FORUM DISCUSSION: What should Sony do to repair its damaged PSN reputation?

[Zeus]

PSN has been down for a considerable amount of time, and at a crucial period. It's the Easter break, with adults and children alike looking forward to someone online play with hit titles such as Portal 2. However, the dreams of a lengthy blissful online gaming session have been dashed by some considerable and mysterious PSN downtime. So in today's forum Maxconsole discussion, Maxconsole is asking you what do you think Sony should do in order to try and repair its damaged PSN reputation? Should it offer gamers something for free such as PSN Plus, should it provide some free DLC or a free game of choice? Such goodwill will counter the negative publicity. Or perhaps Sony should just do nothing? Let us know what you think DIRECTLY in the FORUMS.

[EnemyCrabs]

Free game of choice.

[ThreeDog]

A public apology to a news network.

[Hamsterman-SWE]

Free game of choice.

either that or sending us a psn gift code worth $30 to us on the e-mail and let us decide what to get. well free game of choice would also be accepted but I really doubt that sony would give us anything, not even a dust.:(

[tech3475]

We wont be getting anything because Sony care about PR less than BP.

They will just bring PSN back up with some BS "thank you for waiting" response and "our network is more secure than ever".

Their T&C say they can do whatever they want with PSN and we can do **** all about it.

That said, I think a free game would be a good idea.

[Battlefield]

If it were Microsoft, we know we would get a free game. We got a free game even after 1-2 days of partially downtime/slowdown 2-3 years ago.

But since this is Sony, we dont get anything at all for the longest downtime of a console in history.

We know that Sony dont give a **** about customers, so why should they start now?

[Strebor_]

Even though it's free service to most of us, we've spent plenty of money downloading avatars, dynamic themes, games etc so YES they should give us something and not just an apology...

[EL_CAD]

Some sort of credit towards a game or DLC is in order. I doubt Sony will do anything. Gave up on waiting on Friday night and bought Metro 2033 for $5 on PC.

[danight]

Is ps3 gamers arent willing to ask for it, well they probably will get nothing. The SDF seems to be turning on its own in defense that "sony owes you nothing".

But sony as a company should know that it was a
1) holiday weekend
2) portal 2 and socom 4 released and socom 4 used online code DRM
3) capcom games didnt even work offline
4) psn subscribers pay for this
5) dc universe users also pay for online usage

Those type of things should warrant some form of compensation and no i dont mean a free month of psn plus. Offer something for everyone not a gimmick to get people to pay for your upgrade service because the service was out.
Really thats self defeating. Your service was down and now you want more people to sign up for your service. Thats not a gift its a trap with a agenda.

Yes free games or content or both!

Its not a matter if sony legally owes anyone anything, because im sure they do not. But as customers and as mega company dealing with families its the moral right thing to do.

[Asinine]

PSN is free, there is no reason why they should give anything away to PSN users. However, PSN+ users do pay and I would really think they should be giving something back to them.

That said, I would as a PSN user obviously not turn away any gifts if they were to unlikely come my way.

The only thing I'm really bothered about is the cun7s who attacked it in the first place, just because some people don't like "insert here" (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo), doesn't mean that they are justified in attacking a company or service that millions of people globally appreciate and enjoy.

[jamsplodge]

Oh, is PSN down? I hadn't noticed because I stopped using it so long ago on account of it being crap.

[DEDDOA]

1 month free PSN+ would do the trick and wouldn't put them out of pocket like a free game would. Would also have the knock on effect of maybe getting more people to get PSN+ and so give them more money to invest in a more secure network.

[EL_CAD]

1 month free PSN+ would do the trick and wouldn't put them out of pocket like a free game would. Would also have the knock on effect of maybe getting more people to get PSN+ and so give them more money to invest in a more secure network.
What good is a month of PSN+?

[jase1]

PSN is free, there is no reason why they should give anything away to PSN users. However, PSN+ users do pay and I would really think they should be giving something back to them.

That said, I would as a PSN user obviously not turn away any gifts if they were to unlikely come my way.

The only thing I'm really bothered about is the cun7s who attacked it in the first place, just because some people don't like "insert here" (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo), doesn't mean that they are justified in attacking a company or service that millions of people globally appreciate and enjoy.

I reckon Sony will give something away as an apology, I don't agree with only PS+ subscribers should get something and regular PSN users get nothing, that doesn't make sense to me, I have PS+ and the downtime hasn't affected any of the PS+ content I have, however if there were 90 day PS+ subscribers who started in 20th - ?th January and wanted to resubscribe during this period, then they're stuck with some locked content.

One thing is for sure....Sony has lost plenty of revenue.

[DEDDOA]

What good is a month of PSN+?

Gives you a taster and you get to play whatever they are giving out "free" that month, it's also somthing that can give you at practically 0 real cost as it highly unlikley Sony will admit a faliure and try to make ammends any other way. It also benefits everyone, PSN users get a free look at PSN+, PSN+ Subscribers get and extra month free and Sony potentially get new customers, it's win win.

As has been mentioned PSN is a free service so in real terms they don't really owe PSN users much if anything, and I doubt SOny would consider a free game to be somthing they would be willing to cough up for as it leaves them further out of pocket, PSN+ free for a month tho would be a nice gesture and mean they could give multiple games away for the 1 month duration and will score them brownie points.

[iLLNESS]

PSN is free, there is no reason why they should give anything away to PSN users. However, PSN+ users do pay and I would really think they should be giving something back to them.

That said, I would as a PSN user obviously not turn away any gifts if they were to unlikely come my way.

The only thing I'm really bothered about is the cun7s who attacked it in the first place, just because some people don't like "insert here" (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo), doesn't mean that they are justified in attacking a company or service that millions of people globally appreciate and enjoy.

even if PSN is free, it was an advertised feature of the PS3 itself throughout its whole life so far (and even before)... So currently an advertised feature is not working.
I'm not going to say they should give PSN users free stuff because I agree they shouldnt get anything since it is a free service, but it could be argued you paid for the service when the ps3 was purchased.

PSN+ users though should be compensated and since Sony publically admitted it was an external intrusion (whether or not they are just using that as an excuse) that is whats in the public eye so any user who ever put their personal info (home address, credit card, phone numbers, etc) should be heavily compensated. If they can't compensate, a personal apology would be expected.

But, because sony is a japanese company, and they are massive they will shrug it off and play it down saying the intrusion led to no personal data being leaked and it was a one time deal. No PSN user needs to worry. Until of course, PSN users start seeing illegal purchases on their credit card. In which case sony will say it was from something else.

[jase1]

What good is a month of PSN+?

An extra month of content, actually a free PSN title would be cheaper than an extra month of PS+, an extra month = 1or2 PSN titles, PSOne title, minis, maybe a map pack, premium dynamic themes and premium avatars, so no, I don't think this will happen.

A PSN title would be universal for all users.

[wiggim]

I don't think they could give away enough **** to fill the holes they are digging.

[drwoogie]

A public apology to a news network.

Clap clap clap!! Exactly!! Sony doesn't even have the correct public relations model to keep it's customers informed correctly let alone offer something for free. No one seems to mention free realms either. My 1 month sub is still ticking away. Now my jackpot tree has reset to. Sony could put water on this fire now or even a few days ago just by adding 1 of 2 things to those co called statements. 1- each PSN customer will receive some kind of item as a thank you for your downtime. 2- Our servers will be back on line with in 10-12 days max! Sony has known all along how long this will take to fix. They don't and didn't want to say just how long cause by law anyone who purchases a product can return in with in 7 days for a refund in full on games movies etc IF THEY ARE DEEMED BROKEN/UNUSEABLE. Sony doesn't want returns flooding in on socom 4 or other games from this past week. I returned my OPENED socom to wal mart fir a full refund. Lady at customer service said I was the 2nd person that day. Now I know it's only 2 people for that day at that walmart. But how many others have done the same at other stores? Point being if Sony would have been honest upfront I would have kept my socom 4 bundle and waited. I'd rather be informed as a customer than treated like an outcast.

[custm_made]

no, we're not paying for the service so why should we get free stuff? maybe a small token like a PS Home avatar costume of choice but not a free game or PSN credit.

[msanchez]

I think some people are missing the point. Maybe, they are not required to give anything, but for their sake they should compensate their customers. Still this will not be happening any time soon, why? Thank anyone who defends sony wildly regardless of what they do. In the end, we gamers are the guilty ones for allowing them to get away with it, without even a proper apology.

[danight]

Lets keep in mind that PSN is also the keyway to some DRM. Without PSN some games dont work at all.
DC ONLINE, come capcom games. etc.... The devs built those games under sonys promise the service would be up. Now they look like crap for doing it (especially capcom).

Its a good will gesture... its customers, its family, its freinds, its business partners. So much goes into this thing we call PSN.
Offering a free game would should sony cares at least a little.

I mean people are truly pissed off right now and bought games because they thought psn would work for them.
If sony doesnt see that, they should tell all people who bought portal 2 for psn to return it and exchange it for a pc or xbox live version!

Sony should say this in its next pr statment "it puts the lotion in the basket!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPnQ77a1UVk

[Jason Voorhees]

free game of choice...

[freddser]

two half price purchases would suit me fine

[oneinfour]

Is offer at least 1 month of PSN+ to all members. It gives customers affected by the downtime the gift they feel they deserve and Sony gets a chance to gain more subscribers after that month.

And month of PSN+ is a better deal than a game, because you get access to betas, free games, themes, avatars, and discounts on games. Most PSN games only have like a week of playability on them so when the PSN+ ends its not like that game will be missed that much.

[MilkyJoe]

No. It's a free service = therefore no compensation neccersary.

[kneehighspy]

everyone always says 'at least it's free'. so since it's free, no compensation should be given. there is no money lost on the users end, other than time they missed gaming and had to do something else.

sony should offer nothing to end users, users shouldn't complain, it's free.

[Strebor_]

What's the point of a month free PSN+ ?
When it runs out you can't use anything you want to keep after you've downloaded it (so I'm told) ?
Therefore you would have to start paying for PSN+ to keep anything you want.
Defeats the purpose really :p

[jase1]

No. It's a free service = therefore no compensation neccersary.
2011 has so far been a dire year for Sony publicity wise, now is the right time to go on the offensive 'Don't back down....reload' as a stupid tart once said. Most people say it's a free service, which it is for online gaming, but you need to remember we are customers to varying degrees and the services are all connected, PS+, Qriocity, Mubi,,Home and to a lesser degree LOVEFiLM, Hulu Plus, MLB.TV and many more that needs a PSN connection. What would you say to the person using Qriocity Music Unlimited Service?

My own previous comments about a free PSN title for all users were incorrect, a lot of monthly subs are going to have to be reimbursed, it's not just online gaming.

On a totally separate note: Despite all that, I personally couldn't stand to go back to the 360, my offline PS3 is as useful as an 360 Live free but with more features,all the people who slag of PS+....remember it was YOU paying for Xbox Live to play online that set the ball rolling. :p

[Robotron]

They hire Prolexic Technologies then make them look bad by (indirectly) blaming Anon. So basically they lied just like the lied about their root-kits. They keep the network offline and offer no information to it's users. Now it appears credit card info was at risk which Sony should have protected.

The one thing I would like to see from Sony is the one thing we NEVER get...an apology.

....and for the rabid fanboys who say it's free so you can't complain you need to realize that people purchased a PS3 because the free network was part of the bundle....like Tycho at PA said:

"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.”"

Also it's more than just a lost service if everyone's info and credit cards are exposed.

[Robotron]

http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/1261596481_3Fw2MnJ-L.jpg

[croatoan]

All PSN+ subscribers should get a month free. Free PSN accounts................I dont really think as its a free service any compensation should be given.

I do think however that SOny could have advised in advance where possible and perhaps even a good will gesture of a mini / psone game would be the correct thing to do.

After all, everyone playing multiplayer made a conscious decision to buy a ps3 with the game to play on PSN rather than Xbox live. Thats not a fanboy comment.

Just merely commenting that Sony havent helped themselves of late and although its not a paid for service...................they should be seen to do something. FFS it was holiday week when the kids were off school.

[kcvfr400]

Give Ps+ subscribers a nice line up of titles next month and non subscribers a nice choice of 1 of the most popular 3 psn download titles. Or maybe a £5 credit on the account.