GameInMotion

Been Elite is worth it! Call of Duty Elite

2011-12-25T12:35:00.000-08:00

Old Spice “Smell Faster” Pack

2011-12-02T20:09:00.001-08:00

Need For Speed: The Run

It's easy to work up a sweat while playing The Run. Old Spice is here to cure that problem and provide you with three custom cars in the game! Smell great while looking good in a tricked-out Mercedes SLS AMG, Ford Mustang Boss 302, and Nissan Silvia S14A.

Not only that, but you'll get a new Challenge Series with three races appropriately named I'm on a Horse, Champion, and Swagger.

It truly couldn't be easier to get this new content. All you have to do is follow these steps:
- Go to OldSpice.EA.com
- Log in with your EA Account
- Pick your favorite scent and your platform

That's it! The next time you start up the game, you'll have unlocked the new Old Spice Challenge Series and performance-upgraded cars!

Back to Karkand DLC from Battlefield 3 Dated

2011-12-02T15:35:00.001-08:00

A post on the Official Battlefield Blog brings word that the ‘Back to Karkand’ DLC for Battlefield 3 will be hitting the PlayStation 3 on Tuesday, December 6. The content will then be made available for Xbox 360 and PC players a week later on December 13, 2011.

Here’s a description of the content:

Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand is a huge expansion pack featuring four legendary Battlefield maps (Wake Island, Sharqi Peninsula, Gulf of Oman, and Strike at Karkand) reimagined in the Frostbite 2 engine. Three new vehicles (the VSTOL fighter jet, Desert Buggy, and an APC), ten new weapons that you can bring back to the base game, and a new layer of persistence with our all-new Assignments make this a must-have for any Battlefield fan.

If you picked up the Limited Edition of Battlefield 3 at launch then you’ll get this content for free. If not, you’ll have to fork over $15 (or the MS Space Bucks equivalent) to go back to Karkand.

Who’s in?

Xbox 360 Dashboard Update: December 6

2011-11-26T21:09:00.001-08:00

It was announced this morning on the Major Nelson Blog that the next system update for the Xbox 360 will be officially released on Tuesday, December 6.

In this update, free to all Xbox 360 console owners, you'll see:

New personal and social features including Cloud Storage for Game Saves and LIVE Profile
Beacons and Facebook Sharing
Enhanced Family Settings
Integrated voice and gesture controls across the dashboard and in apps
Bing voice search (Available this year in the US, UK and CA)
According to Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, in addition to all these great dashboard features, starting on December 6th and continuing on an ongoing basis through the holiday months, a wealth of new content will be coming to Xbox 360. New, customized applications for television, movies, internet videos, sports and music will begin rolling out from world-leading providers in more than 20 countries.

New Terms and Privacy Policy, and Introducing Sony Entertainment Network

2011-09-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Experience UNCHARTED From The Beginning

2011-09-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

This is what I actually was waiting for, the entire collection, just like what they did with Resistance 3 just before its release of R3. This is a great collection.

Virtual Games Now Available for 3DS Ambassadors

2011-09-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

What Games Are Going to Be Available?

Answer:
15 of the 20 downloadable games eligible for free download by Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors have been announced so far. There will be a total of 10 NES Virtual Console games and 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games.
The 10 NES Virtual Console games are as follows:

Super Mario Bros.™
Donkey Kong Jr.™
Balloon Fight™
Ice Climber™
The Legend of Zelda™
Metroid™
NES Open Tournament Golf
Wrecking Crew
Zelda II - The Adventure of Link
Yoshi

These games are now available for download.
Five of the ten GBA Virtual Console games have been announced so far. They are as follows:

Yoshi's Island™: Super Mario™ Advance 3
Mario Kart™: Super Circuit
Metroid™ Fusion
WarioWare™, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
Mario vs. Donkey Kong™

The remaining five Game Boy Advance games will be announced later this year. For information on receiving notification when these games are available, click here.
Related Articles:
What Is the Ambassador Certificate?
When Can I Download My 20 Free Games?
How to Download Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Games

Call of Duty Elite Beta is just around the corner.

2011-08-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

"Your invite to the Call of Duty® Elite Beta is just around the corner. In order to prepare your account we need you to complete your Call of Duty registration by creating a Call of Duty account and linking your console profile. This will allow Call of Duty Elite to start accessing your in-game statistics so that you're ready to go the moment we send your invite.

Invites will be sent out on a daily basis. To maintain your place in line, be sure to complete your registration today."

This is a reality, the final stages for the COD Elite Beta has started rolling, I got lucky like some of you and got invited to the beta. One note to be considered: "The Call of Duty Elite beta currently only supports Xbox 360. We will open additional platforms in the near future." So PS3 owners, don't be discouraged by this.

Anyways, when you register you can still actually register both your X360 and your PS3 systems this is good considering that I have every single COD game on Xbox360 but, that might change with the last installment of the series. I am seriously thinking of getting it for the PS3 for two reasons: 1st- 3D Gaming baby! - I like the idea of just inserting the game and "PUFF" ready to play in 3D. As with the Xbox360, you need to go to the game settings change the configuration THEN go to your 3D enabled tv and switch to 3D mode. And 2nd- Even though I have less friends on the PSN, I do have more family playing it. And I know they are getting the PS3 version. The verdict? I still don't know, since the Xbox Live is more stable then the Playstation Network and has less lag and less disconnections. (Actually very rare).

So...which system version of the COD: Modern Warfare 3 are you getting?
Below is a screen shot of my career standings:

Resistance 3: Join the Fight in the Multiplayer Beta

2011-08-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

VUDU now available on iPad!

2011-08-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Movie Watcher,

Got an iPad®? If so, we've got great news for you! Starting right away, you can rent, purchase and watch movies from VUDU directly on your tablet. We've optimized our website for viewing on your iPad, so you can navigate our collection of over 20,000 movies with a simple flick of your finger. There's not even a need to install an App. Instead, just add an icon to your iPad desktop by clicking the "Add to Home Screen" button when on www.vudu.com/movies.

A few things to note:

Due to restrictions by content providers, playback is limited to SD quality. However, you can purchase a movie on your iPad for viewing in HD or HDX resolution on your TV. Just make your purchase at vudu.com then access it from your My VUDU account on your VUDU-enabled device. We will also seamlessly playback movies you've purchased in HD or HDX in SD if accessed through your iPad.

At this time, Walt Disney Corporation has chosen not to permit VUDU to deliver its content on the iPad. You can still browse and purchase Disney content on VUDU using your iPad, but you will not be able to view it on the iPad device.

To give it a try, just browse to www.vudu.com/movies from your iPad, pick a flick, sign-in to your existing VUDU account and you're ready to go. Then, enjoy VUDU (on your iPad!) tonight.

The VUDU Team

Nintendo 3DS price drop & existing owners will benefit from it.

2011-08-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

Great Price, Great Games
An exciting message for people who own a Nintendo 3DS and those who want to:
Nintendo of America today announced plans to drop the suggested retail price of its portable Nintendo 3DS™ system to $169.99 in the United States. The new price takes effect Aug. 12 and makes an outstanding value even better.

Building on the popularity of The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, which launched June 19, the upcoming game calendar for Nintendo 3DS is a Who's Who of iconic video game franchises. Star Fox 64™ 3D arrives on Sept. 9, followed by Super Mario™ 3D Land in November, Mario Kart™ 7 in December and Kid Icarus™: Uprising during the holiday season.

And don't forget that Nintendo 3DS has a bunch of fun features, including Nintendo Video™, the Nintendo eShop and access to Netflix, that make it a must-have video game system.

But what about the 830,000 of you who already own a Nintendo 3DS? You're some of Nintendo's most loyal customers, and we're rewarding you for getting in on the action early with not one, not 10, but 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop! Here's how it works:

The 20 free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program. The program contains two elements:

1. Starting Sept. 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES™ Virtual Console™ games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros.™, Donkey Kong Jr.™, Balloon Fight™, Ice Climber™ and The Legend of Zelda™, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.

2. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi's Island™: Super Mario™ Advance 3, Mario Kart™: Super Circuit, Metroid™ Fusion, WarioWare™, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong™. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.

More details about this program will be announced in the future.
It's a great time to own a Nintendo 3DS!
--Your Friends at Nintendo of America

Resistance 3 Multiplayer Beta is now LIVE!

2011-08-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed, If you purchased "SOCOM 4" game, inside was an insert with the redeem code for the multiplayer beta. If you don't have the game....GO BUY IT! j/k. You can wait till August 24th when the PSN Plus members will have the opportunity to jump in to the game. Now the last resource, if you don't have the Socom 4 game or are a PSN+ member, is to wait for open beta.

The download itself is 1527mb and after installed, there is an update that will last about thirty minutes tops.

Click Here for Related Topic

DCUO- SERVER MAINTENANCE MONDAY AUGUST 1ST

2011-07-31T18:02:00.000-07:00

All PC and US Playstation 3 servers will be down Monday August 1st at 8AM PT for maintenance to introduce Game Update 4. Server downtime is anticiapted to be approximately 2.5 hours and patch notes will be made available during that time.

El Show de El Vip y Cuevas! - Estrenando

2011-07-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hemos creado un show en Español con avatars! Veran mas de nosotros muy pronto!

Netflix goes the Mushroom Way! And Gets the 3DS Treatment.

2011-07-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

As of today July 14, you will be able to download the Netflix application directly from the Nintendo eShop right to your shiny 3DS portable system. I had already installed in my system and I already did a test run. And the results are: I like it! the Netflix menus are in 3D but as soon you press play to watch one of the movies the "3D" light will go off. Obviously the movies do come just in standard viewing, but, surprisingly with very good quality. They do look nice in the 3DS widescreen. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.

PSN PASS: It is a reality!

2011-07-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

SONY has already confirmed that starting with the game "Resistance 3" an exclusive PS3 game, an additional code will be inserted in the case which with this code (Online Pass) it will be the only way you will be able to play multiplayer online. No big problem if you get the game "New" but, what about those of us that occasionally buy a used game? Or those who rent the game from mayor retailers like Gamefly or at your loca rental store? That means that if you get your hands on one of these used "specially marked boxes," you will have to pay ~10.00 just to jump to the online community. This also means that a lot of retailers who sells used games, most likely will reduce the cost of these so call "PSN Pass" enable games just to compensate for the cost of the online pass. So if you rent these type of games for a couple of nights, are you willing to pay ten bucks for the online pass? It will be hard to believe that someone will actually do it.

In my opinion, Sony is trying to compensate for their FREE Playstation Network use. But, don't they already have Playstation Plus? Somebody has to pay for those servers that we take advantage of. On the other hand, how come this kind of issues never pops-up with Microsoft's Xbox Live? Well, because we pay an annual subscription, that's why. I would rather pay an annual subscription for the PSN then doing the online pass crap... seriously. What do you think? Are you against or in favor? Tell us.

Age of Conan: Unchained has launched! Now free to play!

2011-07-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Great change has taken place in Hyboria since you last were with us!

'Age of Conan: Unchained' has arrived, and with this we have changed the business model of the game! 'Age of Conan' offers an alternative to the Premium Membership: you can now enjoy the game free of charge!

This comes in addition to lots of new content (new dungeons, systems, render engine, optimizations and hardcore PvP server to list some) - so grasp your longsword and join us in Hyboria!

So - your account is now active, your character is available (if above level 20) and you can log in and play for FREE right now!

As part of the celebration, we are giving away a free item too! For each character you log in before the 21^st of July, you will unlock a brand new decorative cape!

With this we have also launched an in-game store that offers a wide variety of items to help you on your journeys through Hyboria! The store has items and services for all character levels.

Click here to download the client

Click here to go to your account page

Click here to learn more about the game and recent updates.

Best regards,
Funcom

Killzone 3 Triple XP Weekend!

2011-06-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week we released the third DLC pack for Killzone 3, ‘From The Ashes’, as well as a DLC Bundle containing all three DLC packs. Of course there’s only one way to celebrate this momentous occasion: organize a Triple XP Weekend!

You read that right – from Friday, June 24 at 17:00 PM UK time, until Monday, June 27 at 9:00 AM UK time, all XP earned in Killzone 3’s multiplayer matches will be tripled. So whether you’re exploring new DLC maps or just re-acquainting yourself with the stock maps, you’ll rank up faster than ever!

‘Welcome Back’ to Killzone: Liberation!

2011-06-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

As part of its customer appreciation program, the recently reopened PlayStation Store is offering existing PSN members a choice of special ‘Welcome Back’ gifts. We’re happy to announce that one of the gifts is Killzone: Liberation, the critically acclaimed third-person shooter that brought Killzone’s gritty universe to the PlayStation Portable.

Set two months after the events of the first Killzone game, Killzone: Liberation sees war heroes Jan Templar and Rico Velasquez taking on a deadly new Helghast leader. Appointed by Scolar Visari to assume control of the remaining Helghast Forces on Vekta, General Metrac and his sadistic second-in-command, Colonel Cobar, start a campaign of terror on the planet’s southern continent.

Meanwhile, ISA leaders and scientists are secretly convening at Rayhoven Base to decide the fate of Southern Vekta, and perhaps of the entire war. Unknown to them, General Metrac has made the Rayhoven Base his next target. It’s up to Templar and Rico to foil the General’s plans – but what those plans entail goes beyond mere conquest…

In addition to an epic single-player mode, Killzone: Liberation comes with fantastic AdHoc features, including a two-player coop mode, frantic multiplayer battles and Game Sharing. The Infrastructure mode has been retired since its original release, but we have managed to preserve the downloadable Chapter Five DLC, which you can freely download here for the US version or here for the European version.

To install Chapter Five of Killzone: Liberation, please follow the instructions below carefully:

Connect your PlayStation Portable to your PC via USB Mode, or place your PSP’s Memory Stick in the memory card reader of your PC.
Navigate to the/ PSP/GAME/ folder on your Memory Stick, and create a new subfolder within it called UCUS98646 (if you have the US version) or UCES00279 (if you have the European version).
1. If there is no GAME subfolder within the /PSP/ folder, create one first.
2. If there already is a UCUS98646 or UCES00279 subfolder within the /PSP/GAME/ folder, skip this step.
Extract the files inside the downloaded Chapter 5 archive to the folder you created in step 2.
Exit USB Mode, or place the Memory Stick back in your PlayStation Portable.
Start Killzone: Liberation and go to the ‘Downloads’ option in the main menu.
The PSP web browser will open. Cancel and exit the browser by pressing the ’Circle’ button.
Killzone: Liberation will detect the new content and attempt to install it.
You’re done! Note that there will now be a new “Killzone: Liberation Update” icon in the Memory Stick section of your XMB; please do not delete it, as this will prevent you from accessing Chapter Five.

In addition, we’ve bundled all the downloadable unlockables from the original Killzone: Liberation website into one big archive, which can be downloaded for your perusal here. We hope you’ll enjoy Killzone: Liberation’s brand of intense portable action, as well as the unique look it affords into the events that preceded Killzone 2 and 3. On behalf of all of us at Guerrilla, ‘Welcome Back’ to the PlayStation Store!

PlayStation Network Maintenance Later Today

2011-05-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

PlayStation Network will undergo routine maintenance today, between 16:00 BST and 00:00 BST. If you wish to play online during the maintenance, please ensure you sign in to PSN before 16:00.

"The latest information I have on PlayStation Store is that we are aiming to have it live by the end of May."

We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by this essential maintenance.

PSP SOFTWARE UPDATE – 6.39 is available now!

2011-05-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

That's correct, the psp system update is in effect since last night. You will notice no big changes if you already had a PS3 System and had done the forceful "Password Reset". Still you will see an improved Qriocity icon under your game list section. Update can be implemented through your PSP system.

PSP System Software Update – 6.39

2011-05-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. A new PSP system software update, v6.39, will be released soon. With this update, users who need to change their PlayStation Network password will be guided through the process. Also, system software stability during use of some features will be improved.

Rockstar Games and Sony Joint Statement on L.A. Noire

2011-05-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

We have received a very small number of customer support questions about PS3s overheating or shutting down while playing L.A. Noire. At this time, Rockstar Games and Sony can confirm that neither L.A. Noire or firmware update 3.61 are causing the PS3 hardware to overheat. We are both committed to working hard to find solutions to this and any issues that may arise. If you are experiencing any issues with L.A. Noire or your PS3 hardware, please contact technical support using any of the means provided below:

Rockstar Support: www.rockstargames.com/support
Rockstar Support on Twitter: twitter.com/RockstarSupport

PlayStation 3 Support: http://us.playstation.com/support/

Update on PSN Password Reset Process

2011-05-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

We temporarily took down the PSN and Qriocity password reset page. Contrary to some reports, there was no hack involved. In the process of resetting of passwords there was a URL exploit that we have subsequently fixed.

Consumers who haven’t reset their passwords for PSN are still encouraged to do so directly on their PS3. Otherwise, they can continue to do so via the website as soon as we bring that site back up.

PSN RESTORATION - Map updated 12:03m Pacific

2011-05-15T00:54:00.000-07:00

PSN Restoration - Map updated 9:04pm Pacific

2011-05-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

Play On – PSN Restoration Begins Now

2011-05-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your patience and encouragement over the last few weeks. As covered in the post from earlier today, you can now update the firmware on your PS3 and change your password. Kazuo Hirai just announced that we have begun the phased restoration by region of some of the services, starting with online multiplayer functionality.

Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated, which is required to get online.

Sony Online Entertainment Details GOODIES for us, the affected MMORPG player!

2011-05-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

With the PlayStation Network down, subscribers to Sony Online Entertainment MMOs haven't been able to get their fix in weeks. To prevent rioting in the streets (or at least lessen the number of angry internet posts) Sony has detailed its plans to make it up to loyal consumers. According to SOE's release, it will "likely be at least a few more days" before the MMOs are up.

Subscribers to Sony MMOs will receive 30 days of game time added to the end of the current billing cycle, as well as have one fre day for every day the system’s been down.

That's not all, though. Subscribers will also be given in-game items, XP boosts and a lot more. There's a game-by-game list under the "Read More" tag.

Here's what subscribers will get:

-DC Universe Online: Batman and Two-Face Inspired Masks and 30 Marks of Distinction
-Free Realms: Free daily items (7 to collect)
-Clone Wars Adventures: Count Dooku v2 Outfit
-EverQuest®: A series of events, including Double XP, Double Rare Mob Spawns and Double Faction Gains
-EverQuest II and EverQuest II Extended: A series of events, including Double XP, Double Guild XP, Loot Bonanza, and City Festivals
-Vanguard: Saga of Heroes: A series of Double XP events
-Star Wars Galaxies™ Bounty Hunter Statue, a miniature model of Boba Fett's ship, the Slave I
-Magic: The Gathering - Tactics: Four of each of these spells: "Ivory Mask", "Duress" and "Angelheart Vial", plus 500 Station Cash
-PoxNora: Limited edition Carrionling, Welcome Back 5K Gold Award Tournaments and two Draft Tournaments, plus 500 Station Cash

SOE subscribers in the United States will also receive complimentary enrollment in Debix for a year. Debix is an identity protection firm that will keep your info safe (hopefully). Non US subscribers will be offered similar programs, to be detailed later.

Lifetime subscribers will be granted in-game currency: 20,000 coins for Free Realms, 7,500 Galactic Credits for Clone Wars Adventures and 10 Marks of Distinction for DC Universe Online. All Station Access subscribers will receive 500 Station Cash.

Check out Sony's official release for more details.

Eidos And Deus Ex Websites Attacked By Hackers -- Square Enix Confirms Data Breach

2011-05-14T00:49:00.000-07:00

The websites for Eidos and Deus Ex: Human Revolution have been attacked by hackers. Square Enix has now confirmed the attack and that personal data has been compromised.

“Square Enix can confirm a group of hackers gained access to parts of our Eidosmontreal.com website as well as two of our product sites. We immediately took the sites offline to assess how this had happened and what had been accessed, then took further measures to increase the security of these and all of our websites, before allowing the sites to go live again,” Square Enix said in a statement to VG247.

The statement continued detailing the type of data that was compromised. 25,000 email addresses and resumes from Eidos employees were accessed. However Square Enix denies that any credit card data was taken.

“Eidosmontreal.com does not hold any credit card information or code data, however there are resumes which are submitted to the website by people interested in jobs at the studio. Regrettably up to 350 of these resumes may have been accessed, and we are in the process of writing to each of the individuals who may have been affected to offer our sincere apologies for this situation.”

Sqaure Enix made no indication they knew who was responsible for the attack but according to KrebsOnSecurity the hackers may be part of a "splinter cell of the hacktivist group Anonymous." They managed to access chatlogs from the hackers indicating they had stolen personal information from 80,000 Deus Ex users with intent to "release the data on file-sharing networks." The hackers claim to have accessed 9,000 resumes from Eidos although Sqaure Enix stated the number of resumes accessed was 350. The hackers claim to be leaking "src" which some believe means source code for Eidos' games websites.

From KrebsOnSecurity.com

"For several hours early Thursday morning, the Deus Ex Web site, user forum, and Eidos.com were unreachable. For a brief period late Wednesday evening, the sites displayed a defacement banner that read “Owned by Chippy1337", along with several names and hacker handles of those supposedly responsible for the break-in.

KrebsOnSecurity.com obtained an archived copy of the attackers’ online chatter as they were covering their tracks from compromising the sites. A hacker using the alias “ev0" discusses having defaced the sites and downloading some 9,000 resumes from Eidos. ev0 and other hackers discuss leaking “src,” which may refer to source code for Deus Ex or other Eidos games. In a separate conversation, the hackers also say they have stolen information on at least 80,000 Deus Ex users and that they plan to release the data on file-sharing networks.

Neither Eidos nor its parent company Square Enix Co. could be immediately reached for comment. (This may not be the first time Eidos was breached: In a story I wrote earlier this year, I detailed how hackers on an underground criminal forum claimed to be selling access to Eidos’ customer database)."

As of now we do not know who was responsible nor what their motive was.

PSN downtime prompts increase in PS3 trade-ins

2011-05-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

PlayStation Network’s on-going downtime has prompted frustrated punters to trade in their PlayStation 3’s for an Xbox 360, reports EDGE.

The site claims that a number of retailers have observed a noticeable spike in the number of PS3 trade-ins during the weeks that followed Sony’s decision to pull the plug on PSN after the system was infiltrated by hackers.

Under conditions of anonymity, one high street chain told the site: "In the first week of downtime we did not really see any major change in sales or trades.”

"However from the second week onwards we have seen an increase of over 200 percent on PS3 consoles being traded in, split almost 50/50 between those trading for cash and those taking a 360 instead."

Elsewhere, a retail source based in the South West of the UK reported a “massive increase” in the number of PS3’s being traded in as of late, with many users – apparently those belonging to “the hardcore online shooter crowd” - swapping their consoles for a 360.

Belgian indie retailer Gameswap also painted a similar picture: . "At the end of each month people come to sell their consoles. People that need money [to pay bills]. What's different this time around is that that they are bringing in PS3s together with all their games and they don't want money, they want an Xbox 360. In every case it is because of Black Ops and or Modern Warfare 2,” said the company.

"We're just ten days into the month and already we have an increase of 200 percent in PS3s coming into the store compared to all of March. Normally we sell them really fast, but not this time. We've only sold 30 to 40 percent of our inventory right now."

The PSN Outage Timeline

2011-05-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

With Sony being dragged through proverbial mud, Console Monster has taken a look back on the companies turbulent past couple of weeks to recap everything that has happened since the beginning of the PSN outage.

17th-19th April: This is PSN ground zero, where everything began. Sometime between the 17th and 19th of April an 'external intrusion' began burrowing it's way into the Playstation Network with less than loyal goals. The external intrusion brought one of the biggest gaming systems to a grinding halt affecting a possible 77 million Playstation Network registered accounts. What makes it all the more worse is that the hack has become one of the largest data security breaches in history, easily out doing the infamous TJX Hack of 2007.

20th April: Around this time the first signs of trouble began to appear. Sony's official blog said that they were "aware certain functions of the PlayStation Network" were offline. The troubles began with a simple message on PS3 users hubs stating that the Playstation Network was "undergoing maintenance".

21st April: Sony officially revealed that it was "investigating the cause" of the outage. They also at this point in time gave gamers a time frame of just a "day or two" before the PSN would be switched back on. In hindsight that last statement was maybe a little misplaced.

22nd April: Sony officially revealed that the cause was due to an "external intrusion". The Playstation Network and Qriocity services were switched off as a means of defense against the intrusion. Despite Sonys best efforts it finally dawned on them that this intrusion would take more than a couple of days to rectify. By this point gamers began wondering who may have caused the downtime and many fingers were pointed the way of Anonymous who had stated in the past that they would "attack" Sony in one form or another.

23rd April: A change in tact came apparent in the next few statements released by Sony. They no longer gave out time frames from this point on instead they were quoted as saying, "the task is time-consuming", Sony also stated that "it was worth the time necessary to provide the system with additional security". Also after being the main target of abuse for PSN users, the hacking community Anonymous revealed that the attack was not them saying simply "For Once We Didn't Do It". Despite Anonymous not claiming the attack many gamers still aimed abuse at the group.

25th April: Sony still left gamers in the dark and refused to elaborate on the "external intrusion". Sony's Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Social Media, Patrick Seybold further added to gamers woes when he said "Unfortunately, I don't have an update or timeframe to share at this point in time.".

26th April: The news that no gamer wanted to hear, Sony officially revealed that there may have been a "compromise of personal information as a result of an illegal intrusion on our systems." They tried to buffer the blow a bit by telling gamers "We have a clear path to have PlayStation Network and Qriocity systems back online, and expect to restore some services within a week," but the damage was now done and the flood gates well and truly opened.

27th April: Kristopher Jones posted a lawsuit against Sony alleging that they "failed to encrypt data and establish adequate firewalls to handle a server intrusion contingency, failed to provide prompt and adequate warnings of security breaches, and unreasonably delayed in bringing the PSN service back online." The main argument was that Sony failed to notify it's members of a security breach and also storing credit card information which is in direct violation of the PCI Compliance.

1st May: Nearly two weeks since the intrusion first took hold of the PSN and Sony tried to lift gamers spirits offering them a "Welcome Back" pack when they finally switched the Network on. The pack included a free download via the Playstation store and 30 days free subscription to PSN Plus. They also once again hoped to have the system up and running within the next week.

2nd May: The intrusion had now spread all the way to Sony Online Entertainment. This caused Sony to shut down countless websites and online services all connected with SOE. It was also revealed up to 12,700 credit card numbers were stolen during the initial intrusion along with a possible 24.7 million SOE accounts.

4th May: In an attempt to stop the intrusion Sony announced that they had added yet another company to it's investigation team. Data Forte along with Guidance Software and Protivti are all currently dissecting the attack looking for the source. Sony also found themselves being asked to testify at a congressional hearing on the security related to the PSN outage. Sony declined to do so due to "ongoing investigations" with the law.

The Latest - 4th May: Shinji Hasejima makes a surprising announcement at the Tokyo Press Conference revealing that Sony was fully aware of the Playstation networks "vulnerabilities". Shinji was quoted as saying "The vulnerability of the network was a known vulnerability, one known of in the world. But Sony was not aware of it... was not convinced of it. We are now trying to improve aspects of it."

As you can see it has been a rough week or two now for Sony. They are looking at a good number of lawsuits coming their way and a lot of angry gamers still trying desperately to get online. We only hope that the PSN gets turned on not only quickly, but securely too.

Santa came early for those affected from the PSN outage... were you naughty or nice?

2011-05-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

Both Kazuo Hirai and Sir Howard Stringer have stated that we will be offering identity theft protection for those affected by the malicious attack on PlayStation Network and many of you may have seen the details of the service available in North America.

As I have explained previously, creating a similar offering for the many countries within the SCEE region is a very complicated process. Each country has a different way of handling identity theft; some offer relatively sophisticated services whilst others are much more modest.

We are currently in the process of identifying how we manage this situation and once the programme is ready to launch, we will provide details of exactly which services are available in each country and explain how to sign up. We hope to do this early next week.

Also, look out for more information on the rest of our Welcome Back programme, including which free content you will be eligible for. We will be offering PSN users the opportunity to select two PS3 games from a list of five, as well as offering PSP users the opportunity to choose two games from a list of four. We will let you know exactly what games are available very soon.

Please be assured that we are continuing to work around the clock to have some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services restored and will provide you with specific details shortly.

A Letter from Howard Stringer "....we will restore service to the networks.."

2011-05-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I know this has been a frustrating time for all of you.

Let me assure you that the resources of this company have been focused on investigating the entire nature and impact of the cyber-attack we’ve all experienced and on fixing it. We are absolutely dedicated to restoring full and safe service as soon as possible and rewarding you for your patience. We will settle for nothing less.

To date, there is no confirmed evidence any credit card or personal information has been misused, and we continue to monitor the situation closely. We are also moving ahead with plans to help protect our customers from identity theft around the world. A program for U.S. PlayStation Network and Qriocity customers that includes a $1 million identity theft insurance policy per user was launched earlier today and announcements for other regions will be coming soon.

As we have announced, we will be offering a “Welcome Back” package to our customers once our PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are up and running. This will include, among other benefits, a month of free PlayStation Plus membership for all PSN customers, as well as an extension of subscriptions for PlayStation Plus and Music Unlimited customers to make up for time lost.

As a company we — and I — apologize for the inconvenience and concern caused by this attack. Under the leadership of Kazuo Hirai, we have teams working around the clock and around the world to restore your access to those services as quickly, and as safely, as possible.

I know some believe we should have notified our customers earlier than we did. It’s a fair question. As soon as we discovered the potential scope of the intrusion, we shut down the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services and hired some of the best technical experts in the field to determine what happened. I wish we could have gotten the answers we needed sooner, but forensic analysis is a complex, time-consuming process. Hackers, after all, do their best to cover their tracks, and it took some time for our experts to find those tracks and begin to identify what personal information had — or had not — been taken.

As a result of what we discovered we notified you of the breach. Our investigation is ongoing, and we are upgrading our security so that if attacks like this happen again, our defenses will be even stronger.

In the last few months, Sony has faced a terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan. But now we are facing a very man-made event – a criminal attack on us — and on you — and we are working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies around the world to apprehend those responsible.

In the coming days, we will restore service to the networks and welcome you back to the fun. I wanted to personally reach out and let you know that we are committed to serving you to the very best of our ability, protecting your information better than ever, and getting you back to what you signed up for – all the games and great entertainment experiences that you expect from Sony.

With best regards,
Howard Stringer

Press Release: Some PlayStation Network and Qriocity Services to be Available This Week

2011-05-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

SOME PLAYSTATION®NETWORK AND QRIOCITY™ SERVICES TO BE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK

Phased Global Rollout of Services to Begin Regionally;
System Security Enhanced to Provide Greater Protection of Personal Information

Tokyo, May 1, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) announced they will shortly begin a phased restoration by region of PlayStation®Network and Qriocity™ services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. The company also announced both a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty.

Following a criminal cyber-attack on the company’s data-center located in San Diego, California, U.S.A., SNEI quickly turned off the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, engaged multiple expert information security firms over the course of several days and conducted an extensive audit of the system. Since then, the company has implemented a variety of new security measures to provide greater protection of personal information. SNEI and its third-party experts have conducted extensive tests to verify the security strength of the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. With these measures in place, SCE and SNEI plan to start a phased rollout by region of the services shortly. The initial phase of the rollout will include, but is not limited to, the following:

Restoration of Online game-play across the PlayStation®3 (PS3) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems
-This includes 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

READ THE FULL STORY HERE...

Hulu Plus available on Xbox LIVE

2011-04-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hulu Plus is coming to Xbox LIVE (April 29th.) To celebrate the debut of Hulu Plus on Xbox LIVE, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is unlocking Hulu Plus on Xbox LIVE from April 29 – May 6. Through this sponsorship, all Xbox LIVE members (Free or Gold) will be able to enjoy Hulu Plus on Xbox LIVE, no Hulu Plus subscription or Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for an entire week.

Sony Unveils PlayStation Tablets

2011-04-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Ok lets take our minds off the "Outage" and focus on a brighter side. (Although the PSN still is involved in this news)

During a media briefing in Japan today, Sony announced two new tablet computers, the S1 and S2, available globally this fall.

The S1 has a single 9.4-inch display while the S2 features two 5.5 inch screens in a clamshell design similar to the Nintendo 3DS. The dual screens can be used as one combined larger screen or separately to allow video to play on the top screen with input commands on the bottom, for example.
Both tablets are PlayStation Certified, allowing users to download and play PlayStation One titles through PlayStation Suite. They are also both equipped with Android 3.0, WiFi and 3G/4G.
Price details were not announced at this time. Hit up the gallery for sweet press shots.

PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been suspended.

2011-04-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

My fellow PSN players...you are not going to like this but it is sad and true.......

"We sincerely regret that PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been suspended, and we are working around the clock to bring them both back online. Our efforts to resolve this matter involve re-building our system to further strengthen our network infrastructure. Though this task is time-consuming, we decided it was worth the time necessary to provide the system with additional security.
We thank you for your patience to date and ask for a little more while we move towards completion of this project. We will continue to give you updates as they become available."
+ Posted by Patrick Seybold // Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media

Update On PlayStation Network/Qriocity Services

2011-04-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

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.

Latest Update on PSN Outage

2011-04-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

"While we are investigating the cause of the Network outage, we wanted to alert you that it may be a full day or two before we’re able to get the service completely back up and running. Thank you very much for your patience while we work to resolve this matter. Please stay tuned to this space for more details, and we’ll update you again as soon as we can." -PSN

My goodness, I just started playing SOCOM 4, Killzone 3 for the first time and now I can't go online? These issues are getting worse and worse. I hope they are resolved as soon as possible, it does affect some of us who play MMORPG games since we paid monthly fees for these kind of games. I really won't mind playing online but, seriously, this kind of issues I had never seen on Xbox Live. Considering that on "Live" you pay a yearly sub and on PSN you don't.
What are your thoughts on this? I would really like to know.

UPDATE: Supposedly the affected is the people who have older models like me. The PS3 Slim is not affected by this. It suppose to be something about the time in the system that is screwing us all.

World’s Best Killzone 3 Player to Win a Share of $40,000. Is it you?

2011-04-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

PlayStation, Virgin Gaming and Edge Shave Gel are setting you up to win big in the world's first official KZ3 online tournament. The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce, with $40,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. Afterall, we aren't just giving away the title of World's First KZ3 Champion, you'll have to earn it!Pre-Registration is open now, so head over to virgingaming.com/kz3 to sign up and stay updated with the latest tournament news.Good luck!

Battlefield 3 - "My Life" Trailer

2011-04-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this video of BFBC 3? If not here is your chance....enjoy!

If you purchased the "Man of Honor" game there is a wide chance that you will

be invited to the beta for this awesome game.

WATCH THE EXTENDED VERSION HERE

SOCOM 4 offers at Best Buy

2011-04-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

This is a great offer! Buy any "Socom 4" game or as a bundle with the Sharpshooter and get $30.00 off any one of this games "Killzone 3" "Gran Turismo 5" or "Little Big Planet 2" plus a $10.00 Gift Card at Best Buy.
I got the Socom 4 Bundle with the Killzone 3 Game + gift card. Basically I got Killzone 3 for 20.00 bucks.
Another point to make is that the Socom 4 bundle itself you are saving about 60 bucks. If you put all this together, how much would you be saving? Do the math...

ps. You can purchase Killzone 3 for 49.99 this week.

MotorStorm Apocalypse coming to a store near you on May 3rd.

2011-04-15T20:37:00.001-07:00

Finally, the game will be released in weeks. A voucher inside the game case will allow you to have an extra car and motorcycle. Alongside with your redeemable reward for preordering the game from either Gamestop, Best Buy, and Amazon.

The game was previously set for release in April 12th, but due to the tragedy in Japan the game due date was pushed back.

This is the first blog sent from the iPad testing a couple of apps that makes this possible.

VipSphinx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPAD

Spring Fever Spotlight Week: 4/5

2011-04-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

PlayStation Plus Members

Featured Games

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Free and exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers)
Duael Invaders minis (Free and exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers)

Featured Qore Episode 

Qore April Episode 35 (Free to PlayStation Plus subscribers, regular price $2.99)

Discounted Games

StarDrone (PlayStation Plus price $4.00, regular price $7.99)
Hamsterball (Reg Price – $9.99, Sale Price- $4.99, Plus Price $3.99)

4/5 Sale Offers

Lara Croft: Guardian Of Light (now $7.49, regular price $14.99)
Angry Birds (now $1.99, regular price $3.99)

Yep, this is a very sweet deal, I grabbed the Lara Croft game from PSN: "Guardian of Light"

Also Angry birds its really fun to play in the PS3 and don't forget you can also send a copy to your PSP if you have one. And let me tell you, you will not be disappointed. For half price? You are taking a lot. I will highly recommended.

-VipSphinx

Resistance 3 Public Beta: Get Early Access With SOCOM 4

2011-04-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hope you’re all enjoying the final stretch of the SOCOM 4 Multiplayer Beta! Just a little over a week untilSOCOM 4 hits store shelves on April 19th, and the excitement continues to build. To heighten the anticipation, we’ve got some equally exciting news to share—by picking up a specially marked copy of SOCOM 4, you’ll get early access to the Resistance 3 Public Beta! That’s in addition to the full breadth of single player, 32-person multiplayer, and five-player co-op gameplay you’ll get with SOCOM 4.
To get early access to the Resistance 3 Beta, keep your eyes peeled for the callout included on the front of all eligible copies of SOCOM 4 (see above). Every specially marked box will include a voucher with a unique code you can redeem for early access to the Resistance 3 Beta. If you’re going big with the SOCOM 4 Full Deployment Edition, every one of these limited edition bundles will come packed with a voucher as well. To find out when the Resistance 3 Beta begins, be sure to check the details on the included voucher once you get your hands on SOCOM 4 starting April 19th.

If you want to ensure your early access to the Resistance 3 Public Beta, pre-ordering your copy of SOCOM 4 at one of the following participating retailers is the way to go. In addition to early beta access for Resistance 3, you’ll also get a pair of slug-ammunition shotguns, as well as the classic Abandoned Map if you pre-order atGameStop.

DCUO LETTER FROM THE PRODUCER - 04/05/2011

2011-04-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

The first three months of DC Universe Online have been very exciting for the team. We are thrilled by the community's response to the game and are very stoked about where we are going in the future. As much as you play and test a product before launch you never know what you really have until you launch. Will players like PvP? Are the Raids challenging enough? Will people enjoy being in Leagues?

Based on what we are hearing and seeing, the PvP is badass and one of the most popular aspects of the game. The Raids seem like they are the right balance of risk vs. reward. And Leagues are growing fast in both size and number. No doubt we still have a lot of feedback to address but the feeling everywhere is that we have something special and we really appreciate the great support, thanks! In the coming months we have a ton of cool things heading your way, from a new series of Raids in the Fortress of Solitude, challenging new Alerts, the addition of new Duo missions, new gear and items, and of course the chance to fight with and against a number of your favorite characters from the DC Universe to make your life interesting… and dangerous.

But, we know what is foremost in your minds, where the heck is Update 2 – Heads or Tales??? Unfortunately, this update took us longer to develop than we would have liked. However, I'm happy to say we are all set for releasing the US PS3 and PC update on 4/5 with the EU PS3 to follow soon after and it will be well worth the wait. Why did this take so long? In short, this is a fairly substantial update. In addition to new game content, this update contains some major system upgrades, balance changes, and bug fixes. We'll have detailed update notes posted soon, but here are some highlights.

A lot of you have asked for communication/social improvements, so we spent a good chunk of time working on these issues. The social UI has been revamped to be more usable, and we've added functionality like 'vote to kick' and 'vote to re-queue' to instances. Proximity chat, which was previewed in an earlier patch, has full functionality and is fully enabled. We've also added custom voice and text channels.

On the content side, Batcave 3 is live and the Avatar of Technology which some of you may have seen at the end of beta, is ready to deal some pain. Two-Face, Penguin, and Mxyzptlk appear in cool new missions themed around chance & luck… btw, be very wary of the coin toss. You'll also be able to play as Two-Face in Legends PvP. With a flip of a coin, take your enemies situation from bad to worse.

What about the future and Game Update 3? Update 3 is well underway, but doesn't have a target release date yet. However, I can say that Ra's Al Ghul, Swamp Thing, and a very intimidating version of Chang Tzu will make an appearance. We'll definitely provide more info over the upcoming weeks.

Finally, some of you may be wondering how the recent SOE news will affect DCUO. Yes, the team was impacted and we lost some great developers and friends, but rest assured that we will still deliver *super awesome* new content and updates on a regular basis. And, we appreciate your support!

Wes Yanagi,

On behalf of the The DCUO Dev Team

Bienvenidos a PlayStation.Blog en Español

2011-04-04T11:41:00.001-07:00

I bet some of you were wondering why we put a “select a language” option at the top of the Blog when we launched our recent redesign. Today I’m pleased to announce that the PlayStation.Blog is now extending service to a new region – Latin America. Over the past few years, PlayStation has increased its presence in Central and South America, and beginning today, you’ll have the news source to go along with it: PlayStation.Blog en Español.
As with this site, PSBeE (I think we’ll have to work on a better acronym ^_^) will be your go-to source for all things PlayStation from around Latin America, including the latest news, interviews, event info, and more. Additionally, as much of the content will be similar across the sites, those of you in the US and Canada who are more comfortable reading and interacting in Spanish should feel welcome to visit this new blog. Your existing login will work just fine.
Who’s going to be running the new site? We leave you in the capable hands of Lorenzo Grajales. We’ve worked with Renzo over the past year, and we can assure you that he’s “one of us.” He loves PlayStation, and will work hard to interact with all of you who visit PlayStation.Blog en Espanol.
Additionally, you can also connect with PlayStation in Latin America by joining their over 300,000 gamers/fans on Facebook.
Click on over to http://blog.latam.playstation.com, or select Spanish at the top of the Blog… and expect some inter-blog trash talk next time Mexico plays the US Men’s National Team!

MotorStorm Apocalypse Release Update

2011-03-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Similar to news already issued from our Japanese and European territories, SCEA can confirm that we are officially delaying release of MotorStorm Apocalypse from its scheduled April 12th date. We will provide more information regarding release timing at a later date.

The Next Generation Portable

2011-01-27T19:34:00.000-08:00

Revolutionary gaming experiences with dual analog sticks, front and rear cameras, front multi-touch display, multi-touch rear pad, GPS, SIXAXIS^®motion sensors, and three-axis electronic compass.

Stunning multi-touch 5-inch Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED).

The richest, deepest and most engaging handheld gaming lineup - including Nathan Drake's epic adventure in Uncharted Portable (working title).

Always On connectivity via Wi-Fi and 3G*

Location based gaming allowing players to find and meet friends virtually for brand new experiences.

Definitively I will pre-order mine asap! Miguel

PS3 DCUO Players Like American Idol, PC Ones Don’t

2011-01-27T19:03:00.000-08:00

Console and PC gamers often point out the differences between each other, with both groups claiming that their preferred method of gaming is better. Turns out there is in fact a difference – whether they likeAmerican Idol.

John Smedley, President of Sony Online Entertainment, noted the preference on his twitter, through twitlonger:

Interesting thing happened last night. We now run an MMO (DCUO) that has players on the PC and the PS3. When American Idol came on we saw a 20% dip on the PS3 but not on the PC.

It is quite remarkable that 1/5th of all the PS3 gamers in the DC Universe Online match left for American Idol, without there being any noticeable fluctuation in the level of PC gamers.

If you have DCUO on PS3 do you like American Idol, or are you a PC gamer who’s just not that fussed?

Killzone 3 Open Beta Launches February 2

2011-01-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

While the initial Killzone 3 beta run was delegated exclusively to PSN Plus subscribers, Sony is opening the welcome gates to all PS3 owners as part of an open beta beginning February 2.

Boasting PS Move and stereoscopic 3D support, it’ll run through February 14, granting access to the MP05 ‘Frozen Dam’ multiplayer level across all three modes — Guerrilla Warfare, Warzone and Operations. For those that want to frag solo, a Botzone mode consisting only of CPU-controlled opponents is also available.

A PS3 exclusive, Killzone 3 hits retail February 22 in North America.

The Need for Speed Hot Pursuit One Million Challenge!

2010-12-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

We’re thrilled to see that a lot of you are loving Hot Pursuit as much as we are. We all knew that Autolog was something special, but you guys are proving that it’s going to change racing games forever. We actually feel sort of guilty for ruining so many friendships over the last week – with over 3 million challenges exchanged already, it’s clear that all is fair when it comes to the Speedwall. So now we have a challenge for all of you! The dev team has put together a pack of 3 supercar convertibles – the Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 650-4 Roadster , and the Dodge Viper SRT10 Convertible Final Edition. If we can get the Need for Speed Hot Pursuit launch trailer to 1 million views by December 12th, these three amazing rides will be our little holiday gift to all of you playing Hot Pursuit. The race is on!

PRESS HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO!

FFXIV: All Worlds Maintenance / Version Update Delayed

2010-11-24T07:16:00.000-08:00

"The all Worlds maintenance and version update previously scheduled to start at Nov. 24, 2010 13:00 (PST) has been postponed to allow for additional version update preparations. We will post another news article to inform you of the revised schedule by Nov. 24, 2010 5:00 (PST).

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding." - The Loadstone

DJ Hero® 2 Free Downloadable Content!

2010-11-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

Bring the party home. Add some exclusive Tiësto tracks to your game systems. Create the perfect mix of fun.

DJ Hero 2 brings the award-winning mix of hit music and DJ gameplay back to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. And now you can enjoy three hot new mixes from international superstar DJ/producer Tiësto for FREE!

Exclusive Tiësto Tracks:

"Traffic" vs. "Louder Than Boom"

"Feel It In My Bones" feat. Tegan and Sara

"Knock You Out" feat. Emily Haines vs. "Young Lions"

My Coke Rewards members receive a code for a completely FREE download of the Tiësto Mix Pack presented by Coca-Cola. No points needed, no purchase required. Don't own the game yet? No problem! Get the code today and download the Tiësto Mix Pack when you buy DJ Hero 2. Jump into the party with two turntables and a microphone.

Click Here For More Details

iOS 4.2 Software Update

2010-11-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

The free iOS 4.2 Software Update brings all-new features to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.¹ Just connect your device to your computer to download the update. It’s free. It’s easy. And it lets you do even more with the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. More info...Click Here!

Expect something...what could it be? an update perhaps?.......

2010-11-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

.........iTunes

Glad to be home again.

2010-11-11T00:42:00.000-08:00

For the last couple of weeks I've been out of town conducting some AutoCAD training. For that same matter I was unable to update my blogspot. Now, I'm glad I'm back home.

Something that really saddened was that my mother would give me her blessing when I leave out of town and this was the first time I left without it. She is no longer among us and I really missed her....

..I should be back on my feet in the next couple of days.
For your convenience I had added an email form on the page in case you need to reach me.
I know a couple of you where trying to contact me to test some beta software.
Anyways, glad to be home again I really missed my little baby girl and family.

I have a couple of gadgets that I will be reviewing which will include the PS3 Move, Xbox Kinect and the MyTouch Slider. If you have any suggestions don't hesitate to let me know.

Have a pleasant day!
Miguel (VipSphinx)

Free 'Midnight' Movie: "A Nightmare on Elm Street"- Courtesy of PSN

2010-10-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Free 'Midnight' Movie: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Free 'Midnight' Movie offer of S A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) will be available Saturday night from 5pm PST 10/30/2010 and ending 3am PST 10/31/2010. Offer is a FREE SD rental of A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).Valid in US only.
Deal of the Week: Spine-Chilling Slashers: You can find great slasher titles and more discounted from 10/28 – 11/3 under New Releases on PlayStation®Store!
Spine-Chilling Slashers Collection: Check out gruesome slasher titles like Joy Ride, The Collector, American Psycho, and more to get your blood pumping and heart racing.

I got an invitation for the Playstation Rewards Beta !

2010-10-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

"Dear Vip_Sphinx,

As a G.A.P. member and PlayStation®Plus subscriber, you've shown unrivaled passion for PlayStation®. That's why we're inviting you to be one of the very few to help us test out PlayStation®Rewards while it's an invitation-only beta. This brand-new program rewards our most die-hard fans like you just for doing what they love. And we need you to help us test it out and make it even better."

PlayStation Network Scheduled Maintenance Today

2010-10-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm pretty sure this maintenance is for the new addition to the Playstation Rewards that it supposed to go live today for selected Playstation Plus & G.A.P. members. I belong to both memberships so I'm really hoping I get selected.

"PlayStation Network will undergo maintenance, October 28. Maintenance is expected to start at just after 7:00 am Pacific and will last for several hours, until approximately 3:30 pm Pacific. During this time, users won’t be able to access the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home or Account Management, and may encounter difficulty while signing in to PSN.
Please stay tuned to the PlayStation Twitter feed for a notice when PSN is fully back online.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause." - Playstation Blog

PlayStation Rewards – A New Way to Earn Exclusive Status and Recognition

2010-10-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Today, we’re excited to share news of the launch of PlayStation Rewards, a new program that recognizes and rewards our users for simply doing what they love – playing games and interacting with the entertainment content that PlayStation has to offer. We really wanted to create something that says, “thank you” for being a loyal PlayStation fan.
If you’re a GAP member or PlayStation Plus subscriber in the U.S., who is opted-in to marketing as of October 24th, be sure to look for your invitation and sign-up for PlayStation Rewards.

In its initial launch tomorrow (Oct. 28th), PlayStation Rewards will be an invitation-only beta to all eligible PlayStation Plus and Gamer Advisory Panel (GAP) members. We’re kicking things off as a beta so that we can get feedback from our most loyal fans in order to make it the best possible rewards program it can be. It’s also worth noting that during the beta phase, the program will be focused on PlayStation 3 owners, but we hope to include PSP users as well not too far down the road. Oh, and one more thing: PlayStation Rewards will be free – there is no fee to join!

Now, to give you a bit more details on the new loyalty program… PlayStation Rewards is designed to give you the opportunity to gain exclusive status, recognition, and rewards as a thank you for your continued interest in PlayStation. And, the best part is that you don’t have to do anything different. Keep playing new games, buying content purchased from PlayStation Network in the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home, download movies and TV shows, or just communicate with us by taking one of our surveys, for example, and you’ll now be recognized for it.

The more you play and participate, the more progress you’ll make through our three reward tiers — “Select,” “Pro,” and “Legendary.” As your status increases, so do the rewards. And if you want to check out your current status level, simply go to your private profile page and look at the reward progress meter.

So what do you get? Right now, rewards include things like…

Exclusive PSN avatars that display member status in the program
Exclusive dynamic themes and PlayStation Home content
Opportunities throughout the program year to participate in members-only sweepstakes and giveaways for experiences and merchandise you won’t find elsewhere (The first of which is an all expenses paid trip to the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, as PlayStation’s guest).

Free 'Midnight' Movie: "Savage County" courtesy of Playstation Network

2010-10-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Nail-Biting Thrillers (10/19 – 10/25)

Free 'Midnight' Movie: Savage County: Free 'Midnight' Movie offer of Savage County will be available Saturday night from 5pm PST 10/23/2010 and ending 3am PST 10/24/2010. Offer is a FREE SD rental of Savage County. Valid in US only.

Deal of the Week: Nail-Biting Thrillers:You can find great thriller titles and more discounted from 10/21 – 10/27 under New Releases on PlayStation®Store!

Nail-Biting Thrillers Collection: Check out spine-tingling thrillers like The Amityville Horror, Hide and Seek, What Lies Beneath, all through the month of October!

Netflix: Watching Instantly with your Wii Console just got easier.

2010-10-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

You no longer need the Netflix instant streaming disc to instantly watch unlimited TV episodes & movies with your Wii. Choose from thousands of movies & TV episodes on your Wii.
	Get started! Simply download the Netflix channel from the Wii Shop Channel on your Wii™ console and follow the on-screen instructions. That's it! There's no need to send the disc back to Netflix. Watch instantly as often as you want, anytime you want without needing the instant streaming disc. Enjoy! –Your friends at Netflix

Guerrilla Games giving out limited Killzone 3 beta keys

2010-10-20T00:15:00.000-07:00

Sony originally stated that Killzone 3 multiplayer beta would be limited to Playstation Plus subscribers who were one of the first to download a free theme on the Playstation Store. Now Guerrilla Games has announced a very limited amount of beta keys available in a Twitter giveaway running until October 22.

Only 300 beta key will be available. 150 of those are slotted for North America with the other half going to Europe. You'll need to have a Twitter account and a valid PSN ID to participate and you'll need to enter by 2PM EST on October 22.

Step 1.
Log in to Twitter. If you don’t have a Twitter account yet, sign up here first.
Step 2.
Make sure you’re following Killzone.com’s official Twitter account, @killzonedotcom.
Step 3.
If you have a SCEE PSN account, tweet the message below to @killzonedotcom:
@killzonedotcom Please include me in the Killzone 3 beta! My PSN ID is [your PSN ID] #killzone3 #scee http://ow.ly/2Vfcf
If you have a SCEA PSN account, tweet the message below to @killzonedotcom:
@killzonedotcom Please include me in the Killzone 3 beta! My PSN ID is [your PSN ID] #killzone3 #scea http://ow.ly/2Vfcf
No need to copy-paste – just click on the message to open it in a new Twitter window. Remember to replace “[your PSN ID]” with your actual PSN ID before hitting that Tweet button!

Emails containing the beta key and instructions will be sent to the randomly chosen winners on October 25. So make sure your PSN ID has the correct email address in it.

Source: Killzone.com

FFXIV: An additional 30 days, for a combined period of 60 days FREE TRIAL

2010-10-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Read on for details:

First of all, we would like to thank you for joining us in the realm of Eorzea, and hope you are enjoying your adventures.
Since the official launch of service on September 30, 2010, we have received a wealth of constructive feedback from the FINAL FANTASY XIV community, and the development and management teams would like to take this opportunity to express their sincerest gratitude. For those who purchased the collector’s edition and began to play one week before official service began, the month-long free play period is drawing to a close. Considering the nature of much of the feedback we received, however, and the current state of the game, we have decided to extend the free trial period for all users. Please continue reading for further details.
We would like to assure players that the world of FINAL FANTASY XIV is constantly growing and evolving, and the voices of the community are essential to that process. The development and management teams are carefully considering all player feedback, and working diligently to implement whatever changes and additions will serve to make Eorzea a better home for adventurers. We humbly ask for your continued support to this end.
Today, we have released information regarding forthcoming version updates. For further details, please view the following Lodestone Topics:
·Version Updates Coming Soon! (10/15/2010)
( http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com/pl/index.html )
·Ask the Devs! (10/15/2010)
( http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com/pl/topics/detail?id=c07a85c2f170a53057f5a39f56e6fc02b03b1184 )
·Message from the Director (10/15/2010)
( http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com/pl/topics/detail?id=f2cf790e548828eb22d3c4dff5f04bf0793632b5 )
Free Trial Extension Details
Eligibility
All users who registered a FINAL FANTASY XIV service account and purchased a character by October 25, 2010 will be eligible.
*Character purchases must have been carried out no later than October 25, 2010 at 23:59(PDT).
*Accounts terminated due to User Agreement infractions are ineligible for extension.
*Holders of multiple service accounts may receive extensions on all accounts.
Extension Period
An additional thirty (30) days, for a combined free trial period of sixty (60) days.
*Free trial period end dates and initial billing dates will be automatically extended. Users are not required to take any action.
*Extensions will be for a period of thirty days regardless of billing cycle length. Regular billing will begin upon conclusion of the extended free trial.
*Should automatic renewal of options be disabled, the free trial will still be extended.
*Users notified by automated mail of either the end of their free trial period or the beginning of their billing period will still receive the extension.
*Extensions will be processed by the Square Enix Account Management System on or around October 19, 2010. An official announcement will be made at that time.
*Information regarding new billing period dates will be available via the Square Enix Account Management System.

Square Enix addresses several FFXIV hot topics in their upcoming version updates.

2010-10-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

*Updates are scheduled for November and Mid-December

Square Enix addresses several hot topics in their next "Ask the Devs!" segment.

With the gaming media in the midst of stirring up a Category 5 hurricane of criticism over the state of Final Fantasy XIV, the development team has been releasing segments of their "Ask the Devs!" series with a rather promising regularity.

In this next segment, they address hot issues such as the User Interface, Market Wards, and Teleportation Cost. Read on for the full details, hot off the press from the Lodestone!

The development and management teams continue to address the questions and concerns of the community in an ongoing FAQ.

The topic addressed this time around is the upcoming version update.

User Interface

Q. Exactly what type of adjustments or additions to the user interface are being planned?
A. Since the game's official release, the development team has continued their efforts in designing various new features, as well as retooling and improving existing ones. Currently, we are focusing on addressing the issues about which players have been most vocal, and are pleased to announce several key changes set to be implemented as soon as next month. The following is a partial list of what we have planned:

–Inventory Sort Feature
The late-November version update will include the addition of a feature that will allow players to sort their inventories.

–Menu Navigation
We are currently working on methods to make navigating the game's menus simpler and more efficient. In the forthcoming version update, we will focus on improving the Actions & Traits menu, starting by automating the selection of main/off hand.

In addition to the aforementioned improvements, the following adjustments are also planned:

Map

Players will be able to scroll their maps via dragging the mouse
A player's current coordinates will now be displayed on the main map
A player's current coordinates will now be displayed on journal maps (as long as the player is in the same area)
Players will be able to relay their current coordinates to others using the text command
The area name will be added to journal maps
A journal map feature will be added to the main map
The log window will no longer be hidden when maps are displayed

Log Window and Chat

New tabs will be added to the log window
Players will be able to open multiple log windows
Controller functionality will be added to the log window
Players will be able to use Ctrl+R to send instant replies to /tells
Players will be able to change chat modes via menu options
The Home and End keys will now function in the chat log
For players typing multi-byte characters, starting a new message with "/" will automatically switch the typeset to single byte
Players will be able to adjust the font color for various chat modes
Adjustments will be made to the transparency of the log window when unfocused

Menu

A Loot List icon will be added
A Loot List option will be added to the System Menu
The general layout of several menus will be adjusted
Previously completed quests will now appear in players' journals

Targeting

Adjustments will be made to target priority when using the Tab key to cycle through nearby targets
When targeting a party member, a target mark will now appear next to the target's name in the party member list
Players will be able to target party members via the party member list

Keyboard Settings

Several new functions will be added to the keyboard, such as a key used for targeting NPCs
Players will now be able to re-map all functions to any key (other than Esc)

Looking beyond the late-November version update, the team is also working on introducing drag and drop functionality to the Equipment & Gear and Actions & Traits menus, map markers indicating the location of party members, a method to initiate message input in the chat log without having to press the space bar, and more.

Markets and Retainers

Q. Today's maintenance introduced several changes to the Markets. Are there further changes planned?
A. The Markets have been a hot topic since the game's release, and today's maintenance was the first step in making this feature better suited to the needs of the players. With that step we saw the introduction of a one-click targeting system, making it easier to access a retainer's list of wares. We also saw a renaming of the wards combined with a reduced-tax system aimed to promote a more organized distribution of goods, therefore making it easier for players to find the items they seek.

For our next step, we plan on introducing additional features to make navigating the Markets even easier. These include the implementation of a search feature that will not only help players locate items in a Market district, but then display an icon next to the retainers who have those items, reducing the hassle of having to look through the inventories of retainers who may not have what a player seeks.

Return and Teleport Cost

Q. Return and Teleport have made travel within Eorzea quick and easy, but it seems like I am always running out of anima. Are there any adjustments being planned?
A. Yes. The first adjustment, which increased the speed at which anima regenerates, was implemented during a recent maintenance. The second adjustment, planned for the late-November version update, will see a significant reduction in the amount of anima required to teleport or return. To be specific, the cost for Returning will be reduced to 1, and halved for Teleportation to one of up to three "favorite" aetheryte destinations designated by the player.

Battle Balance

Q. What is the development team doing in the way of balancing battle?
A. Without straying from our original stance to provide players with a feasible means to play solo, we are working on improvements to the battle system that will make party play just as rewarding. One of the reasons players have little motivation to form a party is because there are currently few battles that require contriving a detailed plan of attack. To rectify this, we are currently conducting adjustments to areas such as enmity distribution rates and Battle Regimen effects. We will also be introducing several powerful creatures that will be better suited for party-based battles.

Monster Placement

Q. Where are all the monsters?
A. At the time of release, server load issues limited the number of enemies that could appear in areas where large amounts of PCs gathered, such as aetheryte camps situated near city-states. To alleviate this, we have increased the number of servers. This, combined with the fact that players are moving away from these areas and have begun to spread out over the world, will now allow us to increase the number of enemies roaming the realm.

Guildleves

Q. What changes and additions are planned for guildleves?
A. In the late-November update, we will be adding a new feature that allows players to adjust levequest difficulty after activating the guildleve. Furthermore, we will also be adding a feature that will allow players to abandon local levequests after accepting them.

The mid-December version update will introduce many new guildleves; among them special faction leves that pit players against deadly notorious monsters.

Synthesis

Q. What kind of changes are planned for synthesis?
A. The late-November patch will see adjustments to the required ranks and difficulty levels of various existing recipes, ensuring that players will have a better chance to successfully create items when reaching the optimal skill level.

For the mid-December update, we will be adding several new recipes, including ones for crafting new gear. In addition, we will be introducing a new feature that will allow players to select recipes from a list of recently crafted items and recipes learned through levequests, and set all of the appropriate ingredients with the touch of a single button, thus making repeated synthesis of a single item a snap!

Server Load

Q. The lag in some areas is lowering UI and battle response times, making it difficult to play. Why is this happening?
A. Even if a World server is not crowded, a large number of players gathering in a single place would increase server load, adversely affecting gameplay. To alleviate this, we have pinpointed heavy-traffic areas and split up their processing duties over multiple servers, reducing the chances that a single server will become overloaded.

Netflix becomes "disc-free" on the PS3

2010-10-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

If you instantly watch movies and TV shows from Netflix on your PS3, here is the news you’ve been waiting for: starting Monday, October 18 you’ll be able to instantly watch movies and TV shows without inserting an instant streaming disc into your console.

In addition to eliminating the disc, there is a new user interface that brings a much richer and faster browsing experience, content search directly on the device, and dramatic improvements in how fast playback starts.

There is even more good news for PS3 owners: starting on Monday you’ll be able to instantly watch some movies and TV shows in 1080i high definition, listen to Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound, and view an increasing portion of our content library with subtitles. This will bring the home theater experience right to your living room and make instantly watching movies even more enjoyable. Here’s a news release from Netflix and Dolby with details.
Check out these improvements and continue to enjoy watching TV shows and movies streamed from Netflix.

The Force Unleashed 2 Demo Now Available

2010-10-12T18:11:00.000-07:00

The demo hits today for those Xbox Live users as well as the Playstation Network players. Starting today (Oct.12) you are going to be able to download the latest demo from the StarWars Franchise. Although I play both systems I really hope they add the "Move" feature, this game seems like a good Ginnie pig to test the cool controller.

"The level focuses on the very beginning of the game, which takes in a secret cloning facility on the planet of Kamino. Starkiller, told by Vader he is no more than a clone, becomes tormented by the memories of his past and escapes into the rain-soaked planet with Vader not far behind. Unleash the power of dual Lightsabers, over-top Force powers including the new Jedi Mind Trick, and get a first taste on a journey that will take Starkiller across the Galaxy in search of the truth behind his past, as well as the woman he cannot forget."

LBP2 Beta invites coming your way.

2010-10-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

If you've bought previous downloadable content for the original LittleBigPlanet, are a big community contributor or subscribe to PlayStation Plus, don't take your eyes off your email inbox as you could be in with a chance of playing the beta.

Good news…the 2nd phase of our online beta will be ready next week. This phase will be a small phase, with invites going to a special mix of LBP contributors, DLC owners and PlayStation Plus members, so be on the lookout for an e-mail soon with your beta code. Don’t worry: there are more beta phases in the works, so if you don’t get in next week, we’ll keep you posted on following phases.

Sadly the current beta doesn't have support for Move, but with the promise of more phases on the way there could be some aspect of the controller in a future release. Stay tuned for more.

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood- Multiplayer Beta Available for PS3 Users

2010-10-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

   Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Multiplayer Beta is now available at the Playstation Network (PSN). The only requisite to download this beta is for you to be a Playstation Plus Subscriber. Depending of how hardcore gamer you are, make sure you don't miss this opportunity.

Street Release Date: November 16th 2010
Platforms: Xbox 360
   Playstation 3
   PC DVD

Final Fantasy XIV - Could this be final?

2010-10-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

Reportedly Square Enix is demanding the gaming press hold off publishing any reviews of Final Fantasy XIV until a month after the game’s release; unfortunately, players seem to have jumped the gun and are publishing their own less than favourable opinions of the game.

Review copies of Final Fantasy XIV have been accompanied by the admonition that reviews should be held back for “three to four weeks post launch” – the rubric apparently being that lots of time is needed “to give the online game time to mature.”

The demand is styled as a “polite request,” although review sites can probably be forgiven for suspecting their supply of future Square Enix titles might be in danger of drying up should they ignore the request.

Naturally, Square Enix’s growing legion of detractors (admittedly not necessarily any more reliable than Square Enix themselves) have their own interpretation of this – that Square Enix is attempting to delay news of an impending disaster.

Japanese user reviews are not so sparing – 38% and 1.5 stars over some 160 ratings

What do you think? Give me your thoughts, comment below....

Killzone 3 Beta Starts on October 25th

2010-10-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Killzone 3 Public Beta Trial really is coming! Just like its predecessor, the multiplayer mode for Killzone 3 will be put through rigorous testing at the hands of the toughest, most demanding critics in existence: you, the fans. The Trial starts on October 25th and access is limited, so please read the following instructions carefully if you want to know how to secure a spot in the Public Beta:

Be(come) a Plus subscriber
With the exception of a handful of key media partners and selected PAX feedback participants, access to the Killzone 3 Public Beta Trial is limited to PlayStation Plus subscribers. If you’re not enjoying the many benefits of Plus membership yet, now’s the time to sign up!
Download the theme
On October 19th, an exclusive Killzone 3 XMB Theme will appear in the Plus section of the PlayStation Store. The first 10,000 Plus subscribers to download this theme (5,000 SCEA Plus subscribers and 5,000 SCEE Plus subscribers) will receive access to the Public Beta Trial.
Check your email
After you’ve downloaded the Killzone 3 XMB Theme, you will receive an email on Oct. 25th containing the Public Beta Trial promotion code and further instructions through the address you registered as your PSN Sign-In ID. Make sure you’ve set your notification preferences to accept emails from SCE, or we won’t be able to contact you.

Those of you who make it into the Public Beta Trial are expected to provide honest gameplay feedback, report bugs and glitches, and help test our network code in real-world scenarios. In short, we’re counting on you to help us improve Killzone 3! In return you’ll get a good taste of the multiplayer mode, including its brand-new Operations game type, party system, and jetpack and exoskeleton vehicles.

Welcome to my new home! Goodbye LiveSpaces

2010-10-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

Yeap, That's right I have migrated blogger, ....not really since I have another blog with this account, but, the reality is that LiveSpaces merged with WordPress and all my blogs where transfered to them. I was cool and thought I could give them a chance but, since I'm already familiar with blogger and liked the customized themes options for the site that's why I'm here. So expect a lot of reviews and upcoming news and future betas postings. If you want to read any of my past blogs from LiveSpaces you can CLICK HERE!