Slashdot Mirror
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.
That is exactly what I was going to say. After all:
1) Site does interview with Company
2) Company says don't publish this story or there will be these consequences
3) Site publishes story anyways
4) Company follows through with said consequences
And this is news?
Things you think are in the Constitution, but are not.
Um, Sony told them not to publish their article. I'd believe that Sony didn't want the news/idea out there yet. They may have been afraid that it would be easy for Nintendo or MS to copy the concept for their systems once published. From the slashdot summary alone, I actually support Sony's decision on this one. Sony is just blackballing that blogger's site. Sony isn't sueing them. Sony isn't black balling every blogger. Sony is just targetting this one site that had Sony insider knowledge and Sony asked them not to publish the store. This blackballing by Sony is the polite responsee by Sony. So what if a blogger gamer site that I've never heard of before till it made slashdot's front page gets black balled by Sony! They can still cover Nintendo's and MS's products. They just lost out on "insider" news from Sony. If they wanted future insider Sony stores, they should listen and do what Sony asks. Gosh, I don't even know why this made it to slashdot except that Sony has been evil lately. All of Sony's actions aren't evil though. This action doesn't look evil to me. It looks polite to me.
Journalist get's information.
Company says "If you publish it we won't talk anymore"
Journalist run's story.
Company won't tlak to them anymore.
Everybody did their job, big deal.
The Journilst decided the story was important enough to take the risk, it happens to some degree with every story.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on