From darrensnake (gameaxis sg)

Please read here for a complete idiot's guide to PSN.

I created this thread to help to educate and inform people so that there will be less cases of so called "scamming" when in actual fact, there was no scamming.

PSN accounts can be logged from any PS3.
US PSN accounts can be logged from your PC via store.playstation.com

To download and buy things from the US PSN store, you need a US PSN account.
To download and buy things from the Asia PSN store, you need a Asia PSN account.
To download and buy things from the EU PSN store, you need a EU PSN account.
To download and buy things from the JP PSN store, you need a JP PSN account.

US, Asia, EU and JP PSN accounts are all separate and individual accounts. They are not linked. If you buy something from the Asia store, you must download it from the Asia store. It won't be available on another region's store.

Part 1) PSN activation explained

PSN store downloads can be activated on up to 5 different PS3.

This is where it gets tricky. I will attempt to explain what this means by using an example.

US PSN account: idiotus@hotmail.com (Belongs to Idiot)

Idiot owns 1 PS3.
Idiot's friend, Moron owns 1 PS3.

Idiot buys PixelJunk Eden off the US store. Obviously activated on his PS3.
Idiot 1 day goes to Moron's house and logs in his US PSN account there. Sees new game Bionic Commando on US store. Moron and Idiot decide to split the cost of Bionic Commando and use Idiot's PSN account to buy. So Moron's PS3 now has Bionic Commando. Idiot goes home and downloads on his PS3 too. So Idiot's PS3 now has Bionic Commando and PixelJunk Eden.

Story so far:

Number of times PixelJunk Eden downloaded : 1 (Idiot)
Number of times Bionic Commando downloaded : 2 (Idiot, Moron)

Moron has a girlfriend, Stupid. Stupid also has a PS3. Moron 1 day goes to Stupid's house. Wants to play Bionic Commando with his gf. He calls Idiot and ask if can download on Stupid's PS3 since he did pay for half the cost. Idiot naturally agrees and gives Moron his PSN account and password. Moron downloads Bionic Commando on Stupid's PS3 and they play.

Story so far:

Number of times PixelJunk Eden downloaded : 1 (Idiot)
Number of times Bionic Commando downloaded : 3 (Idiot, Moron, Stupid)

So everyone is happy so far. Thinks PSN is great way to share games and downloads. Idiot buys Rock Band. Decides to create a DLC sharing group after seeing similar thread. After few days, finds 4 people. Rocker A, Rocker B, Rocker C and Rocker D. All 4 rockers transfer some money to Idiot. Idiot immediately proceeds to buy a few song packs from the US PSN store using his account.

Idiot downloads all the song packs he has bought and after finishing, contacts Rocker A. Gives Rocker A account and password.

Rocker A signs in and proceeds to download. Informs Idiot after finishing downloading.

Story so far:

Number of times PixelJunk Eden downloaded : 1 (Idiot)
Number of times Bionic Commando downloaded : 3 (Idiot, Moron, Stupid)
Number of times Rock Band DLC downloaded : 2 (Idiot, Rocker A)

Idiot proceeds to contact Rocker B. Gives Rocker B account and password.

Rocker B signs in and proceeds to download. Informs Idiot after finishing downloading.

Story so far:

Number of times PixelJunk Eden downloaded : 1 (Idiot)
Number of times Bionic Commando downloaded : 3 (Idiot, Moron, Stupid)
Number of times Rock Band DLC downloaded : 3 (Idiot, Rocker A, Rocker B)

At this point in time, no one has been dishonest. Idiot proceeds to contact Rocker C. Gives Rocker C account and password.

Rocker C signs in but when try to download, told that already got 5 activations. Rocker C is unable to download. Gets angry. Calls Idiot and informs Idiot of problem. Idiot gets angry. Thinks Rocker A or B has been dishonest and downloaded more than 1 time. He calls Rocker A and B and accuses them of downloading more than 1 time. Rocker A and B accuse him of scamming.

So how did this problem come about? No one was dishonest.

PixelJunk Eden was only downloaded 1 time.
Bionic Commando 3 times
Rock Band DLC also 3 times only. Should have 2 more times, right?

Wrong. PSN account is tagged to the PS3. Meaning idiotus@hotmail.com has been activated on Idiot's, Moron's, Stupid's, Rocker A's and Rocker B's PS3. Even though the Rock Band DLC has only been downloaded 3 times, no one else will be able to download anything from Idiot's PSN account.

Below is an illustration if you don't understand.



http://forums.gameaxis.com/showthread.php?t=1490098

edit: about this sharing I know, but let me think about it first. my us psn have too many dlc game n my us cc info was there also.