It has been pretty big news lately that Sony’s Playstation Network, the system that basically allows people to go online and buy stuff or play games with each other, has been down for over a week. They’ve been slow in leaking out information, but it would seem that it has to do with unencrypted information and someone on the inside hacking data, forcing them to move the entire physical system to a new location.

Those poor IT people.

Other than what I’ve read on some gaming news sites I haven’t really heard much reaction on the subject. That is, until I checked out GameKrib and GamersWithJobs.

These two sites represent the greatest opposed forces in gaming to my mind. In terms of GameKrib, you’re loaded with MLG-wannabe bro gamers who play nothing but the most popular titles like Call of Duty, Gears of War and Killzone. At GamersWIthJobs, you have mature adults that play anything from Halo: Reach to World of Goo. The folks at GamersWithJobs can actually type well and use proper grammar, and over at GameKrib you’re lucky if someone is aware that “grammar” isn’t a type of cracker for s’mores (apologies to Jeremy and Justin for insulting their common user base).

Yet on each site there are plenty of people that are abandoning Sony, done with them, or are pumping their fists in the air at the “superiority” of Xbox Live. Several years ago I’d have been right along side them, singing the praises of the Wii60 movement and thumbing my nose towards Sony’s big black machine of alleged evil.

Here I sit, though, looking at my new system with fondness while I sigh at my Xbox 360, ready to abandon everything but its controller.

I exaggerate.

When this gaming generation began I was a major fan of Microsoft’s Xbox and its upcoming Xbox 360. The concepts behind the Xbox Live marketplace and dashboard lit my eyes like Christmas lights. Here was a company that understood how to push the possibilities of the medium forward! Nintendo was the same way, inventing new ways to game and providing the technology to do it. Sony was the odd man out, pushing some heavy hardware and a top dollar price tag all so their HD disc format could dominate. They weren’t changing the industry and weren’t showcasing any real games. They just had a bunch of commercials featuring frat boy ghetto gamers, folks that, at the time, I wasn’t aware were the modern gaming demographic.

Fast forward, and while Sony continues to embarrass themselves repeatedly, one thing has become clear. Games matter to them.

Which is perhaps why this whole debacle hasn’t troubled me so much. I believe Sony will improve their security so when I do give them my credit card information (maybe) it will be more protected. Even then, if some inside employee never chose to crack the system everyone’s information would be safe and locked away. What matters to me is first party titles, one of the reasons I still feel excited for the new Nintendo console.

When I compare what Microsoft has to Sony I weep. I want something other than Halo or Gears of War. I want a new IP that’s stellar rather than flawed like Alan Wake or Too Human. I want my sequels to be well thought out and executed unlike Fable 3. Instead Microsoft cancels a bunch of Rare’s projects to make room for Kinect Sports. Meanwhile Sony is getting loaded with hits like Heavy Rain, 3D Dot Game Heroes, Killzone 3, inFamous 2, Twisted Metal and Yakuza 4. All are vastly different games, and they’ve been released spread out throughout their respective years. More games are coming, and there’s plenty from before those even.

In the long run I don’t really like how Sony runs their gaming division, but they’re at least improving. Instead of learning from competitor’s mistakes Microsoft seems content to repeat them. The only first party I can really trust is Nintendo, and they refuse to port games like Mother 3 to America.

Maybe it is in the wake of an event like this that console loyalties seem their most ridiculous. Or perhaps they are merely the most exploited by those who favor a competitor. It truly is a shame for Sony, however. As a first party they’ve really stepped up their game and have focused on the important stuff. Yet this event is already destroying their reputation, and come E3 they’ll definitely be taking some jabs from Microsoft.

Which is down right tragic considering Microsoft’s best offer this year so far is Gears of War 3 and nothing else. Unless they announce a bunch of new quality first party titles at E3, then I can’t see much reason you’d even own a 360 at this point in time.