Silly me. I thought it was going to be a slow week following the craziness of GDC, but this one was packed full of great PlayStation news. As you probably know, PS3 Firmware 2.70 was the highlight of the week, adding Text Chat, Friends List enhancements and more. Hopefully you’ve had the chance to download it and take the new FW for a spin, and if you have, let us know what you think. It’s your feedback that helps make the PS3 better and better.
Also this week, Insomniac Games dropped by for an hour of live Q&A Thursday afternoon for some very initial chatting about Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time and the new weapons contest.
But alas, life doesn’t completely revolve around us, and there is a ton of other great PlayStation news and coverage around the Web for you to peep on this gorgeous Sunday (68 degrees in San Francisco is a hot summer day for us). LittleBigPlanet’s community is over two million strong, inFamous gets great preview coverage, and Square Enix says Final Fantasy XIII uses nearly all of the PS3’s bulging muscle. Those and other links are below. But this ain’t one-sided, so share your links and we’ll see you tomorrow.
The PS Blog weekly reading list (Week of March 30, 2009)
- PlayStation 3 Outsells Wii In Japan For Second Month In A Row – Kotaku
- Congratulations, PlayStation! – Adweek’s March Madness
- Sweet Noby Noby Kicks Give Me Nightmares – Kotaku
- Sony: MAG “only possible on PS3,” is an “iteration of SOCOM” – VG247
- Argument: More Games Need To Have ‘Resistance: Retribution’’s Control Scheme – MTV Multiplayer
- Killzone Creators Talk ‘4-D Bullet’ Ad, PS3 Development – GameDaily
- Review: Burn Zombie Burn! – 1UP
- Tales of Vesperia Set for PS3 – IGN
- Exclusive: Top 10 Most Popular PS1 Games In PlayStation Store – Gamasutra
- LittleBigPlanet Community Nearly 2 Million Strong – Kotaku
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (PlayStation 3) – CNET
- Study: Video games may improve vision – GameSpot
- Magic Ball Soars to the Top of the PSN’s Sales Charts – IGN
- Square Enix: “Final Fantasy XIII Uses Nearly 100 Percent of PS3 Power” – Kotaku
- Home is the “perfect storm” for publishers – gamesindustry.biz
- inFamous GDC 2009 Preview is “electrifying” – GamePro
- PS3 Preview – ‘inFamous’ – WorthPlaying.com
- Resistance: Retribution Review – PC World
i read somewhere there would be in-game internet browser and the gamercards would look like the “portable IDs” or look more themed with the PSN. And with the rumor of voice chat in game as well i was quite anticipating the update, but better than nothing i suppose. Now, if we could just get half the stuff on the UK Store that Japan have id be happy…..
I liked the new firmware! It’s very fun!
And thanks for the great links!
well I’m with you on this one Nick212004 this FW should have been 2.69 because it make not sense, to begin with text chat is just absurd, why you ask, well because you literally have to stop playing to message anyone if you are in the middle of an online match you wont have the luxury to pause the game and type for a minute (give or take) and to agree with jeigh ( to an extend) yeah it is crying but if you don’t cry you don’t get, ask my kids if that’s not true!
oh again WHERE IS JEFF i hope we here from you this week, some of us MISS YA
Chris, while I appreciate the sentiment that “It’s your [PS3 owner’s] feedback that helps make the PS3 better and better”, and I don’t doubt your sincerity, the fact is user feedback is largely ignored by Sony.
I’m sure you’ve seen Eric Lempel’s FW 2.70 blog post and the unprecedented +1,750 replies – most of them from frustrated users questioning the logic of TEXT chat that was neither requested by users nor implemented very well in 2.70. (Seriously, 30-something character limit and inane “censoring” ??)
With all due respect to Mr. Lempel, his continued mishandling of PS3 firmware updates and failure to provide a SINGLE response after +1,750 users comments proves that he is out of his depth as Director of PSN Operations.
That position requires someone with a keen understanding of the competitive landscape, a grasp of what user-requested features would best enhance the PS3 experience, and the ability to communicate with the user base. Unfortunately Mr. Lempel appears to possess none of those qualities.
“With all due respect to Mr. Lempel, his continued mishandling of PS3 firmware updates and failure to provide a SINGLE response after +1,750 users comments proves that he is out of his depth as Director of PSN Operations.”
Read his title again. Slowly. “Director of PSN Operations.” Does that say to you, “PlayStation Community Manager?” No, it doesn’t. You’re right, he doesn’t come on here and respond to comments. You know why? BECAUSE HE’S DOING HIS F’N JOB. You think you can do better? Go apply for his position and see where that gets you.
hello evo always love your comments!
Why is it that the “Jonnie suck ups” of the world are worth responding to, but the massive in your face to big to ignore outrage from 99.9 percent of us isn’t. We Have sent you thousands of posts saying stop spending time on EVERYTHING ELSE! From now until we get it ONLY work on getting us IN GAME AND CROSS GAME PRIVATE PARTY VOICE CHAT. Not through some sad chatroom system or with twenty dumb steps to use it. Just straight forward…voice chat invites then your connected no matter what until you choose to leave…. up to eight people!!!! I double dog dare you to respond to this….just like we have the last thousand times.
Unless you get us a real update asap, this will be know as the year 2.7 proved that Sony is a JOKE. Do you guys realize that adding the RIGHT features improves the quality of your product. Through word of mouth alone your sales would jump. As it is every on the fense buyer out there is being told by those who have a ps3 not to get one. You CAN fix this!!! Also no backward comp. doesn’t make sony fanboys buy ps2’s it makes them not buy ps3’s! I’m sure xbox loves you guys for that!!!
I really like the time display for downloads that can’t be done in the background, though I wish it also displayed time for all kinds of downloads not just those that can’t be done in the background.
Sony here is some sales advice for 2009.
1) IN GAME AND CROSS GAME PRIVATE PARTY VOICE CHAT its all we ever wanted!
2) B/C don’t give ps2 owners a reason not to buy a ps3!’
3) A bundle that makes sense!!!! 80gb 2 dual shock and a Sony headset why, so they can play with their friends at home or online …..duh!
4) A loyalty program where every sony puchase gets you so many points based off the value of your purchase. Let people use these points towards purchases of more sony stuff. Hmmm, that would mean you would sell more stuff!!!
58 points for buying games (kinda 500 point for each game) can be a huge boost on sales on the multiplat war titles.
to bad nobody gonna take that suggestion .
useful text but needs more work. needs cross game chat and party system.
i agree with #60…need voice chat too…but the texting was actually pretty good
“It’s your feedback that helps make the PS3 better and better.”
I used to believe that was true.
2.7 was a joke, as someone else said.
infamous looks amazing im definently getting that game
Great post Chris. Thanks!
Noby Noby boy freaks the funk out of me :(
Something negative on FW 2.70 and replies go ghost…man wonder if no one is authorized to address issues arising with it, and also the unsatisfied people…soon I imagine/I hope…
Pc,
Syt
yea u notice they only respond to pointless posts. not any of us who really want a response. good job sony. we ask real questions u go silent. smucks
Thanks very much for the best part of 2.70… the video store backup! Although I can’t yet use the video store seeing as how I live in Canada, I do appreciate you guys rectifying the worst part of the video store.
On a different note, any chance we can get the guys from Incognito to comment on the changes to the Warhawk servers that happened over this past weekend? I haven’t been able to find any “official” low down on what was done. There has been some great information from the community on the Playstation boards, however hearing from the folks at Incognito would be very helpful.
I’m sorry, Mr. Morell, that you had to be ‘the fall guy’ of sorts by being the first employee from Sony who has to say anything about the debacle that 2.70 became. But this really isn’t saying anything, I just get the feeling that it’s an effort to put enough blog posts between the front page and the 2.70 post to get it to ‘go away.’
The large majority of us aren’t unappreciative of the fact that you are providing these updates for free. I’m certain that it takes a lot of work to get things together for a system that’s released in multiple countries/continents… We’re just entirely upset that you say ‘we look forward to hearing your feedback’ and simply walk away when we start giving you feedback.
We’re upset that we were given text chat for a few reasons: First, because we never asked for it. Second, what we have said before was that we wanted VOICE chat. Third, many of us see no point to it (especially with high-pace games online). And we haven’t even heard Sony say ANYTHING good or bad, and now this smoke-and-mirrors act.
I’m not impressed.
@69
Those backups cant be played if your PS3 gets repaired (they dont give you yours back) nor does it help those of us with multiple PS3 machines. They need to tie it to our PSN.
If MAG is indeed going to be “iteration of SOCOM” then I guess we can all expect it to be a Third Person Shooter game. Please confirm or deny this for me please as it is a deciding factor for myself and a number of other people. Thank you.
SGM187
I’m waiting for
“Sack it to me: Valkyria Chronicles”
::geeks out at the thought of new grasses, and the Edelweiss object::
This is why ps3 is losing against xbox. I love ps3 but come on Sony, you’r newest update is in game text chat? Who wants in game text chat over cross game voice chat? We need this and a lot of new features because it looks like Sony is just ignoring people and implementing whatever they want on ps3. they ask for feedback but in the end they never give a sh#1 about our ideas. They should try to add features that the consumers want and maybe they will sale more.
Well, 1.70 wasn’t that bad althoug I have PSN friends that doesn’t like the Chat thing and thought it was pointless. I kind of agree because the message system is good enough since I’m able to use the in games as well.
2.70 was still pretty cool but when that update popped up I was really hoping for more avatars. I asure to myself that will so make PSN better for PSN players. SONY, when are we getting more avatars? :(
@ Chris Morell.
This was a nice week for all of us, thanks to the PlayStation Network Operation Team. Who brought PS3 Firmware Update (v2.70).
However, I thank you for taking tips for further PS3 firmware updates. :)
I am looking forward to hear messages making a sound, that you can be able to hear while you’re in-game. Also, I would like to have a Notepad in my PS3. So I can write in my PS3 instead of using my computer (useless). In the other hand- new PSN Avatars will be well received ;), examples: LBP, MGS4, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, SOCOM Confrontation, SingStar, inFAMOUS, GTA IV, Gran Turismo 5.
@Chris
Is there any way to get our friends list back to the way it was sorted before 2.70? I hate both the new sorting features.
I know it’s impossible to get it back, which makes asking useless.
But please, PLEASE get a 2.71 update or something up that fixes the sorting problem and the whole “PS2-USB adaptor locking up the system” issue if you can. >.>
They are definitely 2 major problems for me. I hate playing Amplitude with a PS3 controller. It just doesn’t feel right…
Why are knuckle heads harassing this guy about firmware updates? :|
Please Tell Me Tales of Vesperia is headed to the US… I don’t want another Tales of Symphonia.
I’m having MAJOR problems with speed and FW 2.70.
Game updates are taking a lot longer now, the 26Mb update for KZ2 took over an hour, LBP’s 36Mb (roughly)is quoting anywhere between 80-155 minutes and the 300Mb R2 patch is averaging around 9-12 hours.
I’ve never had speed issues before, the net is fine and even the PS Store gives appropriate speeds… it’s just the game updates since 2.70.
Is this a known issue that’s being worked on or something unrelated to FW 2.70 that’s temporary?
Jeff,
Can you have them remove the language filter from the text chat, please? You’re only able to chat with friends, so there’s no real danger of predatory conversations with strangers unless their already on your friends list, and the conversation isn’t publicly viewable like in Home. I can barely type a sentence without it bleeping a word, or portion of a word out- and the words aren’t offensive half the time: affe? baller?? SERIOUSLY???
Also, the text entry is way too short. I can type about 5 or 6 words before I have to continue on the next line. It’s rather frustrating…
Oh yeah, the network is lagging BIG TIME since the drop on Friday night…
What would I like to see in the next update? Glad you asked! It’s awesome that you guys ask for out input.
In-game voice chat and the ability to send voice messages for now. I already know cross game invites is implemented by the dev.
We really need improvement for the text chat. We should get a notification if someone leaves. You should also let us type more and not have censoring in it. It is a private text chat so censoring doesn’t make sense. It’s like censoring curse words in a text message, and they aren’t and can be sent to anyone unlike text chats.
Would love to see a makeover with the gamercards and to the XMB.
@ 78
He asked for our input on the next firmware update.
Feedback FTW!
Would love to see XMB 2.0 as an update!
Oh yeah, and the ability to see our custom XMBs while in-game would be awesome. Not sure why it goes back to the same old one when you bring it up in-game.
We should also have a different XMB while in-game. One that takes out the stuff that can’t be accessed while in-game. Or just make it so we know they can’t be accessed and what can be.
I really doubt slow downloads are from firmware 2.70. It just doesn’t add up. Probably too many people downloading it at once.
@86
It’s various game updates, it’s the first time it has been like this in a year and a half, it has been like this for a couple of days.
May not be the update itself, but something has been changed somewhere.
I liked the new firmware, text chat not so much. But it is better than nothing! Copy and paste rocks!
I do wish you guys are working on Cross game voice chat, if that is done, PS3 = Best online service by far! MAG needs this!!!
Chris-
Requested firmware update features:
Blu-ray file-ripping for PSP. I’m very anxious to see this feature finally come through. A little reassuring news on it would be nice, at the very least…
Ability to establish a “Primary” PS3 user w/ ability to lock personally chosen or tagged media from other “Secondary” users on the same system.
Make custom soundtrack support mandatory for new releases.
Invisible PSN sign-in option.
Custom sorting for friends- I want my “real” friends on top!
PSN “Portable IDs” for US users (everyone must think I‘m British).
Option to send messages to PSN accounts via email.
Audio and video message recording & A/V message attachments.
More features & content accessible with in-game XMB.
XMB display and sign-in while watching DVDs & Blu-rays and while playing PS1 & PS2 games.
Longer character string on PSN comments, PSN messaging, and text chat.
Disable the language filter during Text Chat. (affe? baller? nono? Come on…)
More avatars. We’ve been waiting far too long for these!
Ability to select our own avatar.
New music visualizes.
Video play lists.
Cross game VOICE chat.
MANY more PS One titles!
in game skype!
Why doesn’t use its Skype license to create a in-game skype app for cross-game chat/PC to PS3 chat? ALL P2P BASED SO NO REAL LOSS TO SONY?!!?!! this would make psn vastly superior to xbl in my opinion,so WHY NOT?
sorry 4 2x post but yeah KAGE got his idea from me,EPILEPTIC GAMING FTW
@ 86 & 87
The network dropped out for an hour or so on Friday afternoon. Since then, sign-in and game creation have been lagging hardcore (there’s another word I can’t say in text-chat, though “hard core” is acceptable) and I’m sure downloads are, too. Not sure why, but it’s probably something that’ll get fixed this week, I’m sure. Always good to give them the heads up on things like this, though I’d hope they’d notice it themselves if they’re playing Playstation as much as they should be… ;)
It’s clear that all feedback has been given in the 1700+ entries on a previous blog entry. The fact that Chris actually replied to some postings means they may actually read this one.
Not a good update is the general consensus. Personally there is nothing useful at all for me. I won’t use text chat in game especially given the short space available and the censoring. Most people want voice chat but, again, personally, I would like to see Skype finally make it’s appearance on the PS3. What is the “Official” word on this ? You hyped up the Eye Toy but have done NOTHING with it since. That was a total waste of money for me. Skype would give me a reason to dust it off at least.
Also internet radio. Both of these are available on the PSP so why not on the PS3 ?
It was over exaggeration with the Friends List Enhancement. While its ok to have text chat, I dont see how it will come to use during gaming.
Firmware 2.7 was great. though i wish the chat thing could be smaller and in the bottom left corner so you could use it while playing without having to pause the game
Sweet, cant wait for M.A.G.