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?
Megamoppy
I wonder if this situation will encourage some people to use the new Firmware Hack? Seems like bad timing to incense emotional fans.
Kev
Whatever their reasoning, the icon should be optional, as should Netflix and LoveFilm etc etc.
Phil_E
I’m sure plenty reasonable people have said it but… the icon is just a blatant advertisement. If not and this was just an “app” for people to play singstar without a disk why not just put in store for people who want it.
After this update its the first thing me, and anyone who has chosen not to see “What’s New”, will see on screen after turning the PS3 on, unless, I imagine, a game disc is in there. I am aware of Singstar and have been since probably the first game and am not interested in singing in a game. Why should I now have to look at an advert for a game I know I don’t want every time I turn my games console on until/if they respond to this and move, delete or make it optional.
Motalla
I updated my firmware, but as far as I can tell, I haven’t seen the singstar logo yet. Maybe it’s a UK thing.
Erroneus
Also pops up in Denmark :|
Forrest_01
I didn’t get it when i updated either. Weird, but i can’t say i’m bothered as i would have never used it anyway.
I was thinking that perhaps it was just those that have a singstar save/trophies/utility file, but after reading so many comments of “never wanted it, so why would i want it now”, that simply cannot be the case.
Weird huh?
Krugsy
I just find it funny that most people are berating Nina for her responses and forgetting about the dozens of rude/nasty/attacking posts directed at her on the blog. Yeah, her responses weren’t smart or professional but where is the accountability of those who are writing the absurd crap on there? There are many valid posts from those concerned with the icon (I personally couldn’t care less), but condoning the behaviour of a bunch of self-entitled jackasses just seems wrong. It just saddens me that people have to resort to such disgusting behaviour.
Forrest_01
I of course don’t support the kind of responses & entitled nature of the posters on the blog, but Nina is unfortunately in a position where she is likely to get a lot of crap thrown her way – Simply as it’s her name against the main post for something that people really aren’t happy with.
Anyone that is in a position like that (where you are seen to be ‘responsible’ for something that people don’t like) has to expect some kind of backlash, as some people just like to sound off – I get it in my role all the time when people are told something they don’t want to hear (such as a decision being taken out of their hands). The trick is to know when a reply is necessary & what tone to take.
When something is forced on people, you have to expect that not everyone is going to be happy with the decision. Unfortunately, replying in the way that she did for some posts would only serve to aggravate the seething masses, so I don’t think it was the smartest move.
indigo19
And this is why I avoid the PS blog.
It seems to be filled with vile, self-entitled individuals who seem to take pleasure in insulting others over the silliest of things.
If the Singstar icon upsets people so much they could always abandon Sony and buy themselves a nice shiny Xbox, because there are no icons and adverts on Microsoft’s platform that the user has not requested, and you get to pay for the privilege of an advert free dashboard to boot :)
duke
You pay to not see ads?
Forrest_01
I’ll think you’ll find that’s a sarcastic comment.
Gold members still get ads shoved down their throats from the dashboard.
duke
Its a poor excuse at marketing. Why not just give us the option to remove it. Simple as that. It ain’t hard surely.
Kaminari
Yes, some reactions are rude and über-the-top. The reason? People are getting globally FED UP with Sony right now. SingStar is just the rancid icing on the shit cake.
Scherer’s response? It goes along the lines of “Go fuck yourselves ;D”
Classy PR.
The Von Braun
Posted on this elsewhere, but basically..colour me not surprised.
Sony this gen are NOT the same Sony who i delt with as a Playstation 1 owner.Arrogant, rude to customers (phoned with hardware issue, basically called a liar as it was ‘not possible’, mentioned other people had posted same issue on forums, Sony:People on forums ARE liars).
You’d think after the struggle PS3 faced, the on-going struggle Vita faces, they’d be tad more willing to listen to what people want, but just like MS with it’s various dashboard updates-it’s a tough t*ts approach (All i wanted was option to instal 360 games to HDD, wanted the Blades dash, not the Avatar crap), we, as users have stuff forced apon us.
I’m not a Move or 3DTV owner, yet had to endure slow DL of patches of games that had support for these added, never asked IF i wanted them.
I know it’s not the end of my (gaming) world, but just feel Sony etc taking away a lot and adding so little of late.
ARIES5I
Wow. Just unbelievable. What is the world coming to. Complaining and b_tching about an icon? Seriously its an ICON. I’ll repeat it again! Its an icon. PSN is still free and you’re whining about something so insignificant. I didn’t know people were going to get cancer because of this icon. I didn’t know that nuclear warheads were just going to launch themselves because of a bloody icon.
And seriously? You’re going to throw away your top notch Bluray player, long list of A+ exclusives, free online, etc, just because of an icon? Well good riddance. If you’re that kind of person who feels the earth revolves around you and that your poo doesn’t stink, then the rest of satisfied PS3 gamers don’t need you. Go drown in your toilet or put your face in the oven or whatever, but just be gone from this earth please.
My PS3 doesn’t default to the icon, and it doesn’t play any music. And even it did, I’d just ignore it just like other things in life that don’t matter. Instead of complaining about one icon, you could just get a 360, pay a yearly fee, and gets thousands of icons, ads, and 2 shooting games with endless sequels and no other exclusives, a loud engine like fan, high failure rate, over priced downloads, and too many other great features that you have to pay for.