Sony officially announced via their PlayStation Blog that the error keeping gamers from playing on their original PS3 systems (read: not the slim models) was caused by “a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system.”

Sony has stated that they hope to resolve the problem within the next 24 hours and they also strongly advise that if you have a model other than the new slim PS3 you should not use your PS3 system. Just leave it off until they have it fixed. They further advise that turning on the system may result in errors in functionality both online and offline including recording obtained trophies and “not being able to restore certain data.”

So please heed Sony’s warning and just keep your PS3 off until the bug is fixed and everything is up and running as normal again.

You can read Sony’s full statement below, including a description of the errors that the bug has been known to cause.

Sony’s Official Statement

As you may be aware, some customers have been unable to connect to the PlayStation Network today. This problem affects the models other than the new slim PS3.

We believe we have identified that this problem is being caused by a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system.

Errors include:

• The date of the PS3 system may be re-set to Jan 1, 2000.
• When the user tries to sign in to the PlayStation Network, the followingmessage appears on the screen; “An error has occurred. You have been

  signed out of PlayStation Network (8001050F)”.

• When the user tries to launch a game, the following error message appearson the screen and the trophy data may disappear; “Failed to install

  trophies. Please exit your game.”

• When the user tries to set the time and date of the system via theInternet, the following message appears on the screen; “The current date

  and time could not be obtained. (8001050F)”

• Users are not able to play back certain rental video downloaded from thePlayStation Store before the expiration date.

We hope to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours. In the meantime, if you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data.

As mentioned above, please be advised that the new slim PS3 is not affected with this error. We are doing our best to resolve the issue and do apologize for any inconvenience caused.

For the latest status on this situation please continue to check either the PlayStation.Blog or PlayStation.com.