251w ago - If you, or anyone you know, is having trouble accessing our Web site or Site Forums please let us know and include the following details:

• PC OS (Windows, Linux, etc)
• Web Browser and Version (Internet Explorer, FireFox, etc)
• Geographic Location (US, EU, etc)
• ISP (if you feel comfortable)
• Firewall/Internet Security Software (Norton, McAfee, etc)

For the last week or so we've been having some Web server issues, hence the delayed Site News updates, ranging from our Portal to RSS and Forum issues. Our dedicated Newsposter Staff have been given the week off, while CJPC (who is currently quite sick) and myself have been trying to sort things out.

Everyone we speak with on IRC say they can access the Site/Forums OK, and we can ourselves, however, traffic analytics tell us over the last week or so over there is nearly a 50% drop... most visible accessing the Forums. Obviously summer is upon us and people are on vacation, but not 50% of the PS3News Forum Members are all at once

We are trying to troubleshoot this, and once things are back to normal we also have some nice PS3 Dev progress to share as well.

Thanks for your patience while we...

255w ago - In recent months, many of us have been so wrapped up with PS3 stuff and the nice spring/summer weather that we didn't have time to finish testing some of the new vBulletin 3.7 features until recently.

The Staff'ers and Member classes have been using "Profile Visitor Messaging" for several weeks now successfully, and so tonight we have enabled it for the Registered User (5+ posts) class as well.

Pictured below, I received a Profile Visitor Message from Starlight, and whenever you leave one for a user they receive a notification in their Forum navbar (circled in red). Upon clicking the "Unread Profile Visitor Messages" I read it, and then replied to Starlight on his Profile (below the red triangle/arrow).

That's it, just wanted to make Registered Users aware they can now communicate with other users using this new system... you can also EDIT any Visitor Messages on your own Profile too guys. Have fun!

257w ago - The launch of the brilliant MGS4 is "only the beginning" of a rush of triple-A PS3-exclusives, says Sony's seemingly pleased VP of product marketing, Scott Steinberg.

With some of the console's big titles like Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, GTA IV and Singstar now out the door, Steinberg paints a positive picture for PS3 owners for the rest of the year.

"This is only the beginning of an ongoing software avalanche for PS3 that includes titles such as LittleBigPlanet, SOCOM: Confrontation, MotorStorm Pacific Rift and Resistance 2 that only PS3 owners will be able to exclusively enjoy," said Steinberg.

He also hopes MGS4 will encourage some of the millions of hibernating PS2 fans to come out the woodwork and grab a PS3.

Let's just hope they can keep the attractive hardware bundles in stock.

257w ago - It's no secret that when SEGA fell out of the hardware market, most of the devout fans of 'home of the hedgehog' pledged allegiance to the Xbox brand.

In part due to the early launch titles for the original Xbox - the classics 'Panzer Dragoon Orta' and 'Jet Grind Radio'. Both niche titles brought the SEGA faithful over to Microsoft's house for a party.

Much has changed over recent years though, with SEGA upping their release schedule across not just the Xbox brand, but also the Playstation and to a lesser extent, Nintendo consoles. This rather bulky release schedule helped SEGA rise from the ashes to become a once more successful part of the gaming front.

So it's no surprise that rumors are once again circulating that Microsoft may be about to make a move for SEGA (now SEGA Sammy Corp). It's certainly not the first time we've heard about such a move - the last mention of it being back in early 2004 when it was speculated upon on many industry sites such as The Register and Gamespot. When you think about it, such a move would make perfect sense.

Microsoft are expected to make a 'shocking and desperate' announcement at this years E3 - all we know is that it will be software related and nothing to do with hardware. It's also no secret that Microsoft has...

257w ago - Could Xbox 720 be completely digital? During a conversation with Shane Kim, the new Corporate Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Microsoft offered very general commentary on the next Xbox console.

When asked if his new role includes looking at how Microsoft is going to transition into the next console, Kim said:

"How [do] you think about next generation? What is that next generation going to encompass? How are you even going to define that? All of that is part of the equation. What kind of geographic expansion do we need to see? Is the world more of an online world than a hardware-oriented world? I think there are some really fascinating opportunities in front of us."

While the statement offers no details, it does suggest that Microsoft is at least exploring the idea of launching a digital system rather than a traditional expensive piece of hardware.

We're likely several years from the next Xbox, so enjoy this brief statement. It may be the last we get for a while.