By Patrick Avenell
SYDNEY, NSW: Sony Computer Entertainment has revealed what compensation it is offering to the PlayStation Network subscribers affected by the recent outage. Not everyone, however, thinks this package makes up for the inconvenience.
The “Welcome Back” package, which can’t be claimed until the PlayStation Store is restored (which will take “a little while longer”) grants PSN members two games from this list: LittleBigPlanet, Infamous, Wipeout HD/Fury, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty and Dead Nation.
Those with PSP accounts will receive two free games from this list: LittleBigPlanet PSP, ModNation PSP, Pursuit Force and Killzone Liberation.
Users with both PSN and PSP accounts will receive two games from each list (that is, four in total).
There’s also 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PS Plus subscribers or 60 days free PS Plus membership for existing subscribers.
Finally, existing Musing Unlimited subscribers will get 30 days free subscription.
Sony concludes by saying it is finalising a “Welcome Back” package for PlayStation Home, which will be confirmed soon.
To be eligible for this package, consumers must have been an account holder on 20 April 2011.
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Within minutes of posting this package, the derision began, with a number of account holders expressing their disappointment with this package. The most common complaint is that account holders already own the games that are being offered for free.
“Come on, after all this you give us games that we already had from Playstation Plus [that] people already bought a year ago?” whinged a Dutch account holder. “Really, after all that time you can’t give us something new? From those five games, I own four: payed full price.”
“Not bad, but the free games are more than likely to be owned already by a lot of people (I already own all of them except Dead Nation),” posted a British gamer.
Not all was critical, however, with an account holder from Britain expressing surprise at Sony’s largesse.
“Nice, better than expected, to be honest — good work Sony.”
In one of the more measured responses, British gamer Sir Gunnalot said that although he owned all five games he was impressed that Sony was offering anything at all.
“I am in the precarious position of owning all five of the PS3 games. It’s unfortunate, but it’s just luck of the draw. Personally, I’m happy Sony has actually come out with something for free. Firstly, they’re not obliged to bring out anything, and secondly, with all the perks, add-ons and everything else that’s coming out it kind of puts the Xbox Live Arcade’s One game to shame.”