So what is Sony to do? It seems like the company is caught between a rock and a hard place. "They've been such a great, great partner," said Schofield. "I hope they get out of this and they figure it out and they're around for a long time." If outsiders like Schofield are worried for Sony ... imagine what its employees are feeling.

Based on a report from BBC, it would appear researchers have discovered a disease that has hitherto gone undiagnosed by modern medicine: PlayStation palmar hidradenitis. As one might imagine, it has something to do with "PlayStation" and the "palms of your hands." See, using that controller is not only killing your (virtual) enemies, it's also killing you.

According to the report, researchers emphasized the case of one 12-year-old girl who arrived at Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland with sores on her palms. She had recently struck up a fascination with a PlayStation game (sorry, the exact title isn't mentioned) and despite developing these sores, continued to play. That's when her folks brought her to the hospital. After 10 days of abstaining from the deadly activity, however, she was sore free! We're sorry, but we wouldn't call that "PlayStation palmar hidradenitis." We'd probably call it: Stop squeezing the controller like you want to break it!

Our favorite line in the entire piece has to be this: "For the disorder to only affect the hands is very unusual." So, wait, you're telling us it's unusual for this so-called disease, the one that comes from using a game controller, to only affect the hands? What other body parts are interacting with your controller?

[Thanks, RazorD!]

The Japanese software charts for the week ending February 8 don't just feature one PlayStation game at the top of the list, but four. It's a grand slam victory for Sony as titles for all of its current systems (PSP, PS3 and PS2) occupy the top four slots. Those titles happen to be two RPGs and two soccer games.

• 1. Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 (PSP) - 45,000 units sold
• 2. Demon's Souls (PS3) - 40,000
• 3. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (PSP) - 38,000
• 4. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (PS2) - 37,000

There was one other PlayStation title that made the top-ten list, though it only came up at number seven. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, Japan's most popular PSP game, took the honors. It seems that game has a permanent spot on the charts, as it has dominated in sales for the majority of last year. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise to hear that it has just recently broken the three-million barrier.

If you're an overpaid, television design director reading this from a battery-powered, mid-sized LCD panel, you're about to have a very bad day. After warning that it would post a record $2.9 billion annual operating loss due to weakening demand and a mightier yen, Sony Corp. has unveiled plans to significantly restructure its operations, not to mention that stupid economy's face.

According to Reuters, the plan is to cut costs by 250 billion yen by March 2010, a move that would see the end of TV manufacturing and design at one plant in Japan and a worldwide reduction in TV design's headcount by 30 percent. Sony also plans to consolidate resources devoted to batteries (we hope the "anti-explosion" division won't be too hard hit) and small and mid-size LCDs. The salaries going to directors and managers are also expected to be cut.

See, we told you you'd be having a bad day.

But that isn't all. Greenberg continues by making claims of his own, admitting "I'm confident we will outsell the PS3 throughout the entire generation" and that "I can't imagine any scenario where the PS3 can catch up with us."

Now, we don't like getting involved in these types of quarrels, but in this instance, we find it appropriate to step in and mediate. Hirai apologize to Greenberg, Greenberg apologize to Hirai. After the apologies are given, we can all can all go grab some Pinkberry and put this behind us.

Sony's Kaz Hirai must be off his meds, because he's talking like the PS3 is the one out there selling like hotcakes. Okay, we'll concede that Russia may be more receptive to your products, but on a global scale, the sales figures aren't even comparable. So, what gives?

"This is not meant in terms of numbers, or who's got the biggest install base, or who's selling most in any particular week or month, but I'd like to think that we continue official leadership in this industry," he said. Uh, okay, well how would you measure leadership other than success? In terms of Nintendo and their competition with Sony, Kaz had more bizarre things to say. "It's difficult to talk about Nintendo, because we don't look at their console as being a competitor," he said. "They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things."

Kaz is, uh, quite delusional, if we may say so. Relax, Kaz. At least you have your PS2 sales to lean on. No need to create fantasy worlds for your mind to live in.

[Via Go Nintendo]

SCEA has just sent out a press release detailing what readers of this blog already know. Although PS3 is an expensive machine, it's a better value than the other competing systems. In a press release called "Keeping Entertainment Simple," the company showed this chart showing all the things you get in the PS3 that you can't in other systems. Yes, it's a biased chart, but it's the kind of information that SCEA should spread in the first place. Imagine if they put this info in a retail store? Perhaps more consumers would think kindly of Sony's black box.

The console wars have gotten real. The PlayStation.Blog is looking for a capable Street Fighter to take on Team Evil Xbox in a fight for console supremacy. CES, which begins this week, will play host to this intriguing event which pits Professor PlayStation's team of PS3 wizards versus Major Nelson's Xbox soldiers. Think you're ready to represent?

If you're in the Las Vegas area this Saturday, you'll have a chance to represent PS3 gamers everywhere. Only 20 players can represent PlayStation in this truly extraordinary showdown. Shoot an email to iwannaplaystreetfighteriv@gmail.com with your name, PSN ID, and why you think you should have a chance to compete. You must be 18 years or older. Good luck. Make us proud.

Look, we know the economy is in shambles; a perambulating corpse, gnawing its way through the hopes and dreams of the global populace ... but this is getting ridiculous. Reports of "drastic cost cuts" at Sony have us really spooked – think not only "factory closures" but also "the abolition of several major divisions," according to the Times of London. (In response to the report, Sony told Reuters, "We don't have any such plan.")

While there's no mention of specifics (will the PlayStation brand/division be affected?), the Times does quote a Credit Suisse analyst who says that, unless Sony takes aggressive steps to consolidate power in the hands of prez Howard Stringer – it will be unable to "close the gap with competitors such as Apple and Nintendo." Perhaps more evident to those of us watching the gaming industry specifically is the mention of "frustrations ... and a clear internal cultural clash between Japanese Sony and its US and European operations." We thought Kaz was going to bring some of that good, ol-fashioned American can-do attitude to Japan back in ought-six? Nevertheless, we want to talk to the investors directly:

Listen guys, we know Sony's got some problems. We know that. But you've got to just chill out and relax – chillax even – and wait until the Big S shows off whatever Team ICO's got in the oven. Not buying it? How about this: Microsoft is feeling the economic pinch also, but the grapevine seems to think the Xbox division will be spared. Nintendo isn't the only competition out there, you know?

Looks like these bargain-tastic holiday deals will keep coming, most likely due to the depressing state of the economy. For those of you who still have a little cash to burn, Amazon has announced that on Thursday, December 18th, their Gold Box deals will feature PlayStation 3 titles and Blu-ray disks. One deal will be made available all day (or until supplies run out), while Lighting Deals will begin at 6AM PST/9AM PST -- each of them will run for several hours before being replaced by another. Check back here on Thursday, as we'll keep you guys updated as to which items will be offered and at what price.

[Via Joystiq -- thank to everyone who sent this in!]