Why do we share ideas with Sony on improving PS4?

Question

Hello fellow community members! This is my first post here in the community, so I’ll start out by shortly introducing myself, and the reason to why I post. If you are coming from the thread Requested Features for PS4!, you can skip the next two sections. My name is Thomas, and besides being a long time PlayStation gamer and fans as all of you, I’m a student at Copenhagen Business School, where I am currently writing my master thesis. My subject is on how Sony can collaborate with its customers, primarily community members, in order to improve the PlayStation 4 – specifically related to what motivates members like you and me, to suggest ideas of improvement to Sony. I have been following different forums (European and American) and discussions threads, related to this topic for many months now, trying to gain insights about this topic. Furthermore, I have (at the time of writing) interviewed seven of you getting great answers. So to some, I might be familiar. From reading a vast amount of forum posts, my impression is, that many (i.e. not all) of you, suggest ideas because you 1) have some sort of dissatisfaction with the PS4, mainly related to some of the missing multi-media functionalities previously available on the PS3, that you think are needed back, 2) because you are generally a bit disappointed about what a next-gen console has to offer, or 3) see features on the Xbox One that you would like on the PS4 as well. From interviewing a small amount of you though, the impression I got was quite opposite. From the answers given here, the idea sharing seemed to be much more a matter of 1) helping out the community and Sony, in order to get the best possible product, 2) to socialize and get new friends, 3) because you are curious about knowing what others might think of your ideas, as well as about what other members suggests, or 4) to acquire information about the development of the PS4. So what I would like from all of you guys, are some inputs on my interpretation of your motivations – both in regards to how you are motivated, and how you view the general motivation of others the community. I would like both inputs on whether I’m totally off track, or got a somewhat correct understanding – every input will be appreciated. Now, I am fully aware that this can be a rather sensitive matter, and that some of you might not want to express your opinions on this openly. If this is the case, you are more than welcome to send me a private message here on the forum, or email me at: [email protected] Your answers will then be kept strictly anonymous! To inspire you a little, examples of yours (or others’) motivation(s), could for instance be:That it is fun and enjoyable to engage in product innovationCuriosity about sharing and reading ideasTo help the community and/or Sony, with getting the best possible productTo socialize and get new friendsTo get the feeling of accomplishment from developing something with othersTo find information about the development of the PS4To improve your creativity and innovativenessTo get recognition from others in the community or SonyTo get some reward (money, vouchers, coupons, free stuff etc.) Other motivations than the ones above could very well exist, and you could of course have multiple motivations. Thank you so much in advance for any kind of contribution. They will be much appreciated and greatly help to my understanding of the community. I would like to share my insights with you all, when I have completed my thesis, so that if you are interested, can learn what I found out (again, all answers send to me, will remain completely anonymous in the thesis). Br, Zalabim / Thomas

Answer 1

Short version for you.
"So what I would like from all of you guys, are some inputs on my interpretation of your motivations – both in regards to how you are motivated, and how you view the general motivation of others the community."