260°

How Sony Can Beat The PS3 Pirates

NowGamer: The revelation this week that the PS3 has finally been hacked and opened up to a potential wave of piracy is dominating Internet chatter. Will this really damage game sales on the PS3? Are people willing to spend so much money on the console hack software? What will Sony do to respond?

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nowgamer.com
comp_ali5052d ago

Surprisingly well written article about PS jail break. I agree with them, instead of punishing pirates they should embrace new ways of turning pirates into legimit gamers.
If you look at steam for example, there are tons of promotions every week ,every midweek beside the summer and christmas sales.

Feckles5052d ago

Agreed – piracy exists for a reason and not just because people want free games. I think that embracing people's needs will go part way to easing the problem. Valve's attitude is an example to all.

theKiller5052d ago (Edited 5052d ago )

somehow true. i hacked my ps2!! why? because $50-$70 games is just too much!! for example, i bought spider-man: the movie on ps2 for full price!! guess what? it turn out to be bull crap!! and i cant take back my money!!

and i see sooooo many old games that have an age of 2-4 years yet they are not cheap!! i ask my self why? havent these game makers already made their money back and much more? why still charge for some games even if its old a high price?

and in many countries we dont have the option to buy second hand games or rent them!! these option exist in UK,USA,Canada etc but not the rest of the world!! so how can the majority of poorer people try the games and play?

if they make a rule which says like this:

1: up to 6 month old game charged full price

2: up to 1 year old game charged with 20% discount

3: up to 1,5 years old game charged with 30% discount

4: up to 2 years old game charged with 50% discount

5: from 3 years and on, old game charged with 70% discount

then am sure many people will be happy and will not pirate!! not all people eager to buy new games!! and majority of people buy their consoles after years of release!!

but they are too greedy!! and as a response people want to get the games cheaper by hacking or second hand use or renting etc!!

the excuse that games cost a lot to develop is not the same as when a new console launches!! because now same engines with some tweaks can be used which cost much less!!

also the sale they make on good games are so huge!! Call of Duty over 20 millions!! yet the price is so high!! damn greedy people!!

@EDIT

those who disagree please share your thoughts dont just disagree like robots!!

zeeshan5052d ago

Nice article! Reducing the prices of games might also help. So if the games are available cheap, a lot of people won't go for pirated copies. Lets face it, even if SONY decides to sell games for $10, there'd still be some people who'd try to save those $10 but the number of these people will be far smaller than how it was back in PS2 era!

Disabling the Install OTHER OS was not a treat. Not to legit users like myself. Ok so one guy tried to hack it, why do I have to pay the price? That's not fair with me and I am paying full price of each and every game that I purchase. I understand Sony has a business to run but disabling features isn't the way to go.

THAirThe problem this gen is that the budget to create a game is massive! So Sony and M$ want to recover as much as possible and make decent profits but if they reduce the prices of their games, I believe more and more people are going to go and purchase new copies instead of buying used games.

IMO, piracy isn't as big of a issue as the Used Game market is. Seriously! You can always fight piracy by different means but used games market is something that is totally out of Sony or Microsoft's control!

If they could do something to get some percentage from each used game sold, that would help devs and publishers a lot!

comp_ali5052d ago

@ thekiller, don't give a damn about disagrees. it is justr a fanboyism meter. I see your point ,man and it is the truth.

PAPERCHASER03965052d ago (Edited 5052d ago )

Look at the music industry and the lost of revenue from people making copies instead of buying they are struggling right now and look at the quality they put out which is garbage now. I AM A GAMER and will be one till I can't see the fuckn screen anymore and I will surely hate it if pirating fucks up the one thing I enjoy after a long days work

sorceror1715052d ago

@theKiller - How do you know that $50-$70 is "too much"? Have you made a game and sold it? Modern games are complex, costly affairs with lots of content. It's not just engines. It's levels and textures and animation and sound f/x and music and... They have to recoup their investment, and then make a profit, or they won't be making more games.

That being said, it's quite possible that games are overpriced currently, and if they reduced the price, increased sales would make up for the reduced income per sale. Valve's experiments with pricing lend some credibility to that idea.

Also, I find most games get to the discount bin quickly enough. It's the really good games that tend to stay pricey for a while... but that's because they are, well, good.

Eamon5052d ago

I agree with theKiller to an extant.

BS moneymaking games costing full price is theft in my dictionary.

If console games were around the same price as PC games there would be a lot less piracy simply because I'm sure many pirates appreciate developers but simply cannot be bothered wasting all that money.

MicroSony4Life5052d ago

Hire Captain Jack Sparrow to track them down : )

Just kidding

Banning is a good step towards getting a grasp on the problem. Sony now needs to focus on how to prevent further exploit of these jailbreak - because trust me, Geohot is working on some home brew as we speak.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 5052d ago
forcefullpower5052d ago (Edited 5052d ago )

I still have very serious doubts about this product. I think Sony learnt from there issues with PSP and have not made the same mistake.

I get this feeling that this JIG that the company has copied from Sony is known to be up datable. If so do Sony send out updates to each company every say 2 months as the keys only last a certain period of time.

If Sony plugs the hole in where they got the Jig from which i assume each Jig is assigned to a specific company. I would guarantee that sony already know exactly which company lost the Jig.

As Sony may not even have to release a firmware update as they might just have to wait until the end of this month and everyone that bought one will look stupid.

Anyone else got some good thoughts on this. As i think so many people are desperate to see a hack they are ignoring straight forward issues with it.

bomboclaat_gamer5052d ago (Edited 5052d ago )

you guys are full of crap
i pirate

i just want free games

bash me all u want...but hey look in your ipod, look in your pc

i know theres some illegitimate software and apps and ebooks and mp3 somewhere

so before u call the kettle black, look under your backside

forcefullpower5052d ago

Where did anyone have a go at you for being a pirate!!!

They where talking about how companies need to look at stopping piracy different ways.

mastiffchild5052d ago

bomboclaat-the only reasonable defence for piracy is if you use it as a trial and then buy any pirated games yopu like later to enjoy the full online experience too, etc.

Not EVERYONE even agrees with fulfilling their iPods with stolen tunes either. I'm a musician and wouldn't DREAM of stealing anyone else's work in such an underhand and disgusting manner. I wouldn't steal from your wallet why is it OK for you to steal from, potentially, mine?

Another thing: if everyone pirated their games we'd soon end up with only crappy, no budget fan made games left as devs would lose on every release. Is that what you want?

You want free games and your rationale is that everyone else does it? That's clearly untrue and while I totally agree that the games industry is both greedier and more childish over used sales than any other on the planet you still can't think piracy is OK when it's easy to see the way it's hurting PC gaming already. Take DA2. It's not being made the expensive, full featured way the first was almost purely because piracy ate all the profit on PC last time out.

Fact is lots of people NEVER pirate a game and don't steal their videos or music either. A high percentage of file sharing is done by kids who haven't the income to fund their hobbies like most of us and that's a slight defence as without these ways of staying up to date with games and music they might ,lose interest and not become the people buying plenty later in their lives but you aren't a poor child and appear to think being greedy is fine and damn everyone else.

I'm certainly not a saint but would never dream of defending any of my stupid, selfish actions by saying "everyone else does it" as they do NOT, or that "others are as bad as me" either as two(or millions of) wrongs don't make a right. It's simple-if we all acted as you suggest the game, music and film industries would die and the fact they haven't shows that not everyone acts in the selfish way you seem to be so proud of. Had you said you pirate to check games before buying then fair enough, i'd understand. Even if you were temporarily so poor you couldn't get new games I'd be sympathetic but the way you put it was just greedy.

Also, using "gay" as an insult makes you look so old fashioned even in your prejudice. It's fine for people to be gay, imo, and it isn't fine to call people that just because they don't agree with your opinions. It's the kind of thing that tars us all with a bad, outdated and homophobic brush and I would assume(not believing in any religion myself) any caring God would look poorly upon you for being like this.

turok5051d ago

@ bomboclaat_gamer

At least someone here is being honest about one's self.
much better than those who bash but are in fact hiding

*looks at rest of n4g*

DirtyLary5052d ago (Edited 5052d ago )

People don't change, ever. Mankind has proven this over and over.

A thieving pirate will also be a thieving pirate.

Burn in hell. You are ruining gaming for us all, ever your greedy selves.

bomboclaat_gamer5052d ago

u should burn in hell also
for being gay

rwarner1745052d ago

bobmoclaat_gamer is probably in a worker's union. I recognize that type of person anywhere. Thinks the world owes them everything. I second that, burn in hell. Hopefully soon.

mastiffchild5052d ago

rwarner-you're being just as closed minded as bomboclaat here. I'm as left wing, politically, as they come and would NEVER assume anyone owed me anything. You're using a bad stereotype just as distatseful and ignorant as his "gay" jibe was.

Most union members would NOT assume they had a right to pirate anything as it would be taking food out of the mouths of their fellow workers in another industry. Unions exist to prevent greedy employers bleeding workers dry unfairly or in unsafe conditions. the number of bad unions is vastly outnumbered by the number of overly greedy employers in this world and why you feel allowing the tail to wag the dog is OK is beyond me. Workers should have no protection I take it?

It's not a socialist ideal to be greedy, not at all.

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Fishy Fingers5052d ago

I cant condemn those who pirate games, I personally dont, but I have TV, film and music as well as software on occasions, so I believe it would be contradictory to do so.

N2G5052d ago

pirates are free gaming gamers no matter what Sony does they will remain free gaming gamers.

jerethdagryphon5052d ago

even if sony put out a firmware that enabled this on every machine to stop money going to the pirates, it wouldnt help as someone said, 'i just want free games'

its that attitude that must change, if sony game games away free but did a pay to play system, it still wouldnt work

saddly theres no way to change these 'gamers' mind set, a lot of kids grow out of piracy as they get older, some dont.

Stealth20k5052d ago

First off they are going to disable usb support.

Then they are going to make a list of all users that used the hack and sue them.

Then they are going to patch the system so it doesnt happen again

CrawFail5052d ago

FOR THE LAST TIME, NO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DISABLE USB SUPPORT.
Think about it.

They are however going to patch the system.

Narutone665052d ago

*in Liam Neeson's voice"
RELEASE THE KRAKEN!!

DirtyLary5052d ago

Nah, they'll steal that too.

Show all comments (39)
400°

Sony Rewards Program Is Coming To An End on Dec. 31, 2024

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that it is ending the Sony Rewards program on December 31, 2024, and as a result that date will be the last time possible to redeem points and access your account.

helicoptergirl3d ago

This is a shame. I've been using it since the start. It had a few problems and issues but overall I did end up saving a little bit over 60 dollars using this program. There was probably not enough people using it.

Cacabunga2d ago

Is it playstation stars?? I really never understood it. I am still level 1

PS_HCT2d ago

This is not playstation stars. Sony Rewards is a US rewards program linked to a visa credit card.

darthv722d ago

I just checked... I have 144 points at the moment. Not even enough to get a $5 PS card. I can get a $1 digital gift card to Target or home Depot though.

blackblades2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I thought they were been done with this, I redeem some good stuff with this in the past. Wonder how much i got its been awhile

OtterX3d ago

I've gotten so many free games throughout the years w this program, this sucks. I've been with it since the beginning.

I just run a majority of my needed purchases through it and pay it off immediately instead of using cash or debit. The most recent was on Tuesday I got a $10 dlc free. It was great as long you're not borrowing out large amounts of money that you don't have.

ChasterMies3d ago

Realistically, those weren’t free games. You could have used another cards rewards points or bought Sony products on sale and then used the savings to buy PlayStation games.

OtterX3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Well there was a large boost on any purchase made on PSN, so there was an incentive to use over other cards' rewards. It used to be better, then they lowered it. I forget the exact multiplier though.

I pretty much got this $10 DLC free this week just by resubbing my PS+ Premium. (On sale during Days of Play) Not a lot of other cards would give that much back

dumahim2d ago

Right. I can do the same thing with my credit card rewards, but I have much more flexibility in what I can redeem those points for, including buying PS games.

shadowT3d ago

I never owned the credit card. Was this program available in Europe and Asia?

Profchaos3d ago

Seriously it was awesome Ive gotten a few free psn vouchers out of it.

FPSRUSSIA3d ago

i remember getting Assassin creed black flag for free with Redeeming my Points for 10 dollars when it was on sale this is very sad news.

OtterX3d ago

I actually believe that was one of my first cashouts on the program! haha

I remember I had just gotten the PS4 and I used it on Black Flag or Battlefield 4 to go with it.
I'm pretty sure I remember it being Black Flag though! (Great choice, as it became my favorite AC of all time)

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200°

Sony shares big new PS Plus stat, but not the one we want to see

PlayStation Plus has improved the split of PS4 and PS5 players on its priciest tiers, but Sony continues to hide total subscriber numbers.

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theloadout.com
mandf22d ago

lol acting like it’s equivalent to ms numbers

Mr Logic22d ago

Uh...They're definitely not equivalent.

"Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service now has 34 million subscribers."

"the total number of PS Plus subscribers across all tiers was 47.4 million"

darthv7222d ago (Edited 22d ago )

That PSN number seems like it should be much higher... especially when you consider that PS4 alone has a sell through of over 117m. To not even be at least half that is rather interesting.

To the XB side, having 34m to an install base of roughly 50m (XBO sell through) or even 85m (360 sell through) is a greater percentage of unit to member ratio than PSN.

bloop22d ago

That's not the "gotcha" you think it is Darth.

darthv7222d ago

^^it's not supposed to be bloop.... it's just an interesting observation.

Einhander197222d ago

darthv72

"That PSN number seems like it should be much higher... especially when you consider that PS4 alone has a sell through of over 117m. To not even be at least half that is rather interesting.

To the XB side, having 34m to an install base of roughly 50m (XBO sell through) or even 85m (360 sell through) is a greater percentage of unit to member ratio than PSN."

Have you ever heard of a PC before? I hear they are pretty popular.

fr0sty22d ago

MS started lumping gold subscribers in with those GP numbers... keep in mind.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 22d ago
shinoff218322d ago (Edited 22d ago )

What. Definitely more os plus subscribers but that makes sense due to actual console sales

Darth the difference between the bases are huge your right but you gotta think. Ps players buy more games, where as the Xbox base relies on gamepass for their gaming. So it makes perfect sense

darthv7222d ago (Edited 22d ago )

What makes perfect sense though? You say PS players buy more games... so then logically there should be more PS+ subscribers given the increased number of online multiplayer games in the PS4 generation alone. The PS4 was the first time that + was required for online play much like Gold was for 360 users.

Keep in mind we are talking subscribers, not simply XB/PS users. I assume you meant to say offline single player games, which is most likely true as well. That gen also saw a significant increase in games with an online component comparted to the previous gen.

victorMaje22d ago

I for one will be going back to essential at the next renewal. When I feel a game is good & right up my alley, I’ll check trusted reviews & just buy it.

jznrpg22d ago (Edited 22d ago )

I have the top tier until 2028 as they gave me a massive discount for all the years I had left but I’ll most likely go to essential as well. I buy my games but my kids do use the service occasionally. They do prefer to own their games as well since any game can leave the rental service at some point and they don’t like that idea. They mostly use it to demo games then ask me to buy games if they really like it.

RedDevils22d ago

For me, I will cancel it all together but unfortunately I still have it till 2030 lol

meganick22d ago

I would like to see Sony add a fourth tier of PS Plus for people who just want to be able to play games online without any of the perks like monthly games, store discounts, or anything like that, and it should cost $20 annually, $30 maximum. There’s no way I’m paying $80 just to play games online. Even the original $60 fee was too much, and I would often wait for sales to re-up my subscription.

P_Bomb22d ago (Edited 22d ago )

Essential is too expensive, I agree. We’ve got one Essential and one Premium sub. Dropping the Premium when it expires.

gamerz22d ago

Just let my subscription lapse for the first time since 2010. Will sub again every now and then for a month or so to access my old ps+ games but for me it's the end of an era.

DivineHand12522d ago

Let those numbers continue to drop because it is now too expensive. $80 per year just to play online. I noticed they didn't offer any discounts on the subscription or controllers during this year's days of play for the first time in many years and they will feel it when people choose not to renew.

My subscription will lapse next month and it will stay that way until further notice.

KevtheDuff22d ago

There were savings on subs and controllers here in the UK? I bought a controller yesterday in the sale..
It would be weird if those deals were not in other territories too?

300°

Sony Says The PS5 Is Its “Most Profitable Generation To-Date"

During Sony’s recent business segment meeting and investor presentation regarding its game and network services, the PlayStation company revealed that PlayStation 5 is the company’s “most profitable generation to-date.”

It’s the top slide of the presentation, showing that in its first four years, the PS5 generation has already hit $106 billion in sales, having almost caught up to the PS4’s total $107 billion generated.

Operating income for the PS5 generation has also already surpassed that of the PS4, having now reached $10 billion.

ApocalypseShadow24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

I wouldn't doubt it. They released a high quality system. A lot of high quality games from themselves and their support of 3rd party developers and indies. They released many high quality remakes and remasters. They released a high quality GaaS game going against the naysayers thinking Sony would abandon single player games. And they most likely are profiting a lot more than PS1, PS2 PS4 and the loss leading PS3 that drained all their profits.

Now, I'll wait to see what's cooking tomorrow. But can you use some of those profits to better support your high quality VR headset? Because, by supporting it, you can sell more games and more systems and make more profits?

jznrpg24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

I want RPGs for PSVR2! Good ones of course

shinoff218324d ago

If it had some rpgs I would buy right fking now. It looks dope and alot of fun, but it's biggest game resident evil 4(maybe) I've got no interest in. I'm not a fan of racing games, even with that metro game coming i was never much into that series. Rpgs would be fantastic.

MrNinosan24d ago

Lemme know if ya wanna play some Zenith 🙌
Bought it at release, but haven't played it more than 1-2 hours but for sure on my "todo list".

Cacabunga24d ago

Normal when they released mostly cross gen games so far. That’s a lot of money saved..
We haven’t seen what PS5 can do yet. 4years in and PS4 games still look great to me. The gen leap isn’t quite there yet.

--Onilink--24d ago

The interesting metric for me is the $106billion in operating income/profit (not sales as mentioned in the article) reaching the same as the PS4 did with only half the consoles sold.

In particular because they all are supposed to be making the most per hardware sold after a few years when manufacturing costs are down.

So even putting inflation aside(and the higher console price), it is interesting that they could reach PS4 $ with just half the consoles sold.

Maybe there is more to the metric thats whats seen at face value, but they have clearly been making a lot more money than before on the software side (with also less games released I suppose, given its only been half the generation so far)

VersusDMC24d ago

The bulk of the money has to be coming from the 30% cut on all games and microtransactions. Especially on all the free to play juggernauts like genshin, apex, fortnight, etc.

--Onilink--24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

@Versus

They are definitely making a lot on that for sure (which the $70 price increase factors into as well), but its not like many of those games werent around for the PS4 too.

They might be counting the gen as a whole and not just PS5 itself (so extra profit from PC sales, whatever that may be)

PS+ price increase and different tiers probably amount to part of that too.

But in general, its still quite a surprising metric. Half the time, half the consoles sold, less first party games released so far and still already making more of a profit than last gen is quite something, and as mentioned, there is probably more to it that we dont know, after all, since we are talking about operating income, all the expenses they have also factor into it, so it is also possible that they have found ways to significantly reduce that + all the means of increased revenue that appear to be factoring into the equation

All in all, just an interesting situation from a business perspective

porkChop24d ago

It's for the whole generation, so it would likely be including PC. They also make much more profit on digital sales vs retail, and digital is far more prominent these days. The generation also started at the height of COVID when everyone was home, spending far more money on gaming/hobbies. It makes a lot of sense for this gen to be more profitable.

Abnor_Mal24d ago

This will surely shut up all the new trolling accounts trying to spread lies and non facts in other articles comment sections before this article is posted.

Hofstaderman24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

Obscurely, those trolls or troll will not show in these articles as the truth is contradictory to his or their orchard-sized daily dose of copium and hopium.

Tacoboto24d ago

Or... They're intentionally trolling you guys specifically. Because they know it upsets you so easily.

Name-dropping Orchard, after this many months? How long has it been and he's still in your thoughts?

Elda24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

I'm quite sure the individual is reading these positive comments downvoting & seething at the same time. Edit: It just downvoted my comment...lol!!

Hofstaderman24d ago

No I'm entertained by this individual. I love unhinged people, they are so interesting lol.

repsahj24d ago

Wow! I am super impressed that in just 4 years, ps5 already caught up to the PS4's. Congratulations.

JackBNimble23d ago

That happens when half of your games are cross platform. I'm still waiting to see what the ps5 is capable of, because they sure haven't pushed any limits.

And where are all these ps5 exclusive games?

sagapo24d ago

Not really surprised as Sony barely has any competition at the moment.

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