170°

Sony's 'Sorry' Sucks

Sarcastic Gamer writes:

"Product sampling is an age-old and VERY effective marketing method. If you can get someone to actually put your potato chips in their mouth, drive your car, or smell your perfume, they are far more likely to become a paid consumer of your product. With this in mind I’ve been considering Sony’s “generous offer” of free PSN+ and Qriocity for a month for everyone, and I’ve got concerns with this scenario. With all due respect to Sony and what must be a really tough time within the walls of PSHQ, this isn’t an apology… It’s a marketing ploy. If PlayStation Network were a restaurant where a customer had a bad experience, what they are currently offering as an apology would be like the manager of the restaurant asking if you’d feel better if she let you smell the pie." (continues)

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sarcasticgamer.com
awiseman4757d ago (Edited 4757d ago )

Talk about crappy picture choice!

on topic: I keep saying this: PSN free subscribers dont deserve anything! They dont PAY for the service so they dont deserve reimbursement! Xbox live subscribers were reimbursed because they pay for the service, PS+ will/should be the same though. This isn't a rant, its just the way it works.

Now sony could give something as a gesture of cutesy which is what their doing.

Bubble up if you agree

joeorc4757d ago

there is still a free game download that you get on top of this free month, that does not include people that have more than one account in a region..that would be a free game per region plus another free month.

so if you have say a US account an a UK account..that's 2 free games an 2 free months of playstation service,

that's far from a freaking ploy.

Crass4757d ago

Right, because even though they may not have been PSN+ subscribers, thoes users still could have used and purchased items from the PSN, which means their CC and other personal info could have been just as compromised as any PSN+ user. But yeah, those guys deserve nothing!

Flashwave_UK4757d ago

i aggree but i cant give you a bubble tho your crippled just like me :(

Rhezin4757d ago

nope. I think EVERYONE deserves something. A month free of ps plus is awesome I think. Not my problem you started paying $50 bucks a year for CRAP. I like playing online for free, part of the reason why I moved from 360 over to ps3. We're lucky to get anything. I just hope my $5 is still in my PSN.

Tired4757d ago (Edited 4757d ago )

Everyone shouted...'I'd better get a free game'

You've got your free game, you've also got a product trial.

You've also got reimbursment of costs to keep check of your credit.

What do you want?

And what part of a ps+ subscription should we be refunded?
I've got free games/themes/and I bought a 50% discounted game.

I'm going to get the same again next month....do you even know what plus is?

The only thing I have not been able to do is upload my game saves to the cloud.....

I THINK I'LL LIVE!

JSA-Gamer4757d ago

Hawk the reimbursement of credit costs is "the right thing" and also a possible way of avoiding SOME of the legal fallout. The "free game" is more of a rental don't you think? Unless you buy the service... which is the point of this article.

Tired4757d ago

The 'right' thing?

When i got a letter from Play.com telling me all my details were hacked. I got be careful....it wasn't OUR fault....and check out our new dvds.

Sony doesn't have to give you jack!

P_Bomb4757d ago (Edited 4757d ago )

Funny how many gamers/journalists have had comprehension issues lately considering all the scrolling text, map reading & guide following we do, lol. The free game per region is NOT a rental and has nothing to do with PS Plus. Despite a press release (PS Blog) and post-conference Q&A transcriptions out there, people still don't get it.

Cnet, Sarcastic Gamer, IGN, everybody read:
http://blog.us.playstation....
[QUOTE] Central components of the “Welcome Back” program will include:

Each territory will be offering selected PlayStation entertainment content for free download. Specific details of this content will be announced in each region soon.

All existing PlayStation Network customers will be provided with 30 days free membership in the PlayStation Plus premium service. Current members of PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days free service.

Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity subscribers (in countries where the service is available) will receive 30 days free service.

ADDITIONAL “Welcome Back” entertainment and service offerings will be rolled out over the coming weeks as the company returns the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services to the quality standard users have grown to enjoy and strive to exceed those exceptions.[/QUOTE]

JSA-Gamer4757d ago

But doesn't that free game go away the moment you DON'T pay for PSN+? I am not asking rhetorically... I'd like to update the article to reflect your point.

Tired4757d ago (Edited 4757d ago )

We'll get free content per region we live in.
Probably a game...it's yet to be announced.

We ALSO get plus for a month....
That equates to a FEW games on rent for the month.

Some games from plus are not directly tied to your subscription

I hear stacking is still playable after plus has run out.

So I guess we'll have to wait and see.

joeorc4757d ago

"But doesn't that free game go away the moment you DON'T pay for PSN+? I am not asking rhetorically... I'd like to update the article to reflect your point. "

THERE IS A 100% FREE GAME or Games THAT WILL BE set up for free for you to download. than on top of that one you also get free games in the Playstation+ service.

So no matter what you are getting a free game that does not Expire.

as a matter of fact you can get a free game per region account, an per unique account on your PS3.

So if you have a brother or sister that also has an account that would be two games. an if you have a person from another country on your ps3 another free game. that does not include the free playstation+ for each let's put it this way free playstation account!

this is also once again even for the PSP!

this effected the unit also.

so even if you do not have a PS3 if you have a PSN account you get the benefit of this.

I do not see how the hell this action for reimbursement by Sony could be seen as a negative, but what do you know where there is a will there seems to be a way.

JSA-Gamer4757d ago

joerc I am a few keystrokes form adding your comments to the discussion adn content of the piece. can you please link me to your information source for the absolutely free game? Thank SO MUCH for your help with this.

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150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers16d ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken16d ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g16d ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing16d ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H916d ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola16d ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66916d ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle16d ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg17d ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos17d ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola17d ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

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techraptor.net
ChasterMies37d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken37d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga37d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken37d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6437d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long37d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197237d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic37d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 37d ago
DivineHand12537d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91337d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer37d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit37d ago (Edited 37d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91336d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit36d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 36d ago
Christopher37d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6936d ago (Edited 36d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit36d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal37d ago (Edited 37d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher37d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken37d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197237d ago (Edited 37d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic37d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2337d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218337d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit36d ago (Edited 36d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder37d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts37d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

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