In 2007, Microsoft extended its Xbox warranty by three years to help combat the E74 error, which is now referred to as “the Red Ring of Death.” I’m sure Sony was thumbing their noses at their biggest competitor until February of this year, when a serious error in the PlayStation Network decided to corrupt games, trophies and even consoles. The PS3 Slim remained unaffected. Perhaps it was this incident that forced Sony to re-think its warranty, since none of these breakdowns were the fault of the consumer (Theories suggest a Y2K-like problem, where Sony failed to account for Leap Year). Until now, Sony has only offered the standard, lots of strings attached 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. Sony is just now offering an extended service plan for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PSP (PlayStation Portable) systems that is backed by SCEA. Unlike Microsoft’s extended warranty, however, this piece of mind is going to cost you.

PS3 – 1-year extension ($44.99) or 2-year extension ($59.99)

PSP – 1-year extension ($29.99) or 2-year extension ($39.99)

PSP Accidental Damage – 1-year ($39.99) or 2-year ($49.99)

Under the new program, PS3 and PSP owners in the United States can purchase an extended service plan of one or two years that begins after the original one-year manufacturer’s limited warranty expires. Accidental damage refers to things like dropping your unit, cracking the screen, etc. PSP also covers the newer, smaller PSP-Go model. As you can see, this does not cover your PlayStation 2. I am still, by the way, screaming “conspiracy” that my PlayStation One kicked the bucket on the exact day that the PlayStation 2 was released…

With the PlayStation Protection Plan, owners can extend the same coverage from the original manufacturer’s one-year warranty for one or two additional years. The pricing includes all shipping charges and repairs, which are performed by PlayStation-trained service technicians at SCEA-authorized repair facilities. The PSP Accidental Damage Plan must be purchased within the first 30 days of owning a PSP system, and the plan is effective beginning on the purchase date. You can purchase the PlayStation Protection Plan by calling 1-866-716-7669. Additional details and are available at http://us.playstation.com/support/protection-plan/index.htm.

The SyFy Channel, who recently changed their name from “Sci-Fi” to protect their intellectual properties, has expanded their imaginative minds from creature features and space westerns to another, ever-growing frontier: video games. Collaborating with developer Trion Worlds, the SyFy Channel is helping to create a brand-new universe, scenarios and set of characters. The show, the title of which has yet to be released, will air on SyFy, and gamers will be able play the corresponding video game from Trion Worlds. As this MMO develops, SyFy’s show will affect the game’s story, and in an interesting twist, vice versa. “By creating high-quality immersive worlds, exploring new genres, and expanding our content into media beyond games, Trion is redefining the interactive entertainment industry in the connected era,” said Lars Butler, CEO of Trion Worlds. Concept art reveals abandoned human locations both of this earth and beyond; an aquarium, the bridge of a space vessel and an old crash site. Although purposely vague, Trion also mentioned alien races and technology, so what better place to develop this franchise than the SyFy Channel? There is no word on when the game will be released, but we do know it will launch simultaneously with the corresponding TV series. At the same time, Trion also unveiled two new MMO games, which should keep gamers busy for a while. RIFT: Planes of Telara is a fantasy-based MMORPG, while End of Nations is a real-time strategy war game. Both are scheduled for PC release in 2011.

 In other video game news, SyFy has also teamed up with THQ to produce a live-action movie based on the video game, Red Faction. Set on Mars in the year 2075, Red Faction launched for the PlayStation 2 and PC/Mac in 2001. Following the success of this Total Recall-esque first-person shooter, three sequels were developed; Red Faction II in 2002, Red Faction: Guerilla in 2009 and the ill-fated Red Faction: B. E. A. S. T., which was never completed due to the closure of Locomotive Games. As with their original series’, SyFy hopes to be a part of a big change in the video game world, and invites us all to “imagine greater.”