Demo PS3 Units freeze on Purpose

AbsoluteZero writes "A Sony rep has claimed to Destructoid that demo PS3 units in kiosks across the country were built to freeze up on purpose. From the article: "We do that so that people won't play it all day long," he explained. "Specifically during Motorstorm, we made it freeze up a lot.""

Sony for MVP

[j00r0m4nc3r]

Sony's batting 1000 this year. Going for MVP it looks like.

Sure, whatever

[JayTech]

Sure, just like Microsoft made Windows crash so we would be able to take a break from using the PC...

Enough for anybody

[nxtr]

20 minutes of Playstation 3 should be enough for anybody!

Microsoft might try an excuse like that.....

[8127972]

... as it might elicit some sympathy every time your box does a BSOD

Re:OTOH

[The_Abortionist]

> (I also regret not having videotaped our gaming session, as my bro's wife lost her balance and dove headfirst during a bowling throw, almost going through the widescreen tv)

Had she gone through the TV screen, she could sue Nintendo for not including bungie cords with the game!

Business Strategy

[smartr]

Maybe the ps3 costs more than the rest of the consoles, and maybe Sony has sold less than its competitors, and maybe alot of game developers aren't producing games for the system... But just because the demo model ps3's are crashing doesn't mean that this isn't part of Sony's long term strategy. When they say "next generation" console. They really mean it.

this is old news

[xdxfp]

This idea isn't new. Trojan designed a condom in the 90's that broke on purpose so people wouldn't have sex all day.

Re:thats not what best buy told me...

[AKAImBatman]

Before the "fan boy" crap

Of course you're a "fan boy". How else are you keeping your PS3 cool other than fanning it?

Sorry, sorry. Couldn't resist. :P

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[Anonymous Coward]

I did a little test last time I was in Best Buy....90 minutes later, we ambled out

90 minutes at Best Buy? I wish I was on your Christmas list. I got an oven mitt and a polo shirt that was too big for me :(

Re:OTOH

[RiskyChris]

(I also regret not having videotaped our gaming session, as my bro's wife lost her balance and dove headfirst during a bowling throw, almost going through the widescreen tv)

Why did she hold on to the remote after throwing it? That's not how you bowl!

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[Vo0k]

Requiring a employee-managed kiosk is a bad idea.

Oh, you're quite wrong here. Employee-managed (and operated, with the employee being the subject of display) kiosks are quite important and successful branch of the sexual entertainment industry.

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[Thuktun]

Requiring a employee-managed kiosk is a bad idea.

Sony coming up with a bad idea? [slashdot.org] Preposterous...

Re:Maybe someone can tell me....

[__aaclcg7560]

I been to Best Buy a few times to see the PS3 frozen. The clerks don't even bother to reset it since they have too many customers asking about the other consoles.

When I read about Sony, I find it helpful...

[AmazingRuss]

...to play clown music in my mind. It all makes sense then.

Breach of patent

[loconet]

I think Microsoft already patented that technique. They'll be hearing from MS lawyers.

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[hexix]

This decision? Don't tell me you actually believe that they designed it to freeze.

They've had demos that automatically return to the main menu back in the PlayStation 1 days.

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[afidel]

Hehe, I love those guys. If they try to detain me I tell them they better have proof of theft or they are going to jail for false imprisonment. If they grab me I tell them they have one second to release me before I respond with force and have them arrested for assault. They have no legal right to stop you, and if they do without proof of theft they are almost always breaking the law. Just be sure to be calm and collected because otherwise you might get in trouble for disturbing the peace. I haven't stopped for those idiots in years, makes leaving the store much faster during the holidays =)

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[aplusjimages]

For me it never froze

Then you got a defective system. You may want to send it back so they can add the freeze software in.

Re:FUD

[Bastard of Subhumani]

a popup that says it is the person-behind-you's tutrn to play

People will just ignore them. So how about two of those, then goatse?

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[SoCalChris]

I always tell them "No thanks, I'm not interested", and keep walking. It drives my wife nuts.

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[theRiallatar]

PS2 games load just fine off of a harddrive. Almost no loading time.

Re:this is old news

[OglinTatas]

Dad...?

Re:right... I'll buy that bridge...

[DViper01]

Maybe what we really need to bring back is games that take up less than a megabyte of storage. They'd look really good and load really fast, but all you'd see is the hero's eyeball.

... but on the PS3 you could micro-buy another eyeball for just 59 cents or go for the "hero, ultimate edition" - fully dressed, including one weapon - for $ 3.99.

Re:Maybe someone can tell me....

[geobeck]

Being that Sony probably hasn't come up with a company line for why the PS3 keeps freezing a (dumb) representative spouted that "They were designed to do that."

I could imagine sales drones for other companies making the same excuse:

Wiimote: "It's a boomerang; throw it a little harder and it will return."

X-Box 360 power supply: "That's the integrated space heater."

Laptop batteries: "That's part of the force feedback system."

Pentium floating-point error: "That's to make sure you check your calculations by hand, like you're supposed to."

The Titanic: "In the event of a collision, the water cooling system kicks in."