350°

Removing "Install Other OS" Will Hurt The Sony Playstation 3

"Given the statement of what you lose if you don't upgrade (i.e. PSN access) it gives the impression that by wishing to retain your Linux access, you are somehow doing something you should not. Akin to 360 users being banned from Live for playing pirated games. Not the same by any means, but again, it's that perception amongst many that is being circulated, and while not entirely accurate, it casts Sony in a negative light.

"George Hotz was not going to do anything more than release his exploit according to his own blog, and then let everyone play in his sandbox. Now he is behind creating custom firmware to maintain the OtherOS feature, the very thing Sony doesn't want. If everyone gets behind this, and views the OtherOS as a martyr (which is happening) it's going to do nothing but force piracy as a backlash. Or at the very least find more exploits that previously might not have known."

-Sony Insider

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sonyinsider.com
LordMarius5140d ago

These April Fools jokes are just getting lame

huflungpu905140d ago

if you think this is a joke from sony your a joke they don;t cel april fools in japan so no and sony a huge company would notjust f wit people really

blitz06235140d ago

But it will hurt George Hotz.

LoVeRSaMa5140d ago

It would hurt Sony if the PS3 became hacked and fell into the same state as the PSP.

joystick5555140d ago

your face will hurt the sony ps3

iFLOWLIKEWATER5140d ago (Edited 5140d ago )

I'm pissed by it, but thats just how I feel...I...!

creatchee5140d ago

It's not a joke dude.

I don't think that this will hurt Sony and I know it won't hurt me because I don't use the functionality. However, I do feel bad for the people who LEGITIMATELY use the feature to do whatever the heck it is that they want to do with it (and no, I'm not talking about modders, hackers, or pirates either). And having to make a choice between using PSN and their other OS sucks for them.

Sounds like a classic case of the rotten apples spoiling the bunch.

presto7175140d ago

But this should really not be an issue. It's all that f**king George's fault. We should give him "The Treatment". Mwahaha!!!

sikbeta5140d ago (Edited 5140d ago )

Not a Joke, serious business is serious, me as a Gamer, I don't want the same crap that Happened to the PSP never again, so IF this is the only way to keep my Gaming Experience "safe" and by that I'm saying that I'll enjoy more Amazing Games I'm all for it

Remember, this Gen is Expensive, Devs will don't support the Console if Piracy is Rampant and the PSP is the Example, no-1 will like the Idea of having Just a couple of Games to play thanks to Piracy

So is better to lose this Feature and keep Playing Amazing Games...

Edit:

Geo-Douche, you're the Public Enemy No. 1, you've been Warned...

bushfan5140d ago

if i get a PS3 is because i wanna play games...if I want to run linux i'll go get a Pc...plain and simple.

it's hurting a lot..../sarcasm

Noctis Aftermath5140d ago

You can't possibly be THAT stupid can you?
If you actually believe that people weren't going to use his hacks to find an exploit in the system allowing them to pirate games then you really need your head examined.

Sony have every right to do this, seeing what people done to the PSP(destroyed it's software sales) why shouldn't they take away linux which is the bread and butter for these hackers?

The majority of people complaining about this have never even used the feature or don't even own a PS3 and just want to make it look bad.

Anorexorcist5140d ago (Edited 5140d ago )

How can this really, legitimately hurt the Playstation 3? The small section of the PS3 userbase that work entirely to find exploitable holes in the PS3's system architecture are the only one's who are really going to be busting zits in anger over this. Issues with the exploitation of the PSP is an example of how much these things can damage a company's product line/profitability when these things are not cut off at the knees soon.

I view these particular cynicists as the same as some idiot hippies who complained when drug testing policies became standard in certain economic sections of the United States; How dare the man try to maintain the integrity of it's products/services? How dare they try to mitigate exploitable issues with one of it's most important product lines and try to maintain overall market confidence in it's products? The man just never gives us a break.

Yeah, more like the man never turns a blind eye and never gives you any handouts.

Christopher5140d ago

Let me see if I follow this correctly.

1. Hotz hacks the PS3 using the hardware and OtherOS feature. Proclaims that he'll let others do the rest of the work, including breaking the necessary encryption so that people can do what they want, including custom firmware. Meaning, piracy could be an option.

2. Sony seeing this vulnerability says you can use OtherOS, but you won't be able to play online and can't update the firmware to 3.21 or beyond. They do this to prevent any attempts at piracy with their system.

3. Hotz claims Sony is doing this the wrong way and says he'll provide custom firmware for those who keep OtherOS enabled so they can continue to play their games online and use new features that come out with firmware updates. This still leaves the possibility for using the OtherOS feature for pirating purposes.

So, having said that, how can they say that there will be a backlash of piracy actions taken against Sony when the reason they did it in the first place was to prevent piracy? The only thing it's done is get a kid's panties in a bunch who thinks he will be able to create custom firmware that will allow people to use both OtherOS and all the latest features of the PS3 with future updates. So, you're essentially wasting one kid's time to keep up with your updates, which will likely have their own issues and may not even be possible without some serious hardware modification, rather than leaving the door open to piracy all together.

I don't see how their preventive measures are getting a backlash from what they were already getting in the first place.

edgeofblade5140d ago

FINALLY we can stop listening to self-gratifying Sony stories about university research projects using PS3s.

Honestly, this won't be much of a speed bump to game-playing PS3s.

LordMarius5140d ago

you people fail, the article is the joke, this wont hurt Sony

Pain5140d ago

So all this F.U.D can go blow clowns.

sikbeta5140d ago (Edited 5140d ago )

@Marius - 1.14

We all know that, but you know, sites, with crappy articles like this one, are going to Blow this "situation" out of Proportion like what happened with the Clock-bug, If they were screaming "da dooomedz" for a minor problem that disappeared in 24hs, imagine what those lame sites are going to say about this....

-"No other-os, da doooomedz"
-"Sony showing the Finger....da dooooomedz"
-"Why, by doing this..... da doooooomedz"

blind-reaper5140d ago

I honestly don´t care I tried (with yellow dog) but I´m no computer aficionado so I could´nt make it work correctly so I gave up.

IdleLeeSiuLung5140d ago (Edited 5140d ago )

This is not a joke! A joke doesn't involve 4000 comments in two days.

Check out the Playstation Blog comment section:

http://blog.us.playstation....

That is a lot of upset people!!! Sony would stop this negative press if it was a joke.

New customers don't care, because as far as they know they are not missing a feature unless the Playstation brand starts to be known as the only one removing features from their console this generation....

Biggest5140d ago

Well then 4000 people need to shut the hell up. If they don't like it they can go find a console that lets them pirate games until they're blue in the face. They can go find a console that still allows for multiple operating systems. I'm actually enjoying their pain. People that work for a living should be 100% behind this move. I don't want anyone stealing my money. Neither should you. Maybe now you won't go buy a PS3, IdleLeeSiuLung. You can love your 360 even harder.

Anon19745140d ago

What would you even use this for? Want to run a Linux? Install it on your PC or run it through VMWare or something.

If you bought your PS3 because you wanted it to run Linux, have your head examined. Hackers are using this to exploit the system to steal YOUR credit card information and to steal money from the hard working men and women who make the games we love to play. And it's not like Sony hasn't tried to work around this. They've patched this before to try to keep these thieves out. I say if it protects PS3 owners from these lowlifes, take it out. If Linux means so much to people, they can opt not to update or do what everyone else does. Run it on their PC.

tinybigman5140d ago

how this is going to hurt Sony? if the slim models dont have it and the people who bought them arent complaining because it's not there; why would the other 98.9% care if they lost this feature if they werent using it.

sony is a business and if they feel this is prevent possible hacking into their console they have every right to protect their investment. if M$ did this with the 360, or nintendo with the wii i would feel they were within their rights to protect their investments too.

for those who did happen to use this feature for good not hacking then i do feel bad for you, but you dont run sony and they have to protect their investment the best way they how.

HolyOrangeCows5140d ago

If the majority of the GPU wasn't locked off when running other OSes, this would be devastating.

Otherwise, as a gamer, who cares?

Dance5140d ago

Sony need to stop removing features

rambi805140d ago

"4000 comments"
LOL all those butthurt pirates amuse me

Used linux for a while on PS3 - was severely limited anyway

HolyOrangeCows5140d ago

Real gamers would rather see one non-gaming feature go than watch the PS3 drown in piracy like the PSP.

commodore645140d ago (Edited 5140d ago )

YEah so... it seems the vast majority of the thousands of posters over at http://blog.us.playstation.... are really, really angry about sony removing features!
IF you don't believe me, then just head on over and have a quick browse... It's eye-popping!

I kid you not, there is likely a class action lawsuit against Sony in the works over this...

Removing linux features that customers have already paid for?
It's shameful.

What's next?
removing backwards compatibility?
removing dual audio out?
removing sacd playback?

oh wait

HolyOrangeCows5140d ago

Nice reach, fanboy, but when you purchase a PS3 today, you aren't promised any of those.

You know what? Maybe they should sue over this feature going. But you know what? It's better that Sony deal with a little lawsuit and not have piracy ruin the PS3 for all of us like with the PSP. Better for Sony AND gamers. But you won't understand. You're a FANBOY, not a gamer.

aaron58295140d ago

without the "Install Other OS" function... i cant do a lot of stuff like.. erm .. erm ...

wait , i dont use it..

cayal5140d ago

"YEah so... it seems the vast majority of the thousands of posters over at http://blog.us.playstation.... are really, really angry about sony removing features!
IF you don't believe me, then just head on over and have a quick browse... It's eye-popping!

I kid you not, there is likely a class action lawsuit against Sony in the works over this...

Removing linux features that customers have already paid for?
It's shameful.

What's next?
removing backwards compatibility?
removing dual audio out?
removing sacd playback?

oh wait"

lolololol you're pathetic fanboyism shoots you in the foot again.

Read the Conditions, Sony are LEGALLY protected from this.

35 millions users.
4000 are upset

that is 0.011% of the user base. Oh noes.

Back to your Halo fanboy.

Prototype5139d ago

Who cares?

If you want linux that bad dual boot a pc; hell you can get a "FREE" notebook/desktop off someone and run it (like I did).

commodore645139d ago (Edited 5139d ago )

@ cayal.

No need to get so offended, dude.
I assume you're a normal gamer and your ego is not intertwined with SOny's wellbeing?

If so, then why not consider that the 4000 users that are disgruntled so far represent only the tiny fraction of users that have heard about this?

Wait until this gets out to the people who are not on top of every bit of gaming news.

There's bound to be many more. This will spread like a meme.
Not that this will matter, as 4000 people is PLENTY for a class action.

Good luck, Sony.
Good luck if your emotional wellbeing is affected by N4G postings, too!

+ Show (29) more repliesLast reply 5139d ago
huflungpu905140d ago

look the slim ps3s dont have other os anyway witch is the only ps3 for sale so really no removing it from systems that have already been sold wont hurt sony and out of the 33.5 million ps3s sold only about 100,000 people use other os so who cares people really grow up and for people that do use it if it so important put linux on your pc are dont update really

travelguy2k5140d ago

All they have to do is buy a slim, and NOT update their old system. Then everyone is happy. Sony cause they get extra sales, and people that actually use the other OS. A slim is around half what they spent on their fat linux running machine anyway.

happy_gilmore5140d ago (Edited 5140d ago )

you can only install linux on the ps3 phat, which has been out of stock for a long time now. slim does not even have the OtherOS install option.

NaiNaiNai5140d ago

so let me get this straight.

Its okay for sony to remove a feature. and if you want to keep that feature. FORCE you to buy a new system.

But MS is in the wrong, for selling a arcade system.

OMFG now I have heard everything. I love the double standards some of you have.

Biggest5140d ago

Console with a HD, free online, wifi, Bluetooth, BluRay, web browser, etc. loses the ability to run an extra operating system.

Console with nothing but the ability to play games loses nothing because it has nothing.

Is something wrong with my eyes? I can not see the double standard.

cayal5140d ago

"Its okay for sony to remove a feature. and if you want to keep that feature. FORCE you to buy a new system."

umm no. The feature is entirely removed from all PS3s.

Get a clue.

3XP5140d ago

Will this update, delete already installed linux OS or will it just remove the option for future installations?

NaiNaiNai5140d ago

umm get a clue.

you can still buy fats. they are not banned.

twit.

cayal5140d ago

"umm get a clue.

you can still buy fats. they are not banned.

twit. "

lol who said anything about them being banned?
The OS feature is being removed from all systems.

Like I said, get a clue.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 5140d ago
Candlestickmaker5140d ago

I don't use "Other OS" and I don't feel it will be a PR disaster for Sony, and I don't entirely agree with this article that the loss of "Other OS" will drive piracy through this "custom firmware", as that's a lot of speculation and extrapolation.

However, for anyone to tell someone who wants to keep the Other OS option "don't update, then" seems unreasonable. Sony are presenting Other OS users with an ultimatum, a dilemma. Either way, they will lose features. "Don't update" isn't exactly a valid option unless you never use the PS3 for it's main features.

jmare5139d ago

The point is those that use Linux to turn the PS3 into a supercomputer don't play games on it, so it won't affect them. This only affects those that want both, which is a small percentage, and a good number of those probably only use it in hopes of using it to hack the PS3 and pirate games.

Pennywise5140d ago

All the PS3's that can do this are already in peoples hands. WTF is wrong with these bloggers?

LtSkittles5140d ago

Exactly, people using it for clusters probably don't use them to game, or have a PS3 at home for gaming.

sikbeta5140d ago (Edited 5140d ago )

True, I was saying this from the beginning, People that use the PS3s for Research or stuff like that Will Not Update cuz they don't use the Consoles for Gaming, PSN, Blu-Ray, On-line and such, so there will Be NO Problem for Them...

Llama5140d ago

Well, I use the ps3 for rendering, works pretty nice as a render box actually. Unfortunately I won't be able to model while I render after april 1st, unless I buy a seperate render box which is pretty expensive where I live.

Cenobia5140d ago

How do you use it for rendering? I can't get anything past SNES emulation to run on Linux, so I don't understand how it would be useful as a render farm.

I imagine you would need some sort of specialized program to use the unique architecture of the PS3 as well...

Anyway, all I know is I'm upset by this. I still don't know if I'm gonna have to reformat since I already have Ubuntu installed. I would lose a lot of my PSN games if that happened.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5140d ago
GR8 15140d ago

well we can only hope so.

mrv3215140d ago

Removing a feature ONLY the PS3 has will hurt it.. yeah right.

Remind me again which out of the 5 next generation consoles(including portable) doesn't support a browser... that's right the 360.

Show all comments (117)
100°

Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell Of Ar Ciel Retro Review – Love Conquers All

Gary Green said: You’ll be forgiven if you haven’t heard of the Ar Tonelico trilogy. The previous two games arrived so late in the PS2’s life-cycle that they simply went unnoticed. While most were tinkering with their shiny new PS3s, Ar Tonelico: Melody of Elemia and Ar Tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica were being ‘returned to sender’ by your local Game stores. Luckily, you won’t need to have played them to understand and appreciate this third and final chapter, Qoga (pronounced k-yoga) tells the story of a racial war between humans and Reyvateils, a breed of biologically produced female cyborgs capable of reproduction, while still having a digital mind.

Read Full Story >>
pslegends.com
Giga_Gaia4h ago

Oh my god. I kinda wish this would get a remaster on PS5, it would be awesome. One of my favorite games on PS3.

That and 3D Dot Game Heroes. It's a shame that some stuff is stuck on PS3.

Knightofelemia2h ago

Ar Tonelico 3 is good I still prefer the first AT game. The music is solid in all the games and Akiko Shikata is a very talented singer bringing life to the game. Only annoying part is well I find is Saki I always choose Finnel or Tyria. KOEI so needs to HD remaster the franchise along with Ar Nosurge and Ciel Nosurge since it never came to North America. I would day one the Ar Toneliceo games and Ar Nosurge if they were remastered.

TheColbertinator1h ago

I still have the limited edition of Qoga unopened. Unfortunately it never went up in value like I had hoped all these years.

50°

Mugen Souls Retro Review – Sexy Demon Space Adventure

Gary Green said: We have a juxtaposition of 2D and 3D visuals, flashy turn-based combat, quirky anime characters with cheeky dialogue with plenty of partial nudity; Yes, this is a Compile Heart JRPG. Whilst the engine is borrowed from Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, Mugen Souls is more of a Disgaea spin-off. It’s not a strategy RPG as such, it merely sits within Disgaea’s ever-expanding universe (Multiverse? Netherverse? Your guess is as good as mine). You won’t find cameos though, since Mugen Souls is a franchise which aims to stand on its own two feet.

Read Full Story >>
pslegends.com
130°

Looking Back At 2008, An Unbelievably Incredible Year Of Video Game Releases

Huzaifa from eXputer: "2008 was home to the likes of Call of Duty: World at War, Dead Space, GTA 4, Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead, and many other hits, which is outright remarkable."

ChasterMies1d 7h ago

Some of these low paid video game “news” writers weren’t born before 2007.

just_looken1d 3h ago

Here here

Those that were around before 2000's i am sure are like me that think we entered a world of non readers or those that follow without question.

I can not wait to see fallout 3 a goty game even though it was about water with non content until you add the dlc/updates then you got the performance/crashing

CrimsonWing691d 18h ago

I don’t think anything can compare to 2023

lucasnooker1d 18h ago

1998 - the best year in gaming! Metal gear solid, crash bandicoot 3, medievil, half life, ocarina of time, thief, tenchu, resident evil 2, Spyro, tomb raider 3, oddworld abes exodus, banjo kazooie.

It was a different breed of a gaming era. You’ll never understand what it was like back then. The aura of gaming, it was different!

KyRo1d 18h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

I second this. Gaming was a lot more varied and fun than it is today. I'm 35 so getting on compared to some here but I got to see all the changes from NES up to now but I've never felt so disappointed in any generation than I have this current gen. I was expecting more from this generation rather than prettier versions of games that came before it. Game mechanics have become so refined that alot of games feel the same and has done for a while now.

Maybe it's time to have a break for a while. I love gaming but I don't feel I get much fun in the traditional sense out of it anymore.

CrimsonWing691d 18h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Abe’s Exodus, and Ocarina of Time are the only things from that list that I liked.

Here’s the 2023 game releases that I personally liked… and big releases that I didn’t care for:

- Dead Space Remake
- Wo Long Dynatsy
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Diablo 4
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Hogwarts Legcay
- Street Fighter 6
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Like a Dragon: Ishin
- Octopath Traveler 2
- Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters
- Final Fanatsy XVI (actually ended up not liking this, but it was still a big deal release)
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
- Lies of P
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Starfield (Ended up hating this one, but big release)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (I’m an old-school Zelda fan, but didn’t really enjoy this game)
- Alan Wake 2

I mean, honestly I’ve never seen a year of major IP releases like that, ever.

Profchaos1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h ago )

Isn't it just a generational thing realistically.

I've been gaming since way back and I some of my favourite games go as far back as the late 80s for me each generation has a year or two of game changing releases one after another before an inevitable dry spell.

I kind of agree gaming had a different feel games hit different because we didn't have the internet nothing got spoiled and you really had to put in the effort to beat a puzzle which could set entire groups of people looking for a solution. But most importantly games were experimental and not as cookie cutter as today even basics like controls were not universal today r2 is shoot l2 is ads garunteed you can't deviate from that in a shooter back then it could of been square, R1 or R1 and circle nothing was standard.

But as time moves on a new generation picks up their controller they are going to be interested in different things that PS1 demo disc with the t Rex blew our primitive 16 bit brains back on launch but to kids today it's laughable.
The new gen of kids coming into to hobby seem to value different things to us there seems to be a huge focus on online play, streamers, gaming personalities, and social experiences, convience of digital downloads. To me I value none of that but that's ok like my parents not liking the band's I would listen to its just the natural cycle.

Gameseeker_Frampt1d 6h ago

Just about every year in the 7th generation was great and something we most likely won't experience again.

2009 for example had Assassin's Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age: Origins, Uncharted 2, Halo 3: ODST, Killzone 2, Borderlands, Bayonetta, and Demon's Souls to name a few.

just_looken1d 3h ago

It still amazes me we got over 7 rockstar games ps2/ps3 but 3 for the ps3/ps4/ps5

Dragon age 1-3 and mass effect 1-3 in 7ish years what a generation.