When something has an expiration date and an end time isn’t specified, you sort of assume that the “day” ends at midnight where you are, or where the company is based. Most people do, anyway, and they shouldn’t. That’s what Howard learned when he tried to activate a free trial of PlayStation Plus, and he was a few hours too late. Not because he had forgotten to call before the offer expired, but because the day was already over. If you use Greenwich Mean Time. [More]
Playstation Says No Free Trial Because It’s Already Tomorrow In England
By April 1, 2013
Sony Announces New Game Console And It’s Called… The PlayStation 4
By February 20, 2013
UPDATE: The press conference finally ended just after 8 p.m., with the revelation that the PS4 will be released “Holiday 2013.” No images of the actual console and alas, no pricing info. Dang. [More]
The End Of A Gaming Era: Sony Says The Last PlayStation 2 Has Shipped
By December 28, 2012
As someone who can still remember the unbridled glee that greeted whichever new gaming system arrived in our household of three brothers and one sister who wanted to be a part of it all, it just feels right to note the final journey of Sony’s Playstation 2. The company says the very last PS2 has shipped and there will be no more — zip, nada, nary a one — after delighting gamers everywhere for over 12 years. [More]
Sony Decides Trade-In Value Of My Computer Is $0
By December 20, 2012
Trade-in programs that promise consumers a discount or cash for their old gadgets benefits everyone. The company–let’s say, for example–Sony–makes a sale. The old gadget gets a new life, or gets recycled. The customer gets a discount, and gets rid of their old device in a way that’s more convenient and safer than placing a Craigslist ad. In theory. That’s not working for Jeff, though. He sent in his old Vaio laptop to swap it for a gift card. He’d get double the listed trade-in value if he bought a new computer. Not bad. Assuming that they acknowledged receiving the computer, and that Sony determined the trade-in value to be more than $0. [More]
Police Offer PlayStation 3 As Reward For Return Of Guns
By September 14, 2012
Police in Snellville, GA, are trying to recover a pile of recently stolen guns and ammunition, but rather than offer the usual cash reward, cops are offering Sony PlayStation 3 video game consoles. [More]
Sony Thinks My Pampered Laptop Has Water Damage
By August 28, 2012
Lance says that he babied his Sony Vaio computer. He fed it electricity, kept it comfy, and left it docked into an LCD monitor all of the time. He didn’t take it everywhere or even toss it into a swimming pool. Yet after an odd negotiation with the world’s only onsite tech who refuses to make appointments, he learned that his version of reality wasn’t true. The computer had liquid corrosion, and Sony would only repair it if he paid almost 2/3 of the original purchase price in repair fees. Lance wants to know why the tech didn’t notice the corrosion until after he replaced the entire motherboard. [More]
Why Doesn’t Sony Playstation Network Want My Money?
By June 13, 2012
Jonathan’s sons sometimes want to buy downloadable content for their Playstation 3 games. He’s perfectly happy to buy this content for them, because he’s a nice dad like that. Unfortunately, his money is no good at Sony. He uses his credit card to add $10 to his virtual wallet. Then the same card won’t work immediately afterward. Neither will a different card. [More]
Sony Decides To Not Go Disc-Free For Next Gaming Console
By May 30, 2012
With the next generation of gaming consoles set to debut during the next two years, rumors abound about whether or not digitally downloaded or cloud-stored games will replace the current disc-based standard. A new Wall Street Journal report claims that, for Sony at least, the day of the disc isn’t done yet. [More]
Amazon Instant Video Hitches A Ride On PS3 To Hit More TVs
By April 4, 2012
Access to Amazon Instant Video’s streaming library has been a nice perk to signing up for Amazon Prime. But the service was never particularly useful to many customers who like to sit back on their couch and watch stuff on TV rather than stare at a computer screen. Now Amazon has cut a deal with the PS3 that draws it closer to competitors Netflix and Hulu Plus, which both stream on the Wii and Xbox 360 in addition to Sony’s console. [More]
Which Worst Company Contenders Force Customers Into Mandatory Arbitration?
By March 21, 2012
As we sifted through the mountain of nominations for this year’s Worst Company In America tournament, we noticed a trend of readers who cited companies’ mandatory binding arbitration clauses as a reason for nominating. And while it’s businesses like AT&T and Sony that have made all the headlines for effectively banning class action lawsuits, there are a lot of other WCIA contenders who are forcing customers into signing away their rights. [More]
Worst Company In America Round One: EA Vs. Sony
By March 14, 2012
If this particular WCIA bout were a video game, we’d charge you $59.99 to play the most basic version, another $20 or so to play the full version, and then we’d still nickel and dime you for extras… But not before your account data is compromised by hackers. [More]
How To Turn Off A PlayStation Vita When It Doesn't Want To Turn Off
By March 14, 2012
When most electronic devices freeze up and won’t restart or turn off, one option is to pull out the battery. But that’s not a choice when dealing with Sony’s new PlayStation Vita, which has an internal power source you can’t access without violating the warranty. When the Vita freezes up, it won’t react immediately to button inputs. [More]
Here It Is, Your Lineup For Worst Company In America 2012!
By March 12, 2012
Welcome to Consumerist’s 7th Annual Worst Company In America tournament, where the businesses you nominated face off for a title that none of them will publicly admit to wanting — but which all of them try their hardest to earn. So it’s time to fill in the brackets and start another office pool. That is, unless you work at one of the 32 companies competing in the tournament. [More]
How To Make Used Vita Games Play Like New Again
By March 1, 2012
In its never-ending battle against the used game market, game companies are always coming up with ways to suck the value out of pre-owned merchandise. Sony has apparently slapped games for its Vita handheld with code that makes them stay loyal to the first account on which they were played, not allowing future owners to unlock virtual trophies. But there’s a way around Sony’s trophy-blocking. [More]
The Informed Consumer Strikes Again, Ends Up With Free Repair
By February 28, 2012
You know what makes our day? Helping out whoever we can in a tight spot. Sort of like when Princess Leia is like, “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope,” except we are far less Jedi and really, it’s up to you to arm yourselves with info in the battle against bad companies. That being said, reader Michelle, you’re a great Leia. [More]
Sony Returns Sales Tax It Mistakenly Charged PS3 Owners
By February 28, 2012
Sony sent out emails to customers saying it mistakenly charged sales tax on PlayStation Network purchases back in the day, and has refunded the money into their accounts. [More]
Sony Teams Up With AT&T To Anger PlayStation Vita Customers
By February 23, 2012
In the months leading up to the release of the Sony’s handheld PlayStation Vita, a number of people pre-ordered a $299 bundle for the 3G version of the device that included a free month of wireless service. But now some of those customers are less than thrilled to find out that that free month is actually the second month of AT&T service. [More]
Pay-Per-Use Electrical Outlets Closer To Becoming A Reality
By February 15, 2012
Right now if someone wants to charge you to use their electrical outlet, they need to physically block your access — or keep the outlet turned off — until you fork over some cash. But that could all change in the not-so-distant future. [More]
