Sony's security problems continue to mount, as Sony Online Entertainment reveals that the personal information of 24.6 million SOE accounts and more than 12,700 credit card numbers may have been compromised in the massive attack that brought down the PlayStation Network late last month.

According to a Sony Online Entertainment statement, the company believes the data theft took place between April 16 and 17, which is around the same time as the cyber attacks that compromised the PlayStation Network. This particular data theft was discovered early this morning during Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment's investigation into the PlayStation Network attack.

Attempting to visit the home pages for popular games like Free Realms, DC Universe Online, and massively-multiplayer online role-playing game granddaddy EverQuest continues to result in the following down for maintenance message:

We have had to take the SOE service down temporarily. In the course of our investigation into the intrusion into our systems we have discovered an issue that warrants enough concern for us to take the service down effective immediately. We will provide an update later today (Monday).

According to Sony Online Entertainment, user information that has been compromised includes names, addresses, email addresses, birthdates, gender, login names, and passwords.

The credit card data stolen, however, comes from an outdated database from 2007. That database contained 12,700 non-U.S. credit or debit card numbers and expiration dates, along with the direct debit information for 10,700 customers in Austria, Germany, Netherlands and Spain.

SOE will be offering subscribers to its massively-multiplayer online games a free 30-day subscription, as well as compensation for each additional day the services are down. It's also working on a "make good" for players of its PlayStation 3 MMOs Free Realms and DC Universe Online.

Update: Sony Online Entertainment has issued a notification assuring customers that current credit card information has not been compromised. "There is no evidence that our main credit card database was compromised. It is in a completely separate and secured environment."

PlayStation Network Breach Could Carry A $24 Billion Price Tag (In Some Crazy Fantasy World)

While the financial ramifications of the PlayStation Network's "external intrustion" on Sony, PlayStation developers and consumers likely won't be known for many moons, a data-security research firm and the mathematicians at Forbes have put a worst-case scenario price tag on the breach: More »

Sony Comes Clean: PlayStation Network Hackers Have Stolen Personal Data

A security breach in the Playstation Network by still unidentified hackers resulted in stolen personal information, Sony confirmed today.
Sony says while personal information was likely stolen they don't believe credit card numbers were and that they hope to have the Playstation Network service... More »

FBI Cybercrimes Joins 22 States In Sweeping PlayStation Network Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigations today confirmed to Kotaku that it is looking into the security breach that brought the Playstation Network down and exposed millions of users' personal data to cybercriminals.
The FBI is joined by nearly two dozen state attorneys general and possibly the Federal... More »

Sony Says 10 Million Credit Card Accounts May Have Been Compromised

It's a good thing Sony warned people to be vigilant about their credit cards, because as part of the company's Tokyo press conference yesterday PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai said that up to ten million customer's account details could have been compromised.
That's not the personal details on their PSN... More »

The extended outage currently afflicting the PlayStation Network isn't just stopping people playing Call of Duty and FIFA. It's also stopping people from playing persistent, entirely online games like DC Universe and Free Realms.

That's a massive pain in the ass for those people, so what's Sony doing to compensate them for their enforced downtime? Sony Online Entertainment, which manages both PS3 MMOs, has this to say:

We apologize for any inconvenience players may have experienced as a result of the recent service interruption. As a global leader in online gaming, SOE is committed to delivering stable and entertaining games for players of all ages.

To thank players for their patience, we will be hosting special events this weekend across our game portfolio, including a Double Station Cash day on Saturday, April 30th.

We are also working on a "make good" plan for players of the PS3 versions of DC Universe Online and Free Realms. Details will be available soon on the individual game websites and forums.

So there's extra stuff on the table come Saturday, provided the PSN is actually up by then, and then there's a "make good" plan after that. It's a good start, but seeing as DC Universe is made up of people paying subscriptions you'd hope it's more like a "make awesome" plan.

Commenter ValeriaHeart is looking for suggestions for a massively-multiplayer online role-playing game to play with her partner that isn't World of Warcraft in today's episode of Speak-Up on Kotaku. Won't you help her?

Are there any MMORPG players out there that are playing something that isn't WoW? How is that game? Would you recommend it?

My partner and I love the idea of an MMO but getting a bit fed up with WoW, mostly due to the absolutely awful community, so we're hoping to find something a little more welcoming.

Wednesday is new comics day in North America. As always, I have recommendations. Plus, this week, there is a pile of interesting video-game-themed comics.

Comics You Should Consider Buying (from comics shops)

Dark Horse Presents Vol 2, No. 1 The official summary should convince you: "The legendary, premiere anthology is back! The 80-page spectacular, Dark Horse Presents returns with all-new stories by Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin, and Richard Corben; a new Concrete story by Paul Chadwick, a new Crimson Empire story from the Star Wars universe, and an exclusive sneak peek of Frank Miller's highly-anticipated prequel to 300, Xerxes! The celebration continues with a brand-new, all-color Finder story by Carla Speed McNeil, a prose piece from science fiction legend Harlan Ellison, the return of Michael T. Gilbert's Mr. Monster, and much, much more!"

Dungeons & Dragons #6 I'm still not sure people believe that I'm serious when I recommend the current D&D comic, but I am. The scripts are sharp, the plots go in unexpected directions. Official summary of this first issue of a new storyline arc: "Learn the origin of Fell's Four! While stranded in the Feywild, Adric recounts for Tisha how Fell's Four was born-and almost died the very same day." Sold? No? Trust me.

Iron Man 2.0 #4 Usually, I like plugging the comics of writer Nick Spencer just because I think he writes excellent comics, but this time I'm including it as an excuse to run this alternative cover that's running as part of Marvel Comics' "Thor Goes Hollywood" theme.

Comics With Video Game Connections (new this week in comics shops)

DC Universe Legends Online #6 I dropped this series last issue, because it seemed like nothing more than a mediocre future-apocalypse DC hero saga, one with little new to show. It's a pity, because co-writer Tony Bedard has being doing fresher work elsewhere. Official summary: "Lex Luthor and his ragged team of future survivors take the fight to Brainiac in a final, desperate attempt to stop his invasion of Earth - but will it be enough? Back in the present day, a catastrophe takes place that will forever change the face of the DCU!"

Deus Ex #3 Official summary: "A ghost from Adam Jensen's past rears his ugly, augmented head and it's open warfare! Even with a new ally, Adam has his hands full . . . but what's the connection between Adam's past and his current assignment."

Halo: Fall of Reach: Covenant #1 Official summary: "It is a question that man has long asked-are we alone in the universe? This?February, the United Nations Space Command learns the answer to that question… and unfortunately, the answer is NO. Catch the beginning of the struggle between Man and Covenant in this epic series based on the novel by Eric Nylund, adapted by Brian Reed, and brought brilliantly to life by Felix Ruiz!"

Mass Effect: Evolution #4 Official summary of this mini-series' final issue: "Mass Effect 2 lead writer Mac Walters brings the origin of the Illusive Man to its explosive conclusion! The fate of mankind may come down to this moment, as the newly enlightened Illusive Man launches a movement that will upset the balance of power across the galaxy. But will he prove to be the universe's savior-or its destroyer? This story will have a long-lasting impact on the Mass Effect saga, and is essential reading for fans of sci-fi action and intrigue!"

Silent Hill: Past Live (collection) Official summary: "Jebediah 'Hellrider' Foster is a violent outlaw in the Dakota Territory in 1867. When he falls for a godly widow who longs to move from the Wild West to a family home in Silent Hill, Foster follows-but peace is not what awaits. By Tom Waltz (writer of Silent Hill: Sinner's Reward and the Silent Hill video game to be released in 2011), with artwork by Menton J. Matthews III (Zombies Vs. Robots Aventure)."

Sonic Universe #27 Official summary: "Fractured Mirror,' Part Three. Silver joins an all-new, all-different band of Freedom Fighters in all-out war against Enerjak and his sinister Prelate minions! It's a no-holds-barred battle in this dark version of reality, and everyone may not make it to the end!"

And Over On The iPad…

The first five issues of Daytripper, one of 2010's best comics, are now on sale for $2 a pop on Comixology's Comics app. The series is about a man's many possible deaths, each issue a lovely yarn that can be read on its own. This gets my highest recommendation. I recently previewed Nonplayer, which is now available for $3 on the Comics app. The story's simply about people in the future who play an amazing MMO; the draw is the drawing... wonderful art. There are also more issues available of Gotham Central, the police procedural set in Gotham City, back from when the series was at its best.

This is a week for Marvel to shine in comics shops, if their new epic can live up to the hype. Plus, there's a surprise video game comic this week with some lovely art.

Wednesdays are new-comics days in America. These are my weekly recommendations about which comics to buy in comics shops and which new releases on the iPad are worth your curiosity.

Comics You Should Consider Buying (from comics shops)

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #38 What if Spider-Man was beloved, Peter Parker was rich and the story was told by the writer of Chew in a series of annuals featuring Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk and Deadpool, one released each month from now to June? I haven't read these, but I have friends who love the work of writer John Layman, so consider giving this annual, "Identity Wars part 1," a shot.

Fear Itself #1 It's a tradition for regular comics buyers to pick up the first issue of the latest Marvel or DC mini-series that will change everything forever (temporarily). Fear Itself is Marvel's latest, invovling some sort of terrible incursion into the Earth by some sort of scary something... "the Serpent", whatever that means. The writer on this, Matt Fraction, is one of super-hero comics craftier storytellers. He can be excellent. No telling if this will be. Official summary: " In this time of global anxiety, of economic turmoil and mass hysteria, Sin, the new Red Skull, has made an awesome discovery...a shameful secret that will rock the foundations of the Marvel Universe! A revelation that will divide father and son, turn friend against friend, and herald the rise of Fear personified. HE IS RETURNING...and the world has nothing to fear but FEAR ITSELF."

Uncanny X-Men #534.1 Marvel has been releasing special ".1" issues of their comics, each telling a standalone story that supposedly hints at the direction for the series it's a part of. The Wolverine .1 issue involving a surprise birthday party for the angry X-Man was quite good, as was Iron Man's .1. This X-Men .1 comes from Kieron Gillen, longtime writer about video games, who is taking lead on X-Men writing duties. Official "Magneto is an X-Man. This may not be news to you, but only a handful in the Marvel Universe know that the poster boy for Fearing Mutants is now living just off the coast of one of the United State's largest cities. How on Earth are the X-Men going to explain the presence of one of the world's most infamous super villains?"

Comics With Video Game Connections (new this week in comics shops)

DC Universe Online Legends #5 I recently read that this series explains how the DC Comics version of DC's heroes get embroiled in the DC Universe Online version of events, so this whole 20-something issue series is a bridge that will helps DC sticklers find out how it all fits together. Official summary: "Brainiac's attack on the JLA Watchtower is met with fierce resistance - but the tide turns when he reveals his true goal! And in the bleak, blasted future, Lex Luthor reveals his own plan for killing Brainiac . . . but at what cost to his 'allies'?"

Nonplayer #1 This one from writer/artist Nate Simpson and publisher Image is a surprise. It's not tied to a real game, but, well... official summary: "The future kind of sucks, and that goes double for Dana Stevens - she's stuck in a dead-end tamale delivery job, and she's way too old to be living with her mom. But in the online fantasy world of Jarvath, she's an elite warrior. When she slays the wife of celebrity game character King Heremoth, her fame seems all but guaranteed - that is, until the game spins totally out of control."

And Over On The iPad…

If you like your comic book covers painted by Alex Ross and your comics co-written by him, his and writer Jim Krueger's Earth X, a 14-issue alternate-universe Marvel series from 1999, is out today on Comixology's Comics iPad app. I'm a fan of artist John Paul Leon, who drew the books, so I'm looking into it. (Our Mike Fahey said the series is so-so but says others love it.) The first issue of Gotham City police procedural Gotham Central is free on the iPad today, with four more issues going for $2 each at the Comixology app. Only a silly person wouldn't read that first issue. This series, about a cop's-eye view of Batman's city, was terrific, offering about four-fifths believable grit and casework, with only a sliver of attention paid to Gotham's carnival cast of super-villains. Garth Ennis' Hitman, a series about which I always heard good things, also makes its Comixology debut, with an offering of the first three issues. It was about a super-powered guy with guns who takes contracts to kill other super-powered characters. I understand it was quite sarcastic about the goings on of Superman, Batman and friends, not a surprise since Ennis is ever the iconoclast.

Sony Online Entertainment, makers of D.C. Universe Online and Free Realms, closed three studios and will lay off nearly a third of its workforce, Kotaku has learned.

Word began spreading when George Broussard, best known as the co-creator of Duke Nukem Forever, tweeted earlier this evening that SOE was seeing layoffs and "studio closure is possible." Kotaku has confirmed through a source familiar with the matter that the closures affect SOE's studios in Seattle, Tucson, Ariz. and Denver. Half of the workforce at SOE offices in Austin, Texas were pink slipped along with a sizeable portion of San Diego. In sum, it accounts for nearly one-third of SOE's manpower before today.

Kotaku has reached out to Sony Online Entertainment for official comment. Any statement will be updated here.