RAGEFACE: PSN outage - day 5.5 (SCEA chimes in at last!)

And here's the latest from SCEA:

I know you are waiting for additional information on when PlayStation Network and Qriocity services will be online. Unfortunately, I don’t have an update or timeframe to share at this point in time.

As we previously noted, this is a time intensive process and we’re working to get them back online quickly. We’ll keep you updated with information as it becomes available. We once again thank you for your patience.

Does SOCOM 4 even have an offline mode?

RAGEFACE: PSN outage - day 5.5

Tweeted just now by Sony's EU PlayStation Blog:

We're trying to get an update and ETA of when #PSN will be back online, but we're afraid there is no new info. Will tweet when there is.

So more of the same, except SCEE is SAYING "more of the same" instead of just letting us all twist in the wind. Thanks to SCEE for keeping us posted, and a big fat BOO to SCEA for not. Yeah i understand we're in a digital world, but would it have killed SCEA to simply retweet SCEE's post? sheesh.

(heads up - SCEA = Sony Computer Entertainment America, SCEE = Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)

Next-gen Nintendo system to take "new approach" to video game consoles

From Bloomberg:

“We would like to propose a new approach to home video game consoles” with the Wii successor, Iwata said, without elaborating. “It’s difficult to make 3-D images a key feature, because 3-D televisions haven’t obtained wide acceptance yet.”

So basically - don't expect 3D functionality to be the focus of the new system. I'm ok with that, mostly because I'm not too keen on buying a new 3D tv at the moment.

RAGEFACE: PSN outage - day 5

The great PSN outage of 2011 is currently in it's 5th day. It's been two days from the last official update from Sony via the PlayStation Blog.

Sony needs to update us. Even if it's just another "We're working on it" type updates, they need to keep it's fan base a little more in the loop.

Look, I understand that everyone involved in getting the PSN back online is probably under a tremendous amount of pressure, but c'mon! There must be a manager or suit of some kind who can task a secretary with updating the PlayStation Blog.

CONFIRMED: Wii Successor to be released in 2012

In a rather refreshing move, Nintendo has confirmed it's next-generation home console will be unveiled at this years E3.

Today in Japan, Nintendo confirmed the upcoming release of the Wii's successor. The still-unnamed console will be revealed at this year's E3 gaming expo in Los Angeles in June.

The new console will go on sale in 2012, said Nintendo in an official statement.

Well isn't this a bold move on Nintendo's part? I can't recall a time when a new bit of gaming hardware was pre-announced like this, but with new rumors popping out every day (or so it seems), I can't see any reason NOT to feed us this little tidbit. While this does make the wait for E3 harder, I expect more rumors (and more solid rumors) to come trickling out between now and then.

PSP Go not dead in North America?

Seems the PSP Go will not be phased out in North America (just Japan and the EU for now)

Today we were told: "We are continuing production of PSP Go for North America."

Er... great? I feel keeping the PSP Go on the market is only going to sap away sales from the NGP by people who simply aren't as "in the loop" as some of us. Speaking of which, as E3 inches closer, i can't get over this feeling that the NGP will retail for $350+. Ugh.

RAGEFACE: PSN outage, Day 4

Sony's Playstation Network is *still* down.

The latest from the Playstation Blog says:

We sincerely regret that PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been suspended, and we are working around the clock to bring them both back online. Our efforts to resolve this matter involve re-building our system to further strengthen our network infrastructure. Though this task is time-consuming, we decided it was worth the time necessary to provide the system with additional security.

We thank you for your patience to date and ask for a little more while we move towards completion of this project. We will continue to give you updates as they become available.

"Re-building out system"? What the hell? What exactly is going on here? This seems like something more than a simple network intrusion. And what sort of "additional security" does Sony have in mind here? Does this have anything to do with the Amazon EC2 outage?

Basically at this point, Sony needs to make with some real answers. Even for a free service, 4 days of downtime? Over Easter Weekend (which can either be a long weekend or the end of April vacation for some)? Come on! I can't imagine how angry everyone who picked up SOCOM 4 this week has to be right now.

Thank goodness XBL is still up...