Ask Slashdot: How Should Sony Compensate PSN Users?

ogar572 writes "So Sony is going to give 20 million+ PlayStation Network users (numbers vary based on what article you read) two free games and free credit protection (US only) for what happened a few weeks ago. I for one do miss playing Black Ops online, but I have made it through this outage by doing other, more productive things. What I am most frustrated about is the lack of consistent details and information via email about what is going on. Now Sony says that they are going to compensate us with two free downloadable games (more than likely I have never heard of these games before). I would have been satisfied with the free credit protection. Now that they want to offer me 2 games, why can't I pick any 2 games that I want? I mean, my personal info is now probably being sold on the black market because of Sony. What do you think Sony should do, if anything, to compensate for what has happened?"

Yeah, I want a Sony Pony too

[FineGuy]

Well what do you want exactly? Shit happens. I will see slashdotters complaining about this whole thing again on this story. Some even complained that Sony isn't bringing PSN up while it was insecure [slashdot.org]. Yeah yeah, Sony is evil, they tried to boot off hackers from the games, why isn't sony giving us ponies after this and could we please have someone mention the 10 year old audio cd DRM thing just one more time?

What I want from Sony:
- Two free games
- A free dinner at a fine restaurant with a female Sony representative (hey, can't get a date, so might just go for it!)
- A nice big mansion
- My own yatch
- A Thai ladyboy for some fun

I think it's only fair. I mean, my personal info is now probably being sold on the black market because of Sony.

Now, we get you're disappointed at Sony. Then stop buying their products and get on with your life. The time you're spending on ranting about this (and then completely forgetting the thing until next /. story comes) you could actually be productive and do some work. Then maybe instead of trying to figure out what to demand from Sony you could just buy those things. And no, recession isn't an excuse. There is always some work available for a young fine fella who isn't afraid to work hard and enjoy the results.

They already did them a favour.

[mevets]

1. They helped them kick the habit.
2. They introduced them to other game devices.
3. They taught them the dangers of undeserved trust.

These are pretty big lessons.

Waht should Sony do?

[Red Flayer]

What do you think Sony should do, if anything, to compensate for what has happened?"

IMO, Sony should do nothing. They should pack it all in and sell off their assets to competitors.

How many times does Sony have to abuse our trust before we stop going back like some beaten spouse who thinks maybe, just maybe, this time he really means it when he says he's done drinking and is going to counseling and will really change?

Sony is no longer, if it ever was, a company with which you should place any trust. They have deliberately infected machines with malware. They have a record of producing shitty stuff (like exploding batteries). They failed to take proper precautions to protect personal information.

It's time for Sony to take the honorable way out and commit seppuku.

Re:Yeah, I want a Sony Pony too

[Lord Byron II]

It's not that anyone wants a pony, it's that Sony has seriously put a lot of people's information at risk. A stolen credit card can lead to your credit card being shut off at very inopportune times (I once had mine stolen and shutoff at the beginning of a month long trip in Europe. I had trouble even checking into my hotel because the credit card I gave them to hold the reservation no longer worked.). Even worse, if the thieves manage to damage your credit, that is exceptionally hard to repair and will stay with you for at least seven years. In the extreme, you could find yourself unable to buy a car or a house, or even turned down for a job (since some employers check credit history).

The question is that given Sony has put some many people at so much risk, are two games of their choosing and some credit monitoring enough to compensate?

Re:Yeah, I want a Sony Pony too

[x*yy*x]

It seems like you're mostly worrying about your credit. That was the first thing Sony fixed by offering free credit protection. I think it should be something related anyway.

What is funny about the submitter is that he would had been just fine with only credit protection. Now that he got some extra compensation too he suddenly starts thinking what more he could demand. People...

Re:Yeah, I want a Sony Pony too

[uniquename72]

If "credit protection" worked like you seem to think it does, none of us would need it because we'd already be protected. In fact, "credit protection" is a big, time consuming pain in the ass that only works (if it works at all) for a limited time and in limited circumstances.

But in this case the point is moot, since Sony isn't actually offering you anything at all. [reuters.com]

Re:Not at all

[Labcoat Samurai]

Sony is giving you a free service that you didn't pay anything for.

I paid $600 for it. It came as part of a bundle with some hardware.

Re:Yeah, I want a Sony Pony too

[shadowfaxcrx]

To be intellectually honest, this question should be re-asked about 6 months from now after the Sony hackers have had time to steal more identities ;)

Re:They already did them a favour.

[Pharmboy]

I still say hari cari [wikipedia.org] is the appropriate response. It is Japanese, it has a long tradition, and will reduce the chance that Sony does something similar in the future.

This would include for all the executives involved in the root kit scandal, removing "other OS", and all their other instances of raping the public.