In case you’ve not heard yet, if you’re the owner of a non-slim Sony PS3, or “phat” or “fat” Sony PlayStation 3, it’s in your best interest to not try to play any games until either a fix is in place or until the datetime error is fixed.

“As you may be aware, some customers have been unable to connect to the PlayStation Network today. This problem affects the models other than the new slim PS3.

We believe we have identified that this problem is being caused by a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system.

Errors include:

• The date of the PS3 system may be re-set to Jan 1, 2000.
• When the user tries to sign-in to the PlayStation Network, the following message appears on the screen; “An error has occurred. You have been signed out of PlayStation Network (8001050F)”.
• When the user tries to launch a game, the following error message appears on the screen and the trophy data may disappear; “Failed to install trophies. Please exit your game.”
• When the user tries to set the time and date of the system via the Internet, the following message appears on the screen; “The current date and time could not be obtained. (8001050F)”
• Users are not able to playback certain rental video downloaded from the PlayStation Store before the expiration date.

We hope to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours. In the meantime, if you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data.

Bad part… now that I cannot play my Sony PS3, I actually want to play it now.

UPDATE: Sony has “fixed” the problem, proceed with playing your games and collecting your trophies in peace now.

[ Links: PS3 IGN, Sony's Secret Warranty Timer? ]

In what appears to be a promotion gone wrong, Cox Communications has accidentally offered free PlayStation 3′s to every Cox customer in Arizona that signs up for service or upgrades existing service. The deal was supposedly intended only to lure in new Cox customers, but Cox’s marketing team accidentally sent the flyers out to all customers.

Yep, they screwed up.

Judging from posts in the Broadbandreports.com’s forums, Cox did try pretty hard to honor the deal, which requires users sign a 12 month contract (and Cox’s ETF is roughly equivalent to the cost of a PS3). Some users who tried to get in on the deal late (and via word of mouth from customers who got flyers) aren’t getting PS3′s, and have complained to the Consumerist about Cox shutting down the promotion.

So, if you’re in Arizona, did you get one?

Link to the original article…

Feast your eyes on probably the first Final Fantasy XIII “transformer” that I would ever purchase.

Square Enix’s Play Arts Kai figures are an improved version of their popular Play Arts action figure series. With a larger scale, a greater attention to detail, more articulation points, and additional parts, these are their finest action figure yet. Based on Final Fantasy XIII, the highly-anticipated role-playing game coming to the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 in Spring 2010, this deluxe action figure recreates the Odin summons from the new game.

The chief Norse god, Odin transforms from a human-like god into an impressive horse that can be summoned by Lightning, the game’s primary character.

Up for pre-order at NCSX for $189.90 and due to ship in July of 2010, some 4 months after the US release of Final Fantasy XIII.

[ Links: NCSX - Odin Action Figure, Square Enix NA ]

Before you jump to conclusions, it’s not that IBM will no longer manufacture that precious little chip that powers your Sony PlayStation 3, but the Sony, Toshiba and IBM co-developed processor will not see the previously announced 32 SPE processor ever happen now. Not by IBM at least. And previously, Toshiba bought out Sony’s stake in the Cell CPU foundry [ article here ] almost two years ago.

IBM’s most recent development in the Cell Processor’s design is the PoweXCell 8i, which is featured in the second most powerful supercomputer in the world; Roadrunner.

However, this is where Cell will end for IBM. The company’s Vice President David Turek, told German website Heise Online that the planned 32 SPE Cell processor will not be made.

Fret not… the PlayStation3 processor will still live on. And if Sony wants to use a variation of the Cell in the PlayStation4, I’m sure IBM can be convinced with a few briefcases of money. But it does make you wonder what else will happen for this “wonder” chip. Seems to me like it’s finally starting to lose to the faster, more efficient (to program for at least) CPU plus GPU combination.

[ PlayStation University ] [ Heise Online ] [ IBM ]

You have got to be kidding me. There’s a Papa John’s promotion about ordering pizza(s) through the PS3 browser!? Like gamers need another reason to never leave the house… Sony is assisting gluttony.

I’m ordering two large pizzas right now

Perhaps this is part of the 3.01 update?