PSN Store up and running "Welcome Back"

Every since April 20th 2011, when Sony pulled the plug on it's PSN service gamers has not been able to access Sony's digital store front. Will great news Sony PSN Store is up and running in North America with a few hiccups.

There is the occasional error message when trying to download content especially Infamous 2.  This could be from the instant influx of gamers out there trying to access the same content all at once. 40 day and 40 nights later and Sony's PSN is finally back up to full functionality are you happy?  I am--now off to try out Infamous 2

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Sony hint's at PS4

Cash being spent on R&D for future console

It's only inevitable someone would spill the beans about's Sony's future console plans. Lucky for us the firm's chief financial officer, Masaru Kato, yesterday explained to investors that "future platform" development was the reason for Sony's spike in R&D costs.

Kato explains that future platforms are on the agenda. "The PS3 still has a product life," he said in an investment meeting, as quoted by Eurogamer. "But this is a platform business...so for the future platform... our development work is already underway, so the R&D costs are incurred there." He said he could not specify which platform he was discussing in regards to these costs. Could this be proof the PlayStation 4 is in development, though Kato could nevertheless be referring to other new technologies, or even Sony's next platform, the NGP.

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Sony brings PSN back online with firmware update 3.61

Sony has announced that online matchmaking for the PlayStation Network is back online, and that a mandatory install of a new firmware will be required.

According to the blog post, update 3.61 is mandatory and as soon as you log into PSN, here is what you need to do:

If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security. If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this email, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password you can sign-in to your account using your new password.

 We strongly recommend that all PSN account holders with PS3s update their systems to prepare for when PlayStation Network is back online. The release of this update is a critical step as we work to make PlayStation Network significantly more secure. Thank you for your continued support and patience.

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Should Sony just go into Game Publishing?

Sony's 4/20 debacle is being hailed as the largest cyber breach in history with about a 100 million customer's personal information being compromised. Over the past 24 months Sony has been riding a bullet-train called "momentum" and from the looks of it the "bullet-train" has fucking derailed in a blazing inferno.

So what now for Sony? Will they just "say fuck it" and go away looking as incompetent as a single entity can look? Become a Mega publisher like Sega or Square-Enix?

The longer PSN stays down Sony may have to go for the latter.  Sony cannot afford to have the PSN outage surpass 30 days.  After the thirty days of PSN downtime a 100 million people may loose faith all at once. What do you think; is Sony better off staying in the console business or should they become a mega publisher?

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No Sony PS3 PSN Until June?

From the looks of it Sony's PSN will not be back up until some time in early June. Sony's PS3 was hacked back on April, 20th, a day that will go down in history as the largest cyber breach in history. Sony's has already announced a "welcome back" program that will allow for an extra 30 days of PSN Plus free of charge for everyone. Sony is also reported to be giving away free PS3 and PSP games as a good will gesture.

According to Bloomberg; "Shigenori Yoshida, a Tokyo-based spokesman said. Sony is uncertain when it can resume the services, Yoshida said by phone today.

The company is in the process of adopting an improved security system and its plan to restart the services fully by May 31 is unchanged, he said"

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Sony to "Welcome Back" PSN and Qriocity this Week

Sony has just announced that the PlayStation Network and its Qriocity services will be back up starting next week. The PSN has been down for over a week now, ever since Sony decided to temporarily disable it to prevent further external intrusions and to patch things up on the network.

Sony said that the initial phase of the rollout will include but not be limited to:

• Restoration of online game-play across the PlayStation (PS3) and PSP (PlayStation Portable) systems, including titles requiring online verification and downloaded games
•  Access to Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity for PS3/PSP for existing subscribers
•  Access to account management and password reset
• Access to download un-expired Movie Rentals on PS3, PSP and MediaGo
•  PlayStation Home
• Friends list
• Chat functionality

The restoration will also include a mandatory system update that will require all users to change their passwords. Users will be required to do so on their own PS3 or via a verified email confirmation

Sony also said that it would offer a "Welcome Back" program to each of the affected territories or regions, as compensation for the outage. The promotions will be "tailored to specific markets to provide our consumers with a selection of service options and premium content as an expression of the company's appreciation for their patience, support and continued loyalty," Sony said.

"Welcome Back" PSN Users

As expected, the "central components" of the "Welcome Back" program will include selected PlayStation content for free download, with specific details to be made available soon, Sony said. In addition, each PlayStation Network customer will either receive 30 days of PlayStation Plus, Sony's value-added subscription gaming service that offers free downloads and game trials. Those that already subscribe to PlayStation Plus will receive 30 additional days for free, the same deal that subscribers to Sony's Qriocity cloud-music service will receive. If a user doesn't subscribe to Qriocity, however, he or she will not receive a free subscription.

Sony also said that it will also provide a "complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs".

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Sony PS3 PSN "4/20 Debacle" What Now?

On April 20th 2011 Sony pulled the plug on PSN a day that will and probably haunt Sony for a long time to come.

If you have not heard Sony PSN has been hacked and about 70+ million customers personal information has been compromised possibly even credit card numbers. This revelation came to light on Friday April, 22nd when Sony finally shed a sprinkle of knowledge to elevate mass speculation.

Sony finally open up due to Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, who recently sent a letter to SCEA CEO Jack Tretton. The letter is mostly aimed at Sony’s inability to immediately notify users “about whether and to what extent their personal and financial information has been compromised.” Mr. Blumenthal also made a suggestion to Sony to offer PSN users complimentary “financial data security services, including free access to credit reporting services, for two years,” as well as insurance. A day after this letter arrived Sony update their blog with a bombshell of information.

Now Congress has questions for Sony about recent attack. A House of Representatives subcommittee sent a letter to Sony on Friday asking for information about the attack on the Sony Playstation Network by hackers last week. The gaming network has 77 million registered users.

The letter, which was addressed to Mr. Kazuo Hirai, chairman of Sony, asked the company to answer a detailed list of questions related to the intrusion. It wants a reply by May 6.

In the letter, which was written by the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, the group’s chairman, Representative Mary Bono Mack, Republican of California, asked a number of security and privacy related questions that Sony has never disclosed to the public. They included when the intrusion occurred, if Sony knew who was responsible for the attack and when the company notified law enforcement.

What's Next For Sony

This may be Sony's own take on the RROD fiasco, but with a longer lasting bitter feeling.  There are currently a number of lawsuits that are slowly surfacing that may cost Sony millions or at least a major headache.  There are many Sony PS3 consumer's that are threating to change allegiance to Microsoft Xbox 360. So what will be next for Sony?

Sony has made it public that they are working on some sort of "goodwill" gesture. According to Sony PlayStation Blog Q&A#2

Q: Will there be a goodwill gesture for the time we haven’t been able to utilize PSN/Qriocity?
A: We are currently evaluating ways to show appreciation for your extraordinary patience as we work to get these services back online.

What should this gesture be?  This is the second weekend without the ability to play online. What about the lucky few that has purchased DC Universe Online and downloaded Free Realms. What should they get? How about PlayStation Plus members, do they deserve some sort of free extension to their service? How about LoveFilm customers? Would paying Qriocity customer's be reimbursed?  Will customer's be confident enough to purchase DLC content from PSN in record numbers as they did in the past?

Consider probably one of the largest unauthorized “external intrusion.” in history, Sony has a long way to go to regain consumer confidence. Sony's actions in the coming month's will ultimately determine their future as the the once proud arrogant gaming giant it was.

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Conspiracy Saturday one day earlier edition: Is Corporate Espionage behind PSN Shutdown?

If you are a PS3 owner you are one of many millions shut off from Sony's online playground "PSN".  Sony's PSN online service has been shutdown coincidently since 4/20/2011.  April 20th(aka:420) is a date synonymous with many evil's, bastardly deeds and of course "Pot" Weed, Mary Jane, and Ganja.  Adolf Hitler was born on 4/20/1889, Columbine High School shooting was 4/20/1999, Serbian army bombs hospital in Goradze Bosnia, 47 killed 4/20/1994, France declares war on Austria, Prussia and Sardinia 4/20/1792 and 4/20/1941 one hundred German bombers attack Athens.


Now 4/20/2011 will be a day etched in stone as the day Sony pulled the plug on it's PSN online services due to "External Intrusion".  According to Patrick Seybold Sr. Director, Corporate Communications &  Social Media: "An external intrusion on our system has affected our PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. In order to conduct a thorough investigation and to verify the smooth and secure operation of our network services going forward, we turned off PlayStation Network & Qriocity services on the evening of Wednesday, April 20th. Providing quality entertainment services to our customers and partners is our utmost priority. We are doing all we can to resolve this situation quickly, and we once again thank you for your patience. We will continue to update you promptly as we have additional information to share.

This has been a very contentious, bitter and extremely costly console war between Sony and Microsoft. Sony's has just announced that they've hit the 50 million mark, trailing just slightly behind Microsoft's Xbox 360. With Microsoft's sales number's heavily tinted because of the RROD fiasco and the slow demise of the core-gaming experience; Sony's momentum needs to be slowed to a grinding halt.

Microsoft has thrown billions of dollars to attract timed exclusives and innovated technology to enhance it's core & motion gaming department.  But no matter how much money Microsoft spends and how many feature they cram unto Xbox LIVE it seems that Sony's PS3 with it's hefty price tag(obvious lack luster online service), is on pace to catch if not surpass Microsoft this year in global console sales.

When Microsoft released Window Phone 7 back in November 8th 2010 to a silent whimper.  News started to swirl a month or so later that Windows Phone 7 had been hacked, thereby enabling homebrew programs to be run on the platform and circumventing the Marketplace. 


So the guys who made it possible to run homebrew apps on the Marketplace-centric Windows Phone 7 platform got a nice piping hot cup of coffee and a fun little t-shirt to their wardrobe? But is that all?

While giving away t-shirts to people that hack your code isn’t the way  Apple or Sony would roll, it certainly seems to be the future for Microsoft who seem to be engaging with their computer savvy users in a whole new slightly disturbing way since the release of Windows Phone 7.

Now, this new yet strange and twisted relationship with the Hacking community may have benefited Microsoft in a huge and unexpected ways.  


Could these new found friends Microsoft has embraced be behind the current PSN outage?   Could this have been sanction by Microsoft to help slow the momentum Sony is currently high on? Is the outage an act by the shady for the "people" group" called "anonymous".  Or was it a single splinter from that group?  Only time and Sony of Japan engineers will shed some light on what will be Sony's 4/20 debacle.

Share your thoughts; could it be Corporate Espionage or some lone wolf with a sick twisted vendetta against Sony?

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PSN Plus Members Save Your Games In The Cloud

Starting tomorrow with the arrival of PS3 firmware update 3.60, PSN Plus members will be able to back up their PS3 saved-game data online—a feature. This new feature will come in handy if your console's hard drive crash and burns.

PlayStation Plus users can expect 150MB of online storage, or up to 1,000 game files, which you'll be able to access from the PlayStation 3's XrossMediaBar—and yes, you'll be able to tap into your online files from another PS3 console besides your own, provided you log in with your PSN ID and password first.

The online backup service will work with copy-protected game saves, PSN Senior Director Susan Panico promises, and you'll be able to restore all your saved data once every 24 hours.

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PS3 Digital Version of Mass Effect 2: PSN Experiment A Success

John Riccitiello, CEO of publishing giant EA, says its experimental day-and-date digital and retail release of the PlayStation 3 version of Mass Effect 2 has been a success.

Speaking at last week’s Morgan Stanley Technology Conference in San Francisco, Riccitiello said that the digital release of Mass Effect 2, did well. The digital version of Mass Effect 2 accounted for a “double-digit percentage” of sales, despite EA tight lips to market the release.

“Sony had never done a day-and-date release,” he said. “They were very cautious about their infrastructure so it was mostly a technology test.

“This was really more about proving it can be done than it was proving what the opportunity would be. So an unmarketed game one year after the original was done on the Xbox and the PC, we released the PS3 and managed to do very, very well with it.”

Riccitiello went on to explain that simultaneous digital and physical releases of games are not the norm because of hardware manufacturer retail policies, saying: “They have got to manage both selling boxes at retail, and it's generally a pretty thin margin business. And so they basically negotiate and leverage shelf space on the promise of making retail margin on software.”

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Vidzone offers live concert on PS3

The free music service, which is currently available in Europe and Oceania, will offer the following concerts in the coming months:

• Artist - Territory
• Coldplay - All Territories
• Rihanna - All Territories
• Iron Maiden - All Territories
• Placebo - All Territories
• Evanescence - All Territories
• Depeche Mode All Territories
• Babyshambles - GB IE
• Anouk - NL
• Raphael - FR
• Unheilig – DE, AT, CH
• Amaral - ES
• Velvet - IT
• Nirvana – SE, DK, NO, FI, PT, BE, LU
• Wolfmother AU, NZ

In case you missed out one of the shows or just can’t get enough, there is no need to worry. SCEE has revealed that at the end of each run, VidZone will be creating a special round-up playlist featuring the best performances to enjoy again.

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PS3 Quality Games Coming To PSN HOME

HOME Sony's never ending beta will be getting version 1.5 soon according to Jack Buser PlayStation Home director. Version 1.5 of Home, will be released sometime this Spring, it will provide improved network mechanics to allow for massively multiplayer experiences; physics engine improvements that give developers direct control over mass, velocity and collisions; and graphical improvements that provide for better frame rates and smoother animation transitions.

With the 1.5 update, games on PlayStation Home can become harder to distinguish from standard PlayStation 3 releases, Jack Buser stated. To demonstrate this, Lockwood Publishing CEO Halli Bjornsson demoed a work-in-progress version of Sodium 2: Project Velocity, a multiplayer futuristic racing game with some high graphical polish.

Bjornsson point's out that Home integration will allow Sodium 2 players to walk over to their garage, hop in a customized car, and accelerate directly into a live race with other players seamlessly. The tracks themselves will also be integrated into Home's larger virtual world, allowing spectators unique access, he said.

“You can actually walk up to the game with all the people and step into it,” he said. “The best example is to imagine in Gran Turismo, if you're in the pit and you can see the cars going past. Home offers you a sort of unique relationship between you, the players, and the games you play. Psychologically, we really love that.”

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Pix'n Love Rush free for PlayStation Plus members

PlayStation Plus members are getting yet freebie. Pix'n Love Rush is a retro-themed platformer (originally developed for iPhone)

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Hack Your PS3, Forfeit PlayStation Network Access For Infinity and Beyond

Circumvent Sony's PlayStation 3 security algorithms or run unauthorized software on your PS3 and Sony says it'll sever your access to its PlayStation Network will be "DENIED" forever.

"Consumers using circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity [music and movie download] services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently," reads parts of the statement.

"To avoid this, consumers must immediately cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from their PlayStation 3 systems."

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Final Fantasy & Final Fantasy II Coming To PlayStation Network!

Square-Enix have today announced that Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II will be coming to the PlayStation Network on the 16th of February and the 2nd of March respectively, both priced £7.99!

“Discover the origins of the biggest RPG series in the world as Square Enix and Sony prepare to release the first two instalments for PlayStation Network. “

That isn’t all though, in a move that can only be described as “pretty cool”, people who purchase DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] for PSP will recieve a pack in code that entitles the user to a 50% discount on Final Fantasy. People who purchase The 3rd Birthday (also on PSP) get a code for 50% discount for Final Fantasy II. Both are for PlayStation Network purchases online.

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Plants Vs. Zombies Coming To The PlayStation 3 In February

PopCap’s finally bringing popular tower defence title, Plants Vs. Zombies, to the PlayStation 3 next month. The port will come via the casual game developer’s long term relationship with Sony Online Entertainment. No specific release date or price has been announced yet, but we expect that to follow nearer to release.

SOE also intends to publish Slam Bolt Scrappers on the PlayStation Network in March. Developed by indie studio Firehose, Slam Bolt Scrappers is a “unique blend of brawling and building mayhem”

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Call of Duty: Black Ops PS3/360: How to Change your NAT to Open for Verizon Fios & etc.

I know for a fact that getting your NAT type open can be a pain in the ass, especially with Verizon Fios. So I decided put this list together to help anyone out there that is currently having issues playing the all mighty cash cow; Call of Duty: Black Ops.

FYI: To get the best online playing experience with Call of Duty: Black Ops it is recommended that your NAT Type be Open. So I hope this helps.

If you still have any issues especially with Verizon Fios, please leave me a comment and I can see what I can do to help. I currently have my NAT type Open on Verizon Fios.

How to Change your NAT type Videos after the jump.


How to open your Verizon NAT type for xbox 360



How to open your NAT on Verizon



How to configure Advanced Port Forwarding on the MI424WR Verizon FiOS Router



Port Forwarding - How To



How to change your nat type to open on PS3


Perfect Gaming Internet Connection Guide (PS3)

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Sony's PS3 PSN Creeping From Red to Black

Microsoft's X-Box Live is a radically different experience from Sony's PSN, first off LIVE is a little more complex and filled with bright vibrant colors.  Sony's PSN is fairly simple with little flair(you can spruce things up with Dynamic Themes).  One of the biggest difference's Sony has used to it's advantage is the fact that the PSN online service is free.  While over there at Redmond, you have to pay as much as $60.00 per year for LIVE on X-box 360.

Microsoft X-box LIVE has been a very successful and profitable venture for Microsoft.  Besides making a shit storm of cash on micro-transactions they have about 40 million people forking over $50-60.00 per year to play against friends and chat.   Sony on the other hand has to pay a price for paradise.  Being that the PSN is free Sony's only source for income came from  micro-transactions and now the newly introduced PSN+($50.00 per month for exclusive beta testing, discount on games and avatars)

Sony Computer Entertainment President Kaz Hirai recently spoke to Reuters Japan about the current state of the PSN, and he’s optimistic about the future of the service.

According to the report, PSN sales during the 2009 fiscal year added up to 36 billion yen (approx. $434.3 million USD). That number “nearly doubled” in 2010. However, Hirai said “we’re aiming to enter the black during the 2011 fiscal year.” Furthermore, he projected that PSN sales would reach 300 billion yen ($3.6 billion) in the 2012 fiscal year. He cited the number of registered PSN accounts (60 million as of November) as evidence of the service’s growth.

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Firefox and Sony may team up?

Sony is looking to replace or maybe upgrade their current browser with Firefox hopefully.

 There's been rumors Google and Sony may team up, now Playstation Insider is reporting that Sony and Mozilla are in talks to bring Firefox the the PS3. Currently the PS3 is the only console this generation with a real browser, but it's pretty mediocre. If Sony can bring Firefox to the PS3 coupled with HD 3D this can help turn the tides in Sony's favor. Now you can already surf the web on your PS3, but it is still limited with Firefox thrown into the action it will make the PS3 truly do everything.

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PS3 Frimware 3.10 update is now LIVE

3.10 firmaware update enables PS3 gamers to share their experiences with friends on Facebook, including trophies won in-game, PlayStation Network game purchases, and game event

The latest system update (v3.10) for PS3 allows users to easily showcase their game accomplishments to friends, family and random strangers, you will also be able to post information about the PS3 games they purchase from PlayStation Network to Facebook. PS3 owners can now not only talk shit to friends about their domination as a gamer, but also back it up by sharing unlocked trophies with their 615+ friends on Facebook every time they sync their Trophies( I'm not sure how I feel about that, doI really want all my friends to know I have a problem).

The new system update also enables game developers to set up trigger points in their games that provide PS3 system users the option to quickly and easily publish game related information from their favorite titles to Facebook.

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