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  Why Japan Is Blocking the Return of the PSN

  The PSN’s service is being restored in North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America. In Japan, it’s not. Governmental bureaucrats at the Ministry of Economy’s Media and Content Industry department won’t allow Sony to resume its PSN service until the electronics giant gives more information on new security measures. “We met with Sony on May…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 16, 2011
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  The Right Way to do Japanese Box Art

  The same smart people at Nintendo Europe who thought it was a good idea to localise Wii RPG Xenoblade also know how important box art can be for such a localisation. So they’re letting the game’s fans vote. While the front cover – which we’ll assume is the same as that found in Japan –…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 16, 2011
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  Valve’s Novel Idea: Charge Popular People Less

  In an interview with Develop, Valve boss Gabe Newell says that his company is more interested in “looking into what Valve can do with payment services than engine services”. What that means is some crazy ideas on how to take your money. “The industry has this broken model, which is one price for everyone”, he…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 16, 2011
• CultureTotal Recall

  The Beautiful Art of Arcade Video Games

  Since for most of arcade gaming’s heyday graphics weren’t exactly easy on the eye, to lure customers in companies often had to rely on artwork to make a sale. The biggest, grandest works were reserved for the side of the cabinet, but since they usually weren’t seen (with machines stacked side-by-side), it was the “marquee”…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 16, 2011
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  Won’t Someone Think of the Children?

  Won’t Someone Think of the Children? | A Los Angeles-area teenager takes to the streets for PlayStation Network, in a photo taken “just minutes” before service was brought back online in North America (Photo: Christopher Kirkman | Media Geeks) The PlayStation Network Returns; Normalcy Won’t Across North America yesterday evening, PlayStation Network returned after a…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
• Culture

  Here’s the Juice

  Rockstar’s cop thriller L.A. Noire dominates this coming Tuesday, though RPG enthusiasts on the PC will want to take note of The Witcher 2. For those picking up Noire two DLC extensions are available the day of release via PSN and Xbox Live. Clarification: These extensions are preorder premiums; they are not DLC available for…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  Next Resident Evil Movie Might Be Called “Retribution,” Says Milla

  Milla Jovovich takes a bunch of fan mail via Twitter, yet actually responds to it. When someone jokingly asked the Resident Evil star if the next film would be subtitled “Begins,” (it was the name used in an April Fool’s Day joke this year) she answered seriously. no, its not called”begins”lol! it”began” 10 yrs ago!…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  PSN Service Now Being Restored in Europe, Australia, Latin America

  Reactivation of PlayStation Network, completed early this morning for all of North America, is now proceeding in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and South America, PlayStation Europe said through its official Twitter moments ago. When PSN service is restored, users must change their account passwords. Sony has posted guides for PS3 and PSP users on…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  Oregon Trials

  Each week throws off several new video game lists ranging from the humorous to the trivial. What’s better? A list of those. Here’s a roundup of the rundowns out there. •Nine Things to Name Your Oregon Trail Family [The Hairpin] We had a Star Wars text adventure in the computer lab in 8th grade. My…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  Music to Set Your Mood for L.A. Noire

  For your listening pleasure, Rockstar Games has uploaded nine cuts from the L.A. Noire soundtrack, including the game’s title theme (embedded below) and two other original compositions. The tracks are hosted at the social music site SoundCloud. They’re not available for download, but if you’re chilling out in front of your computer this Sunday it…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  The PlayStation Network Returns; Normalcy Won’t

  Across North America yesterday evening, PlayStation Network returned after a 23-day total blackout. In a process spanning about seven hours, the PlayStation 3’s online capabilities gradually reactivated state-by-state, beginning in New York and ending in Texas. As gamers rushed to message boards to verify the news in their precincts, the evening had the feel of…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  ‘Shop Contest: Welcome Back PSN

  Sometime around midnight on the west coast, PlayStation Network came fully online in Canada and the U.S. That quick-and-dirty image up there was my no-talent ‘shop to mark the occasion, but it’s no way to welcome back our PS3s to the wonderful world of online gaming. So that’s where you come in. Let’s draw daddy…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  Weekend Talk Amongst Yourselves

  By giving you permission to talk here I maintain the illusion of control over you. Talk! I said talk amongst yourselves! About games! Please? Thanks to Prof.Gast for today’s WTAY image. Want to be featured atop Talk Amongst Yourselves? Kotaku? Submit your pic to #TAYpics. See this thread for directions on how to do a…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  Army wants soldiers’ heads to control robots

  You thought laptop glare was murder on your eyes? Try sending a fleet of wheeled robots down into the horrors of battle using nothing but your icy stare. Sick of facing downward to look at the display from one of its remote controlled cars, the Army wants an “eyeglasses-like display” that can not only project…

  Spencer Ackerman - Danger Room Published May 15, 2011
• Culture

  Sunday Comics

  Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published May 9. – Read more of Awkward Zombie Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published May 9. – Read more of Nerf…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  PlayStation Network Back Online in North America

  Shortly past midnight, U.S. Pacific Time, Sony announced that PlayStation Network service had been restored in Canada, all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. PSN, down for 22 days following a massive cyberattack on April 19, continues to be restored in stages in Europe and in other regions. Upon logging back in, PSN account holders…

  By Owen Good Published May 15, 2011
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  Sony Online Entertainment Also Begins Restoration of Services

  Sony Online Entertainment, the publisher of PC MMO titles also shut down by April’s massive cyberattack on the PlayStation Network, has also begun the reactivation of its network services, according to a statement by SOE. Restoration will also proceed in phases, much like PlayStation Network. It will return “nearly all of SOE’s portfolio of online…

  By Owen Good Published May 14, 2011
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  Sony Updates PlayStation 3 Firmware, A ‘Critical Step’ In Bringing PlayStation Network Back Online

  Sony’s PlayStation Network is still down—this is day 25—but there’s a bit of good news for PlayStation 3 owners today. Sony has released new firmware for the PS3 (version 3.61) that lets users update their PlayStation Network passwords. In fact, you’re required to update your PlayStation Network password with the arrival of firmware 3.61, a…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 14, 2011
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  Marketing Survey Leaks Cover Art for ‘Hitman: Subtitle’

  Evidently circulated before IO Interactive settled on Hitman: Absolution for the title of the latest sequel, a marketing survey asked respondents how they felt about three potential cover designs for the game. All featured the wonderfully ironic Hitman: Subtitle, the naming convention for the game since Hitman: Codename 47 in 2000.

  By Owen Good Published May 14, 2011
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  Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Freestyle Championship Winners

  Some people misunderstood me last week. I didn’t say Michael Phelps was a jackass, only that he looked like one in a picture of him playing Kinect. Truth be told, everyone looks like a jackass in still photos of them playing Kinect. That’s why they’re so useful for the Kotaku ‘Shop Contest, which saw a…

  By Owen Good Published May 14, 2011