Things that require extra stuff to work

Rastoff

Rastoff

US Veteran
Joined
Dec 28, 2011
Messages
14,710
Reaction score
17,101
City & State/Province
So Cal (Near Edwards AFB)
I'm a capitalist and I understand the concept of marketing. Still, I think requiring extra purchases just to make the thing work is a pile of bovine excrement.

For Christmas I got my son a new Sony PS4 video game. I bought the "combo" pack that came with a game. Well, apparently this particular game cannot be played unless you have an online account that you have to pay for.

I can't verify that because someone hacked Sony's site and I can't set up an account or even learn what it might cost.

What happened to the days when you could just buy a game and play with it? I just want my son to be able to play with the toy we got him. I'm not happy about this.
 
I'm OK with "batteries not included." In fact, I'm more surprised when they are. What I'm not OK with is deception. There is a section of writing on the box that says SOME aspects of the game MAY require an internet connection. Then it says SOME features MAY require extra cost.

What it doesn't say is that the game won't work at all without a connection and that that connection is dependent on the Sony website working. I have an internet connection. I'm even willing to suck it up and set up an account which will inundate me with spam. The box even says the first month is free.

The equivalent would be to buy a new Corvette, fill it with gas and then get a notice, "We're sorry, but GM offices are closed today. Try starting your new car again during business hours."
 
Both Sony Playstation and XBox websites were hacked on Christmas Day. Big news across the country, so that part is not their fault. I'm sorry that you think you were deceived. I'd say it's common knowledge that most, if not all, Playstation games require the internet and an account, but my kids began with the original Playstation, and we just got PS4 for Christmas. If it's your first experience with the XBox or PS platforms, then you wouldn't know that without doing a little research beyond the box. I can tell you that a one year online membership for PS4 will be $49.99, so be prepared to duck and cover.
 
you'll be happy with the ps4. and you will not get a lot of spam from sony.

i've been playing far cry 4 lately. it is available offline, but it still needs to log into the psn network. i have other games i can play offline as not all games are like this.

the hacking group that took down the two networks say they did it because families are losing the christmas spirit. basically what they did was send a bunch of sign on requests at once to overload the networks.
 
We got google chrome. I thought there was free content online (other than youtube) but I've had to join netflix. I'm glad the first month is free because there is nothing to watch on it. Maybe once Game of Thrones comes back.
 
Muss Muggins said:
I'd say it's common knowledge that most, if not all, Playstation games require the internet and an account,...
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's news to me. We've had a PS2 for some time now, but even got that second hand.

My son saved his pennies and bought himself a Wii U last year. It was the first video game we ever bought new. In my naivete I thought the PS4 would be similar, but with more power. Alas, the game is almost useless without the internet. More specifically, the PSN at Sony. The Wii U can do a lot online, but most of the games my son has don't require the internet.

Live and learn. I guess it's just one of life's little joys.
 
I think the pay account is only needed for playing online. Jut playing local requires only the free account. At least that was the way it was for the PS3. WARNING, I bought the PS3 because it was a great Blu-Ray player.
Rastoff said:
I'm OK with "batteries not included." In fact, I'm more surprised when they are. What I'm not OK with is deception. There is a section of writing on the box that says SOME aspects of the game MAY require an internet connection. Then it says SOME features MAY require extra cost.

What it doesn't say is that the game won't work at all without a connection and that that connection is dependent on the Sony website working. I have an internet connection. I'm even willing to suck it up and set up an account which will inundate me with spam. The box even says the first month is free.

The equivalent would be to buy a new Corvette, fill it with gas and then get a notice, "We're sorry, but GM offices are closed today. Try starting your new car again during business hours."
Click to expand...
 
what game is it? most actually have a story mode that does not need the online account. one thing that you may want to try is disconnecting the ps4 from the internet which may trick the game into not trying to connect to a psn account.

i have played a little bit og Grand theft Auto 5 on my ps3 today. it tried to log into my psn account as i usually played that way. i couldn't play it. i disconnected from the wifi and i could play.
 
Last edited:
Col. Colt sold me this revolver what for to take to Kansas with me so's'n I could shoot me some Jayhawkers. Only when's I got there off'n the steam locomotive, I found out it didn't come with the bullets, nor powder, nor caps. I looked like a durn fool, and nows I gotta find a barber and get a Spencer bullet carved outta my backside.
 
It's a DRM thing.
Most of my gaming has been on the pc for the longest time.
Only in the past few years have I bothered with a console.
I don't hate my ps3, but I certainly see how they can turn certain games into quarter suckers via dlc.
I don't know how much I have tied up in rocksmith, but at least I can equate it to sheet music through a music store.
What you describe with the ps4 sounds a little over the top.
Still, the real winner of the DRM jerk of the World award goes to Keurig for their 2.0 brewer.
 
zzzippper said:
We got google chrome. I thought there was free content online (other than youtube) but I've had to join netflix. I'm glad the first month is free because there is nothing to watch on it. Maybe once Game of Thrones comes back.
Click to expand...

Since you have the service, might I suggest topgear UK as something to watch while you wait for Hollywood to freeze over.
 
I saw the thread title and assumed it was going to be about reloading kits. Now that's a black hole I won't enter for a while. I came really close to buying a kit a few months ago.

Basic beginner kit: $299 at local stores or on line.
THEN you need to buy dies and shell holders.

Powder and pistol primers?? Good luck

The only reloading I will do for a while will be with Triple Seven and 209 shotgun style primers.

Until I can walk into a gun store and put EVERYTHING I need onto the counter at one time and pay, I will not get myself frustrated with trying to reload.

With the video game, you merely need $49 and 2 minutes on the phone/internet and you are up and running.
 
Your buying from the wrong store if your paying $299 for a reloading kit and need more. I have $250 in my whole setup including tumbler, press, dies, etc.

Everything is going to the online micropayment now a days, they want the $ to keep rolling in. You have to carefully research every purchase. Doesn't matter if its a game system or computer software or a phone.

As someone noticed the Wii is the least intrusive being online. The same game on a WiiU and an Xbox the xbox will require you to sign in online to use it and the Wii will work just fine without being online.
 
I recently bought a Sega commemorative boxed set for $30. Comes with base unit 2 wireless controllers and 80 built in sega games from the 80's. I still can't get past level 1 on any of the games I've tried. I wish I could still drink, the money would have been better spent on beer.
 
Sega from the eighties?? Wasn't levels 1-30 for beginners and 30-60 for players who had 20 hours under their belt and levels 60-100 for hard core players?? Doesn't pressing START GAME get you to level 2??

Just kidding!!!
 
ChattanoogaPhil said:
An online gaming system requires an online account? :eek:
Click to expand...
I honestly had no idea that this console was an "online" system. I thought it would work just like all the others I had used in the past. There is nothing on the box saying it's in online system. In very tiny print on the bottom of the box it says that the game needs an internet connection. My bad for missing that.

speedyquad said:
what game is it? most actually have a story mode that does not need the online account. one thing that you may want to try is disconnecting the ps4 from the internet which may trick the game into not trying to connect to a psn account.
Click to expand...
The game is called Destiny. How do you disconnect from the internet? The connection is all through wifi and I can't see any controls in the menu. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place?

My wife bought him another game called Knack. That game works just fine. Weird.
 
Try Pong. You won't need no stinking Internet access to play that!
My Grandson got a Xbox, they had problems getting him an account, games downloaded, etc.
The world is just getting more complicated and interconnected.
 
Muss Muggins said:
Both Sony Playstation and XBox websites were hacked on Christmas Day. Big news across the country, so that part is not their fault. I'm sorry that you think you were deceived. I'd say it's common knowledge that most, if not all, Playstation games require the internet and an account, but my kids began with the original Playstation, and we just got PS4 for Christmas. If it's your first experience with the XBox or PS platforms, then you wouldn't know that without doing a little research beyond the box. I can tell you that a one year online membership for PS4 will be $49.99, so be prepared to duck and cover.
Click to expand...

Its a gift that keeps the gifter keeps on giving. Atleast you will know what to give him next year - a Sony $50 gift card.
 
i believe destiny is one that does need the connection too...i have only played a demo of it.

there should be an internet connection selection in the setting menu. in that selection, there should be a way to turn the connection off. if not, set it to wired.

i'm not near mine right now and i haven't been in that area since the day the ps4 was released in 2013.

but like i said, i'm pretty sure destiny needs to be logged in into the psn to be played.

sony is working hard at fixing this. they put the network back on line, but it gets crashed by all of the people trying to get on to it.

knack works because it is a smaller game that does not require the internet.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the help speedyquad.

I'm getting over the initial disappointment. Nothing I hate worse than to give someone a gift they've really wanted and then it doesn't work.

I played a little joke on my son and it almost completely backfired. I hid the PS4 behind the TV. He opened all his other gifts first; one of them was the game Knack. Then I pulled the whole, "So, did you get everything you wanted?" routine. You should have seen his face. He was disappointed to get a game he couldn't play because he didn't have the system. Then I asked him if he had enough money to buy the system. He wasn't sure. Only then did I say, "Hey, I see something behind the TV..." and of course his countenance changed quickly. :)

Fortunately, he tried Knack first and it worked. If we had tried Destiny first things would have been a real bummer.

Yes, I feel taken advantage of. Yes, it's my own fault for not doing a little more research. Yes, I want to punch Sony in the face for requiring us to be online. Yes, I realize it's not their fault they got hacked.

Most of all, yes, I realize this is just a toy and our world does not revolve around it. Still, it was fun complaining for a while.
 
I was on my PS3 on the Sony network not 20 minutes ago. Worked just fine. I don't pay a penny for my account, and it's definitely not just local.

And video games have never been "just buy it, pug it in, and play". I remember the Atari and the NES I had requiring a switch box, not included with the game, to get the TV to show the video game instead of regular TV.
 
So my wife is helping with a church breakfast tomorrow. I was drafted (not recruited) to help a little. I know, I'm retired so I don't have anything to do. I got to go shopping with her, then carry all the stuff into the church. I saw my chance and ran for it. Its pretty pleasant outside a church on Saturday, hiding.

So up the street comes a little guy. I'd guess him at 8 or 9. And he's walking along with his tablet, trying to play a game. He'd walk a bit, then turn around, then walk some more. Just trying to be pleasant (I know, out of character) I asked him if he got it for Christmas. He had, but he doesn't have an internet connection. So he was seeking a WIFI connection to let him play. Where we were standing, he had 1 bar and it wasn't enough. He said he had 4 bars down the street, but it went away. Poor kid.
 
you're welcome, sorry i couldn't be more help than that.

i'm not sure, but i think the ps3 and ps 4 run on different servers.

it does seem to be working now. my cousin is playing destiny so...
 
Last edited:
Yes, it's working now. Finally got on and could play the game. Didn't seem to need to sign up for any extra money. Time will tell.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Grimjaws
An injury put a limit on my range day
Replies
11
Views
331
Imissedagain
Imissedagain
Sigma Fanatic
My son is turning 31 this summer…..I got him this
Replies
22
Views
916
Sigma Fanatic
Sigma Fanatic
chief38
Important thing to do to keep knives sharper, longer and in tip-top shape - many miss this simple procedure.
2 3
Replies
67
Views
2K
bph9
B
bigmoose
It’s been ten years since I wrote this on this forum, my how time flies. Happy Holidays to all.
Replies
23
Views
987
bigmoose
bigmoose
Shotguncoach
Why doesn't Shotguncoach post more often?
Replies
18
Views
622
llowry61
L

Latest posts

Back
Top