Continuous Play can bring your PS3 back from the dead
by Jem Alexander 
{ Jun 21st 2007 at 6:00PM }
We all know the PS3 is an expensive piece of kit. When you spend $600/£425 on a piece of machinery, there's always a healthy dollop of paranoia that comes packaged with it. Now Sony are looking to sell you something which will help: peace of mind.The Continuous Play service promises a two-day turnaround on broken PSPs, PS2s and PS3s. All they ask in return is a monthly fee of £2.49 for PSPs and PS2s and £4.99 for PS3s. In the event of your console being disabled due to clumsiness, unexpected cheese incidents or acts of Godzilla then Sony will replace it.
At the moment it's only available in Europe and, for the price, it looks like a pretty decent service. Despite the reliability of the PS3's hardware, it's nice to know that even if the cat does knock it into the fishtank you're only a couple of days away from a replacement.
[Via PSP Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pete @ Jun 21st 2007 6:14PM
if it covers all damage, water, fire, electric i've be sold. better than the warranty best buy tries to throw at you for a 2 year full warranty they charge an arm an a leg. and if i get my as handed to me in rofm and i chuck the controller at the ps3 knocking it of its crate and into my aquariam im protected. niiiiicee!!!1111
TK00 @ Jun 21st 2007 6:25PM
Is this only available in the UK?
Andy @ Jun 21st 2007 6:45PM
If only they had this for Xbox 360's? (sorry I had to say it)
Never buy warranties. Just be careful with your PS3 and it will last 10 years.
Brian @ Jun 21st 2007 6:48PM
Well done Sony.
However I suspect that because I havn't heard of a manufacturing problem with the PS3 unlike the 360 I guess this is money for old rope...
upz @ Jun 21st 2007 7:08PM
So if I wanted to get a new PS3, all I'd have to do is buy this warranty a month before, then drop it off my third story balcony? Something's gotta give... Jem, you sure it doesn't just cover hardware failure?
pete @ Jun 21st 2007 7:12PM
i never buy extended warrantys, but my mom does. with my younger bros she wants to procted the investment from open soda cans and water cups left around carelessly or them rough housing and dropping the damn thign some how, they did it to two xbox's. anyway my point is that theres people who would jump on this parents in particular
russ @ Jun 21st 2007 7:22PM
pc world do the same thing in the uk for £2.99 per month. I got stung by my xbox dying on me, so i am chuffed that I can replace my ps3 if it goes to the big game console heaven type thing in the sky.
L @ Jun 21st 2007 7:32PM
monthly fee of £5..... £60 pounds a year ($120) ....emm i think not
people who pay this are the ones dum enuff to smash there system
P.s you can pay M$ £7 for a 12 month cover on 360
Ninegauger @ Jun 21st 2007 9:19PM
Well the major problems with PS2 didn't manifest themselves for 2 years so I wouldn't say the PS3 is in the clear... oh, and this comes to about $100 a year right? Over the supposed 10 year life span that becomes ridiculous... even for a regular console life span that's ridiculous.
Sounds like a racket to me.
vizunary @ Jun 21st 2007 10:22PM
I went ahead and got the 4 yr extended for a total of 5 yrs with a replacement clause from Bestbuy. On a $600+ investment the $100 was negligible, for me anyways $20 a year for piece of mind is "cheap"
P @ Jun 21st 2007 11:19PM
If this is a console to last 10 years, then call it 9 years in which its going to be current gen, thats £540 (near enough $1000USD) and for that price you could buy a 2nd console at its current price!
So 1 PS3 + 9 Yr warrenty payments = near enough £1000GBP
Assuming in 3 years time the console is 3/4 its original price, then thats £400 today, £300 in 3 years, drops to 1/2 original price after 6 years, another £200, and it stays at that price till the next gen is released in 9yrs time and each console lasts you 3yrs a peice, then thats £900 and 3 consoles all at reasonably reduced rates.
But it all depends on what the most likely event to happen first is, user stupidity, hardware failure or freak occurance. My day 1 PS2 started acting up after about a year, stupid disc read error problems, and without knowing whether this will be a recuring issue for the PS3 after 12/24/36 months is whether or not something like this is needed for the average owner.
Im sure this must be something that is offered to the customer upon purchasing their console, i really cant see them allowing people to pay 1 month and then suprise suprise 'my PS3 just failed' and then cancel the warranty.
Nick @ Jun 21st 2007 11:37PM
@3, "Never buy warranties"? Are you nuts? The $50 Best Buy warranty has saved my hide 3 times with my 360. I'd much rather drop 50 bones for 2 years of no questions asked, instant exchange replacement, than have to deal with mailing in a unit and paying for service.