Oh my Gee Wiz, Sony!

[Indy_aka_Rex]

Those are different businesses than a unified console platform and as you know, Sony has been open about PSN being in the red the past few years. After that quote, surveys went out and PSN+ was eventually born. Draw your own conclusions I guess, but it seems pretty clear to me. I never said PSN would fail if they don’t charge, only that PSN+ seems to be the result of a business model that wasn’t quite working.

You're right, it would actually be MORE problematic for a free-to-play MMO to succeed than PSN since, FTP MMO's rely solely on micro-transactions, whereas PSN had full-games, DLC, video, music, rentals, Home micro-transactions, advertising revenue, server rentals, etc.

According to Hirai himself PSN sales by fiscal 2012 would be near 4 billion, and they'd doubled YoY for fiscal 2009 and 2010. It was hardly struggling. Again, extra revenue and profit != help cover the cost of PSN. Sales were good, and based on sales alone? The model was working. Live subscriptions don't cover the cost of Live, they're superfluous profit for MS. Marketplace, advertising and licensing revenue covers the cost of Live, and brings in profit as well.

Your argument is shaky at best, like I said... By your logic? The 360's business model wasn't working, they had to release Kinect to cover 360's cost. It was a struggling business model, despite strong sales and profitable quarters...

[Stranger Danger]

I went to login PSN and it wouldn't let me in. Then I received this e-mail. Anyone else get this too?

We are writing to let you know that as part of our ongoing investigation and security efforts, we have detected an unauthorized attempt to verify the validity of your Sony Entertainment Network or PlayStation Network ("Networks") account sign-in ID and password. As we reported on our PlayStation Blog on October 11, 2011, we believe there was an attempt to use a scripted application of a large set of sign-in IDs and passwords against our network database. This attempt appears to include a large amount of data obtained from one or more compromised ID and password lists obtained from other companies, sites or other sources. We estimate that the number of sign-in ID and password matches from this attempt is less than one tenth of one percent of the Sony Entertainment Network and PlayStation Network accounts. Your sign-in credentials were among those matched, and to protect you, we have locked your account. To unlock your account, you must reset the password in order to continue using PSN/SEN services.

Please note, if you have a credit card associated with your account, your credit card number is not at risk. Nonetheless, as a precaution, please review your account for unusual activity and please contact us at 1-800-345-7669 or via mail at 6080 Center Drive, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90045, Attn: Business and Legal Affairs. We will work with any users whom we confirm have had unauthorized purchases made to restore amounts in the PSN/SEN wallet.

In this case, given that the data tested against our network consisted of sign-in ID-password pairs, and that the overwhelming majority of those pairs resulted in failed matching attempts, we believe the data came from another source and not from our Networks. We want to take this opportunity to remind our consumers about the increasingly common threat of fraudulent activity online, as well as the importance of having a strong password and having a username/password combination that is not associated with other online services or sites. We advise you to create a new password that is strong, consisting of a combination of numbers, letters and special characters or symbols.

You may reset your password through the Sony Entertainment Network website
( sonyentertainmentnetwork.com ) by first clicking on "account management" at the bottom of the home page, then clicking on "forgot your password" and then following the on-screen instructions. You can also do this on your device by navigating to your network sign-in area, clicking on "forgot your password" and then following the on-screen instructions.

If you encounter any issues resetting your password, please contact customer service at 1-800-345-7669. For US users, we also suggest you review the information at the bottom of this email, which contains information regarding how you can protect yourself against common types of identity theft and fraud.

[Onslaught X]

Got this on my JPN account. No big deal.

[coldfoot]

I got this:

Dear coldfoot,

We love you, keep up the good work

-Sony

[Bane]

As this seems to be the Sony trouble catch all thread, thought I'd put this here:

PlayStation 3 'Other OS' lawsuit dismissed

Twenty months after Sony disabled the PlayStation 3's 'Other OS' feature, which allowed users to install and run Linux, a US federal court has dismissed the class action suit filed against Sony in protest. The judge dismissed all but one of the suit's claims earlier this year. Although the class had time to amend the suit, a judge ruled that the class has still failed to show "wrongdoing" by Sony.

The lawsuit was originally filed in April 2010, shortly after Sony released a firmware update disabling Other OS on all PlayStation 3s. Users were given the choice to either install it and lose Other OS, or go without, and be unable to use the PlayStation Network.

The lawsuit (via Gamasutra) accused Sony of an "unfair and deceptive business practice," leveling claims against it from "breach of contract" to "unjust enrichment." Naturally, it sought money from Sony, both in damages and refunds.

However, in February 2011, Judge Richard Seeborg dismissed all but one of these claims. Seeborg did permit the claim that Sony "intentionally caused damage without authorization, to a protected computer," saying himself that Sony had not "conclusively established" that the PS3's license allowed it to disable Other OS, or that downloading the update was authorizing the removal.

The plaintiffs were allowed time to amend the suit but, after that, Seeborg approved Sony's motion to dismiss it. He ruled that they couldn't prove they had a right to expect Other OS support beyond the warranty period, or continued access to PSN, the Courthouse News Service explains.

"As a matter of providing customer satisfaction and building loyalty, it may have been questionable," Judge Seeborg wrote. "As a legal matter, however, plaintiffs have failed to allege facts or articulate a theory on which Sony may be held liable."

Shacknews

[Badger3920]

That seemed like the obvious ruling, so not really a surprise. Seeborg (not for reason of this case) is a new but very good district court judge; good for CAND

[hdinred]

Seeborg (not for reason of this case) is a new but very good district court judge; good for CAND

Agreed. The warmth of Judge Wapner, with the sassiness of Judge Judy.

[cuco33]

Tis a shame. I'm still not a fan of OtherOS removal.

[Esquilax]

I'd like to have the Other OS back as well but I have to admit Sony had it in the fine print from day 1 that they reserve the right to add or remove features at their discretion. Not much that can be done about that.

[Ergo-Proxy]

I blame the hackers for the removal. If they didnt use it as a hole to find ways to run unsigned code such as pirated games, Sony would have never removed it.
It was a measure to prevent the PS3 from ending up like the PSP where piracy is running rampant

[Esquilax]

Good point. Sort of like limiting game sharing to two consoles instead of five. It was good while it lasted but probably bad for business.

[D1G1T@L]

Hide your children. Hide your wives.

[twonunpackmule]

I wish people would stop giving those idiots attention. If I want to hear the illogical ramblings of a bunch of 17 year olds who've taken to V for Vendetta too seriously...

I'll go visit a high school drama class.

[DaveS1138]

I think 17 is a little optimistic

[hdinred]

Coldfoot, which is more evil, charging for online or supporting SOPA?