Im not complaining, its still a sure fire improvement over it was before.

And anyway, why does no-one ever mention how much Mircosoft and Nintendo Screw us over, they are just as bad.

they do but right now this is about Sony, specifically SCEE. I feel bad for my Euro comrades. Sumtimes i think they're best ppl to play games online wit. Ineed some more Euro friends. I want PSNID's and i want em now

PSNID: UnSelfHomicide

It's because they don't have proper customer feedback like SCEA does, the Playstation Blog.

Why do Europeans continue to support Sony (they might be the biggest reason for the PS3's success) when they continue to get treated like second class consumers?

They obviously don`t too bad or Europe wouldn`t continue to love them so much.

When people diss SCEE it`s called.....REACHING.

I just love the picture of the cat :P lol
But seriously, i havent even had a chance to use the new PSN store yet since i dont have a connection for my PS3 where i live. It sounds like typical SCEE though, who some how manage to make a mess of things for the European consumer. I agree with the comments about SCEJ, SCEA and SCEE being joined to simply be Sony Computer Entertainment! Keep it Universally the same!

contributes a TON of great ideas to the Playstation, and to blast them over something as trivial as this is crap

If check out my other comments that i've left i've been saying the same thing sony don't care about Europe They f*cked up the PS Store and has given use a dumb down version we don't even get a Preview button Sony is on fing crack mate they fing mess us around all the time GT5P is £24.99 in the PS STore put if u buy it in a shop its £20 sony are on fing crack . This is a letter i wrote to sony and i'm gonna update it and add the new store into later . Tell me what you guys think of it.

To whom it may concern

Dear Sony,

My name is Jonathan Britton, I am 22 years old and I live in Southeast London in Lee.
I am very disappointed with the way you view us consumer in UK and Europe.
I use to stick up for you and defined the PS3, when ever anyone would put the console down. But after seeing the Japanese, Hong Kong and USA PlayStation Store; it’s now come down to me saying the one thing that every one else is.
You do not care about your consumers in the UK or Europe…!
After reading this article, it really does show people that you do not care about how we feel and what we think:

Sony executive VP Jamie MacDonald had this to say when asked by Games Industry .biz regarding later releases (or delays) in Europe:

"European consumers have shown that historically they don't mind [the delays], because they end up buying as many PlayStations, if not more, than the US and Japan. In Europe, it doesn't seem that the release of our platforms after the US and Japan-in the long run-affects how consumers feel ... If we were sitting here in five years' time, I don't think we'd really think about or notice that PlayStation 3 was four or five months later in Europe."

First thing is, that is not true.
I use to work in Game in Hamleys in London, and a lot of people were complaining about the delay of the PS3 in Europe, also a lot of gamers in the UK feel like they have been treated unfairly regarding the 20GB PS3 not being relished and now the 80GB PS3 may not be relished in Europe this year:

“Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president David Reeves isn't planning on selling that 80GB PS3 in your hood anytime soon. Writing for MCV, Reeves states that
“the larger hard drive only makes sense in a market like South Korea, which has "very high broadband penetration and the people there are used to downloading content, so they require a certain size hard drive.”
“Ouch, way to underestimate your consumers -- better start downloading more movies, Europe.”

We do not want to spend time downloading movie trailers of films on the PlayStation Store that are coming out on Blu-Ray DVD, when we can already see that on the internet.
I do fully understand that you do need to advertise them in one way or another.
But we do want the 80GB PS3.
Why…? You might ask, so we can use that space to go towards Linux on the PS3, and be able to copy the TV shows and films we have on our hard drive of our PC, and move them on to our PS3, and have more space to put our music collection, full games and game demos that we have downloaded from the PlayStation Store.

I also understand that we can upgrade the PS3 hard drive with a Sata laptop 250GB Hard drive, but also a lot of people again felt like they were treated unfairly after hearing the news that we wouldn't be seeing a price cut. This is the reason why people are buying PS3 from over seas. They are a lot cheaper.

Now the Europe PlayStation Store, have you ever taken the time to compare the store contents with the Contents in Japan, Hong Kong, and the USA PlayStation store?
What happens to us…?
Do we have to wait until more people in UK buy a PS3, Is that when you will make sure that the content in the stores are equal.
We do not even have the option to be able to download wall paper from the PlayStation store for the Background of the XMB.

The Japanese PlayStation store has so many PS1 games they have, First Person shooters, a lot of Plat formers and RPGs.
The Hong Kong Store has a lot of PS1 classic and add on packs.
USA PlayStation store has more content than Europe. I understand that those stores have been out longer however that is not an excuse.
What do we have to show for the Europe PlayStation store?

Game Trailers, a few games to buy, some old game demos, two new demos, a lot of TV adverts, Blu-Ray DVD film trailers that no one cares about, 5 PS1 games, 4 add-on packs for 4 games.
You have over a thousand back catalogues of PS1 games you could put on the PlayStation store. For example:
• Lara Croft Tomb Raider 1-5
• Final Fantasy 6-9

Now this is the thing that really did annoy me, what gives you the right to put PS1 games on the PlayStation Store that do not work?
I bought Spyro2 from the PlayStation Store and it will not load a level, I am now stuck looking at a black screen when ever I play it.
I bought Crash Bandicoot 2 and I can not download it.
I would like to have my money back or have this fixed.

Sony, you state that you want the gamers all over the world to have a good experiences on the PS3, the only country I see were the gamers are not complaining as much is USA and Japan because they get games that don’t get released in Europe; games that I for one would like to play and read it in English not Japanese.
Do not make the same mistake with the marketing in UK that Microsoft is doing with there marketing in Japan.

We gamers do not want Blu-Ray DVD film trailers and TV adverts that we can see on the net or on TV.
The Japanese site hardly has those; in fact they have the game movie trailers which I think is fantastic.
Now why did you only bring out Boku no Natsu Yasumi 3 in Japan?
I was looking forward to that game.
I was even going to buy a copy online, when I found out that you couldn’t change the language to English and that it does not have English subtitles in it.
I was very disappointed.

Why should Europe get short changed…?
We paid a lot of money for the PS3 waiting outside over night to be the first to get the PS3 and what do you do to pay us back.
A PlayStation Store that got PS1 games that do not even work, delays on demos, games and add on packs, more TV adverts/Trailers, games that only come out in USA and Japan.

Whoever is the head of your PR or Marketing direction within the European market is not doing a great job of it. I could do a better job than what they are doing.

Do you ever take the time to go through the forums on the net to check and see what the public have got to say about what is going on with the PS3?
From the looks of it you do not…!
I have so many ideas on how to sale the PS3 and make it look more friendly and welcoming to the public consumer. The PlayStation store is just one way to show how good the PS3 really is.

What happened to Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD that was supposed to be a world wide release…?
Why is Europe always last in line…?
We still don’t even have Tekken 5 DR Online.
Lair is out now in USA , why do Europe have to wait tell October to play it?

Sorry to say Sony but if I didn't write this letter some else would have, and it may not have been as nice as the letter I have addressed to you now. There are a very large amount of gamers that feel the same way as myself and worse, who are now starting to turn there backs on Sony’s productions.
If I remember one of your team members said that the People in Europe don’t mind delays.
Well this consumer and other consumer care extensively.

It only takes one person to make a difference and to open ones eyes.
I hope this letter opens your eyes and makes you change your game plan because you are hurting us in more ways than one.
One last thing Sony you should make the PlayStation stores update universally, a global update would be a step in a positive direction. So all your worldly consumers feel equal and receive the same benefits of your products at the same time.

I do enjoy using Sony’s products whether it is with computing or anything else. However as a loyal consumer I only think it is fair I voice my concerns and they be heard. Your record sale obviously shows you’re still popular globally. However to continue with the marketing strategy you have now, you will wreak failures.

I really do hope that upon receiving this letter/email, you will accept the European opinions as positive constructive criticism. This is coming from a fan of Sony that wants to see you do well. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely

Jonathan Britton.

aover all i like it. the only thing that bothers me is that i cant find the demos. why isnt there a demo section. that cant be that hard to make. 0o

Wow all this site do is criticize.

Because Sony fail at life

- European launch for PS3 was the last.
- European PS3 was and still is heavily overpriced, compared to other territories.
- We got a lesser version of the PS3, without BC.
- The games are extremely overpriced. Uncharted is 60 US dollars in the USA, yet 70-76 EURO (over 100 US dollars) here in Europe.
- Online content is less.
- Sony is now using Europe as a dumping ground for their excess crappy 6-axis controllers. And no doubt the dual-shock 3 will once again be heavily overpriced.
- And now this crap with the PS Store...

It's a real shame, that European gamers are treated this way by such a huge and otherwise very good company.

I have nothing against the PS3 or the games for the PS3, but the way Sony is continuing to treat us European gamers is just WRONG.

Considering most of us here in Europe actually use the US store more than the EU store, isn't it a little dramatic to start gathering the pitch sticks and torches in demonstration?

Some people in here get on your nerves with all the complaining.

But its a fair point with the categories. Right now there isn't so much content to go through, but it could become a problem later.

I like my PS3 games but I have to agree with this. Why on earth is the layout of the European store different than the American one???? If the content HAS to be different because of localization fair enough, but the bloody layout??!!! The crazy thing is, and I can't belive I'm going to say this, but it was actually EASIER to look for a demo or PS1 classic title on the old European store! Slower, but easier.

Yes, I have multiple PSN accounts, however that doesn't help me when there's content I want to buy. Still waiting for that bowling game so I can play with the fam and Puzzle fighter which I may never see....

To the posters above having a go at the people complaining about the European layout, here's a question to you guys: If no-one complained/whined about the old store before being slow and clunky, how would have Sony known to give it a makeover?

Mull over that one.....

Yeah I'm on my 4th 360 now. Doesn't bother me, its been repaired free of charge each time. While it can be annoying having to constantly worry about your hardware, I bought the 360 for its games, not its reliability.

They make customised versions of standardised technology then sell them at a profit and make them inoperable with other things.

It's no surprise they'd break interfaces. And it' shardly a surprise that it's europe that gets shafted again. Why is europe such a strong base for a company that tries it's best to exclude them?

I have just discovered that the EU store does NOT have the option to preview Videos or games! The US store allows you watch a Video or preview a game trailer before choosing to download it.

WHAT THE £$!* is going on SONY!!

the crappy end of the stick.

Its not just Sony. We got screwed by Nintendo and Sega for years :(

I was kinda hoping that things would be different with the PS3, what with no region coding on the games, but no :(
Now this with the PSN store.

What next? Home 3 months after everyone else?
Come on SCEE get yer act together

If scee can mess up a simple thing like a store update just imagine whats goin to happen when something more complex is released by them like home.

wow, the sky is falling.

no wait... its not quite the end of the world gents. i'll admit that having seen the US version of the store on here now i'm a bit gutted with the european catagories but rather than whine like children, head over to the offficial playstation forums and voice ur opinions there. i have and it has a better chance of actually being read by the right people.

NO PREVIEW FOR GAMES ON EUROPEAN STORE. WTF ? The reason I liked the new store was the layout and the preview button. But euro store has a crap layout now and no preview button. WTF SCEE ? WTF ?

This would explain the fukced up commercials

just got home from work. impressions with the store? looks neat! yeah the stuff is jumbled a bit but there really aint enough stuff on the store for you to get lost so im not too bothered. itll have to be sorted when the volume of stuff gets bigger. its running quite slow (a video of bionic commando rl is taking ruddy ages to download) but hopefully this wont last too long.

This new store was developed in Europe... for crying out loud... developed in Europe by SCEE... and we get the worst version of it with no preview option... and ridiculously poor categories.

Sony views the EU as second class customers.

the uk store feels rushed in my opinion i'm sure it doesn't take much to put in an alphabetical option, but it does feel shoddy that they haven't managed to put some of the basic things in and makes you feel like a second class citizen (actually feel like one already in the uk this don't help lol).

i dont think thats strictly true, i just think SCEE is consistantly less innovative than the other branches.

which i guess is a nice way of saying they strike me as incompetant.

Yet another fine example of, "You get what you pay for."

this is a major mistake on their part. Is there any reason why the store is different? Not as I can see.

this is because we get the metal gear online beta with no key needed,
but seriously this is awfull desighn and i love demos so this sucks for me

that is messed up, I feel bad for Europeans, I used to live there when the N64 and PS1 was out and yes every company treats Europe like crap. Something needs to be done about this. They deserve to get stuff at the same time we get it and with the same quality.

Sony just doesn't care about Europe.

Now that Jim Ryan is gone just need to remove Herman Hulst from his position! And maybe give Shuhei the position he deserved.

This gen hasn't been the best for games, last gen consoles are still out there and now there's been talk of the PS6 and Xbox Two for a year or so. Many games this gen will be ported to next gen and the cycle will continue. The re-release of the Neo Geo AES+, games on cartridge for £70 ($95), gaming is going back in time. Gaming has gone pricing mad with the high cost of games, consoles and controllers. The men and women at the top are clueless.

It’s always interesting to hear behind-the-scenes stories like this, especially involving veterans like Shuhei Yoshida and leadership figures like Jim Ryan. That said, there are usually multiple sides to decisions at that level. It could be less about not “listening” and more about differences in long-term vision for PlayStation. Yoshida played a huge role in shaping the brand, so whatever the reason, his impact is undeniable.

If true, and I'm inclined to believe it is, it goes to show that Sony lost their way when they became more western/didn't respect the PlayStation origin story. Andrew House and Jack Tretton did great work, but they also didn't try to fundamentally change the PlayStation DNA. Ryan oversaw the death of Japan Studio and a live service direction.

I already figured this, good lord imagine if Shuhei took over instead, would've been a platinum era 😩

I miss the first three generations of PlayStation. The way they turned PS3 around, we knew they meant business. We were all worried for a bit there around launch. Eventually from 2008 they started shifting slowly. But since Yoshida was fired, it's never been the same. Still enjoy my PS5 daily. I got a backlog dating back to PS2 lol So I'm fine but new games aren't as appealing anymore.

It seems like we were thrown on to the worst timeline possible where everything is too expensive and the wrong people were put in positions that makes the world a shitty place. We could have had Shu as the head of PS but we got the shitty alternative. Same goes for everyone in power around the world. Doesn’t matter the company or country the majority of us got the shitty picks and the world is declining like never before. I do think PS can come out of this because of their studios, talent and IP but they need someone more in touch with gamers leading things like Shu was. They’re still the best place for console gaming imo but it could be much better than it is especially without the massive live service failures. The rest of the world I have a lot less hope for right now. Hopefully the pendulum swings back towards the good ole days but I’m preparing for the worst.

There goes illuminati distraction story

So now there's certifiable proof that Ryan was in fact "fired", as opposed to when it was first announced that he "retired", in order to save face.

There's another guy who recently "retired" as CEO of another large gaming company, after doing a dismantling job as lead for well over a decade.

seems legit, the business man, fires the one who has ideas to move the business forward.

Jim Ryan is the reason why we are entering year 6 since the PS5 launch and many of us don't feel like the PS5 has gotten started as yet.

I hope going forward, we will see a return to form.