Sony’s PlayStation Network security breach is arguably the biggest story this console generation. While writers and gamers alike are talking up the PSN outage, I have to question whether all this talk will lead to action. (I studied philosophy. I question everything.) According to a survey conducted by CouponCodes4U, more than 20 percent of people that are PS3 gamers are considering leaving for Xbox 360 due to the security breach. Here’s a clip from GamePolitics:
The survey found that 21 percent of PlayStation 3 owners said they were “considering selling their console in order to switch to rival console, the Microsoft Xbox 360.”
The majority of respondents — 89 percent — admitted that they were concerned for their personal data, with names, email addresses and assumed stolen by hackers. More than three fifths ( 65 percent) of video gamers said their trust in Sony and the PlayStation Network had been ‘greatly affected’, while just fewer than 9 percent said that it “hadn’t affected their trust at all.”
Keep in mind that the sample size of 2,132 people is relatively small. I’m inclined to dismiss the numbers because of the sample size. Still, the findings are fascinating. Sony has been picking up steam globally, with the PS3 recently overtaking the Xbox 360 in worldwide sales (depending on whose numbers you believe). Will the PSN security breach halt that momentum? Will gamers with PS3s only defect to the Xbox 360? What do you think the longterm damage of the “external intrusion” will be?
I think once it's back on, most of the gamers will forget about it within a month. People just have their knickers in a twist right now.
Kind of like GW Bush's approval rating 2 days after 9/11 as opposed to his approval rating 2 years after 9/11.
I completely agree with you N8R.
On a positive note, this outage has enticed me to replay RDR and doing such has got me amped for LA Noire.
If this happens with XBL, I'll just play a bunch of games (I’ve been meaning to get around to) offline in campaign mode. That's my preference, anyway.
Does the PS3 have to be connected for you to play stand-alone games?
-M
No.
And miss out on Uncharted 3, Resistance 3, Twisted Metal, and Infamous 2? No way! What good games are there this year so far that are not available on the PS3?
Gears of War 3.
I'm not sure I would include anything on that list beyond Uncharted 3. I'd say that is the only sure fire non miss title there.
R3 and inFamous 2 might be A titles but UC3 will be AAA quality.
TM….I wouldn't even steal it :)
I tend to agree with Smartguy here. inFamous 2 and Resistance 3 are games I'd like to play. I was kinda disappointed with the first inFamous – didn't like the way the character controlled. Uncharted 3 is the only PS3 exclusive on that list that I will buy day 1.
To each there own. All of those games I mentioned are day 1 buys for me because I loved the prequels to all of them.
Batman: Arkham City and Battelfield 3 are the only other games that are day 1 for me.
Forgot L.A. Noire.
I need to see how this game is set up. If you get to work many cases to solve crimes building to a central story without the redundant GTA missions then I'm sold.
My understanding from the videos I've seen so far is that there are optional side-missions (in my head, I just imagine it as responding to calls on the computer when you steal a cop car in GTA IV), but I don't know if that's the extent of it.
I certainly hope that is though.
I think it's more likely to effect new buyers than people who already have invested. It's more likely that people will be much more careful with the information they supply to either PSN or XBL.
Yeah, I'm sure sales are down right now for the PS3. Whether that leads to a significant increase in sales for the 360 is anyone's guess. Blu-Ray is still a major selling point for the PS3, so some people might just hold off on buying the PS3 till Sony fixes everything outwardly.