Tag Archives: psn

Sony Rolling Out PSN Restoration

Kaz Hirai has just announced that the PSN restoration process has begun. Right now, most users will be able to update the firmware of their PS3 and change their passwords. As for a nationwide restoring of the service, that will happen from on a state by state basis. Sony currently has a map on its blog that it will use to indicate which state has service restored. The first service to be restored for PSN will be online multiplayer. He hasn’t stated when the Playstation Store will be up and running again.

Kaz Hirai Restoration Announcement

Restoration Map

Update 1: So far I can confirm that I was able to update to the latest firmware. I wasn’t able to change my password. It did give me a message , however, stating that my password is now invalid, so Sony is serious when they say to change the password. It was followed by a message stating that the Network is undergoing maintenance. So in due time, I’ll be able to change the password.

Update 2: After seeing that Sony has updated their restoration map (see link above), and that New York’s PSN service is on, I checked again to change my password. The first attempt game me the same message as before. But the second attempt brought me to the password change screen. And so I can confirm that PSN is up and running for the Northeast US. It’s still a bit rough though. I have yet to play a game though. I checked the PSN store, but it’s still down. I’d imagine that’s the last thing that will be turned on most of the transaction activity happens there.

Holy Shit! An Intellectual PSN Debate!

From what I’ve read of the big PSN crisis, it usually comes from two angles.  There’s the legal/economic side where people are looking to sue Sony, hunt down whoever hacked their PSN service, ensure their financial security. It’s either “Fuck you hackers!” or “Fuck you Sony” and people just going crazy pointing fingers.  Then there’s the other side where people are taking advantage of the situation to remind us that competitive services are still alive and well.

I'm tired of looking at this damn ball logo all over the headlines.... why not join the fun?

I can’t deny that I’m a little worried myself, and others on TWF have expressed similar concern. Continue reading

PSN users’ personal info compromised, over 70 million affected

This is a rough time to be a PlayStation Network user. PSN being down for the past 6 days as bothered many, but was more of an inconvenience than anything else. But now Sony admits that all of its users have had their personal information compromised from an external intrusion.

The PlayStation Blog goes on to list what information has been acquired. Apparently, everyone’s “name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID” has been obtained by the person(s) behind this. Further information that could have possibly been stolen as well consist of “profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers.” If that wasn’t enough, Sony says that, while there is no evidence that credit card information has been obtained, to take measures as if your credit card number and expiration date have been acquired.

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Angry Birds actually NOT the most downloaded game on PSN

Apparently Lazard Capital Markets’ Colin Sebastian has had to correct a previous statement of his. The analyst now says that Angry Birds “was the most downloaded paid game through the PSN for January and February 2011”.

Phew, I know I’m probably not the only one who may be a little relieved hearing this. It was quite mind-boggling to think that in only three months Angry Birds sold better than every other paid game available on the service, especially since many have been out for years. I know it’s generally bad for analysts to provide incorrect information, but in this instance I’m really glad they were wrong.

Via: Destructoid, Develop

Angry Birds is the most downloaded game on PSN

This is the face of evil.

According to Colin Sebastian, an analyst for Lazard Capital Markets, Angry Birds is the the most downloaded game on PSN. Let’s reflect on that for a second…think of your favorite PSN/PSOne game. Angry Birds has outsold it, and in only three months at that.

Update: The analyst made an incorrect claim, his statement is clarified here.

There are plenty of reasons that could explain why Angry Birds, which arrived on PSN in January, has been purchased so much in such a short amount of time. The low price of $3.99 in a digital service where the common price points are usually $9.99 and $14.99 definitely didn’t hurt. Add in the hype that’s been spreading like wildfire, along with a recent sale bringing the game down to half the price, and it’s not surprising that the game has sold plenty. But Angry Birds becoming best selling game on PSN, especially with all the quality PSN and PSOne titles out there, really irks me.

This isn’t to say that Angry Birds is a bad game. While it’s not a game that I’m extremely fond of, I do recognize what it has managed to accomplish and can see why so many people like it. However, the developer’s recent egotistical views and comments have made it very hard to respect them. I understand that Rovio made a hugely successful game, but that’s still only one big success. The studio definitely needs to stop letting it go to their heads.

Via: Destructoid, IndustryGamer

NightTime Listening – Shatter

I remember first hearing the music from the Shatter soundtrack from YouTuber SupraDarky. Immediately, the music had me wondering what kind of game this was. Seeing only blocks stacked on top of each other on the cover of the soundtrack (the image that SupraDarky had on the video), it all looked abstract to me. A search on YouTube for Shatter, and it turned out to be an Arkanoid clone. However, I stopped short of calling it that as it seems to have surpassed even Arkanoid. I knew right then and there that I wanted to get the game. Before I got the game, I listened to some more of the music from the game. I ended up listening to the whole soundtrack before playing the game, but that’s alright. It still didn’t deter my enjoyment of the game or the music. So then, here’s three entries from the game we’ll be listening to today.

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