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Sony Blackballs Blog Over PS3 Rumor
Earlier today Kotaku ran an article looking at the possible future of PlayStation 3's online component. They detail a form of Sony Mii, with achievements accruing in an actual room as you succeed in playing games. During their correspondence with Sony as preparation for the story, the company asked them very specifically not to run the story. They then threatened to pull PR support for the site if they ran the story. When the story went up anyway, Sony followed through with its threats: "So, it is for this reason, that we will be canceling all further interviews for Kotaku staff at GDC and will be dis-inviting you to our media event next Tuesday. Until we can find a way to work better together, information provided to your site will only be that found in the public forum. Again, I take absolutely no joy in sending you this note, but given the situation you have put me into, I have no choice. - Dave Karraker, Sr. Director, Corporate Communications, Sony Computer Entertainment America." Update: 03/02 02:27 GMT by Z : I am happy to be able to add that Sony and Kotaku made up after what sounds like a lengthy phone call. 'Good on you' to both Mr. Karraker and Mr. Crecente.
Agreed except this was a rumor not some kind of exclusive content.
The rumor wasn't confirmed by Sony. They asked kotaku not to publish the rumor because it was just a rumor.
They published it anyway..
Sony asked nicely for them not to publish the rumor but since when has that ever stopped anybody from publishing a rumor on the internet?
Let me summarize the article for people who haven't read it.
This was not insider information.
This was not information from SONY.
This was information from an anonymous source.
This was reported as a rumor from an anonymous source.
They called SONY to inquire about the rumor before publishing.
SONY neither confirmed, nor denied, the rumor, but instead threatened the blog if the blog should run the article.
The blog ran the article.
SONY followed through on threat.
{-- end of story --}
{-- begin commentary --}
SONY should have confirmed the rumor, and then asked the blog to wait for the okay to run the story as being the official word of SONY, or else face the wrath of SONY and lose their insider access. That would have been in the spirit of the agreement between the blog and SONY.
Punishing a blog for publishing an rumor from an anonymous source is just another bone-headed SONY move.
Funny you should mention that.
http://kotaku.com/gaming/sony/sony-and-kotaku-mak
Sony's PR contacted Kotaku, they talked, and while continued to disagree reverted on their decision to ban them from their press channels:
e up-240922.php
http://kotaku.com/gaming/sony/sony-and-kotaku-mak
Everyone makes mistakes; I'm glad to see Sony realized their err and wasn't prideful about maintaining their snap decision.
They literally said "over 1000" but speculation is that the number is fairly close to that.