Continuing the ongoing saga of what’s now stretching into month number 2, Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment announced on Friday that Sony Network Entertainment International, began a phased restoration of network services in the Japanese market. Likewise, Sony is flipping the switch for Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Presumably meeting Japanese officials concerns, Sony is also rolling out a new identity protection program for both PSN and Qriocity customers.
As part of the “new” rollout, Sony proudly introduced the world to their increased security procedures. Sony says that it’s made “considerable” enhancements to their data security, including updating and adding advanced security technologies, more software monitoring and penetration and vulnerability testing, and rounding out the field with more firewalls and increased encryption.
“I’d also like to send my sincere regret to customers in Japan and Asian countries and regions for the inconvenience these events have caused you,” said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation in a statment. “We are taking aggressive action including increasing security measures and working with respective authorities to address the concerns that were raised by this incident. We are making consumer data protection a full-time, company wide commitment so that our customers can rest assured about enjoying their entertainment.”
On the other side of the Pacific, Sony’s got another fire to put out. Without getting into the “Umm, no thanks,” answer that Sony gave congress when requested to appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, it would appear that California representative Mary Bono Mack would still like a few more answers.
The Atlantic is reporting that Sony Network chief Tim Schaff will now appear before congress to address these loose ends. Amongst the questions that Schaff is expected to clarify is that nagging one about why Sony waited so long to notify the public about the security breach.
“While Chairman Bono Mack remains critical of Sony’s initial handling of the data breaches, she also is appreciative that the company has now agreed to testify,” subcommittee aide Ken Johnson told The Atlantic. “We expect to introduce that legislation, which will provide new safeguards for American consumers, in the next few weeks.”
While I certainly wouldn’t want to be in Schaff’s, or Sony’s for that matter, shoes, this fiasco could have a light at the end of the tunnel. While Schaff’s getting grilled, it does provide us, and others around the world, with a time to analyze what happened, and how to safeguard against it in the future. Or at least update some systems until the h4x0rs evolve and break down these new layers of defense.
“We have an incredible relationship with James Patterson and worked closely with him on the development of this game to explore interesting and creative ways we could approach his unique way of storytelling within a Facebook game environment,” comments SEO head John Smedley. “Fans of James Patterson and crime dramas will enjoy James Patterson: Catch a Killer as it combines social gaming with the mystery and suspense of a Patterson novel to deliver an interactive and entertaining gameplay experience.”
It looks like Sony has finally adopted an idea I through out there a long time ago – parallel servers. Meaning, the EverQuest II Extended title will operate alongside the EverQuest II subscription model, thereby giving players the choice if they want to pay for a subscription, or pay piece by piece, i.e. free-to-play and microtransactions.
If The Agency rings a bell, you’ll remember that we first 
The popular turn based strategy game PoxNora is now available on Facebook. Obviously capitalizing on their own gaming expertise, not only is Sony jumping into the Facebook gaming world with PoxNora, but they also planning on bringing a number of additional games to Facebook based on existing franchises and new intellectual property.
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) recently announced that they’ve surpassed the 9 million player mark with 
If Giles’ most recent position didn’t warrant enough street cred, he also served as Execvutive Director of Technology at Turbine, where he oversaw core development projects, operations, IT, and Biz Dev efforts for Asheron’s Call, DDO, and LotRO. And rounding out the ‘Wow, this guy’s been a major player in a lot of stuff’ category, from 2003-2006, Giles filled the role of Director of Platform Technology at Sony Online Entertainment, meaning he was deeply involved in development and technology efforts in titles including EverQuest, EverQuest2, Star Wars Galaxies, The Matrix Online, and Planetside.
Studio Director and Executive Producer Matt Wilson, Art Director Corey Dangel, and Producer John Smith officially called it quits at the Pacific Northwest SOE studio at the beginning of July. The trio has struck out on their own with 
Keeping right in line with this rocket to the moon success story, SOE President John Smedley announced yesterday at Comic-Con International in San Diego that the title was now close to having 5 million registered users participating. Obviously, Sony’s gamble with a free-to-play/microtransactions supported business model is starting to pay off. And it seems that the finance department has taken note as well, as Sony has now officially sanctioned the introduction of microtransactions into two of it’s oldest, and perhaps best known MMO titles: EverQuest and EverQuest II. Smedley comments, “We now have 34 percent of our EverQuest II users using microtransactions.” He also noted that fans of the original EverQuest are making microtransaction purchases at only a slightly lower percentage.
