Sony offers Playstation Network apology package

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Compensation plans to persuade users back to the Playstation Network have been met with a mixed response.

Sony has offered incentives to return to the network after it was hit by a major hack attack, exposing details of 77 million users.

It includes two free PS3 games from a choice of five, and a month's free membership to premium services.

However, many gamers complained the games were too old, and that the package was "disappointing".

Senior PR manager for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) Jonathan Fargher told the BBC it represents a good offer.

"Clearly there's going to be a minority of people out there who have some of those games.

"We certainly believe the welcome back program and the choice of games that we're offering, for free, is good value."

He added that it is the first step in regaining the trust of Playstation users, future plans include an identity theft protection scheme which will be outlined to users soon.

'Welcome back'

In a blog post, SCEE head of communications Nick Caplin told PS3 gamers that they could pick two games from a list of Little Big Planet, Infamous, Wipeout HD/Fury, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty and Dead Nation.

Playstation Portable users, who were also affected by the downtime, could choose from Little Big Planet PSP, ModNation PSP, Pursuit Force and Killzone Liberation.

"I would like to thank all of the developers and publishers involved in this programme for their support in making this happen. We certainly couldn't have done it without you," Mr Caplin wrote.

"You will be able to access this content once PlayStation Store comes back online and we are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible."

In addition to the free games, users were also offered 30 days free Playstation Plus membership which offers premium content not available to free users.

Existing Playstation Plus subscribers will receive 60 days free.

Users on the Sony Online Entertainment network - another affected by the hack - will receive their own package of 45 days of game time as well as in-game currency.

Old games

The gaming community's reaction to the PSN package has been mixed.

"I own all of the five games I can choose from and have finished most of them," commented user Arkeologen in response to the announcement.

"Isn't there any way you can offer alternatives instead of these old games?"

However, on the US Playstation blog, commenter WhizKid105 said: "Jeeze Sony, I know you're sorry, but you don't have to welcome us back that hard.

"Not that I'm complaining or anything."

Oli Walsh, from Eurogamer.net, believes the compensation package is "fairly generous" given that the Playstation Network is a largely free service.

"They are old games, but they're all good games. The risk is that if you're a real passionate fan you've probably played them already," he said.

"I think it was a very difficult one for them to get right. I'm not sure there is something that would satisfy most people."

Source: BBC News - Sony offers Playstation Network apology package

 

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Sony PlayStation Network woos gamers back with free games and movies

Games and GearSony has revealed how it plans to woo gamers back, as the beleaguered tech giant tries to rekindle the love affair between gamers and the hacked PlayStation Network. Sony has now revealed the package of free games offered to UK gamers, including LittleBigPlanet, inFamous and Killzone Liberation.

The Sony Online Entertainment, PlayStation Network, and Qriocity online gaming and media services packed a bag and went to their mothers' places to get their heads together almost exactly a month ago. The services have recently been restored, and Sony is now promising users free films, free game downloads and extended subscriptions by way of making up. The company will also big you up to that looker you've had your eye on lately.

Gamers can download two free games. PlayStation 3 owners can choose from Dead Nation, inFamous, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty and Wipeout HD Fury. US users can choose Super Stardust HD instead of questing for booty. Link Removed due to 404 Error owners can choose from LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers and Pursuit Force or Killzone Liberation; the latter isn't offered to US PSPers.

PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive 60 days of free membership to the premium level of the PSN, and non-subscribers will receive 30 free days. Music Unlimited subscribers get 30 days free subscription.


Sony has also said that it's updated the PSN and added additional software-monitoring, vulnerability-testing, encryption and firewall features, so you can feel safe at night and don't have to go back to your ex -- Xbox, that is.

We done a poll over the weekend, asking if you would stand by your console. It seems most of you will be getting back together with Sony[URL], although many of you will take some wooing. That's it, chaps and chapettes -- play hard to get.

Only a small proportion of you plan to switch to the Xbox 360, an option that was discussed by many. Don't worry about making that threat, though -- you were angry, we were angry and things got said in the heat of the moment. We understand.

The PlayStation Network is back online -- [URL=http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gamesgear/playstation-network-is-back-online-heres-how-to-rejoin-the-ps3-party-50003757/]here's how to get online again -- but many of you are still having problems. You need to update your PS3 and change your password, and the vast numbers of people doing so has overwhelmed the network, leaving many still frozen out. We can only suggest you be patient -- annoying, we know -- and don't be tempted to hit the 'Forgot your password?' button too many times, as it could lock you out and will probably delay the password email reaching you.


If there's still a problem, give your PS3 some space and let it remember why it needs you. If this thing's gonna work, it's gonna take a little patience and a little work, so hang in there. And it wouldn't kill you to buy flowers every once in a while.

Let us know in the comments section below how you're getting on, and which games you'd like to get as part of your compensation. And remember, we're rooting for you -- you make such a great couple.


Read more: Sony PlayStation Network woos gamers back with free games and movies | Crave | CNET UK

 

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IDG News Service - After hackers knocked its PlayStation Network offline for nearly a month, Sony is now trying to make amends by giving customers free video games.

Sony made the announcement Monday, saying it was a way of thanking the millions of gamers on its network for their "patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage."

In the U.S. and Canada, PlayStation Network and Qriocity subscribers will soon be able to register for two new games each -- either in PS3 or PSP format -- at the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation Store isn't online yet, but when it comes back, gamers will have 30 days to get their goods.

PS3 users can choose from the following titles: Dead Nation, inFAMOUS, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD and Wipeout HD + Fury. The PSP options are: LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers, Pursuit Force and Killzone: Liberation.

Depending on the package they've signed up for, subscribers will also get free movies, enhanced services packages and free virtual items.

Sony is offering similar plans to European and Latin American users, but the company has not said what it will do in Asia, where the network is still offline.

Last month, Sony disclosed that it had been hacked and warned its 77 million PlayStation Network users that personal information --- e-mail addresses, for example -- may have been compromised. Then in early May the company said that another network, the Sony Online Entertainment network, had also been broken into.This second incident affected close to 25 million users.

Sony spent the past weekend slowly bringing its gaming networks online.

Sony will give the Online Entertainment users Link Removed - Invalid URL to the service and a year's worth of identity protection from Debix.[URL] The company has said that it will also offer PlayStation Network customers ID theft protection, but it hasn't yet spelled out the details of that package

Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9216774/After_hack_Sony_offers_freebies_to_unhappy_gamers?source=rss_latest_content&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+(Latest+from+Computerworld)

 

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U.S. and Canadian PlayStation Network (PSN) users will soon get access to free game and video downloads as a sort-of reparation payment for this past month's arduous outage. Sony is slowly bringing all of its users back online in the wake of a massive hack that left PlayStation 3 gamers without access to the PSN online network.

The news comes right from Sony itself, which made the announcement about free games and video downloads on its official PlayStation blog Monday evening. For a period of 30 days following the full reactivation of PSN, Sony will offer both PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation Portable owners free access to games and videos from a select list. (Source: CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV)

Other freebies may include access to in-game items and events (which usually come at a cost), as well as 'complimentary' identity theft protection.

Services Expected Back Up by May 31
In the meantime, Sony says it should have all PSN services back up-and-running by the end of May. Already some American PSN users have reported being able to access the network.

It's now been almost a month since PSN crashed due to a cyber-attack. The company later admitted that the personal accounts of some 100 million customers had been breached in that assault, leaving names, birthdates, home addresses, passwords and even credit card information vulnerable to theft.

In a report last week, some retailers said the lengthy outage -- along with concerns over Sony's ability to protect its customers -- had led to a considerable drop-off in PS3 sales.

Sony Exec: Outage Just a "Hiccup"
In a recent interview, Sony executive Sir Howard Stringer described the hack and outage as a "hiccup," adding a tongue-in-cheek jab at industry rival Microsoft by saying, "Nobody's system is 100 percent secure." (Source: Technology Product Reviews, News, Prices & Downloads | PCMag.com | PC Magazine)

"It's one of those dynamic situations where the bad guys get better and the good guys have to keep getting better too," Stringer added.

Source: Link Removed due to 404 Error