May 02

Sony Online Entertainment Service Suspended

Posted in: sony, Today's Chili, video games

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In what appears to be two steps back in Sony’s response to a hacker intrusion to its network, the company has cut off access to all games powered by its MMO subsidiary Sony Online Entertainment.

The company claims it is a new issue that has arisen since an assumed group of hackers cracked into the PlayStation Network in mid April.

In a statement, SOE said credit card data of more than 23,000 customers have been potentially compromised. However, the threat only exists to those who have a billing address outside the US.

Via Computerworld

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May 02

Sony Apologizes, Offers 30 Days of Free PSN Service

Posted in: gaming, ps3, security, sony, Today's Chili, video games

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Sony’s finally come around and has made a public statement about the security breaches it suffered last month. The PSN is still unavailable, but Sony executives said in a press conference today that they were deeply sorry and will offer 30 days of free service to PlayStation Plus and Music Unlimited customers. 
The company insists that all credit card information in their database were encrypted, and that hackers who got access to the network should not have anything sensitive aside from usernames and passwords – which PSN users will have to change. Sony also says they’re working with the FBI to make sure users are protected and that they’re complying with the law. 
Sony still puts some of the blame for the attack on Anonymous, the group that announced they would attack Sony because of its lawsuit against Geohot – the man who initially jailbroke the PS3 – and because of Sony’s approach to the rights of its users at all. Sony says that the Anonymous attack stole information from their “top management,” although they stopped short of blaming the whole issue on them. 
Regardless, Sony has a lot more work to do before gamers are happily playing on their PS3s again, and it remains to be seen whether 30 days of free service will be enough to help customers forgive and forget. 
[via Geek.com]
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Apr 29

Angry Birds Throwable Plush Toys Let You Recreate the Game

Posted in: gaming, Tech Toys, Today's Chili, Toys, video games

Throwable Angry Birds Plush

The Angry Birds train rolls on, and while you can buy all manner of Angry Birds swag, nothing has been quite as cool yet as these adorable, palm-sized Angry Birds 5″ plush toys from ThinkGeek. Just tap one of the birds’ heads, and then throw him across the room to hear him make the sounds from the game while flying through the air. 
All of the birds are accounted for, and they all make sounds – you can collect all of the individual birds and build your own pig crushing arsenal. The best part is that the pigs are available too: the piglet, the helmeted pig, the mustached pig, and yes, even the Pig King himself are all up for sale. With enough of them, you can recreate your own Angry Birds level using plush toys that actually make all the right noises when you throw them or things fall on top of them. 
Each of the birds and pigs are available now for $9.99 retail price directly from ThinkGeek. A number of them are on back-order, so make sure you check back if the one you want isn’t available. Check out a video of the little guys in action behind the jump.
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Apr 28

Visualized: Growing up in arcades

Posted in: awesome, gaming, Today's Chili, video games, VideoGames
If you’re anything like us — and you are — you can get quite nostalgic (and often downright teary-eyed) when contemplating your geek past. That’s why we know you’ll just love our latest favorite Flickr pool, Growing Up In Arcades: 1979-1989. We’d like to stay and chat, but there are well over a hundred pictures featuring stonewashed denim, cheesy mustaches, and coin-op console games that we are dying to check out. Feel like joining us? Hit the source link.

[Photo credit: Daves Portfolio]

Visualized: Growing up in arcades originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Dangerous Minds  |  sourceFlickr  | Email this | Comments

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Apr 25

Nintendo Confirms New Console: ‘Project Cafe’

Posted in: nintendo, Today's Chili, video games, wii

 

wii450.jpgNintendo confirms that a new Wii successor is in the works. The code name for it is “Project Café,” which has been released along with a couple of rumors of what the new console will be like. However, nothing has been set in stone yet for the console. Prototypes have been shown and will be shown at the upcoming E3.

Beyond that little info, nothing else has been released by Nintendo regarding the upcoming console. It was reported that it could be out as early as next year, but no confirmation by Nintendo on that target date yet. Nintendo did confirm that new hardware for consoles is always in development.

Nintendo has just released the 3DS, but thus far the console has been selling less than Nintendo would hope. It has also been five years since the original Wii came out, which Nintendo has seen falling in sales.

Via Xbit Labs

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Apr 25

Nintendo Confirms: The Wii’s Successor to be Unveiled at E3

Posted in: e3, gaming, nintendo, Today's Chili, video games, wii

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A few weeks ago, rumors flew that the Nintendo Wii would get a price cut, and the following week retailers cut the price themselves in what seemed to be a response to the rumors. Now we actually know what was going on: Nintendo has confirmed that at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in June, they’ll take the wraps off of their next generation gaming console. 
No real details about the console have been revealed other than that we’ll see it at E3, but many people are already calling it the Wii 2 or the Wii HD, noting the fact that Nintendo is the only gaming company in the market at the moment with a console that doesn’t support HD video. Nintendo said the new console will hit store shelves in 2012.
 
Time will tell whether the rumors of HD video, controllers with LCD displays in them, and other rumors all come true, but one thing is clear: if you want a Nintendo Wii and don’t have one, now’s a good time to find a bargain on one, regardless of what E3 brings. 
[via Reuters]
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Apr 25

Seemingly Annoyed Sony Still Doesn’t Have PSN Update

Posted in: ps3, Today's Chili, video games

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PS3 owners have been unable to access the console’s online service for several days now, and Sony still has no idea when it might be able to restore access.

It’s reported that the powerful group Anonymous is behind the attack that paralyzed PlayStation Network connectivity and forced Sony to pull the plug on it entirely while the company investigates the attack.

After being criticized for not keeping users informed, the company’s director of corporate communications, Patrick Seybold released a statement today, noting, “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.”

Via PlayStation Blog

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Apr 23

SLG 3000 scanline generator brings grimy gaming to modern displays (video)

Posted in: console, Games, gaming, Retro, Today's Chili, video, video games, VideoGames

As diligent as we are about keeping you abreast of absolutely every awesome new gadget that hits the market, every once in a while even we miss a real gem. Case in point: Arcade Forge’s SLG 3000 scanline generator, which gives your seemingly flawless HD display a throwback makeover. As the name suggests, the rather diminutive board acts as a middle man between your VGA compatible device and your TV, bringing back the sweet imperfections that marked early console gaming. The thing enlists a series of DIP switches and a potentiometer for setting scanlines and resolution to your specifications. You can land one of your own at the source link for €50. In the meantime, though, we suggest you check out the video after the break to see why we couldn’t bear to let this one get away — even if it is a few months old.

Continue reading SLG 3000 scanline generator brings grimy gaming to modern displays (video)

SLG 3000 scanline generator brings grimy gaming to modern displays (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 08:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Retro Thing  |  sourceArcade Forge  | Email this | Comments

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Apr 22

New Video Game Console Cycle to Start In 2014

Posted in: Microsoft, nintendo, sony, Today's Chili, video games

 

playstation-3.jpgGood news for gamers everywhere! The next generation of video game consoles could kick off in 2014, according to Sony and Microsoft. However, it does come with a catch for both companies, Nintendo is reportedly ready to launch its next console as early as next year.

While all of these are loose target dates, many gamers are already getting ready for the upcoming gaming cycle. The last one happened in 2006 to 2007, which left both Microsoft, and Sony behind Nintendo until recently. None of the three companies have released any statements about these dates, but Sony and Microsoft are both building up to the launch.

Via TG Daily

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Apr 21

Latest Kinect Hack: Augmented Reality Tetris

Posted in: kinect, Today's Chili, video games

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You’ve got some of the most sophisticated motion detection technology ever created and a guy who has amazing software hacking skills, and what’s the killer app that comes as a result? Tetris.

A student known on YouTube as Keysosaurus created a Kinect app that lets users put themselves in the middle of a Tetris board. He developed the game to track the movement of a Wii Remote, allowing him to control the classic puzzle game exclusively with motion controls.

It’s not the most visually stunning thing we’ve ever seen, but you can’t deny its “coolness.”

Watch the video here

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