PS3 Firmware 3.4 Detailed

[Gorvi]

Sony has put up a post on the PlayStation Blog (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/06/28/playstation-3-system-software-update-v3-40-available-soon-2/) explaining what we can expect to see from a firmware update we should be seeing coming to the PS3 very, very soon:
PlayStation Plus: PlayStation Network users will be able to purchase membership to PlayStation Plus; a new subscription service on the PlayStation Network that provides you with new options to expand and enhance your gaming experience and enable you to gain an exclusive set of features and content. Friendly reminder, all of you PlayStation Network users will continue to have free access to PlayStation Network’s unmatched and expanding suite of new and exclusive features while PlayStation Plus subscribers will gain access to an exclusive and expanding set of gaming features, content and functionality.
Photo Gallery: A new network based photo sharing feature is now available on the Photo Gallery. The enhancement allows you to upload, browse and comment on photos on Facebook and Picasa Web Album. You can also opt to share your photos between your PlayStation Network friends as well as print photos from Photo Gallery.
Video Editor & Uploader: Video Editor and Uploader is a new function found on the XrossMediaBar (XMB), which enables you to edit, save and upload video files stored on the PS3 system to sites such as Facebook or YouTube.
Five Star Rating Support: Users can rate the PlayStation Store content they have purchased with one to five star ratings.
Power Save Settings: The default setting for PS3 System Auto-Off will be set at 2 hours, providing you with additional power save options and further improving power save features on the PS3 system.
There will also be some additional Facebook integration, though on the PS3 this will be transparent. There will be an expanded PSN app on Facebook that will integrate more than just the trophy and purchase information that was added late last year.

The post also mentions a 6.3 PSP firmware update that will, among other unmentioned features, add PSN+ support.

No date was given for the update, but given that the PSN+ service launches tomorrow, well, it's a pretty safe bet that we'll see it some time between the time this post goes up and the PSN store update tomorrow.

[Abyssion]

I wonder if Sony ever thought about putting trophies into PSP games, seeing stuff about PSN+ support on the PSP made me think of that.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

Rating thing and video stuff seems neat.

[Gorvi]

I wonder if Sony ever thought about putting trophies into PSP games, seeing stuff about PSN+ support on the PSP made me think of that.
I think I remember them commenting on that last E3 and saying it wouldn't happen. Their reasoning was that the PSP has been such a hacked system that it would compromise the trophy system. Probably when we see a PSP2 we'll see them, but not on the current hardware.

[Abyssion]

I think I remember them commenting on that last E3 and saying it wouldn't happen. Their reasoning was that the PSP has been such a hacked system that it would compromise the trophy system. Probably when we see a PSP2 we'll see them, but not on the current hardware.

Ah, I see. That makes sense.

[Generation ABXY]

The PSN ratings sound like a nice addition; can't say I'll have much use for the rest of it, at the moment (though I'd like to hear more about the video editing).

[OldJadedGamer]

The PSN ratings sound like a nice addition; can't say I'll have much use for the rest of it, at the moment (though I'd like to hear more about the video editing).

The ratings have been on XBL for a while now and I never even pay attention to them. Not sure how helpful they are.

[Generation ABXY]

Well, I don't buy a lot of games, but I usually check the general consensus before I do. To each their own, I guess...

[Chris_D]

Does Plus include cloud support for saves?

[EternalGamer]

I know it is a moot point by this time but unless they find a way to get cross game chat working, they online service sucks. I wont start using my PS3 regularly until it is there and I sure as hell wont buy any multiplatform games on the PS3. I know this isnt as big a deal for everyone, but for me it is huge. Their free online is pointless to me without it. Hell, as far as im concerned their entire console is almost useless to me without it. It is the entire reason me and most of my friends who have PS3s just continue to play games almost exclusively on the 360.

[fitbabits]

I know it is a moot point by this time but unless they find a way to get cross game chat working, they online service sucks. I wont start using my PS3 regularly until it is there and I sure as hell wont buy any multiplatform games on the PS3. I know this isnt as big a deal for everyone, but for me it is huge. Their free online is pointless to me without it. Hell, as far as im concerned their entire console is almost useless to me without it. It is the entire reason me and most of my friends who have PS3s just continue to play games almost exclusively on the 360.
...when they're not either on their way to, on their way back from, or actually at Microsoft for some type of repair. :)

[Dukefrukem]

Rating thing and video stuff seems neat.

I'll rate stuff till my thumbs bleed.

[rein]

They are adding some nifty features for the free service instead of completely focusing on PSN Plus. I'm glad they are not leaving the free service behind.

[Cit Phil Cit]

I stream quite a bit of music to my PS3 from my PC, and I really enjoy the Earth background scene that plays, do they have any others? Besides that other default boring one?

[Mike Kelehan]

I know it is a moot point by this time but unless they find a way to get cross game chat working, they online service sucks. I wont start using my PS3 regularly until it is there and I sure as hell wont buy any multiplatform games on the PS3. I know this isnt as big a deal for everyone, but for me it is huge. Their free online is pointless to me without it. Hell, as far as im concerned their entire console is almost useless to me without it. It is the entire reason me and most of my friends who have PS3s just continue to play games almost exclusively on the 360.

This update adds cross game chat. $50/year.

[OldJadedGamer]

I know it is a moot point by this time but unless they find a way to get cross game chat working, they online service sucks. I wont start using my PS3 regularly until it is there and I sure as hell wont buy any multiplatform games on the PS3. I know this isnt as big a deal for everyone, but for me it is huge. Their free online is pointless to me without it. Hell, as far as im concerned their entire console is almost useless to me without it. It is the entire reason me and most of my friends who have PS3s just continue to play games almost exclusively on the 360.

Cross game chat is one thing but party chat is where the main attraction is. We roll 6-8 deep in party chat all the time. My PS3 friends don't play online and don't have mics. It's mostly a Blu-ray/single player experience. Adding cross game chat isn't going to change anything for my group of friends.

[EternalGamer]

This update adds cross game chat. $50/year.

No, unfortunately Playstation Plus doesn't include cross game chat. I'd gladly pay $50 a year for that feature alone (if it were party chat like OJG mentioned).

[EternalGamer]

Cross game chat is one thing but party chat is where the main attraction is. We roll 6-8 deep in party chat all the time. My PS3 friends don't play online and don't have mics. It's mostly a Blu-ray/single player experience. Adding cross game chat isn't going to change anything for my group of friends.

Yeah, but at least with single chat it would be functional enough for basic communication qnd sitting up games. Right nowwedont even have voice messages. PSN is some neaderthalic bullshit compared to Xbox Live.

[c0m3d14n]

I know it is a moot point by this time but unless they find a way to get cross game chat working, they online service sucks. I wont start using my PS3 regularly until it is there and I sure as hell wont buy any multiplatform games on the PS3. I know this isnt as big a deal for everyone, but for me it is huge. Their free online is pointless to me without it. Hell, as far as im concerned their entire console is almost useless to me without it. It is the entire reason me and most of my friends who have PS3s just continue to play games almost exclusively on the 360.

i am exaclty the opposite, i did not turn on or buy a game for the 360 in over a year, i dont care about chat but i do care about free multiplayer ;)

[boratika]

Now let's compare this with all the features that Nintendo packed into the Wii firmware uppdate last week.

Full list:

[Kelegacy]

We're all different types of gamers and have different needs. I play my Playstation 3 to enjoy the games, not socialize with other people. I do that with the 360 as well. Unless it's multiplayer, I don't care. I think it can ruin an experience if I'm "on the phone" while playing an absorbing title.

Ignoring great games because you can't talk to a friend that's playing a different game while you do so is a personal choice, not a fault of the Playstation 3.

This is not in defense for not having cross-game or party chat, as I think there should always be as many features as possible to keep people happy. But while playing a single player game like Demon's Souls or Uncharted, I really don't need to be chatting with anyone. I've played games for decades doing the same thing and it didn't impact my enjoyment of them. It's an experience lost for the person who needs these things, but thankfully I'm not quite so needy and hope I never am.

[LarsenNET]

I agree with Kel 100%. I have no interest in bullshitting while playing games about something that has nothing to do with the game I'm playing. I also hate talking on the phone for the most part so that may have something to do with it. I don't begrudge anyone that does and it is great to have options but I don't think it impacts as many people as we think.

[Dukefrukem]

Same boat with Kel and larson. I've never even heard of this cross-game chat thing until it was made an issue that the PS3 doesn't have it. Why would I want to talk to someone playing a completely different game than me?

[Dukefrukem]

Now let's compare this with all the features that Nintendo packed into the Wii firmware uppdate last week.

Full list:

I loled. :D

[Yeti2005]

Same boat with Kel and larson. I've never even heard of this cross-game chat thing until it was made an issue that the PS3 doesn't have it. Why would I want to talk to someone playing a completely different game than me?

I typically use cross chat and invites to organize a game with my friends online. I've also use cross game chat quite frequently to talk with a friend playing a game I'd like to play to get their thoughts on it. Once you get used to being able to communicate with your friends and family online, you'll never go back. That said, I think PSN will eventually have cross game chat and hopefully party chat as well. The party system is hands down the best thing that's come of this generation in online console gaming.

[Dukefrukem]

That's what forums are for. I don't need up-to-date opinions of my "gamer friends". And I also think the PS3 will get the feature because the 360 has it, even though i think it will be used by <1% of PS3 nation.

[Gorvi]

I'm in the boat of not really caring about cross game chat. I game with headphones, the last thing I want to be doing while playing a game is bullshitting with someone. I play games to play games, not to socialize, if I want to talk to someone I can always call them on the phone and put on my bluetooth.

[Gorvi]

Oh, and here's a bit of interesting news: in the PSP firmware update they finally give you the option of sorting your folders between PSP games, minis, PS1 games, and....... PC Engine and NEO GEO games. That may be a hint that we could finally be seeing those brought over to the US, as they've been out in Japan for awhile, but I wouldn't say it's definite. There have been some features thrown into the PSP XMB that have only been available in some countries before, and they may just be there in case someone has downloaded them and moved them over so as to not bug out the PSP when it tries to sort them. Who knows, but it'd be nice to see those released over here.

[Dukefrukem]

and this update is live already...

[Mike Kelehan]

No, unfortunately Playstation Plus doesn't include cross game chat. I'd gladly pay $50 a year for that feature alone (if it were party chat like OJG mentioned).

Interesting. At E3, they said it would, and chat rooms would require at least one PS+ member.

[Adam Blue]

Man, the PSP sure is getting better. I was pricing PSN games compared to prices elsewhere, and they aren't that bad. If you buy a used Mod Nation Racers for your Slim, you have to pay $20 for an online play license. I've never seen that discussed here.

As for cross game chat...I too play games to play games. But I also jump into other games for fun, or while getting into a game of Splinter Cell I would chat with my brother while he's playing up MW2. Or while watching a movie, or just sitting around the house. This way my cell is free and not in constant use, and it's very easy to decide to jump in another game real quick.

As for 'that's what forums are for', I think it's pretty ironic because I believe most 'gamers' here spend more times in forums than playing games. It's pretty silly when trying to voice your opinion on an aspect of gaming. That's why it's hard to take half of you seriously, or I have to do a double take when a lot of you claim you've never played 'this', or 'that'. And it makes it easy for you to boycott...

[nabokovfan87]

Same boat with Kel and larson. I've never even heard of this cross-game chat thing until it was made an issue that the PS3 doesn't have it. Why would I want to talk to someone playing a completely different game than me?

The same reason PC gamers use ventrilo, teamspeak, xfire chat, skype, aim, trillian, and so forth. Because it makes communicating and having a conversation a hell of a lot easier then typing crap on a controller and still being able to actually PLAY games instead of sit in the xmb the entire time.

[Adam Blue]

The same reason PC gamers use ventrilo, teamspeak, xfire chat, skype, aim, trillian, and so forth. Because it makes communicating and having a conversation a hell of a lot easier then typing crap on a controller and still being able to actually PLAY games instead of sit in the xmb the entire time.

Very good point that I forgot. As a PC gamer, these services are always put in use.

[rein]

To all of the Live Gold subscribers who get annoyed when I post how much I hate MS is holding my online gaming hostage, I apolgize. I realize what you must go through because I get just as annoyed that every PSN related topic turns into a "no cross game chat" thread. Consider us even. :p


I'm holding off on the update to see if it breaks anything first. You guys run out and test it for me. ok?

[Gorvi]

Man, the PSP sure is getting better. I was pricing PSN games compared to prices elsewhere, and they aren't that bad. If you buy a used Mod Nation Racers for your Slim, you have to pay $20 for an online play license. I've never seen that discussed here.
They started that back with SOCOM FTB 3 I want to say, if you want to play it online and don't buy it new you have to pay for the online entitlement. It's one part trying to make money on used games if they want to use the online servers one party trying to get some money out of pirates if they want to play online.
I'm holding off on the update to see if it breaks anything first. You guys run out and test it for me. ok?
I updated this morning before work and didn't have any problems. Apparently it also fixes that issue on the old PS3s with that whole Leap Year thing.

[Nura]

I'm running it atm with no problems so far. Although that one year sub to PSNPlus is tempting.

[KSmitty]

I'm holding off on the update to see if it breaks anything first. You guys run out and test it for me. ok?

I updated last night then played a couple PSN games for bit, no problems.

[rein]

Thanks guys. Going to start the update now and test it with my launch 60GB.

[Gorvi]

Thanks guys. Going to start the update now and test it with my launch 60GB.
http://www.lindasog.com/pics08/02/explosion.gif



:p

[Adam Blue]

They started that back with SOCOM FTB 3 I want to say, if you want to play it online and don't buy it new you have to pay for the online entitlement. It's one part trying to make money on used games if they want to use the online servers one party trying to get some money out of pirates if they want to play online.

I meant for Mod Nation Racers specifically. IMO it's a mediocre game, with gameplay trumped previously by Sonic racing. Maybe that's why it was easily dismissed.

EDIT: I'm actually curious about the discounts. If they affect PSP games this could be exciting.

[rein]

http://www.lindasog.com/pics08/02/explosion.gif



:p
That's evil! :D

[Gorvi]

I meant for Mod Nation Racers specifically. IMO it's a mediocre game, with gameplay trumped previously by Sonic racing. Maybe that's why it was easily dismissed.

EDIT: I'm actually curious about the discounts. If they affect PSP games this could be exciting.
I wouldn't be surprised to see that for all first party PSP games going forward. I'd agree that the PSP game is pretty mediocre, but from what I've played of the PS3 game it's easily better than Sonic, it's quite fun only really being held back by the asinine load times.

So far as the discounts I think they'll include minis, but I don't think they've said anything about the actual full PSP titles. That'd be really nice, though.

[Abyssion]

It's kinda neat that they now sell full ps3 games on the playstation store, only one I see so far is Infamous. I think I'll try out the Playstation + thing. $50 for 15 months isn't a bad deal. I'm wondering if things that are discounted/free (new fat princess DLC and warhawk dlc) will be affected when the subscription runs out. I know the exclusives disappear once the sub runs out, but that's about all I know.

[Dukefrukem]

You get a free copy of LBP when you subscribe. BTw, does this mean the PS+ starts today?

[Gorvi]

It's kinda neat that they now sell full ps3 games on the playstation store, only one I see so far is Infamous. I think I'll try out the Playstation + thing. $50 for 15 months isn't a bad deal. I'm wondering if things that are discounted/free (new fat princess DLC and warhawk dlc) will be affected when the subscription runs out. I know the exclusives disappear once the sub runs out, but that's about all I know.
DLC you keep forever, the only thing that runs out when your sub does (and comes back when you resub) is the free games you get through the sub.
You get a free copy of LBP when you subscribe. BTw, does this mean the PS+ starts today?
Only in Europe you get LBP for free. And yes, you can actually get it right now.

[Abyssion]

Yeah, it's available now on the store.

Little edit: Thanks for letting me know Gorvi, I appreciate it.

[rein]

It's kinda neat that they now sell full ps3 games on the playstation store, only one I see so far is Infamous. I think I'll try out the Playstation + thing. $50 for 15 months isn't a bad deal. I'm wondering if things that are discounted/free (new fat princess DLC and warhawk dlc) will be affected when the subscription runs out. I know the exclusives disappear once the sub runs out, but that's about all I know.I read on the UK blog that DLC is yours to keep. I will have to re-read the US blog.

You get a free copy of LBP when you subscribe. BTw, does this mean the PS+ starts today?
Are you sure US gets it? I'm pretty sure they did not list it on the US blog. If they changed it to include US I'm definitely signing up. I don't have LBP.

[Abyssion]

Yeah under the description it says free games and add-ons are yours to play and keep the entire time you are a PS+ member unless otherwise noted.

[OldJadedGamer]

Same boat with Kel and larson. I've never even heard of this cross-game chat thing until it was made an issue that the PS3 doesn't have it. Why would I want to talk to someone playing a completely different game than me?

Since I've been using the feature since November of 2005 I've been surprised just how often I've used it. Here are some examples:

I was playing Just Cause 2 the other day and my buddy (I know in real life) pings me for a private chat. I accept and see what's up. While I'm still blowing stuff up in Just Cause 2 he tells me that out of all the people on his friends list I'm the only one that has the achievement in Red Dead Redemption where you have to win a game of liar's dice without losing a dice and he's been trying forever and can't get it so he needs advice. I tell him the best thing I could to get it, he thanks me and signs off the chat... I continue to blow stuff up.

Another example of the party cross game chat is that we are rolling 4 deep and playing Left 4 Dead when it first came out. Well, not everyone was aware of how great the game was yet so a friend of ours joins the chat while we are playing and asks us what we think of the game. So we rant and rave about it while we are playing. He says his wife won't let him get any new games but we are so pumped on it he wants it now. So he puts his wife on the mic and we all start telling her how much fun he's missing out on and how we want him to play with us so she gives in, dude runs to Best Buy and in about 30 minutes is shooting zombies with us.

The feature wouldn't be any good if I didn't have people I played with online a lot or people I know in real life. So if you game with randoms while playing online I can't see the feature being a real need but if you're a social gamer and have other folks on your list you talk to a lot it really comes in handy.

[rein]

Since I've been using the feature since November of 2005 I've been surprised just how often I've used it. Here are some examples:

I was playing Just Cause 2 the other day and my buddy (I know in real life) pings me for a private chat. I accept and see what's up. While I'm still blowing stuff up in Just Cause 2 he tells me that out of all the people on his friends list I'm the only one that has the achievement in Red Dead Redemption where you have to win a game of liar's dice without losing a dice and he's been trying forever and can't get it so he needs advice. I tell him the best thing I could to get it, he thanks me and signs off the chat... I continue to blow stuff up.

Another example of the party cross game chat is that we are rolling 4 deep and playing Left 4 Dead when it first came out. Well, not everyone was aware of how great the game was yet so a friend of ours joins the chat while we are playing and asks us what we think of the game. So we rant and rave about it while we are playing. He says his wife won't let him get any new games but we are so pumped on it he wants it now. So he puts his wife on the mic and we all start telling her how much fun he's missing out on and how we want him to play with us so she gives in, dude runs to Best Buy and in about 30 minutes is shooting zombies with us.

The feature wouldn't be any good if I didn't have people I played with online a lot or people I know in real life. So if you game with randoms while playing online I can't see the feature being a real need but if you're a social gamer and have other folks on your list you talk to a lot it really comes in handy.
That would kind of bug me. I don't like being interrupted while I am playing a game. Send me a message and let me respond when I'm not already tied up with other people playing a game. It seems like it could get distracting. I would feel I was being very rude intruding on other people playing a game because I want a review. Especially if they are playing grouped with other people.

[Dukefrukem]

Since I've been using the feature since November of 2005 I've been surprised just how often I've used it. Here are some examples:

I was playing Just Cause 2 the other day and my buddy (I know in real life) pings me for a private chat. I accept and see what's up. While I'm still blowing stuff up in Just Cause 2 he tells me that out of all the people on his friends list I'm the only one that has the achievement in Red Dead Redemption where you have to win a game of liar's dice without losing a dice and he's been trying forever and can't get it so he needs advice. I tell him the best thing I could to get it, he thanks me and signs off the chat... I continue to blow stuff up.

Another example of the party cross game chat is that we are rolling 4 deep and playing Left 4 Dead when it first came out. Well, not everyone was aware of how great the game was yet so a friend of ours joins the chat while we are playing and asks us what we think of the game. So we rant and rave about it while we are playing. He says his wife won't let him get any new games but we are so pumped on it he wants it now. So he puts his wife on the mic and we all start telling her how much fun he's missing out on and how we want him to play with us so she gives in, dude runs to Best Buy and in about 30 minutes is shooting zombies with us.

The feature wouldn't be any good if I didn't have people I played with online a lot or people I know in real life. So if you game with randoms while playing online I can't see the feature being a real need but if you're a social gamer and have other folks on your list you talk to a lot it really comes in handy.

That's great and all, but that's HARDLY a make or break feature... If anything it's convenient...

[Phades]

For me the biggest deal is parties. I don't really care about cross-game chat other than that it's a part of that party system. I've been playing BFBC2 with a group and then my game crashed and I was dumped out. The party was still live though, so I just said "crap, I crashed, I'll be right back" rather than them wonder what happened to me. It's also nice not to have to learn how chat works in a particular game. For parties, it's always the same, game to game.

That said, I got a party invite while playing Alan Wake and it kind of ruined the experience for me. I had to stop playing the game because I didn't want to tell my friends "I don't want to talk to you now." Instead, I joined them and played some more BFBC2.

[Gorvi]

Cross game and party chat is going to hold a different value for everyone. If it's important to you then it is and if it's not, then, hey, it's not.

[fitbabits]

For me the biggest deal is parties.
I'm quoting this because I thought you had written "for me the biggest deal is panties." :eek:

Do please continue.

[Gorvi]

I'm quoting this because I thought you had written "for me the biggest deal is panties." :eek:

Do please continue.
In that case their absence is a plus. ;)

[rein]

I think panty chat is an absolute must have for any console online experience. Why have we not seen this yet? :)


I can see where party chat is valuable. Especially when you want to communicate with your friends without having to deal with racial slurs and other junk.

[Yeti2005]

That's great and all, but that's HARDLY a make or break feature... If anything it's convenient...

Party Chat means never dealing with aholes or racists in multiplayer games EVER (unless your friends fall into that category). That is a huge feature if you like multiplayer games.

[OldJadedGamer]

I can see where party chat is valuable. Especially when you want to communicate with your friends without having to deal with racial slurs and other junk.

I have to say that once we got party chat a year and a half ago my group of friends and I use nothing else. We used to have our settings to friends only chat so that we could talk freely and automute everyone else but the party chat changed that so now we are constantly in a party together. A lot of us stopped playing MW2 because MS allowed IW to break a system feature.

[Hemalin]

Party Chat means never dealing with aholes or racists in multiplayer games EVER (unless your friends fall into that category). That is a huge feature if you like multiplayer games.
You just need to find a good dedicated serv... oh, nevermind.

[nabokovfan87]

That's great and all, but that's HARDLY a make or break feature... If anything it's convenient...

Let me put this into a real world scenario for you. Take cell phones out of the picture. The only time you can call someone is when you are at your house (xmb). In this scenario that would also have to be the only place to check text messages (home pc). I know it isn't that way, but just go along with it. You go out into the world to go about you day (turn on the game) and you now cannot do anything other then text based stuff, which is fine because you have... oh wait, no more cell phone. So every time you want to talk to someone you have to go and find a pc (or find a safe spot/pause game) and then go to your inbox and then check your messages.

I bet you none of us want to go back to a time pre-cell phone now that we all have them. You say convenience because you don't care about it, for those who it would help, it is a major issue for them.

For me the biggest deal is parties. I don't really care about cross-game chat other than that it's a part of that party system.

"Party Chat" is microsofts branding of what psn people call cross game chat. By making a chat, to them a party, you get the ability to chat no matter what game you are in. That goes for the same games, and different games, and you decide who is in and who isn't. Just like ventrilo, teamspeak, skype, yahoo, msn, trillian, aim, so on and so on.

[OldJadedGamer]

You just need to find a good dedicated serv... oh, nevermind.

I love playing with randoms... I just don't want to hear them. Problem with dedicated servers are asshole admins who kick you off for being better than them.

[x Returner x]

I love playing with randoms... I just don't want to hear them. Problem with dedicated servers are asshole admins who kick you off for being better than them.

I got banned from a CS server for knifing an admin 3 matches in a row.

[LarsenNET]

For anyone wondering how the "free" PSOne games work with the PSP, they put an expiration date on the game that expires at the end of your subscription. I assume if you are still a subscriber you have to recopy but I don't know for sure. Also Rally Cross does not work with CFW 5.50 GEN-D3. Although the free "minis" Age of Zombies does work (it also has the same expiration).

[rein]

For anyone wondering how the "free" PSOne games work with the PSP, they put an expiration date on the game that expires at the end of your subscription. I assume if you are still a subscriber you have to recopy but I don't know for sure. Also Rally Cross does not work with CFW 5.50 GEN-D3. Although the free "minis" Age of Zombies does work (it also has the same expiration).You can play minis on CFW? I did not know that. There have been a few I wanted to buy and didn't because I didn't want to mess with it.

[LarsenNET]

Apparently, this is the first one I tried. You can also play them on the PS3.

[Satertek]

Went for the Plus, seems like it'll be a pretty good deal over time, especially if they offer a PSX and PSP Mini game every month that I can play on my PSP.

And I already saved a dollar as I would have bought the Fat Princess DLC anywho. :)

[Abednigo]

Went for the Plus, seems like it'll be a pretty good deal over time, especially if they offer a PSX and PSP Mini game every month that I can play on my PSP.

And I already saved a dollar as I would have bought the Fat Princess DLC anywho. :)

Looks like it's just you and me then. :)

I didn't have Wipeout HD yet. After playing it for about a half hour, I'm very happy I signed up. Sure if I don't renew in Sept. 2011 I lose access to it, but will I still be playing it then anyway? It saves me the $20 of buying it only to have it sit on my hard drive (or deleted) unplayed when I totally move on (although I see it like F-Zero, where I'll enjoy playing it from time to time). I guess it's like a rental service and you can keep the games as long as you have an account. If I've already technically saved $25 in the 1st month (I'll probably check out Rally Cross too) I can already see that it'll pay for itself probably by month 2 or 3. Sure the games over the next 14 months could be total crap, but I'd be very surprised. And while none of the discounted games are things I need or want, I'm sure there will be something and the discounts will add up.

But $50 a year is a bargain to have full access to a ton of games (over time), and 1 hour trials of full games. But I will be interested to see if they do any newer PSN games and PS3 demos and betas. I'd love to be able to get in on a FFXIV beta.

[OldJadedGamer]

I updated firmware and no one has a plus symbol in my list.

[Satertek]

Yea I was a bit bummed that Wipeout was the first offering since I've already got it. Wish they had in their system a replacement game for ones you already own.

[EternalGamer]

We're all different types of gamers and have different needs. I play my Playstation 3 to enjoy the games, not socialize with other people. I do that with the 360 as well. Unless it's multiplayer, I don't care. I think it can ruin an experience if I'm "on the phone" while playing an absorbing title.

Ignoring great games because you can't talk to a friend that's playing a different game while you do so is a personal choice, not a fault of the Playstation 3.

This is not in defense for not having cross-game or party chat, as I think there should always be as many features as possible to keep people happy. But while playing a single player game like Demon's Souls or Uncharted, I really don't need to be chatting with anyone. I've played games for decades doing the same thing and it didn't impact my enjoyment of them. It's an experience lost for the person who needs these things, but thankfully I'm not quite so needy and hope I never am.

It depends partially on the type of game. I dont want my Heavy Rain experience ruined with someone yammering in my ear. But let us be frank: there is a lot of repetitive busy work and filler even in many good games. It is nice to be able to multitask and catch up with friends while you run that same cookie cutter fetch quest for the fifth time. Alot of time I start a party chat with friends because we intend to play something together, but in the meantime, we just leave a chat open until we get ready or get to a good stopping point. We arent always constantly talking. It us more akin to just having someone in the room with you while you play.

Beside that, it makes getting multiplayer games going a seamless experience. I remember trying to play White Knight Chronicles with two friends on the PS3 and we had keep calling each other on the phone with discussions if how to navigate the convoluted lobby system, exchanging passwords, etc. When we play multiplayer on the PS3, we usually just give up and turn on our 360s just to use the party chat while we play on the PS3. It is pretty riduculious that that is the easiest and most effective option.


There are games that are a lot better when given your undivided attention as solo experiences to immerse yourself in, but these are very few and far between. Most games are still so unoriginal, monotonous, and so lacking in sublty that they are better when they dont have to bear the burden of my undivided attention.

[Dukefrukem]

anyone hear of any reports of PS3s not reading discs after the firmware update?

[Satertek]

I dunno about you guys but cross game chat works on my PS3 when I use my CELL PHONE.

Though admittedly I'm not comfortable having 1 on 1 voice conversations with people I don't know in "real life", always feels a bit awkward to me.

[fitbabits]

anyone hear of any reports of PS3s not reading discs after the firmware update?

Mine has been fine, although it did stutter a little while playing The Saboteur.