The Days of Our Gaming Lives.

Earlier today, Sony and blogger site www.Kotaku.com, had a fallout due to the report of a rumor.

It seems, Kotaku got hold of a rumor about Sony releasing a new application for the PS3 called PlayStation Home.

The program was supposed to mimic that of Xbox 360's achievements and Nintendo Wii's lovable Mii characters. It would allow gamers to create a character that resides in a room, which would be decorated with items they could earn by completing PS3 game goals.

Kotaku seemed to have tried to validate the rumor through several sources (including Sony), thus only being able to mark it as a rumor. Sony responded by asking Kotaku not to post the story and if posted all connections with Sony would be lost.

Kotaku editor, Brian Crecente describes:

Specifically, they said we would be asked to return our debug PS3, uninvited from all meetings scheduled with Sony at GDC, including one on blogger relations and a one-on-one with Phil Harrison, and that they would no longer deal with us.
Knowing that, we went forward with the story, choosing not to point out the threats.

Crecente then posted an email from Dave Karraker, Senior Director of Sony's Corporate Communications, that states:

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.

After the email was posted on Kotaku, readers and bloggers all cried out in outrage towards Sony. Here is a piece from www.Gizmodo.com:

To Sony: I know you've gone to great lengths to control the information about the projects you've worked on. But these are your loose lips, and we're just doing our jobs. And if you'd just look at the bigger picture, buzz is far more valuable than whatever the marketing machine can dream up. This is gossip! People love this shit. Don't fight it. Anyhow, the damning move you're pulling on Kotaku does nothing but alienate the press and readers you hope to win over, and confirms the rumor as having legs. Legs like a robot racehorse being jockeyed by Heidi Klum. My god, that is so sexy.

To Brian, Editor at Kotaku, and a friend and colleague: I'm proud of what you've done, and I don't think you had any choice but to burn this bridge. The conditions they threw down were unacceptable. Rest easy knowing that Kotaku is fast enough that you can be on top of any story within 2 minutes of embargoes lifting. You don't need them. But I know you did value the relationship you'd built with them over hundreds of fair posts, rumor and otherwise.

Blog sites after news site after blog site, each reported the news and each with a harsh opinion on Sony's behalf.

But by the end of the day, Kotaku and Sony settled their differences in a professional matter. Kotaku was allowed to keep the post up and Sony has once again allowed a major blog site to cover it's news.

Overall it seemed like a hectic day for Kotaku and Sony. My opinion?

You're probably tired of reading and I'm tired of writing. In short, Sony you're dumb for pulling this move but at least you redeemed yourself and hooray for Kotaku and Freedom of the Press

Ugh. Too much drama.

-R

*http://kotaku.com/gaming/sony/rumor-sony-to-unveil-playstation-home-240746.php
*http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/sony-blackballs-kotaku-updated-240860.php
*http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/announcements/playstation-blacklists-kotaku-for-responsible-journalism-240885.php
*http://kotaku.com/gaming/sony/sony-and-kotaku-makeup-240922.php