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By Steve Watts
Today Sony sent out notices for its class-action settlement based on the 2011 network hack. If you were a PlayStation Network, Sony Online Entertainment, or Qriocity services subscriber before May 15, 2011, you can claim a settlement by following the instructions here. Among the make-goods are a list of free, largely older games. The form doesn't list the prices, though, so being value-conscious, we wondered: which free giveaway offers the best monetary value for the settlement?
First, though, a bit of common sense. These are ranked according to their market value on the PlayStation Store, not their intrinsic value to you. If you would like to play one of the lower-valued games more than one of the higher-valued games, you should go with the one you'd like the most. This guide is simply to help price-conscious shoppers see all of the options, with costs included, so they can make an informed choice.
We should also make note that PlayStation Plus provides a different kind of value. It provides several games at a time, instead of just one, and that would last for a period of 3-6 months. In itself, that's quite a bit more value. However, it also means you're locked into the PS Plus system, because any games you get out of the service would be lost if you chose not to renew once the free period is up.
PlayStation Plus is the only game-related benefit that depends on your own previous actions. If you took advantage of the Welcome Back program after the hacks, it's only offered for three months. If you didn't, it's offered for six months. That impacts the value of those payouts, so we've listed them separately.
These are also all listed at current PlayStation Network value, without Plus or Flash sale discounts, and without the assumption that any have been or will be made free on Plus. The following games are listed from highest to lowest value.
* Sony doesn't offer a six-month subscription option, so this figure is derived from roughly estimating half of a one-year subscription, or double a three-month subscription.
** The offer lets you choose three game-related Dynamic Themes, at $2.99 apiece.
*** Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is only available as a two-pack on the PlayStation Store, bundled with SOCOM, for $14.99.
Today Sony sent out notices for its class-action settlement based on the 2011 network hack. If you were a PlayStation Network, Sony Online Entertainment, or Qriocity services subscriber before May 15, 2011, you can claim a settlement by following the instructions here. Among the make-goods are a list of free, largely older games. The form doesn't list the prices, though, so being value-conscious, we wondered: which free giveaway offers the best monetary value for the settlement?
First, though, a bit of common sense. These are ranked according to their market value on the PlayStation Store, not their intrinsic value to you. If you would like to play one of the lower-valued games more than one of the higher-valued games, you should go with the one you'd like the most. This guide is simply to help price-conscious shoppers see all of the options, with costs included, so they can make an informed choice.
We should also make note that PlayStation Plus provides a different kind of value. It provides several games at a time, instead of just one, and that would last for a period of 3-6 months. In itself, that's quite a bit more value. However, it also means you're locked into the PS Plus system, because any games you get out of the service would be lost if you chose not to renew once the free period is up.
PlayStation Plus is the only game-related benefit that depends on your own previous actions. If you took advantage of the Welcome Back program after the hacks, it's only offered for three months. If you didn't, it's offered for six months. That impacts the value of those payouts, so we've listed them separately.
These are also all listed at current PlayStation Network value, without Plus or Flash sale discounts, and without the assumption that any have been or will be made free on Plus. The following games are listed from highest to lowest value.
- Puppeteer $39.99
- Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom $29.99
- Six Months of PlayStation Plus: $25-36*
- Infamous $19.99
- LittleBigPlanet: $19.99
- Three Months of PlayStation Plus: $17.99
- God of War HD $14.99
- LittleBigPlanet PSP $14.99
- ModNation Racers PSP $14.99
- rain $14.99
- Killzone Liberation PSP $9.99
- Patapon 3 $9.99
- Super Stardust $9.99
- Wipeout Pure PSP $9.99
- Theme bundle of three: $9**
- Dead Nation 7.99
- Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror $7.50***
* Sony doesn't offer a six-month subscription option, so this figure is derived from roughly estimating half of a one-year subscription, or double a three-month subscription.
** The offer lets you choose three game-related Dynamic Themes, at $2.99 apiece.
*** Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is only available as a two-pack on the PlayStation Store, bundled with SOCOM, for $14.99.