19 replies to this topic

[Waser Lave]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...nology-13424923

Sony has begun offering PlayStation Network gamers incentives to return to the system following its major hack attack.

The compensation package includes a selection of free games and additional days of premium content.

The plans also include a 12-month free identity protection programme.

The protection will be available for PlayStation gamers in the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain.

It will offer victim of fraud support, a dedicated helpline and insurance covering expenses incurred in identity restoration.

Details of how to apply for protection can be found on the PlayStation blog. Users must be over 18 and have been an account holder on 20 April 2011.

In a press release, Sony said it will "investigate the possibility of similar programmes" in other countries.

Free games

So far, the announcements have been met with mixed response in the Playstation community.

Many gamers complained the games offered were too old, and that the package was "disappointing".

However, 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 programme 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, with more plans being announced soon.

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.

What do PS3 owners think of the package offered? Most of the games seem pretty poor to me personally but I guess they are free so meh.

Two PS3 games from the following list:

LittleBigPlanet
Infamous*
Wipeout HD/Fury
Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty
Dead Nation*

[Random]

Ratchet and Clank is a good game, I advise people to get that

[iargue]

If it goes down again, I will not stop laughing. Ever.

[Coilvect]

So...my friend told me that he's missing atleast one thousand dollars in his checking's account due to this. How will Sony make up for that?

[Waser Lave]

So...my friend told me that he's missing atleast one thousand dollars in his checking's account due to this. How will Sony make up for that?

He should contact his bank, they have things in place to deal with fraud like that.

[thorgal]

Did they told when the playstation store is going to be open again ?

[crtitcmeerca]

So...my friend told me that he's missing atleast one thousand dollars in his checking's account due to this. How will Sony make up for that?

Wow, thats a huge issue. Thank goodness i cant afford a PS3. Apparently they believe giving out free games will make everything better again. Snort.

[iargue]

So...my friend told me that he's missing atleast one thousand dollars in his checking's account due to this. How will Sony make up for that?

This is where the "Identity Theft Protection" with insurance thing comes into play. Its designed to get him all of that money back and everything.

[Surrico]

Infamous was a decent game and so was little big planet. Ratchet and clank games are always a good play. But as for the other games I havn't heard much about them. And the fact that those are the only two I don't have is a little disappointing. Even with this package it will still be a while before I return to the PSN.

[Lychee]

What happened to the promise of free films? If it's just the hour long trial of Blu Rays that comes with Playstation Plus, that kind of sucks. Even so, given how little I was affected, this seems like a fantastic offer to me. I'm definitely getting Dead Nation (free zombie killing game? Fuck yeah!), but I'm not sure which other one to pick.

It amuses me that one of my friends kept making fun of the PSN downtime and saying how insecure it was, and then his bank account was hacked through the 360 last week. Luckily, he's not lost much at all, but still.

[Connery]

What's the point of giving out free shit if the Store is down... -_-;

[Jake]

So...my friend told me that he's missing atleast one thousand dollars in his checking's account due to this. How will Sony make up for that?

That's about the same price everyone pays for xbox live and ms points, so fuck it.

[83chaosvoid]

of course they leave united states out.....

[Elindoril]

What's the point of giving out free shit if the Store is down... -_-;

We're getting it when the store is back up.

[Scot]

of course they leave united states out.....

American fanboys will be back on the sony teat either way so don't expect this exclusion to make any difference.

[ShadowLink64]

It took much longer for them to come back than I figured it would. So this is not extended to North America?

At least people's credit card numbers were actually encrypted, but that didn't help people's personal info.

[Elindoril]

It took much longer for them to come back than I figured it would. So this is not extended to North America?

The US blog said it was, so I'd assume, and also hope, it is.

[83chaosvoid]

i dont care anyomre im just glad its back up

[ShadowLink64]

The US blog said it was, so I'd assume, and also hope, it is.

I was just wondering, because Laser Wave's quote showed a ton of other countries other than US and Canada. Maybe they just assumed that people would know (or I am a dumbass and can't read). Either way, sounds good.

[Connery]

I was just wondering, because Laser Wave's quote showed a ton of other countries other than US and Canada. Maybe they just assumed that people would know (or I am a dumbass and can't read). Either way, sounds good.

US and Canada are included in this.

Nevermind, here we go -- straight from the Playstation Blog: http://blog.us.plays...-north-america/

Edited by Connery, 18 May 2011 - 07:04 PM.