Sony blackballs Kotaku

Caswynben

Today, Kotaku posted a news story about the "surprise" that is in store for PS3 owners. The rumor on the street was that it would be the Playstation Home, the PS3's own Mii and Achievements system. Well..

Kotaku wrote:

Earlier today we posted a rumor story on the site about a possible announcement of a new technology coming to Sony's Playstation 3.

The Playstation Home, we reported, would be an intriguing blending of the Mii and achievements, allowing gamers to create a virtual world for customized avatars and then decorate that space with items unlocked through game play.

What readers couldn't have known was the great lengths we went to to try and pin down the veracity of the rumor before publishing and, when finally deciding to go live with the rumor, to make sure we put it in the correct context.

In so doing, Sony asked us not to publish the story, first nicely, then not so much. Sony Computer Entertainment of American representatives reminded us that the story was a rumor and then went on to say that publishing it could harm our professional relationship with them.

So Sony shoots a letter...

Sony wrote:

Brian, This is an email I was really hoping I would never have to write, but it is what it is. When I came on board here at Sony, I made every effort to be as inclusive as possible to media and the blogging community in an effort to improve previously damaged relationships. This included getting people access to executives, opening our events to more individuals and personally responding as quickly as possible to inquiries. This was done in good faith with the thought that the people I was working with would operate with the same integrity and courtesy I think I demonstrated when I was a reporter. Basically, I went out on a limb for a lot of people -- people SCEA PR and SCEA management had written off. I caught a lot of flack for it from folks, but I felt strongly it was the right thing to do.

I am very disappointed that after trying to work with you as closely as possible and provide you and your team with access and information, you chose to report on this rumor.... I can't defend outlets that can't work cooperatively with us.

So, it is for this reason, that we will be canceling all further interviews for Kotaku staff at GDC and will be dis-inviting you to our media event next Tuesday. Until we can find a way to work better together, information provided to your site will only be that found in the public forum.

Again, I take absolutely no joy in sending you this note, but given the situation you have put me into, I have no choice.

Dave Karraker
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
Sony Computer Entertainment America

And in effect, Kotaku, one of the most trafficked video game sites on the Internet, has been blackballed by Sony. Is this really what Sony needs right now? Kotaku is run by Gawker Media, who pull over 350,000 hits per DAY. What's the next step? Does Kotaku blackball all sony news? What happens if the other blogs, like Joystiq and Evil Avatar, get in on this too?
link : http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/sony-blackballs-kotaku-240860.php

Zen Vulgarity

lol sony

Pata

Ahahahahaha.

No more Sony news on Kotaku?

Qorzm

Hopefully Kotaku returns the favor.

Metalfoot

Sony

Viscountalpha

Caswynben wrote: »

Today, Kotaku posted a news story about the "surprise" that is in store for PS3 owners. The rumor on the street was that it would be the Playstation Home, the PS3's own Mii and Achievements system. Well..

Kotaku wrote:

Earlier today we posted a rumor story on the site about a possible announcement of a new technology coming to Sony's Playstation 3.

The Playstation Home, we reported, would be an intriguing blending of the Mii and achievements, allowing gamers to create a virtual world for customized avatars and then decorate that space with items unlocked through game play.

What readers couldn't have known was the great lengths we went to to try and pin down the veracity of the rumor before publishing and, when finally deciding to go live with the rumor, to make sure we put it in the correct context.

In so doing, Sony asked us not to publish the story, first nicely, then not so much. Sony Computer Entertainment of American representatives reminded us that the story was a rumor and then went on to say that publishing it could harm our professional relationship with them.

So Sony shoots a letter...

Sony wrote:

Brian, This is an email I was really hoping I would never have to write, but it is what it is. When I came on board here at Sony, I made every effort to be as inclusive as possible to media and the blogging community in an effort to improve previously damaged relationships. This included getting people access to executives, opening our events to more individuals and personally responding as quickly as possible to inquiries. This was done in good faith with the thought that the people I was working with would operate with the same integrity and courtesy I think I demonstrated when I was a reporter. Basically, I went out on a limb for a lot of people -- people SCEA PR and SCEA management had written off. I caught a lot of flack for it from folks, but I felt strongly it was the right thing to do.

I am very disappointed that after trying to work with you as closely as possible and provide you and your team with access and information, you chose to report on this rumor.... I can't defend outlets that can't work cooperatively with us.

So, it is for this reason, that we will be canceling all further interviews for Kotaku staff at GDC and will be dis-inviting you to our media event next Tuesday. Until we can find a way to work better together, information provided to your site will only be that found in the public forum.

Again, I take absolutely no joy in sending you this note, but given the situation you have put me into, I have no choice.

Dave Karraker
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
Sony Computer Entertainment America

"dis-inviting you to our media event next Tuesday"

Translation-- They don't want to be sonys lap dog and sony is finally pissed. Oh and you have a choice, sir. You have a choice not to be a fucking idiot. The CEO's/management at sony-usa really need to get fired.

Rumors are GOOD things. They are fucking stupid there at Sony, And it shows.

*edited for clarification*

ShimSham

This is kind of a dumb move. I understand they were trying to keep things under wraps but you NEVER, EVER piss off the media because you will pay for it.

Marlor

I really don't understand this move by Sony.

Kotaku have reported on Sony's PS3 issues -- just like every other news site -- but they have also been generating a lot of positive buzz for games like Motorstorm. On the balance of things, Sony has been benefiting from their relationship with Kotaku.

Now, to ban them over this? Kotaku is a gaming news and rumours blog, how can they expect them to not report on a credible rumour about the PS3.

Kotaku have definitely done the right thing by standing up to Karraker.

Aoi

ShimSham wrote: »

This is kind of a dumb move. I understand they were trying to keep things under wraps but you NEVER, EVER piss off the media because you will pay for it.

Hasn't Apple sued rumor sites for doing pretty much the exact same thing?

arod_77

Hm well it seems old hat to say it, but Sony isn't into making friends. We knew that already after the last few generations.

Apparently, they also have the arrogance to believe that they can survive without a fanbase. They are putting entirely too much faith on this "silent majority"

ShimSham

Aoi wrote: »

ShimSham wrote: »

This is kind of a dumb move. I understand they were trying to keep things under wraps but you NEVER, EVER piss off the media because you will pay for it.

Hasn't Apple sued rumor sites for doing pretty much the exact same thing?

I don't know but I know it's never a good idea to piss off people who have a considerable level of influence on how people see your product.

Zen Vulgarity

Kotaku just went up several notches in my book.

Smashing good show, lads!

Pata

Zen Vulgarity wrote: »

Kotaku just went up several notches in my book.

Smashing good show, lads!

I have to agree.

I've gained a small ammout of respect for the site. ;-)

Hamju

arod_77 wrote: »

Hm well it seems old hat to say it, but Sony isn't into making friends. We knew that already after the last few generations.

Apparently, they also have the arrogance to believe that they can survive without a fanbase. They are putting entirely too much faith on this "silent majority"

I guess they're banking on the fact that dumb people buy their products.

lol pun

I hope Kotaku rips them apart every chance they get now. I mean, what do they have to lose?

Viscountalpha

arod_77 wrote: »

Hm well it seems old hat to say it, but Sony isn't into making friends. We knew that already after the last few generations.

Apparently, they also have the arrogance to believe that they can survive without a fanbase. They are putting entirely too much faith on this "silent majority"

I wonder how many pissed people they have that overpayed for a ps3?

Marlor

Aoi wrote: »

ShimSham wrote: »

This is kind of a dumb move. I understand they were trying to keep things under wraps but you NEVER, EVER piss off the media because you will pay for it.

Hasn't Apple sued rumor sites for doing pretty much the exact same thing?

Yes, but they gained a massive amount of negative publicity by doing so, and the sites they sued are still running anyway. I don't think Apple will be pulling that stunt again.

cj iwakura

Well, so much for freedom of press.

wenchkilla

If from this point on Kotaku never writes a single article about anything Sony related, positive or negative, they will be so very awesome.

Well, actually go ahead and write the negative. With Sony it's too funny to pass up.

cloudeagle

Posted this in the other thread, but it's worth repeating:

I'm a journalist. Not in games, but it's the same ballpark.

We have to do a dance with sources all the time. Sources will feed us information to help us, but often, in return they'll ask us for anonymity, or they'll release the information with an NDA (unsigned and not legally-binding) asking us to wait. That's frustrating to us, but we have to weigh going forward with the information against annoying the source and causing him to not give us any more information.

Now gaming journalists, from what I understand, deal with this even more. Their sources give them great things like systems, games, trips to announcements, etc. But they also have to work under an avalanche of NDAs (some signed, some not) and pressure to present them in a positive light. Again, they have to figure out how much to fight and how much to play the game to keep the source talking.

It's very much likely that this info was gained under an unsigned NDA (I get them all the time, since the whole signing thing is annoying for everyone involved) asking them nicely not to go forward with this. Kotaku decided not to, which hurt their relationship with Sony. There aren't any legal reprocussions, but Sony decided to stop being helpful.

I will say Sony overreacted in this situation.

Interesting Kotaku is blabbing about it, though... usually sites that annoy companies suck it up and try to quietly win them back. Wonder how this will affect them... maybe other companies will decide to be less helpful in fear that Kotaku will do the same to them.

Update: This really wasn't worth it for Kotaku. They do get one good scoop now, but they've potentially blown countless scoops in the future, since Sony has cut off ALL information to them. And blabbing about the blackballing could ensure it continues for quite some time.

Athenor

Press is still protected.

Sony just took away the money hat, that we know powers all gaming journalism.

ShimSham

Edit: Nvm

cj iwakura

My guess is Kotaku feels that the general public is more likely to side with them than Sony if they put this out in the open, and they're probably right.

cloudeagle

Athenor wrote: »

Press is still protected.

Sony just took away the money hat, that we know powers all gaming journalism.

Change it to "money and info" hat, and I'm with you. Nothing illegal about this, unfortunately. Sony doesn't HAVE to tell anyone a damn thing about the PS3, beyond what's in the financial reports.

This isn't unprecedented, either. Other game companies have done the same thing in response to a blown NDA or a negative review.

Zen Vulgarity

Well, everyone hates corporations and loves the little guy sticking it to them.

Jesus. Every time I think Sony doesn't need any more negative press, MORE things come up.

Dublo7

In tomorrow's news: "Kotaku receives praise from Microsoft and Nintendo!"

Zen Vulgarity

I would find it hilarious is Ninty and MS decided to give Kotaku more exclusives, but I doubt it via cloud's reasoning as he could have put it in words better than I would have been able to in the run-on sentence.

Lunker

cj iwakura wrote: »

Well, so much for freedom of press.

There's no First Amendment right guaranteeing Kotaku unlimited access to Sony PR people. They're not being shut down or anything -- Sony's just taking their ball and going home.

I'm a working journalist (magazines, but I used to work in newspapers), and although I kind of hem and haw over press law I always find it grating when "newsblogs" like Joystiq and Kotaku flip between wearing "news" hats and "blog" hats whenever it best benefits them. Any legit news source that ran the ridiculous amount of unsubstantiated rumors those two do would have been blackballed years ago in any other industry.

Protip: Putting a question mark or "Rumor:" in the headline doesn't automatically protect you from libel lawsuits or other repercussions.

Marlor

cloudeagle wrote: »

It's very much likely that this info was gained under an unsigned NDA (I get them all the time, since the whole signing thing is annoying for everyone involved) asking them nicely not to go forward with this. Kotaku decided not to, which hurt their relationship with Sony.

Crecente said that this information was passed on by an anonymous tipster. He verified the information, then ran with it. The information didn't come directly from Sony.

Brian Crecente is an established journalist for the Rocky Mountain News. He knows what he's doing, and I doubt he wouldn't break an NDA.

cj iwakura

Just seems kind of silly that Sony can go 'hey, you can't tell them that!' and back off, but I guess that's how the industry works.

cloudeagle

Marlor wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

It's very much likely that this info was gained under an unsigned NDA (I get them all the time, since the whole signing thing is annoying for everyone involved) asking them nicely not to go forward with this. Kotaku decided not to, which hurt their relationship with Sony.

Crecente said that this information was passed on by an anonymous tipster. He verified the information, then ran with it. The information didn't come directly from Sony.

Brian Crecente is an established journalist for the Rocky Mountain News. He knows what he's doing, and I doubt he wouldn't break an NDA.

That could be true, but I wouldn't put it past Kotaku to fib in order to cover their ass. Journalists are capable of lying too, sad to say.

capable heart

deleted

Athenor

for the record, I agree with Lunker, and still don't like Kotaku.

But Sony legitimized them.. and got bit for it.

That's what I'm glad to see happen.

Sheep

Cross post.

They get to announce PS Home, garner tons of support from a news-hungry community who will side with them (especially against Sony), and they lose what is likely a very short interview with Harrison who dodges issues like a pro and any future access which, if it's anything like past access is pretty minimal.

Heh. Yeah, too bad they don't get that interview full of "Uhmmm. Uhmmm... Uhhhh..."

Actually, they're losing ALL future information from Sony, including builds of unreleased games, invitations to conferences, and interviews with anyone who draws a Sony paycheck. It's much, MUCH more than losing just an interview.

What games does Sony have that's coming up? Big name games are coming from Konami and Square. I don't think they are gonna be upset about Sony Home, unless there is a digital Snake figurine that Kojima really really wanted to keep secret.

this was a fairly dumb move by Kotaku.

Nah. Sony need's all the good press they can get. Doing something so public, and cutting off one of the more popular news outlets, is probably a notch of two higher on the Dumb-Ass-O-Tron.

but they've lost countless scoops in the future

They'll kiss and make up soon. I'm glad they put whatever smidgeon of "journalistic integrity" they have above Sony's threats.

I say, Good for Kotaku.

You realise that they won't be able to play their copies of MGS4 or FFXIII without the debug PS3, right? What are they going to do? Put them in a DVD player and hope they load?

Kotaku is a member of a much larger group. Surely some one, some where, has a debug unit. There's also the chance that preview games will ship on factory Blu Rays. I've gotten tons of final discs for review months before their launch. Those played on non modded systems just fine.

According to one of the admins at NeoGAF (Jim), it was super-NDA'd. Not only that but Sony politely asked Kotaku to remove the rumour (something a lot of game companies do) and Kotaku flat out refused.

Well, as stated earlier, there's no such thing as an unsigned NDA. If Sony was running their mouth and didn't get someone to sign an NDA, then it's up for grabs. But, that begs the question, why would Sony spout off about their "big announcement" and not go to measures to keep it a secret?

Good for their hits in the short run, but it's definitely bad for them in the long run.

Doubt it. Kotaku can easily fill the void and, them being a blog, can cross link to anything else. They don't review games, they don't preview games, they generally report news as they find it, and occasionally get to go to neat-o events. On the one side, they praise and lots of hits, and don't lose much material. On the other hand, they won't get to interview Sony about Sony Home after Sony formally announces it.

:-P

Dublo7

I don't see how Sony thought this was bad to be released to the public.

We all remember what happened to Lik Sang.

"Stop selling our PSPs!!!!"

I think Sony have a few things to learn about business.

AbsoluteZero

Oh, Sony.

You are such a card.

Miller

cloudeagle wrote: »

Marlor wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

It's very much likely that this info was gained under an unsigned NDA (I get them all the time, since the whole signing thing is annoying for everyone involved) asking them nicely not to go forward with this. Kotaku decided not to, which hurt their relationship with Sony.

Crecente said that this information was passed on by an anonymous tipster. He verified the information, then ran with it. The information didn't come directly from Sony.

Brian Crecente is an established journalist for the Rocky Mountain News. He knows what he's doing, and I doubt he wouldn't break an NDA.

That could be true, but I wouldn't put it past Kotaku to fib in order to cover their ass. Journalists are capable of lying too, sad to say.

Plus, before they "ran with it," they...

Kotaku wrote:

...went to to try and pin down the veracity of the rumor before publishing and, when finally deciding to go live with the rumor, to make sure we put it in the correct context.

In so doing, Sony asked us not to publish the story, first nicely, then not so much. Sony Computer Entertainment of American representatives reminded us that the story was a rumor and then went on to say that publishing it could harm our professional relationship with them.

Sony, however mishandled, tried to keep this under wraps. Kotaku knew the consequences, and put it up anyway.

Fiaryn

Bad publicity is the new good publicity.

Caswynben

I also think Kotaku acted in the wrong. They've been posting a lot of rumors lately and it seems like they can't decide whether they are a news site or a rumor mill.

APZonerunner

What the fuck? Sony have acted like complete and utter assholes over the story - asking them to not go ahead with the story, one they found themselves and clearly planned to report as a rumour is a bit of a tall order, if it were me I guess I would've done it.

I mean, "We do not comment on rumours and speculation" would've done just fine. By doing this they've got almost everyone thinking it's true, as well as another PR disaster on their hands. Especially if it ISN'T true. I mean, right now, it could be one of two things - Sony trying to preserve a surprise, or Sony trying to prevent disappointment. Either way it's now more bad press for them.

That said, I don't like Kotaku, or blogging sites in general, as they're poor excuses for journalism, and are part of the reason the integrity of online game journalism is always in question (compared to say, the movie or music biz)

Sheep

Normally, I hate NeoGAF, but it's members have gone through great lengths to show off how badly Sony just screwed themselves.

Apparently, bits and pieces of this information has been floating around publicly for at least a month.

I also think Kotaku acted in the wrong. They've been posting a lot of rumors lately and it seems like they can't decide whether they are a news site or a rumor mill.

Well, they're a blog. So they have never ever been a news site.

capable heart

Was the person who broke the story for Kotaku, or any person in a position of authority at Kotaku, under an NDA about this PS Home information? Because if not, then tough shit. If someone anonymously leaks second-hand game-related NDA'd info to me, I'm gonna tell everyone about it. I'm not under an NDA, the only person that should get in trouble is the person who leaked it.