It’s happened, damn it. PSN’s been hacked, and the gaming world is in a meltdown. Things will never be the same – trust has been totally lost and lawsuits are already flinging from all corners. PSN. It houses all our sensitive information, but no longer is the network the only home to that information. It’s now in the hands of one or more persons getting ready to go on a nasty fraud rampage that might result in the destruction of livelihoods all over the world. Yes. Over 75 million were affected, and tonight, even as I prepare this article, someone could be losing thousands of dollars through some scam thanks to Sony and the hackers who breached their network.
PSN isn’t doom. But in order for Sony to even begin regaining the trust it lost in less than 24hrs, when PSN comes back up, it must be like nothing we’ve ever seen or experienced in the past. Do that, Sony, and you stand a chance of coming back harder, stronger and more solid than ever. Don’t, and you’ll fail.
Employ Security Experts To Guard PSN
Sony’s already on the ball with this one, the hardware giant said it’s employed a recognized security expert to fully investigate the extent of the damage done, and is now hiring a person who’ll head a newly formed security team.
Here’s the description per Gamersmint:
Sony Network Entertainment has an immediate opening for a Pay Services Integration Engineer, whose responsibilities will focus upon assisting internal and external development teams launch new networked entertainment services and products. As the technical liaison between Sony’s server enterprise developers, operations team, 3rd party service providers and regional Sony engineering teams throughout the world, the successful candidate will perform a key role in investigating and resolving technical issues that arise in the process of developing and deploying dynamic digital entertainment systems delivered through the Internet.
The individual will be involved in aspects of network operations support, integration of new or existing infrastructures and networked audio/video services, performing and reviewing systems tests. They will work on implementing server and network/data security policies that meet established specifications, test requirements and integration plans to implement new system architectures.
The candidate will work on problems of broad scope. They are expected to follow standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data from which answers may not be readily obtained. This individual will work in a focused team environment with internal development groups, as well as external technology and subsystems providers and work to build stable working relationships internally.
Cross Game Chat
Early last year we broke a rumor onto the internet when PlayStation: The Official Magazine hinted in one of its issue that Sony would bring cross-game chat to PSN, but it would be restricted to PS Plus members. If true, Sony must ditch that plan and make the feature available for all, and this must happen when PSN goes live once more. We’ve learned that Sony’s indeed planning to bring the feature once PSN goes back up. Good times that would be.
A More Robust XMB
Speaking honestly, if you own an Xbox 360 and PS3, you’ll know the latter console’s XMB looks like rubbish compared to the Xbox 360′s. It’s boring just like the Japanese guys who handle it, and if you were to place XBL and PSN’s XMB in front of anyone, they’d easily choose Microsoft’s offering. It’s more robust, Xbox Live is. Makes you feel good – works like a breeze. You can create a likable avatar that suits your needs, switching to different features is not only seamless but also enjoyable. Compared to PSN, Xbox Live is gold. Sony needs to revamp the whole thing, a move that would make people feel like they’re going into something new and more secure when PSN comes back online.
In-Game Video Chat
Accomplish this and Sony would win me over like a man in need of his woman. Seeing your friends and being able to communicate with them all while playing Killzone 3? That’d be gaming heaven.
Freebies
I don’t know what exactly, but give games discounts, a free Sony owned game that would cost the company nothing, some DLC, Fat Princess etc. Give us something, Sony. You’ve just managed a royal mess up, you need a royal giving to fix this. Gamers would leap for joy if Sony does that, a move that would ease the pain somewhat.
PS Plus Discount/Free Trial
How about giving the entire PSN community a three month free trial of PlayStation Plus? That would work in two ways for the better and net the giant two wins. Firstly, customers would enjoy the many benefits of the service for three months, and most likely join up before the time’s up, it would also be beneficial in that the more Sony shows its trying hard to make up, the more likely gamers are to forgive.
Do all what’s listed here, and Sony, you can bring back PSN better than ever.
i wish they would ditch the XMB its so drab and boring!
look at what M$ and ninty have to offer, its so easy to use, and looks fantastic!
the XMBs reletivley easy to use, but it looks crap!
id be cool if they can make playstation home the XMB.
start up the console and you instantly are in your home space, and am able to walk around selecting different things in your space to access different things.
im surprised how little attention sony have given home since it released!
they were braging about it so much, could not get them to shut up about it!
now, its almost like the service does not exist!
they need to get valve to help them, look at steam guard.
so secure gabe gave out his info and password months ago and still no one has broken into his account!
I’m actually excited to see what the NEW PSN has in store.
yea will be interesting!
sony, please for the love of god!
please get rid of that drab and dreary XMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s dreary indeed.