General gaming news

[6souls]

http://www.gamasutra.com/db_area/ima...3-frogster.jpg
An anonymous attacker claims to have stolen login data for 3.5 million Frogster accounts, threatening to release that user information and shut down the game's servers unless the publisher meets certain demands.

In a now-deleted posting on Frogster's message boards, captured by gaming blog Kotaku, a user using the handle Augustus87 demands that the Berlin-based company stop closing forum threads, offer more transparency to customers, secure its game clients and user info, and cease its alleged spying of workers' online activities.

Augustus87 says if these demands are not met in two weeks, he will release information from a collection of 3.5 million accounts for Runes of Magic, Bounty Bay Online, TERA, and other free-to-play games from Frogster. Her claims 500,000 of those accounts have been "hacked and verified" so far.

The hacker has already released alleged login and password information for around 2,100 from 2007 accounts on the message board -- a post Frogster's moderators quickly deleted. The publisher says it has blocked those accounts' access to the games, account management settings, and forums for those users' protection.

Frogster says the data released so far comprises "outdated log-in data from 2007," before its "comprehensive reset initiative." The company has informed the German State Office of Criminal Investigation about the breach, and has formed a task force dedicated to learning how this incident occurred.

"We are utilizing every means at our disposal to minimise the damage and to prevent such threats in the future," explained Runes of Magic's lead community manager Mike "Silberfuchs" Kiefer in a forum post. "We have already implemented additional security measures today."

He added, "This incident is very distressing to all of us. It is targeted not only at Frogster as a company, but also at Runes of Magic as a virtual biosphere and at you as players. We are always open to constructive suggestions. However, giving your opinion on blackmail and extortion is surely not the correct approach."

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/3...wn_Servers.php

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets...01/demands.jpg

http://kotaku.com/5735250/hacker-hol...o-game-hostage

Only bring this up because there is a sizable topic about T.E.R.A.

[6souls]

Previously we reported on a PSN ban rumor which was followed by speculation on preventing bans, and today Dutch site PS3-Sense claims that according to SKFU Sony plans to combat PS3 piracy with Blu-ray disc serial keys.

Similar to what's been done with PC games in the past, when you buy a PS3 or PSN game you'll get a serial key with it which you can use up to 5 times.

This gives Sony a signal that you are authorized to play the game and that you have a legal copy of the game, and the serial key only works with the same Blu-ray disc with the same serial number.

To quote, roughly translated:

"From a very reliable source (SKFU) we have heard a striking new feature of the PS3. The feature would be present even at the PlayStation Network but is currently still hidden.

It is a serial system which Sony will soon start working on. Since the root keys are on the street you can see every homebrew tool (including backup management) make it sound like it was made by Sony. This makes it so hard for Sony to detect and block gamers with backup managers.

The idea is that soon every Blu-ray disc, with a unique number, comes with a serial key. These serial keys then work only with the Blu-ray disc with a matching number.

Therefore, if you have bought a game and put it into your PS3 you will enable it using your serial key, and thus a signal to Sony indicates that you are authorized to play the game on your PlayStation 3.

Reportedly, any serial key may be used only five times, as many PlayStation Store downloads. Given the implementation, according to our source has already been done in the PlayStation Network, and three unknown input fields on the PlayStation Network indicates the probability that this system will be introduced is enormous."

http://www.ps3news.com/PS3-Hacks/rum...c-serial-keys/
http://www.ps3-sense.nl/2011/01/excl...gen-piraterij/

[Kiarax]

Killing the preowned market and piracy, GG.

[Kaisha]

So they'll be basically forcing everyone to have their PS3 connected to the net with a PSN account to verify their game legibility status? This won't go well with some of the playerbase, especially the lazy fucks like I who don't want to have to keep inputing redeem codes (wouldn't surprise me if these ones end up being 2x the length of the current system to give Sony a good buffer of keys to assign) every time I buy a game. That's why I moved to Steam on my PC. ;/

[izembo]

you'd be amazed the number of people in the US market that dont have their system hooked up to the internet.

[jmc]

Its ok, sony will fuck this up somehow.... and there will be keygens released in no time.

[Kaisha]

If their past is anything to go by, the serial key will be the exact same for every game.

For all they know it could truly be random.

[Jefe]

you'd be amazed the number of people in the US market that dont have their system hooked up to the internet.

Maybe they'll have a system like Adobe, if you ain't got intranet connection then use a phone.

I just don't to deal w/ fucking cheaters.

[Riposte]

JP Developers talk about the 360 (originally from Famitsu)

Alchemist
-A big title will be released around summer. Currently it remains a 360 exclusive (1)
-It is not an ADV. The ADV market is primarily on the PSP now (2) but because PSP sales are poor overseas, they have to look at things using a more global approach (3)
-They want to expand overseas, but in order to be able to sell overseas, they have to prove they can sell several tens of thousands units before they'd be seen as a viable company
-They've changed their former way of thinking: they've come to realize that it is important for them to choose the platform that fits their needs when releasing games (4)

Microsoft
-The new slim 360 could very well still be in the limelight, but it seems Kinect has been completely blown off
-There will be more titles coming besides Gears of War 3

Bandai Namco
-The domestic sales of Kinect Brain Training were more horrible than expected
-2011's focus will be on multiple strong multiplatform titles

Bethesda
-Sales of Fallout 3:NV, were good, but they noticed that the 360 version sold significantly less
-The DLC for New Vegas will be released soon
-The release date for Skyrim overseas is 11/11 but the Japanese version will also come not long after

Capcom
-There will be at least 4 titles released this year
-COMPLETE GLOBAL SATURATION is the motto of the day

Cave
-There will be 3 titles shown at February's event
-2 XBLA titles: one original title, and one port
-The domestic 360 market is very weak. While titles are still selling, total sales have fallen across the board. Therefore, they have to think really hard about what they're going to do from now on.
-The other day a buyer said "The 360 never sells beyond the pre-order copies, won't you develop for a different console?"
-But if there's something they want to do, then they'll struggle if needed to do it
-Kinect hasn't really been a hot topic of discussion among the people at all, especially now that it's post-launch. No one's talking about it.
-They are worried about MS' new all-Kinect-focused stance
-Right now circumstances make it really difficult to release low-priced games on the 360.

Codemasters
-It's been a tough year, but both F1 and Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising did favorably
-But the 360 version sales have been declining and they have been forced to lower their sales estimates.
-There's definitely a large gap between the 360 version and the PS3 version in terms of sales
-There will be 1~2 titles released this year

D3Publisher
-5 titles will be released this year, two of which being Dream Club and Earth Defense Force.
-1 of them will be a Dream Club-related game. It will not be Dream Club 2 (5)

5pb
-There will be 2~3 PC ADVs ports released this year
-There will be some original titles too
-They admit the 360 is their main console of choice

KOEI
-Sales have completely shifted to the PS3. In some cases, PS3 games are outselling the 360 version by a 10:1 ratio
-They are considering releasing Kinect titles
-Several titles planned for 2011
-Titles planned for game fans in general, and not restricted to only 360 users
-In the beginning they wanted to try selling 2,800 yen titles and then make profits off of DLC, but MS needs to set up an infrastructure for selling budget-priced games

Sega
-They want to do several titles like Project DIVA (6)
-They've realized that each console has its own advantages
-It is easy to enrich social-type gaming with the services the 360 has to offer
-This year will release roughly about the same number of titles as last year (7)

Spike
-Sacred 2 sold well, but Metro2033 did not meet expectations
-They have 1 new localization title to be announced
-While Kinect seems to be doing well worldwide, the sales in Japan are not as strong, so they do not want to get involved with it
-They're declaring the revival of western gaming

UBIsoft
-There will be 10 titles released in 2011 of which 3 will be Kinect titles
-A numbered Assassin's Creed is in development but it won't make this year

Russel
-Because it's the 360, they have to be careful about the games they pick
-3~4 titles scheduled for 2011

Hudson
-On the whole 2010 wasn't bad, but the 360 still isn't doing so well domestically
-Deca Sports sold 300K, a sequel is planned

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=420232

Emphasis mine.

@:Alchemist: ADV(Adventure) games... hmmm what format... hmmmmm what format would adventure games work on? That's a tough one, I'll get back to you later Japan.

@Ubisoft: So is this the first confirmation of no AC this year?

[Riposte]

For now on I am going to avoid using letters with accent marks because they fuck up searches. Probably should be a rule of thumb. Pokemon, etc. (Consider it when copy and pasting difficult titles)

[Kyo]

It was said last Holiday there wouldn't be an AC this year, they didnt want to beat it to death.

[Riposte]

Best dudes in the business, Platinum turns 5

http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23pg5

[Dominico]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but here goes. So I just got a new 160gb PS3 to replace my old one that died. I'm noticing that one of the fans (I think its the main rear fan) makes a very slight buzzing sound (only noticeable when I put my ear to the console at first). It sounds like theres a little pissed off mosquito inside. The noise increases alot as the console heats up, but it's nothing thats unbearable. Is this normal? My old 120gb never used to make this weird buzzing noise when the fans started spinning faster.

[Shojin]

I have a 60gb launch model, not a slim, but that doesn't sound right especially if it gets louder the hotter it goes and it becomes pretty noticeable. I would say take it back and replace it while it's still under store warranty just to be safe (assuming you didn't buy it used.)

[Kaisha]

Only time I ever hear a weird buzzing noise is when I'm in the PSN store, and only the PSN store. Why? I have no fucking clue.

[6souls]

Korean company LG wants Sony's PlayStation 3 and Bravia televisions banned in the US for what it claims are patent infringements relating to Blu-ray playback.

To quote from EuroGamer:

"The Foss Patents blog contacted Eurogamer to reveal documents filed with the US International Trade Commission in Washington relating to the complaint. mThe ITC has the power to block imports of products that violate US patents.

LG claims Sony is infringing four of its patents in a complaint that broadly relates to "certain electronic devices having a Blu-Ray Disc player and components thereof", but the PlayStation 3 (Model No. CECH-2501A) is the only Sony product to be specifically named in the main document of the complaint.

A Bloomberg reports suggests LG's claims are revenge for cases brought against it by Sony in December. Sony claims the Seoul-based company is infringing seven of its patents relating to LG phones. Sony has also filed a civil lawsuit against LG Blu-ray players.

LG and Sony are the world's second- and third-largest TV makers, trailing Samsung."

http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation-3...ned-in-the-US/
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...nned-in-the-us

[izembo]

i hope LG takes their trashy products and dies.

[Doombard]

i hope LG takes their trashy products and dies.

agreed

[Dominico]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but here goes. So I just got a new 160gb PS3 to replace my old one that died. I'm noticing that one of the fans (I think its the main rear fan) makes a very slight buzzing sound (only noticeable when I put my ear to the console at first). It sounds like theres a little pissed off mosquito inside. The noise increases alot as the console heats up, but it's nothing thats unbearable. Is this normal? My old 120gb never used to make this weird buzzing noise when the fans started spinning faster.

UPDATE: Exchanged the buzzer for a new PS3 and so far no issues. The other one made the noise almost immediately, and the new one is still normal after having it on for maybe 5 hours (3 of which was me playing Black Ops). Hopefully all goes well.

[Hiryo]

That's good news. You should be fine now