The trouble began sometime in April for Sony and the PlayStation brand. On April 19th the company began investigating unusual activity on the PlayStation Network. The next day the company discovered exactly what was going on. A massive security breach had left sensitive information regarding 77 million PlayStation Network users exposed to hackers who may or may not have taken advantage. On April 26th Sony shutdown the PlayStation Network immediately and later informed users of the breach in security.
 
 

Sony’s troubles only increased later on when the company discovered that the information on an additional 24.6 million users had also been hacked into. The hackers who struck Sony performed the virtual equivalent of backing moving company trucks up to the corporate headquarters and making off with cabinet after cabinet of sensitive files.
 

The PlayStation Network is a system that allows gamers from around the world to play together online, as well as update and download games and other content online. As such, many of the systems users not only have sensitive information regarding where they live but also have credit card information stored online.
 

Just this past Tuesday the company announced that their goal is to have the PlayStation Network up and running again by the end of May, but that hasn’t slowed the problems facing the company. While Sony has not been informed of any illegal uses of the information stolen in the hacking, it continues to investigate the situation and deal with the aftermath. In an email sent out to PlayStation Network users the company informed users of the breach and informed them of free options for tracking their credit and protecting their credit cards.
 

Sony has been heavily criticized for the manner in which they dealt with the breach in security. Although the company discovered the breach on April 19th, they did not inform gamers until April 26th that their information may have been compromised.
 

In the United States, a group of lawyers has filed a lawsuit against Sony on behalf of Kristopher Johns. Johns is claiming that the company was negligent in their protection of sensitive user data and did not inform users soon enough about the exposure of their credit card information. Lawyers are hoping the lawsuit can gain class action status.
 

The problems experienced during the massive online intrusion could cost Sony dearly. The company’s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Network have been beating the competition from Microsoft’s Xbox360 and Nintendo’s Wii during the past few years’ console wars. Microsoft and its Xbox Live network, a system similar to PlayStation Network that allows online gaming, could gain users after Sony’s massive breach. The breach could also cost the company millions pending the outcome of the lawsuit.
 

Author Bio: He has been a gamer from the time he could move his opposable thumbs. Rob loves everything involved with video games. He’s a dedicated member of the Playstation Network under the alias, NeWbKilr4, come check out his skills if you’re ever looking for an online battle. To support his habit, he functions as a research agent dealing in travel and international travel insurance.
 

Soon, you will hear that more people are playing pirated games on their PS3, which means that software sales for the console will be decreasing over time. Also, the ability to play those games over PSN for free will make the PS3 console the most favorite among pirates.
 
 

But if you think that Sony can’t ban you if you play pirated games over PSN, think again. The amount of access Sony has to your machine is greater than you probably imagine. According to a Neogaf user , When you turn on your system, the console communicates with a set of Sony servers, and a log of applications run on the system is almost certainly transmitted. Which means, Sony can know what is running on your system. Also, Sony has the ability to completely disable your console if they wanted to do so, which means it will remain non-functional whether you’re online or offline.

So if Sony can’t fix the security issues by releasing patches, expect to see the ban hammer sooner than later.

Source 1, Source 2.

The Move can be paired with the “Subcontroller”, a nunchuk-like device that sports an analog stick and d-pad, which allows the Move to be used with more “traditional” titles like first-person shooters or role-playing games. The Move will be available in three packages: a standalone Move (for consumers that already own a PlayStation Eye camera), a bundle that includes the Move and PlayStation Eye, and a hardware pack that includes the Move, PlayStation Eye and PlayStation 3 console. Pricing details for the standalone pack and PS3 bundle are yet to be announced, but we know that The Move and the PlayStation Eye option will cost $99.
 
 

In fiscal year 2010, Sony will release over twenty games dedicated to or that support the controller. The PlayStation Move will be released sometime this Fall.

GT5 was first announced at the E3 gaming expo in Los Angeles back in 2006. The game will feature over 1,000 automobiles and 20 different locations. Yamauchi revealed that 150 people had worked on Gran Turismo 5 for three years, with all of Polyphony Digital’s 120 employees working on GT5, and the game costing 50 times more to develop than 1997′s Gran Turismo, with Yamauchi later disclosing that Gran Turismo 5 had cost $60 million to develop.
 

- Microsoft:
 
 

1. Over 39 million Xbox 360s sold around the world.
 

2. More than $20 billion spent at retail on the Xbox brand; with more than 500 million games have been sold since the launch of the first Xbox.
 

3. Project Natal is Scheduled to be available in holiday season 2010.
 

4. Nearly 10 million people have logged into Facebook, Twitter, Zune and Last.fm.
 

5. Over 20 Million Xbox Live Subscribers.
 

6. Relive the glory days of the classic arcade “Game Room” : Game Room coming to Xbox 360 and PC, with content from Atari, Konami, Intellivision and more. For 400 Microsoft Points. Or, to purchase a game for only one platform, each individual Xbox 360 or Windows-based PC title is 240 Microsoft Points. You also have the option to pay to play a single game, just like dropping two quarters in the slot in the old arcades, for 40 Microsoft Points. Visit your friends’ “game rooms” and try their games free before you buy. 1000 games being released throughout the next three years.

- Sony:
 
 

 
 

1. Sony sold more than 3.8 million Playstation units during the five weeks following November.
 

2. PSN has more than 38 million accounts around the world.
 

3. More than 780 million pieces of content have been downloaded per month.
 

4. This summer, new 3D Bravia TVs will be available. Also, 3D gaming will be a reality in the future, they showed Super Stardust HD in 3D.
 

5. Sony is integrating PSN ID with other Sony stuff: Starting next month, people will be able to use their PSN accounts to stream PSN-available movies in HD and SD directly to their Sony Bravia and blu-ray devices, as well as their Vaios and Windows-enabled PCs.

Tretton said regarding the growth of sales of the PS3 “In November, PS3 was the only hardware console to see any growth when compared to last November, experiencing an 88% lift and a 122% increase from the previous month. Metacritic also unveiled this week its 2009 Game Platform Power Rankings, in which PS3 titles topped the charts on overall game quality, tallying up five of the top ten best reviewed games in 2009 and with UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves taking best reviewed game of the year,”

Then he expressed his excitement for December and for the next year “The sheer appetite and interest in the PS3 this holiday has been overwhelming and is exceeding our expectations,” he continues “So much so, some retailers are expected to experience tight supply this December. There’s no question the holidays are looking very bright for PlayStation and we’re confident that the new year is on pace for the same with hugely anticipated titles hitting the platform, such as MAG, God of War III, BioShock 2, and Final Fantasy XIII.”
 

For the record, there were 710,400 PS3s sold in November compared to 819,500 Xbox 360s. Also, Uncharted 2 wasn’t one of the top ten sellers of November. Nevertheless, it was one of the best months for Sony’s PS3.

Speaking on Kotaku radio, when someone had mentioned that Microsoft doesn’t hold the exclusivity of the franchise and asked him about the possibility of the next installment in the series to appear on the PS3 as a multiplatform title, the creative force behind the Gears of War franchise answered:
 

“Honestly there’s really no plans for any Gears on PS3 any time soon, which I can confirm”
 

After that, Kotaku asked him a question about two of the most mentioned rumors in the industry: What will happen first, GOW on PS3 or MSG4 on Xbox 360:
 

“Hmm…..I would wager that…I know Microsoft is a huge fan of Kojima……I actually have no knowledge on any of this, but my guts as a gamers told me that you would see a Metal Gear Solid game on Xbox 360 before you see a Gears of War game on the PS3″
 

I don’t know if he actually knows about Metal Gear Solid: Rising or not. Because it’s a Metal Gear Solid game and it’s multiplatform. Maybe he means MGS4? Anyway, you have heard him, no Gears on PS3 anytime soon.

Sega of America announced in a Word document on its official website by accident details of a meeting with Sony CEA, which took place on 06.08.09.

 
Check the list of points which had been discussed in the meeting:
 

Motion controller for the PS3:
 

* Appears in the spring of 2010 in the USA, in March 2010 in Japan.
 

* 4 million to 5 million units will be sold worldwide.
 

* Sega is offering some of its gaming brands for the controller may be Virtua Tennis.
 

- Bayonetta (PS3, Xbox 360):
 

* For the U.S., with a collector’s edition action figure is expected.
 

* Maybe a demo will be released at Christmas.
 

* The game itself will be released on 05.01.10 in the U.S.
 

- PS2 Emulator for PS3:
 

* Sony CEA wants all of his PS2 games on PSN offer (GTA Vice City, Sonic, etc.)
 

- London Olympics:
 

* The perfect way for the integration of the motion controller.
 

- Dreamcast Digital titles:
 

* Sega Sony wants to provide a list of DC games, of which Sony then chooses what they want to have. exclusive.
 

* If the exclusivity is long enough time, Sony will support the marketing Sega.

- Yakuza:
 

* Yakuza games could be released on the PSN. (prices between USD 9.99 and USD 39.99)
 

* Menus should probably be localized, at least with subtitles.
 

What about these plans and projects will actually be implemented remains to be seen. But the idea of releasing Dreamcast games on PSN is really exciting. Maybe Shenmue 1 & 2 on PSN, we have to wait and see.