PlayStation Rewards

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Introducing PlayStation Rewards:
A New Way to Earn Exclusive Status and Recognition
Posted by Susan Panico // Sr. Director, PlayStation Network

Today, we’re excited to share news of the launch of PlayStation Rewards, a new program that recognizes and rewards our users for simply doing what they love – playing games and interacting with the entertainment content that PlayStation has to offer. We really wanted to create something that says, “thank you” for being a loyal PlayStation fan.

In its initial launch tomorrow (Oct. 28th), PlayStation Rewards will be an invitation-only beta to all eligible PlayStation Plus and Gamer Advisory Panel (GAP) members. We’re kicking things off as a beta so that we can get feedback from our most loyal fans in order to make it the best possible rewards program it can be. It’s also worth noting that during the beta phase, the program will be focused on PlayStation 3 owners, but we hope to include PSP users as well not too far down the road. Oh, and one more thing: PlayStation Rewards will be free – there is no fee to join!

Now, to give you a bit more details on the new loyalty program… PlayStation Rewards is designed to give you the opportunity to gain exclusive status, recognition, and rewards as a thank you for your continued interest in PlayStation. And, the best part is that you don’t have to do anything different. Keep playing new games, buying content purchased from PlayStation Network in the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home, download movies and TV shows, or just communicate with us by taking one of our surveys, for example, and you’ll now be recognized for it.

The more you play and participate, the more progress you’ll make through our three reward tiers — “Select,” “Pro,” and “Legendary.” As your status increases, so do the rewards. And if you want to check out your current status level, simply go to your private profile page and look at the reward progress meter.

So what do you get? Right now, rewards include things like…

• Exclusive PSN avatars that display member status in the program
• Exclusive dynamic themes and PlayStation Home content
• Opportunities throughout the program year to participate in members-only sweepstakes and giveaways for experiences and merchandise you won’t find elsewhere (The first of which is an all expenses paid trip to the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, as PlayStation’s guest)

That’s just the start and our plan is to continually grow and improve the reward offering as the program itself evolves. Your feedback in this beta period will help make the program even better!!

If you’re a GAP member or PlayStation Plus subscriber in the U.S., who is opted-in to marketing as of October 24th, be sure to look for your invitation and sign-up for PlayStation Rewards.

To learn more about our new loyalty program, check back tomorrow when the site will be live and the beta forum will be available for all eligible participants.

We look forward to showing you our appreciation along the way!

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

FAQs

VofEscaflowne | October 27th, 2010 at 8:06 am
(*snip*) Please don’t tell me this rewards program is US only and Canadians are not part of it -_-

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Yes, we’re starting off in U.S. only, but are looking into rolling out to Canada.

IceCold | October 27th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Did you have to have Plus or GAP prior to the 24 also, or just opt-on marketing and can purchase plus now?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Yes, you had to be in GAP or PlayStation Plus by the 24th to make the beta.

PHIBALNATION | October 27th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Opt in on Marketing? Could you please explain how and where we do this.

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Opt-in to marketing is found under Notification Preferences in your PSN account management on your PS3, or on http://us.playstation.com/accountsettings/
Look forward to seeing you in the program. If not in the beta then when it’s open for everyone.

Lord_Rinja | October 27th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Why should only Plus members get this perk? Who is to say that people that buy a lot of software and downloads aren’t loyal Playstation fans as well? (*snip*)

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:42 am
We agree. That’s why we’re opening it up to everyone once we come out of beta.

greenghoulie | October 27th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Another bump on the question, “How do we opt-in to marketing?”

I get the PS3 emails… does that count?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:50 am
If you’re already getting email from PlayStation then you’re opted-in. You can make sure you’re opted-in by signing-in to us.playstation.com and going to your Account Settings tab, or by going to your Notification Preferences section in PSN account management on your PS3.

mikedo2007 | October 27th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Can they make trophies part of the Playstaton Rewards like for example if I reach a certain levels or have a certain number of platium trophies, I get a good rewards.

I like the idea, but please involved the PSN trophies because I believe trophies can have some significant.

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Cool idea. Send more when you have them.

whitetigergrowl | October 27th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Will it be retro-active?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:56 am
Sorry, it’s not retro-active.

KazeEternal | October 27th, 2010 at 8:45 am
What is considered eligibility? I’m in GAP and a PS+ subscriber lol.

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Be on the lookout for your invite.

CH1N1T0- | October 27th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Uhm Chris,

What about your Asian gamers? Philippines don’t get much of a treat from you guys. Unfair

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Other regions have shown interest in doing something similar.

Spoelstra3 | October 27th, 2010 at 8:57 am
@38

Was that a confirmation that there will be a PS5?

LOL, how easy is it to go up a tier? If I payed about $20 a month on guitar hero dlc and lbp add ons would I be up a level?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Try it out and see what happens.

Kira_Moriko | October 27th, 2010 at 9:12 am
(*snip*) I’ve been thinking of buying playstation plus for a good long while and now I want to buy it even more, and while the extras and freebies were appealing but I could do without them, but now home content is being offered on this rewards exclusive beta program… and I would like to know, would it be smart to buy the playstation plus year package for the freebies, extras, and now even more importantly the home rewards?… or does the rewards refer to something like a simple shirt that says Rewards User or something to that affect?

(I ask cause now the home rewards is included in the advantages of PS+ and now I have a reason to want to buy it… and so I would be basing the purchase of PS+ solely on this… to condense all of that, should I buy playstation plus year package for the home rewards included in this rewards program?)

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 9:28 am
The goal is to give you guys things in the program that you can’t find anywhere else. So the Home content will be exclusive to PlayStation Rewards (more than a Home t-shirt

On you decision to subscribe to PlayStation Plus; to clarify, we’re inviting PlayStation Plus subscribers to the beta, but when we’re out of beta you won’t need to have a Plus subscription to participate in this program.

teh_g | October 27th, 2010 at 9:26 am
So, if I just opted in to get PS emails today, I won’t get an invite to this . Had I known something useful would come from those emails, I wouldn’t have opted out in the first place! I like this PS Rewards program idea too. If you stream video from your PC to the PS3, does that count as usage? Same with watching DVD, Blu-Ray or Netflix content?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 9:40 am
If you are a GAP member or subscribed to PlayStation Plus by October 24, but are not opted-in for marketing, you won’t get your email invitation, but you still have a chance to participate in the program if you act fast.

Once the program is live, sign-in to us.PlayStation.com and go to the Forums. If you made the cut for the invitation only beta you’ll be able to see a forum called PlayStation Rewards Private Beta. In there you’ll find instructions on how to be part of the beta. Good luck!

wocyob | October 27th, 2010 at 9:46 am
ok so for the people who are in the beta and get the rank up pretty high will they keep it or will it reset after its out of beta?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 9:56 am
You’ll keep whatever status you had by the end of the beta. You’ll have to stay active though, because status is only retained through the following program year.

SpyDudeFX | October 27th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Chris will there be future waves? There are so many more engaged and loyal gamers that aren’t Plus or GAP, that it would’ve been to nice to see a third criteria for them to participate in the beta.

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 10:04 am
We can’t wait to open this up for all the other fans out there. We’ve considered adding future waves. But, we want all beta participants to start with an even playing field.

SpyDudeFX | October 27th, 2010 at 9:51 am
Oh yeah any idea when invites go out? Thx

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Look for them tomorrow.

WoshJills | October 27th, 2010 at 9:56 am
I’m a PlayStation Plus Member. Will I receive an email from Sony or a message on my PS3 via the PlayStation Network?

I ask this because I just found out I was invited to the Dead Space Mutiplayer Beta and missed out. =/

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Look for an email tomorrow. Sorry to hear you missed that Dead Space beta invite.

StephieRawks | October 27th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Chris,
You keep telling us to act before Oct 24th. Did you realize that it’s October 27th? Does that mean they’re all too late?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Yes, if you are not a GAP member or did not subscribe to PlayStation Plus by October 24, then you’ll have to wait until the program is out of beta.

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

(reserved for...something! )

[Idealsupra]

So as a plus member how do I know if I was opted in for marketing? I probably wasnt

I was also kinda sad because when I first saw this I thought they were finally tying trophies into PSN Rewards. That would have been awesome.

[master_8ball]

Cool, so will this be what they have been talking about for a while that will tie in with Trophies?

I like that you dont need to do much to be involved (post beta) but Home stuff as a bonus just doesn't interest me.

I love how I'm less loyal of a customer for not being a plus member Guess the PS1, PS2, 2 PS3s and hundreds of games just doesnt cut it anymore.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by master_8ball

Cool, so will this be what they have been talking about for a while that will tie in with Trophies?

I like that you dont need to do much to be involved (post beta) but Home stuff as a bonus just doesn't interest me.

I love how I'm less loyal of a customer for not being a plus member Guess the PS1, PS2, 2 PS3s and hundreds of games just doesnt cut it anymore.

Plus is only to be in the beta of the reward... all loyal will get reward after that.

Sadly for me its only for USA for now.

[master_8ball]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

Plus is only to be in the beta of the reward... all loyal will get reward after that.

Sadly for me its only for USA for now.

I know, was just commenting on this line "We’re kicking things off as a beta so that we can get feedback from our most loyal fans in order to make it the best possible rewards program it can be."

Tell me you weren't surprised that Canadians are excluded

So this has nothing to do with trophies then as Idealsupra said?

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by Idealsupra

So as a plus member how do I know if I was opted in for marketing? I probably wasnt

I was also kinda sad because when I first saw this I thought they were finally tying trophies into PSN Rewards. That would have been awesome.

These replies are relevant to the opt-in and trophies. If you get any kind of e-mails from PSN, you're opted in. If you're still unsure, check the places I highlighted in red, or wait and see tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Stephie_is_a_dork

FAQs

IceCold | October 27th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Did you have to have Plus or GAP prior to the 24 also, or just opt-on marketing and can purchase plus now?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Yes, you had to be in GAP or PlayStation Plus by the 24th to make the beta.

PHIBALNATION | October 27th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Opt in on Marketing? Could you please explain how and where we do this.

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Opt-in to marketing is found under Notification Preferences in your PSN account management on your PS3, or on http://us.playstation.com/accountsettings/Look forward to seeing you in the program. If not in the beta then when it’s open for everyone.

greenghoulie | October 27th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Another bump on the question, “How do we opt-in to marketing?”

I get the PS3 emails… does that count?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:50 am
If you’re already getting email from PlayStation then you’re opted-in. You can make sure you’re opted-in by signing-in to us.playstation.com and going to your Account Settings tab, or by going to your Notification Preferences section in PSN account management on your PS3.

mikedo2007 | October 27th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Can they make trophies part of the Playstaton Rewards like for example if I reach a certain levels or have a certain number of platium trophies, I get a good rewards.

I like the idea, but please involved the PSN trophies because I believe trophies can have some significant.

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Cool idea. Send more when you have them.

teh_g | October 27th, 2010 at 9:26 am
So, if I just opted in to get PS emails today, I won’t get an invite to this . Had I known something useful would come from those emails, I wouldn’t have opted out in the first place! I like this PS Rewards program idea too. If you stream video from your PC to the PS3, does that count as usage? Same with watching DVD, Blu-Ray or Netflix content?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 9:40 am
If you are a GAP member or subscribed to PlayStation Plus by October 24, but are not opted-in for marketing, you won’t get your email invitation, but you still have a chance to participate in the program if you act fast.

Once the program is live, sign-in to us.PlayStation.com and go to the Forums. If you made the cut for the invitation only beta you’ll be able to see a forum called PlayStation Rewards Private Beta. In there you’ll find instructions on how to be part of the beta. Good luck!

StephieRawks | October 27th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Chris,
You keep telling us to act before Oct 24th. Did you realize that it’s October 27th? Does that mean they’re all too late?

Chris Hagedorn | October 27th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Yes, if you are not a GAP member or did not subscribe to PlayStation Plus by October 24, then you’ll have to wait until the program is out of beta.

[jamclaur]

Originally Posted by Idealsupra

So as a plus member how do I know if I was opted in for marketing? I probably wasnt

I was also kinda sad because when I first saw this I thought they were finally tying trophies into PSN Rewards. That would have been awesome.

Go to your Account management, where you change the avatar, and redeem codes... Then it's the bottom menu choice I think.

Then you have to check to let them email you.

[Idealsupra]

Originally Posted by jamclaur

Go to your Account management, where you change the avatar, and redeem codes... Then it's the bottom menu choice I think.

Then you have to check to let them email you.

Well I get PSN emails all the time. So Im assuming Im opted in. I havent gotten an invite though

[saprano]

Where do i sign up for GAP?

[Xerios]

Originally Posted by Stephie_is_a_dork

(reserved for...something! )

you've always wanted to say that haven't you....

[toef]

I think I should qualify as one of the top people, simply for buying a 60gb at launch.

In general it seems like this just encourages people to waste more of their time playing games, but then again, the people who don't play games much probably don't care about being rewarded for their game playing.

It's still nice that they're offering something, but I wish they spent more of their time adding other new things, like in-game chat, instead of another reward system.

[jamclaur]

Originally Posted by Idealsupra

Well I get PSN emails all the time. So Im assuming Im opted in. I havent gotten an invite though

I don't think the invites go out until tomorrow.

[Hayabusa85]

I hate you for posting this. As if this week wasn't sucking enough due to a Canadian delay of the Rock Band 3 keyboard and bundles (For 360 & Wii). As both a G.A.P. and PS+ member my odds would have been pretty good at getting in too

Originally Posted by saprano

Where do i sign up for GAP?

You don't sign up for it. They send invites to certain people (I think old PS Underground members also got transferred to it). Not sure what criteria they base it on though. The e-mail I got said something about being somebody that has shown great loyalty to the PS Brand or something. Also have a letter somewhere but don't know where I put it. Know where the shirt is and my G.A.P. ID card (Said it was supposed to be used to work at Playstation events that you could check the G.A.P. site to apply for but never actually looked into that) but the letter vanished.





That was the shirt I got. Not sure if they ever change the shirt or if they even still send a shirt and stuff.

[Rike255]

Neat! Really sucks that it's US only though...I sure hope it comes to Canada soon.

[G1ggs]

Oh look, Europe misses out again!

[Toxa]

Europe

Since when stephie is mod

[Trailbreaker77]

I better get in on this since I have been a GAP member since 97 and I am now a Plus member. Sony you better give me free stuff or ELSE!

[perfectionthrusilenc]

I'm a Plus member and opted for the info. I haven't gotten an invite yet though