[quote name='bh7812']I have posted my thoughts on this very question in a few places and got told there was so much wrong with my post and line of thinking it wasn't even funny..
I think this is the worst PR nightmare Sony could possibly have landed in. There will be no easy way out of this one. There is absolutely no positive PR spin I can think of they can put on this when it's said and done. Granted I only use PSN to sync up trophies (I felt that should be automatic but after this fiasco I can see why it's not) and buy stuff from the store but I can see why so many are upset. I've got a stack of games that have to get played through so I should be good through this.
You've got to seriously wonder if Sony's Gaming Division can truly get up from this and survive. I hope it can but the reality is the PS3s entire 5 year life so far has been one thing after another after another. This time they're truly on the ground and getting kicked around-and quite hard too. The backlash has been massive and will probably continue long after PSN does finally come back up. This fiasco was probably the straw that broke the camel's back. They've lost revenue they could have had the last few weeks, the developers are getting very angry and it's not a great scene
Even if they were planning on a PS4, which I have my doubts about anyway, it's probably been put on hold indefinitely after this. I've posted in a few places my guess what Sony might do the next few years and this is what I think and it's becoming more possible by the day now:
First, I think they did have a certain amount of R&D money set aside for either a full blown PS3 successor or a PS3.5 type deal like what some rumors were suggesting. My guess was the PS3.5 route. But, after this they have probably had to spend a very large portion if not all of that to rebuild, repair and try to get PSN back up so the only option they've really got is to go forward with NGP plans and use any left over R&D funds to stretch out the PS3 and try to get it's capabilities to their upper limits.
Sony going forward will hedge all their hopes on PS3 and NGP. Connectivity between the two devices will be a huge focus. After this mess they'll be forced to really make the most of and push the PS3 to it's limits the next few years. Plus, look at how with NGP they can easily port over PS3 games. I think that point alone is very telling in what their plans are over the next couple of years. Produce PS3 games that can also be perfectly ported to NGP..start a game on PS3, continue it in the car, on a train or plane. It's a smart business strategy. I think when they get PSN back up and running you'll find that to be the central point that helps connect and the devices and compliment each other.
I read through alot of forums, and keep up with news..been frankly very hesitant to post too often on them but when I do I make sure the topics I do post in are worthwhile and ones I can contribute something to.[/QUOTE]
We can all sit here and speculate, but that is what it all is- speculation. The video game industry since the beginning has been a guessing game. There has been ups and downs and I think Sony will weather this, but it will definitely be a different company after this incident and the way they approach online. People are going to be fans of Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, regardless of what is put out. This will eventually blow over after everything has been up and running.
I remember back in the days where the NES had a shortage on cartridges and it cause many places to go without product for a couple of months. I remember when the Nintendo 64 and Wii sold out everywhere and people were getting crazy. That too died down. I remember the whole PS2 debacle with the DRE's and all the shit that went with that. Then the 360's RROD debacle. People still bought the units, the games, and whatever.
So this with people spelling Sony's doom and demise need to take a look at history. Simply put, the PS3 will be back on eventually, this too will pass. Then they will look into the future. I personally have enjoyed playing offline in campaigns and single player modes. It has made me appreciate the game and system. Plus using a media server on it helps ease the pain too.
The whole connectivity thing between systems have never been fully utilized in mass, so the NGP and PS3 idea sounds great in theory, but reeks of the old GBA and Gamecube connectivity thing, which never caught on. Niche gamers might take it up, but not in mass gaming groups.
Look at the 3DS, it is not selling as well as I thought at this point. Reason: people are strapped financially, got big backlogs on games, and quite frankly, there really isn't too many compelling games. I also think people are satisfied with what they have on the DS. The Ipod and Ipad right now are big players in the portable scene and it will be hard for NGP to crack that. I would like to see them do it, but it simply is not realistic . The NGP will hold its own in the long run, but not at the level of DS and PSP.
Go ahead and sell your PS3, swear up and down at them. At the end of the day, we will
still be playing games, and SONY will still be a corporation. Simple as that. In the end, it is the big consumer who will decide what happens, not hardcore gamers like ourselves. The whole idea that they will scrap plans for the future is simply ludicrous. There is too much money to be had in it. You can't say they are not planning something new, even with this happening. If they stopped at big controversies and mishaps, they should have bowed out long ago. But they are still here.
I know I game on the PS3, but to say that morale is hurt by this incident and that backlash has been massive is simply exaggerated. I have many friends that play PS3 that while the online portion is offline, simply doesn't mean they are not playing games or watching movies on the unit or streaming their movies. None of my friends are that shallow to think that this will last for months or years. People have blown this situation way out of proportion. Simply put, if you feel that Sony has let you down and you can't handle the fact they are trying to work on the situation and you can't handle being offline, get rid of the thing and buy something else. There are other choices out there. Good ones.
The whole online thing bugs me too. Everyone beats up on them, but no one has no qualms about putting their personal bullshit on Facebook and pics of their one night rager. You never have privacy online. Once you put yourself out there, that is it. Apparently it is out there for many years. Once you open a window in your browser, get on Live or PSN, play online against strangers, chat online, and buy anything, your privacy goes out the window. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. Stop playing the victim and expect everything to be Sony's fault when it is not only theirs but yours as well. It is a two way street. Be honest with yourself and the way you conduct yourself online and take precautions and you will be fine.
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inever to download on my connection and I won't actually own and be able to resell if I'm bored with it=go 
