I understand the data transfer and it is nice and all if you want to completely change the unit you use. Why can't we simply backup our game saves on a USB drive to safeguard against losing them due to a hardware failure? Or at least make it where I can put my HD into my new PS3 without losing all of my data.

There are two official excuses. Lock saves are so people wont hack the games. Hard drive wipe is so people don't steal your account information.

well my wife texted me to let me know a package arrived addressed to Peter Forsberg today ... guess my LittleBigPlanet 2 is in the house

Well, I got my slim from Amazon today and did the data transfer, and all went perfectly fine. I love the slim, it's a nice little piece of equipment and hopefully it'll last me for a good long while. I went ahead and put my YLOD PS3 on eBay as well. Hopefully now that it is working after I performed the hair dryer "fix" I can get a bit more for it. And yes, I did make it abundantly clear that I recently got the YLOD, what I did to it, and so on.

I just read this news story on ign http://ps3.ign.com/articles/114/1144456p1.html about ps3 hacking. I read it a few times but truthfully had no clue what this really means for the average joe ps3 user. Any help?

It sounds like there is some cheating going on in COD due to a breach in the PS3's security (douchebags using modified pirated versions of the game). Infinity Ward had relied upon the system itself to be secure, and therefore there was no need for any anti-cheat measures in the game. Now, they'll be looking at ways to fight cheating within their games and not assume everyone on the server is legitimate.

Cheating? Then I guess I don't really understand the point. Isn't building up to the highest experience level what online portions of games are about? What's the fun is beating everyone online if it's not deserved? Maybe I'm just at the age where validity is somewhat important.

Some people want the accolades but don't wanna put in the work.

Have you never played online before with strangers?

Playstation Plus Update for Feb 1st:

PlayStation Plus Highlights for 2/1:


Full Game Trial
Assassin’s Creed II Deluxe Edition

Automatic Downloads
Tales from Space: About a Blob Demo (Free to PlayStation Plus subscribers)

Featured Games
Digger HD (Free to PlayStation Plus subscribers, regular price $9.99)
Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage (Free to PlayStation Plus subscribers, regular price $5.99)
Karimogi (Free to PlayStation Plus subscribers, regular price $2.99)

Discounted Games & DLC
Fat Princess (PS3) (PlayStation Plus price $7.50, regular price $14.99)
Fat Princes PSP (PlayStation Plus price $10.00, regular price $19.99)
Mega Man 2 (PSone Import) (PlayStation Plus price $3.00, regular price $5.99)
Kung Fu LIVE (PS3) (PlayStation Plus price $11.99, regular price $14.99)

Featured Themes & Avatars
PlayStation Plus Dynamic Theme (Free and exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers)
Junebug Bench Static Theme (Free and exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers)
Ghouls and Ghost Avatar Bundle (17 avatars) (Exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers for $1.99)
Bionic Commando Rearmed Avatar Bundle (10 avatars) (Exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers for $0.99)
Atomic Blast Static Theme (Free to PlayStation Plus Subscribers)

Last Chance, Get Them While You Can – Coming down on February 1:

Featured Offers to PlayStation Plus Subscribers
Lead & Gold: Gangs of the Wild West
Spyro the Dragon
Pipe Madness – minis
Underwater Disco Theme

Discounted Games/DLC
MX vs. ATV Reflex PSP (PlayStation Plus price $15.00, regular price $29.99)
Tom Clancy: H.A.W.X. 2 – All In One Pack (PlayStation Plus price $7.49, regular price $9.99)
Modern Combat: Domination (PlayStation Plus price $5.99, regular price $7.99)

Woo-hoo! That's I think the third actual PSN full game I didn't already own. I like getting Spyro 2 for free as well.

Did anyone else pick up that free Sonic 4 Dynamic theme yet? It looks awesome but is totally ruined by the annoying sounds that pop up every time you scroll around. Any way to turn those sounds down or off? I can't use the theme like it is now.

Sony lists 20 exclusive games this year (including PSN games) and mentions that the weapon wheel is returning for Resistance 3! Great news imho, i hated the two weapon limit in Resistance 2...

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/...clusive-games/

What 20? (can't see the link from work)

Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel
Hyperdimension Neptunia
The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection
inFAMOUS 2
Journey*
Killzone 3
The Last Guardian
LittleBigPlanet 2
MLB 11 The Show
MotorStorm Apocalypse
No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise
PixelJunk Shooter 2*
Playstation Move Heroes
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
Resistance 3
SOCOM 4
Sorcery
Twisted Metal
Uncharted 3
Yakuza 4

* - PSN Download

Personally, I'm not blown away by that list. Pretty much Last Guardian and Uncharted 3 for me.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but No More Heroes was a Wii exclusive a year or two back, correct? That's a nice list of exclusive games this year. I might actually use my PS3 for more than a Blu Ray.

Is Lead & Gold even worth downloading?

Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel - not interested
Hyperdimension Neptunia- not interested
The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection -
inFAMOUS 2 -
Journey* - meh
Killzone 3 -
The Last Guardian -
LittleBigPlanet 2 -
MLB 11 The Show -
MotorStorm Apocalypse - wait and see
No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise- not interested
PixelJunk Shooter 2*- not interested
Playstation Move Heroes - meh
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One - meh
Resistance 3 -
SOCOM 4 - last one was a mess
Sorcery - meh
Twisted Metal - wait and see
Uncharted 3 -
Yakuza 4 - meh

kind of a mixed bag for me

After Flow and Flower, I'm definitely interested in Journey. I thought Flower was just an incredible experience...

^^ I sort of wish ICO/Shadow was PSN so I could just download ICO and be done with it (man do I love that game, Shadow not so much)

Do you have Red Dead Redemption?

Yes.

Thanks. That's all I needed to know.

Here's a little review I wrote of it last year: http://www.gamerswithcasts.com/revie...ation-network/

That's actually a great list. I already got LBP2 although I don't plan on playing it too much, it's more for my 11 years old.

I'm getting Uncharted 3 of course, and since I already played Killzone 2, and really liked it, I will get Killzone 3. I'm really interested in a few other games too from that list.

Compared that to last year, for me, and we are seeing like a 500% change.

Don't short-change LBP2, if for no other reason than the amazing user created content that is constantly being released for it. Considering it's only officially been out less than a week, I can only imagine the stuff people will come up with once it's been out for a few months. Remember, people can build complete games with the tools that are included.

Releasing them both on-disc ensures that you'll be able to get a decent deal for 'em a little ways down the road (look at the prices for the God of War compilation). If released on the PSN, it might not happen so readily.