NEWS | PlayStation Network “Welcome Back” is UP!

Hi all! I know how frustrated we were back when PSN went down, but the good thing is, it’s all coming back, one by one. First off, the PlayStation Network online service came back starting from the US, then the Europe and currently in Asia. This enables us play multiplayer games again. Later on, PlayStation Plus went back together with free goodies exclusively for PlayStation Plus users. Then yesterday, the free users extended their happiness with the Welcome Back program which started around 2AM, the time I was about to play Climax mode in Bayonetta and sleep. Good thing, the free games came in. However, Hongkong and Singapore-based PlayStation Network accounts are currently in the process of rebuilding the network. So, what I did is to use my US account and grabbed those free games. Take note that each region, US, EU or ASIA, do have differences in the free games.

The instruction in PlayStation Store is to “Get” the item “Welcome Back: Free PS3™ Game 1” and “Welcome Back: Free PS3™ Game 2” in the list so you can grab 2 out of the 5 free games for the PlayStation 3.

I decided to choose inFAMOUS and LittleBigPlanet. Thankfully, I haven’t bought these two games, or else I may not choose them but Dead Nation or WipeOut HD.

By the way, inFAMOUS 2 Demo is now available in PlayStation Store, so grab it now, it’s really an awesome game. I hope to get my hands on it. 🙂

|> 少女時代 (Girls’ Generation) – THE GREAT ESCAPE

NEWS | PlayStation Network’s comeback

Earlier today, the European PlayStation Blog reported the Welcome Back programme by Sony for the PlayStation Network online service. Below is what the announcement says:

Welcome Back Program Details for Asia:

PS3:
Come on, LocoRoco!! BuuBuu Cocoreccho!
Trash Box
Hustle King
WipeOut HD

PSP
Everybody’s Stress Buster (Minna no Sukkiri)
LittleBigPlanet
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival
ModNation Racers

Welcome Back Program Details for Japan:

PS3:
Come on, LocoRoco!! BuuBuu Cocoreccho!
Echochrome
Wipeout HD
Hustler King

PSP
Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida or2 (What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord!? 2)
Minna no Sukkiri
Patapon 2
LittleBigPlanet Portable
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival.

@adriasang.com

Welcome Back Program Details for Latin America:

Originally Posted by Fersis/Latin American Blog:

PS3 (choose two):
Dead Nation
inFAMOUS
LittleBigPlanet
Super Stardust HD
Wipeout HD + Fury

PSP (choose two):
LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
ModNation Racers
Pursuit Force
Killzone Liberation

30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an additional 60 days of free subscription.

Mexico is currently the only Latin American country with a PS Store but it was mentioned in the same news story that Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia and Perú would open soon who would also enjoy the same bonus.

Welcome Back Program Details for North America:

Originally Posted by PS.Blog NA:

Now that some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming and entertainment, we’re happy to provide details about the “Welcome Back” appreciation program for customers in North America. 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.

Dead Nation
inFAMOUS
LittleBigPlanet
Super Stardust HD
Wipeout HD + Fury

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.
Thank you again for your support!

Welcome Back Program Details for Europe:

Originally Posted by PS.Blog EU: Now that certain PSN services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming, it seems a good time to confirm what is being offered as part of the Welcome Back programme.

Once we restore PlayStation Store, which will be just a little while longer, you will have the opportunity to claim your Welcome Back gifts. Please note that the Welcome Back programme is only available for those countries with access to PlayStation Store*.

All existing PlayStation Network members will be able to access the following from PlayStation Store*:

Two PS3 games from the following list:

* LittleBigPlanet
* Infamous*
* Wipeout HD/Fury
* Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty
* Dead Nation*

For those with PSP accounts, you will also be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list:

* LittleBigPlanet PSP
* ModNation PSP
* Pursuit Force
* Killzone Liberation*

– 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PS Plus subscribers*

– Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will be given 60 days free subscription.

– For existing Music Unlimited subscribers, you will be given 30 days free subscription.

– We are working on a Welcome Back offer in PlayStation Home and will share that when it is confirmed.

I would like to thank all of the developers and publishers involved in this programme for their support in making this happen. We certainly couldn’t have done it without you.

You will be able to access this content once PlayStation Store comes back online and we are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support and keep checking back on the blog for more information.

1. For eligibility for the welcome back programme consumers must be an account holder on 20 April 2011. Specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live. All existing PSN registrants have 30 days from when the welcome back programme goes live to redeem their content.

2. For the German market, InFamous and Dead Nation will be replace with Super Stardust HD and Hustle Kings in the selection of PS3 games.

3. For the German market, Pursuit Force and Killzone Liberation will be replaced with Everybody’s Golf 2 and Buzz Junior Jungle Party in the selection of PSP games. Killzone Liberation will not offer online gameplay functionality.

4. Access to the 30 days free PS Plus subscription is only available for those countries where PS Plus is offered. You will have access to the PS Plus content planned for May for 30 days. Access to the free games and exclusive features finishes at the end of the 30-day subscription period. Anything you buy with exclusive discounts, dynamic themes and premium avatars are yours to keep forever.

Credits to PlayStation Blog EU

It’s a sigh that PlayStation Asia will comeback a little late, but I am so excited about the PS Store’s comeback. I hope I can download LittleBigPlanet and inFamous well.

|> Agnostic Front – Gotta Go

NEWS | IM YOONA and SONEs are the trend!

Yesterday, we saw a lot of hollywood singers and artists names together with their respective fanclubs trending in twitter.com. The list includes Justin & Beliebers at #3, Taylor & Swifties at #4, Gaga & Monsters at #5, Demi and Lovatics at #6, and more.

Some K-Pop fanatics became really frustrated (including me) bacause the the day after that night is Girls’ Generation Yoona’s birthday, and of course, it’s a must to make Yoona up in the trends list. I did not sleep early because of this, trying to help other SONEs and non-SONEs. However, as I’ve checked right now, I can see IM YOONA in the 5th spot.

Surprisingly, SONEs is also trending. This is a very good news for K-Pop fans. I hope IM YOONA can make it to the number 1 spot. On the other hand, let us greet Yoona a happy birthday. 🙂

BTW, here are some of my posts last night:

https://twitter.com/#!/kenokenopiii/status/74879307259981824
https://twitter.com/#!/kenokenopiii/status/74867539678732288
https://twitter.com/#!/kenokenopiii/status/74865493441396736
https://twitter.com/#!/kenokenopiii/status/74865580611608577
https://twitter.com/#!/kenokenopiii/status/74865669535051776

That’s all, and please keep Yoona noona in the top trends.

|> Trivium – Throes of Perdition

NEWS | Free Full PlayStation 3 Games for Loyal Gamers.

As we all know, May 15, 2011, the PlayStation 3’s online gaming service, PlayStation Network, came back online. PS3 users were tested with their patience and for Sony, the only way to pay us with our patience is… Free Games. Check out the article took straight from the PlayStation blog below:

Now that some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming and entertainment, we’re happy to provide details about the “Welcome Back” appreciation program for customers in North America. 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.

• Dead Nation
• inFAMOUS
• LittleBigPlanet
• Super Stardust HD
• Wipeout HD + Fury

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.

Thank you again for your support!

Posted in The PlayStation Blog by Patrick Seybold

Now, now. What else? There’s the PSN, there are free games, and what? It’s a hell of a gaming week again! I’m so glad Sony is doing their best to attract their consumers once again. I bet this is gonna be history. Back when the XBOX360 was hacked, there’s no other solution for Microsoft but to ban those consoles. As for Sony, they have this and that, and I’m so sure that PS3 gamers out there are fully satisfied, once the PS Store came back. I’m so excited, by the way.

|> Agnostic Front – Addiction

NEWS | Play On – PSN Restoration Begins Now

The Sony PlayStation Blog recently posted a new article about the current status of the PSN service. Oh, and I’m glad that PSN is coming back now. Here’s what it says:

Thank you for your patience and encouragement over the last few weeks. As covered in the post from earlier today, you can now update the firmware on your PS3 and change your password. Kazuo Hirai just announced that we have begun the phased restoration by region of some of the services, starting with online multiplayer functionality.

Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated, which is required to get online.

Notice: If your state is illuminated but your service has not yet been restored, please be patient – it can take a little while for the servers to populate fully.

Posted by Patrick Seybold of The PlayStation Blog

Great. I myself is feeling so excited to play online games again. Even the people in TipidPC PS3 thread became alive again. I hope the restored PSN is no more hackable. Thanks Sony.

|> 소녀시대 (Girls’ Generation) – 훗 (Hoot)

NEWS | PSN Outage Update: A Letter from Howard Stringer

This morning (yeah, it’s past 12AM already.), news from the US Sony PlayStation Blog came out which plainly includes a letter from Mr. Howard Stringer, the Chairman-slash-President-slash-CEO of Sony Corporation. In his letter, he apologized to the Sony PlayStation’s dearest consumers, as well as the current state of the incident, the future plans for the PlayStation Network service and a few words to please us to still have faith to Sony. Here’s what he said:

Dear Friends,

I know this has been a frustrating time for all of you.

Let me assure you that the resources of this company have been focused on investigating the entire nature and impact of the cyber-attack we’ve all experienced and on fixing it. We are absolutely dedicated to restoring full and safe service as soon as possible and rewarding you for your patience. We will settle for nothing less.

To date, there is no confirmed evidence any credit card or personal information has been misused, and we continue to monitor the situation closely. We are also moving ahead with plans to help protect our customers from identity theft around the world. A program for U.S. PlayStation Network and Qriocity customers that includes a $1 million identity theft insurance policy per user was launched earlier today and announcements for other regions will be coming soon.

As we have announced, we will be offering a “Welcome Back” package to our customers once our PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are up and running. This will include, among other benefits, a month of free PlayStation Plus membership for all PSN customers, as well as an extension of subscriptions for PlayStation Plus and Music Unlimited customers to make up for time lost.

As a company we — and I — apologize for the inconvenience and concern caused by this attack. Under the leadership of Kazuo Hirai, we have teams working around the clock and around the world to restore your access to those services as quickly, and as safely, as possible.

I know some believe we should have notified our customers earlier than we did. It’s a fair question. As soon as we discovered the potential scope of the intrusion, we shut down the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services and hired some of the best technical experts in the field to determine what happened. I wish we could have gotten the answers we needed sooner, but forensic analysis is a complex, time-consuming process. Hackers, after all, do their best to cover their tracks, and it took some time for our experts to find those tracks and begin to identify what personal information had — or had not — been taken.

As a result of what we discovered we notified you of the breach. Our investigation is ongoing, and we are upgrading our security so that if attacks like this happen again, our defenses will be even stronger.

In the last few months, Sony has faced a terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan. But now we are facing a very man-made event – a criminal attack on us — and on you — and we are working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies around the world to apprehend those responsible.

In the coming days, we will restore service to the networks and welcome you back to the fun. I wanted to personally reach out and let you know that we are committed to serving you to the very best of our ability, protecting your information better than ever, and getting you back to what you signed up for – all the games and great entertainment experiences that you expect from Sony.

With best regards,
Howard Stringer

Source: US PlayStation Blog

Now, now. What can you say? Are you pleased? Well, I am. Atleast Sony does not deny anything. There is no conspiracy. Mr. Howard Stringer is surely sincere with his words and we can feel his sympathy towards the incident. As we can see, they’re making sure that the new rebuilt PSN server will be 100% un-hackable (I really hope it is). Time to go..!

|> Bad Brains – I Luv I Jah

NEWS | PlayStation 3 mandatory update 3.61

Thanks to a fellow user in TipidPC.com. He hinted where to find a reliable source about the current state and plans for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Network outage this whole week. I was redirected to N4G.com’s page and then there’s the article about the console receiving a mandatory update the moment the online service is up and running. Check out what it says below:

Pause for future measures of service May 1, 2011

“PlayStation Network” and the failure continues, I am sorry indeed.

Today, from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., “PlayStation Network” we have a presentation on current and future support for unauthorized access.
We are committed to improving the capacity and ongoing security management, “PlayStation Network” progressively restart services on a regional basis. The trouble, as we offer special services and appreciation of the user apologize to everybody Sorry for worry.

※ For further information, please see press release here.

We apologize for the inconvenience to everyone, but inconvenience, humbly thank you for your understanding.

Schedule service restart

Phased out according to the schedule below for each region “PlayStation Network” service will resume.
For specific dates, we will guide you turn at this site.

1. Guide update (today)
2. Enable password change “PlayStation 3” System Software Update ver.3.61 (soon)
   * At this point, “PlayStation Network” is not yet available.
3. “PlayStation Network” restart some services (soon)
   Liable for the service will be resumed ※ “will resume soon” PlayStation Network “service / feature” please see.
   Getting signed – will need to change your password.
   – Change the password by performing the procedure, “PlayStation Network” are some of the services can use.
   “PSP” “PlayStation Portable” With regard to the password change, “PlayStation 3” I will guide you through the timing made it possible to change the password.
4. “PlayStation Network” full resumption of service (in May)

Will resume soon “PlayStation Network” Services / Features

As a first step to resume service in the near future, the following services / functions will resume.
We will soon turn is ready to resume the much more other services (services not be available when the service restart the first phase of the “Note” please check.)

• “PlayStation Network” to sign
• Use of online games
• Account Management
• Watching video content (only in time of viewing content)
• Toro Station [Weekly]
• Ad-hoc Party for “PlayStation Portable” (※)
• “PlayStation Home” (※)
• Update data reading trophy (※)
• Friends list (※)
• Message (※)
• AV Chat (※)
• Text Chat (※)

(※) “PlayStation 3” available only.

Please note:
In the first stage of resumption of service, the following services / functions can not be accepted.
“PlayStation Store” and the feature is not available for settlement.
Features such as purchase items not available in the game.
Download product code and the list is not available.
“PlayStation Network” in the title may cause some problems to use the feature.

Special services are scheduled to resume full

Inconvenience, we will be offering a special service of thanksgiving and apologize to everybody Sorry for the user who worry.
For more information on this issue, we will guide you turn by this site.

• Free download specific content
• Flat-rate service package “PlayStation Plus” and offer 30 days free for members and the current 30-day free subscription

«Contact»

Sony Computer Entertainment PlayStation ® Network special window
TEL 0120-723-952
10:00 to 19:00 hours

Sony Computer Entertainment PlayStation ® Information Center for general inquiries
TEL 0570-000-929 (PHS, some IP phone 03-3475-7444)
10:00 to 18:00 hours
http://www.jp.playstation.com/support/

source: here + n4g.com

The announcement that includes the notice and plans of Sony for the PlayStation 3 and the service is written in Japanese (translated to English through Google Translate) as an HTML file by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, wherein it clarifies that once the PSN is up, upon user’s login to the PlayStation Network, there will be a prompt that a firmware upgrade to version 3.61 is needed to continue. It even says that these scheduled plans are coming “soon” so we still have to cope up with our own patience. Also, as I’ve reminded you all before, a password change is needed so that we can surely protect our accounts once again.

|> Slipknot – Before I Forget

NEWS | 2 Days to go for PSN, 1 month free PS+…!

We all knew the news, from here, that our PlayStation’s online service, the PlayStation Network will be up and running again starting on May 3. And that’s 2 days to go.

Well, Sony and company agreed to something that will make their users get attracted and start using the service again. That is, free 1 month subscription to the PlayStation Plus service. For those who are regular PlayStation Network users, they will have a free one month free trial of the said service. On the other hand, users who are already subscribed to the service will have the chance to get free 1 month instead of paying their bill for that month. Good thing? for some I guess.

Because of this free blah~blah, I’m getting more excited to go and play multiplayer games again. It’s ben a while and that’s what I’m feeling. I’m sure you too…! xoxo

|> Bleeding Through – Salvation Never Found

NEWS | PlayStation Network to go back online on May 3rd (Updated)

I’m sure a lot of you are getting so thirsty in accessing the multiplayer features of your PS3s. Well, here’s a good news. According to the PlayStation Blog, the service will be up and running again starting on May 3rd. Believe it or not, this is official. Hackers of the PlayStation Network (if there really is, how many they are, and what they did with our accounts, we don’t have a clue) still have 3 days to celebrate their selfish masterpiece for hacking the service. Also, Sony promised that they’ll get revenge against them, for their money-sake, and for the PS3 users-sake. Oh God’s sake! Here’s what the news says:

Sony has confirmed that it hopes to restore some fuctionality to the PSN service by next Tuesday in a new statement on the PlayStation Blog.

“Our employees have been working day and night to restore operations as quickly as possible, and we expect to have some services up and running within a week from yesterday. However, we want to be very clear that we will only restore operations when we are confident that the network is secure.”

Dated April 27, the update posted by Patrick Seybold (Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media), would put the estimated return date for PSN services as May 3, meaning that the service will have been offline for two weeks.

Although which services will be coming back online next week is unclear, Sony has stated they are working on new security measures for the future, as well as seeking out those responsible for the breach, confirming they “are working closely with a recognized technology security firm in order to find those responsible for this criminal act, no matter where in the world they might be located.”

Source: PlayStation Blog + IGN

If you read it carefully, Sony stated that they’ve been working with a “recognized technology security firm”. That, we don’t know, and I bet it’s a top-secret-Sony thing.

The “project: system rebuild” is almost done, I believe. This crisis has led the service to a backlash. For 2 weeks of “NO PSN”, I bet this is considered to be a good news to PlayStation users. Hopefully, we can trust Sony to permanently secure our accounts forever. Oh, and don’t forget to think of a new password for your account(s), it is necessary to change password once the PSN service is up and running. Feel free to share this article. xoxo

EDIT: It seems like the article’s source, which is IGN, made a big mistake and players worldwide assumed that the service will be back exactly on the 3rd. According to a reliable source, Sony did not mention any exact date, instead, clarified that they only hinted that the service will comeback definitely starting on the 1st week of May 2011. Right now, May 5th, the time I’m writing this revision of this post, there are only a few days left for Sony to keep up with their promise. I, Mistercomputer, hope that it will all turn out well.

EDIT: I’ve seen a lot of people waiting and waiting and losing patience, so here you go, the latest from Sony Japan. 🙂

|> Bullet For My Valentine – Scream Aim Fire

NEWS | PlayStation Network still globally down

Just received an e-mail from PlayStation Asia (Hongkong) about the recent crisis the PlayStation Network is facing right now. You can read what the email says below:

親愛的PlayStation®Network用戶：

我們發現在2011年4月17至19日，部份PlayStation®Network用戶的帳戶資料在一次非法及未經授權的網路入侵中被洩露。對於是次入侵，我們已：

1. 暫時停止PlayStation®Network服務
2. 委託認可的外部網路保安公司對事件進行全面調查
3. 透過重建系統，迅速提升保安及加強網路基建，為您的個人資料提供更大的保障

我們衷心感謝您的耐性、諒解及信任。我們正設法迅速和有效地以可行的方法解決這些問題。

雖然我們仍然在調查事件的詳情，但我們相信一名未獲授權人士已取得您提供的個人資料，包括姓名、地址（城市、州、郵遞區號）、國家、電郵地址、出生日期、 PlayStation®Network密碼、登入名稱及PSN在線名稱。您的帳戶資料包括購買履歷、帳單郵寄地址（城市、州、郵遞區號）及密碼保安答案 可能已經洩露。如您為您的子女或監護兒童開立子帳號，您的子女或監護兒童的相同資料亦可能已經洩露。雖然現時尚無證據顯示信用卡資料被外洩，但我們亦不能 排除有關可能。如您已透過PlayStation®Network提供信用卡資料，基於審慎處理的前提下，我們建議您留意您的信用卡號碼（保安碼除外）及 到期日亦可能已經洩露。

為了保障您的資料，我們建議您要額外留意要求您提供個人或敏感資料的電郵、電話及欺詐郵件。Sony Computer Entertainment將不會以任何方式，包括電郵，來要求您提供信用卡號碼、身份證號碼或類似號碼或其他個人識別資料。如被要求提供這些資料，您可 確信提出的一方不是Sony Computer Entertainment。PlayStation®Network服務全面恢復後，我們強烈建議您登入並更改密碼。另外，如您在其他服務或帳戶使用 PlayStation®Network使用者名稱或密碼，我們亦建議您更改那些資料。

為了防止身份盜用或其他金錢損失，我們建議您保持機警，復查您的帳戶帳單和核查你的信用卡或其他類似的報告。

我們感謝您耐心等待我們完成事件的調查工作，並為造成的不便深表歉意。我們的團隊正24小時工作，儘快恢復服務。Sony Computer Entertainment非常重視資料保安，並會繼續確保採取額外措施來保障個人識別資料。為顧客提供高質素及安全的娛樂服務是我們的首要工作。如有查 詢，請致電2341 2356 (香港) 或 021 2994 8800 (印尼)或 1 800 81 4963 (馬來西亞)或800 8523 663 (新加坡)或0809 079 888 (台灣)或 0 2715 6100 (泰國)。

Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong Limited
謹啟

Valued PlayStation®Network Customer:

We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation®Network user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this intrusion, we have:

1. Temporarily turned off PlayStation®Network services;
2. Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and
3. Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by re-building our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.

We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.

Although we are still investigating the details of this incident, we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation®Network password and login, and PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation®Network password security answers may have been obtained. If you have authorized a sub-account for your dependent, the same data with respect to your dependent may have been obtained. While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation®Network, out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained.

For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone, and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony Computer Entertainment will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, identity number or similar number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony Computer Entertainment is not the entity asking.  When the PlayStation®Network services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password.  Additionally, if you use your PlayStation®Network user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them, as well.

To protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant to review your account statements and to monitor your credit or similar types of reports.

We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience.  Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. Sony Computer Entertainment takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information. Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority.  Please contact us at 2341 2356 (HONG KONG) OR 021 2994 8800 (INDONESIA) OR 1 800 81 4963 (MALAYSIA) OR 800 8523 663 (SINGAPORE) OR 0809 079 888 (TAIWAN) OR 0 2715 6100 (THAILAND). should you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,
Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong Limited

It’s too bad that PlayStation Network is still down. I know how people, specially fanboys, are getting annoyed of it. We still don’t know what’s the reason behind, and because of various rumors circulationg around the internet globally, it makes us more and more annoyed. We just hope that the dudes in PlayStation dev team do the right thing to make us play multiplayer again, with no anomalies in our credit cards.

Right now, what we can do is to monitor your credit card connected to your PSN account, check your emails, and regularly login to PSN via their website to check if their are some things strange. Also, feel free to inform the other players, hit the “Like” button to share this post to your Facebook friends, hit the “Tweet” button to spread the word to your twitter-mates, or just click the “Email” button to send an email through your email service. xoxo

|> Metallica – Dyers Eve