PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

[Malacite]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

As for PS3s being traded in, you can account a lot of that for the CoD crowd, who don't know anything of gaming outside of Call of Duty and wouldn't know that PS3 played other games anyway.

@_@ Speaking of which, the first trailers for MW3 are out.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

That's not Sony, that's Capcom. And "some" = 2. Final Fight/Magic Sword combo and Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. Apparently Capcom didn't like the fact that PSN users can activate a purchase on up to 5 machines.

Heavy Rain had an issue where you couldn't even play the (I'm going to be generous here) game because it couldn't detect trophy support. This was during that PSN problem last year. In fact, I recall David Cage begrudgingly adding trophies even though he felt they disrupted the experience.

Probably the only thing I'd agree with him on.

Also, Sony approves all games before they go gold, so it kind of actually is on them to ensure trophy support is functional as they make it mandatory. Same goes for what any third party wants to do with their games. Sony can tell them no and not approve their games. Same with Nintendo and MS.

I think they're fun. For me, once I get a platinum trophy/100% on a game I can be sure that I'm done with it and can move on to the next game in my backlog. I do think the people who are so obsessed with gaining PSN levels that they'd stoop to playing garbage like Hannah Montana: The Movie : The Game need to get their priorities in order, though.

Thing is that developers themselves can do it better and make the system more rewarding. Several handheld games don't even have trophies, but they have such systems with actual game rewards. Phantasy Star Portable 2/Zero, Dissidia and so on.

Heck, I'm playing Zelda Majora's Mask and the Bomber's Notebook is sort of the same thing to an extent. Its just actually worked into the game's story.

People being able to see what I did and what trophies I have really means nothing to me, I'd rather have some in-game goodie as a sense of completion.. I usually want a reason to go back to a game later for 100%, so it doesn't have to be the first time.

[Armando]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

Thing is that developers themselves can do it better and make the system more rewarding. Several handheld games don't even have trophies, but they have such systems with actual game rewards. Phantasy Star Portable 2/Zero, Dissidia and so on.

Heck, I'm playing Zelda Majora's Mask and the Bomber's Notebook is sort of the same thing to an extent. Its just actually worked into the game's story.

I think part of the system's appeal is that you can see what achievements other people have gotten and vice-versa. I agree that it's ridiculous how far some people will go for the sake of achievements, but then again there's plenty of games that bait completionists with a carrot on a stick to get them to go through some retarded grind when the reward is pretty meaningless.

Some people will get roped into meaningless achievements whether they're actual achievements or something built into the game, and some companies will put meaningless achievements whether they're real or built into the game. I don't think the issue here is the achievement system itself.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

I think part of the system's appeal is that you can see what achievements other people have gotten and vice-versa. I agree that it's ridiculous how far some people will go for the sake of achievements, but then again there's plenty of games that bait completionists with a carrot on a stick to get them to go through some retarded grind when the reward is pretty meaningless.

Some people will get roped into meaningless achievements whether they're actual achievements or something built into the game, and some companies will put meaningless achievements whether they're real or built into the game. I don't think the issue here is the achievement system itself.

You just described some of the things I don't like about MMOs grafted onto single player and other multiplayer gaming. I don't think that sort of design is healthy as subscribing to an MMORPG is cheaper than buying new games every month/week.

That and as noted by you and Icemage, it encourages people to buy games for achievements rather than the quality of the game or personal interest. If a game can't sell on its own merits, what's the point?

The consumer is ultimately responsible for their actions, but it doesn't feel any less slimy that Sony and MS are out there baiting people in that way. Then again, there were people would buy anything last generation and would buy anything now just so they could have something in common with other people to talk about. That's not really any better.

I've skewed more and more to gaming within my means and don't care for people peering into how I play them and what I've accomplished offline.

The only thing I would like is if more games encouraged what games like Dissidia do - be able to take pictures and create movies in-game. It would help console and handheld gaming be more in-step within a social media world. When I do want to talk about what I've done offline, I'd like to be able to show it with minimal hassle and hardware.

[Armando]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

That and as noted by you and Icemage, it encourages people to buy games for achievements rather than the quality of the game or personal interest. If a game can't sell on its own merits, what's the point?

I never said that, just that some games have retarded faux-achievements like grinding to 99 in some RPGs when there's really nothing to do once you're that overpowered.

Given that I've never touched a 360 or PS3 for more than 15 minutes I'm not entirely sure what the implications behind Sony or Microsoft's achievement systems are. Sounds like you get some meaningless retarded gamer score based on the number of achievements you get? If people fall for that crap they deserve to be played like the saps that they are. In the end it still boils down to the fact that most people are stupid - if they're not being suckered in with achievement schemes they'll fall for something else.

My only experience with achievements comes from Steam, where there's no such thing so you get them if you're a completionist and ignore them otherwise. I think TF2 has a pretty interesting approach in that you get rewarded with weapons in-game for getting x number of achievements in the class you're playing.

The only thing I would like is if more games encouraged what games like Dissidia do - be able to take pictures and create movies in-game. It would help console and handheld gaming be more in-step within a social media world. When I do want to talk about what I've done offline, I'd like to be able to show it with minimal hassle and hardware.

This is something I can agree with. Most games that do feature something like this fall short. We all know about POL's sucky-ass screenshot system for FFXI. Brawl had a Replay system, but you can't save a match that's longer than 2 minutes, even though a typical 4-stock Melee match lasted 5-6 and Brawl matches usually drag on much longer than that. Stranger still is the fact that using hacks you can get save unlimited length replays - so why did they put the limit there in the first place?

Of course things would be much easier regardless of whether the game has the feature built in if handhelds came with video output capabilities. I know the PSP2000 and up have it, but the 3DS still doesn't, which sucks.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

Of course things would be much easier regardless of whether the game has the feature built in if handhelds came with video output capabilities. I know the PSP2000 and up have it, but the 3DS still doesn't, which sucks

Well, 3DS is supposed to have video recording in the near future and they do seem a bit more in expanding features via firmware updates - whether or not that translates to a means of creating video from a game and saving it to SD is another matter.

Games like Metroid Prime and Brawl don't even export photos to other things naturally, so I fail to see the point in the features as I can only share them with other Wii owners I'm linked up to. Photos on DSi and 3DS (shoddy in quality though they may be), are at least something you can move around from the SD card to PC.

[Icemage]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

Heck, I'm playing Zelda Majora's Mask and the Bomber's Notebook is sort of the same thing to an extent. Its just actually worked into the game's story.

People being able to see what I did and what trophies I have really means nothing to me, I'd rather have some in-game goodie as a sense of completion.. I usually want a reason to go back to a game later for 100%, so it doesn't have to be the first time.

Just because you're antisocial doesn't mean everyone else is.

Being able to look at other people's trophies is handy when you get a friend request on PSN (and likewise for Xbox 360 and achievements). You can tell at a glance what sort of gamer someone is just by what they've earned, and also what games they have in common with you. It saves a lot of time and headaches for me.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

Just because you're antisocial doesn't mean everyone else is.

Too early for me to look for numerous pictures to craft a witty response, so I'll just making boring and educational this time.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4epc4A7kS2Q]YouTube - antisocial-personality-disorder[/ame]

Not caring for trophies doesn't seem to be a criteria for being anti-social.

Being able to look at other people's trophies is handy when you get a friend request on PSN (and likewise for Xbox 360 and achievements). You can tell at a glance what sort of gamer someone is just by what they've earned, and also what games they have in common with you. It saves a lot of time and headaches for me.

I usually would go by:

- Were they fun to play with?
- Good teammate/fun rival?

If yes, I add them.
If no, I do not.

I find it to be a pretty reliable system. It worked for years in the arcades.

[Armando]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

I usually would go by:

- Were they fun to play with?
- Good teammate/fun rival?

If yes, I add them.
If no, I do not.

Your criteria is useless on strangers.

[Icemage]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

Your criteria is useless on strangers.

Precisely. Case in point, about two months ago I picked up about two dozen random friend invites on PSN in the space of a few days. Not sure why, or how, but a glance at the trophy list for all of these people showed that they owned virtually no games in common with me (very hard to do since I own a LOT of games). I subsequently refused all of the invitations.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

Your criteria is useless on strangers.

Which would be why the criteria exists.

Not terribly interested in gaming with strangers. People I actually know - friends, co-workers, family, people I'm acquainted with through forums get in. Otherwise if I see them around an online game a bit frequently and enjoy playing with them, then I'll consider their request.

Saves me time and I don't have to treat their friend request like a resume.

Sorry, but I don't like reducing people to lists and pieces of paper. I like treating them like people.

You know, being social and all that


---------------------

That said, the password reset feature for PSN and Qriocity services is down again. Game, Friends and the all-important loltrophies are still functional

Yeah, good job there, Sony. I just fucking reset the password yesterday. Now I get to look forward to doing it again.

The reason is because a hackable exploit in the password reset feature was found. I was able to reset my password with minimal proof through the password reset feature on the Playstation site. Information the hackers just as easily had, though perhaps not the PSP serial number I still have.

They should be doing what Japan made Sony Japan PSN do, keep it down until they're 100% sure, but SCEA and SCEE probably don't want this ongoing through or near E3.

The CoD players are already plenty hostile.

[Armando]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

Sorry, but I don't like reducing people to lists and pieces of paper. I like treating them like people.

You know, being social and all that

They're called first impressions. They count for a lot.

[Icemage]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

Which would be why the criteria exists.

Not terribly interested in gaming with strangers. People I actually know - friends, co-workers, family, people I'm acquainted with through forums get in. Otherwise if I see them around an online game a bit frequently and enjoy playing with them, then I'll consider their request.

Saves me time and I don't have to treat their friend request like a resume.

Sorry, but I don't like reducing people to lists and pieces of paper. I like treating them like people.

You know, being social and all that

So you're going to open up a conversation with everyone who sends you a friend request? I've long since lost count of the number of random invitations I've received from people I don't even remember playing with. Some of them I get from people who I've played a game with. Other times it's "friends of friends". Sometimes it's just a random "who the heck are you?" from someone who found my online name through a leaderboard or some other source.

Frankly, the random invites I get vastly outnumber the invitations I send/receive from people I know.

Glancing at the comparative trophies gives me an idea about what sort of games people play and how they go about playing them. If I see a huge number of bronze trophies but not a lot of more difficult ones, I know they play a lot of games but don't tend to focus on any one. If I see only a handful of games but a high % of trophies earned, that tells me that they either don't buy a lot of games or have particular tastes in gaming. Aside from the trophies themselves, just seeing what sort of games people have played gives me an idea whether I'll get along with them. If I see a trophy list that looks like:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Bulletstorm
Call of Duty: Black Ops

...that gives a totally different impression than one that looks like this:

God of War III
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
LittleBigPlanet

...and that's a different impression than one that looks like this:

Madden NFL '10
NBA 2K11
Super Street Fighter IV

I'm spending my gaming time with someone, it's nice to have a simple way to remember what they like to do. If someone doesn't have tastes that intersect with mine, then we probably would be better off spending our gaming time with other people.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

So you're going to open up a conversation with everyone who sends you a friend request?[

No, and I don't recall anywhere saying that I would. I said I prefer to play with people I know.

Frankly, the random invites I get vastly outnumber the invitations I send/receive from people I know.

That's because the world is trigger-happy with who they friend.

In most competitive games, there's no reason not to do randoms, there's only reason to be choosy in co-op. And if I want co-op I may as well be at a friend's place anyway unless its like a Diablo clone or something, the appeal of online co-op is generally lost on me. If I want to team up for a Legendary run on, say, Halo Reach, I'd prefer to do it over pizza.

Glancing at the comparative trophies gives me an idea about what sort of games people play and how they go about playing them.

I never said your approach wasn't functional, just faulty. What if they're new to the network and looking for friends? Seems kinda harsh of the only have Socom 4 and Uncharted 2 to their names.

At the end of the day, I still largely prefer single-player experiences and trophies don't really add anything to that unless there are unlockable, in-game rewards. You getting to see them would just tell you "He likes single-player games."

It really doesn't tell you shit about how I'd approach FPS, racing or etc. Those aren't my bread and butter, but I do play them. Additionally, it doesn't tell you how I'd approach such games, just that I play them and met the bar those trophies set. Anyone can max out trophies if they grind enough.

[Icemage]

Re: PlayStation Network Accounts Compromised, Personal Information Stolen

I never said your approach wasn't functional, just faulty. What if they're new to the network and looking for friends? Seems kinda harsh of the only have Socom 4 and Uncharted 2 to their names.

And what if they are? Trophies have a date and time earned on them, so if they're new, I'll see that too.

At the end of the day, I still largely prefer single-player experiences and trophies don't really add anything to that unless there are unlockable, in-game rewards...

...to you.

You getting to see them would just tell you "He likes single-player games."

And that would be absolutely correct, yes? Not only that, it would tell me what sort of single-player games you like. If your listing is full of stuff like Fallout 3 and Dragon Age, but not Final Fantasy XIII, then you probably prefer western RPGs.

It really doesn't tell you shit about how I'd approach FPS, racing or etc. Those aren't my bread and butter, but I do play them.

If you did, the games would show up on your trophy listing, even if you didn't play long enough to earn even 1 trophy. They'd simply show up as 0% (or 0 GS on the Xbox 360).

Additionally, it doesn't tell you how I'd approach such games, just that I play them and met the bar those trophies set. Anyone can max out trophies if they grind enough.

Au contraire. Some trophies are more or less unavoidable if you play a game for more than a handful of minutes. Most games have at least a couple of more or less "automatic" trophies that just prove that you've passed a certain part of the game. The type and difficulty of trophies present speaks volumes about how you approach each game, and the specific challenges contained therein. The more games listed, the more information is conveyed.

The real value for me is that it helps me keep track of who is who and what I can reasonably expect to play with each person. I meet a lot of players in a variety of situations; some of the people on my friends list are real life friends. Some are online acquaintances. Some are family. I do different things with each person from time to time, be it play some co-op in Rock Band 3, or some versus play in MvC3. And sometimes I don't even play with them - just compare notes about games that we might be playing in common (L.A. Noire for instance).

With almost all 100 friends list slots filled, it is sometimes difficult to remember which friends play which games, and this too is another useful element, arguably even more useful than just being able to filter away potential friend requests. I don't have to ask someone "Oh, I don't remember if you own Castle Crashers, but if you do, would you like to play?" I can totally skip the first part of that conversation and just ask them if they want to play if I see the trophy on their list.

So no, while there are no in-game changes to gameplay from trophies, it's nice to be able to look at someone's trophies, see that they've made only partial progress through Heavy Rain, and instantly know that I need to avoid talking about end-game spoilers if they start a conversation about it.


Icemage