Don't turn on your PlayStation 3

Published on 02-03-10 at 09:50 AM AEST by

rec

Update: it now looks like this bug has been squashed. Please resume normal activities.

Over the past few hours I've seen wide-spread PS3 panic all over the web - angry posts on forums and distress calls on Facebook. It turns out that if you don't have a Slim model, a bug in the system's clock functionality is causing game crashes and losses of data - missing trophies and PSN video rental access are being reported.

Hit the jump for the hard-word from Sony...

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.

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.

As mentioned above, please be advised that the new slim PS3 is not affected with this error. We are doing our best to resolve the issue and do apologize for any inconvenience caused.

With any luck your world will be restored to normality sometime this evening. Just make sure you have a quick look online for the problem's status before firing up your favorite game.

Attachment 6564

Sony: 'Don't use your PS3' until internal clock bug is fixed [Joystiq]

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Tags: bug, playstation, ps3, psn, sony

5 Comments

rec - 02-03-10, 10:20 AM
Shacknews is reporting that many users are claiming the bug is now resolved:

In a statement issued this morning Sony said they hoped the problem preventing many owners of older PlayStation 3's from playing games would run its course in 24 hours. It looks like it has turned out just that way lending credence to their belief that this lock out was brought on by an error in the internal system clock. Comments coming in from around the Net indicate that nearly all the affected machines are now able to play games again and for most properly showing trophy information after resyncing the data.
We expect an announcement coming from Sony shortly giving an official all clear to fire up those dormant machines and any future steps related to the incident. We'll update here as soon as that comes in.

PS3 Lock Out Glitch Seems to Have Passed - Shacknews - PC Games, PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Wii video game news, previews and downloads

Mungus - 02-03-10, 10:28 AM
interesting. noticed last night that the system clock had reset, but after i set it to the correct time and date, my stuff was all working fine.

shrug.

mepm - 02-03-10, 09:32 PM
no problems with that here, my ps3 hasnt been "on" since last year lol
has a nice layer of dust on it

rec - 03-03-10, 12:01 PM
To recover lost trophies, Sony says:

'To resolve this issue, the user will need to re-access the game to reinstall the trophies, then exit the game and sync their trophy collection to the server in order to regain previous achievements.'

Also, additional problems reported:

'Ok so the bug is over and we can now all go back online. There are some issues though:

1) If you tried to run any HDD games (Wipeoute HD, PS1 games, etc) these will probably need to be deleted and downloaded again. I tried running Street Fighter Alpha yesterday, and got the bug. I tried running it today and it wouldn't load but everything I didn't try yesterday works fine.

2) Those trophies you lost don't come back. But you still have them on the PSN, but a re-sync doesn't get them back. However [compare] trophies with a friend and you'll see them even though they don't appear on your system.'