The negatives highly outweigh the positives, but in this dark hour, let's find the silver lining.

I'll kick it off with my reasons.
1. The service is free. They don't owe us anything for something we don't pay for. (PS+ should be receiving some compensation)
2. You probably have another game system. If you're part of this website, you possibly like games so much, that a PS3 is not your only outlet for fun.
3. The real world wants you back. Many addictive and fun games have been released for the PS3, and now that you don't have to worry about returning to level up in Uncharted 2, you can go outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Those are my reasons. But I'm still pissed.

#1 is pure, ridiculous shit. Just because they already have your money (when you bought the console) does not mean a company can just forget customer service down the line. No sensible company that cares about its public relations and building relationships with existing and future customers would dream of doing such a thing.

 

[mysteriouspants]

Another positive. Portal has split-screen. Phew.

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

im pretty sure identity theft tips the negative scale off the charts

Yeah, that right there tips the scales to the point where the positives are being shot off like they're on a trebuchet.
Sure the PS3 has some things going for it but as someone who has had their identity stolen nothing Sony has outweighs the fear of ID theft.

 

[Romidude]

Too bad the hackers have your credit cards.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

The service is free doesn't lend them an excuse here. It's an advertised and expected feature. The fact you don't pay a subscription fee has nothing to do with it. It's paid for at point of purchase (i.e. with the PS3 unit) instead.

Also, yeah. The huge amounts of stolen personal info. I'm pissed about how this is being handled, and I don't even have a PS3.

 

[Wuffykins]

Too bad the hackers have your credit cards.

Err, no they don't. Sony just mentioned that as a precautionary measure, and even there they flat out said that the security code's not in that info (as they're technically not allowed to store it themselves.)

Though granted with Names, Addresses, and Birthdates attempts at phishing are possible, but I really doubt that this was done by a group who has that plan in mind.

 

[damndaewoo]

Tee hee I converted to PC so it doesn't to much to me, unless steam crashes or gets hacked. But those guys really know what their doing.

Yeah, they mostly know what they're doing, except how to make my games download at more than 30-40 kbps

 

[targren]

Those are actually pretty pathetic "positives".

I can't really add to what Katana said about number 1, but then I'm one of those folks pissed at Sony for *intentionally* taking away functionality built into, and thus paid for with, the system's (high) purchase price. Just because this functionality is only temporarily gone (maybe) doesn't give them a pass AFAIC.

2 and 3 are just ridiculous. Both say the same thing: "Go do something else." Too bad this is a text-based forum, since I have the perfect full-arm hand gesture to go with those suggestions. I don't buy expensive video game consoles to be lackadaisical about them ceasing to work properly and anyone who actually thinks those are "positives" should have saved his 500 bucks.

 

[MattAn24]

im pretty sure identity theft tips the negative scale off the charts

Yeah, that right there tips the scales to the point where the positives are being shot off like they're on a trebuchet.
Sure the PS3 has some things going for it but as someone who has had their identity stolen nothing Sony has outweighs the fear of ID theft.

But see, who's fault is that REALLY? Granted, DDoS attacks happen regularly (sad but true) and personal information has been leaked before, but is Sony REALLY to blame? The hackers DID do the whole hacking thing..

I've actually witnessed a similar scenario in a previous job. The servers completely crashed. Gone. Completely. The IT staff couldn't even see what was wrong because there was nothing to see. Hackers have crazy abilities of morphing code to distort their traces. It's going to be a fucking long mission to find the ones that did this. Because hackers are crafty bastards (and absolutely should not be commended or applauded for their supposed talents)

I don't call DDoS's and malicious trojans/viruses a talent. That's a vicious crime.

 

[II2]

1. The service is free. They don't owe us anything for something we don't pay for. (PS+ should be receiving some compensation)

Actually, the customers DO pay for it, because the PS3 box advertises "free online gaming via the PSN" (or like statement).

Those selling points are part and parcel with the package deal. They DO owe PS3 owners that. I'm upset about it and I don't even own a PS3. (360 / PC gamer)

As for your other comments, well... at heart, there's nothing wrong with variety or enjoying some fresh air, but that's not why people bought SOCOMs, Killzones and Little Big Planets.

---

I do applaud you for trying to look on the bright side and let the situation not get to you, but suggest playing devils advocate for a HUGE corporation interrupting their supporters gaming worldwide for 7 days (ongoing) on an internet forum would be better avoided in the future.

 

[Liam Riordan]

I'm not going to pull a "Oh I'm so glad I don't own a PS3", because that is just low. Prior to this hacking I was sympathetic towards the actions of Anonymous against Sony and it's very heavy handed approach.

Then I heard a rumor about hackers modifying their consoles to be 'developer' status, exploiting a hole for free stuff on PSN. That was getting really bad in my books.

Now whoever has done this to the Sony servers to gain and illicitly acquire personal data has severely crossed the line and I hope they get what's coming to them.

Hacking in protest is one thing.
Hacking for money is another.

 

[Thunderhorse31]

While I don't entirely disagree with your points, I'm reminded of Tycho's words that make just as much sense:

"The thing to say on your web is that since PSN is free you can't really complain about it, and that's pretty dumb. Maybe you could have said that if you couldn't play Ratchet and Clank online with your Playstation 2, but that era is fucking over. By 'that era,' I'm referring to the one where chains of appliance 'islands' exist in millions of discrete universes across the globe. The store, your friends list, these aren't perks. By 2011, they're bedrock assertions of the medium. The deal they made with users - one which, for years, was the justification for a gruesome price disparity - was 'free Xbox Live,' not 'shit happens.' "

Source: http://www.penny-arcade.com/2011/4/25/