Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Court approves settlement over Sony's 2011 PSN breach]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/24/court-approves-settlement-over-sonys-2011-psn-breach/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/24/court-approves-settlement-over-sonys-2011-psn-breach/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/24/court-approves-settlement-over-sonys-2011-psn-breach/#comments The US District Court for the Southern District of California approved a settlement for the class action lawsuit resulting from Sony's 2011 PSN data breach. The settlement may result in Sony doling out as much as $17.75 million, which includes an offer for one free game (PS3 or PSP only), three PS3 themes or credit for three months of PlayStation Plus membership (valid only for new subscribers).

The claimant groups are divided based on whether PSN account holders prior to May 15, 2011 took advantage of the "Welcome Back" program following the intrusion. Those that did not accept the PSN Welcome Back offer can claim two of the benefit options among the games, themes and PS Plus membership credit on a first come, first served basis until a $6 million allocation from Sony is reached. For those that did take advantage of the program, they will receive one of the benefits above until a $4 million allocation is reached.

Continue reading Court approves settlement over Sony's 2011 PSN breach

JoystiqCourt approves settlement over Sony's 2011 PSN breach originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>claimsclass-actionclass-action-lawsuitcourtlawsuitplaystationPlayStation-Networkps3PSNpsn-outage-2011pspsettlementsonywelcome-backThu, 24 Jul 2014 11:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony drops appeal for ICO-issued 2011 data loss fine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/13/sony-drops-appeal-for-ico-issued-2011-data-loss-fine/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/13/sony-drops-appeal-for-ico-issued-2011-data-loss-fine/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/13/sony-drops-appeal-for-ico-issued-2011-data-loss-fine/#comments Sony dropped its appeal and will therefore have to pay a £250,000 fine issued by the UK Information Commissioner's Office related to a massive data breach on PSN in April 2011. ICO issued the fine in January 2013, calling the hack a "serious breach of the Data Protection Act."

"After careful consideration we are withdrawing our appeal. This decision reflects our commitment to protect the confidentiality of our network security from disclosures in the course of the proceeding," a Sony representative told V3. "We continue to disagree with the decision on the merits."

JoystiqSony drops appeal for ICO-issued 2011 data loss fine originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Jul 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealdata-breachicoinformation-commissioners-officeplaystationps3PSNpsn-outage-2011ukSat, 13 Jul 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN hacking suspect sentenced to house arrest for destroying evidence]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/psn-hacking-suspect-sentenced-to-house-arrest-for-destroying-evi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/psn-hacking-suspect-sentenced-to-house-arrest-for-destroying-evi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/psn-hacking-suspect-sentenced-to-house-arrest-for-destroying-evi/#comments2008 PSN hacking suspect sentenced to house arrest for destroying evidence This week, 23-year-old Ohio resident Todd M. Miller was sentenced to a year of house arrest for destruction of evidence and obstructing a federal investigation into a 2008 hacker-led PlayStation Network breach.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that US District Judge Peter C. Economus said Miller was a member of the KCUF hacking clan in 2008 when the group organized an attack on the PlayStation Network, potentially compromising user data.

The FBI contacted Miller while investigating another hack in 2011 that resulted in an extended PSN outage. After obtaining a search warrant, the FBI entered Miller's home to find that his computers were smashed and his hard drives were missing. Lacking evidence to bring up Miller and another suspect on hacking charges, the FBI instead charged Miller with obstructing the investigation.

While Miller faced up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, he was sentenced to three years of probation and a year of house arrest for obstruction of justice. The judge additionally ordered Miller to obtain a high-school equivalence certificate, as part of his sentencing.

JoystiqPSN hacking suspect sentenced to house arrest for destroying evidence originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackoutageplaystationplaystation-networkps3psn-hackpsn-outage-2011Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN class action settled in Canada, users can claim benefits]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/psn-class-action-settled-in-canada-users-can-claim-benefits/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/psn-class-action-settled-in-canada-users-can-claim-benefits/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/psn-class-action-settled-in-canada-users-can-claim-benefits/#comments While payouts are still pending the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Sony has settled in a class action lawsuit over the PSN hack and outage in 2011. If you were affected by the outage (i.e. if you had a PSN, Qriocity, or SOE account in 2011, and you're in Canada) you can fill out a claim form here.

If you stopped using your PSN account after the hack, you can ask for the contents of your wallet to be reimbursed. If you kept your PSN account and participated in the "Welcome Back" promotion, you can choose an additional game from a list consisting mostly of the "Welcome Back" games, or you can choose three dynamic PSN themes, or half off three months of PlayStation Plus. Qriocity accounts are entitled to one additional free month. SOE accounts can request repayment of wallet balances for no-longer-used accounts, or $4.50 in "Station Cash."

There is a separate claim form for PSN users who suffered losses from identity theft as part of the hack.

JoystiqPSN class action settled in Canada, users can claim benefits originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadaclass-actionlawsuitplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnpsn-outage-2011Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[UK government fines Sony for 'serious' 2011 PSN breach, Sony to appeal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/uk-government-fines-sony-for-serious-2011-psn-breach-sony-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/uk-government-fines-sony-for-serious-2011-psn-breach-sony-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/uk-government-fines-sony-for-serious-2011-psn-breach-sony-to/#comments The UK Information Commissioner's Office has fined Sony £250,000 for the offense of having been hacked in 2011. The office called the infamous PlayStation Network hack "a serious breach of the Data Protection Act."

The ICO found that the attack was preventable "if the software had been up-to-date," and passwords were not sufficiently protected. "The penalty we've issued today is clearly substantial," said Deputy Commissioner and Director of Data Protection David Smith, "but we make no apologies for that. The case is one of the most serious ever reported to us. It directly affected a huge number of consumers, and at the very least put them at risk of identity theft."

Sony plans to appeal the ruling, according to a statement passed on by BBC reporter Steph McGovern.

JoystiqUK government fines Sony for 'serious' 2011 PSN breach, Sony to appeal originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps3psn-hackpsn-outage-2011pspsonyukThu, 24 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Class action lawsuit from PlayStation Network hack mostly dismissed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/class-action-lawsuit-from-playstation-network-hack-mostly-dismis/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/class-action-lawsuit-from-playstation-network-hack-mostly-dismis/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/class-action-lawsuit-from-playstation-network-hack-mostly-dismis/#comments Federal Judge Anthony Battaglia dismissed several key claims of a class action lawsuit leveled against Sony after 2011's PSN hack. Battaglia's order dismissed such claims as negligence, restitution, unjust enrichment, bailment and violations of California consumer protection statutes, Courthouse News reported.

Battaglia found that Sony didn't violate consumer protection laws because "none of the named plaintiffs subscribed to premium PSN services, and thus received the PSN services free of cost." Additionally, the privacy policy that all subscribers signed included "clear admonitory language that Sony's security was not 'perfect,'" and "no reasonable consumer could have been deceived."

The bailment charge was dropped because "plaintiffs freely admit, plaintiffs' personal information was stolen as a result of a criminal intrusion of Sony's Network," Battaglia wrote. "Plaintiffs do not allege that Sony was in any way involved with the Data Breach."

Battaglia offered the class an option to amend its claims for injunctive relief and violation of consumer protection law.

JoystiqClass action lawsuit from PlayStation Network hack mostly dismissed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-actionclass-action-lawsuithacklawsuitplaystationps3psn-hackpsn-outage-2011SONYsony-hackTue, 23 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How GeoHot went from winning science fairs to instigating the hacker war]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/how-geohot-went-from-winning-science-fairs-to-instigating-the-ha/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/how-geohot-went-from-winning-science-fairs-to-instigating-the-ha/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/how-geohot-went-from-winning-science-fairs-to-instigating-the-ha/#commentsImageHackers built the Internet. Throughout the 1970s and '80s hackers altered the Internet from a strictly business communications system for the defense department and librarians into a robust online community for anyone with a computer to use as they pleased. The Internet and computer technology is still evolving, perhaps at a a faster, more public rate today, and hackers are still at the forefront of its design. Hackers such as Geohot, the guy who rooted Sony's PS3 early last year.

George Hotz posted the PS3 root key online with a statement reading "I don't condone piracy" in January 2011 and it spread online. Geohot became an unsuspecting martyr in the hacker community when Sony sued him and won an injunction barring him from ever tampering with a Sony product again. Thus began the hacker wars, The New Yorker suggests in a biographical run-down of 2011's events.

Hotz was brilliant in science and technology fields throughout middle and high school, winning $15,000 at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2007 and appearing in Forbes and on The Today Show for his technological achievements.

He hacked the PS3 master key while he was high on OxyContin and Vicodin. He didn't condone or participate in any of Anonymous' hacks into Sony's servers, and since his online spotlight has faded he's worked for Facebook, quit and run amok in Panama, and met with Sony engineers curious about his methodology. He has reminders to "Call therapist" on his whiteboard. Geohotz is human, The New Yorker makes sure to point out.

The full story is available here, or we figure you can just watch this eerily similar dramatic recreation of an antisocial programmer's rise to fame. They're both human, after all.

JoystiqHow GeoHot went from winning science fairs to instigating the hacker war originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymousGeohotGeorge-HotzhackhackerLulzSecplaystationps3psn-outage-2011sony-hackMon, 30 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lawsuit filed against Sony's anti-lawsuit provision]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/lawsuit-filed-against-sonys-anti-lawsuit-provision/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/lawsuit-filed-against-sonys-anti-lawsuit-provision/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/lawsuit-filed-against-sonys-anti-lawsuit-provision/#comments
A class-action suit filed in a California court late last month seeks to reverse Sony's forced prevention of class-action suits, which the company buried in a mandatory PSN update, following the PSN security breach earlier this year.

Gamespot reports the suit claims Sony engaged in unfair business practices by forcing consumers to choose between giving up access to PSN or the right to a class-action lawsuit over hardware they purchased. The suit also calls out Sony for only allowing consumers to opt-out of the class action provision by snail mail, rather than any modern communication method.

We've contacted Sony for an official statement about the suit.

Update: A Sony representative informed us, "We don't comment on pending litigation."

JoystiqLawsuit filed against Sony's anti-lawsuit provision originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-actionlawsuitplaystationps3psn-outage-2011SonyTue, 20 Dec 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[New PS3 Terms of Service aim to prevent class-action lawsuits, are part of mandatory PSN update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/new-ps3-terms-of-service-aim-to-prevent-class-action-lawsuits-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/new-ps3-terms-of-service-aim-to-prevent-class-action-lawsuits-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/new-ps3-terms-of-service-aim-to-prevent-class-action-lawsuits-a/#comments
Unsurprisingly, the nearly month-long PlayStation Network outage and related security breach resulted in the inevitable class action lawsuit. And while that's fair game, Sony isn't taking it lying down. The Japanese consumer electronics giant has amended its online gaming service's Terms of Service - that's the giant wall-o-text that consumer have learned to gloss over while hunting for the "Agree" action. Sony's solution: Why, a mandatory system update, of course!

The next time users log into PSN, they'll be greeted with the all-too-familiar request to update their consoles; however, this update includes the aforementioned new Terms of Service which, amongst other things, include the following notable enhancement:
ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDINGS, WHETHER IN ARBITRATION OR COURT, WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR AS A NAMED OR UNNAMED MEMBER IN A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, REPRESENTATIVE OR PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL LEGAL ACTION, UNLESS BOTH YOU AND THE SONY ENTITY WITH WHICH YOU HAVE A DISPUTE SPECIFICALLY AGREE TO DO SO IN WRITING FOLLOWING INITIATION OF THE ARBITRATION. THIS PROVISION DOES NOT PRECLUDE YOUR PARTICIPATION AS A MEMBER IN A CLASS ACTION FILED ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 20, 2011.
Naturally, this change isn't going to sit well with consumers but it is in Sony's best interest to try any and everything it can to protect itself from retaliation if and when this happens again. Sony's Patrick Seybold addressed the change, saying, "This language in our TOS is common and similar to that of many other service related Terms of Service Agreements. It is designed to benefit both the consumer and the company by ensuring that there is adequate time and procedures to resolve disputes." You can opt out of this easily, by just ... sending a letter? Sony is keeping things simple, and offers this easy opt-out method:
RIGHT TO OPT OUT OF BINDING ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER WITHIN 30 DAYS. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THE BINDING ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER IN THIS SECTION 15, YOU MUST NOTIFY SNEI IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DATE THAT YOU ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT. YOUR WRITTEN NOTIFICATION MUST BE MAILED TO 6080 CENTER DRIVE, 10TH FLOOR, LOS ANGELES, CA 90045, ATTN: LEGAL DEPARTMENT/ARBITRATION AND MUST INCLUDE: (1) YOUR NAME, (2) YOUR ADDRESS, (3) YOUR PSN ACCOUNT NUMBER, IF YOU HAVE ONE, AND (4) A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT YOU DO NOT WISH TO RESOLVE DISPUTES WITH ANY SONY ENTITY THROUGH ARBITRATION.
We'd love to know what kind of postcard you're using for this letter and, as Ars Technica points out, you may want to get signature and tracking service. For more thrilling reading from the new Terms of Service, head on past the break where we've embedded the entire thing, with changes marked in red.

Continue reading New PS3 Terms of Service aim to prevent class-action lawsuits, are part of mandatory PSN update

JoystiqNew PS3 Terms of Service aim to prevent class-action lawsuits, are part of mandatory PSN update originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hey-waitaminuteplaystationplaystation-networkps3PSNpsn-outage-2011sceasonyterms-of-serviceToSFri, 16 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony names former US Homeland Security official Philip Teitinger as 'Chief Information Security Officer']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/sony-names-former-us-homeland-security-official-philip-teitinger/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/sony-names-former-us-homeland-security-official-philip-teitinger/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/sony-names-former-us-homeland-security-official-philip-teitinger/#comments Though Sony's initial reaction to the enormous PlayStation Network breach earlier this year may have been less than stellar, the company responded in force as time went on, even vowing to hire a "Chief Information Security Officer" eventually. This morning, the company named the person filling that position: former director of the US National Cyber Security Center Philip Reitinger. Serious business!

Reitinger is actually filling two roles, as he's been hired on as senior vice president as well as chief information security officer, reporting to executive VP and general counsel Nicole Seligman. A Sony spokesperson reconfirmed that the appointment of Reitinger was due to this year's PSN breach, and specifically noted, "We are looking to bolster our network security even further." May we suggest hiring a certain superhacker known as "Zero Cool"?

JoystiqSony names former US Homeland Security official Philip Teitinger as 'Chief Information Security Officer' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackersphilip-reitingerplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonyus-department-of-homeland-securityTue, 06 Sep 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Stringer: PSN bouncing back after this year's attack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/stringer-psn-bouncing-back-after-this-years-attack/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/stringer-psn-bouncing-back-after-this-years-attack/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/stringer-psn-bouncing-back-after-this-years-attack/#comments PlayStation Network has had a hell of a time with public relations this year. After the well-publicized attack on the service (which potentially exposed the personal information of millions of users), Sony has done everything it can to regain the trust and goodwill of its customers. It would seem those efforts appear are paying off, according to claims conveyed by CNET.

The site reports that Sony CEO Howard Stringer recently addressed the subject at the IFA conference in Berlin, saying that PlayStation Network is "more secure and better than ever." He added that the company is working to expand the service, which has added 3 million new customers since the attack. Furthermore, Stringer noted that PSN sales have actually increased relative to pre-attack levels.

According to Stringer, "the summer of our discontent is behind us."

JoystiqStringer: PSN bouncing back after this year's attack originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesshoward-stringerplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnpsn-outage-2011Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Tim Schaaff: PSN outage was a 'great learning experience']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/sonys-tim-schaaff-psn-outage-was-a-great-learning-experience/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/sonys-tim-schaaff-psn-outage-was-a-great-learning-experience/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/sonys-tim-schaaff-psn-outage-was-a-great-learning-experience/#comments We suppose that after having your 77 million-user-strong gaming and shopping network shut down for close to six weeks, you learn how to see the silver lining on even the darkest clouds. For instance, Sony Network Entertainment president Tim Schaaff recently spoke at the GamesBeat 2011 conference about the PSN downtime, and said Sony is "very pleasantly surprised by the experience," explaining that, "the customers have all come back, and network performance is better than ever, sales are better than ever."

Though the downtime cost Sony an estimated $171 million, Schaaff added, "It's been a great experience," and later clarifying, "I would not like to do it again. One time was enough. Great learning experience." We agree! Without the ability to play games online on our PS3s for a month and a half, we had time to learn all kinds of stuff, like rollerblading, flying a kite, and some very basic ukulele techniques.

JoystiqSony's Tim Schaaff: PSN outage was a 'great learning experience' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps3psn-outage-2011pspsonytim-schaaffThu, 14 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony extends identity-theft protection registration through July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/sony-extends-identity-theft-protection-registration-through-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/sony-extends-identity-theft-protection-registration-through-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/sony-extends-identity-theft-protection-registration-through-july/#comments Sony has extended the registration period in the United States for its identity-theft protection service, AllClear ID Plus, which will provide one year of free, intensive security coverage for PSN and Qriocity users. Registration will now run until July 31 (at 11:59:59 p.m. CST, Sony has been sure to clarify), right from the US PlayStation website.

The offer initially ended June 28, so sign up now while this armored, bullet-proof window of opportunity is still open.

JoystiqSony extends identity-theft protection registration through July originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allclear-idAllclearIdPlusextensionplaystationps3psn-outage-2011pspsonySat, 09 Jul 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Store returns to Japan July 6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/playstation-store-returns-to-japan-july-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/playstation-store-returns-to-japan-july-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/playstation-store-returns-to-japan-july-6/#comments Good news for those of us waiting to log into our Japanese PSN accounts and pick up more freebies! Oh, and also for people who actually live in Japan. Sony has finally straightened out all the issues holding back the relaunch of the PlayStation Store there, and will fully reactivate the store, Qriocity, and all other inactive services on July 6.

Japan is the last region to be reactivated, according to Sony; thus, with the renewal of all of the PSN services, Sony can now claim that the PSN is back. And we can soon claim our copy of Echochrome.

JoystiqPlayStation Store returns to Japan July 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanplaystationplaystation-storeps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonywelcome-backMon, 04 Jul 2011 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Sony CEO Stringer asked to step down by shareholder]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/report-sony-ceo-stringer-asked-to-step-down-by-shareholder/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/report-sony-ceo-stringer-asked-to-step-down-by-shareholder/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/report-sony-ceo-stringer-asked-to-step-down-by-shareholder/#comments During a Q&A session at Sony's annual shareholder meeting last night, an investor asked CEO Howard Stringer why he was still there. Okay, it wasn't that abrupt, but according to AV Watch's report of the proceedings, an investor did call for a change of leadership, due to lowered trust and stock prices after the PSN data breach.

Stringer responded by saying the question was understandable, and then apologized for the inconvenience (again). He said Sony is working to strengthen its information management systems to their "maximum."

Stringer also told shareholders that, following the resumption of PSN services, 90% of users have returned. Presumably, that's 90% of the users who can return, a group that doesn't include anyone in Japan since PSN access (specifically the store) hasn't been fully reactivated.

JoystiqReport: Sony CEO Stringer asked to step down by shareholder originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>howard-stringerplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonyTue, 28 Jun 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Class action lawsuit alleges Sony layoffs made PSN vulnerable]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-sony-layoffs-made-psn-vulnerable/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-sony-layoffs-made-psn-vulnerable/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-sony-layoffs-made-psn-vulnerable/#comments A class action suit was filed this week in San Diego, alleging that Sony made its online services less safe by laying off important staff just before the April security breach. The suit, against Sony Corporation of America, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment International, is based on testimony from confidential witnesses (ex-Sony employees) who claim that Sony knew its security was compromised due to previous, smaller-scale intrusions. An SOE platform engineer claims that "Sony's technicians only installed firewalls on an ad-hoc basis after they determined that a particular user was attempting to gain unauthorized access to the network."

The suit also alleges, as stated by another confidential witness, that Sony "spent lavishly" on security measures for its own PS DevNetwork, but didn't put the same effort or budget into securing users' data.

Sony Online Entertainment enacted large-scale layoffs in March of this year -- just weeks before the massive data breach. One witness quoted in the claim said that those layoffs included staff from the company's Network Operations Center, which would have been instrumental in addressing a data breach.

JoystiqClass action lawsuit alleges Sony layoffs made PSN vulnerable originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lawsuitlayoffsplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonysony-online-entertainmentFri, 24 Jun 2011 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Three arrests made in connection with PSN hack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/three-arrests-made-in-connection-with-psn-hack/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/three-arrests-made-in-connection-with-psn-hack/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/three-arrests-made-in-connection-with-psn-hack/#comments The New York Times reports that the Spanish police have picked up three suspects in connection with the PSN hack that brought the network down over the last month and a half.

The arrests include one man in the city of Gijón who allegedly had a computer in his house that was used to attack PSN. The same computer was reportedly involved in attacks on Spanish banks and other entities. The other two arrests took place in Valencia and Barcelona, but no further information was provided.

Spain's National Police, according to NYT, claim that the three suspects were part of the "local leadership" of the hacking group Anonymous, and that the police found its suspects by analyzing chat logs and web pages. The arrests were made as part of an investigation that began in October of last year following a hack on the Spanish Ministry of Culture website. Anonymous has previously denied official involvement with the PSN hack, though some members have speculated that the attackers were likely connected to the group.

[Thanks, David!]

JoystiqThree arrests made in connection with PSN hack originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonyspainFri, 10 Jun 2011 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[SCEA president Jack Tretton apologizes for PSN breach and outage]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/scea-president-jack-tretton-apologizes-for-psn-breach-and-outage/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/scea-president-jack-tretton-apologizes-for-psn-breach-and-outage/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/scea-president-jack-tretton-apologizes-for-psn-breach-and-outage/#comments With surprising candor, Sony Computer Entertainment Americal president Jack Tretton kicked off the Sony E3 2011 press conference with a formal apology for the PSN breach and outage which plagued the system earlier this year. Check out a video of his statements after the jump.

Continue reading SCEA president Jack Tretton apologizes for PSN breach and outage

JoystiqSCEA president Jack Tretton apologizes for PSN breach and outage originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apologye3-2011jack-trettonplaystationps3psn-outage-2011pspsonySony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaMon, 06 Jun 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Network's 'Welcome Back' content now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/playstation-networks-welcome-back-content-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/playstation-networks-welcome-back-content-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/playstation-networks-welcome-back-content-now-available/#comments Sony is currently rolling out the content previously detailed in its "Welcome Back" package in North America. A post on the US PlayStation Blog details as much, and dishes out a lengthy FAQ on the offerings. First and foremost, if you weren't a PlayStation Network user before April 20, 2011, you're out of luck.

For the rest of us, PS3 owners can choose two free games from a list of five, while PSP owners can choose two free games from a list of four. To do so, head to the PlayStation Store and then to the "Welcome Back" area where you'll see the selection of titles (seen above).

There's also a new free version of PlayStation Plus, which is the one free month everyone gets as part of the "Welcome Back" program. And finally, the promised free "On Us" films are also currently being offered, and will remain so throughout the coming weekend. You'll have one month to grab your free games and other content, as the Welcome Back tab will disappear after July 3, 2011.

PlayStation Plus users will automatically have 60 extra days added to their subscriptions, Sony says. And though no details have yet been provided, "posts over the coming days" will apparently explain how the past month of missing content will be added to PSN.

Update: The European "Welcome Back" content is now also rolling out, according to the EU PlayStation Blog.

Update 2: As you might expect, things are a tad bumpy (especially on the PSP side of things, which isn't even showing a "Welcome Back" option for us), so maybe waiting an hour or two would be a good idea.

Update 3: If you can't get your free games even though you used to be able to see them, we've got the fix from the EU PS Blog after the break!

Continue reading PlayStation Network's 'Welcome Back' content now available

JoystiqPlayStation Network's 'Welcome Back' content now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europeeuropean-unionnorth-americaplaystationplaystation-storeps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonywelcome-backFri, 03 Jun 2011 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Security expert says PSN still not safe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/security-expert-says-psn-still-not-safe/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/security-expert-says-psn-still-not-safe/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/security-expert-says-psn-still-not-safe/#comments While Sony is busy welcoming its customers back to PlayStation Network, some aren't celebrating just yet. Speaking to IndustryGamers, security expert Gregory Evans said that PSN still isn't safe because Sony is "relying on the wrong people to secure their system." Specifically, Evans believes that Sony (and most companies) use "IT managers" instead of true security experts or, to put it a different way, hackers.

IT managers, in Evans' estimation are "just book-smart people who went out and read a book and passed the test." He likened them to military infantry, trained only in basic skills, whereas hackers are more like highly skilled Navy SEALS.

Evans would seem to be something of an expert on the subject ... having been to federal prison for hacking major companies like AT&T, Sprint and Worldcom. Evans now runs a security company, helping companies build more secure networks. Sony isn't a special case, however, as Evans noted that any online-capable gaming console is potentially at risk and no network is completely secure. He added further that "these attacks will continue to happen." So, happy gaming, everyone!

JoystiqSecurity expert says PSN still not safe originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftnintendoplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011wiixboxThu, 02 Jun 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN will be 'fully restored' today [Update: PlayStation Store back in North America]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/psn-will-be-fully-restored-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/psn-will-be-fully-restored-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/psn-will-be-fully-restored-today/#comments Though there weren't that many days left in this week in which to relaunch PSN, Sony has officially narrowed down the date for reactivation of the PlayStation Store and other services -- to today (June 2). Qriocity services will also come back.

In a brief press release sent out tonight, Sony announced plans to "fully restore" services everywhere but Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Additional details about each region's "Welcome Back" package (like, we assume, how to get it) will be announced soon.

As for the strange timing of this press release: it was issued from Tokyo, and thus timed for Japan but ... Japan is one of the three places that isn't affected by this news. Just something to think about as you're reading this at like 1 AM.

Update: Still up? Go browse the PlayStation Store! The PlayStation Blog details a bunch of new content available on the now-active store, including Wizardry: The Labyrinth of Lost Souls on PS3, the Turbografx-16 classics Alien Crush, Bomberman '94 and Bonk's Adventure on both PSP and PS3, and Sega Rally Online Arcade. There's also a single-player demo for MotorStorm: Apocalypse. There's ... a lot to take in. What you won't be taking in yet is the Welcome Back stuff: it's " currently in the final stages of testing."

Continue reading PSN will be 'fully restored' today [Update: PlayStation Store back in North America]

JoystiqPSN will be 'fully restored' today [Update: PlayStation Store back in North America] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-storeps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonywelcome-backThu, 02 Jun 2011 00:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN to undergo maintenance today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/psn-to-undergo-maintenance-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/psn-to-undergo-maintenance-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/psn-to-undergo-maintenance-today/#comments Before PSN returns in full force this week, we must relinquish our ability to play online games one more time. The UK PlayStation site reports that the service will be down for maintenance from 4:30 PM GMT today (12:30 PM EST) until 7:01 AM GMT Thursday (3:01 AM EST). If you do want to keep playing online, though, you'll have to make sure that you're signed in to the service before they pull the plug today.

Sony hasn't announced anything for other regions, but if there's one thing we feel safe about assuming, it's a PSN outage. And if it results in renewed PlayStation Store functionality, we are prepared to sit one more day out.

JoystiqPSN to undergo maintenance today originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europeplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonyukWed, 01 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN to be 'fully restored' by the end of the week, Sony says]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/psn-to-be-fully-restored-by-the-end-of-the-week-sony-says/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/psn-to-be-fully-restored-by-the-end-of-the-week-sony-says/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/psn-to-be-fully-restored-by-the-end-of-the-week-sony-says/#comments Sony announced this morning that it will "fully restore all PlayStation Network services" to America, Europe and Asia by the end of this week. Regions being omitted from this final push include Japan, which recently began its own phased restoration, and Hong Kong and South Korea.

The full functionality includes use of the PlayStation Store, voucher and code redemption, full use of Qriocity and Media Go. The company says that customers can now purchase games and videos from the PSN for PS3 and PSP. (We're checking to find out if there will be a PSN Tuesday update today.)

This also means details on the "Welcome Back" program and, more importantly, the method for redeeming those free games, should be available shortly.

JoystiqPSN to be 'fully restored' by the end of the week, Sony says originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 May 2011 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps3psn-outage-2011pspsonyTue, 31 May 2011 08:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Network Entertainment head addressing US Congress next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/sony-network-entertainment-head-addressing-us-congress-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/sony-network-entertainment-head-addressing-us-congress-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/sony-network-entertainment-head-addressing-us-congress-next-week/#comments Following Sony's announcement of the PSN data leak, Congress sent an inquiry to the company seeking more information about the breach and Sony's response to it. And Sony responded to that with ... an open letter.

Now Sony Network Entertainment president Tim Schaff plans to make an actual, personal appearance before the House subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, to discuss follow-up questions sent to the company by Representative Mary Bono Mack. The questions speak to the nature of the stolen data, the method through which it was stolen, and how Sony plans to keep data safe in the future. Schaff will be joined by a representative from Epsilon, a marketing company who suffered its own recent data breach.

We're guessing the members of the subcommittee will all have their "Welcome Back" copies of InFamous hand-delivered.

JoystiqSony Network Entertainment head addressing US Congress next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 May 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>congressplaystationps3psn-outage-2011pspsonysony-network-entertainmenttim-schaffFri, 27 May 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Atari: Daggerdale to miss May 31 PSN launch, game may fall into publishing queue [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/atari-daggerdale-to-miss-may-31-psn-launch-network-not-gonna/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/atari-daggerdale-to-miss-may-31-psn-launch-network-not-gonna/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/atari-daggerdale-to-miss-may-31-psn-launch-network-not-gonna/#comments Atari addressed fans waiting for the PS3 version of Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale today, announcing on Twitter that the game would miss its planned May 31 launch on the platform. The reason stated, however, is far more interesting than the news of a delay -- according to Atari, it "looks like Playstation Network is not gonna be ready for #Daggerdale release on 5/31."

Despite an internal memo from Sony stating that the PS Store would be up as early as this past Tuesday (which clearly didn't happen), and statements from the company that "all services" would be restored by the end of May, it seems (at least for this publisher) that the PS Store may remain offline longer than expected. The tweet also says to "Stay tuned for more details today." We've reached out to both Sony and Atari for comment, but had yet to hear back as of publishing.

Update: The PlayStation Store's revival might not miss its targeted launch date after all. An Atari representative responded to us, explaining, "Our recent tweet was not intended to speak to Sony's service coming back online or being delayed, but to inform our fans that we expect Daggerdale to be placed in PSN's publishing queue behind other titles that were meant to launch during the service outage and that it might not hit the May 31 date."

JoystiqAtari: Daggerdale to miss May 31 PSN launch, game may fall into publishing queue [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 May 2011 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataridungeons-and-dragons-daggerdaleplaystationplaystation-networkplaystation-storeps-storeps3psnpsn-outage-2011Fri, 27 May 2011 11:46:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN service coming back in Asia tomorrow, Welcome Back package detailed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/psn-service-coming-back-in-asia-tomorrow-welcome-back-package-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/psn-service-coming-back-in-asia-tomorrow-welcome-back-package-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/psn-service-coming-back-in-asia-tomorrow-welcome-back-package-d/#comments While there were some extra ... hurdles before PlayStation Network services could be restored in Japan, Sony announced that the phased renewal of network services for Japan and other Asian territories will go through tomorrow -- except for Korea and Hong Kong, whose service renewal "will be announced as soon as ready." Like North America and Europe, the services coming back include online play, sign-in (with password change), and Home. The torne DVR thing will also be usable again.

When the PlayStation Store does return, PSN members in Asia will have their own PS3 and PSP Welcome Back packages, from which to choose two games for each system. And they're ... different. Instead of games like Dead Nation and Infamous, PS3 owners can choose from the following five games:
  • The Last Guy
  • LocoRoco Cocoreccho!
  • echochrome
  • WipEout HD
  • Hustler King
And for PSP, the choices include:
  • Yuhshanokuseninamaikida or2 PSP(R) the Best (What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord!? 2)
  • Everybody's Stress Buster (Hot Shots Shorties)
  • PATAPON2 PSP(R) the Best
  • LittleBigPlanet Portable
  • LocoRoco -Midnight Carnival-
Users also get 30 days free PlayStation Plus access, Home stuff, free "select" movie rentals, and a month of "Platinya" membership for the weekly news program/cat minigame collection Weekly Toro Station.

JoystiqPSN service coming back in Asia tomorrow, Welcome Back package detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 May 2011 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiajapanplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonytornewelcome-backFri, 27 May 2011 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Sign up now for free PSN identity theft protection]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/sign-up-now-for-free-psn-identity-theft-protection/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/sign-up-now-for-free-psn-identity-theft-protection/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/sign-up-now-for-free-psn-identity-theft-protection/#comments Sony is making good on its offer of free ID theft protection for PSN members. It's posted the form through which you can sign up for Debix's AllClear ID service, which " uses advanced technology to deliver alerts to help keep you safe" and also includes "identity theft insurance coverage" and access to investigators.

Sony is only offering access to the free service until June 28, so you should sign up now. "AllClear ID PLUS is a service offered by Debix and not by Sony," the company notes. Sony meant this as a warning, so you'll read the AllClear ID site carefully before signing up -- but we admit that when we first saw that, we kind of thought the implication was that it was less likely to be hacked.

JoystiqSign up now for free PSN identity theft protection originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 May 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allclear-iddebixplaystationps3psn-outage-2011pspsonyWed, 25 May 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dirt 3's 'VIP Pass' can't be disabled for PS3 owners]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/dirt-3s-vip-pass-cant-be-disabled-for-ps3-owners/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/dirt-3s-vip-pass-cant-be-disabled-for-ps3-owners/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/dirt-3s-vip-pass-cant-be-disabled-for-ps3-owners/#comments WB and Netherrealm earned some goodwill from PS3 Mortal Kombat owners recently, by disabling the "Kombat Pass" and allowing players to fight online without redeeming the one-time-use code in the PlayStation Store (which is down). Unfortunately, such a concession won't be possible for Dirt 3.

"We've looked into doing something similar for Dirt 3 but it's not technically possible," a Codemasters rep told Eurogamer. "It's hard-coded into the game." Removing the VIP pass requirement would involve a patch, the publisher explained, which would likely take longer to push through than it will take for the Store to come back online.

An alternate solution to this problem (though not for Dirt 3, since it's already out) would be to cut out Online Pass schemes in general. We wonder if anyone has suggested that.

JoystiqDirt 3's 'VIP Pass' can't be disabled for PS3 owners originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 May 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemastersdirtdirt-3online-passplaystationplaystation-storeps3psn-outage-2011vip-passWed, 25 May 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP firmware update 'guides' users through PSN password change]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/psp-firmware-update-guides-users-through-psn-password-change/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/psp-firmware-update-guides-users-through-psn-password-change/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/psp-firmware-update-guides-users-through-psn-password-change/#comments Sony has already issued new firmware for PS3s, to fix security issues and enable a password change following the PlayStation Network megahack. But those measures leave out a few dozen million affected devices: PSP systems. Oh yeah, those do also connect to PSN!

PSP firmware 6.39 is now available, which guides PSP users who have yet to change their PSN passwords through that vital, vital process. "Also," the PlayStation Blog notes, "system software stability during use of some features will be improved."

Note: PSN is under maintenance right now, so you have plenty of time to charge your PSP before you can get back online and change your password.

JoystiqPSP firmware update 'guides' users through PSN password change originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 May 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationpsnpsn-outage-2011psppsp-firmwarepsp-firmware-6.39sonyupdateTue, 24 May 2011 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: PSN maintenance today, no Store update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/psa-psn-maintenance-today-no-store-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/psa-psn-maintenance-today-no-store-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/psa-psn-maintenance-today-no-store-update/#commentsThe PlayStation Network will undergo maintenance today, according to an announcement on PlayStation Blog. The downtime is scheduled to begin at 11AM ET (in 10 minutes!) and conclude eight hours later, at 7PM.

That might sound like perfect timing for the return of the North American PlayStation Store's weekly update, but ... it's not happening. "For those asking about the PlayStation Store, we're still targeting restoration of all services by the end of this month," adds Jeff Rubenstein, the Blog's manager. "Contrary to reports, the Store will not be publishing today."

Rubenstein notes that some users may have trouble signing into PSN during the maintenance, but assures that "the majority of consumers will be able to play online as well as sign in to external sites that require PSN authentication" -- only account registration and management (including password resetting) will be inaccessible. On the European PlayStation Blog, manager James Gallagher suggests you sign into PSN and remain online before maintenance begins -- so, like, ASAP! -- to ensure connectivity throughout the day.

JoystiqPSA: PSN maintenance today, no Store update originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 May 2011 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>maintenanceplaystationplaystation-storeps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonyTue, 24 May 2011 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN breach and restoration to cost $171M, Sony estimates]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/psn-breach-and-restoration-to-cost-171m-sony-estimates/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/psn-breach-and-restoration-to-cost-171m-sony-estimates/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/psn-breach-and-restoration-to-cost-171m-sony-estimates/#comments In the lead-up to its fiscal year 2010 earnings report this Thursday, Sony today released a revised forecast -- forewarning a $3.2 billion loss (yowzah!) -- for the twelve months ending March 31, 2011. Having occurred in late April, the PlayStation Network attack and subsequent data theft and outage fall outside of that period, but the company nonetheless addressed "the impact" of the event during an investors call today, "since there have been so many media inquiries about this incident."

"As of today," said Sony, according to its call script, "our currently known associated costs for the fiscal year ending March 2012 are estimated to be approximately 14 billion yen on the consolidated operating income level." That's roughly $171 million -- a "reasonable assumption," says Sony -- that the company expects to spend throughout the current fiscal year on its "personal information theft protection program," in addition to "welcome back programs," customer support, network security "enhancements" and legal costs. Sony noted that revenue loss from the outage and recovery, which also spans its Qriocity and Sony Online Entertainment services, had been factored into the cost, as well.

"So far, we have not received any confirmed reports of customer identity theft issues, nor confirmed any misuse of credit cards from the cyber-attack," the company added. "Those are key variables, and if that changes, the costs could change."

And what about the class action suits? Sony qualifies them as "all at a preliminary stage, so we are not able to include the possible outcome of any of them in our results forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2012 at this moment."

JoystiqPSN breach and restoration to cost $171M, Sony estimates originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-actioncostforecastfy-2011playstationps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspqriocitysoesonyMon, 23 May 2011 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Mortal Kombat waives 'Kombat Pass' until PlayStation Store returns]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/mortal-kombat-waives-kombat-pass-until-playstation-store-retur/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/mortal-kombat-waives-kombat-pass-until-playstation-store-retur/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/mortal-kombat-waives-kombat-pass-until-playstation-store-retur/#comments The PlayStation 3 version of Mortal Kombat is seeing the end of an irksome TECHNICALITY: the "Kombat Pass," a token that is required for online play but cannot be redeemed while the PlayStation Store is offline, is being temporarily waived. Up until now, the pool of online combatants was limited to those who hastily activated their passes right before the PSN fell into a coma in late April.

Writing on Mortal Kombat's official Facebook page, NetherRealm Studios confirmed that the game's online component should now be unlocked for all players, though it'll be cordoned off as soon as Sony re-opens the PlayStation Store (possibly by next week). The Kombat Pass code is included with all new copies of Mortal Kombat, and can be purchased separately for $9.99 once a free trial period expires.

If you own a used copy of NetherRealm's well-received revamp, you now have an entire weekend to gauge the value of pulverizing pelvises over the internet.

JoystiqMortal Kombat waives 'Kombat Pass' until PlayStation Store returns originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fightingkombat-passmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-2011Netherrealm-Studiosplaystationplaystation-storeps3psnpsn-outage-2011Fri, 20 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Store expected back online next Tuesday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/playstation-store-expected-back-online-next-tuesday/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/playstation-store-expected-back-online-next-tuesday/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/playstation-store-expected-back-online-next-tuesday/#comments Sony has notified its developer and publisher partners that the PlayStation Store is scheduled to relaunch next Tuesday, May 24, according to a memo obtained by Gamasutra. In the message, PSN content manager Jack Osorno details plans to update the Store twice weekly -- on Tuesdays and Fridays -- for two weeks in order to speed up the release of content that's been delayed due to the outage.

Next Tuesday's update will include content originally scheduled to be released on April 26, while an update on Friday the 27th will bring releases previously planned for May 3. Updates on May 31 and June 3 will comprise the remaining content intended to be published throughout the rest of May. By the regularly scheduled June 7 update, the Store is expected to be up to date.

"If there are concerns, we are willing to consider adjusting the release date of your content on this schedule," Osorno notes. "Adjustments will be made on a case by case basis." (The memo does not address any other kind of adjustment that might be made to appease concerns.)

While the launch date for the "Customer Appreciation Program" wasn't noted (this was a memo to devs and pubs, remember?), the choice of two free games is expected to be made available "shortly after PlayStation Store is restored," for a limited time, according to an announcement earlier this week.

[Image source: PlayStation.com]

JoystiqPlayStation Store expected back online next Tuesday originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 May 2011 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jack-osornoplaystationplaystation-storeps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonyThu, 19 May 2011 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN website sign-ins disabled after users identify potential exploit [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/psn-website-sign-ins-disabled-after-users-identify-potential-exp/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/psn-website-sign-ins-disabled-after-users-identify-potential-exp/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/psn-website-sign-ins-disabled-after-users-identify-potential-exp/#comments Call it another "hiccup" in Sony's bumpy road to getting the PlayStation Network back up and running, securely: The company has disabled PSN sign-in access on its PlayStation-related websites for "essential maintenance" purposes.

"Clarification: this maintenance doesn't affect PSN on consoles," tweeted PlayStation Blog EU this morning, "only the website you click through to from the password change email." A follow-up tweet added, "We'll let you know as soon as the landing page is back online."

Although Sony has yet to specify the reason for the maintenance outage, the action follows users' discovery of a potential exploit of the PSN password change function on Sony's websites. UK gaming news site Nyleveia was the first to sound the alarm when it warned, "A new hack is currently doing the rounds in dark corners of the internet that allows the attacker the ability to change your password using only your account's email and date of birth."

In actuality, it was not so much a "hack" as it was a critical oversight by Sony, which had not changed the PSN password reset method on its websites when it began to partially relaunch the service last weekend. Any website user, nefarious or not, needed only to provide a PSN account's associated email address and the account holder's date of birth to change the password -- information that was stolen by hackers during the PSN breach last month.

Needless to say, if you have received an email confirming your PSN password has been changed (and you didn't change it yourself), you should contact Sony. For now, the password reset function has been disabled on Sony's websites.

"Unfortunately this also means that those who are still trying to change their password via Playstation.com or Qriocity.com will be unable to do so for the time being," Sony said in a statement posted by Eurogamer. "This is due to essential maintenance and at present it is unclear how long this will take."

Update: Sony has issued a statement on PlayStation Blog, describing the issue as "a URL exploit that we have subsequently fixed." The company adds, "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."

JoystiqPSN website sign-ins disabled after users identify potential exploit [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exploitplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonyWed, 18 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony reveals choice of free game downloads as part of PSN 'Welcome Back' program]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/sony-reveals-choice-of-free-game-downloads-in-psn-welcome-back-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/sony-reveals-choice-of-free-game-downloads-in-psn-welcome-back-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/sony-reveals-choice-of-free-game-downloads-in-psn-welcome-back-p/#comments PlayStation Network and Qriocity haven't even been back for 48 hours, but Sony is already explaining its "Welcome Back" program. The company detailed its "Customer Appreciation Program" this afternoon for North America and Europe on its regional PlayStation blogs, laying out a long list of free stuff that PSN users are eligible to receive as a thank you for weathering the outage.

Aside from offering the previously announced free 30 days of PlayStation Plus for all PSN users, the company is giving away two free PlayStation 3 games and two free PlayStation Portable games, all from two lists of (mostly) wonderful releases. The European Union is being offered similar titles, with a few notable swaps (Super Stardust HD is an option in the US, replaced by Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty in the EU).

Additionally, an unnamed selection of "On Us" movies will be available for free rental on an unspecified weekend in the coming weeks. Oh, and those of you who were already paying for PlayStation Plus? You'll get an additional 60 days of free subscription time tacked on to your existing plan. And, for the Home loyal among us, "100 free virtual items" will be made available at some point soon.

Sony hopes to offer all of this stuff as soon as possible, noting that it is waiting for all services to be fully restored before it does. Head past the break for a full list of options in both North America and Europe.

Continue reading Sony reveals choice of free game downloads as part of PSN 'Welcome Back' program

JoystiqSony reveals choice of free game downloads as part of PSN 'Welcome Back' program originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 May 2011 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customer-appreciation-programplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspqriocitysonywelcome-backMon, 16 May 2011 17:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese government refuses Sony approval for PSN relaunch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/japanese-government-refuses-sony-approval-for-psn-relaunch/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/japanese-government-refuses-sony-approval-for-psn-relaunch/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/japanese-government-refuses-sony-approval-for-psn-relaunch/#comments According to a report from the Dow Jones newswire, a Japanese regulatory official has confirmed that the nation's government hasn't given Sony approval to relaunch PSN services in the territory. The source, Ministry of Economy Content Industry director Kazushige Nobutani, says the government refused Sony's initiative to resuscitate the platform. "As of May 13, Sony was incomplete in exercising measures that they said they will do on the May 1 press conference." The details of which measures haven't been enacted yet were not released.

The source added that the government wants clearer terms on what Sony's doing to protect its users' credit card info, saying, "There were similar cases in the past that were caused by other firms, and we are asking Sony whether their measures are good enough when compared to countermeasures taken in the past."

We're telling you guys -- just put all the credit card info in a big pile surrounded by a shark-filled moat. Done!

JoystiqJapanese government refuses Sony approval for PSN relaunch originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 May 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>governmentjapanplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspsonyMon, 16 May 2011 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Multiple PlayStation Store updates coming each week until caught up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/multiple-playstation-store-updates-coming-each-week-until-caught/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/multiple-playstation-store-updates-coming-each-week-until-caught/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/multiple-playstation-store-updates-coming-each-week-until-caught/#comments If you've been keeping score, we've missed out on three regularly scheduled PlayStation Store updates since the service went down last month, preventing users from downloading items like the already long-delayed PSN RTS Under Siege. There's a lot of content to get caught up on -- and to get us there, the storefront will receive updates "multiple times per week once commerce functionality is restored," according to the latest PlayStation Blog FAQ.

"We will update the PlayStation.Blog with information on timing of the Store restoration," adds the FAQ, "as well as the full list of new content as each publish occurs." If you're the type who likes to spend exorbitant sums of money on each batch of PSN additions, you might want to steel yourself for the oncoming deluge.

JoystiqMultiple PlayStation Store updates coming each week until caught up originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 May 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-storeps3psnpsn-outage-2011psn-tuesdaypsn-weeklypspsonyupdateMon, 16 May 2011 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Online Entertainment services also coming back online]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/sony-online-entertainment-services-also-coming-back-online/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/sony-online-entertainment-services-also-coming-back-online/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/sony-online-entertainment-services-also-coming-back-online/#comments Sony Online Entertainment has been an unfortunately named business these past two weeks, when its catalog of MMOs were taken offline following the PlayStation Network security breach. Fortunately, the servers of titles like Free Realms, EverQuest 2 and Clone Wars Adventures slowly but surely started to come back online this past weekend -- each including a little incentive to try and lure back their disconnected player bases.

These incentives include XP bonuses, free rare items and special events, all of which are laid out on this handy chart. If you're an SOE account holder in "good standing," you'll also get 45 days of in-game time on-the-house. If you're a lifetime subscriber, though, you'll get just the extra super special in-game bonuses. Also, everyone gets 500 Station Cash, a currency players can use to purchase even more in-game items. This outage might just be the best thing to ever happen to your online adventurer's lootsack.

JoystiqSony Online Entertainment services also coming back online originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>free-realmsmmommorpgpcplaystationps3psn-outage-2011sonySony-Online-EntertainmentMon, 16 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN back in Europe and Australia, your password email may take some time]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/psn-back-in-europe-and-australia-your-password-email-may-take-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/psn-back-in-europe-and-australia-your-password-email-may-take-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/psn-back-in-europe-and-australia-your-password-email-may-take-s/#comments The select PlayStation Network services that came back online in North America over the weekend have now shaken off their bonds in a handful of other territories across the globs. Formerly jilted users living in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South America should now have access to online multiplayer, third-party video services and all the other reactivated features that returned this past Saturday.

Unfortunately, the flood of people who have made their first priority to change their password have overwhelmed both the PlayStation Network servers and their ISPs, leading to delays for password reset emails. If you requested a password reset and haven't heard back yet, Sony asks that you "please give it a bit of time to reach your email."

JoystiqPSN back in Europe and Australia, your password email may take some time originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 May 2011 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaeuropemexiconew-zealandpasswordplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011south-americaMon, 16 May 2011 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Network coming online throughout North America]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/playstation-network-coming-online-throughout-north-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/playstation-network-coming-online-throughout-north-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/playstation-network-coming-online-throughout-north-america/#comments
Sony has accomplished what Al Gore is still working on -- America has gone green. That means PlayStation Network should be in the process of coming back online in your state, just in time for you to turn on all your LCD televisions, 7.1 surround sound systems and high-powered consoles, and get back to saving a virtual representation of the planet.

Sony's senior director of corporate communications and social media, Patrick Seybold, notes that it may take some time before servers are populated to the max, so don't panic if you can't access PSN immediately. The first phase of network restoration includes online play, Qriocity, video streaming, friend list functionality and PlayStation Home. The PlayStation Store is still out of commission.

Once signed in, you should be able to change your password, link that copy of Portal 2 to Steam, sync your Trophies and then sink some time into your multiplayer games. Hello, Sunday!

JoystiqPlayStation Network coming online throughout North America originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 May 2011 04:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps3psnpsn-outage-2011sonySun, 15 May 2011 04:20:00 EST