Sony’s Nina Scherer, content manager for the SingStar team, is responding to questions and comments over on the EU Blog.
As you’ll know, if you’ve downloaded the latest firmware update for your PS3 and you’re in Europe, there’s now an icon for SingStar on your XMB, on the Games column.
It’s permanent, and people aren’t happy.
That’s fine, there’s no doubt as many people indifferent (or even delighted that it’s there) but the comments are fairly barbed, and it looks like Nina’s getting a fair bit of stick.
“Get the forced icon OFF our systems, WE DONT WANT IT!,” cries one commenter. “I would really consider getting rid of the numb nuts who’s making these decisions,” they add. Nina’s response? “IT IS STAYING!” she says, although the smiley face afterwards suggests it’s tongue-in-cheek, of course.
Another points to the way this is being handled as a deciding factor over their choice of next gen gaming system. “You Mizz Scherer have just made my mind up for next gen,” they say. The response from the only person at SCEE replying? “You’re welcome.”
Let the hate rage campaign begin,” comments another, who is apparently “shocked and stunned” by Nina’s comments. “Perhaps its time for another job,” they suggest. Not particularly nice to read.
Whilst we’re sure this is a frustrating session for Scherer, we’re not entirely sure these replies are really getting across the right message. Yes, it’s just another icon on the XMB, but it’s icon some people don’t want. Are these replies winding up the loyal PS3 faithful unnecessarily?
Or are people just over-reacting?
jason1971
its an icon ffs get over it
Erroneus
And whats next? An extra icon for Starhawk MP trial? How about a icon for Freerealms. It’s gonna be a messy XMB.
Not only is this an ad in the xmb, it’s the default option when starting the machine and removing a BR from the system, so you are forced to look at Singstar wallpaper.
I don’t the icon on the XMB, but the placement is stupid and give people an option to remove or move it.
hol
Just another icon to ignore, just like Netflix, lovefilm Et al. I really don’t know what the big fuss is about? It does not affect how I use the console in any shape.
scavenga
Instead of writing everything twice, here’s what I just posted on the blog:
“I really don’t want to have a trolling rant over this.
Meanwhile, I don’t like Singstar, and just seeing the logo on my XMB doesn’t exactly make me smile.
i like customizing my XMB with themes, categorizing games etc, making it into my own little ‘den’ so to speak.
When something new and mandatory like this pops up, it feels like someone comes into my private sphere and moves things about.
This particular item feels like a really, really ugly lamp that’s bolted to the middle of the room, that I have to maneuver around each time I walk through my own place.
I guess envoking a feeling of violated personal sphere is not what you guys were aiming at, but that’s what it did for this customer.”
bunimomike
I’ve got a couple of spheres you can have.
:-P
As it happens, that’s a good point, though. It’s YOUR space, as such. They’ve made money from allowing you to customise it (themes, etc) so it would be lovely to take it one step further. Then again, I paid for Windows 7 and I didn’t pay for the OS running on the PS3 so I understand the whole “we’ll add icons if we want to”. Then again, look how it’s being met by owners of the PS3. Bad press if nothing else.
scavenga
“I’ve got a couple of spheres you can have.”
LOL :D
mcphatty
The attitude behind her response beggers belief. Taking the micky or making fun of people who are pissed off is deliberately inflammatory, no need at all, even if it is over just an icon.
hazelam
if you saw that post from the “head of communication” after the LBP screw up, you wouldn’t be surprised.
hell, she’ll probably get a bloody promotion out of this.
hazelam
i’d rather not have the icon there, my games section is already too bloody crowded now they made all the psp and ps1 install files stay in one long bloody list instead of being able to put them into a folder, and i have a few of those, and i swap them out fairly often as i don’t have a large memory stick for my psp.
so as you can imagine, the games column is too bloody full as it is.
but frankly, there are bigger issues with the playstation and scee than this.
The Lone Steven
Mine tends to try to murder me every full moon. T-T
skibadee
I think the PS3 has not got the ram for all these changes just leave it the PS4 is round the corner things like this will be in the past.
stueeeee
This is just blatant advertising. Everyone berated Microsoft for having adverts which is fair enough, but now Sony are starting with it. Having the random Store icons were bad, but having more clutter is annoying. Home, photo gallery, video editor- none of this stuff I use so I’d like to get rid of it. And now Singstar. There could be an option in setting to remove unused icons. Simple.
RudeAwakening
I don’t understand why are europe only getting this shoe-horned icon? Why has America not recieved this icon?
Forrest_01
SCEA have sense?
Jakster123x
FWP
2ofclubs
I’m sorry but this is ridiculous. People are genuining furious that one extra icon is on their XMB? I give up on humanity.