I hesitated to post this, but following the unusually late US PlayStation store update last night, my mind started wandering.
With the "big announcement" coming this evening, you would think that the PSN division would ultimately want to produce a high quality, timely update to the PS Store. This more than obviously displays the ongoing issue with the PlayStation brand... lack of communication, poor business practices and ignorance in the face of the consumer. When Kaz takes the stage tonight to announce the future of the PlayStation brand, it would be wise for him to not reflect on the past. But he'll have to, especially considering the "subscription" plans that are rumored to coincide with the new hardware. We all knew that Pus was at times too good to be true. For fifty-bucks, PlayStation is going to give me (with limitations) all this free stuff on a weekly basis. Regardless of quality, free stuff is free stuff. So most of us bit at the carrot that was dangled before our faces. But just as I assumed when the original Plus plan was launched, there was an anterior motive... PlayStation wanted to see just how many users would actually be willing to pay for a subscription. We all fell for it, and now, just like it is over in the Microsoft camp, we too will be paying premium subscription rates for the basic online functions of the next-gen hardware with a limited number of "perks" sprinkled on top (Plus... or "World" as the rumors say).
So how does this relate to a late US PlayStation store update? These are the same groups that will have a hand in delivering, managing, and ultimately providing support for the new subscription services. Yes, that includes the lovely folks with the PlayStation store whom have apparently never had to adhere to a schedule (must be nice). 4:00 pm EST one day, 8:00 pm EST another. I've seen them come after midnight for those of us on the east coast. What I'm trying to say is this... if Sony and PlayStation don't soon look within it's general standards and practices as a consumer based business, it won't be poor sales that sink the company... the company will cannibalize itself.
Seriously... on the eve of the Pay-Station, remember this several years from now when analysts discuss the closure of the PlayStation brand. Poor business practices = poor sales.
But F all of that... I'm still excited as Hell about tonight!