The Sony and PSN Silver lining

So yesterday the universe exploded with the news that not only had the PSN been compromised, but it would seem that hackers have stolen the private information of the users. All of them. Including credit card information. I think I am safe to assume that everyone can agree this is pretty bad. Was it Anonymous? Who knows and it really doesn't matter. What does matter is that PSN users are going to be getting a lot of mail with fantastic male enhancement offers.

Despite Sony being the mega-huge giant faceless corporation (sort of), I really don't blame Sony for the attack directly. I believe that everything revolving Sony lately is indicative of the monopoly of digital distribution for the console market. I think this is the blow that will bring competition; which will be awesome for us consumers.

Steam coming to the PSN is a huge win for consumers because it presents options. Options are about the best thing for us as gamers because it not only lets us choose how we spend our time and money based on our tastes, but it forces the providers of said options to make theirs the best in order to earn our choice (and hence our money). Right now if you own a Playstation your only option for online functionality is the PSN. If Sony allowed other networks onto their platform, like say Steam, this wouldn't be as much an issue. Sony could focus more on the basic framework of online functionality with the PSN and let other companies be, say, responsible for a lot more content.

Why on earth would Sony do this? Wouldn't this be giving away a lot of revenue streams from PSN sales? Well of course it would be but which is worse; losing as many accounts as they are over the whole hacking thing or keeping people on their console by saying they have the choice. It would give them a fantastic selling point over the XBLA or whatever crap network Nintendo has set up.

It would be easy! Kevin Butler could say "nervous about giving your billing information to Sony? Don't be because you don't have to! You have options. Keep your business here." (By the way if you haven't seen this Penny Arcade, well, look at it!) Sony doesn't have a good track record working with other companies and other technology so hopefully a new attitude will be born of this disaster.

Always a silver lining!

Off topic: After more playing of Portal 2 it is quickly cementing itself as one of my favorite's of all time.