Warning: Do not buy GT5 from PSN (if you want to use with another/subaccount)

[ottscay]

I'd go ahead with the chargeback and if they lock you out of PSN I'd sue them for false advertising and for breaking your PS3; I have no doubt that a consumer rights advocacy group would support you and cover legal fees. Of course you understandably may not want to invest the time and effort in such a mess, but you'd be in the right.

I own a PS3 and I'm not anti-Sony at all (I also have an SXRD and have owned their DVD players in the past), but that's just horse sh!t. Depending on what state you live in you're likely covered by an implied warranty of merchantability as well, which always supercedes manufacturers' warranties (or lack thereof).

To DaleDark: Yes, you're right that this is an anti-piracy move, and I appreciate that companies don't want to have people steal their products, but you'll excuse me if I care more about the OP's legitimate gripe than that of a multi-billion dollar company who is using their leverage to strip him of his property rights. HE was not stealing, and he's been threatened with innapropriate action against a product he owns (PS3) over a legitimate discrepancy in how the product (GT5) is represented vs how he recieved it.

Protecting IP by overstepping the rights of honest customers is like randomly stopping motorists and giving out tickets because some of the might be speeding.

[richieb1971]

If you could use any account only one download of the game would be needed.

[Branden]

i've always said people will hate digital distribution when they actually experience it, seems to me most DD proponents are people who have yet to use it or people who have yet to change a HDD/account/OS/etc.
i hate to see people learn the hard way, my condolences to the OP.

[ra1024]

Thanks for the warning, I'll be wary of any dl games in the future.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by player2006911

Sorry to be a party pooper but it states very clearly in the terms of use and restrictions of the download that it may ONLY used by the account that downloaded it. Sucks, yes I know but it is there sadly. Try logging out of the psn of the other accounts and see if it works then, other then that im not really sure what you could do.

I searched and read through all of the ToS and User agreements both on the PSN and off. I went through the entire purchase process again (without hitting confirm) to see if it was mentioned and I missed it.

It says _nowhere_ in any ToS or User Agreement on the PSN that it could or would be restricted to only the Master Account being able to use it. In fact, in the ToS it reads as such that it implies that all PSN downloadable content would be available to not only the Master Account but all sub-accounts as well.

Remember, your PS3 is only _one_ account. Sub-accounts are just that... subs. They are all simply other aliases for your Master Account for the sake of organizing.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by DaleDark

Not going to say that the op doesn't have a legitimate gripe (even if for only the cs reps apparent attitude problem), and I do think that Sony should find a way for sub-accounts on the same machine to be able to access all games, but since every post so far in this thread seems to want to ignore the elephant in the room, I'll just come out and say it - piracy. The reason that Sony has done this for Warhawk, and GT5P (and will do the same for Socom) is to keep users from "trading" games w/ other users (trading is really not the right word to describe it being that in a trade you generally don't get to keep what you've traded). I like the fact that Sony does give you a choice in the manner in which you can purchase these new releases (optical disc or download) but you can bet that any "full" game released in both formats are going to be controled in some way. Think of it as Sony giving different options for different consumers. For ppl who are the sole user on their PS3 (like myself), you can save yourself a trip to the store (and some gas $$), and just download it, and for ppl who have multiple users on their PS3 (op, and anyone w/ children), you can purchase the retail version.

This isn't necessary.

The PS3, or any machine for that matter, has it's own MAC ID and other mechanisms to determine the hardware. If they wanted to restrict it to one machine that would be the way to do it. Not through the Master Account.

I imagine that they did it like this because then the Master Account could access the content from different machines (even around the house and up to five of them apparently).

It is easy to see that a Master Account could be moved around machines to download the game then used by any account on that machine. But, wouldn't every sub account on that machine have to be under the Master Account also then? So, wouldn't it all be restricted to the same group of users anyway... even with sub-accounts allowed? That said... There is no point to it. If the game can only be used on duplicate account based machines and the number of subs you can make is limited (which it is), then it's already self limiting.

Their current system is just plain wrong.

[Malosch78]

Damn ... I downloaded it on PSN

[Boss Hogg]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

this is one thing that live has over psn. excellent customer service and the option for refunds!

TOTALLY disagree. My XBox Live membership mysteriously went from monthly to yearly for no reason and then when I tried to cancel it was IMPOSSIBLE to cancel!! Half the time nobody would answer the phone or the phone would "oddly" just cut out mid conversation. I ended up having to just do a charge back on my credit card saying it was unauthorized and then changed my card number so the f-ers didn't charge it again.

[Boss Hogg]

I downloaded it off of PSN just because I didn't want to have to dig up the disc every time I wanted to play the game. That alone makes it worth it in my opinion. Could care less about sub-accounts.

[player2006911]

Originally Posted by Proteus

I searched and read through all of the ToS and User agreements both on the PSN and off. I went through the entire purchase process again (without hitting confirm) to see if it was mentioned and I missed it.

It says _nowhere_ in any ToS or User Agreement on the PSN that it could or would be restricted to only the Master Account being able to use it. In fact, in the ToS it reads as such that it implies that all PSN downloadable content would be available to not only the Master Account but all sub-accounts as well.

Remember, your PS3 is only _one_ account. Sub-accounts are just that... subs. They are all simply other aliases for your Master Account for the sake of organizing.

Sorry, I meant to say it is on there website not the Tos or the User side. Yes I know it's stupid of them to do that but that is probably what they would tell you if you were to try and fight about it. Just get your money back, and if they close your acoount screw them and make a new account.

[ThePhantomOak]

How about NEVER buy anything from PSN that you can buy in the store?

On the one hand, you dont have to walk across the room to load a disk (like having a game changer in your system)...

On the otherhand, you cant share the disk with anyone if you get tired of it, cant sell it back, cant play it on two systems without jumping hoops, cant return it if the game sucks... etc.

I REALLY wish I got GT5P in hard copy. I hate that game.

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Proteus

I imagine that they did it like this because then the Master Account could access the content from different machines (even around the house and up to five of them apparently).

Yes. That is correct. Sharing content across our 3 machines is a big deal.

Originally Posted by Proteus

It is easy to see that a Master Account could be moved around machines to download the game then used by any account on that machine. But, wouldn't every sub account on that machine have to be under the Master Account also then? So, wouldn't it all be restricted to the same group of users anyway... even with sub-accounts allowed?

It's possible to share games even with people across the globe depending on how much you trust them..for a $10 game that has no retail "exposure" it's not as big a deal .. for a $40 or $60 game stocked by retailers that need protecting .. as well as the heftier development costs it's a much bigger deal. More people would be doing alot more game sharing if they can save $60 .. people who won't bother for a $10 game. And since they don't charge for the on-line access then protecting the content is critical. For example Live would cost us $300/year for the next 5 years ($1500)...revenue that Sony isn't charging me...their model is based on people paying for the content not the service. Don't reasonably protect the content and we can all go home.

Originally Posted by Proteus

That said... There is no point to it. If the game can only be used on duplicate account based machines and the number of subs you can make is limited (which it is), then it's already self limiting.

Not really because of the game sharing - if they open it to other accounts they open it to everyone. That's also why there is the 24 hour delay even across multiple machines using the same master account...game sharing again. How do the differentiate between 5 machines I own and 5 people sharing the same master account and devaluing a $50 game into a $10 one? With the disc it's easy to know.

The subaccounts seem to be really about restricting access to PSN account management and store purchases than really being a subaccount on the machine itself..IOW sub accounts can do everything on the machine that master accounts can AFAIK...it's all PSN related stuff at this point. I'm not aware of sub-account limitations .. do you have a link? Would just like to know.

Originally Posted by Proteus

Their current system is just plain wrong.

The only thing wrong to me is..

1) it should be clearer to people .. like if you want to use it on multiple accounts please purchase the Blu-ray version should be on the purchase page.

2) they should have some way of allowing the download to be revoked/scrubbed and refunded so people can get the physical copy if they made a "mistake".

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by ThePhantomOak

How about NEVER buy anything from PSN that you can buy in the store?

That's my guide.