This post is going to be a little small a bit larger than I expected, and later I’ll be following up with a post about another company, but I do believe it’s time for an update on things, even if it is a bit late.  I don’t expect to write anything else about Sony anytime soon, unless there’s a major change in developments, but we’ll see what happens.  Anyway, over the past week we have had these articles:

http://news.spong.com/article/21176/Sony-No-PS3-OtherOS-Refunds
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/04/19/sony_firmware_compensation/
http://www.thinq.co.uk/news/2010/4/14/sony-refuses-to-sanction-ps3-refunds/

It seems that judging by the above, getting refunds is proving to be a problem.  I still haven’t persued the possibility of getting a refund though it doesn’t look I’d have much luck at present.  There is also mention here of a 3.30 patch and as you can see, there’s no mention of the Other OS (OOS) feature being restored.  I imagine if (and at the moment it seems a big if) it does get restored, it’ll be on the next patch after this one.  Still, it’s madness that Sony pull the plug on a feature that was advertised as a selling point, especially as to actually exploit the security issue in the first place, it requires more effort than all but the most dedicated of individuals are willing to commit to.  Let’s face it, who but the most dedicated would want to open up their PS3, void the warranty on the machine and risk bricking it?  I’m not knocking them by any means, but the point is that only a handful would even consider doing this, so why would it even be considered that serious and issue?

As it stands now, those who want the OOS feature and PSN access have only one recourse, now that the proxy has been shut down (from what I gather) and that is to install the CFW, which is likely to get you banned off PSN.  As much as I’d love to have the option to have the OSS feature, I’m not willing to risk getting locked out of the PSN for it, even though many have most likely been.  It’s shocking that Sony are so willing to stand aside and let people get blocked off from PSN (be it a ban or refusal to upgrade) just because they’re allegedly plugging a security hole very few would or could exploit.  And this comes not long after Sony saying they weren’t going to remove the feature!  This is why I cannot really trust Sony at present.  Another reason for me to distrust Sony has just come up here, seeing as it appears Sony can update the PS3′s firmware without asking!  This really gets me raging!  First of all, they disable the OOS feature and now they say we can download it to your system without your consent?  What the hell are Sony smoking?  I mean seriously… first they said we had the choice of installing the FW update or not and now we don’t?  Consumer rights groups will have a field day, especially as I doubt such a thing is legal.

Before anything is said to me about how this isn’t illegal, let’s put it like this:

Say you have a car that you bought and paid for and thus you own it.  The car is computerised, so the system occasionally needs updating to iron out any kinks, etc.  Now say the car’s computer system currently has a feature that was advertised as a selling point… I have no idea what example to use but say it’s a useful feature to those what would use it and less so for those who don’t (much like the OOS).  Anyway, if you refuse to install this update, the system will have severely reduced functionality in another area more important (such as no PSN access) than the one you wish to keep until you update to the latest firmware.  You could also attempt to install a customised update but due to the way the computer system works, if such a thing is detected, the important feature will no longer work (getting banned from PSN).  Before I continue, I apoligise for non-specific examples in explaining it in terms of a car, but I honestly cannot think of any parallels at present… anyone have any ideas?  Anyway, you have chosen not to upgrade your car’s computer so you can keep the feature because you use it quite regularly, though unfortunately you also used the important feature too, but now you cannot use it because of your insistance of keeping the feature that would be removed in an update.  Of course, that EULA states that the update people have permission to break into your car (while you’re in it) and install the update anyway, regardless of whether or not you consented to it!

The main reason why I used a car though is because some people seem to think that if someone buys a PS3, Sony have the right to force their updates upon people.  Everyone understands that once you buy a car, you own it, not the company… so why is Sony thinking they own individual PS3s?  We paid a lot of money for it (some more than others) and thus we own it, which means no one, not even the company that manufactered the device can tamper with our property.

This brings me nicely to my next point.  I recently started a group on Facebook called “I refuse to buy another PS3 game until Sony restores the Other OS option!” (catchy title, eh?), which at the time of writing has only 2 users, though I’d like as many as possible. I intend to use this as a protest group, as you might have guessed and the idea is to get as many people as possible on it, so I can eventually write an email to Sony and say to them “unless you restore the Other OS feature, this many people will refuse to buy any PS3 games or a PS3, thus causing you to lose out on a lot of money!” Of course, ne recent loophole that came up which I intend to take full advantage of, or at least let others take advantage of is the purchase of second hand games/systems. Why you ask? Well, I may as well explain why I’m not buying any more PS3 games as well. Firstly, Sony makes a loss on every PS3 they sell and make it back on games sales… thus, if I don’t buy any more games (though I have in the past; Rock Band 2 is 2-3 weeks old now – before I found out the implications of this) then Sony will not make any more money. As for buying second hand stuff, the retailer gets 100% of that money, which Sony doesn’t like one bit because they don”t see that money.

So really, when I say I’m not buying PS3 games, perhaps what I should really say I’m not buying PS3 games brand new, or do anything else that puts money in Sony’s coffers; I needed a bit of a dramatic title though so it can stay

But yeah, it seems nowadays that the only way to get big multinational company to listen to you is actually threaten them the only way they’ll understand; through their pockets. If they realise that a significant part of people are angry enough and refuse to financially support them, then they should eventually sit up and take notice…. at least that’s the plan. I’m crap at writing letters so I’ll be essentially needing time to actually forulate a letter, though help is appriciated. Anyway, I’m going to leave this for now and I’ll make some minor updates to this if needs be, and if there’s anything fully newsworthy over the next week, expect another update.

Watch this space.

Update: I should mention as well that I still intend to use my PS3; I own it and I intend to use it fully with the games I have paid for already. the only things I won’t do is buy anything off it or buy any new games for it. I may consider second hand games though. It seems stupid not to use something I have already paid for.

Update 2: Here’s another link about the updating of the PS3 without consent. I love the Penny Arcade strip that goes with it too!