New PlayStation Loyalty Program To Reward Users In 2011

Your all-caps conversations about how Sony should take over the world and the PlayStation brand is the greatest thing invented since the atomic bomb won't get you anywhere, but actively using the latest PlayStation systems might. Sony is poised to kick off a new loyalty program that will dish out rewards and even sweepstakes opportunities to those most invested in the brand and those who buy, especially, content offered on PlayStation Network. 

This program is called "PlayStation Rewards," and it's set to be offered to anyone with a PSN account in Spring 2011. When it launches, you'll start at the lowest of its three tiers, called "Select." Only by buying new games, doing surveys, and purchasing select PSN content like PlayStation Home items, videos, games, and other content can you advance to the program's other two tiers: "Pro" and "Legendary." 

With each tier gained, you'll get new "recognition" for your effort. You'll also receive Rewards-"exclusive" rewards. Some of the examples Sony is tossing around right now, such as additional Home content, members-only sweepstakes (like a trip to CES 2011) and giveaways, are meant for everyone with an account regardless of tier, but I'm sure "Legendary" folks will get their due, as it sounds like it'll be a challenge to reach that level of status. Senior director of PSN Susan Panico says that "Legendary" will house, realistically, only the top 20-percent of users in a Kotaku conversation.
 

Your all-caps conversations about how Sony should take over the world and the PlayStation brand is the greatest thing invented since the atomic bomb won't get you anywhere, but actively using the latest PlayStation systems might. Sony is poised to kick off a new loyalty program that will dish out rewards and even sweepstakes opportunities to those most invested in the brand and those who buy, especially, content offered on PlayStation Network. 

This program is called "PlayStation Rewards," and it's set to be offered to anyone with a PSN account in Spring 2011. When it launches, you'll start at the lowest of its three tiers, called "Select." Only by buying new games, doing surveys, and purchasing select PSN content like PlayStation Home items, videos, games, and other content can you advance to the program's other two tiers: "Pro" and "Legendary." 

With each tier gained, you'll get new "recognition" for your effort. You'll also receive Rewards-"exclusive" rewards. Some of the examples Sony is tossing around right now, such as additional Home content, members-only sweepstakes (like a trip to CES 2011) and giveaways, are meant for everyone with an account regardless of tier, but I'm sure "Legendary" folks will get their due, as it sounds like it'll be a challenge to reach that level of status. Senior director of PSN Susan Panico says that "Legendary" will house, realistically, only the top 20-percent of users in a Kotaku conversation.
 

sounds funky

 i so could have stolen first on this one! But i already got it and didn't wanna be a dick! anyways this seems pretty cool

Avatars and Home content isn't exactly what I'd want from something like this, but ... oh well.

Uh, I like free stuff. Doubt I'll get anywhere past the first tier.

Wait, so what the fuck is PS Plus supposed to be?

free stuff?

More Home content?!  FINALLY! 
 
I can't wait till it comes out of Beta!

sounds like it is good for everyone in the long run

Sounds like a terrible version of Club Nintendo. The good thing about Club Nintendo is that you get coins for everything you buy and registers and you get actual prizes, like cases and posters. I couldn't care less about some Home t-shirt, I uninstalled that thing after 5 minutes. 

" More Home content?!  FINALLY!      I can't wait till it comes out of Beta! "

Awesome because people need legitimate reasons to stay being a fanboy.

First, Home was mentioned a few too many times for me. Also, nope, I'm not who this system is targeted at. I use my playstation very rarely.

the only reward I need is cross game chat...seriously...

This is incorrect. Is what this is.

Great idea. 

Hmm...do whatever you want Sony, Microsoft still has the better marketplace in my opinion.

I hope those people who are avid PS fans get their due from this, but I'm not going to change any spending habits for it.

won't make any difference to me. I guess I'm slowly slumping into some weird category of "I don't game that often and don't buy too many games anymore but I still like play a game once in a while and also to keep up with the gaming news incase there's something I might miss and really want to get into."...Would that count as "casual" gamer? Honestly I don't think it matters *shrugs*

I wish there was a reason to use my PSP.

I'm pretty happy with club Nintendo, I saved all of my coins up for one year, got a bunch of free posters and their Platinum award. Something similar for Sony would be awesome.

Doesn't this contradict what PSN+ is a bit?

I'm game with this. Seems like a good idea for Sony Playstation to do to keep themselves in the gaming console wars ;)

Sounds like the Nintendo Club stuff. If I had a PS3, I'd be happy two times over. However, I have a 360 instead, so I'll just be mad at Microsoft.

Does the PlayStation Network even come close to making a profit?

They're really going to entice people by offering exclusive Home crap.  Genius, Sony.  What they should do if offer cool, real world items like Nintendo does.

" Hmm...do whatever you want Sony, Microsoft still has the better marketplace in my opinion. "

Quick note: if you alter your spending habits based on this, you have lost the meta-game.

Legendary only houses " the top 20-percent of users in a Kotaku conversation"? Holy shit, I better get started on a Kotaku conversation right away!

PlayStation Rewards is already and awkward flipper baby of an idea just as a beta because you can see even the main framework is flawed. You BUY prestige. That is a combination of a loyalty rewards system from a credit card mixed with the meta-game of a social network site. On a social network site you gain prestige by visiting pages, answering trivia, checking out new products, making wish lists, writing blogs, creating wiki entries, and in generally absorbing information. By absorbing information and, yeah viewing advertising in a billion ways you earn “site prestige”. In PlayStation Rewards you buy prestige. Want to be a “Super User” on PSN or PlayStation.com? Pay Us!  

They don’t want you to give a crap, just open your damn wallet. And even more crazy is that their loyalty rewards system is cheap. You buy a few full games, dozens of small games and you get a game? Nope? A $5 off coupon? Nope!!! A download code for a PSP Mini? Nope!!! No, Sony LIKES you so you get what should be free anyway…a PSN avatar or a PSN theme. WELL, GOLLY-WALLY! I’M GONNA PUT ON MY SUNDAY CHURCH-SUIT TO PICK UP THAT FAB-YOU-LOSS PRIZE!!!!! 

There are literally five dozen “user rewards” or “loyalty programs” systems to use as example, yet Sony seems to have used the most transparently money grabbing system then mix a prestige system with a loyalty system. This is not just dumb, it is insulting to the people it is aimed at rewarding. It’s not just craven, it is rude. PlayStation Rewards is a tax on stupidity. It doesn’t make me want to buy more item on PSN it makes we want to buy another XBOX 360 and toss my PS3 in a damn dumpster!    

Sounds good. Rewards the people who use the service and all the people bitching about it who would never use it anyway don't get anything.

Speaking of playstation when will my trophies be on giantbomb?

yeah, i don't think i'll get far on that. i don't like to take surveys and the rewards are going to be to expensive. they are just going to be in like the 10 thousands and to get things they are going to be like 100 points.

Didn't they just launch a Subscription based service that offered "exclusives"? Now they want people to pay for those on top of subscriptions? And also, how fucking desperate is it to use Pro as one of the categories. "Oh look, you're not a pro gamer unless you pay us money." They expect people to fall for that? Questions, questions, Sony is screwin up.

Should anyone expect this to roll out outside of the US, Europe, Japan, Australia?

As someone who already uses the PSN and buys a ton of shit from the store, this pleases me.

Damn it why isn't Microsoft rewarding me?

Apparently select PS plus members get a beta invite.

I just received a beta invite for the rewards program for being a G.A.P. member. 
 
I didn't even know GAP was still relevant. But I look forward to this program, sounds interesting, and free stuff is always nice!

This smells of desperation. I have about 2,000 games for my PC (more than 300 on Steam alone). I have almost 300 games for my 360. I have about ten games for my Wii. I have about 20 games for my PS3. A loyalty program is a poor substitution for actual content. 
 
I want a reason to buy games for PS3 over other platforms. I want a reason to turn my PS3 on other than streaming content from my media servers across the room. Don't give me this "loyalty" program bullshit.

I just got my invite, but won't have time to check it out till later. I wonder if the rewards will retroactively apply to past purchases. I've probably spent a couple thousand dollars on PSN between the PS3 and PSP Go, so it'd be a good thing to figure out.

" This smells of desperation. I have about 2,000 games for my PC (more than 300 on Steam alone). I have almost 300 games for my 360. I have about ten games for my Wii. I have about 20 games for my PS3. A loyalty program is a poor substitution for actual content.  I want a reason to buy games for PS3 over other platforms. I want a reason to turn my PS3 on other than streaming content from my media servers across the room. Don't give me this "loyalty" program bullshit. "

boo! shameless... that being said i like free stuff, but i won't buy needlessly to receive it.

Loyalty? Really?
 
Huh. Well, gotta tap into that fanboy market somehow.

Well, since I buy all my stuff on PS3 anyway, unless it's only available elsewhere...then yes, I'll take my free stuff, thank you Sony. 
 
Won't actually change my buying habits at all, but if I get rewarded for my old buying habits, that' just fine by me.

Nice. I want to be rewarded :)

the more money you spend on PSN the closer you get to earning a "legendary" status, jesus what an obvious con.