PS3 Firmware 2.70 to feature text chat, Friends list on XMB

Yay. The XMB finally has new features that… have been on the competition’s console for the last three years.

Still waiting on in-game friends voice chat, Sony.

No you’re not. You’re waiting on something to be posted about Sony so you can argue against it!

Predictable agenda fuelled bore is predictable.

Funny how you never point that out in posts where I blast Microsoft’s failings, isn’t it?

Constantly contradictory troll is constantly making contradictions.

Damn girl, can’t you stay consistent on ANYTHING?

First you tell others to ignore me – then show you’re incapable of following your own advice.

Then you get a script to help you ignore me and flounce around this site telling everyone what a big boy you are for doing so – except you turn it off to troll me!

You want contradictions? You want to start taking a look at your own pompous ass!

I never see you making ‘blasts’ at Microsoft’s failings. Maybe you do but it’s eclipsed by your incessant weasling on anything mentioned in the same breath as Sony. Perhaps, I do an ‘O’conner’ and just find myself ignoring details that don’t fuel my own pompous agenda. Or perhaps I know I don’t need to ‘save’ Microsoft because there’s two dozen MDF-cronies around at any one time that’ll bleat about how wonderful they are.

Unfortunately for you O’conner I’m not burying my head in the sand and just ignoring the people I don’t agree with and don’t have the knowledge or capability to debate properly with. In your case it gives me the chance to ridicule and undermine you whenever you say something ridiculous and hope to get away with bullshit just by being overbearing and trying to sound superior.

I would ask why, with your own “me-too” news blog why you feel the need to hover around this site so much instead of cultivating your own. But you know what Michael? I’m not some elitist wanker that believes that I can dictate that other people should be removed from websites I have no control over just so my narrow views can remain unchallenged!

That you continue to prance around here acting like your shit doesn’t stink and demonstrate quite staggering displays of insularity and hypocrisy is one of the most hilarious things to happen to the internet since Aaron Greenberg opened his yap.

If I were you, sonnyjim, I’d refrain from responding – because that’s your best chance of not instantly proving my statements right. I mean, you and I both know I’m right. But you don’t NEED to prove it so quickly.

THIS WALL OF TEXT HAS BEEN SPONSORED BY O’CONNER ENTERPRISES INTERNATIONAL
“We build walls so big even Kojima can’t get around ‘em!”

I made a script that follows shatner around and types in caps with bad spellings. But it’s off now. Kind of. Bad spelling still in effects.

What are Microsoft’s failing in terms of functionality? Apart from RroD. I think it’s safe to say that in terms of functions and ease of use the 360 has been way, way ahead of the competition. I also think it’s a fair criticism that the competition advertises something as new and exciting, even though its technically a 3 year old feature.

I would say MS could be criticised for its politics, DRM, the XNA market share news article, the outlandish outburst from certain members of its staff etc. But in terms on Live and all the trappings that go with it, 360 really has excelled.

On a games website, I really don’t see what’s wrong with pointing that out. I’m sure many PS3 owners want Sony to lead the way in terms of new networking ideas, but surely everyone can see that the basics of functionality still aren’t in place, and when a company makes out that NOW WITH ADDED TEXT CHAT is something to get excited about, then it deserves perhaps a little criticism. And when people seem to leap down the throat of those that do criticise, I find it counter-productive and if I’m honest, slightly strange.

“and when a company makes out that NOW WITH ADDED TEXT CHAT is something to get excited about”

Except THEY haven’t. The games media are.

As usual, it’s been explained in a matter-of-fact video demonstration (you may notice the absence of bright colours, MTV-styled manic editing, ker-azy camera angles and unnecessary EXTREME ZOOM, techno-backbeat soundtrack and skateboarders). But it serves the games media to make a big deal out of it and, in your case, to TALK ABOUT IT IN CAPITALS so as to suggest that Sony are making a huge deal out of it just so you can question it.

I really don’t have an issue with well founded criticisms. But the constant and unnecessary over-dramatisation of things is, typically, conducted by the games media not the games industry. So spare me your faux-innocence when you attempt to convey your puzzlement as to why this should be regarded as a big deal.

When you’re part of those responsible for the dramatisation it’s pretty transparent of you to question the reaction to the drama.

“There are a lot of great features…the first of which is text-chat.”

“Great features”? “Great”?

Sony is proud of text chat and thinks its great, but it isn’t, it’s a 3½ year old feature. It deserves a little bit of rib-tickling. No need to be so defensive.

It’ll be interesting to see what 3.00 comes with, i’m surprised so many people were hyped about this stardard, mid-way update.

That’s fair enough.

But you know precisely the point I’m making about the over dramatisation. Perhaps if less sensationalism was used when delivering information then less reactionary behaviour would result on its reception.

But then you wouldn’t get the same amount of page-hits and ad revenue would you?

And, rationally speaking, any company presenting something is going to convey it as a positive thing. This is a par for the course as, say, the media making a sensationalist headline to a less than sensational story. But you already know this Mike, don’t you?

“What are Microsoft’s failing in terms of functionality? Apart from RroD. I think it’s safe to say that in terms of functions and ease of use the 360 has been way, way ahead of the competition.”

Yes, as far as software functionality goes, the Xbox 360 is a much better developed machine, better interface, better design, easier to program for, etc.

But from a hardware standpoint? The simply fact that every single hardware unit is theoretically capable of red-ringing is pretty abysmal in itself, it’s easily the most shoddily constructed piece of console technology that’s ever been allowed on the market. It’s failure rate is well beyond what most hardware producers (and consumers) would consider acceptable.

“And when people seem to leap down the throat of those that do criticise, I find it counter-productive and if I’m honest, slightly strange.”

People like to back a cause, especially when that “cause” is something they paid for. And if you don’t support that “cause”, people will often try to find any number of reason to criticise you for not supporting it, instead of actually discussing the criticism at hand.

In the hardware / software industry that seems to be incredibly common. “Geek competition”. If you insult an operating system’s failing, they’ll say you’re biased towards other GUI. If you criticise a console, they’ll say you’re a fanboy of the other format.

It’s apparently far too effort for most people to make an objective and balanced opinion. Personally, I find it entertaining when I see someone call me a 360 fanboy in one post for criticising the PS3, and then have someone in another news story calling me a PS3 fanboy for criticising the 360.

I guess it’s not “hip” to an informed consumer, right? Lets just all buy buggy iPods and sell our Wiis because it doesn’t shit “core” games every week instead.

“i’m surprised so many people were hyped about this stardard, mid-way update.”

The PS3 interface is lacking in so much standard functionality that any firmware update is like the second coming of Christ for most PS3 fanboys.

I looked at the video for that firmware update, and the only thing I could think was “Wow, that’s a hell of a lot less functional that the 360′s text chat.”. And that keypad is horrible anyway.

The XMB is DOOMED!!!

That’s fair enough too, Shatner. No probs at all. And yeah, of course any company is going to present something as great in order to sell the idea. That doesn’t make them exempt from a little criticism, however. (and I’m not saying you said it does make them exempt, I’m just saying)

You could use that text chat thingy to cheat at Search and Destroy…

@Michael O’Connor
“better interface”

Really? The dashboard was a bit of a mess to begin with which they made worse when they jiggled it about a little in one update. It would take ~7-8 button presses to launch an XBLA game you had on the HD.

Then came the big NXE update – which on the surface looks great but it’s still a design mess. Too many ways to get to the same place, too easy to get lost in the depths of sub menus and too many adverts cluttering the interface. I end up using the mini-guide to do everything.

In terms of functionality MS is well ahead. but in terms of interface the XMB is a much crisper and easier interface to use – by a country mile.

@shatner & mike

“But you know precisely the point I’m making about the over dramatisation.”

That’s the nature of the news these days, if they don’t hype it up you’ll go and read it elsewhere.

Expertly covered in Charlie Brooker’s Newswipe last night which was the best telly I’ve seen in years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jks6r/Newswipe_Episode_2/

(only available for the uk folk, sorry)

Haven’t tried it yet, but read elsewhere it has brought….

Copy and paste
Dynamic normaliser for music volume control
Search function for games (triangle on game icon)

I wonder if they moved the clock a few pixels down so you can actually read it.

Syrok,

No, according to others who have downloaded it.

Heh, it can’t be that much of a challenge to move the battery charge indicator.

Looks fine to me – what TV you got?

Same here, I fear this is pilot error rather than a software problem

No, if you are in-game and press the big circle button the indicator blocks the clock.

Woohoo copy and paste confirmed.

Woohoo copy and paste confirmed.

See?

Text chat is a good thing IMO… My missus gets fed up when I’m chatting over XBLA all night but she doesn’t mind me chatting using Text etc.

I can totally understand too… Me Talking into a headset all night is like listening to some noisy b’strd on a mobile when your on the train.

This is a great feature and something the 360 needs (oh and while your there… change the f’ing keyboard layout will you MS… jeez)

over and out

Just to continue the rant-a-thon from above, everyone seems to forget that you aren’t paying a thing for PSN. Which for me, in the state of continually playing catchup with the competition is more than enough to justify it.

When it starts being a paid service, I will expect equal features. Or more likely I will stop being online altogther.

I am VERY happy with the consistent service I receive for absolutely nothing.

And if one day it’s not playing catchup and it’s free, which is more than possible, then I will be in a good situation.

Just by the way, chat-in-game would be silly to update now before E3, that would be much cooler to have in a bigger update at E3 – I speculate. Chat is a basis for which the mic support can be built.

O’connor STFU you xbot asslicker fuck hole

All the xbots are up in a roar because psn is closing in on xbox live.if you truly feel bad for paying $50 a year then bitch to M$. Don’t come on here talking shit about the competition that is offering great additions for FREE!

Competition is good.

Sony are a business and if they felt it was better for them to charge its users be dam sure they will.

Microsoft have always charged for their service and they always will. Sony remain free but don’t sit there thinking they are doing it cause they love their users. If they think its better for them to charge you they will.

PSN and xbox live both very simaler services. Both have their good and bad points. I’m Glad PSN is getting closer to xbox live. If anything it was PSN and the wii Mii’s that probably forced Microsoft to update to NXE.

Competition breeds better services for all I wouldn’t Microsoft’s service to be knocked off its high horse a little.

David that’s bullshit.

If that were the case then you’d certainly think it would be the other way round.

No, the point is, Microsoft is selling a console at a loss, and they make it up with options like this and the extra’s that cost extortionate amounts.

Lord knows how Sony will recoup their losses. Will it be an efficient hardware business in 10 years? Who knows. Maybe they will profit from the games alone.

Sony isn;t doing it becasue tehy like the consumer though. They just realised if they were a fee paying service the discrepancies between services would mean it would be unfair to the consumer.

So I guess, in some ways it is them being nice, but only becuase they’re scared they’ll lose online userbase.

Microsoft charge though and I really doubt thats going to turn around and change. They will always charge for xbox live just something they do. If sony’s service got to a point were it was exactly the same or near the same as xbox live features then why shouldn’t they charge ?

Your right in regards to them being scared of losing user base I know a few people that moved from Xbox Live to PSN because it was free I doubt they would like a fee being slapped in their face.

Anyway I want the services to be close as I feel Microsoft are really lazy in regards to pushing xbox live especially in the UK and Europe. Net Flix for example we still haven’t got a service simaler to the American’s.

Again, the discrepancy isn’t exclusive to Microsoft.

I expect a movie/video store from Sony in the UK, and I ahven’t got one.

Competition is good and i’m glad that a well structured service like xbox live exists on a console. What pisses me off is the fact that people complain when a firmware update comes out for the PSN and people bitch. Its a free service and if you were paying for it then you could justify your complaints. If i’m paying $50 a year you better believe M$ will cater to my wants.

O’connor excuse me for my harsh language earlier but its well known you prefer xbox over Playstation anyday. So for you to post something sarcastic (which usually starts flame wars) you had it coming to you.

righto.

Wait a sec euros don’t have the netflix service on their 360′s………..AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

a lot of euro xbots were defending xbot live service the other day when they don’t have the service themselves. I just find that funny. I thought you guys had it. Euros always get the shaft damn.

Maybe that’s a better thing to be passionate about?

Maybe you should be part of the Euro-Defense Force TEA?

I don’t know about every country in Europe but I do know that the UK does not have Net Flix. In fact we don’t get a lot of things the USA version of xbox live gets. That alone pisses me off in regards to the difference in quality of service.

Netflix is NA only.

We are just extorted on this little island, by those who might decide not to ship things in unless we pay extra.

That does annoy me I don’t even think Europe have a simaler service to net flix for pc either ? Am I right in thinking that ?

You guys are such Microsoft/Sony nut-riders.

It’s good that a XBL-lite service like PSN is catching up, it is free after all and at times I absolutely loathe the issues a paid service like XBL has. PSN actually has some nice stuff on it these days too. What decent stuff has emerged on XBL since last summer? Not much. Outrun will be cool though, only that’s on PSN too right? And for christ sakes, why still no BROWSER on the 360?

Sony seem to be offering better perks for developers to create new stuff for PSN rather then XBL, so it would appear that if Sony can weather this financial storm, they might end up with a better quality of games on their system.

Only 42 posts?? i should have came sooner… it would have made 100 easy..

Shatner – nice way of puuting Michael in his place, i am getting tired of his ‘ i know more than anyone ‘ attitude.
It gets tired after a while.