Hi again! It’s great to see the positive reaction to the unveiling of system software update v2.40. We can’t wait for you to finally go hands-on with XMB access in-game and the Trophy system – and it’s less than 2 days away. Not surprisingly, a number of you have posed questions both here and on other forums. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions.
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Will voice-messaging/private chat be featured in 2.40 as well? If not, can we expect to see this feature added in the future?
We are evaluating the opportunity to offer voice chat, but for this update, we wanted to focus on text messaging as the key priority for communications that our users have asked for.
Can you use the web browser in game?
No, you must exit the game before browsing the internet.
Will In-Game XMB come up during playback of PS2 games, Blu-Ray discs, and DVDs?
The XMB is an exclusive feature for PS3 game titles. Accessing the XMB during gameplay was the top request from our users, which we focused on for this update. However, we continually engage PS3 owners for feedback and will evaluate the opportunity to offer XMB access during movie playback in the future.
Can we go to the display settings and change anything there in-game (resolution, input, etc)?
No, you must exit the game before changing these settings.
Will it be possible to change in-game the sound output?
Yes, sound output changes are supported.
Will we be able to access the PLAYSTATION Store while in-game?
No, but you can view your downloads in progress.
Will we be able to stream music (either via media server or USB drive) for custom soundtracks or is it relegated to music stored on the HDD?
Currently only music stored on the HDD is accessible in games that support this feature. We’d also like to reiterate that Firmware v2.40 merely enables custom soundtracks. It’s up to developers to include this feature in upcoming games (or to patch existing ones).
Does 2.4 enable cross game invites? Will it down the line?
No, cross-game invites are not available in this system software update. We are evaluating opportunities to expand on the new features delivered in 2.40.
Will trophies be mandatory for all games release here on out?
We are working with developers to ensure that Trophies are supported across the board in the future.
Where is each player’s trophy stat info held? I am going to upgrade my hard drive and I don’t know if the trophies will still be on my account if I earn some and then get a new hard drive.
Trophies will be attached to users’ PSN ID. Trophy data needs to be synchronized to the online account on PSN to be transferred to the new PS3 system.
Will the patch automatically allocate unlocked trophies according to your saved files or would you have to do it again?
No, Trophies aren’t retroactive.
Can we view PSN profiles/Trophies from a PC using a Web browser? Will there be an API for web developers to access the PSN data, so online profiles can be created?
We’re evaluating these opportunities to expand where Trophies can be experienced.
Can you only compare trophies with friends that are online?
As long as a friend has a PSN account, you can compare trophies with them regardless of their online status.
Is there a limit to how many trophies the devs can put set by Sony?
There’s not a limit on number of trophies, but there’s a value assigned to each trophy. Developers must balance out the trophies that are available to stay within an overall value based on whether the game is considered large-scope or small-scope. Essentially, a user that has unlocked every trophy in one game would have the same level as a user that unlocked every trophy in another title, all titles (depending on scope) have the same overall impact on a users’ level.
Will new games have a cool little icon on the back saying “trophy compatible?”
We’re currently working on how Trophy support will be messaged to the consumer on our software packaging.
When you get a trophy, does it make a noise?
Currently, no.How quickly things can change – there *will* be a sound effect when you unlock a Trophy.
What is Eric’s favorite cheese?
Mozzarella
Once again, we will continue to evaluate opportunities to enhance the PLAYSTATION 3’s system software throughout the console’s life cycle. Consumer feedback has contributed greatly to the contents of Firmware v2.40, and continues to be appreciated. Don’t forget, this Firmware will be available for download on July 2nd.
@734 — Nope. 0 games will have trophy support when the update goes live. Super Stardust HD will be patched “within hours” though, expect other games to patched within a few weeks. I believe Burnout Paradises next patch “Cagney?” is due out July 10th — it’ll include custom soundtracks and likely also trophy support.
A updated Browser with better Flash (Videos etc.) Support would be nice. Gametrailers etc. doesnt work right. The Browser crashes often or freezes the System. It would be nice if the Dev team could some work in it. And thanks for the nice Support!
@Sentury — don’t want to disappoint you but while SONY have ‘delivered’ Music in-game, 0 games currently support it … if your those video’s were on debug PS3’s and PixelJunk Monsters does NOT support in-game soundtracks. So while SONY have taken a step forward by giving developers an interface and making custom soundtracks easier to implement they have failed to really give us custom soundtracks…
Just got back from vacation to hear all this information. I’m excited, yet disappointed. Devs have to allow you to use music in-game? Are you serious?
Also, what is the point of showing everything on the XMB even though you most likely can’t use it? It would be a much better design to only show what users CAN use while in-game, as opposed to having them guess at what is useable.
In the end, Sony is 20 steps behind the competition, which has a lot more features, and actually requires Devs to do things for their users. Honestly, if you don’t require Devs to do certain things, they most likely won’t put out the extra effort to do it.
Sony, you are losing me here, someone who has been a fan since day one with the PS1.
@heisert — ALOT of people have been asking for improved browser support. Hopefully too we can allocate more RAM to the browser…
@dsgrce — yep. Thats the one big problem with this update. IF SONY forced devrlopers to allow custom soundtracks and make Trophys ( all Multiplatform games need to make achievements for 360 anyway…) Then the update would be amazing — as it stands though without these features being standardized it could result in stuff like the current custom soundtrack implementation where i only know of 1 game which currently has custom soundtracks (SSHD)… and one upcoming game (Burnout Paradise).
Oh well i guess this problem is pretty easy to fix …
I watched the video – saw full in game XMB and was really happy – then I found out you have to quit before you can open the browser and was disappointed, then that you have to quit before changing screen resolution and finally no voice chat or cross game invite. Most people wanted in game XMB for cross game invite- that is essentially what people was wanting. Don’t get me wrong its cool that I can launch a vid and check my text chat but this has become another let down. Did you rush it out for some reason. People weren’t expecting it for another month.
Is it a midnight release?
That’s a really nitpicky question I know.
well now doesnt this Update just get better by the minute LOL
PSN= Tparsons5150 (add me I need PSN Friends badly LMAO)
sony cannot grant custom music becuase of microsofts patent on it.
The best they can do is “allow” developers to put this feature in.
This is the only legal way (thus far) to get around the patent unless they want to risk being sued or financially obligated to pay microsoft for rights to applly custom soundtracks
Sony, Eric, Jeff, anyone… are you going to answer why it is that you showed false information in your video.. knowingly ? Seriously… where the hell do you get off ?
@742 actucally most people wanted in-game messaging and we got that.
2nd on the list was custom soundtracks which SONY improved but its still up to the developer to implement it ( which means very games will support it)
Expect cross game invites and cross game chat / in-game chat to be added in later FW updates.
R.I.P XBL
Sweet! Sony really is listening to us.
I wonder what the sound is like when you unlock a trophy.
RRRIIIIIIDDDDDGGGEEEE RACCCCEEEEERRR!!!
…I had to do it. :)
Here’s the bottom line.
95% of Playstation 3 owners, including myself, will be delighted with this update. Simply because Sony have implemented a huge feature, and that is in game xmb access, alright you won’t be able to use custom sound tracks right away, but it won’t be long before there are many more games releases patches for this. Burnout Paradise is getting one for a start, criterion said that a few days ago. Many people are saying that cross game invites and cross game chat is what we all want, what a load of nonsense, some people want it, but the majority of people have never asked Sony to provide us with this. I personally don’t want to talk to anyone cross game, its a waste of time, I want to concentrate on the game I’m playing and if I want a friend to come and play with me, all I need to do is send them a message. Saying that you have a phone to text is just ignorant, I personally don’t want to give out my number to people I have never met, even though I play with them. Its like saying, I don’t want voice chat because I have a landline telephone, its just plain stupid.
Now on to the trophies, not many people even requested that feature and so, for the majority of us, this is a welcome surprise. Again ok, I admit it is disappointing that not many games will support it from the off but you guys need to realise that we could have a large amount of games supporting the feature within the week. Just because Sony has not announced them in their list, Sony have said that they cannot give you dates for patches to be released by third party developers, that is their job themselves. If you look at the list, it is all first party developers that they have confirmed. So don’t rule out a Metal Gear Solid 4 or a Grand Theft Auto patch soon after the updates release.
Don’t come into this site and post your own personally expectations over and over and over again, yes I accept that you want this and that but many of us are just happy with the update we are getting, so leave your opinions and thoughts for either, a different site or a different time.
Well done Sony! Hopefully third party developers will be releasing patches soon!
the only thing i can say is WOW!
Sony, all you need to do now is implement the following…
-Voice Messaging.
-Private Chat (in-game/movie)
-Cross-invite system.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING IN-GAME XMB IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! If Sony can get these features out they would be on par with the other online service on the other console.
MAKE IT HAPPEN SONY! Thanks again for 2.4!!!
i think most people were hoping 2.4 would include cross game invites and in-game chat. anyone want to explain why it takes so long to incorporate these changes? if microsoft could make it happen 2 years ago, why is sony twiddling their thumbs taking their sweet time with this? in game chat cannot take that much memory to function, so i have a hard time believing it is a memory problem.
and to useless gamesblow saying that the RAM severly limits the ps3’s capabilities … please tell me the name of a game on the 360 that looks as good as MGS4? it’s all about the cell processor and multi-tasking. the ps3 would be better off it had more memory, but it definitely isn’t crippled by it’s current memory size.
What about switching user accounts mid-game?
When my son and I play it’s a pain having to reload the game every time we switch user accounts.
I am sick and tired of people blaming Microsoft for the problems of the world.
Seriously, I hate Microsoft as much as the next guy, so much that I no longer use Windows, nor will it ever be in my house again (how many of you Microsoft hating hypocrites can say that ?). I’m a Linux user (and when I get enough money, a Mac user) from now on.
But blaming Microsoft because they made a system that is easier to code for, yet can produce basically the same results as our console, and for a patent on ONE SINGLE WAY to implement in-game custom music is just ignorant.
What about the fact that Sony constantly produces software to ONLY run on Windows ? PSP Media Manager comes to mind. Huh ? How the hell do you get off directly supporting your competition ?
As I said earlier, there is more than one way to skin a cat, and there is more than one way to implement custom soundtracks. Even mandating it would help that battle. But guess what, Sony knows that if they start to “force” developers down a certain path, the developers will walk away. Simple as that. Hell, they already are walking away.
You Sony fanboi’s who clamor at any scraps of bread Sony throws at you make me sick. You give free thinking people a bad name.
People can see that the ship called Sony Computer Entertainment is sinking very fast and it wouldn’t surprise me to see this as their last console and go back to making games for other console makers who aren’t up on their high horse thinking… “If we build it, they will come, we are Sony, resistance is futile !”
People, read the writing on the wall, it’s 50 feet high for Gods sake !
And you people who say that “um, duh, many games will get patched, uh-duh !” Are you all idiots ? Prove it, where’s the proof ? Have you ever heard that actions speak louder than words. I’m going to be king of the world in two years, so you better start worshiping me now or I’ll smite you if you don’t ! Believe me ? Of course not ! Why ? Because I can provide no proof of it.
Again, yay for text chatting… I guess. :/
Also, you should all applaud gamesblow. This person seems to be one of the very few without a problem in speaking their mind… excuse us if the rest of you don’t have the brains or guts to do it yourself. :/
@EVERYONE
Its pretty damn obvious that GAMESBLOW is here NOT to provide constructive criticism, praise or questions…but to whine and B_TCH and complain like a 2 yr old that just had her bottle taken away from her…to get under everyones skin for one reason and one reason only….and thats to draw all the attention to himself cuz nobody gives him any attention in his “real” life…he’s gotta feel wanted and everyone is falling right into that…your all enabling him…you respond and he gets what he wants…more attention and he replys back…then you reply back….get my point???
ignore him!!!!!!!!!!…..when a predators “food” source is taken away….it has no choice but to move on and find a different source of “food”
Text messaging sucks. Voice messaging FTW!!!
11 min pass midnight here….still no update…so far yet so close….i hate u American…why we have 12 hours differences…:p
i shall go to bed and try again in the morning…
Tada
@gamesblow and everyone siding with his crap – Yes people did ask for in game I’m… It won the poll of what in game functionality we want most. Remember, you called ps3 owners idiots for asking for it but in reality in game messaging is a lot more important than music for the majority of people because in game music would be counted as a nice extra to online gaming. In game messaging is a necessity.
And what I don’t understand about the people that say that they have done in game music this way because of a Microsoft patent is this.
The original Xbox’s in game music was done exactly like this. Not all games had it and it was up to the developer to add the functionality. So aren’t they screwing with a patent right there?
Microsoft are unable to sue people over patents anymore. They use them to scare others off. They have been investigated by the European Union many times over antitrust and non competitive behavior.
They have been fined millions by the EU over this.
If Microsoft were to sue Sony over in game soundtracks then they would loose.
The patent system in America is constantly being reviewed.
There are a great many patents which simply shouldn’t have made it past the first review stage but the reviewer simply didn’t have a good enough idea of what it was they were actually accepting.
Imagine one company held a patent for music playing functionality on mobile phones. Imagine they tried to do something about it now. Its completely anticompetitive behavior.
The American patent system is a joke, something like in game music should not be able to be patented.
If you like your ps3 and Sony send letters and emails to the American patent office asking for a review of that patent.
@chanskie — at best the update will come in 15 hours… more likely though it’s due out in 25 – 30 hours…
@ Aprisaiden
Thanks, i know what you mean…but, but, but…it is 00:18am 2nd July 2008 here in Australia……is so unfair….:-(
Guys…i think what people really need to start doing to get this ball rolling and these features used, is to start flooding these developers websites!….start leaving comments on the forums requesting the patch for ps3…start bombing the forums…leave emails…whatever needs to be done to get these developers to realize what their consumers want…what we want is for their software to be fully compatible with our console!…..even if that means dishing out some cash to employees to create a patch..They’re makin about $60 each game, not to mention the DLC…im sure its probably a lot less complicated than it sounds….
@TristanMike
“I’m a Linux user”
yea baby…notice the gravatar!!!!
“You Sony fanboi’s who clamor at any scraps of bread Sony throws at you make me sick. You give free thinking people a bad name.”
I agree BUT!!!…on this BLOG your banned for negativity…trust me
and about GB…i have NO issue whatsoever stating my opinion whether anti-sony or not…its all in the way you say it!!
GB isnt exactly up on top in the tact or class factor…when BLOG posts start turning to insulting personal attacks and GB feeds into it as much as he can…the subject now turns to him rather then the topic of the original posts…thats when its not cool
I’ll be the first one to say and i’ve said it before…SONY F___ED me in Nov 2006 when i bought my PS3 for $600…and i complained and complained…but then i just said screw it and bought a 360…now i have the best of both worlds and nothing to complain about!!!!!!!!…well nothing except that SONY can even make the PS3 upscale its own games and developers cant produce a good game in 1080 NOT 720p…but anyway my rant is over
IMO in-game music is up to developers because Sony is avoiding being sued by M$ for the custom soundtrack patent. In the video PJM is not patched and custom soundtracks works.
Very thorough FAQ, thanks guys. :)
Just want to say WwOOOtTttTtttT cant wait for tomorrow :)
Thanks Sony this is a great update.
Milamber, back on Post four hundred and eight (408), had a great question … any answer how that works guys?
Original Question by Milamber:
“Milamber | June 30th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Great update, been looking forward to it for awhile!
My only concerns are about in game XMB during play of ps1 and ps2 games, since I’ve been playing through some ps2 games lately and missing out on game invites from friends.
I also have a friend using a 40 gig system, would be great to get BC functionality for these users too!”
@deafwing
you just touched on a good point…I own a launch PS3 with the 4 usb ports, media card slots AND backwards compatibility…(OFF SUBJECT A SECOND) for those of you that still think you got screwed @ launch buying your $600 machines…look at everything taken away from the launch system and shut your mouth!!!!!
now on that note i do hope some how some way they can add a BD function to post launch systems…its a cool feature
um BD = BC…LOL…typo
@XD9 – Being a Linux user means nothing if your just a non productive user. What do I mean by non productive user? Someone that uses Linux to look cool, someone who uses Linux but does not understand the concept of FOSS, Someone who uses Linux but doesn’t give back to the community, Someone that uses Linux and [DELETED] and moans to developers for the work they have done because it doesn’t meet their standards.
Why do I now put you in this category? Because you have an elitist view over everyone who is actually satisfied with this update, Because you don’t care about patents obviously, and because you use the word “Linux” to make yourself look better than everyone on this blog.
I am a Linux developer, and not once on this blog have I felt the need to mention that.
I don’t use it to make myself look hardcore. I code for Linux because I enjoy it and love the idea of FOSS.
You just end up looking cheap because you use Linux because it is free as in beer and not because it has the opposite spirit and morals to Microsoft. You also end up sounding like a [DELETED] because you are telling people that they should [DELETED] and moan like everyone else.
@ tretle (775)
First paragraph aside, I agree that the US patent system is a joke, and I applaud the work the EU does in stopping Microsoft’s domination.
@ XD9 (779)
I appreciate very much your response. I agree that you should be banned for outright negativity. BUT !!! (you saw that coming ;P) that’s a very sketchy line you cross. When does being “outspoken” cross into “blatant negativity” ? When does a person standing up for what they believe in, become a malicious attack ? I agree, that in times of heated discussion, tempers flair and some things might get said in haste. Freedom of speech, no matter how much you disagree, is one of, if not, the most important facet to “freedom” and no one should be able to “censor” it.
However, I really don’t see “gamesblow” insulting individual members, the way that individual members DIRECTLY insult him/her. They don’t insult the thought process, they insult the person, whom they don’t even know aside from a few posts on this blog. To me, that is what is deplorable, not gamesblow’s dislike with the current status quo.
I’m not here to come to gamesblows’ defense, he/she has proven he/she can fight their own battles. But if you want childish behavior, look to those doing the real insulting.
I’m glad you bought a 360. Truth be told, the 360 has been invading my thoughts (and dreams, seriously, I had a dream I picked one up, so real that when I awoke, I had to double check my shelf for a non-existent 360 :/) more and more as of late, and I only fear that if I did have an extra 500 bucks to blow on an Elite, I probably would… and furthermore, I’d probably sell off my 60 GB console (with my 30+ game collection) and buy a stand alone Blu-Ray player so my huge collection of Blu-Ray titles doesn’t go wasted. I promise that I have been recommending the 360 over the PS3 to all my family and friends over the debacle that we call the last year and a half.
I paid a grand total of 750 bucks (CDN) for my console… yeah, I’m a little pissed off !
Anyway, thanks again for the reply.
gamesblow isnt banned from the blog yet? weird I thought he was. I cant wait till you need a PS3 to be able to post on the blog here. It will help get rid for the 360 bot fanboys and the ungrateful kids.
Eric before anymore firmware update get released please update the blog here so people need a PSN account to post.
Can someone please clarify the question, “Where is each player’s trophy stat info held? I am going to upgrade my hard drive and I don’t know if the trophies will still be on my account if I earn some and then get a new hard drive”?
What does it mean to have them synchronized to your PSN account? Does that mean they’re stored on some server under your PSN ID and you don’t have to worry about removing the hard drive? Or do you have to do something specifically to synchronize it?
Also, I understand why trophies are not retroactive, but wouldn’t it still be pretty easy to cheat? Couldn’t I just load a PS3 save directly before I would get an achievement. For example, say I upload a save with 99 head shots and I need 100 for a trophy. If I get the last one myself, wouldn’t that work? I’m not saying I would, but it seems like that would work. And if that wouldn’t work, then why isn’t there a way to award them retroactively without worrying about cheating?
LOL and the complaints continue!!
Most of you people whining begged for in-game XMB, saying how ridculous is it that you have to quit the game just to see a message. Now you have full access to the friends section of the XMB, and you complain about something else. Voice chat is being worked on as we speak anyways, as are many other things.
Music will be compatible with most if not all future titles, and easily patched. What is the problem? OBVIOUSLY they can’t make it forced, or out of the box, because I think that would be violating MS’s patent, so this is the only way I guess. But if you favorite games get it, what are you complaining about? That Hail the Chimp doesn’t get the feature? Come on…
I honestly don’t understand, how they give you what you want and then you b*tch about something else. Like a said before, little 5 year olds do that, grow up and appreciate that what you personally begged for is being given to you.
Personally, I preffer cheddar cheese 0.o
@ 790
Yeah it is connected to your PSN ID, that is why you need to re play the game to get the trophies, because if it was based off of the game save, then people could easily DL game saves off the net and claim they have 80 trophies, etc. It is all linked to your PSN account, just like Warhawk stats are linked to your PSN, not the game save.
A big FINALLY AND THANK U! My PS3 experience just got better!
OFF TOPIC: So did switching from a BT mic to a corded mic while IN-GAME get sqeezed into 2.4? If not, I think it should be put on the list. It sux having to Quit a game just to change ur mic cuz ur battery died.
Ok, so I have this idea, but I don’t know how to convey it to Sony.. Not looking for glam or fame, I just think it would be sweet if they did this. I would love your opinion on it as well… And yes, this ismy first post.
How about taking the leveling up element of PSN thing one step further and giving it more meaning, like and RPG.
Let’s just say Bob loves RPGs, and he plays through Final Fantasy 13 and beats it, so he unlocks the trophy for Beating FF13, but also one for leveling his characters past 50, so he gets a “Completed game” and “Grinder” Trophy.
Bill on the other hand, loves FPS, and he has received “Head-hunter” Sniper trophies from a lot of games.
Jimmy loves My little Pony games, and he has completed 10 laps around the pony ranch and receives a trophy for it.
What if every “type” of trophy had a value in a certain stat, and your level meant more than just a number.
For example, every “head-hunter” trophy Bill receives gives him points in the “Sniper” stat, and so when guys in a team for Warhawk, or Resistance, are looking for good snipers for their team, they check out Bill’s profile and see that he is level 50 and has a great skill in sniping, so they send an email to Bill to play with them. It won’t be based on just one game, but all FPS in general.. Bill is just a badass as sniping and it shows in his overall stats as a gamer.
Gamer profile can be categorized in certain areas that they are experts as. As more and more Coop RPGs come out, someone might like to party with someone who is well-versed and loves the grinding and exploring aspect of RPGs, so they won’t choose Bill, so much as check out Bob’s Profile.
So a Player’s page might look like this
Bob:
Title: Adventurer
Level 30
Shooting: 20
Exploring: 800
Racing: 257
Puzzle-Solving: 5
Head-Hunter: 60
Flying: 400
People with questions about certain games will categorize friends and people by their expert area and thus communicate questions or interest in games, and make like-minded friends for Home.
The above stats would be based on a value placed on a certain type of trophy, so those stats will not be made up.
All of a sudden you have a profile that’s more than just a name.. Your virtual career has meaning and people know your strenghs. These stregths will also have values. So if someone is an expert sniper, he will have a value against other snipers, so if you take him out in a match, you might earn a trophie that’s generated by your own PSN profile, one that shows that you defeated a sniper (NAME) that had better stats at sniping than you.
I know suggestions are all over the place, but I think this might give PSN a further edge online over the competition, and people more reason to play certain multi-platform games on Sony’s Machine
You FIX IT THE SOUND ON TROPHYS !!!
PLEASE THERE’s STILL TIME
IN GAME VOICE CHAT PLEASEEEEEEEE
CROSS GAME !!!
COME ON EVERYBODY ASK FOR IT
Can we play flash on the web browser with this new firmware? That would’ve been great.
Jeff/Eric, can you give an update on the youtube api intergration and where it’s heading? there has been no mention of this on the blog and considering the emphasis on the social aspect of PSN (home) I’m surprised to see that you haven’t said a word about it when it could be huge. the only game so far which has this in is the cat game on the japanese store, when are we going to see multiplayer games like warhawk & socom allow us to record gameplay?
are you going to try and push this or is this another “we’ll leave it up to the developers” thing?
I would like to add my vote for adding an RSS Feed feature like the PSP’s. It would also be nice if it would let you read text rss feeds as well as download video/audio rss feeds.
@789 Good Idea man
@790 It means it’s store On a SONY server somewhere. and if you PS3 is the victim of a US Nuclear strike ,. when you get a new PS3 you’d be able to get it all back as it’s not stored on your PS3 at all.
WOW!! I can tell by everyone’s post that we are all serious gamers..
Great job PNO (Playstation Network Operations)!! Cannot wait to download the update.
But, I would like to reiterate what all of gaming brothers and sisters had said..
Please, please PLEASE!! Give us:
1.Cross game chat
2.Cross game invites
3.In game custom sound tracks
We love you PNO!!!