PSN outage: Your thoughts?

​Unless you've been absent from the world of gaming for the past two weeks, you've likely heard a thing or two about the PlayStation server hack, resulting in PlayStation Network going offline.

 

We here at Joystick Division, along with pretty much every gaming news source out there, have bombarded readers with all of the known details; including the apparent extent of the damage, Sony's plans to apologize with free digital goods and services, as well as the ongoing legal fallout.

 

As the drama continues, I thought it might be a refreshing change of pace to take a gander at what those who are most affected by the recent cyberattack--the customers--have to say about this whole mess.

 

It was suggested many times in my perusal of various message boards and comments sections that the PSN hack had proven, once and for all, that United States President Barack Obama is a PlayStation 3 gamer. With his online gaming options ruined, it looks as though Obama instead filled his time with taking care of that whole "Bin Laden" thing.

 

Others, though, had less of a sense of humor about the temporary lack of online features on PS3, as Gamefaqs user Darth Gamer stated that, out of frustration, he opted to sell his PS3.

 

Is hacker group Anonymous behind the PlayStation server cyberattack?

​Responses to Darth's decision were best (worst?) summarized by fellow Gamefaqser TryTheVeal.

 

"Selling your PS3 because of the outage is comparable to your wife being in a coma for two weeks and you're tired of her being asleep, so you divorce her and marry someone else," Veal said.

 

Speaking as someone who works in an IT position, Joystiq user Cantwait2bhome said he feels for the individual programmers and engineers currently trying to fix all of Sony's problems.

 

"I can't imagine the stressful work environment they're having to endure right now," he said. "Of course, that's not to say I don't agree with the majority of this community in thinking that Sony, as a company, is handling this poorly."

 

Over on NPR, Susan Lewis had an interesting take on the matter.

 

"I guess I'm the mom of the year," Lewis said. "I refuse to allow these things in my house. I encourage my family to read, draw, play games together and discuss things."

 

Well la-dee-frikin-da, Mrs. Lewis.

 

If you've spent any time on these various forums, then you know that pulling any pearls of wisdom from the flood of comments isn't exactly the easiest task. As Joystiqer SNK180 stated, "Great. I get in here to get some info and what do I get? Half a page of dumb console fanboys arguing."

 

Hirai and Co. apologize by bowing for seven seconds

​Earlier this week, Sony exec Kaz Hirai addressed the debacle, apologizing to the Japanese press. His statements were summed up by Jamvaan at Joystiq, saying "We probably screwed up. Your credit card info possibly was compromised. Anon may or may not have been involved. It wasn't our fault, but we're offering to compensate you anyway. *Bows*"

 

Concerning Sony's offer of free, unspecified content once the store goes back online, as well as a month subscription to PlayStation Plus and Qriocity, some were apparently not convinced by the peace offerings, stating that the compromised safety of their personal information could not be so easily forgiven.

 

"It's worthless, IMO," said IGN's Schatzie52. "This just does not 'cut it' with me at all. Eveone that's excited about this...I'm happy for you."

 

As for when this whole mess will be over and Playstation's online services will be back up and running, Killfire72 offered a guess on an IGN board.

 

"I think Gran Turismo 7 will come out with a code for PSN service," they said.

 

Whether the fix comes today, next week or even next month, however, it's apparent the community is wary of what other issues may arise afterwards. Their trust in Sony, it would seem, has been shaken.

 

"What would REALLY suck is if the new update makes the PS3 explode, setting your house and your dog on fire," said Gamefaq's George Trevor.

 

His fellow GF member, United-World, however, stated a sentiment that lives up to his user name.

 

"This outage was a bummer alright, but we have to admit one thing: It kind of brought us together," United said. "Whether it's for negative/positive reasons, [we've been] talking, sharing and discovering other things since PSN went down."

 

In the end, perhaps Kylote from IGN summed up the whole matter best.

 

"This is getting confusing."