The issue of Reimbursement for PSN downtime.

As all Sony Computer Entertainment Product users know, PSN has been down for about 4 days now. The official reason being that PSN was compromised by hackers and Sony is rebuilding security. Ever since this occurred the issue of reimbursement for lost time has been brought up.

All kinds of justifications from people who are demanding it have been brought up, and this blog seeks to address them and explain why they are understandable, yet erroneous.

Reason 1: "I paid $_____ for a PS3 with access to an online service, I deserve reimbursement because a function of what I paid for is not working."

This is normally a valid point to make, however it is omitting some facts. For one, is there a cheaper PS3 without the ability to use PSN out in the market somewhere? If there is, please show us. I'm sure there are millions who would be willing to buy a PSN-free PS3 at a much cheaper price than what the cost of a PS3 is now. Second is the fact that PSN exists separate of the PS3, hence why you can access it on the PSP and PC, so you didn't really pay for PSN.

Reason 2: "If Sony wants to save face with the userbase, they'll give us something for our lack of access to this service."

While this makes sense from a PR standpoint, the fact remains that Sony doesn't have to give us anything. For two reasons. A)PSN is a free service. You haven't lost any money, so they don't owe you anything. Sure it'd be nice of them as a kind of good will gesture, but be honest now and admit that you'll still be gaming on your PS3 even if they don't give you anything. Those that are griping about this do so just for something to gripe about. B)The EULA of pretty much anything that has or is an online access hub states that the company can makes no promises about sustained, permanent stability and usability of the service, and also reserves the right to "turn off" the service at their discretion and without prior notification.

Now I won't post the entire section of that portion of the PSN EULA, but suffice it to say when you clicked Accept you waived any right to complain. Besides, everyone should know with their own internet connection that things can happen and your connection can be dropped for any number of reasons. The difference is that you pay for your internet connection and are legally granted the right to ask for compensation and receiving it. Also, what about those people who don't have internet access at all? They've never known what it is to game online. For them, nothing has changed at all. How would they take advantage of such a reimbursement?

Reason 3: "I'm a PSN+ subscriber, I paid $50 for my subscription and deserve something."

Sorry to say but, no you don't. Your subscription is not to gain access to PSN, it's to gain access to exclusive content before non-subscribed users. What that means is that said content will still be there when PSN is back up and running and you'll be able to download it whenever you want. So you haven't lost any money.

Reason 4: "I paid for a subscription to DC Universe Online (or any other pay to play based game) and I am entitled to the time I can't play the game back.

You're right, you are. Except your gripe is with Sony Online Entertainment. It falls to them to hand out any such reimbursement. I wouldn't count on it though because DCUO has great subscription plans where you get a discounted price for say 3 months of play, I could only see them really giving you anything if you wanted to end your subscription and then give you say 4 days free or something. But anyway, SOE is the one you want to talk to, and they are a different department altogether. I believe SCEJ handles all PSN related issues.

The fact remains, no one is "entitled" to anything. PSN is a free service that costs Sony money, not you. Sure, it'd be nice if they gave us something as an apology for the inconvenience, but to act as though you deserve it is specious reasoning. Your hard earned money has not been wasted in any way, so you can't really complain.

It may suck, but it is also just a fact. So just get in some time on single player games, rack up trophies, and be patient. Patience really is a virtue, and saves you from a lot of unnecessary stress, and everyone else from unwanted whining.