[PS3] Official PSN discussion thread

[spiker]

So is PSN back up yet or what?

 

[PP]

Ahh but I don't think you see the the clever advertising they did with this. Let everyone have it for free when really after this whole thing is over they could have a bunch of people hooked on PS+ which will equal new subscriptions.

It's quite shady of an idea but a good one.

No I see exactly what they are doing, and I am shaking my head to it. First time in a long time I do not agree with Sony.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Ahh but I don't think you see the the clever advertising they did with this. Let everyone have it for free when really after this whole thing is over they could have a bunch of people hooked on PS+ which will equal new subscriptions.

It's quite shady of an idea but a good one.

Yep, very shady. However, they need to make money after all they've probably spent to fix this issue. Also, the mall near where I live had a Sony store up until a month ago, and it closed down. I imagine that that experiment hasn't worked well in other places, so they have to pay for that too.

 

[PP]

bama:

I gave up on my PS after more than a week down and sold it back to gamestop, Sony then decides to email us to inform us that basically all the information they have on us was likely to have been compromised. I will gladly switch to Xbox and learned the lesson that before I put credit card info out there on a game system again I will purchase the points and stuff from stores.

 

[Twigg4075]

Like someone else said, the most important thing they should've done is offer a Life Lock type service for free to all their customers. For an individual person it's pretty expensive but with Sony being the huge company they are I'm sure they could get a small discount if they helped 77 million people sign up.
Of course I would guess that only half of the customers, and that's probably pushing it, would even bother following through with the sign up.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Like someone else said, the most important thing they should've down is offer a Life Lock type service for free to all their customers. For an individual person it's pretty expensive but with Sony being the huge company they are I'm sure they could get a small discount if they helped 77 million people sign up.
Of course I would guess that only half of the customers, and that's probably pushing it, would even bother following through with the sign up.

That could have worked as well. With my previous post a few above, I don't mean to say that I am criticizing Sony. I love my PS3, my PSP and they make get products, and on the whole, they are a great company.

It just seems that what they are doing to "repay" their customers for this is not enough. Shoot, even eight months to a year of PS+ would be better than just a month- at least that way it doesn't seem as much like a way for them to get people to test it and buy it. Thats my issue with it. Or even the ability to download a current game to own, with a choice of 10 or so titles- that would be fair (note that I do not know if that is possible on PS3, as I do not play online or use the store.)

 

[padman59]

Small correction. The only thing encrypted apparently was CC info. Everything else apparently was plain text, including passwords.

Very careless on Sony's part with the passwords. Amazing that a tech company of Sony's size would be foolish enough to not encrypt passwords. However, at least they encrypted the CC info. Changing a password isn't too much of an inconvenience. Stolen credit card is a bit more troublesome.

Passwords were hashed, not plain text. So, anyone who took them still has/had work to do in order to break it.

EDIT: Sony is also claiming that the rumor about stolen credit cards being offered back to them is false.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/02/playstation-network-security-update/

 

[Blade]

Can we send Team Seal 6 to fix the playstation network already?

 

[Handleit_44]

Link: Report: Sony hit with second attack, loses 12,700 credit card numbers

Following up on this morning's news that Sony Online Entertainment servers were offline across the board, Japanese newspaper Nikkei reports (via BGR) that the company has lost 12,700 customer credit card numbers as the result of an attack. The company apparently took SOE servers offline after learning of the attack last evening, but has yet to issue a statement confirming that customer information has been lost.

Of the 12,700 total, 4,300 are alleged to be from Japan, while the remainder's origins are unknown. The report also notes that the data stolen was from 2007, which Engadget posits could mean this was simply stolen data from an old backup.

The report doesn't mention whether last night's supposed breach is connected to the recent incidents involving Sony's PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, though an SOE representative told Joystiq that official comment would be coming from the company "within the hour."

 

[Twigg4075]

Don't you usually get a better deal if you purchase the stuff online with a cc rather than buying points in a store? I know once in awhile you can find a deal on XBL or PSN points, but if they sell for retail price, is it cheaper online or offline for the amount of points you get per dollar?

There never seems to be any deals on PSN cards (or Wii cards for that matter) because they are actual dollar values, whereas M$ uses their funny money/space bucks/carnival ticket points there is some leeway in pricing. Because of that you will occasionally find deals.

 

[padman59]

There never seems to be any deals on PSN cards (or Wii cards for that matter) because they are actual dollar values, whereas M$ uses their funny money/space bucks/carnival ticket points there is some leeway in pricing. Because of that you will occasionally find deals.

Yup. I haven't noticed a sale on PSN cards ever. This is definitely the advantage of using an artificial currency in the xbox marketplace.

 

[Twigg4075]

I have to also wonder how much this is hurting developers. I know people have mentioned how this is definitely affecting Zipper with SOCOM 4, because it is mostly an online game and released just days before this outage.

But I also heard on the CAGcast that there was a Japanese fighting game that released the same Tuesday that MK released (not sure wtf they were thinking) for $30 and it was a DIGITAL ONLY release on the PS store. That has to suck balls.

And to clarify, what are we getting again? A month of PS+ and what else? I sure they don't take the MS route and just give us a game that they pick because chances are I already have the game.

 

[padman59]

SOE's press release:

 

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
THEFT OF DATA FROM ITS SYSTEMS
Breach Believed to Stem From Initial Criminal Hack of SOE
Tokyo, May 3, 2011 – Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment announced today that their ongoing investigation of illegal intrusions into Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE, the company) systems revealed yesterday morning (May 2, Tokyo time) that hackers may have stolen SOE customer information on April 16th and 17th, 2011 (PDT). SOE is based in San Diego, California, U.S.A. This information, which was discovered by engineers and security consultants reviewing SOE systems, showed that personal information from approximately 24.6 million SOE accounts may have been stolen, as well as certain information from an outdated database from 2007. The information from the outdated database that may have been stolen includes approximately 12,700 non-U.S. credit or debit card numbers and expiration dates (but not credit card security codes), and about 10,700 direct debit records of certain customers in Austria, Germany, Netherlands and Spain. With the current outage of the PlayStation® Network and Qriocity™ services and the ongoing investigation into the recent attacks, SOE had also undertaken an intensive investigation into its system. Upon discovery of this additional information, the company promptly shut down all servers related to SOE services while continuing to review and upgrade all of its online security systems in the face of these unprecedented cyber-attacks. On May 1, Sony apologized to its customers for the inconvenience caused by its network services outages. The company is working with the FBI and continuing its own full investigation while working to restore all services. Sony is making this disclosure as quickly as possible after the discovery of the theft, and the company has posted information on its website and will send e-mails to all consumers whose data may have been stolen. The personal information of the approximately 24.6 million SOE accounts that was illegally obtained, to the extent it had been provided to SOE, is as follows: · name · address · e-mail address · birthdate · gender · phone number · login name · hashed password. In addition to the information above, the 10,700 direct debit records from accounts in Austria, Germany, Netherlands and Spain, include: · bank account number · customer name · account name · customer address. SOE will grant customers 30 days of additional time on their subscriptions, in addition to compensating them one day for each day the system is down. It is also in the process of outlining a "make good" plan for its PlayStation®3 MMOs (DC Universe Online and Free Realms). More information will be released this week. Additionally, the company is committed to helping its customers protect their personal data and will provide a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs. The implementation will be at a local level and further details will be made available shortly in each region. Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) has been a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games since 1999. Best known for its blockbuster hits and franchises, including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, PlanetSide®, Free Realms®, Clone Wars Adventures™, and DC Universe Online™, SOE creates, develops and provides compelling online entertainment for virtually all platforms, including the PlayStation®3 Computer Entertainment System, Personal Computer, mobile and social networks. SOE is building on its proven legacy and pioneering the future of the interactive entertainment space through creative development and inspired gameplay design for audiences of all ages. To learn more, visit www.soe.com .

So another 25 million personal records for SOE customers (DCUO, Everquest, etc.) compromised as well as 12,700 credit card numbers and 10,700 debit transactions from customers outside of the U.S. from a 2007 database.

I have to also wonder how much this is hurting developers. I know people have mentioned how this is definitely affecting Zipper with SOCOM 4, because it is mostly an online game and released just days before this outage.

But I also heard on the CAGcast that there was a Japanese fighting game that released the same Tuesday that MK released (not sure wtf they were thinking) for $30 and it was a DIGITAL ONLY release on the PS store. That has to suck balls.

And to clarify, what are we getting again? A month of PS+ and what else? I sure they don't take the MS route and just give us a game that they pick because chances are I already have the game.

A month of PS+ and Qriocity as well as an uspecified game yet to be determined for each region. I'd prefer a credit toward a purchase of my decision TBH.

 

[Twigg4075]

Shoot, even eight months to a year of PS+ would be better than just a month- at least that way it doesn't seem as much like a way for them to get people to test it and buy it. Thats my issue with it. Or even the ability to download a current game to own, with a choice of 10 or so titles- that would be fair (note that I do not know if that is possible on PS3, as I do not play online or use the store.)

I think 3 months would've been a lot more appropriate. Don't they sell the subs in like 3, 6 and 12 months? One month is pretty much bullshit when we are coming up on two weeks of outage anyway. For people without PS+ already it's not as much of an issue though.

It reminds me too much of when my 360 breaks (which happens a little more than once per year) and I have to send it in for repairs. From ship out to return the whole process usually takes around two weeks. They give me a one month Live card for my "troubles". Really? So you're basically giving me a whole TWO WEEKS for free?!? Oh, thank you so much almighty M$! What is that the equivalent of? $2.50? You are so gracious! Fucking assholes.

God forbid you try to call and complain because you end up trying to talk to the cast from Outsourced who just read their generic responses from a manual.

 

[Twigg4075]

A month of PS+ and Qriocity as well as an uspecified game yet to be determined for each region. I'd prefer a credit toward a purchase of my decision TBH.

This is pissing me off more and more. So two weeks of PS+ (a month minus the two weeks the service has been down) and a game of their choosing, ala Undertow? And let me guess, they probably don't even have a plan in place for people that already own this mystery game? So instead of those people getting the value of the game credited to their wallet they will probably just be screwed. Fuck off Sony.

 

[JayDizzle]

They can't exactly individualize special prizes for everyone Twigg.

Not saying blanket discounts are the best way to go nor is just getting PSN up without compensation for those who paid for PS+ but for the majority public, it's better than nothing.

 

[DDRGuido]

Come Wednesday evening I'm trading in my all Sony products for a 360 and XBL. I want to game online damnit.

 

[Twigg4075]

They can't exactly individualize special prizes for everyone Twigg.

Not saying blanket discounts are the best way to go nor is just getting PSN up without compensation for those who paid for PS+ but for the majority public, it's better than nothing.

A shit sandwich is better than nothing, but that doesn't make it appropriate compensation.

 

[JayDizzle]

A shit sandwich is better than nothing, but that doesn't make it appropriate compensation.

So what would you want, Twigg?

 

[QuietStorm]

Come Wednesday evening I'm trading in my all Sony products for a 360 and XBL. I want to game online damnit.

Man, I have a 360 but I don't play it. I played the Gears beta a couple times this week, but I want my Socom 4 back. Plus I miss playing my league games in Madden.