If you’ve been wondering what the heck happened to Sony’s Playstation Network (its been “unavailable” for several days), now we know. On Tuesday, Sony issued a statement explaining the recent PlayStation Network and Qriocity issues. The company said it discovered that between April 17th and April 19th someone broke into its network and stole user information.

In an effort to stop the security breach, Sony temporarily denied access for everyone to its PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. The company also hired a security firm to investigate and started increasing its security infrastructure.

Sounds goo so far, right? Sony found a problem and is taking steps to correct it.

Well, it gets worse. Here’s part of Sony’s statement:

We believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained.

Sony said that it doesn’t think credit card data was taken, but it will not rule out the possibility. The company said it’s possible credit card numbers – excluding security codes – may have been obtained by the intruders. The firm advises that its customers “remain vigilant” by closely monitoring credit statements.

Sony says the Playstation network and related services will be reactivated as soon as possible and that customers can dial 1-800-345-7669 with any questions.

Click through for Sony’s official statement. Why do a few assholes have to ruin it for everyone else?

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Marvel Knights Animation has been responsible for taking motion comics and pushing their boundaries by blending the lines between motion comics and traditional animation. The latest in their string of ever-improving motion comics is Thor/Loki: Blood Brothers which is currently being released as episodes.

Episode 3 is on the way and things are getting tense for our hero. Marvel has released their trailer for the newest installment:

Get your first look at the third episode of the critically acclaimed Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers animated mini-series, on sale this Wednesday! Adapted from the acclaimed story by superstar creators Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic, Loki finally has a chance to tell tale of his brother’s crimes…and inflict the punishment he has craved for eons.

It’s the series that has everyone talking so don’t miss out on this Marvel classic. Download the third episode of Marvel Knights Animation’s Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers, a best seller on iTunes (Animation, Animation Season Pass and Television categories), Xbox LIVE, and PlayStation®Network, this Wednesday!

Check out the all new trailer after the jump!

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As a part of the March 10th system update for the PlayStation 3 (v3.60), PlayStation users will be allowed cloud game save support. This feature will currently only be available to PlayStation Plus subscribers, PlayStation’s incentive based online subscription program which up until now has allowed for game discounts as well as features like Hulu.

According to IGN, a Playstation representative has stated, “We haven’t announced any plans for it to be available to everyone at this time.” While this doesn’t rule out free users being able to do this in the future, the space and bandwidth aren’t going to come free and a feature like this is definitely an incentive for hardcore gamers to subscribe to avoid loss of their game data from a system crash.

They also announced that 150mb of data with a maximum of 1000 data files will be allowed per PlayStation Plus account.

It will be interesting to hear if this affects PlayStation Plus subscription rates moving forward.

For current PlayStation Plus subscribers, PlayStation has given advanced instructions on how to use this feature. Check them out after the jump, and go to the cloud!

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Last year, we took a more traditional approach with our Best Video Games of 2009 article with categories such as Best Music Game or Best Action Platformer. This year we are going to depart from the traditional and give what we think are categories that truly deserve to be rewarded their due.

Best Use of Zombies / Best Downloadable Content – Red Dead Redemption “Undead Nightmare”

The ultimate “What If” scenario brought forth to one of the best games of 2010, “What if the undead invaded the old west?” And the answer doesn’t just involve a lot of people dying. There are horses of the apocalypse, big foot, some hard choices to be made and people turning on or abandoning their fellow man left and right.

This awesome story told over the revamped look of Red Dead Redemption using characters players have already grown to know, love or despise makes Undead Nightmare not only the best zombie game of 2010 but also the best exmple of DLC for the entire year as well.

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These days, there are plenty of classic games that are getting the big-budget revamp, but it’s the few that gamers from the 90s remember with nostalgia that are finally getting justice in the world of next gen consoles. TNMT: Turtles in Time was the first to get the face lift, and now comic fans everywhere rejoice as the classic arcade game X-Men is coming to Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network.

Straight from 1992, the arcade was forever known as “that gigantic machine in the back of the arcade that was always taken up”, which was one of the rare machines to allow 6 simultaneous players, all dedicated to one classic 80′s X-Men character. Now, developer Konami has plans finally bring the once arcade-only game to the console.

Many fans remember that the available characters were chosen from probably the best X-Men team roster in the history of the comic, including Cyclops, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Storm, and unfortunately, Dazzler. Though, the addition of Dazzler in a members-only jacket and headband only make the game that much more nostalgic.

No word yet on a release date, but it was mentioned in the Marvel panel at New York Comic-Con that the game will feature a drop-in online multiplayer system that allows up to 6 players at once, each with varying difficulty. We expect to hear more about the game as it develops. In the meantime, check out the awesome trailer for the re-release after the jump.

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After playing a demo of Shank at this year’s PAX East, this game has been on my radar. Between the fantastic art design and the addicting but simple gameplay, I really couldn’t wait to get my hands on the full game. PAX East was back in March and not much has been seen or heard from the game since, but it looks like we’ve officially got a release date for Shank, which is finally coming to Xbox Live and Playstation Network later this summer.

What’s more, we finally got a chance to see some more gameplay in a preview video that just appeared, including a first look at the co-op feature of the game. While one person plays as Shank, another will play as his best friend Falcone as they slash their way across rooftops, bash into bathrooms, and beast through bars.

We’re not sure whether a second player will be able to drop into a one player game at will or if co-op is a separate mode, but seeing it in action gives me even more reason to really be excited for this game.

Shank will be released on the Playstation Network on August 24th and XBLA on August 25th. You can watch the video right here after the jump.

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As we previously reported, Lara Croft is making her return to gaming this summer. But even though she’s no longer under the Tomb Raider moniker, don’t think Lara is changing her MO. She is still going through dark underground lairs in search of treasure.

But this game will not be a full retail release. Instead it will be a digital download only game. In addition, gameplay will drastically be changing as it takes a 3/4 overhead view which resembles a dual stick shooter than a traditional third person action platformer.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light stars Lara Croft as she discovers the lost Temple of Light, resting place of the ancient artifact the Mirror of Smoke. When she finally reaches the mirror, she is ambushed by a devious Mercenary named Vasco and his army. Vasco steals the mirror and releases the evil Xololt who was imprisoned in the mirror.

As you will see in the trailer after the jump, Lara isn’t alone as she teams up with Totec in her first ever cooperative adventure. Hopefully Totec doesn’t whine about his wife the whole game like Dom insists on in Gears of War. It’s refreshing to see Crystal Dynamics attempt to take this series in a new direction much like Ensemble Studios did to the Halo franchise with Halo Wars.

While keeping to the core mythology, they created a drastically different gaming experience still keyed in on what players loved about the Halo world. We are hoping to see the same with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.

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The Flickcast’s gaming division loves retro. Not one of us hasn’t broken out their old NES, blown into a cartridge, and booted up the original Super Mario Bros. even though it came out decades ago. So when we heard one of our Capcom classic favorites from the Super Nintendo and arcade era was making a return to XBox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, of course we were excited.

Set for April 14th on XBox Live Arcade and a day later on the PlayStation Network, Final Fight: Double Impact brings back the classic side-scroller beat ‘em up goodiness of both Final Fight and Magic Sword. In Final Fight, players take the role of either Cody, Guy or the most jacked mayor ever, Haggar, as they try to save Haggar’s daughter from Mad Gear and his goons. With six levels of Metro City to explore, players will get the chance to see Cody and Guy before they appear in the upcoming Super Street Fighter IV release.

In Magic Sword, players take on the role of “The Brave One” who must defeated the evil forces of a mystical tower and rid the world of its evil lord Drokman. But The Brave One isn’t alone as he has eight companions of unique skill sets who will aid him in his journey.

Both games will feature online drop-in multiplayer as well as a fully remixed soundtrack and updated graphics. The two-pack will retail for $9.99 (or 800 Microsoft Points). Stay tuned to the Flickcast for more news and reviews on Final Fight: Double Impact as it becomes available.

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According to various news sites across the Interwebs including Joystiq, 1Up, and Kotaku, Playstation 3 consoles across the globe have been suffering from what looks to be a global network lockdown. While it sounds like this would just affect people’s ability to do things like sign into their accounts, check their trophies, use dynamic themes or access the PlayStation Network, some users have reported that they can’t even play games.

Consoles most affected seem to be the older PS3 models, not the PS3 Slims released last year. Titles that are giving players issues, like the newly released Heavy Rain, will give users a screen stating “Registration of the trophy information could not be completed. The game will quit.” The console then reboots and returns to the main screen. This is incredibly frustrating, because even if the PSN is down, gamers should still be able to play their games offline without a problem.

Sony is aware of the PSN connection problems and is telling users to “stay tuned” for updates. But in the meantime, they advise you not to use your PS3. Hopefully, this is something that will be fixed very soon.

It started 19 years ago. A little blue rodent ran his way on to the Sega Genesis system and into our hearts with Sonic the Hedgehog. Since, he has gone through some ups, like Sonic 2 and 3, and some downs, like Sonic Unleashed.

But still, everyone has hope for the little guy who went toe to toe with Mario during the early console wars and just missed. Recently, Sega has been referring to a project under the codename Needlemouse which was revealed yesterday as Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1.

With a recently launched site, Sonic 4 will make its ways to all the major systems as a downloadable game in episodic format from the XBox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and WiiWare… and according to the ellipsis on the website, possibly another format as well.

Sonic 4′s website features a variety of countdown clocks, some specific to character reveals and various content like concept art, that will reveal more about the upcoming downloadable title in the following days. But, for now, take a peak at the teaser trailer that brings Sonic back to his 2D sidescrolling glory, the way he was meant to be seen.

Stay tuned to The Flickcast for more information on our favorite Sega mascot and his new game as it becomes available.

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Little Big Planet is one of those games that PS3 owners love to go gaga for, but anybody who doesn’t own one, doesn’t understand it’s allure. It has been called one of the top adventure games of the year, and easily one of the highest grossing PS3 exclusive games to date, and news like today’s is only further reason.

For those unaware, Little Big Planet is about an 8-centimeter hero who travels through a world we never see, due to the fact that it’s so small. The sack-boy gets into side-scrolling adventures left and right and with your help, makes it out alive. One of the most intriguing things about LBP is the how deep you can customize your character. there are thousands of costumes and add-ons in the game, with more and more being released through downloadable content.

It was just announced that a new, geek-friendly set of costumes will be coming to PS3 this Thursday, in a set of Watchmen costumes. From here, you can choose to dress as lil’ Roarschach, lil’ Ozzy, lil’ Silk Spectre, and lil’ Night Owl. No word on whether we’ll see tiny Doc Manhattan, but this is still a pretty cool add-on to an already in-depth game. Those who follow the developer blog at littlebigplanet.com know that the creators are such big fans, that they even created a level based on San Diego Comic-Con this year.

Check out the full picture of the Watchmen costume kit after the jump, along with a super brief intro video showing you what they look like next to giant-sized Manhattan.

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We’ve been talking a lot about the PSPgo here at The Flickcast, both comparing it to the earlier PSP models and discussing problems with its impending release. The biggest issue the PSPgo is facing is the removal of the UMD drive. Because the PSPgo doesn’t allow for the use of UMDs, if you already own PSP games you won’t be able to play them on your new console just yet.

Fans are wary about running out and buy a brand new device without the ability to play the extensive collection of games they already have for it, and retailers in some countries are even refusing to carry the device, citing that they don’t agree with Sony’s download-only sales strategy.

However, Kotaku reports that Sony’s got a solution to this problem… in Europe. Anyone upgrading from the PSP to the PSPgo will recieve three free PSP titles. Seventeen titles are being offered, including Killzone: Liberation, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3, WipEout Pure, echochrome, LocoRoco, and Papaton. In order to get your three free games, you’ll need any UMD, an older PSP, and an internet connection to access the Playstation Network.

This solution is certainly better than rebuying all your old PSP games, but for gamers with far more than three PSP games are sure to still feel frustrated. You’ll be able to receive your three free games  from October 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 in European territories. The PSPgo hits shelves October 1st in the US, and we here at The Flickcast hope that Sony will bring this option to us here in America as well.