As of right now, some PlayStation Network services have been restored in North America. You’re now free to play online, sync Trophies and gawk at your friend’s list. The PlayStation Store isn’t back online yet and we aren’t sure when it will be. Sony Online Entertainment services are also back online. SOE previously announced it had put together a welcome back program to compensate its customers for the difficulties they’ve had to endure, and it has now been put into action.

Earlier today, we told you about how Sony Online Entertainment shut down Station.com due to a recent intrusion. We now know details of why SOE closed its servers. In a statement that can do nothing but send customers into a worrying frenzy, SOE announced that 12,700 credit card numbers have been stolen.

This is the week in which we’re expecting to see some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services restored. This isn’t supposed to be a week with more potential bad news from Sony. Station.com, the online portal that provides access to Sony Online Entertainment’s games, is offline at the moment. Attempting to visit the website will result in a message explaining why SOE had to take the portal down. It all comes back to an intrusion from an unwanted source.

Sony Online Entertainment is reporting that customer information it has stored was not affected by the recent PSN intrusion. SOE said its databases are separate from the PlayStation Network and are therefore safe. SOE is still performing security checks on its systems just to make sure no theft took place.

Free Realms is now a little more sporty. I’m not talking about the Soccer Star job, I’m talking about a new addition to the cash shop. It seems Sony Online Entertainment knows that basketball fans can be quite devoted to their favorite teams and players, and has decided to provide an avatar update. If you don’t mind spending real money, you could get replicas of NBA jerseys for your avatar to wear…

It’s happened – the Farmville farming simulation field of influence has enveloped Free Realms. There’s absolutely nothing we can do. The game has been tainted. I guess this means we’ll just have to suck it up and enjoy the Wilds Farm farming simulation and mini-games.

Every Free Realms players, whether you’re actually paying for the game or just fooling around for free, now has his or her own Wilds Farm to tend…

The PS3 is getting its second MMO later this month on March 29. Sony Online Entertainment will bring FreeRealms to the PS3 to the PlayStation Network. Free Realms started life on PC, but SOE has tweaked the game to work with a console interface. SOE also brought DC Universe Online to the PS3. However, unlike DCUO, Free Realms will be free-to-play.

Sony Online Entertainment is leading the charge in bringing MMORPGs to the PlayStation 3. The console’s first MMO, DC Universe Online was recently released after the conclusion of an open beta. SOE has several unannounced projects in the works, but those games will have to wait until SOE gets previously announced games out of the gate. One such game is Free Realms for PS3.

Good news Mac gamers, you’ve got another option starting today. Sony Online Entertainment says Free Realms is waiting for you. You can browse right over to the Free Realms website, make an account, download a tiny Free Realms installer to your browser and after a few minutes you’ll be exploring a new online world.

Free Realms is a free-to-play browser game you can play however you like…

Over 14 million people already play Sony’s Free Realms, but that number might just grow exponentially before 2010 ends. See, those 14 million people are all Windows users and Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) has just confirmed that the Mac version of the game will be released before Fall 2010 ends. Which means a whole new, large audience will have access to the game very soon.

SOE has also confirmed that the Mac version of Free Realms will be identical to the Windows version…