Sony Faces Massive Backlash Over Y2K Calendar Bug
While not all Playstation 3 have been affected, worldwide, owners are currently unable to play certain games and connect to the Playstation Network. If you feel optimistic about facing the apocalypse, try logging on to your PSN account today. Sony has issued a statement on the Playstation Blog concerning the status of the situation.
The issue originates from a bug in the clock functionality and according to Sony hopes to have a remedy within the next 24 hours. So far, the problems have only appear to affect the older Playstation 3 models with more recent slim models unaffected by this. Sony has addressed a temporary solution by stating that owners of older models should just avoid using their PS3 system, since disaster will occur e.g. errors in functionality, recently obtained trophies, and recovering certain data.
From an analyst’s perspective, Michael Patcher shared with shacknews.com his view:
I think it’s a glitch and nothing more. It’s clearly a software fix, so no need to replace hardware units. If Microsoft can recover from RROD, Sony should be able to recover quickly from this. Keep in mind it’s only the original models, so probably 20 – 25% of the installed base, and that likely fewer than half of users have tried to play in the last 24 hours (I know that I haven’t tried). So only around 10% affected, and they will likely have a software patch in place by Friday. If they offer a free Pixeljunk download as compensation, they won’t have any complaints.
Patcher’s perspective points out that the length of time Sony releases a bug in contrast to Microsoft’s response to the RROD holds that they will not recieve any backlash if the matter is quickly resolved.
Update: As of this writing, we are getting reports from news sources that the PS3 bug has been squashed. Our copy editor, Francis Rodriguez, has personally confirmed to us that his PS3 – a pre-slim model – has been allievated of the bug:
alright
it boots up
that is extremely creepy though
cause there was no update
lol
and I haven’t connected to the internet
so I don’t know wtf just happened
lol
conspiracy confirmed
sony has chips in our PS3s
that can be accessed at any time
CONFIRMED
In an afterword, Francis brought up potential reasoning for Sony’s failure to see the Y2K glitch incoming.
….my dad actually had a fairly good theory, I didn’t think much of it until I thought about it just a while ago
not so much a y2k scare, but essentially when we move from the ’08, ’09 to the ’10, ’11, etc
and because this february isn’t a leap year
there is a discrepancy in the calendar formula
that–to my dismay I’ve forgotten the exact technical mish-mash–the calculations will be off
rather, the calendar algorithm can’t produce a date
this was an offhanded conversation at the dinner table I had with my dad back in november I think
but now that this has happened, it really makes a lot of sense
yeah, it’s based on the fact that I think the original algorithm is considering ’10, ’11 as being a part of 1910, 1911
since when digital logging of dates started, that’s what the abbreviations were for
like when my grandfather filed for a health card
his birthdate year was abbreviated as ’18
cause he was born in 1918
but now I guess the algorithm hasn’t matched up to differentiate that ’10 now is 2010, and not 1910
meh, either way still creepy
clearly there is another network that I’m connected to with Sony
outside of ethernet and wireless
Clearly, there are forces at work that go beyond our rational intelligence. Time to put on our tinfoil hats.
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