Report: PlayStation Store Back Online Next Week

 

The PlayStation Store might be accessible again as soon as Tuesday, according to a report published today.

Gaming blog Gamasutra says a memo sent from Sony to its game maker partners says May 24 is the date the online store for buying video games and video content will return, unless some problem arises in the meantime.

The letter, from PSN content manager Jack Osorno, reportedly included details of a new game-publishing schedule that would allow Sony to catch up on game releases that were bypassed while the network was offline for more than three weeks.

Sony previously had said only that it aimed to relaunch the store by May 31.

In a comment to gaming site Giant Bomb, Sony spokesman Patrick Seybold said, "We've not announced a specific date other than to say we expect to have the service fully restored by the end of the month. Anything other than that is purely speculative."

The return of the PlayStation Store will complete the relaunch of Sony's gaming network following a cyberattack last month. After more than 77 million PSN customers' personal data was compromised, Sony took the network, along with its Qriocity and Sony Online services, offline while it investigated and rebuilt its network security.

Related link
• PSN breach exposes records of millions (roundup)

The ability to sign in, change passwords, play games, and watch previously downloaded content returned on Saturday. Yesterday another vulnerability in Sony's security system was found that allowed anyone to change PSN users' passwords if they knew a user's e-mail address and date of birth, both part of the information stolen in the attack last month. Sony closed the loophole and took its PlayStation.com and Qriocity.com Web sites down for repair yesterday, though the game network remains accessible via the PlayStation 3 console and PlayStation Portable handheld device.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20064393-260.html#ixzz1NHsKj6uF

Anonymous: We Didn't Hack PlayStation Network

A letter purporting to represent the Anonymous hacking group claims the organization was not behind the PlayStation Network attack.

"If a legitimate and honest investigation...is conducted, Anonymous will not be found liable," reads the letter, which was posted to the Web yesterday. "While we are a distributed and decentralized group, our 'leadership' does not condone credit card theft."

The letter is a response to accusations on Sony's part that Anonymous is responsible for last month's massive assault on its customer data.

Earlier yesterday, Sony Computer Entertainment Chief Kazuo Hirai wrote in a letter to Congress that his company found a file named "Anonymous" on a Sony Online Entertainment server. However, Hirai stopped short of saying that he believes the hacker group stole customer data.

"When Sony Online Entertainment discovered this past Sunday afternoon that data from its servers had been stolen, it also discovered that the intruders had planted a file named 'Anonymous' on one of those servers, a file containing the statement with the words 'We are Legion,'" Hirai wrote.

Last month, Sony announced that the personal information of its 77 million PlayStation Network and Qriocity users was stolen in what it's now calling a "very carefully planned, very professional, highly sophisticated criminal cyberattack designed to steal personal and credit card information for illegal purposes." Though the company has said that it has found no incidences of identity theft or illegal purchases yet, the company's online services are still down. Sony Online Entertainment also went offline this week as the result of a cyberattack.

Anonymous did allegedly target Sony with a denial-of-service attack in early April in response to Sony's lawsuit against alleged PlayStation 3 hacker George Hotz. But it claims no involvement in the PlayStation Network hack.

Admittedly, trying to determine whether the letter actually represents Anonymous is difficult. As Anonymous points out, it's a "decentralized" group operating around the globe without any clear hierarchy. Whether a single letter posted to the Web can speak for the organization is nearly impossible to determine.

But there might be more than just Anonymous' apparent claims to help its case. As CNET's Elinor Mills pointed out yesterday in her report on Hirai's statement, Anonymous is typically long-winded when it leaves its stamp on a statement. In the past, the company has ended communications with "We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not Forgive. We do not Forget. Expect Us." As Sony pointed out, the file it found contained only "We are Legion."

Though Sony isn't quite ready to point any fingers directly, the company did say that Anonymous' denial-of-service attacks helped whomever was able to hack into the company's online services.

"Almost two weeks ago, one or more cybercriminals gained access to PlayStation Network servers at or around the same time that these servers were experiencing denial-of-service attacks," Hirai said. "The Sony Network Entertainment America team did not immediately detect the criminal intrusion for several possible reasons. That may have made it more difficult to detect this intrusion quickly--all perhaps by design.

"Whether those who participated in the denial-of-services attacks were conspirators or whether they were simply duped into providing cover for a very clever thief, we may never know," Hirai continued. "In any case, those who participated in the denial-of-service attacks should understand that--whether they knew it or not--they were aiding in a well planned, well executed, large-scale theft that left not only Sony a victim, but also Sony's many customers around the world."

Anonymous doesn't seem prepared to sympathize, and it ended its letter yesterday with a hint of its feelings about being cited in Sony's congressional statement.

"We do not forgive, even if others forgive our enemies for those things for which we are attacked," it wrote. "We do not forget, even if others fail to remember. We are legion, and will remain so no matter how many of our participants are raided by armed agents of a broken system. We are Anonymous. Expect us."

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20060033-17.html#ixzz1LUr9YexO

Wait And Buy Portal 2 On May 1, 2011, At Kmart

I know you want to have fun with science, but just wait. Seriously, be patient and wait. I know that Portal 2 is all spiffy and new, and those ads you’ve been seeing on buses and TV are awesome, but you will regret it if you go out and buy the game before May 1, 2011. That’s because it’s going to be on sale at Kmart for almost half off next week. See? Patience will pay off.

That’s especially true since Kmart’s Portal 2 deal takes almost 50% off the price. Go somewhere else before Saturday and you’ll pay $59.99 for it. Wait, and you’ll only pay $34.99. It’s practically a steal. Especially if you grab the PS3 version, which includes Steam codes for a free copy of the Windows and Mac version. The KmartGamer twitter just made this announcement, so you’ll know before everyone else grabs their Sunday papers. The tweet doesn’t state if it applies to all versions, but I’m sure the PS3 and Xbox 360 ones will be covered.

In case you by some miracle haven’t heard, Portal 2 is one of the most anticipated games of the summer. It’s a FPS/puzzle game where players help a research subject named Chell escape from a laboratory and evil robots. The evil robots are also quite funny, by the way. There’s also a multiplayer campaign mode and it is the first game where PS3 gamers can play with Windows and Mac gamers.

Well, I guess I have plans for Sunday morning now. Anyone else going to take advantage of this deal?

Read [KmartGamer] Site [Portal 2

 

 

Source: http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/wait-and-buy-portal-2-on-may-1-2011-at-kmart-34.99-sale/

Major Retailers Cut Price Of Wii To $169.99

Although Nintendo hasn't made it official, the Wii's price has been cut to $169.99.

Several major retailers, including GameStop, Best Buy, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, Target, and others are now selling the console at the reduced price. At those locations, customers can choose between the Wii White or Black bundle, which includes the console, a Wii MotionPlus Remote, the Wii nunchuk, Wii Sports, and Wii Sports Resort. The bundle was previously available for $199.99.

The price drop is especially notable, since Nintendo has yet to confirm that it has officially dropped the price of its Wii console. The company also did not immediately respond to CNET's request for confirmation that the Wii has officially gotten a $30 price drop.

In either case, a cheaper Wii isn't all that surprising. Just last week, Engadget cited sources who said Nintendo was planning to cut the Wii's price to $150 by May 15. Nintendo declined to comment to CNET at the time.

Nintendo's Wii was stuck at its former $200 price tag since 2009 when the company cut the price of its console from $250. Since then, critics have been calling on Nintendo to slash the price of its Wii, citing slumping demand for its console. In 2008, the company sold over 10 million Wii console units in the U.S. In 2009, it nearly hit the 10 million mark. Last year, however, its sales dropped to 7 million units.

Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata brought up the idea of a price cut back in October in an interview with the Associated Press. He said at the time that he had ruled it out in the "near future" but stopped short of saying that Nintendo wouldn't eventually cut the Wii's price.

"Of course, we cannot say [a Wii price cut] will never happen," Iwata said at the time.

If the Wii's price stays at $169.99, it might not be long before Microsoft and Sony follow suit with price cuts for their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, respectively. In a research note to investors in February, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said that 2011 would be the year of the price cut in gaming.

"After maintaining console prices at historically high points throughout 2010, all three console manufacturers appear to us to be poised for price cuts in 2011," he said at the time.

Look for more on that front in June at the E3 gaming expo.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20055218-17.html#ixzz1Jzb5FOoW

Analyst: Nintendo 3DS Sales Hit 500,000 In March

Nintendo's 3DS led the gaming market in hardware sales last month, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said in a note to investors today.

Pachter said he believes that Nintendo sold 500,000 3DS units in March, besting the Xbox 360 and Wii, with 480,000 and 410,000 unit sales, respectively. The analyst estimates that PlayStation 3 March sales hit 380,000 units.

Actual sales figures will be announced later this week by research firm NPD.

If Nintendo only sold 410,000 Wii units, its sales would be down 26 percent year over year. Microsoft's unit sales, on the other hand, would be up 42 percent compared with March 2010, while Sony's hardware sales would be up by 21 percent.

But it's Nintendo's feat in the portable space that might be most impressive. The 3DS, which allows users to play 3D games without the need for special glasses, hit store shelves March 27 in the U.S. That gave it just five days to trump other gaming devices that were sitting on store shelves for the entire month.

Even better news for Nintendo, the company told CNET in a statement last month that the portable's launch-day sales figures in the U.S. were higher than any other mobile-gaming device it has ever launched, including the venerable Game Boy and DS.

Of course, the fact that the Nintendo 3DS sold well in March isn't all that surprising. When the device launched in Japan in February, reports out of that country said it sold out in its first weekend of availability.

The 3DS also contributed to stronger industry-wide hardware sales last month. According to estimates from Pachter, sales were up 6 percent in March for a total of 2.275 million units sold across all devices. However, he said that software sales were down 8 percent last month to $805 million.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20052749-17.html#ixzz1JFIkxWFV

Nintendo 3DS Has Wow Factor--And Warning (Video)

Just when I thought 3D was a faded, "Avatar"-spawned fad, it starts popping up everywhere: TVs, smartphones, and now toys. I'm clearly not the target demographic for Nintendo's soon-to-be-released 3DS gaming device, but I can tell it's going to be a runaway hit with the kids. It's got the wow factor, the fun factor, and the pure novelty that combine to makes something buzz-worthy. But the part I wasn't expecting was Nintendo's serious warnings all over the device, packaging, and Web site cautioning that children aged 6 and under should use the 3DS only in its conventional, 2D mode. That's because, Nintendo has said, 3D viewing could potentially disrupt the developing eyesight of the younger set.

Concerned about the warning, we interviewed Dr. Andrew Iwach, an ophthalmologist in downtown San Francisco. As director of the Glaucoma Research Center, Iwach has done extensive research on the effects of 3D on kids' eyes. He told us the data on watching a 3D screen is inconclusive but that it doesn't point to any negative long-term side effects. He does caution, though, that moderation is always key when gaming.

That certainly proved true when my CNET colleague Donald Bell and I were playing around with the new gadget, which is set to hit stores March 27. Some of the features are seriously dizzying and nausea-inducing! (In fact, Nintendo's warnings have included advice to adults to take a break after 30 minutes of 3D play.) Among the more head-spinning features, for instance, are the augmented-reality games that read special 3D cards with the 3DS' cameras and then turn the surface of the cards into a playing field that interacts with you and the device. That's a great example of some of the seriously innovative tech behind the 3DS' wow factor. And again, I'm not the target audience for the Nintendo 3DS. But I have to say, whether we're talking about little kids or even adults, it sure is a good thing you can turn the 3D capabilities on and off.

Source w/ Video: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-20047253-235.html#ixzz1Hvewcqbf

3DS Demand 'Very Strong,' GameStop Says

Demand for the Nintendo 3DS will be quite high, video game retailer GameStop predicts.

"We are seeing very strong demand for the 3DS," GameStop President Tony Bartel said during an earnings call yesterday, according to a transcript posted on SeekingAlpha. "We've been working very closely with Nintendo to maintain our reservations, to keep them open, and Nintendo has been very good with providing us with additional supply of 3DS so that we can keep our reservations open."

The Nintendo 3DS is launching Sunday for $249.(Credit: Nintendo)

Even so, Bartel said it's been a battle. Demand for the upcoming portable has been so significant that the company has been forced to work "every day with Nintendo to ensure that we have sufficient product."

The clock is ticking on getting that supply. The Nintendo 3DS, which enables people to play 3D titles without the need for special glasses, is launching on Sunday for $249. According to Nintendo, the device will launch with 18 games. Another 12 titles will hit store shelves in the next couple months.

Demand for the 3DS hasn't only been high in the U.S. The platform launched in Japan last month and promptly sold out in its first weekend of availability. Whether that will happen in the States remains to be seen, but for now, Bartel is confident his company will "have sufficient product at launch."

Speaking of the launch, both GameStop and Nintendo plan to hold special events to welcome the new portable to the U.S.

Nintendo said today that it will be host a launch event starting Saturday night and carrying over into Sunday morning at the Union Square Best Buy in New York City. The company is planning "live entertainment, branded giveaway items, and hands-on demonstrations of the new system." Leading up to the event, Nintendo will be offering demos to customers.

GameStop's launch event will be far more widespread. The company said today that it will open over 800 stores around the U.S. at 12:01 a.m. local time on Sunday to let gamers get their hands on the device as soon as possible. Another 2,400 stores will be open earlier than usual at 9 a.m.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20047072-17.html#ixzz1HdI5YS5m