A Place to coordinate plans to play online with your friends without giving out your real name or email. Plus, get gaming news, videos and tips.
Multiple chat options are spread throughout this page so find the one you like best.
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Chat to Coordinate Online Gameplay
Premium Game Giveaways Occur On Weekends
Over $3000 worth of Computer Animation Software for FREE!!! - DAZ Studio is the perfect tool to design unique digital art and animations using virtual people, animals, props, vehicles, accessories, environments and more. Simply select your subject and/or setting, arrange accessories, setup lighting, and begin creating beautiful artwork.
Inheriting the best of version 3, DAZ Studio 4 introduces a new look and feel focused on ease-of-use. There are new video tutorials included within the application to help users get up to speed quickly, along with many technological innovations to improve the creation experience.
NOTE - When you check out, look on the right side. There are many more free programs you can add to your shopping cart. As you add them to your cart, new ones will be added..just keep adding to your cart
Get it all free HERE.
Every Monday Sandlot is Giving away a free game. The giveaway lasts the entire week. Just go HERE.
Every Day Amazon has a video game deal of the day. Lately they have been very good. Check them out HERE.
Gamehouse gives a premium game away each day also, however, there are commercials in between rounds much like pogo.com games. Just goHERE.
Free game giveaways can be found here on weekends and sometimes throughout the week.
Are you a game developer or want to give it a try?Now you can get the best game development software for free. It is ad supported and is for single home users only. You can make simply games or create amazing graphics like THIS. There are lots of tutorials and forum help. Get it while you can: DarkBASIC Professional - FREE Download
Rumors surrounding the history of stately Ravenhearst Manor have circulated for decades. The recently acquired diary of Emma Ravenhearst may hold the key to unraveling the tale behind this unsettling place, yet the pages are missing. Players assume the role of Master Detective to unlock secrets held within Ravenhearst ®, scouring a myriad of enchanting rooms in the manor for cleverly hidden clues. Locating and assembling diary pages helps tell the story of the house and, ultimately, unlock the mystery.
Fairway Solitaire
Pull out your clubs (and your diamonds, hearts and spades) and enjoy a round of Fairway Solitaire ! This exciting new card game includes 70 unique courses in locations ranging from exotic forests to Scottish highlands. Choose your golfer and experience realistic golf commentary, hilarious wild shot cards, and three fun mini-games.
Build-your-own rpg called runesword. No online features, no 3d graphics, but you can customize everything from graphics to characteristics, from objects to spells. www.runesword.com
Infamous 2 HD Screenshot Pack Released HERE.
Media Create Co. this week said the Sony Corp.’s Playstation 3 ranked third in hardware sales in the latest Japan post restore of the Playstation Network division.
The PS3 sold 13,789 units between May 9 and May 15 to rank No. 3 in overall hardware sales.
By comparison, it sold 20,883 units the week prior.
The hardware ranked two titles in the top 10, including Konami Corp.’s Pro Spirits Baseball 2011 at No. 9.
Sony this week said it will resume operation of the Playstation Store division of the Playstation Network on May 24 according to an internal memo to game developer partners.
While the Playstation Network was restored last week to most territories, the Playstation Store has been held offline to prevent users from purchasing new content.
Sony this week restored the Playstation Network division in the U.S.
In addition, service was restored in the UK, Ireland, Middle East, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and South America .
Restoration includes sign-in to the Playstation Network and Qrocity division, including password reset; restoration of online gameplay across the PS3 and PSP; playback of rental video content; access to third-party services like Netflix and Hulu; Friends functionality, and Playstation Home.
The company said it has implemented new and additional security measures, including updating and adding advanced security technologies, additional software monitoring and penetration and vulnerability testing, and increased levels of encryption and additional firewalls.
The new Firmware 3.61 is a mandatory update that will require PSN users to change their password prior to login of the network.
The company expects to have service fully restored by the end of May.
Advanced sales for Infamous 2 standard and Hero Edition SKU for the Playstation 3 increased this week at GameStop Corp.’s online division due to solid demand.
Sony this week detailed the ‘Welcome Back’ customer appreciation initiative for Playstation 3 and PSP owners following restoration of the Playstation Network this week.
All PSN customers can select two PS3 titles for 30 days after the Playstation Store is restored. Titles include Dead Nation, Infamous, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD, and Wipeout HD + Fury. PSP owners can download two titles for 30 days after the Playstation Store is online. Titles include LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers, Pursuit Force, and Killzone Liberation.
In addition, PSN users will receive select rental movie titles, 30 days of Playstation Plus membership, 60 days of free subscription for existing Plus members, 30 days of free premium subscription to Qriocity Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription members, 30 days plus time lost to Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription; and 100 free virtual items for Playstation Home.
Sony this week denied a second attack on the Playstation Network following a password reset email exploit.
Sony this week said it temporarily took down a website that allowed PSN and Qriocity users to reset their account password due to a URL exploit that was subsequently fixed.
The company encourages all users to reset their password via the PS3 hardware.
Sony this week announced new in-game pre-order bonus items to be sold with to advanced orders of Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One for the Playstation 3.
Amazon.com Inc. is offering a T-Rex Morph Weapon Mod to customers who pre-order Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One.
Meanwhile, GameStop.com is offering a hovering Mr. Zurkon to aid in battle.
Finally, Walmart.com is offering a Sheepinator Morph Weapon Mod to pre-order customers.
Sales for Sony Corp.’s PSP held a lead over Nintendo Co.’s Nintendo 3DS handheld in the latest retail figures from Japan.
Advanced sales for the Infamous 2 standard and Hero Edition SKU increased this week at GameStop Corp.’s online division due to solid demand.
Pre-order sales for Namco Bandai Games America Inc. this week said it will release Dark Souls ranked in the top 10 game sales at Amazon.com Inc. amid strong demand.
Media Create Co. this week said the PSP sold 34,655 units between May 9 and May 15 to rank as the No. 1 game hardware for the week.
The PSP go sold 171 units to rank No. 10 for the week.
The PSP ranked six titles in the top 10, including Patapon 3 at No. 5 and Konami Corp.’s Pro Baseball Spirits 2011 at No. 6.
Sony is trying to bridge the gap between its PlayStation Portable and the PlayStation 3.
The company said yesterday it plans to launch a new series of games called PSP Remaster. The series will be comprised of some of the more-popular PSP games, which will then be ported to the PlayStation 3 for big-screen, high-definition gameplay. To add more appeal to the formerly portable-only titles, the company said the games will come with stereoscopic 3D support.
However, the most important addition to the games is the ability for people to start playing the title on either the PSP or PlayStation 3 and then continuing the saved game on the other hardware.
Sony's decision to tie the PSP to its PlayStation 3 comes at a transitional time in the company's portable division.
Earlier this year, Sony unveiled the Next Generation Portable (NGP), which it plans to launch at the end of this year. The device, which is designed to replace the aging PSP, boasts two thumbsticks and a 5-inch OLED display. It will come with 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and it will offer vastly improved graphical capabilities, compared with the PSP.
The NGP will arrive at a critical time for Sony. After the PSP first launched in 2004, the device had relatively good sales figures. However, in recent years, demand for the platform has waned, and game development has subsided. Last year, GameStop Senior Vice President Bob McKenzie pointed to PSP titles as the single disappointment of 2010 in the gaming business.
"If I were to pick a disappointment, the only thing would be looking at the number of titles that launched on the PSP format compared to the prior year," McKenzie told video game publication Eurogamer in an interview last year. "I think Sony did a great job two years ago in terms of coming out with a pretty good lineup of PSP offerings, and I didn't see that breadth of titles this year."
But Sony isn't quite ready to give up on the PSP. In February, the company dropped the price of its portable to $129.99 to try to help boost sales. It also added 13 titles, including Assassin's Creed Bloodlines and Dissidia Final Fantasy to its "Greatest Hits" and "Favorites" line of titles.
Sony's Remaster series is quite limited at this point. The company said that Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Version will be the first title to be ported to the PlayStation 3. Sony said that it will begin to roll out the new series in Japan first. It will bring more games and expanded availability around the world at a later point.
The company did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on when Remaster titles will be available in the U.S.
Crowded release schedule and games giveaway could affect sales A number of PSN developers have expressed concern over Sony's plans for the return of the PlayStation Store.
According to reports, Sony intends to bring the PlayStation Store back online next Tuesday, May 24, and to release two content updates per week - rather than the usual one - for two weeks in a bid to make up for lost time during the recent PSN outage.
Sony is also offering PSN users two free games as part of a 'Welcome Back' pack, but its plans aren't going down too well with some studios.
"As a developer, I feel very sorry for those teams that did try to release their titles during the PSN outage window," an unnamed developer working on 'a high profile PSN game' told Edge.
"Beyond that, I feel sorry for those that are attempting to launch games in the days following the outage, as there will likely be such a backlog of traffic that it may be hard to be noticed in the flurry of 'get everything back up and running'."
Ilari Kuittinen, CEO of Outland and Dead Nation developer Housemarque, also told the site: "My biggest concern is whether people will come back to use the system and browse the PlayStation Store.
"On top of that, the second issue is that everyone now gets games for free (including our Dead Nation and Super Stardust HD), so people might just play the free games for a while. By the time they are ready to buy something, Outland is maybe old news."
In an earnings statement today, Sony estimated that the costs related to the recent PlayStation Network attacks and subsequent outages may total over $170 million as reported for Sony's fiscal year ending in March 2012. That's far higher than original analyst estimates in the tens of millions.
"Based on information currently available to Sony, our currently known costs associated with the unauthorized network access are estimated to be approximately 14 billion yen in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012," said a company representative, as reported by Kotaku.
Sony's fiscal year 2011 ends next week and, as reported earlier today, the company is expected to report an annual loss of $3.2 billion.
In other news, it's been revealed that Sony's music business, BMG, had its Greek website hacked back on May 5th, revealing personal information for more than 8,300 user accounts. The attack was recently reported by The Hacker News and relayed by security software maker, Sophos.
That marks the 7th attack on one of Sony's sites recently, according to The Hacker News. Sophos contends that, "As long as it is popular within the hacker community to expose Sony's flaws, we are likely to continue seeing successful attacks against them."
There may be a silver lining, however: "While it's cruel to kick someone while they're down, when this is over, Sony may end up being one of the most secure web assets on the net," says Sophos. More on TIME.com: Analyst: PlayStation Network Fiasco Will Be Costly, Change Industry Forever Sony Internet Provider Hacked, Financial Theft Occurs This Time Sony's PlayStation Network Apology Package Won't Please Everyone
Sony (SNE) (6758) has been hacked again, by persons unknown. Or should that be "yet again"? Not content to allow Sony to lick its PlayStation Network (PSN) wounds, this time, Sony subsidiaries in Greece, Thailand, and Japan fell victim to anonymous hackers (not to be confused with Anonymous hackers, of course ;-). In IT Blogwatch, bloggers can't believe how "unlucky" Sony has become.
On Sunday The Hacker News discovered a database of user information from a Sony BMG site in Greece that was reportedly hacked in early May. The information exposed included passwords, email addresses, and phone numbers, and was posted at pastebin.com. According to THN, someone by the name of "b4d_vipera" claimed ownership of the cyber attack.
The Greek site is the seventh Sony portal hacked in recent weeks following the month-long PlayStation Network outage also caused by a hacker.
This hack was caused by an automated Structured Query Language (SQL) injection, in which a hacker injects a malicious command at the database level.
Sophos senior security advisor Chester Wisniewski advised people to reset their passwords, prepare for phishing attempts, and expect their account information to be in the hands of someone with malicious intent.
"It is nearly impossible to run a totally secure Web presence, especially when you are the size of Sony," Wisniewski wrote. "As long as it is popular within the hacker community to expose Sony's flaws, we are likely to continue seeing successful attacks against them."
If you have ADD or are simply in a hurry, skip to the video.
On a personal note, Resistance 1 was the first PS3 game for me so it was my first glance into the next generation of gaming. On-Line multiplay wasn't even a part of my gaming at all a that point. (I didn't get online until the Christmas after MW2 came out.) So, Resistance has a place in my heart and so I purchased Resistance 2 w/out thought. I enjoyed it but the campaign seemed much shorter than the first.
Honestly I was so pre-occupied in ensuring that the video quality below was perfect, I didn't even view it until after I posted it. I just watched it and wow!!...it looks fantastic. The demonstrator isn't the best shot but seems pretty good at switching weapons, which seems to be a critical skill needed for this game. I like the destructible environment. Let's hope it's not limited to a small part of the game. I hope to get a multiplay video up soon, however, this really brings out the part of me that liked campaigns. The beauty of having a free blog is not worrying about copyright laws so the images are free for you to download, unlike their source. (Although, if I am asked to bring copyrighted material down I will comply as this is the first site I have run that was this legal) If you want to download videos like these with ease in a flash and much more, please visit my friend's on-line store to get 20% off IDM aka Internet Download Manager (the best download manager and video downloader on the market)...HERE. Besides a good anti-virus and back-up program, it's one of the only things I would pay for on the net. I was also recently very impressed with Easeus products and their tech support blew me away. (really good people over there.) This site is non-profit and ad-free but I may throw in an ad for a product that I was impressed with but I will never profit from one.
Anywho, enjoy................
Click to 720 for HD
Earth’s cities lie silent. Mankind teeters on the brink of extinction. The Chimera have won. Six years after the Chimera invaded in Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 3 depicts a bleak world where the survivors have laid down their weapons and curled into seclusion to await the inevitable.
One such survivor is Joseph Capelli, last seen (spoiler!) executing series frontman Nathan Hale at the conclusion of Resistance 2. With Resistance 3’s narrative focus shifting from military might to hometown heroism, the gaunt-looking Capelli stands in stark contrast to Resistance 2’s square-jawed super soldier. Having abandoned the fight to be with his wife and child, Capelli holes up in rural Oklahoma to evade Chimeran raiders and scavenge for ever-dwindling supplies. A chance visit by xenobiologist Dr. Fyodor Malikov reveals a desperate plan to destroy the Chimera in New York City, sparking a road trip through an American heartland warped by the Chimera’s corrosive influence.
CLICK ON IMAGES FOR LARGER DOWNLOADABLE HD IMAGES
Enemy Mine
Resistance 3’s campaign combat emphasizes hit-and-run guerrilla tactics amidst complex, nonlinear environments. I watched a scenario set on the decidedly unpleasant Mt. Pleasant, where Capelli scrambles to evade his pursuers in the woodlands of rural Pennsylvania. Mt. Pleasant’s deep blue hues and oppressive drizzle conceal unseen threats: Invisible Chimeran snipers. This sniper scenario serves as a handy demonstration of Resistance 3’s new artificial intelligence system, which grants the Chimera more predatory behavior and the ability to accept different “jobs” — offense, defense, scouting and more. The result are action sequences that play out in very different ways depending on the player’s tactics.
Mt. Pleasant’s stark atmosphere and stealthy shootouts are a radical departure from the opening act set in Haven, Oklahoma, which showcases a full Chimera assault amidst dramatic hurricane-strength winds. Later in the game, Capelli takes a slow, suspenseful boat ride down a flooded Mississippi River en route to St. Louis. A cursory examination of Resistance 3’s varied locales proves that the ever-industrious Chimera haven’t wasted any time settling into their new home. Unearthly Chimeran flora, such as explosive “blast roots,” flourish in the frigid climate produced by the Chimera’s terraforming technology. Physically, the Chimera continue to evolve with new strains such as nimble Longlegs and the hulking Brawler. The titanic arachnoid Widowmaker from Resistance: Fall of Man also makes its long-awaited return. Capelli’s journey will not be an easy one.
Tools of Destruction
Luckily, Capelli will be packing a full arsenal of human and Chimera firearms to help even the odds. To the delight of series fans, Resistance 3 will once again allow you to carry more than two weapons at a time via a quick-access weapon wheel. What’s more, those weapons are feeling weightier and deadlier than in any of the previous games. “We rebuilt all of the guns, everything from the audio effects to the feel of the iron sights,” lead designer Drew Murray says. It shows. The Carbine boasts increased damage and range but a slightly lower rate of fire; the Marksman rifle can deploy a micro-turret to provide cover fire; the Bulleye rips enemies apart with its blistering volley of projectiles. What’s more, you can unlock a series of upgrades that will improve the weapon’s effectiveness in multiple ways, from incendiary shells for the Rossmore shotgun to cluster bombs for the Magnum. You’ll earn progress toward your weapon’s next upgrade with repeated use, so it may pay to specialize.
In playing Resistance 3′s campaign, I was most struck by the detail and diversity of the environments, the power of the redesigned weapons, and the variety in game pacing. I also liked how Capelli’s hands reached out to physically interact with props, such as tugging open a stubborn door or bludgeoning an enemy during a melee struggle. I’m also curious to experience the game in 3D using PlayStation Move.
Survival of the Fittest
Resistance 3’s eight-on-eight multiplayer mode extends the battle to an international stage, with human and Chimera teams battling in exotic locales from Columbia to The Republic of Chad in Africa. I played several rounds of team deathmatch (the final game will include objective-based modes as well) and found that the intimate maps and frenzied yet strategic shootouts lean closer to the feel of the original game. Character progression and customization have been supercharged with abilities that can turn the tables during a heated match. Support abilities such as Ammo Beacon and Lightning Shield will aid your teammates, while tactical abilities such as Dash and Doppelganger can help you outmaneuver opponents. You can also select a personal attribute and combat attribute to further customize your dream multiplayer warrior, whether that means giving birth to vicious Leapers upon death or simply boasting better hip-fire accuracy. And because Resistance 3 doesn’t lock players into cookie-cutter multiplayer classes, custom hybrid characters (sniper-medic, anybody?) are absolutely viable choices. Killstreak bonuses provide extra incentive, dishing out rewards such as high-powered grenade launchers for the humans and optical camouflage for the Chimera.
Resistance 3’s multiplayer beta will go live on PS3 later this year (though if you bought a specially marked copy of SOCOM 4, you’re already ahead of the game). Have questions about the new guerrilla-style combat, the upgraded arsenal or the feel of the controls? Leave them in the comments and I’ll add more details.
Written by Dan Amrich - Social Media Manager for Activision Leo Tolstoy once said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” Ask any PlayStation gamer who missed out on the Call of Duty: Black Ops double XP weekend a few weeks ago, and they’ll tell you: Leo knew what he was talking about. While other platforms soaked up the extra experience points, PS3 gamers had to hang in there while PlayStation put everything in order behind the scenes. In cases like that, patience isn’t a virtue — patience is a pain in the butt.
As the double-XP date loomed nearer, more and more PlayStation gamers wondered if they’d be able to take part in the festivities, and Treyarch – developer of Black Ops – swore to fans that they would not be forgotten. This weekend, they’re quickly making good on that promise, with a double-XP period that lasts from this Friday, May 20th at 10am all the way through the weekend and beyond – the good stuff keeps coming until 10am on Tuesday the 24th. What’s more, that’s going to be even sweeter thanks to a Nuketown 24/7 playlist that’s being added just for the event. Nuketown is my favorite map because it’s small and chaotic – and the close confines often result in high kill counts, which can really push you to the next level of Prestige in a hurry during a bonus XP weekend. It’s a fast, intense map – but don’t let that stop you from uncovering some of Nuketown’s hidden secrets.
So if the two most powerful warriors are patience and time…well, you’ve been patient, and it took some time. This weekend, enjoy being the warrior.
A crucial piece of Sony's online infrastructure is slated to return on May 24, according to a memo sent to developers and publishers this week. Gaming news site Gamasutra obtained the note on the PlayStation Store, Sony's repository for gaming content and downloadable games.
The store is also a major source of additional revenue for developers, thus its return is highly anticipated. Backlogged content that was supposed to be released during the store's downtime will be made available on a rolling basis over the next few weeks, the note details.
It is also good news for PS3 owners: as part of Sony's "Welcome Back" package, each PSN user will be able to download two free games from a pool of titles that are currently available on the PlayStation Store.
Content originally scheduled to release on April 26 will be made available at launch, followed by the release of content for May 3 three days later. Additional releases will be made on the 31st as well as June 3, which will eliminate the backlog. Some content will be moved up depending on its urgency, Sony told developers.
Such changes will be made on a case by case basis, it said. "We thank you for your patience as we work to resume service of the PlayStation Store," its content manager Jack Osorno wrote in the note. What Osorno did not specify is whether Sony will provide any assistance to those developers who had incurred financial loss as a result of the outage.
One of those developers, Capcom, estimated that its losses as a result of the PSN downtime could cost "hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in revenue that were planned for within our budget."
The PSN outage definitely could make for an interesting time come earnings season. At that time, industry watchers will be able to get their first look at the true costs of the outage -- which likely have sent ripples through the entire gaming industry.
Now that some PSN and Qriocity services have been restored Sony details the “Welcome Back” appreciation program for customers in North America. UK Members get a different program as seenHERE.
"We developed the program as an expression of our gratitude for your patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage. From all of us at PlayStation, thank you and welcome back!
This package will be made available to all existing registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users in North America (US and Canada), and will be made available shortly after we have fully restored the service. More specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live." All PlayStation Network customers can select two PS3 games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.
For PSP owners, you will be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.
LittleBigPlanet (PSP) ModNation Racers Pursuit Force Killzone Liberation
A selection of “On Us” rental movie titles will be available to PlayStation Network customers over one weekend, where Video Service is available. Those titles will be announced soon.
30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an additional 60 days of free subscription.
Existing Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription members will receive an additional 30 days of free premium subscription.
Additional 30 days + time lost for existing members of Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription free of charge for existing Premium/Basic members.
To welcome users Home, PlayStation Home will be offering 100 free virtual items. Additional free content will be released soon, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game.
We’d like to thank all of our publishing and development partners who’ve contributed to the Welcome Back program, including Bigbig Studios, Codeglue, Digital Leisure, Guerilla Games, Heavy Water, Housemarque, Lockwood, Loot, Mass Media, Media Molecule, SCE Cambridge Studios, SCE Studio Liverpool, SCE San Diego Studios, and Sucker Punch Productions. We couldn’t have created such a compelling package without them!
As a reminder, you will be able to access the above content shortly after services are fully restored. We are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible. Please visit the following sites for more information about the Welcome Back program in Europe and Latin America.
_______________________________________________________________________ PSN Forum Re-Opening Shows Members Are Divided About Their View Of Sony
Example of some differences of opinion:
Member:
PSN,
I am one of the more devoted PSN fans, I am quite apalled at the way some of members have acted in the past three weeks, since you have lost services. I read many of the comments left, and if I am to be ashamed it would be that I am part of a network where the users seem so ungrateful, and I would like to say thank you all at PSN, for continuing your quest to bring us an even better and stronger network. I don't really care about the free package, all I want is to be able to use my codes that I recieved with my purchase of Mortal Kombat, as well as my other titles, and again I want to say thanks to all of you at PSN and Qriocity keep up the excellent work. PSN -
Member:
i agree. it sucked not being able to play. but it is a privledge not a law that we are allowed to play. so if there is a problem as there was then we should be thankful it got fixed so we can continue to play. just my two cents.
Member:
I couldn't disagree more. I thought this was a joke. You are thanking Sony? You think it was down for 3 weeks? It was down for six weeks and it's down right now. It was up for almost a day but I can't log-in right now.
A small group of 7th to 10th graders attacked Sony and even warned them ahead of time and Sony still couldn't stop them. Once it was hacked, they didn't know what to do. They lied to us until they realized they couldn't hide or deny it anymore and THEN said, 'Oh, by they way, your personal information was compromised and is in the hand of criminals and we knew that for over a week now.'
Yeah, gaming is a right...because we paid for it. We paid over $300 for a PS3, an extra $80 for an HDMI cable and controller, remote, etc. and $60 a game. I have 51 games. That's $3,060 in games. This is my 2nd PS3 because the 1st one was bricked and I have had to buy 4 controllers now. That's over $4,000 after tax I have paid to play and you guys think that it's a privilege and we should be grateful? I'm guessing your parents pay for your games.
This is the largest breach of security in history and you are thanking Sony. That's insane.
I haven't been whining and complaining at all but to come out and thank Sony when we can't even log-on right now just nuts.
Green Light is On -- Sony PlayStation Network Returns in US
EDIT - Once you turn your PS3 on it will require an update that installs in about 2 minutes. The go to log-in. It will say Password has expired, create new password. The password should have at least 4 numbers, several letters (at least one capitalized) and at least one character (!@#$%&*) Retype the password and you're good to go. Tip - Save the password on your computer, in an email not associated with your PS3 account and print out the password, cut it out and scotch tape it to your PS3 or under a PS3 remote. Example of a strong password: ?lACpAs56IKMs" For more password tips go HEREand HERE.
Gamers: Power on. Servers up and faster than ever.
That's right. After an embarrassing breach that compromised millions of users' personal information, Sony has switched back on the PlayStation Network in the U.S. It also is resuming its Qriocity service, which offers access to streaming video and music on a variety of Sony devices.
A map posted by Sony shows the status of PlayStation Network across the country, and recently all states were illuminated green for go.
There still may be some kinks, so Sony is asking gamers to be patient if their service is not fully restored right away. That's because it can take the network's servers a little while to populate.
For most people, getting back online should be a snap.
As soon as you connect to the network, you will be prompted to download a software update for your PlayStation. The update carries version number 3.61. You will be asked to change your password as a precaution. Then you should be ready to go.
Sony isn't taking any chances after users' personal passwords, emails and credit card information were compromised. It is providing affected U.S. users with a year's worth of free identity theft services from security firm Debrix, including a $1 million insurance policy.
PlayStation Network players also get one month of free service, and several in-game bonuses and currency in a welcome back pack for several popular gaming titles [full list].
For more information on the outage, check out PC World's PlayStation Network Hack Timeline and The Survival Guide.
Improviso is a game about ACTING! Players are paired online as the Lead Actor and Director of a low-budget science fiction movie. The Lead Actor plays the role of Ted, a reporter trying to get his big break with a cover story about the government's alien cover-up. The Director selects scenes, chooses the soundtrack, summons special effects, and controls the supporting cast: the Scientist, the Alien, the Government Agent, and the Little Girl. Players work together to dramatize three short scenes taking place in Area 51, a crashed spaceship, and a wilderness camp site. The chat log encourages performances with Oscar-worthy dialogue, and a point-and-click interface enables actors to interact with numerous props, change costumes, and even play dead!
Research Statement
Improviso is a multiplayer game which pairs players anonymously online to dramatize a story together -- a story about an encounter with an alien. Our research question is two-fold, with a short- and long-term goal. In the short term, Improviso explores how the user interface and framing of a game can lead ordinary players to engage in dramatic improv, even if they have no prior experience acting or storytelling. The longer term goal is to train an AI system with data collected from thousands of people telling stories together with the same characters, sets, and props. Once trained, this AI system will be able to play the role of one or more characters that can converse and interact with other AI- or human-controlled characters. This project builds on AI research developed for The Restaurant Game project, and will demonstrate that the system generalizes to new scenarios. Improviso is a collaboration between GAMBIT and the MIT Media Lab.
Get your exclusive RIFT 7-day trial key for what is fast becoming the biggest MMORPG since World of Warcraft. Arise from the dead or travel through time itself, as you choose your faction, Guardian or Defiant. Alienware Arena members who use our 7-day trial key and reach at least level 5 with their character will be eligible to enter our RIFT sweepstakes. The winner of the RIFT sweepstakes will receive a RIFT branded Alienware M14x laptop. Get your 7 day key HERE.
Enter Sweepstakes HERE.
RIFT introduces a whole new generation in the field of MMORPG. Developed by Trion Worlds Network, Rift is based around the elements of a fantasy world in a galaxy, which acts as a focal point of all the planets around it. The planet Telera is now invaded by various monsters from the other planets around it, which have enabled fatal portals to open up as rifts, and spawn monsters who are ready to take over the planet and rule it. Players have the ability to join any side and team up to get rewarded for actions. The most interesting thing I have noticed is that RIFT’s spawing points are entirely randomized, which will keep the player engaged and guessing as to where from the next spawn may occur. This is a new revolution in multiplayer games, not just in MMORPG but also in several other popular platforms (F.3.A.R anyone??). RIFT is truly a revolution in MMORPG, and you should definitely give it a try if it's up your alley.
Choose your side. Fight the invasions. Enter the RIFT™.
Adventure in the world of Telara as either a noble Guardian or technomagical Defiant and enter a dynamic fantasy where 8 primal forces battle for control in an ever-changing landscape. Build your own class using the Ascended Soul system and embark on epic conflicts that bring you into the story, taking your RPG experience to new heights of achievement and excitement!
Massive Dynamic Battles: Invasions unfold zone-wide, creating epic conflicts that bring you into the story! Save the world now alongside hundreds of other players, or fight later to reclaim lands from invading hordes.
8 Primal Forces: Creatures from the Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Life, and Death planes battle for control of the world of Telara! Two warring factions—the Guardians and the Defiant—face off against each other and fight extra-planar creatures as they seek to save the world.
Build Your Class: No other game lets you build your class the way RIFT does. Specialize in a single class or pick and choose abilities from many to create a character uniquely suited to your play style—and have fun while you experiment!
Choose Your Role: Each character can have up to four different roles, so you can choose different classes for every situation! You might have one for PvP and another for raids; or perhaps you want a high-damage or high-defense build. The choice is yours to mix and match as you see fit!
PvP Combat: Battle others in exhilarating Player vs. Player combat! Earn PvP ranks, titles, loot, and unique Souls to further enhance your character. Head to cross-server Warfronts and fight others in world PvP.
Full-Featured: Guilds, dungeons, raids, auctions, crafting, a vibrant economy, Player vs. Player combat, and more!
Deeper Gameplay: New features like Guild Quests and Artifact Collections enhance your gaming experience by giving you earned achievements that matter.
Highly Accessible HD Graphics: Play a game that has stunning visuals on virtually any computer, even if your PC isn’t state-of-the-art.
