Firmware 2.40 brings the PS3 closer to a fully-fledged system, but there are still problems with the system software and features that are missing. In this article, we detail some of the problems faced by the existing system software and what additional features can make it better. While not everyone will agree with the problems and improvements features in this article, it just goes to show how many flaws the system has and how far off it is from perfect.
Don’t get me wrong here. I love my PS3 but there is always the need for criticism.
Current Problems (and possible solutions):
- The friends list takes long to load – if you have over 50 friends, your friends list can take a while to load, in addition, it takes some time for their online status to refresh. One way to solve this problem is to cache the list and reload it as needed. Currently, it seems that the list is loaded fresh every time the console is started.
- Lack of supported video and audio formats – only a limited number of video and music files are supported by the PS3. While the recently introduced DivX compatibility makes it easier for some people, there are still many formats that are missing. Currently, the PS3 cannot be classified as a “media center” without better compatibility.
- In-game XMB is slow – while the in-game XMB is a nice feature to have, it can be slow and clunky. With a whole SPU dedicated to the XMB, it’s the memory that is causing the problem, which is only 256MB for the entire system (thought there is also another 256MB in the GPU). One way to speed up the in-game XMB is to only show the features that can be accessed in-game, and hide the rest.
- In-game music playback – Firmware 2.40 introduces in-game music playback, but is only compatible with titles that support the feature. It’s up to the developers to make the feature available. Sony should allow the feature by default, and simply allow players to mute in the game’s music by changing the game settings. This will allow gamers to play their own music while also leaving the sound effects in place.
- Downloading while on power-save mode – you can only download content while the system is switched on. It would be great if there is a power-save mode (a mode between stand-by and full power) that allows you to download things while saving power.
- Screensavers – if you leave your PS3 idle, the screen simply dims down or runs folding@home if it’s configured to do so. It would be great if there were some actual screensavers or even an auto-off feature, something similar to that of the PSP.
- Better flash player – the PS3 web browser is decent, but the flash player cannot support all flash content. It would be great if the flash player was in the same league as a PC or Mac.
- Limited friends list – Firmware 2.40 upped the friends list limit from 50 to 100, but this is still very restrictive. My friend list is closely reaching this new limit and it could be months before they decide to increase it again. Why not just allow an infinite number of friends?
- Online version of Player Profile – Player’s profile has changed in Firmware 2.40, showing something similar to a “gamers card”. Why not introduce an online version of this or at least offer an API for developers to create their own? People want to share their achievements and “now playing” statuses, so why not let them.
- Better Remote Play – the PSP/PS3 cross-compatibility features are great, but there is still room for improvement. Why not let users edit their account (via Account Manager) from their PSP. Mirror the screen on both the PSP and PS3 rather than showing the “Remote Play in Progress” screen on the PS3.
- Better messaging – the messaging system is good for sending messages to offline friends, but when you want to chat to someone online, IM would be so much easier if you don’t have a mic. Adding IM to the chat room would allow gamers with no mic to still join in.
- Allowing users to change PSN Name – currently, you cannot change your PSN name. Sony should allow users to change their name if they no longer like they current name, but limit it to once every six months to stop abuse.
- Message list – prior to Firmware 2.40, clicking on a friends name would show you the message list between the two of you. It now displays the player’s profile. It should be the way it was. Now you have to press TRIANGLE and then select [Message List] to see your messages.
New features to improve the PS3:
- Cross game chat/in-game chat – for games that don’t support chat, the XMB should provide an alternative, allowing gamers to communicate. Cross-game chat would allow gamers to keep in touch with friends playing different games.
- Email to PSN (and vice versa) – allow users to send a message to your PSN account using a email address and vice versa could help keeping it touch with friends who don’t own a PS3. A personalized email address like [psn_id]@psn.playstation.com would be great.
- Message Notification – get an email sent to your registered email address when you receive a new PSN message.
- Better online Profiles – allow gamers to add more information to their profile page rather than just “About Me”. This would avoid duplicate questions like “how old are you?” and “where are you from?”, as it can all be on the profile page.
- RSS Reader – like the PSP, a RSS reader feature would allow gamers to subscribe to podcasts and photo feeds. Hell, why not also let gamers subscribe to their favorite news websites too.
- Skype – again like the PSP, a Skype client would be great. Not only can you have voice conversations with friends, if you have the PlayStation Eye or Eye Toy, you can also have a video call with friends and from around the world.
- Upscale PS3 titles – if you are playing a 720p game on a TV that supports 1080p, why not upscale games like you can upscale DVDs? Of course, this might make developers lazy.
- Friend Finder – you may not always know your friend’s PSN ID, so why not allow gamers to search for their friends using their email address. Even better is allowing gamers’ to import their address books from Hotmail, GMail and Yahoo and auto-search for people they may know.
- Login to multiple PSN accounts – you can currently only login to one PSN account at a time. Why not let gamers login to two or more accounts when playing multiplayer games. That way, both users can get points for playing games like Warhawk on split-screen.
- Password Protection – anyone can login to your Local User account when they turn on your PS3. Adding password protection would make it much more secure. For example, it would stop jealous friends from deleting your gamesaves.
- Admin User(s) – if you have younger siblings using your console, they can sometimes change settings or delete things without your knowledge. Having an “admin” account can prevent “non-admin” users from tampering with settings and deleting files. This is especially important with the System Update feature.
- “Appear Offline” – signing into the PSN means everyone can see you online. But this is necessary to access the PlayStation Store and playing games. There should be a “appear offline” feature allowing you to appear offline to friends, but giving access to all the PSN features.
- Keyboard Shortcuts – The XMB supports a keyboard, but there are no shortcut keys. Pressing “S” on the friends list should scroll down to the first name beginning with “S”. Pressing “Del” on a video/photo etc. should give you the option to delete it.
- Screenshots and Videos – gamers should be able to take in-game or even XMB screenshots and videos with the press of some key-combination. While video recording might affect system resources, image capture should be a lot easier to implement. This would allow gamers to show off their skills or easter-egg finds more easily. (Don’t you just hate shaky-cam videos and blurry screenshots.)
- Auto-download – if you subscribe to Qore, whenever a new episode is out it should automatically be added to your download list (in addition to appearing on your PlayStation Store download list). Similarly, you should be able to set “download all new demos” and let the PS3 download all new demos automatically.
- Better multi-taking – currently, you cannot do anything else while installing a game. You should at least be allowed to view photos or surf the net while you wait, or do something else that doesn’t use of system resources.
- Better “now playing” status – the PS3 only displays the names of games you are currently playing. Why not expand this to display “Playing Video” when watching a video or display the name of the Blu-Ray title you are watching (and display the appropriate icon). It may stop friends from pestering you.
- Message Attachments – you can only attach photos to PSN message. Why not let gamers attach bookmarks and gamesaves too?
- Force developers to use the PSN ID system – Metal Gear Solid 4 is the one game that doesn’t use the PSN ID system. Sony should force developers to use this system as it makes locating friends easier. The MGS4 Game ID just complicates things. Any add-ons should also be forced to appear on the PlayStation Store. Konami just screwed things up with the Konami ID and Game ID systems.
- Better Back-up/Restore system – backing up your console means all your content is backed up. Allowing user to customize their backup would make it easier for gamers. For example, gamers can select “Games” and “Savedata” to back on those two, and ignoring everything else. This should also work when restoring a system, allowing users to only restore a subset if items.
Let’s leave it there shall we? We could probably go on forever but whether any of the above feature see the light of day is Sony’s decision. It’s taken almost two years to get the PS3 this far and implementing even a few of the above features could take Sony another year.
If you have any comments or suggestions, make yourself heard below.
There are more important features that we need..such as ingame playstation store, a playstation Movie Store, and much more. you can find a list here [link removed: off topic]
Very nice article. I would love for Sony to improve this stuff. They will overtime, imo.
I’m usually skeptical about articles like this one, but all of the points are well thought out and I agree. Nice work.
These are some good points.
I think they should improve Ipod conectivity. e.g. when in a game and you connect your ipod you can scroll through and select songs from your ipod without having to go on xmb and navigate your entire music list .
You should also be able to automatically update new songs from your ipod onto your ps3 and they should be the real names not the codes which I often find
add ability to mute players to the list. i really dont like listen to other ppl crappy music while gaming. or them arguing with ther folks at home. yes you can mute them during the game but after the game they come back louder than ever i mean mute them for life
Now, if you want to use a new ccard in the PSN store, you need to create a whole new user account! What insanity is that?
I think they should have also added an auto turn off feature for the controller like the xbox has. I hate it when I go download something and leave the room for a while and forget to turn off my controller come back to play whatever I downloaded and find the controller dead.
Relax. Some of these features will be implemented eventually. Some are just asking for TOO much though.
I totally agree with this article. If all this was included in an update, the PlayStation experience would be *much* better.
Concerning the screen capture in-game, if it could be done as in MGS4 or MGO, with a 2nd controller, or may be an option on the XMB that would allow to take a capture or even a video, it would be great.
Feature #2 : Can’t be done, some IDs include @ or #,
Feature #3 : If it could be activated or deactivated, okay.
2.4 screwed up my PS3. The day after I installed it my games started freezing a lot and next thing I know i get the error during start operation 80010514 i think that’s the code but it has something to do with bad firmware/corrupt hard drive
THEY CANT ADD F*KING IN-GAME MUSIC!
I sai this all around the internet untill poeple will finaly STFU about it!
Microsoft has a patten for a console that uses in-game soundtracks its impossible for sony to make the firmware support it without being seud, thats why the GAME must support the custom soundtrack understand?
now go play some games instead of winning.
To be honest, it sounds like you need to play video games more and stuff f’ing around in the menus. Not everything has to be perfect, and the PSN (or any network for that matter) will ever be. Just play the games, and don’t be so critical. It’s stupid that people feel that they have to be critical to be ‘cool’. Just enjoy the PS3.
no offense but most of them where crap
Proof! as 256+256=512 mate!
http://playstation.about.com/od/ps3/a/PS3SpecsDetails_3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3
http://reviews.cnet.com/consoles/sony-playstation-3-60gb/4507-10109_7-31355103.html
Do i need to add more?
multi psn sign in for resistance 2!!! That would just kill halo im sure since the main thing it has over other fpss is the 4 player splitscreen online which allows you to use guest accounts or xbl accounts. Wouldve been great for CoD4 and UT3(although ps3 version has no splitscreen at all).
The PS3 has 512mb ram, not 256mb. If you do your job and look it up before posting you would have known this.
How have you kept your job?
The friends list takes long – No it doesn’t
Lack of supported video and audio formats – Install Linux and mplayer/VLC
In-game XMB is slow – No it’s not
In-game music – 2.40 has that
Downloading while on standbye – Agreed
Screensavers – That’s what folding@home/music visualizations are, stupid
Better flash player – Tell it to Adobe, they haven’t made a higher version for non x86 platforms
Limited friends list – 100 is not restrictive
Online version of Profile – Sony said it’s coming
let users edit their account from their PSP – Why? No thanks.
Mirror the screen on both the PSP and PS3 – Cause the signal output to TV would be 480p instead of HD, otherwise you’d sacrifice framerate
Better messaging – We have IM already, create message instead of chat room
Allowing users to change PSN Name – No thanls, that’s my most hated feature of MSN
Message list – You’re too lazy
The PS3 can’t have ingame music automatically because Microsoft has a patenton it, so blame Microsoft for that one not Sony.
You can’t RAM on the GPU as System RAM! So 256MB is correct!
@wwelee: tell me, can you do a better job?
@Sircoynie: 256MB is dedicated RAM, 256 is for GPU. So, the system doesn’t have 512MB if dedicated RAM. If you are playing a graphic intensive game, you can probably only use half of the 512MB. In addition, Linux only detects 256MB.
@Tahiri: please tell us how many friends you have? In-game music is included in 2.40, but only compatible games – in case you can’t read, we did mention it in the article. Please do tell us where the IM feature is! There is only PM you idiot. Who cares if mirroring the PS3 on PSP is only at 480p. You probably can’t even afford a PSP.
@Sircoynie, did you even read the Wikipedia article you posted? It says, and i quote:
“The PlayStation 3 has 256 MB of XDR main memory and 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory for the RSX.”
Sir Coynie, you sir are an idiot. The PS3 has 256 megs of system RAM (for the xmb and the game). It has an additional 256 meg of RAM dedicated (keyword is dedicated) to the graphics processor. The writer of the article was indeed correct in his statement. You should take your own advice and research before you comment. The 360 has 512 meg of RAM that is shared between the Dashboard (i.e. xmb), the game and the graphics chip. It is allocated as needed which gives it more flexibility.
wikipedia is full of shit
tahiri is an idiot and all the justifications you tried making are a load of shit. ‘install linux’ its not as easy as it sounds and definately not convenient. I installed it once and after 10 minutes decided I didnt like it so uninstalled it. I could go on about all your points but I cant be assed
actually the ps3s (RSX GPU) is able to access the 256mb of XDR ram on the cell processor so saying it doesnt have 512mb is a mistake (^.^)
Besides the music thing, the one thing i think that should really be fixed is the MGS4 problem, they should force them to convert of somthing because that was just stupid.
wow the people that came up with all the new features are good…konami id and game id for mgs4 is really stupid.
This article is entirely correct Wtf is sony doing you ask me? Well illl tell you they have this system that is way ahead of its time and are supposibly trying to figure it out. Will they idk only time wil time btw as of now Xbox live is still better than ps3 but ps3 is getting closer.
Is it just me or does no one here know the difference between System RAM and Graphics RAM? OK, so your Math is correct in saying 256MB + 256MB = 512MB, but what you are forgetting is that 256MB is attached to the GPU to buffer the graphics and textures needed in a game. While the system can “share” this memory, it is much slower (and therefore not as useful) as the XDR System RAM.
will it be possible for sony to make a firmware update to allow a universal friends list for games or is it the develepor’s job to do that?
SONY HERE LATELY HASN’T DONE NOTHING BUT PISS ME OFF. THEY COME OUT WITH THE NEW DUALSHOCK 3. SO WHY DIDN’T THEY OFFER A REBATE ON THE NEW CONTROLLER TO EVERYBODY THAT HAS THE OLD CONTROLLER. WELL WHEN THEY EVER GET THE 240 UPDATE BACK UP. IT’S GOING TO MAKR ME WONDER IF I SHOULD UPGRADE TO THE 240. IF THEY PUT IT BACK UP AND DON’T HAVE IT FIXED. ME PERSONALLY I THINK THEY RUSHED THE PS3 OUT. WITHOUT GETTING ALL THE BUGS OUT OF IT FIRST. INSTEAD THEY WHERE THINKING OF THERE WALLET.
i too am pissed that sony screwed everyone over with the dualshock 3
why does sony think they can release things half-assed and just say ” its ok we are releasing a patch to fix it ”
how about dont release something when it isnt finished
and if the release date comes and it isnt finished then put a little more effort in the beginning next time
how the psp which is a fucking handheld have better features then the ps3 is just fucking crazy
for example : rss, time on screen and skype
they need to add an option to game invite like on xbox live some of you playstation only people may not know it but the game invite and accept system is so much easier then having to get into a game and then searching for a friend and then joining there game. Or better yet have a party system where when lets for example say 4 friends on the same game will never get disconnected from eachother in the game and will stay in the same lobby and one will be the host.
The people that are saying that the PS3 has 512 mb of RAM are idiots. It’s like me counting my installed memory and my video cards memory on my computer. For example I have 2 gb of “RAM” and my video card has a 1 gb of memory, so according to you morons I have a total of 3 gb RAM. MORONS!!!!
Sony has still not provided the latest technology for lossless audio ( Dolby True HD and DTS HD) on the PS3. Soon the new Blu Ray Dvd’s will have the above 2 formats included and the only audio PS3 can decode at this moment is Dolby Digital 5.1. Truly amazing that a highly advanced gaming system still lacks the latest in sound technology. Panasonic’s DMP-BD30K includes Dolby True HD and DTS HD. Hope Sony fixes this problem soon.
DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio output has been supported on the PS3 since Firmware 2.30.
@ The Doc (admin) on 06 Jul 2008, 08:04:24 PM
You should be ashamed of yourself, degrading yourself (as an admin) to childish comments. Your article is well out of context BTW.
@ Anonymous on 07 Jul 2008, 07:34:55 AM
Did they only release you out of rehab, yesterday? The PS3 decodes all those HD audio formats since march of this year.
@ mykrlz182 on 07 Jul 2008, 07:20:14 AM
Well, according to your own logic, the 360 has NO memory at all since both CPU and GPU allocate RAM from one big pool…
Please people, stop talking about stuff you don’t know… it looks so sad.
@The Doc: I agree with Erp. Let’s not reduce ourselves to their level.
@Erp: Please explain how the article is out of context?
andre okay ive been lookin 4 all that sayin that is enough(cant wait till home)
I like this article, and I agree with everything that has been written, have you thought about sending this too the PSN people at Sony, because this could be usefule for them.
First off, I agree with this article 100%.
Secondly, I highly doubt Microsoft has any rights to an in-game music support. I could just turn down the game music and play some music on speakers. So how could you own rights to something like that? If they do, please tell me where I can find this.
I think we should have…
Instant Messanger Support like AIM, MSN, Yahoo, etc.
Updates on Flash Player for Video Content on the web.
Universal Patch for ALL games for In-Game Music.
Simplfied In-Game XMB to save on RAM usage (less lag)
Better Internet Browser, content isn’t displayed correctly, and tends to take up all the memory and freeze at times.
The statements above are NOT true about Microsoft having a patent on ‘in-game’ music. The PSP version of Rockstars’ GTA-Liberty City stories is proof. Download the software from Rockstar and convert ANY .mp3 file to an audio codec that ONLY GTA can play while playing the game.
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