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.