Sony Implements All-New PlayStation Network Notification System

PSLS: "While relaxing early this morning, I found myself cruising around the XMB when I received a message regarding the Earthworm Jim HD full-game unlock from a user with the PSN id: [PSN]. Turns out this wasn’t an actual user, but apparently a new method Sony has implemented to communicate with the PlayStation Network at large. Do we have a hidden, new firmware addition on our hands? It appears so.

[T9X69]

I got this message just a minute ago. This kinda sucks because now more morons are gonna spam chain messages saying its from Sony because now they can't say "Sony will never contact you through PSN".

EDIT: True, but some people are just downright stupid and we will be like "Oh this is forwarded from Sony, bla bla bla".

@ClownBelt - I usually do but sometimes it gets ridiculous after playing a game of Killzone 2 and getting 5-10 messages from recent players saying the same crap.

[T3mpr1x]

They could make an addendum that reads "Sony may occasionally contact you via the PSN messaging service, only with the [PSN] username." But obviously in legalese, of which I am not fluent haha.

[Red_Orange_Juice]

I wish Sony would implement "report spam" function to PSN

[kharma45]

It's a pity it's not built-in to the machine but you can do it on the internet

www.ps3reporting.com

Takes you through to the Sony's grief reporting portal.

[ClownBelt]

Delete and block them T9X69. That's what I do on those pest.

[Noctis Aftermath]

I do the same, it's really easy to tell that the messages are fake because they almost always consist of spelling errors, also the fact that they ask you to do shit that sony would never ask you.

[ThanatosDMC]

Yeah, that's what i do too.

[BannedForNineYears]

I don't bother reading my PSN messages anymore.
They're all spam and/or chain letters.
No joke.
I had to have deleted and blocked 50 people from my friends list for sending spam/chain letters.
Why would anyone forward such retarded messages?! Do they actually think Kevin Butler sent a message to one of his friends saying to spam it to 50 of their friends?
People who buy into chain letters have got to be the most annoying people on the planet. -_-

[T3mpr1x]

Yeah those messages are really annoying, I think the only people who forward those are naive kids...It is always so tempting to block/delete them from my friends list...

[Mmmkay]

sam & max episodes have done this for 4 months now....

[Weaksauce1138]

Welcome to April lol, old news but it just shows how useless that PSN ticker is if they are utilizing other delivery methods

[The Great Melon]

I remember seeing that annoying little ticker when it first appeared. I immediately went looking for the menu option to turn it off.

[Christopher]

Not new.

I got this type of message when I pre-ordered Sam & Max. When it was released, got the message with the link, downloaded it, and played it as normal.

[JonDiskonected]

you'll see that you cant add, cant send to block list or cant see the profile. that way you know its really from psn

[razorc03]

I always knew Big Brother is watching.
Btw...if they are...AWESOME! We need realtime fixes like this

[Godmars290]

Was expecting something like this day-1.

[NJShadow]

Yeah, I mean when you think about it, if a user can select all their friends on their PSN friends list and send a message, while should Sony be able to do a "Select All" for the entire PSN community to alert us of important news? Long time coming, but pretty cool.

[ftwrthtx]

I haven't seen it it

[Microshock]

Ugh I thought it'd be a nicer way to display notifications. Auto-open notification upon pressing the PS button or something...

I feel Sony is so so slow on this stuff. It's like watching a turtle swim an olympic pool. Very frustrating when the xbox does all of the stuff much nicer/smoother.

Love my PS3 but agh, they need to step up their game on the PSN.

[NJShadow]

Eh, I agree, that would be a great addition. Actually, that would be a PHENOMENAL addition, because I hate fumbling through the XMB, waiting for it to load just to get to my message or invite. >.<

[Godmars290]

True, but then MS had the Xbox1 years to get their console gaming program in place. Sony's only really seriously considered it this gen.

[DelbertGrady]

And that's a shame considering Sony has been in the console business since the PS1 released in 1994. They should have learned by now.

This looks more like a hack than a proper update.

[Baka-akaB]

It's not like MS did it perfectly either soda . Microsoft had trails and error experiments with messenging for over a decade on pc , with messenger . It was obvious that should they decide to implement it to a console , wich they did , no one however strong willed and rich they are , would get it right the first time .

[PAPERCHASER0396]

Off topic I miss the old N4G notification "USER HAS ONLY 1 BUBBLE..... (show) button

[BrianG]

Soda, thats like saying Microsoft has been in the computer business for how many years now? haha. So they should have an internet browser on the 360. Its always a two way thing.

[SpitFireAce85]

and its almost 4 years old.While XBL is a paid
service with a head start dating back to the
original Xbox November 15, 2001 in North America.
So when PSN is 9 years old and a full on paid
service to play online.Then come back and ill agree
with you .Until then its a free service so it can't
evolve as fast as XBL.

PS.I am a PS3 and Wii owner but it makes me sad that
some PS3 exclusive games dont get the respect that
they deserve from PS3 owners sales wise.Also watch
when the PS+ numbers come out.. well lets just say
they would be at least double on the 360.If the
service was on XB360 ex. XBL+

[Microshock]

Steam is also free and while that's 7 years old, it proves that being free isn't an excuse.

They've had more than 4 years. 4 years is just how long the service has been around. They also had the 5 years before that to see what the Xbox 1 did and what the 360 did.

Basic stuff like having the battery indicator moved took about a YEAR. And now instead of giving the most-wanted features, they focus on video editors on the PS3 or improved photo gallerys. That's very nice and all, but hardly the big picture.

It's just so so frustrating to see them take so long.

[Johnny_Bravo]

Being free can only be an excuse for so long, we are talking about a basic feature here, its nothing spectacular. Facebook is free, but when you get a message it pops up and in one click it takes you straight to the message. Sony can evolve PSN as quick as they wish to, Sony is a huge company, they have more than enough money to invest in making PSN better, its just their choice to do so or not. Sony has added much bigger features to PSN than auto-opening messages by pressing the PS button, so there is no reason why they can't implement such a small basic feature.

[Baka-akaB]

Then microshock you ought to remember that it wasnt perfected 7 years ago , and that even at first most hated steam .

[ToastyMcNibbles]

this actually isn't that new of a feature... i bought the sam and max the devil's playhouse bundle and everytime a new episode hits the store PSN messages me reminding me that it's available for download... they also include an attachment to take me straight to game in the store

[RankFTW]

I also bought that day one and have received no such mails from Sony over PSN and I live in EU, may I ask where you stay?

[SpLinT]

terribly implemented. They should do something better to display notifications and not text messages

[NJShadow]

Kind of like a PSN updates and new hub, aside from the "What's New" feature?

[razorc03]

I'm waiting for you, my dear sweet Nigerian Prince.
Where's my millions?

[mantisimo]

They are in a spekial bank akount in Nigeria where I wil send all off the monies to you if you give me your bank details.

Quick before prinsess mgaje dies. thank yu for helping us.

All my flowers and goats will praise you.

Prince Mgbajuba Mboo boo x

[R2D2]

.

[Neko_Mega]

I wouldn't be shock if Sony build it were only they can use [PSN] as a user name, even if that isn't the case thanks to this link telling us we can't add [PSN] that means if you get a message from some one using that name and you can add them.

Then it most be fake.

[Pixolator]

This is not a new feature Hong Kong's PSN has this quite sometime, I had multiple accounts and whenever I check my Hong Kong account I'm receiving bunch of these messages with the attachment that forwards you to the store page. So it's no hidden firmware addition.

[dan_chan89]

pretty nifty, hope they don't start spamming though.

[Philaroni]

Be nice if the told us using this when PSN will be down and other stuff or any other info we might need to know.

[xAlmostPro]

they should have a report spam function & an option to only recieve 'messages' from friends & psn

[theballa113092]

Now if only they do something about those chain message senders. Especially since most of them are complete dumbasses that fail at grammar!

[Ri0tSquad]

They've been doing this with other PS Stores for quite some time now. I think it's a good way to reach out to the community, just as long as they don't do it constantly.

[s0ph1atr0n]

But I guess not a lot of people realized it was happening. I think a notification on the XMB would be better.

[alexai99]

Isn't this what that news update ticker thing in the right corner of the screen used to do?

[Vip3r]

I'm pretty sure this is BS. Sony NEVER contact you via PM so NEVER give out any sensitive information.

[JonnyBigBoss]

I received the message as well. VERY cool indeed.

[DA_SHREDDER]

Waits patiently for cross game chat.

[CrazyRap]

That's pretty cool.

[PS3-247]

I hate when people on friend list spam. I ask them to stop nicely and they still do it. So I just delete and block them.

[Would_You_Kindly]

Yeah, you've got to love it when someone adds you after an online multiplayer match, and ends up just messaging CAN WE GAME SHARE PLZ!?!? lol... DELETE. :P Anyway, I have no problems with the PSN messaging me, but like others have said, not really all that new.