I have been using Life With Playstation since it first debuted as Folding@Home a few years ago. Recently, the system was unplugged after I pressed the shutdown button while the application was running--I'm not sure if it completely done shutting down before the power got cut. It's not the first time that the power has been shut off suddenly while the application was running, I don't think. However, when I next noticed (and it could have gotten a unit uploaded before I did), my username was PS3, my group number was blank, and my unit count had been reset to zero.

Does this make sense? I am wondering if this has happened to anyone else, and I am also wondering if it is possible to somehow recover my system/user/team data onto my PS3. I had well over 1,000 units uploaded when this happened, and while it's hardly the biggest deal if I have to start over, I would nonetheless like to find out more about the issue. I'm also hoping that this is not an indication of a larger problem with my PS3 (60 gig model, BTW)--it froze up after I quit Playstation Home a little while after this happened, and had to be reset.

It's probably nothing, though. I just hope to learn more.

Ah, it seems I have unintentionally upset people. My apologies.

I think Sega should consider the possibility, though. I think they could stand to make a profit from it.

And who knows? If such a release did well, perhaps Shenmue II could follow.

And if Shenmue II was just as successful in that format...well, a man can dream.

My apologies, all. My intention was not to crush people's hopes, but to start a dialogue about such a possibility in hopes that the buzz would eventually persuade Sega to actually do so. It was worth a try...

Wouldn't that be great?

But seriously, who would like to see this?

Wouldn't that be great?

But seriously, who would like to see this?

What I want to know is why the hell I can't redeem my 9-digit code?

Every time I try to do so, it gives me an "invalid number" message!

dude not all games are from japan, you shouldbe more specific, because some american games have awesome dialogueamsscorpio

Yes, some American games do have awesome dialogue-and without subtitles, I miss it all :(

I wrote the following letter to the ESRB:

As a hearing-impaired gamer, I was let down by the lack of subtitles in Assassin's Creed. There is no way to know whether a game has dialouge subtitles before one buys it! In that light, the presence of subtitles should a criteria in your approval process-or, at a bare minimum, there should be a notice on the back of the game package that indicates whether or not the game has subtitles.
Developers need to realize that subtitles are essential to deaf gamers-and many hearing gamers, as well!

(I should have said "rating process" instead of "approval process," in retrospect...)

I received this response:

In regards to your inquiry, ESRB ratings address game content, namely violence, sexual or suggestive content, language, substances and gambling,
etc. We therefore recommend that you contact the game's publisher or product manufacturer directly to convey your suggestion regarding the notice
you are describing. You may find their contact information on their website since ESRB is not privileged to give out this information.

We hope this information is helpful, and thank you for writing.

Regards,

Entertainment Software Rating Board

One more venue exhausted. I would, however, liketo give the people at the ESRB credit for responding so quickly. I am trying everything I know to make myself heard by the people in the industry who can change things. The problem is that the game companies-and Ubisoft in particular-make it difficult for one to get in touch with them. I don't just wish to speak with a random corporate peon who may or may not mention my complaint to their manager-I want to actually get something done. Once again, I welcome any suggestions...

Here are some words from Patrice Desilets, the creative directer of Assassin's Creed, on the subject (courtesy of Game Informer):

"Subtitles are important, and I personally wanted them in [Assassin's Creed]. But, because of time, to include some features others might have to get cut. For example, we are fully localized into six languages." He goes on to say "My personal goal is to include as many usability options in action/adventure games as you see in a sports title. Replay cameras, AI options...but in action adventure titles, those things are often done at the end of the development cycle. Those things are important, but it is also important to ship on time."

So to him, subtitles are a nice option that they will try their darndest to include-if they have time. I bet if he were deaf or hearing-impaired, he might place the option much higher on his list of priorities. For deaf and hearing-impaired gamers-and even many gamers with perfect hearing, judging from some of the posts I've seen here-having subtitles is nothing less than essential to understanding what is going on. Therefore, as a gameplay feature, they cannot be lumped into the same category as a replay camera and AI-tweaking options.

I wonder how many speakers of those six languages Desilets mentioned are as frustrated as we are...