Update lag

Well its been a few weeks since I last postes an update and a lot has happend! First off is the PlayStation store is up and running. The store will be updated every few days until all scheduled content has been released. Also today the welcome back package has been released. It includes 30 days of PS+ (60 if you were already a subscriber)  and 2 PS3 games from a list of 5 and 2 psp games from a list of 4. A dynamic theme is also available for free. Everyone should log on now and get downloading!

Next I have upgraded to the Xperia Play, the PlayStation phone. Let me say that my reluctance to leave Blackberry was a bad move. This phone is everything I wanted in a portable device. The controller is comfortable but the analog pads takes some getting used to. The installed apps and games are great and will be reviewed fully in upcoming updates!!! mis

PSN Restored

Finally the day has come!!! Download the new firmware update here to a usb drive and update your Ps3 from the settings>system update>update via storage media. This will be faster than through the internet on the Ps3. The PSN is being brought back online in stages. New England was first followed by California and Florida. The SOCOM webpage has a map on the bottom left that shows live update status. The Ps3 Blog also has a map but is significantly slow to update.

PSN Restoration

Well Wednesday came and went without the PSN coming back online. My next guess will be the end of the week although I am not sure it will be that long. Otherwise, they would again have told us by weeks end in the last update on the Playstation blog. Again they did not give us a firm date only to say within a few days. I can understand why they are not giving us a firm date. However, my frustration continues to grow. In the beginning I felt that Sony would be prompt and keep us apprised of all updates. This has NOT been the case at all! Time frames of network up time have come and gone and what little information that is released is simply regurgitated over and over. 

Hopefully, in the future we will look back on this and say "I am so glad they took the extra days to get the PSN right" . For me this will only come if more features are added and I feel that Sony has done their best to welcome us back!

Please come back PSN we all miss you!!!

Update: PSN Restoration

From this point forward I will no longer refer to the PSN related issue as an outage. The restoration process has begun and therefore is no longer an outage. Sony updated the "Official PSN forum" today saying "May 31st is the aim for ALL the PSN services to be restored and restoration of Online game-play across the PlayStation®3 (PS3) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems is the first phase of that restoration plan.".

My analysis of that statement and in consideration of previous statements, I have come to these conclusions.
     1.) That we will not have the PS Store or Qriocity services until May 31
     2.) That this will be a phased roll-out
     3.) That the first phase of this roll-out (online game-play) is going to begin soon.

Unfortunately there isn't enough information to say if chat and trophy sync will be included with online game-play. Sony has indicated those would be some of the first services to be restored. However, it is possible that they will be included with the second stage.

It is time to start holding your breath while you log on. The restoration process has begun! LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

PSN Outtage

Well the week has ended and no PSN. Today is day nineteen without all the pleasures that we have been accustomed to over the last years. Sony came out on Friday to tell us that the "external intrusion" into the SOE servers was worse than first thought. Although they did not say when the PSN would be back on they again assured that security was the utmost importance. Seems as though security should have been of the utmost importance from day one. I have stated that I do not blame Sony for what the hackers have done but, I feel that they are now hiding behind this security concern now. They appear to really have no idea as to when this issue will be resolved. It is also possible that after a some testing, more flaws have been discovered, and to refrain from further embarrassment simply told us that the system wont be ready as last indicated.

Other blog updates from last week informed us about the credit protection plan which insures us up to $1 million for a year. Also we were told about an appreciation plan that includes a free month in addition to the days the PSN is down and anywhere from 2 - 4 games. I have heard two from a list of five for PS3 and two from a list of four on the PSP.

DCUO and FreeRealms subscribers are also promised something special as well as time added on to thier account. DCUO blog indicated that everyone will receive a Batman mask. The stats better be off the chart!

Some non-official reports around the web have hinted at "Cross game chat" and other new features added to the PSN. I wont elaborate more much other than to say that you can find these via twitter or youtube. I would personally love to see some upgrades but I simply wish to play with my friends.

When the PSN does come back online you will have to download a firmware update and change your password. This seems to be the only rock solid information that Sony has revealed.

Brian

Game Rating Guide

I guess if I am going to be reviewing games I should define what will be reviewed. To me a good game is one that I want to play (playability), keeps me interested in how the end plays out (story), makes my eyes pop out (graphics),  and ears tingle (audio), and doesn't feel repetitive (replay value). Each of these will be graded on a scale of one to five. The over-all score will be out of a possible 25 points. This formula is experimental and subject to various tweaks as the flaws emerge. If my theory is correct it will be very hard for a game to score perfect, as no game should obtain a 5 in all categories.

Example Game
     Graphics:          4
     Story:               5
     Playability:        4
     Audio               3
     Replay Value:   3
     Overall Score: 19

This would be a better than average game however not a great one. Great games I would consider +20, good 19-15, average 14-10, 9-5 poor and 4-1 unplayable! Very few games will be in the unplayable category.

After a few months I will review my criteria and adjust it if necessary.

PSN STILL DOWN

Well, its been eight days since the Playstation network went down and alot has transpired since then. There have been many updates and an email sent to all 77 million users of the PSN. According to Sony the network will be back up within a week from April 26th. they also stated that our billing info, username and password, email and secret question with answer was compromised and should take the proper steps to secure your credit. However they are not positive that credit card was taken which in fact was encrypted while the personal info was not. I for one are not worried about mu CC info however I did take Sonys' advice and placed a fraud alert on my wifes and my own credit file through equifax. This is a free service that adds an additional layer of security between you and the banks to confirm your identity in case someone requests credit in your name. This may add a few days to any application for credit. You only have to place the alert with one agency. The other two will fall in line once they see you have placed an alert with the first.

Easter

Happy Easter! Have a good day and enjoy your families! Play some old-fashioned multiplayer and get that nephew, cousin, son/daughter wife/husband, or mom/dad on the couch and pummel them! Although in the spirit of Easter it might be better to play co-op!

PSN Outtage

Well it's been 4 days since Sony pulled the plug and there is no clear time frame as to when it will be back up. Sony however, has not been quiet. They have informed us that it was an "external intrusion" and to do a thorough investigation and stop any security breach they had to pull the plug. The latest statement from Sony can be found here. on the Playstation blog According to this article at PSU.com  Japan's PSN will be restored today and if all goes well EU and US regions tomorrow.

Hopefully the cost of downtime, additional 24 hour support for last four days and repair of equipment doesn't encourage Sony to adopt Micro$ofts' pay for play scheme! With any luck these hackers will be cought and prosicuted to the fullest extent of the law.



Update: This downtime has not allowed me to take full advantage of all the features in Portal 2 or Socom 4. Both of my reviews will be posted as soon as the PSN is back up and I have had ample time to play! Will be using the Sharpshooter peripheral with Socom 4 today but only single player.

Fridays Update

Well the PSN is still down. No word on whether this is hacker, earthquake or new service related. The last statement is here.


I know I promised first impressions of Portal 2 and Socom 4 but I am busy with real life stuff and who is reading this anyways??? Maybe tonight but dont hold your breath.

Announcement: Socom 4 and Portal Reviews incomming!

Later tonight I will post my first impressions of both games.

PSN down. Hackers to blame!?!?!

Well for the last few days I have not been able to log in to Sonys' website or been able to link my Steam account to my PSN account. I looked on the forums and could not find anything relating to my issue. There were however, several posts about intermittent outages and some services that were unavailable for short periods. Some were also having issues with the auto log-in feature. Uncheck the "auto log-in" box and logging in manually sometimes resolved the issue after repeated attempts. 

This morning, reviewing my tweets from the late night hours I see that there are several concerning PSN outages. FINALLY, Sony has acknowledged the issue although, they claim to not know what is wrong and are working to resolve and maintain service. They hinted on their blog that this may be the cause of "outside parties" and if it is they thank us for taking the brunt of the attack. Last week Anonymous (a group of hackers) threatened to attack Sonys' website and other services but not the PSN. Seems as though they cant tell which is which. They cannot be winning any support with this attack, I for one will only support Sony on this issue. In the end we the PSN subscribers will be the only ones suffering. Unable to play three of the most anticipated games of the year for a few days.

Socom 4

Went to Gamestop last night at midnight to get Socom 4 and Portal 2. As luck would have it there was a drawing for Mortal Kombat, I did not win. Impressions after playing each game for a few moments were good however caffeinated I may have been.

Today is much different.  Socom 4 is missing the ability to group before you enter a match. Do developers not watch whats going on around them? Did Zipper not see what happen with Slant 6 and Socom Confrontation? It was added later but was a major point in the games ill reception. Do they think that this game is online friendly without this? To me, the ability to group before you get into a match is essential to team play and something that makes the elite titles elite.

The core game may be great but if I cant get hooked up with my buddies before a match then I probably wont play. There are so many games that make it too easy to group up.