SCEA has announced a new scheme for US PlayStation fans – the ‘PlayStation Rewards Program’. The information posted on the US PlayStation Blog read as follows:
“Today, we’re excited to share news of the launch of PlayStation Rewards, a new program that recognizes and rewards our users for simply doing what they love – playing games and interacting with the entertainment content that PlayStation has to offer. We really wanted to create something that says, “thank you” for being a loyal PlayStation fan.
In its initial launch tomorrow (Oct. 28th), PlayStation Rewards will be an invitation-only beta to all eligible PlayStation Plus and Gamer Advisory Panel (GAP) members. We’re kicking things off as a beta so that we can get feedback from our most loyal fans in order to make it the best possible rewards program it can be. It’s also worth noting that during the beta phase, the program will be focused on PlayStation 3 owners, but we hope to include PSP users as well not too far down the road. Oh, and one more thing: PlayStation Rewards will be free – there is no fee to join!
Now, to give you a bit more details on the new loyalty program… PlayStation Rewards is designed to give you the opportunity to gain exclusive status, recognition, and rewards as a thank you for your continued interest in PlayStation. And, the best part is that you don’t have to do anything different. Keep playing new games, buying content purchased from PlayStation Network in the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home, download movies and TV shows, or just communicate with us by taking one of our surveys, for example, and you’ll now be recognized for it.
The more you play and participate, the more progress you’ll make through our three reward tiers — “Select,” “Pro,” and “Legendary.” As your status increases, so do the rewards. And if you want to check out your current status level, simply go to your private profile page and look at the reward progress meter.
So what do you get? Right now, rewards include things like…
- Exclusive PSN avatars that display member status in the program
- Exclusive dynamic themes and PlayStation Home content
- Opportunities throughout the program year to participate in members-only sweepstakes and giveaways for experiences and merchandise you won’t find elsewhere (The first of which is an all expenses paid trip to the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, as PlayStation’s guest) “
SCEE has confirmed that this is US only for now. It certainly sounds good, but does anyone else think it clashes slightly with PlayStation Plus?
Source: US PS Blog, Thanks TSBonyman
Daywalker
I hope after the Beta this is available to non-plus users. Oh and IN THE UK FOR ONCE. They seem to not care for us as much. Sad times.
Jas-n
According to the reply’s on the blog “Other territories have expressed interest)
Hopefully it’s worldwide and open to all when it’s out of beta
Daywalker
‘Have expressed interest’ No shit sherlock. Do they think we don’t care that they just leave us with nothing? Of course we want new features! THATS WHY WE BOUGHT A PS3. Gah
Jas-n
I know that’s what I thought, we’re all PlayStation members, we want the same stuff at the same time, Kevin Butler, PSN Updates, etc.
Erroneus
Then try living in eg. Denmark and many other countries in EU. We don’t have the video-store, we don’t have Firstplay, we don’t have the Comic store, we are not getting Lovefilm (even though Lovefilm operates here) and generally our prices are higher :|
So when you hate Sony for giving the US more then UK, you can comfort your self .. a tiny bit, knowing some people are getting screwed even more :D
Daywalker
Woah. thats terrible. Firstplay is.. well, poor, but the others… How have they done this!? I feel bad for you now :(
Voganlight
You’re forgetting that we’re missing PSN titles, and we had to wait about 6 months for Vidzone… We will survive ;);
djhsecondnature
The only difference there is that a lot of it has to be localised. Not really an issue from US to UK.
Erroneus
We are pretty much used to it, that’s just the way it goes, so don’t feel sad :)
What pissed me off a bit though, is Sony claiming we will get the video store within new year and that doesn’t look to good.
I understand there is a localization issue, but I think many would accept getting stuff in English and translated later on. I have my PS3 system settings set to English, as I don’t want danish language and .. *eeek* voice over in games :)
DJ-Katy
I’m in Norway, we also don’t have the video store, FirstPlay, the comic store, NetFlix/Lovefilm, catch-up TV, iPlayer, Play TV etc. etc. It’s a sham. The games however are marginally cheaper than on the UK store, but still a rip-off compared to the US store. Games in the shops go for £49.99 or £59.99 depending what they are.
We do have VidZone and PSN+.
Pre-owned games are almost as expensive as new.
Regarding localization, I really don’t think it is required in the Scandinavian territories at all, I only know one Norwegian who has their PS3 actually set to Norwegian, and all the others have it set to English. PSN content is not generally localised into Norwegian, and the few Norwegian emails they send out are badly translated.
I bought Buzz The Ultimate Music Quiz from my local Norwegian Gamestop on Friday. Norwegian was not a language option, only English. And the Norwegians I’ve played it with are just as good at understanding it as me.
ghost5
Something like this was mentioned ages ago when trophies went live. They talked about the more platinums you get the more rewards you recieve.
Its a good idea but they’ve taken their time implementing it, who knows maybe we’ll get that home trophy room next month…
John Malcolm
If this becomes the norma then people like me, who like playing games but are not good enough or don’t have the time to get a Plat (collecting feathers or finding pidgeons) will lose out.
BIGAL-1992
And as usual, we in europe get sweet F**k all. Thanks sony, you miserable gits.
Jas-n
We don’t always get sweet fa,
Compare our trophy cards to the US’s, PlayTV, our plus content (I think).
Kovacs
PlayTV is not Europe wide.
:(
cam the man
Not all areas of the UK can receive PlayTV.
Dan Lee
It’s not been ruled out mate, just not happening right now.
Raider197
It all sounded so good until I read the rewards. Discounts would be nicer, like those loyalty cards you can buy in shops.
mcduff1979
i think i would love to see this in the EU as it actually would feel like sony giving something back to us for a change…
TSBonyman
I would prefer it as a seperate scheme from the existing PS+ but as it seems tied into PS+ it looks like the only way i might subscribe.
This is what PS+ should have been from the start imo.
TheDeathAvenger
From my understanding the beta will be for some (US) PS+ members, but when it is released everyone (in the US) will be part of it for free. Might be wrong though.
cc_star
Home items…
:(
XisTG
“It certainly sounds good, but does anyone else think it clashes slightly with PlayStation Plus?”
Well, in the blog post it says “PlayStation Rewards will be an invitation-only beta to all eligible PlayStation Plus and Gamer Advisory Panel (GAP) members”, so maybe it will be for Plus only, thus enhancing it’s value. Agree?
bunimomike
A lovely idea and something that would help win me over to the likes of PS+. I’m not so worried about titles I already have or will buy on release (on the PSN) but adding value to the likes of the PS+ is a good start. Now… if only they offered real value with online back-ups of saves, etc, plus a whole raft of other things we’ve suggested countless times.
solidsteven
And yet again Europe gets F*** all :(