The PlayStation Network sign up (in pictures and video)

Just as the PlayStation Network was getting off the ground, our internet services (courtesy of Philadelphia's very own Comcast, thanks guys) were shutting down. After spending the better part of the day spent staring at our modem's blinking "Online" light, it finally went solid. We darted to the PlayStation 3 which had been waiting patiently, encouraging us to "Sign up to PlayStation Network." So we did!
We've documented the entire process below, in a series of forty screenshots and a video we're calling "The PlayStation Network sign up (in pictures and video)." Clever, eh?

"Sign Up for PlayStation Network": This is the screen that greets all new accounts when they select the "Friends" option.

You can choose to create a new account or add an existing account to that PS3. New one for us, thanks.

A short breakdown of what's required in the registration process ... nothing too onerous, luckily.

We presume they want to know our date of birth to determine age appropriate content in the Store. Either that, or there are creepy old men from MySpace behind this whole thing.

We need to create a Master Account before we can create a Sub Account ... we're gonna store all our alts as Sub Accounts.

The Terms of Service are lengthy, and you do have to scroll through them, but that's okay. Lawyers need to eat too.

Standard information: email address, password, childhood hero. We totally picked Captain Neo!

Joystiq, natch. Hit us up for a friend request.

That's my name.

Punch in your home address here ... no, I'm not telling you mine. Why? Did you want to send something?

Here's how you know it's free! You can elect to enter billing information to add funds in your "wallet" ... or not! Your choice. Wanna just play games? Skip it. Wanna buy some e-distributed games, punch in your plastic.

They don't take Diner's Club? Why do we even keep this thing around?

Do you want spam from Sony Computer Entertainment, select yes or no.

Everything's in order on page 1 ...

... and page 2. Move out!

Congratulations! But your avatar is in another castle screen.

Want an avatar? Course you do! Here's ten of em on page one of twelve.

Page two of twelve. You get the idea.










Phew! Done! But we still didn't really like any.

A questionnaire? Sure, why not.

Seriously, maybe a Blu-ray Disc player, but CD player? Web browser? We would love to see the data they get on this. Anyone at Sony care to share?

We got 'em all, Sony! We only wish there was room for the rest of our collection.

We might pick up one of those PSPetites we know you're working on but, other than that, I think we're all set.

What about the "Never enough" option?

We picked Children's and Extreme Sports, just to mess with 'em a little.

Again, they're conflating Blu-ray with high-definition gaming. Every time they do it, Peter Moore kills a kitten, so we really wish they'd stop. Regardless, we answered the second one.

Either we blacked out after Peter Moore killed that kitten, or someone at Sony forgot how to count. We're guessing the former, but we can't seem to remember what #7 was. Question 8 wanted to know who informed our decision to get a PS3. We chose Other.

You're welcome!

Remember that "Sign Up for PlayStation Network" icon that we started with? It's been replaced with a "Sign In" icon! It worked!

We confirm our email address, punch in that password, select "Save Password (Auto Sign-In)" and click "Sign In."

Bam! There we are, all signed in to the new PlayStation Network.










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FSK405K @ Nov 16th 2006 6:59PM
It looks like you screwed the rest of the Joystiq bloggers, since you're the only one with that name now. Unless this is the office PS3? You guys have an office, right?
Can you toss a game in? Show us CoD3 or Resistance multi?
copa @ Nov 16th 2006 6:59PM
Bonus Tip: If you use a stand, you can keep the camera from shaking all over the place while you are filming the video.
Antaeus @ Nov 16th 2006 7:00PM
YAY I can't wait only one more day!
Nick @ Nov 16th 2006 7:03PM
You tease... show us the games... BTW, from wat you showed, this doesn't hold a candle to Live. Will you guys post a comparison any time soon?
Grant @ Nov 16th 2006 7:04PM
as dated as this may sound.
Chris G could probably do a totally sweet napolean dynamite impression.
jojo29 @ Nov 16th 2006 7:16PM
Sweet i really do like the look of the XMB interface:) Good job Sony, keep bringing your style:)
Pulse @ Nov 16th 2006 7:16PM
Those avatars look cack, lol, sry, I just had to say that.
'I hate Sony, they always screw us over with terrible avatars'(C)
Said and copyrighted, so that no fanboys can use this staement, or I shall sue them :P
sploy @ Nov 16th 2006 7:18PM
why do they insist on all this free online bs. Everyone knows that if its free its gunna suck. I'd gladly pay $50-$70 per year for a quality service on PS3 like live.
And btw, don't gimme all the fanboy bs, 'cos I'm gunna buy a PS3 when it comes out here in the UK, and I'm gunna buy a Wii too.
Sniper @ Nov 16th 2006 7:23PM
Show us a video of R:FOM online.All i have seen is slideshows oh wait nvm
Michael @ Nov 16th 2006 7:29PM
Is it possible to sign up before getting a PS3? I thought I read about this a few days ago.
Mikeawesome @ Nov 16th 2006 7:34PM
Wow, I never realized how good a butterfly avatar could look in glorious 1080p!
The future is now!
Rory @ Nov 16th 2006 7:37PM
WoW: Only 20 screens to sign up :)
Brandon @ Nov 16th 2006 7:47PM
The blue background reminds me of the Windows setup process that always comes on first boot after installation.
TeddyN @ Nov 16th 2006 7:54PM
Doesn't that list of avatars look pretty limited? I prefer the Mii function, where you can customize your avatar a heck of a lot more.
TeddyN @ Nov 16th 2006 7:55PM
I like the glossy feel of it though, it's actually nicer then xbl in my opinion, even though it appears to have less functionality.
Fish @ Nov 16th 2006 8:02PM
I like that interface.. it's soft and flowing. If only there was a customizable avatar system, that you could create yourself in.. like a "me", only quirkily named :P
Steven I. @ Nov 16th 2006 8:16PM
Is the playstation network the same as playstation underground? They seem pretty similar.
Pulse @ Nov 16th 2006 8:56PM
Its not like Mii, the avatar selection is rubbish, but wanna bet there is a custom avatar selection from pics you may have on your system? Surly something as tiny as that Sony could add :)
Sploy, I don't particually care about the features on Live, all that matters is that I can play online with mates, simple, and I'd rather not spend more money after buying an already expensive console :(
The reason why PS2 had more ppl playing online was because it was easy and free play, thus there were more ppl to play with, the reason PS3 will have more ppl online despite the quality (depending on how many buy PS3) will because once someone has an internet conncetion, they can simply play online with each other. Features and all that crap can come later, gaming online with mates comes first.
goosedude @ Nov 16th 2006 10:51PM
Not sure if anyone else saw this on the demo units....but I played 3 different ones today in 3 different stores....
1 froze because it overheated, 1 worked fine, and 1 ....neither me or the salesman could figure it out...but it seemed the wireless controllers were interfering with one another as the directional controllers (Analog left) were unresponsive but you could use the PS Button.
Pretty much the top comments from ruling people playing it:
1) ITS BIG
2) The controller feels cheap
3) No Rumble on the MOTORSTORM Demo....in a word...SUCKS
4) Graphics aren't better than 360
5) NBA 06 Demo....could be the worst way to sell a system....it looks HORRID
6) Pictures of CATS in hats in PHOTOS....what demographic is SONY Going after with that?
chudgoo @ Nov 16th 2006 11:47PM
Anyone else notice the mario fire-flower looking avatar icon in page 11/12?
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2006/11/ps3network_signup28.jpg
Vs.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/37/Fire_flowerSMB.png
Not quite identical but...
1up_clock @ Nov 17th 2006 2:57AM
No Parappa avatars?
Man, where's the world's greatest white rapper when you need him? That's pretty much the only Sony franchise that I whole-heartedly love.
Dee-Lite @ Nov 17th 2006 6:36AM
wow that's a lot just to set up ur connection!! Seems to last forever! Then just to pee you off it more or less asks when are you going to buy another of our sony products?? Seems to me they are asking lots of questions here that should have been asked while PS3 was being developed- i.e. What will be your primary use for ps3? What do you think of the BlueRay? lol Maybe they are asking in planning the ps4 so they're more organazized next time eh? :p
Jamithy @ Nov 17th 2006 8:03AM
Anybody find it a little funny that they ask if you own or are planning to purchase a PS3 on a questionnaire on a PS3?
Chase09 @ Nov 17th 2006 9:03AM
Why do they call the pics avatars,they should just come out and call it a gamer picture."Coping Microsoft' once again
Bottom Line:PS3 Sucks Big Ones
MrBlank @ Nov 17th 2006 9:32AM
Wow. What a lot of crap just to sign up for a "free" service. Wait in line, pay $600, wait some more. Wee!
ArmrdChaos @ Nov 18th 2006 1:48AM
I guess your supposed to put all that information in their online system so that they can market/re-sell it later to pay for their "Free" online service. =)
elizabeth @ Nov 18th 2006 11:04AM
i would like to be updated when ps3 is coming out again....ty
Dena @ Nov 27th 2006 11:40AM
Haha expect a friend request from GamerPrincess =P. Anyway, that players met thing still doesn't work for me, it's still not showing anything and I've met plenty of "friends" in and out of games.
Leandro @ Nov 29th 2006 8:58AM
Can someone check what countries are available when creating the billing account address?
Thanks in advance,
Leandro
Breeze @ Nov 30th 2006 11:15AM
Wait a minute, all the posts above seem from some jealous XBOX fan boys. Geez, this page is so green.
Love the PS3 and too bad XBOX 360 looks like a tiny,clunky,noisy, low powered another "oh circuit board makers from taiwan, please make us a console" design, and last but not the least, supplying hardware in bits and pieces. Will someone tell microsoft that this is actually a real physical object and supplying service packs (HD DVD add on) is not cool ? And being a software powerhouse how long did it take microsoft to really make online gaming ? Duh !
Enough said. You go SONY, my money is with you.
strnza @ Dec 15th 2006 11:42AM
When I tried to do this, it rejected every email address that I tried. I tried a hotmail address first, then a yahoo address, and finally a work address in case it didn't like hotmail or yahoo. Each time it tells me it's an invalid email address when I try to continue to the next page. Anyone know why?
Mranonymous @ Dec 20th 2006 3:46PM
OK, I have a small issue, wondering if someone can help?
I live in Europe, so i registered my ID online via a PC.
The problem is... I had to fake my age using the year (1987) instead of my real year (1990).
I want to activate this account when I get my PS3 sometime in June 2007 (without giving any Bank account details).
Then I want to carry on using this account until I actually turn 18, which would be in June 2008. So I was hoping that once I turn 18, I can change my date of birth to the year (1990) and then start legitimately using it (with Bank account details).
So I guess my over-all question is, can I change my date of birth in 'Account Management' using my PS3?
Please reply. Thanks guys!
Master4all @ Jan 20th 2007 9:18AM
It gives me a connection to the server could not be established error although I have access to the web sites through the explorer. I need help guys please
Thanks.