Warp Zoned Presents
Most Recent: PSP
Sony begins restoration of PlayStation Network
The PlayStation Network is back! Sony began the process of restoring PSN functionality at 5 PM Pacific Time starting with the following services:
- Online play
- Third party services like Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and MLB.TV
- PlayStation Home
- Friends List and Chat
- Trophies
As part of the restoration, PS3 owners will have to download the new 3.61 firmware. This update will require all PSN users to create a new password as well. Services are being turned back on on a state-by-state basis. Sony has started with the northeastern states and California and the PlayStation.Blog is tracking the system restoration progress. Sony also released a special message from CEO Kaz Hirai, which can be viewed above.
So the PSN outage is finally over! Time to celebrate by buying that game I’ve always wanted… oh, right… the PlayStation Store will be restored “as soon as possible.” Still, it’s great to have online play back.
Posted in News, PS3, PSP
Tagged ApocalyPS3 2011
PSN Outage Update: “A few more days”
Sony has supplied another update to the PlayStation Network restoration timeline. It looks like it’ll be a few more days at least:
I know you all want to know exactly when the services will be restored. At this time, I can’t give you an exact date, as it will likely be at least a few more days. We’re terribly sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work through this process.
That’s a better estimate than May 31st, but it’s still pretty bad news for any PS3 owner that wants to play new games like Mortal Kombat, Portal 2, SOCOM 4 or Brink (which was released today) online.
[Source: PlayStation.Blog]
Posted in News, PS3, PSP
Tagged ApocalyPS3 2011
Sony “uncertain” on PSN return date, targeting May 31
Brace yourselves PlayStation 3 owners, Sony has some bad news about the PSN outage. Shigenori Yoshida, a Sony Japan spokesman, has told Bloomberg that the company is “uncertain” on when the PlayStation Network will be back online.
Oh, it gets worse.
Yoshida went on to say that the target date for the restoration of all services is May 31, nearly six weeks after the service first went down on April 20th. While that’s the deadline, it’s still very possible Sony will have the PSN back up and running sooner than that. Though they previously expected online play to be ready by Friday, May 6.
And there original estimate of the outage on April 20th was “a day or two” so perhaps we shouldn’t hold our breath for May 31st either.
Posted in News, PS3, PSP
Tagged ApocalyPS3 2011
New Releases: Brink, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, MX vs ATV Alive, More
After moving up its launch date up week, Bethesda and Splash Damage are ready to release their parkour-inspired shooter Brink on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
If you’d rather travel by sea, then you should know that Disney and Lego Captain Jack Sparrow will release Lego Pirates of the Caribbean on every current system (3DS, DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360) this week. Perhaps wall running and boating aren’t for you. Then you’d be well to know that THQ is bringing their latest off-road racing title, MX vs ATV Alive, to the PS3 and Xbox 360 this week.
Moving on from the “ways to get around” theme, Sega has Virtua Tennis 4 set to be released on the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 while Deep Silver is bringing Duke Nukem: Critical Mass to the DS. Let’s hope it doesn’t take forever for our next helping of Duke.
Check out the full list of the rest of this week’s new releases after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Brink, Duke Nukem: Critical Mass, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, MX vs ATV Alive, Virtua Tennis 4
PSN service restoration enters final stage
Here we go, PSN users, Sony has announced (via the PlayStation.Blog) that the PlayStation Network restoration has entered its final stages. No timetable for the network’s return was revealed, but an open letter from Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer stated “In the coming days, we will restore service to the networks and welcome you back to the fun.”
So, in other words, don’t expect the PSN to be turned back on tomorrow. And I wouldn’t hold my breath for this weekend either.
In a final PlayStation.Blog post, Sony announced that they have partnered with Debix to offer their AllClear ID Plus identity theft protection service to PSN users at no charge for a year. Redemption codes will be sent via email over the next few days and more information is available at the link.
It may be slow going, but it looks like ApocalyPS3 2011 may finally be coming to an end.
Posted in News, PS3, PSP
Tagged ApocalyPS3 2011
THQ releasing uDraw HD, Saints Row 3 in 2011; Drive-By canceled
THQ used their quarterly financial call to reveal a bit more about its 2011-2012 release slate.
For this year, the publisher is readying MX vs. ATV Alive for release this month, Red Faction: Armageddon on June 7, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine for August and UFC Personal Trainer sometime this Summer. Towards the end of the year, THQ plans to release Saints Row: The Third and the next WWE game along with bringing their uDraw GameTablet to the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Speaking of Saints Row, after the call, the publisher told Joystiq that Saints Row: Drive-By (the franchise’s 3DS/PSN/XBLA spinoff) was canceled. Bummer.
But 2012 is looking great for THQ as they revealed that they have several major releases planned including the unannounced UFC Undisputed 2012, Darksiders 2, Tomonobu Itagaki’s Devil’s Third, Metro 2033: Last Light and Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online.
Finally, the publisher publicly commented on Nintendo’s next console: “[THQ is] excited about the prospect of new hardware next year and look[s] forward to working on that system.” Got an opinion of which of THQ’s 2012 releases will make the leap to the Wii 2/Project Cafe? Let us know in the comments.
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360
Tagged Red Faction: Armageddon, Saints Row: The Third, UFC Personal Trainer, WWE '12
Sony pins SOE attack on Anonymous, makes statement to Congress
While the PlayStation Network is still down, Sony has gone on the offensive, detailing exactly what they told the U.S. House of Representatives and pinning the Sony Online Entertainment attack on Anonymous.
According to a new post on the PlayStation.Blog, Sony discovered a file on one of the SOE servers named “Anonymous” with the words “We are Legion.” Perhaps this calling card was left by an unconnected party in an attempt to paint the “hacktivist group” in a bad light. But it doesn’t inspire confidence in the group’s message that “For Once, We Didn’t Do It.”
Kazuo Hirai, SCEA’s Chairman of the Board, would go on to say that the major credit companies have not reported a single fraudulent transaction connected to the PSN information breach. But to be on the safe side, the company has also pledged to offer complimentary identity theft protection to U.S. account holders. This offer was not part of Sony’s original “Welcome Back” program and may have been spurred on by a Senator from Connecticut making the demand for identity theft protection in an open letter to the console maker last week.
Sony still has not confirmed when the PSN will be back online. They would only say that details will be coming “shortly.” Perhaps the promise of a return to service this week was a bit premature. SOE servers remain down indefinitely.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PSP
Tagged ApocalyPS3 2011
The Next Level: The Games of May 2011
After a wild April that saw major havoc being wreaked on the PlayStation Network and several high profile releases in Mortal Kombat, Portal 2 and SOCOM 4, it’ll be hard for May to compete. And with a slew of delays, the already slim May slate has gotten even slimmer over the last few weeks. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t on the brink of something big. So join us in la-la-land for a look at what we want to play in May: (more…)