Boomtown X

Sony has announced it has begun the full restoration of PSN services.

Tokyo, June 2, 2011 –Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) announced today that Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) will fully restore all PlayStation®Network services today June 2, 2011, in the Americas, Europe/PAL territories and Asia, excluding Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. The company will also resume Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity™ for PlayStation®3 (PS3®), PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), VAIO and other PCs.

Details of “Welcome Back” package program offered to all registered PlayStation Network* and Qriocity account services will be announced from each region.

Announcement for restoration in Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea as well as for the remaining services on Qriocity will be made as they become available.

We remember a time when PSN used to work - last week, and Allan tries out the latest in the long running SOCOM series of military shooters.

Sly Racoon, Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter all in the same game? What could possibly go wrong?

The worst has happened, people: February 9th will no longer be the day you get your hands on a copy of Portal 2.

Developer Valve has pushed back the highly anticipated sequel to April 22, but offers a few words of condolence.

“This two month slip not only marks the shortest delay in Valve's proud tradition of delays, it represents the approaching convergence of Valve Time and Real Time. Though this convergence spells doom for humanity, it will not affect the new Portal 2 release date.”

Comforting, I'm sure you'll agree. While you wait though, why not check out some footage?

Portal 2 is in development for PS3, 360 and PS3.

Square Enix has released another trailer for its upcoming stealth/FPS/RPG/Kitchen Sink game, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and it's dealing in shades of bad-assery we weren't even aware existed.

The trailer demonstrates some of the weapons and abilities available to the player, including invisibility, explosive bullets and a superb looking rifle that can see and shoot through solid objects. It's truly unmissable.

Expect the game early next year for PC, PS3 and 360, but expect the video after the break.

Disney has just announced the next series to get Lego'ed at the capable hands of Traveller's Tales is none other than Pirates of the Caribbean.

Due for release in spring 2011 for PS3, 360, PC, Wii, DS and PSP, LPOTC will offer 70 playable characters across 20 levels, all recreated from the popular movies, including the latest one due in May 2011.

Namco Bandai's Splatterhouse, a re-imagining of the violent arcade classic, has been banned in Germany.

The news comes with no surprise considering the brutal violence on display, but Germany's hammer has landed on less worthy games, such as Treyarch's recent Call of Duty: Black Ops - if only be preventing uncut imports.

Still, Splatterhouse is due for release on November 26th on 360 and PS3.

The genre is old, the technology is new, but does Time Crisis still have a place in the home console market?

Joe Bennett investigates whether "Ultimate" is a deserving tag for the latest addition to Sony's quiz franchise.

Details of Europe's LittleBigPlanet 2 Collector's Edition have been unveiled, thanks to Sony's product manager Alex Pavey on the official PlayStation Blog.

Come January you can expect the following goodies:

- SteelBook case with groovy transparent sleeve.
- Five PSN avatars.
- Seven DLC costumes, including Tron Legacy's Clu, Toy Story 3's Alien and a cobra!

There's also some Jak, Daxter, Ratchet and Clank costumes to be had as pre-order bonuses.

More information on the official PlayStation Blog