90w ago - Today Reuters (linked above) reports that Sony has hired the former director of the U.S. National Cyber Security Center Philip Reitinger to oversee PSN security in an effort to prevent further breaches in their network.

To quote: "Certainly the network issue was a catalyst for the appointment," a Sony spokesman said. "We are looking to bolster our network security even further."

Shares in Sony have fallen 55 percent since the company revealed the hacking on April 27, sparking widespread criticism and casting a shadow over its plans for expansion in online businesses including music and movie distribution.

Concerns about losses in the TV department and the yen's rise against the euro have also contributed to Sony's woes.

Reitinger, who has also worked for Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Defense, will be based in Washington."

151w ago - In an interview with Develop-Online.net (linked above), SCE studio boss Shuhei Yoshida revealed that developers will be more integrated into their future hardware plans.

To quote: "So he wanted developers in meetings at the very beginning of concepting new hardware, and he demanded SCE people talk to us (developers)."

And when asked whether this change in philosophy will be applied to future PlayStation hardware, Yoshida replied: "Yes, we are undergoing many activities that we haven't yet been talking about in public. Some future platform related activities."

Yoshida also hinted that several activities are currently being worked on that are not public yet, to quote: "undergoing many activities that we haven't yet been talking about in public. Some future platform related activities."

Whether he is referring to the rumored PSP2 or an upcoming PS4, things will definitely be exciting for next-generation gamers.

238w ago - Sony Computer Entertainment UK managing director Ray Maguire has told VideoGamer that "nothing is ever exclusive" in response to questions surrounding exclusive DLC on Microsoft's Xbox 360.

Microsoft has tied up Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable content for some of this year's biggest games, including GTA 4, Fallout 3 and Tomb Raider: Underworld, leading to complaints from some PS3 owners that Sony isn't doing enough for them.

However, speaking to VideoGamer at the Games 3.0 conference in London earlier this week, Maguire rejected those complaints, saying he would "much rather that we (Sony) were investing money into making sure that we've got great R&D and we start producing games like LittleBigPlanet rather than paying other people a huge amount of money to stop people playing their product."

Maguire's "nothing is ever exclusive" comment is certain to add fuel to speculation that the high profile GTA 4 DLC that is due for release exclusively on the Xbox 360 will eventually make its way to the PS3.

Back in May, SCEE boss David Reeves told VideoGamer.com in that PS3-owners "probably will see" GTA 4 DLC, and described the deal as "the last shot they (Microsoft) have".

When asked if he had any message for PS3-owners who feel frustrated at the fact that they won't...

298w ago - Karraker called the decision "very difficult" having been presented with a promotion closer to home in an industry he had previously worked in.

"I have enjoyed immensely my tenure at SCEA and think the company and its brands are very well positioned to have an exceptional holiday and a very bright future," he wrote in an email to the media. "I look forward to continuing to follow this industry as a gamer, rather than a spokesperson."

Analyst Michael Pachter called the outgoing public relations director a "steady contact in a volatile industry."

Karraker played a key role in helping Sony brave the public relation waters of a tumultuous PS3 launch year by making himself readily available to both traditional and new media outlets. It was a position that we called the toughest job in video games this past May.

"The other PR people at Sony are quite competent, but it would help to strengthen the team with someone as good as Dave to handle the schizophrenic press over the next 6 months," Pachter told us.

"I think Sony will have a difficult holiday with only a handful of exclusive games and a pricing disadvantage against Microsoft and Nintendo," he added. "But I expect things to get better in spring with the release of Grand Theft Auto 4, Gran Turismo 5, and Metal Gear Solid...