Tag archive for ‘Sony’

PS4SAGA anyone?

by DCgh0st - on Jul 6th 2011 - 2 Comments

It’s that time of the decade again, time for the trickle of news on next gen machines to start floating around.

I’ve recently been re-reading some classic old video game magazines from the 80′s and 90′s, many regaling readers with “Hot news!” regarding the new 16bit machines and amazing CD based 32bit systems! It seems things don’t change that much as news of the WII U, xbox720 (ok so it prob’ won’t be called that but you know what I mean) and our own $ony’s PS4 start to leak out.

News from several tech sites note how Foxconn (they make all sorts including the hole what you stick your ethernet cable in)  and Pegatron Technology, assemblers of PS3 will undertake assembly of PS4 as well. Sources indicated that a planned shippment for the PS4 in 2012 is “at least 20 million units”, just in time for the 3.6+ keys to be found :p.

The new system is thought to utilise a Kinect type system for game play (well can you imagine a new console not?) and could even make use of VR (oh god, it really is like an 1990′s issue of EDGE!). Personally I hope not, VR is a great idea, just not for the home, unless you like looking like the Lawnmower man?

I’m sure more news will make it’s way onto the net very soon, keep those eyes pealed…

July 6 is the return date for PSN services in Japan

by Dukio - on Jul 4th 2011 - 1 Comment

Sony Corp announced in a website today it will fully restore every PlayStation network (PSN) and Qriocity services in Japan on July 6.

This means that PS3 and PSP console owners will finally be able to access PlayStation Store, which has remained inactive to our Japanese friends after the PSN tragedy back in April which has compromised millions of consumers’ data.

The July 6 PSN return includes all functionality for both PlayStation Network and Sony’s Qriocity service. All Japanese members will have access to PlayStation Store, in-game item purchases, product code and PlayStation Network card and ticket use, video functionality through Qriocity, and Media Go.

Source

Sony’s World Game Project Will Feature New PS3 IP?

by Dukio - on Jul 4th 2011 - No Comments

Sony’s latest teaser site brings out new speculations whether the Japanese company would introduce new exclusive PS3 games, put a more spotlight on the all new CECH-3000 model (The unhackable PS3) and maybe we could get more information on the upcoming ferocious PS Vita.

One thing for sure, there’s an image of the PlayStation traditional controller on the teaser. Don’t rule out a PS4 either.

Whatever it is, the “World Game Project” will launch in Akihabara on July 23 so we should get some details soon. It’s gonna be an exciting times for rumormonger.

Why Sony just don’t get it

by DCgh0st - on Jun 30th 2011 - 1 Comment

Sony Corp’s CEO, Howard Stringer just doesn’t quite seem to understand the world he lives in, at least that’s the impression one could take away from his recent meeting with the people Sony really care about, the share holders.

Here’s all of us mere  mortals thinking Sony was hacked because of their over the top treatment of hackers and modders but Mr Stringer sees it another way: “We believe that we first became the subject of attack because we tried to protect our IP (intellectual property), our content, in this case videogames”

Obviously the share holders aren’t too happy with the 69-year-old Welsh-born former TV producer (Stringer) either with one asking him to step down from the position of CEO. In typical Sony fashion Stringer did not respond to the demand.

Stringer also tried to make out that as many other companies and organisations have been hacked it is a governmental problem. Well we wouldn’t want Sony taking responsibility for it’s own actions would we, that would no doubt force the share price even lower than the 16 percent its already fallen since April 26 this year, the day before the company revealed the first attack.

Mr Stringer (that doesn’t half sound like an evil school principal from an 80′s teen movie) if your reading this (somehow I think not), maybe you should take a minute from counting your cash and think, maybe it wasn’t the fact that you “tried to protect your IP” but rather the methods you employed?

 

Latest class action lawsuit filed against Sony for PSN outage

by Dukio - on Jun 24th 2011 - 8 Comments

After the PSN fiasco, everyone should expect a lawsuit knocking on Sony’s door anytime soon. On the 20th of June 2011, Felix Cortorreal, Jacques Daoud jr. and Jimmy Cortorreal, specifically filled a class action complaint, against Sony Corporation of America, Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Sony Picture Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment International.

Dubbed as “arguably the second largest data breach ever”, the trio wasn’t convinced with the fact that 77 million PSN user accounts which includes their personal information, credit card numbers were stolen by the cyber criminals. Here is a small snippet of the court document for you too look at, thanks to PS3Hax:

Download gov.uscourts.casd.355207.1.0.zip (1.6 MB)

New PSN attack is more bigger but it wouldn’t hurt the members – Unknown

by Dukio - on Jun 22nd 2011 - 13 Comments

We are it again for another story, supposedly served as an attention to Sony who still trying to find the real culprits that ruined their online gaming network. Yesterday, i reported about the slightly-readable announcement from this group who made their intention known to the public for their attack on PSN. Now, they have posted more details on that in which according to them, the planned attack is much more bigger, better than the first outage but at the same time, it will “respect” the PSN members.

Just to clarify the target will be much the PSN, but the attack will be other than what it’s done so far. It is redesigned to be more respectful of Sony customers while being much more problematic for Sony, I will say no more.

And if PSN had never existed?

Anyway as I said we have other cards in hand, think that the world if we would be able to make public information clear and highlight the corruption in this case? For a long time we follow the case closely, very closely.

Of course as soon as we enter into play, unlike many we claim our actions very clearly, and that’s also likely to be more problematic for Sony, we will use the media coup the next PSN for piracy make public information cited in the preceding paragraph and other information as edifying.

Claim is the most important because we will not hesitate to respond directly to their false statements to their customers, and to expose all truths.

But we still have many cards in hand, to make easier we have a lot of wild cards in hand.

We will hurt Sony and show its true face to the world.

As a reminder we support Graf, while if Graf will begin in prison or will not start if it is not the case.

You say it’s bullshit? Well, you just made the “Unknown” group furious with your childish comment. Here, they replied it with their wonderfully crafted message.

We will talk no bullshit when there is evidence of corruption made ​​public we will return to the bad guys are, do not worry if we begin to show is that we have a very heavy record, which will shock public opinion and show the true face of Sony in the world.

If only there was nothing else to charge against them the trick is that the note is heavy and Sony show as evil incarnate the worst rot. Corruption in this case is only the tip of the iceberg, we are also in possession of private papers from Sony on marketing strategies that has the customer as a real laboratory rat, the most instructive is the word defined that customers really reductive and disparaging. We have other crap to make public about the Sony list is long.

We will see who are the bastards in the end, we show that their truth or their representative?

Our next piracy PSN large, much larger than our predecessors is just an introduction to the subject matter and to present to have the attention of all media, there is also some desire to restore justice in this story and especially Sony to show the consequences of their actions, because concéquences to piracy will be unprecedented, I believe that no one can imagine the extent of damage.

I don’t know if you guys will caught up with the hype or that you think this is from a 3 year old kid because we can’t say much about it. I mean, we have no proof to show that this is what Sony should look forward to but we can’t rule out either from someone who take the effort to tell the world that they’re going to attack one of the world’s most populated online gaming servers – with added literature extravagant, just like Anonymous. I say “Unknown” group, show us the good stuff, will you?

In other related news, graf_chokolo thank his donators for the support, claims PSN hack is not in his agenda.

Another new attack on Sony’s PSN after graf_chokolo news?

by Dukio - on Jun 21st 2011 - 63 Comments

Mad with the recent unfortunate news that graf_chokolo could go to a prison, a group called themselves “Unknown” has warn Sony and already has a major plan in place to attack the-just-recovered PlayStation Network where they are not responsible for the previous attack.

Hello,

We wanted to contact Graf, first know that you have our support, we are a team that shall remain nameless, we never, ever made piracy network as is done in recent times . But in light of your circumstances we will review our principles we find scandalous the way Sony treats you, ready to send you to jail just for a misplaced pride and make an example.

Therefore to show our support, we set up a major hacking as a target with the PSN, so I just let you know that it is already playing, so to speak we already know which way to go to reach our goals, we just press a button. Mr Graf soon as you put one foot that we wish you not hear, we press to button in protest and support.

We will not explain how the PSN will be reached to avoid any protection, but know that the fault is and we know how to get there we just press the button to the famous work is already done, we a nice script for this.

To prevent piracy of the first PSN was a joke, here you will bury once and for all, already said goodbye to your shareholders, customers, developers already uncertain about you.

People who think defense argued injustice by crooks, Sony you dare tell your customers that they are now secure and that you have learned from, not but what nerve. We garantisons you have not seen anything yet, if Graf goes to jail you will wake up in hell, you can already put your PS Vita and future PS4 in the trash and opt out of the video game market.

Also note that we have more than one trick up our sleeve, and that we are talking the talk that we as the first step. We planned everything with the sole target Sony Playstation we scattered some do not like with Sony Pictures and others because he must focus on a branch or Sony Playstation for it to fall. As mentioned above we do not correct a predefined script to a button, but much everything is planned, but the first shot to the PSN will have to pass the old hacking the PSN for a damp squib.

You have gone too far now you must pay for the few principles that you have, we have and we’ll show you.

We will finish by saying that for the moment nothing is played, it is you who make the decision to start this or not. As we said to the thing that will be only too Graf is in prison, if it is not the case do not take this into account, but you are warned, hoping for you that your conscience is clean and you can sleep the night, personally we wonder how you made?

Should you take this message seriously? Well, i don’t know, i mean the war on Sony first started because of graf_chokolo too as claimed by Anonymous. So, there is always a possibility that the message above is not from an average troll (he’s a European, so mind the language) and that Sony should deal with another attack even it’s not from the group above. A possibility.

Whatever it is, let’s just grab your snack, and watch the show. Sluur..oh, that’s the sound of a snack right?

UPDATE: More news from the “Unknown” group.

Sony Sold 14% More PS3s Year-Over-Year After PSN Blackout

by Dukio - on Jun 16th 2011 - 4 Comments

Before this, Sony has estimated that the losses they blown away for the PSN outage is at ¥14 billion of yen that would translate to around $171M. A whopping figure indeed considering the PlayStation network is just a free service.

But, the folks at Finance department
may will take that to rest as the hardware sales of the PS3 is keep getting the double-digit growth they would be happy of, consecutively for 4 months as reported at Gamasutra. You know hardware sales would also bring in the profit in the software too right?

“We are pleased to see that according to the May NPD report, PlayStation 3 hardware sales increased 14% year-over-year,” said Patrick Seybold, Sony Computer Entertainment America’s director of corporate communications.

According to what NPD has shown last year, Sony’s PlayStation 3 sold 154,500 units in May 2010 — factoring in Sony’s reported 14 percent increase year-over-year, the popular platform sold in estimate of 176,130 units in May 2011.

We also have reports of massive online gaming activity in LittleBigPlanet 2 LittleBigPlanet (LBP), Wipeout HD due to Sony giving them away as free gifts in the “Welcome Back Package” to all PSN members. The virtual 3D social gaming network by Sony dubbed as the “PlayStation Home” also see big growth according to one of Sony’s representatives in a report.

Playstation sites to get revamp

by DCgh0st - on Jun 14th 2011 - 1 Comment

Well this is my first post here and I have some interesting news.

The web team at SCEE are in the process of recruiting designers and artists to “redesign of the suite of PlayStation sites for PC and the sites acessible via PS3, PSP, Vita and Mobile.”

(notice the spelling mistake by whoever created the copy for the advert, it’s double c in accessible guys)

 

Here’s a sample of the job description, anyone want to apply? ;)

Online Designer SCEE is looking for a talented and creative Online Designer to become a key part of the internal online design team. One of the primary tasks of this role will be the redesign of the suite of PlayStation sites for PC and the sites acessible via PS3, PSP, Vita and Mobile.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities *

  • Creation and production of outstanding design and concept development of eu.playstation.com for PC and PS3 browsers
  • Preparation of useable, clean and clear designs for development. Presenting concepts and ideas to clients at all levels
  • To clearly plan and articulate user interface design to aid and enhance user navigation and experience
  • Liaising with working group on new features and functionality and R&D
  • Work within a team to design and build projects including: Flash/HTML5/PHP (this is NOT a coding role) websites, promotional banners, online demos and email newsletters
  • Maintain and support playstation.com
  • Maintain and develop the quality of creative work across the online channels and uphold the brand guidelines throughout to ensure consistency.

If you’ve got a full knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite Multimedia, Graphic Design or Arts related degree and an interest in gaming, amongst other things, who knows you too could be responsible for a massive breach of data security!

I can only presume they plan to have the new look in place for the launch of the PS Vita. The closing date for applications is 08 July 2011, give them about a month to choose the team, building the site over 2 /3 months and online for October / November, at a guess. That could mean a late October to early November release for the Vita. Having said that, this is Sony. Don’t be surprised if they use a commercial  template for the site and have it running in a fortnight.

Oh and if anyone from here does get the job I’m sure Sony wouldn’t mind you inserting a link or two for TantaiCBS ;)

Gorgeous PSVita Will Bump Your Holiday Season At $249

by Dukio - on Jun 7th 2011 - 6 Comments

The widely reported name of the Vita brand is indeed correct after Kazuo Hirai, the President of Sony Computer Entertainment has revealed the handheld device’s official name and it’s retail prices across U.S., Europe and Japan.

Not everyone would expect though, that Sony will go with the exact base pricing of $249 directly inline with it’s counterpart retail price, the Nintendo’s 3DS, another handheld gaming device that is much more inferior product compared with the PlayStation Vita.

Well, except the glasses-free 3D gimmicks maybe?

PSVita Official Image

The successor to the popular PSP device includes a high-resolution, 5-inch OLED touchscreen (960 x 544 pixels), two analog sticks, rear touch controls, 6-axis motion sensors and dual front- and back-facing cameras. The portable console is believe to run a massive quad-core ARM Cortex A9 processor.

The PS Vita also will be powered with 3G and WiFi connectivity. The downside with the 3G is that you need to subscribe with AT&T because they are now the exclusive 3G launch partner with Sony. A disappointment, really for some.

PlayStation Vita will break into the masses at the end of this year sometime during the holiday season. You need to splash as low as $249 for the Wi-Fi version and $299 for the 3G version. The game that has been announced at E3 for PSVita include LitteBIG Planet, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Street Fighter X Tekken and Ruin.

What do you think folks? Is this bad boy your day one purchase? I probably heading to that course after seeing the extraordinary graphics and features the PSVita packs with.

PSN “Welcome Back” Goodies Available Now

by Dukio - on Jun 4th 2011 - No Comments

As part of their Welcome Back program to all PSN members, Sony has giving out free games as well as other free items electronically via their PlayStation Store. To grab those items, just head over to the official PlayStation blog where they have outlined several details and FAQs for the program. Here, i just put the important part below, taken from the blog:

How to claim your free games

  • Go to PlayStation Store from the XMB
  • Click on the Welcome Back banner on the Storefront or the Latest tab

screen000

  • Go into the Welcome Back category and select the ‘PlayStation 3 Free Games’ item, and then select ‘Get Now’ on the following screen

screen001

  • You will be taken back to the Welcome Back section where you will be able to select your two free games
  • These instructions are applicable to both PS3 and PSP

What would you have in store?

  • Dead Nation
  • inFAMOUS
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty
  • Wipeout HD + Fury

If you’re waiting that long for the much awaited PSN Welcome Back content, then i think your wait is worth it, because just a rough look on the list, you can sense top rated PS3 games strutting their stuff on your TV screen. Well, enjoy your free games, folks.

Sony - Bitbag