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Sony Computer Entertainment has announced the full restoration of the PlayStation Network in the North American, European, Oceanic and Asian regions, excluding Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea. Services are expected to resume as normal by the end of this week.

After over a month of lonely single-player gameplay, the PlayStation Network is finally online, ready to receive you with open arms. As of this morning (at least when I got to checking it), the PlayStation Network log-in panels no longer reflect as "Under Maintenance" and are now working as usual. Read more

Capcom has officially confirmed that a Phoenix Wright movie is in the works. The popular courtroom adventure game will be getting a movie adaptation with Thirteen Assassins director Takashi Miike at the helm.

The live-action Ace Attorney (aka Gyakuten Saiban) movie will feature the acting talents of Hiroki Mariyama as Phoenix Wright (known in Japan by the name of Naruhodo Ryuichi) and Takumi Saito as prosecution rival Miles Edgeworth (Mitsurugi Reiji). The movie will also feature Phoenix's assistant Maya Fey (Ayasato Mayoi), who will be played by Mirei Kiritani.

This press release quells rumours from the director himself when he hinted his next project involving a "light comedy...court drama based on a (Nintendo DS) game". Capcom is no stranger to the movie industry with Resident Evil already familiar with moviegoers and with a Devil May Cry movie in the works. The Phoenix Wright movie is primed for an early Spring 2012 release.

Press Release [Capcom.jp IR via Kotaku]

Sony Computer Entertainment has announced the relaunching of the PlayStation Network in all Asian regions except Hong Kong and South Korea, whose respective PlayStation Network relaunches will be subsequently announced.

Welcome Back: Singapore's PlayStation Network is back up and running. PlayStation Store remains down.
If you're away from your console, you may also access reach your account using the Log-in button on the Playstation Asia website.

Got kicked out of the testing facility? Missed the wonderful music during your time with Wheatley? Don't go unscrambling your Portal 2 source files, because Valve has released the first of three volumes of the game's soundtrack for download.

Volume One of "Songs to Test By" includes 22 320kbps soundtracks such as "The Courtesy Call", from when Wheatley first knocks on your door, and "Turret Wife Serenade", which can be found as an easter egg in-game. The wonderful, spoiler-tastic "Want You Gone" by Jonathan Coulton, however, is not in this one.

The soundtrack, and presumably so will the other volumes, is a free download from the Official Portal 2 website.

Songs to Test By - Volume One [Portal 2 Website/Valve]

MacHeist, known for their release of bundles of Mac software for cheap (or even free), has released their new "adventure". The Heist is a new game for iOS that tasks users in cracking a safe for a mysterious group of criminals with the promise of a Mac/PC software for their troubles.

The 99c app offers a series of block-sliding, sokoban and sudoku-like puzzles for users to rack their brains over to earn enough lightning bolts to render the four levels of security inoperable and allow the safe to be opened. I won't spoil what the prize is, but it's something worth US$9.99 from the Steam digital distribution platform.

What's more, users can also stand a chance to win one of 10 iPad 2s with a special labyrinth motif on the back by spreading the word on Twitter (although there doesn't seem to be a restriction on country, but it's limited to one entry per day).

The Heist [MacHeist]
Download the App [App Store]

Los Angeles, 1947. The City of Angels. A time when gasoline was 23 cents by the gallon, everyone wore hats and people were found murdered on every street corner. Oh, by the way, someone will need to clean up that mess.

The tie-in game to the upcoming Smurfs movie is coming to the Wii this July thanks to Ubisoft. It will play host to 20 professionally-choreographed dances mixing chart-toppers with the classics.

Dance with your favourite Smurfs including, Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy Smurf or even, my personal favourite, Gargamel, across various musical genres like Pop, Rock or Punk.

Ubisoft will also be developing another Smurfs-themed title for the Nintendo DS, where kids can enjoy cake-decorating, and Smurfette dress-up minigames.

The First Templar is an action adventure set in the Crusades era around the 13^th century. Protagonist Celian d’Arestide has the critical quest to discover the Holy Grail for the Templars, which will lead him through 20 differing levels. From historical events to more obscure settings, the plot will weave a cohesive whole to some of the Church myths and legends of yore. While the conclusion isn’t as bombastic as expected, the very engaging plot has some twists that ultimately come to a satisfactory end. In this 12-hour road alone, The First Templar delivers a consistent enticement that not many other stories hold.

Rockstar Games' new crime-solving game arrives today. Is L.A. Noire as good as it is pretty? Of course it is. How pretty? I spent some time with it and we have our initial impressions.