Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Sony Makes up for Memory Card Losses

Posted by Hemos on from the interesting-ideas dept.

Collision891 writes "Sony is now offering a free game to anyone who had their memory cards erased by the Viewtiful Joe 2 demo on their Holiday 2004 Demo disk, sent out to Playstation Underground members . By calling Sony they will tell you where to send in your disk and a list of games of which you can choose one to receive free. The games they are offering are: Wildarms 3, Parappa The Rapper 2, Gran Turismo 3, JAK 2, Sly 2: Band of Thieves, NCAA Final Four 2004, MLB 2004, ATHENS 2004, ATV Off-Road Fury 3, and Hot Shots Golf Fore!"

46 comments

  1. Bargain bin apology by Wyrmw00d · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...but I guess it's better than nothing.

    1. Re:Bargain bin apology by ForestGrump · · Score: 4, Interesting

      agreed. when microsoft screwed over their xbox live members, they gave them free games. bargain bin games too.

      --
      Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
    2. Re:Bargain bin apology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While most of the games on the list are greatest hits or old sports titles, the real stand out is Sly 2 which still retails for 40 bucks.

    3. Re:Bargain bin apology by syrion · · Score: 1

      Several of these games are actually decent. I suspect there will be a lot more people selecting Jak 2 and Sly Cooper 2 than the others, though.

    4. Re:Bargain bin apology by superpulpsicle · · Score: 2, Funny

      Can someone PLEASE tell me how do I get a copy of this CD? So I can send it back to sony.

    5. Re:Bargain bin apology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sly 2 just came out, it's hardly a bargain bin game.

    6. Re:Bargain bin apology by Rico_Suave · · Score: 1

      Sly Cooper 2 is a very recent title, and an excellent one to boot.

    7. Re:Bargain bin apology by lenroc · · Score: 1

      > Can someone PLEASE tell me how do I get a copy of > this CD? So I can send it back to sony. If you promise to play the Viewtiful Joe 2 demo with 2 memory cards inserted in your PS2, I'll send you one of my copies of the disc. (Alternatively, you can post a picture of your memory card smashed with the heavy object of your choice...)

    8. Re:Bargain bin apology by Osty · · Score: 1

      when microsoft screwed over their xbox live members

      To be fair, Microsoft "screwed" their Live! customers only by changing gamertag requirements (they initially allowed spaces as unique characters, but had to change that for some reason). Yes, you may have lost your "Master Chief 1337" gamertag, but you didn't lose your 2093784 hours invested in Final Fantasy X or Gran Turismo 3. Also, as I understand it, your Friends list stayed the same, and your friends were automatically updated with your new gamertag. The only reason they finally started offering a free game (PGR2, which just recently became "bargain bin", and is still an excellent game even though it's a year old) to get the last few stragglers to change their tags. Also, I believe they gave you the choice of a free year of Live! or a copy of PGR2 (same price, since Live! is ~$50 and PGR2 was still $50 at the time).

  2. getting rid of old stock? by gl4ss · · Score: 1

    like riaa dumping mariah carey.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  3. If only by Shadow_139 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If only Micro$oft did this, we'd all have 100's of copys of Microsoft Flight Simulator '98, Return of Arcade, and Microsoft Pinball.....

    "NIPPLES!! I HAVE NO NIPPLES!!!" -Happy Noodle Boy

  4. Could do better by Mr.Dippy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Instead of a select bargain bin choice they could just say any Greatest Hits game and call it a day. This is kind of like ordering a pizza that makes your family sick and the pizza joint offers a coupon for your troubles. Yes, because ATHENS 2004 sure makes up for the hundred plus hours that somebody lost in Final Fantasy XZ12-A or their dynasty mode in Madden or NFL2K5

    --


    -Dipster
    1. Re:Could do better by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Of course they could do better. They could dress Nobuyuki Idei up in a clown suit and send him to your door, arms overflowing with yet-to-be-released blockbuster titles. They could do even better than that--hell, why not have him fix dinner for you and clean house for you while he's there?

      Instead, all they're doing is giving away free copies of your choice of a number of damn good games. What's more, they're taking your word on it--none of this "send in three UPCs, a screenshot, and the liver of a griffin" crap. Seriously, what would make you happy? Is a genuine apology and a we'll-take-your-word-for-it offer of a free game really too cheap for you?

      On a final note, if your game data really has that much value, you should be backing it up. Y'know, like you back up all your important data. They give you two memory card slots to make it virtually dummy-proof, for crying out loud. (...or is your game save data really not all that important?)

      --

      Obliteracy: Words with explosions

    2. Re:Could do better by Scotto+del+Blotto · · Score: 1

      Well, what would you like them to do?,

      Massage your feet, and make you a sandwich? Buggy accidents with software just happen sometimes. Not only has Sony acknowledged the issue, but they are offering games to customers for their plight. Plus, as the article notes, they don't ask for your memory card - they simply take your word on it. Thats a pretty good deal if you ask me.

      A free game certainly won't make up for that lost time, but Sony could have just as easily said "oops", and then done nothing else. And then everyone here would have complained even more. - Scott

      --
      - Scott
    3. Re:Could do better by Mr.Dippy · · Score: 1

      You miss my point. Making Sony jump through hoops while giving me oral is not the response I'm looking for. The point is that giving those games away means nothing because if they didn't they would be collecting dust in warehouse. No skin off of Sony's back. Likewise, I'm not asking that they poney up everybody a copy of San Andreas or Ace Combat 5. And yes, backing up is the best option but come on. When it gets to the point where you can't even trust the demo disks then it's time to start reevaluating your status as a PS2 Customer. /my 2 cents.

      --


      -Dipster
    4. Re:Could do better by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 1
      ...but many of these games are still selling. True, some of them are selling at bargain prices, but many of them are still selling and are still damn good games. Sly Cooper 2 isn't even three months old, and it's one a helluva good game! Similarly, Hot Shots Fore is a whopping four months young. GT3 may be ancient, but it is still one of the best games for the PS2 there is.

      Just because there are some dated stinkers in the pile doesn't mean it's all old and busted. And, like you said, you wouldn't expect 'em to pony up for San Andreas; how do titles like Jak 2, Sly Cooper 2, and GT3 not fill the middle ground?

      --

      Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  5. They may be bargain bin games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But it's not like the crap the RIAA dumped on libraries... Don't even compare it to that. Gran Turismo and Sly Cooper are both great games, and not everyone owns them. Lots of people liked Jak 2 as well. I can't vouch for the others though.

    1. Re:They may be bargain bin games... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      Yah I remembered that incident! Many copies of someone singing Star Spangled Banner, and crap like that.

      --
  6. Dammit I threw away the disk. by FriedTurkey · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I can't believe I threw away the disk to make sure I didn't forget it wiped your memory card. Those games aren't crap either. Hot Shots Fore came out last month and I wouldn't pay for it but I'll take it for free. :-)

  7. So... by $Jonah+Carpenter$ · · Score: 0

    Can anyone that got the disk just say that their data was lost, and get a free game? I've been kind of wanting Jak 2...

    1. Re:So... by chrismcdirty · · Score: 4, Informative

      From the link:

      *Sony will ask you if your card was wiped, but they'll take your word on it. (you don't have to send it in)

      --
      It's like sex, except I'm having it!
  8. this sounds great by shed+lace+shace · · Score: 0, Troll

    i only wish i had one of these disks so i could get myself a "great" game since PS2 is great anyways nothing compared to XBOX.

  9. My memory card was erased. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I want a free copy of GTA:San Andreas Dammit!

  10. Sony games by Taulin · · Score: 3, Informative

    Those are all games that Sony is either the producer or have a ties into. I already own WA3, which is a great game, and would probably take PaRappa2 just to round out my collection. I think it is pretty cool of Sony to do this. It is a pretty big selection to choose from, and to get it by just trading in a demo disk is a great deal.

  11. I back up my console saves pretty often. by landimal_adurotune · · Score: 1

    Spending $30 on those devices that let you backup save games to your PC is money well spent. It could save you from losing a few hundred hours of gameplay. I have one for the PSX, DC, but for my xbox, I just use a std memory card since it already has the HD.

    I adopted that philosopy after losing my save right on the damn crater on FFVII.

    1. Re:I back up my console saves pretty often. by WiredOni · · Score: 1

      Same here, especially after having one of those 3rd party "Mega Super Plus Hyper Edition 2rd" memory cards with "pages." It killed my progress in Suikoden, and I could only recover a save at a point where I was screwed.

      But these Console-Save-to-PC devices are not without their problems. The PSX data deck I have is on the fritz, it is having problems reading the memory cards, and I have to use my own typed instructions because if you don't do things correctly your backup can be worthless(one of the save formats doesn't work). My DC one won't allow me to back up copy-protected saves, and why a game like Typing of the Dead needs it is beyond me. And finally, I just found out that my game shark sharkport is a lower version and will not backup my Grand Theft Auto saves.

      Then there is the fact that similar devices have different formats, and generally don't work with each other. My data deck could read one other popular card's save format, but due to the glitchy software and probably unofficial support it can't save in it. It is too bad there are so many competing devices and incompatible save formats.

      Problems aside, I still recommend owning and using Console-Save-to-PC devices. In addition to backing up your progress, it is also nice to be able to download saves for things you don't have the time to unlock or want to go through the hassle.

    2. Re:I back up my console saves pretty often. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      $30?! Why not just get CodeBreaker PS2 for $15 and use a cheap USB flash drive to back up?

  12. eh? by T-Bear · · Score: 1

    Here, have this $25 video game that we're having trouble selling as a way of making amends for the fact that we totally screwed you deleting hours of gameplay and progress in games you actually wanted to play.

    Oh well. I don't even have a ps2. I'm just waiting for this to happen on the xbox...start wiping people's harddrives.

    --
    Brian
    1. Re:eh? by $Jonah+Carpenter$ · · Score: 0

      I don't think Sony is having any problems selling Jak2 or Hotshots Golf, both are normally great selling franchises. They COULD just send out an appology and call it day.

    2. Re:eh? by T-Bear · · Score: 1

      I agree they could....

      but they could also send you a copy of GTA:SA or something.

      --
      Brian
  13. What's this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The first pro-sony article I've ever seen on slashdot. Did the nintentrolls in charge of picking articles miss this one?

    1. Re:What's this? by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 1

      Well, it is a bitch-at-sony post too. They did fry all those saved games.

      My 10 year old is still PISSED! At least he'll be getting a game out of the mess.

    2. Re:What's this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You've been posting anti-Nintendo trolls for a long time. It's funny; keep it up.

  14. Kind of off-topic... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A friend of mine once found a piece of a hoof (sp?) in a McD burger... she hurried to the rest room to puke. When she got back out and went to the register to complain, they offered her five cheeseburgers to make up for it...
    She ran for the rest rooms again.

  15. Scary by vhold · · Score: 1

    Anybody here actually affected by this bug? I think if that happened to me I'd end up ceasing all use of the console forever, as if all that time playing those games wasn't lost in the first place, losing it a second time would be devastating, and at the same time I'd be like losing the value of all those games as pretty much none of them would I be willing to start over from scratch.

    1. Re:Scary by wickedj · · Score: 1

      I'm actually thinking about dumping the PS2 altogether because of the bug. I came home one afternoon and found the disk in the mail. I'm like "Oooh... Viewtiful Joe 2, nice!". Popped it in and played for a while. The next day, I look at Slashdot, "Guess what? Your memory card has been wiped!" I run to the PS2, everything is gone. All my cars in GT3, my 40 hour save game from Suikoden III which I was going to use on Suikoden IV when that came out (if compatible), all my characters from Tekken, Street Fighter, Soul Caliber wiped. I was even a couple hours away from beating FFX. Now with everything gone, what's the point. I don't feel like trying to build it all back up again. If I'm gonna start from scratch, I might as well start from somewhere new.

  16. Terrorist Pizza -- The Jerky Boys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Shut the fuck up! I kill you! I kill you!

  17. Except they DID do it... by Recoil_42 · · Score: 1

    ..when they found a glitch in Xbox Live involving people with spaces (" ") in their gamertags.

    All you had to do was change your gamertag, and they would send you a free game.

    All very good games, too; i believe the list included links, top spin, amped, crimson skies, and a couple others. (Note that while these games are 20$ NOW, at the time, they were still retailing for 30-40$. Not the latest and greatest, but all solid A+ games released not too long before.

    --


    Newsie, Moderator, www.tauniverse.com
    1. Re:Except they DID do it... by unclethursday · · Score: 1

      Um, my gamertag has a space in it, and has since day 1 of XBL, and I've never had a problem with the space. Not that it would matter, being as I already own Links, Top Spin, and Crimson Skies, and don't care about Amped or possibly any of the others.

    2. Re:Except they DID do it... by Recoil_42 · · Score: 1

      The glitch involves XSN sports and the Clan system for XBL 3.0, and doesn't affect just anyone with a space in their name.

      From what i've heard, it's when two people have the same gamertag, but one has a space in it.

      IE, one guy's gamertag is "UncleThursday" and the other's is "Uncle Thursday". Note the space.

      XBL would screw up and treat them as one person, or something.

      I assure you, it's quite real, i know a good half-dozen people who got the free game.

      --


      Newsie, Moderator, www.tauniverse.com
    3. Re:Except they DID do it... by unclethursday · · Score: 1
      Hrm. Well, while you have correctly guessed my XBL name, I seriously doubt anyone has it without the space as well. ;-P

      It's not that common of a nickname, after all.

  18. Sly 2 may just seem bargain bin. by ShawnMcCool42 · · Score: 0

    Hello people, Sly 2 Band of Thieves. Why can't anyone spot good games? Frankly I was suprised to see this game in the list. Pay attention people, GTA: SA isn't the only good game out there. The Sly series is a great set of platformers.

    1. Re:Sly 2 may just seem bargain bin. by unclethursday · · Score: 1

      I, personally, have never played any of the Sly Cooper or Jak and Daxter games... but if this had happened to me, I'd definitely go for Hot Shots Golf: FORE!, since I love the Hot Shots Golf series.

  19. Shhhhhhh!! by Atario · · Score: 1

    Don't tell Sony that!

    "I, uh, yeah, got my memory card erased by...that one demo, whachamacallit. Can I get my free games now?"

    --
    "A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy." --Theodore Roosevelt
  20. Offer them the game you know they've played by radimvice · · Score: 1

    Sony should offer players a free copy of Viewtiful Joe 2, which according to GameSpy has an official release date of today 12/7. They shouldn't pass up a chance for such perfect irony.

  21. anyone have a spare demo disc for me?!? by javaxman · · Score: 1
    ;-)

    I just had to ask...

    I'd love a free copy of OffRoad Fury 3- I can't believe people would complain about free games! So you lost your saves? Hey, I understand, I'm still recovering from my three-year-old erasing my Simpson Road Rage save ( he was pretty upset, too ). I'd be heartbroken if my memory card was wiped clean, to think of the time spent getting my GTA3 game completed is scary, but... if someone walked up to me and offered me $25 to wipe it clean? I might just do it. I would at least consider it.

    I could finish those games faster this time around... and if the game was fun to play the first time, it should be even more fun to play now that I know what I'm doing...

    Bottom line for me is, if my save games were _really_ important to me, I'd have a gameshark or other save system with those all-important saves in a backup set somewhere. They may not be giving away copies of Viewtiful Joe, which of course is what they _should_ do, but hey, it's a nice gesture, I doubt they really had to do anything... though I do wonder how much you could get out of some dumb jury for "pain and suffering" caused by losing your PS2 game saves!