When I hear that PS4 re-release of Final Fantasy VII costs $16...

I'm like...

Come on! It costs $10 on PS3/Vita!!

When a game has a 100% trophy/achievement

I'm like...

Sony PSN is Offline - again.

PS3 users have received yet another shock today, as Sony's PSN has been suffering major connectivity problems for most of the day. Sony US acknowledged the technical difficulties at around 9 a.m. PST this morning on Twitter, "We're aware that some of you are having issues trying to log into PSN. We're working to resolve the issue, and we'll update you here"

Sony EU has also reported similar problems and at 8.a.m. tweeted, "We're aware that PSN is currently unavailable and working with the technicians to find out when it will be restored. Apologies." Sony EU released an update that explained that while technicians were working on the problem, there were still no indications of when the PSN would be back online.

From technical catastrophe and hackers, the PlayStation Network can't seem to catch a break. The frequency of these mishaps almost makes this seem like one big joke.

Sony has yet to provide any official statements regarding the situation.

Resident Evil 4 HD on Xbox Live & PSN

The last-gen game that revolutionized the franchise is now available on Xbox Live and PSN for $19.99. Resident Evil 4 HD sports upgraded HD graphics and hordes of parasite infected Ganados to fight your way through as special agent Leon Kennedy. For those not already familiar with RE4, Leon (a classic RE character and survivor of the Raccoon City incident) is on a mission to rescue the president's daughter from a Spanish cult. Of course, things turn out to be a little more complicated than what Leon was briefed.

Also included with the HD re-release are two special game modes: Mercenaries and Separate Ways. The Mercenaries mode is a classic zombie killapolooza where you see how long you can survive endless droves of enemies. Meanwhile, Separate Ways allows you to experience the story from the perspective of Ada Wong, a sexy and deadly secret agent belonging to a mysterious organization rivaling the Umbrella corp. Both of these game modes must be unlocked and are not available from the get-go.

GamePro has already given the remake a 4 out of 5 star rating. Resident Evil 4, as the reviewer explains, was already a solid shooter that benefits from the remastered graphics. Moreover, the added content is also a plus. However, there are points where low-res graphics are very noticeable. In addition, the game's sound effects have not received the same tender-loving-care as the graphics and are of a last-gen quality.

Before you rush to buy it, its important to note that you are buying (or re-buying) a game that has been out for a while. If you've never played Resident Evil 4 (or are a true fan of the series) it is a great opportunity to experience a classic game with some upgrades. This is one of my all-time favorite survival-horror/shooter titles and I can still recall the chills that I got from this game. However, if you are looking for new content, this may be a pass as all the "added content" was already available on the PS2 port of the game.

Sony asks gamers to give up rights to sue for security breaches

As Sony tackles its security issues for the PSN, the company has implemented a new policy that will have players waive the right to collectively sue the company for any future security breaches. As most are aware, Sony has suffered several attacks on its PlayStation Network that have compromised the account information of over 100 million accounts. This news comes just over two weeks after Sony named Philip Reitinger to head up their online security. Reitinger formerly worked on cyber security and computer crimes at the Department of Homeland Security.

Their is an option for customers to opt out of the new policy, provided they send a letter to Sony's L.A. headquarters within the next 30 days. However, these customers will still have to agree to the policy before they are able to access their PSN account.

A visceral reaction may lead you to think that this is downright unfair to the gamers and maybe it is in some respects. It's not at all unreasonable that Sony's customers expect the company to be a reliable steward of their personal and billing information. However, as with all things online gaming, its a "use at your own risk" product. Just as online content for games is not rated by the ESRB, it's impossible to guarantee complete digital security. There is a need for caution when deciding what information you put out there.