But there are a few more changes in the ToS that you’ll want to keep an eye on. Here they are, provided by Sony in convenient list form.

• New terms for parents of minor, subaccount holders regarding the limitations of chat parental controls. Your reacceptance of the Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy affirms your consent to the sharing of your child’s data that may occur if your child utilizes certain communication functionalities on PlayStation devices such as PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita systems.
• New terms that explain the location-based services offered through the PlayStation Vita system. For parents of minor, subaccount holders your reacceptance of the Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy affirms your consent to your subaccount holder’s user of these services on the PlayStation Vita system.
• A description of our “What’s New” section, which provides topical information about our services and advertisements.
• Information about pre-ordering content.
• The name of your “PlayStation Network account” is changing to a “Sony Entertainment Network account.”

Sony emphasized that this is truly a change in name only — you’ll get a quick software update that will change the names used on the PS3 and PS Vita. (PSP? Not getting an update “at this time.”) PlayStation Network will continue to be a part of SEN.

The physics engine has been reworked from the ground up, and new character animations have been added. Speaking of things that are new — Tails is making an appearance (finally).

“After twenty years in action, it’s clear that Sonic hasn’t slowed down one bit,” said Haruki Satomi, Senior Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA of America. “The first entry in the Sonic 4 saga was a major success. We’ve listened to the fans and been hard at work making sure we recapture that same spirit of fun in Episode II. We hope the fans will enjoy it.”

Check out the teaser trailer here:

The Ghost Clan, a cult of murderous fanatics, has infiltrated the waterworks beneath the town of Wellspring with plans to poison the water supply. You are the only one with the weapons, talent and courage to stop them. While in Wellspring, you can also meet the townsfolk, try your hand in games of skill and chance, peruse the wares of the local vendors or hit the Speedway for some racing.

This will come in handy this Friday, when the game is available for a special price at select retailers — $29.99. Hooray, Black Friday!

First, Chrono Cross, which is releasing on November 8. The Chrono Trigger sequel has you traveling across dimensions to find the Frozen Flame.

After that, it’s time for Final Fantasy V, releasing November 22. Following that release, Final Fantasy VI comes up to bat on December 6. How chronological, right?

I love Mattel’s game Apples to Apples. In the boardgame, one player picks a word and the others place cards from their hand that they think the player would associate most closely to that word. Or in the cases I’ve played, what that person is most likely to pick based on personal preferences. For example, anything Disney always wins when it’s my turn to pick. Apples to Apples is a great conversation starter and great for families or adults.

Apples to Apples is now coming to console and social networks. It will be released first on Xbox Live and Playstation Network this winter for 800 MS Points or $9.99 on PSN. What’s interesting is there is a single player mode included. Not sure why anyone would want to play this as a single player. Online and local modes support up to six players. New to the game are Golden Apple cards that change game play and animated avatars that players can choose from.

Later Facebook fans will be able to play using their smartphones. Facebook players will also unlock achievements and Apples Coins and Cash.

The interesting thing about Apples to Apples is that while it’s a great boardgame, it does help to know the people you are playing with. Having this knowledge assists you in knowing what the person may pick. Someone may always pick the funniest card, or maybe they hate dogs and would never pick an answer with a dog. I would recommend playing this online with people you know. Playing with total strangers just might not be as fun.

In this trailer, we see the new squad-based gameplay…in the form of a news broadcast. Well, that’s an interesting way to do it.

At least with this development, the title’s truer than ever. Hard to die alone when you’re in a squad.

Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone hits PSN on October 25, and Xbox LIVE Arcade on October 26.

Someone appears to have taken a large number of password and ID pairs and used those to attempt to access PSN accounts.

By the numbers, less than one-tenth of one percent of PSN/SEN/SOE accounts have been affected — 93,000 accounts around the world were cracked as a result of this method — and all accounts that were hit during this attack have been locked. Upon logging in, you’ll have to change your PSN password (again), or if it was your SOE account that got hit, it’s been temporarily turned off and you’ll have to verify your identity before it can be turned on.

In his post, Reitinger noted that, “if you have a credit card associated with your account, your credit card number is not at risk. We will work with any users whom we confirm have had unauthorized purchases made to restore amounts in the PSN/SEN or SOE wallet.”

Once again, the moral of the story is that you should always choose unique passwords. Especially when your money might be involved.

At least this doesn’t involve them turning off the network for a month, right, guys? Right?

Ever thought about what it’s like for the characters in your games? What’s it like when you come along and help them save the day? (Unless you’re some kind of a sadist and you purposefully ruin the day for them and then WHO ARE YOU and why are you here?)

Sony has, apparently. Or at least they hired someone who has.

The end result? Pretty touching, actually. Watch it here:

(Someday, we’ll get the same commercial with “Michelle,” right? Right?)

EA and Sony have done something we’re not really into — taken away our right to a lawsuit. And it’s right there in their EULAs. You know, the documents you don’t actually read that stand between you and playing something. Those wordy things.

Did you know you can opt out of those particular clauses by just sending a letter? It’s annoying, I know, but it gets the job done.

Too bad there’s no way to do it all online.

Or is there?

Gamers Opt Out is a new site that will send paper letters to these companies on your behalf.

“Gamers Opt Out is a collective of gamers who are sick of absurd EULAs from game companies. These EULAs have clauses preventing class-action lawsuits, though you can opt out of the clauses by sending a letter. We want to make it easier for everyone to opt out because Sony, EA, et al, believe most people won’t bother to. Let’s show them they’re wrong.”

It’s as easy as filling in your information.

Of course, it takes money for postage to do all of this — so if you like the service, donate to it. Soon we’ll all be able to sue once more (you know, with cause).

As of yesterday, Sony Online Entertainment and Overkill have shifted FPS Payday: The Heist‘s release date to sometime later this month. Sony has extended preorders accordingly.

Of course, if you were expecting this as the end reward for your PlayStation Network PLAY purchases, that’s still in effect. You just…have to wait a little longer, now.

What’s the reason for the delay? “Ensuring overall game quality.” That’s still pretty weird to announce it the day before release, though. How’s about you…not do that next time?