PS3 Firmware 2.70 Is Out

[dolson]

Updating my PS3 now... This update includes 16-player in-game text chat and some other stuff..

[darknessgp]

Updating my PS3 now... This update includes 16-player in-game text chat and some other stuff..

IMO, the update might as well have been one of there bug fix updates. I don't care about the video download stuff. text chat sounds nice, but I don't have nor want a keyboard hooked up. Can't wait for them to add voice chat to this new chat stuff.

[dolson]

Text chat could be great if they add a couple tweaks.

I am happy about internet copy and paste! Love this browser, just needs bigger text buffers and some stability fixes.

[callen]

I use the PS3 browser quite a bit to download Rev3 shows in HD and it works pretty well overall. The browser still has many issues, but works good enough for what I use it for. That said, I still wish Sony would do more with unifying the online PSN service to where it was more like Live. In an audio chat world I can really care less about in-game text chat. Not to mention the fact that it is annoying to have to sometimes register with a developer just to play a game online. I just want to get online and play without jumping through additional hoops to do so. And Home is just not my thing. I just have no interest in having to load up a virtual world type app just to group up with some friends to chat or do some gaming.

[dolson]

I use the PS3 browser quite a bit to download Rev3 shows in HD and it works pretty well overall. The browser still has many issues, but works good enough for what I use it for.

I agree. I use it about 99% of the time I am at home. But I use it for everything, and have about 30-35 bookmarked sites. There are some issues, but I've learned to deal for the most part.

That said, I still wish Sony would do more with unifying the online PSN service to where it was more like Live. In an audio chat world I can really care less about in-game text chat.

Cross-game voice chat is likely coming, however, I can definitely see the merits of having the text chat rooms, too. If I'm playing through a story-driven single-player game, voice is going to be more distracting during critical plot points than text is. I like how I can pop in and out of the text chat room and see a history, as well as seeing the small notification popups.

Not to mention the fact that it is annoying to have to sometimes register with a developer just to play a game online. I just want to get online and play without jumping through additional hoops to do so.

Totally NOT Sony's fault. I can only think of one game that has this problem, and it's Metal Gear Online. The blame here is solely on Konami. I agree, though, it's absolutely stupid, and I refuse to play MGO.

And Home is just not my thing. I just have no interest in having to load up a virtual world type app just to group up with some friends to chat or do some gaming.

Home is utter shit. The only good things about it haven't actually been delivered yet, that I'm aware of. You know, those things they promised a while back? The ability to share images, audio, and video with your friends? Yeah, none of that.

However, you don't need to use Home to have a chat - text or voice. Voice chat is implemented in the XMB already, and it works better than in Home (last I tried Home, that is - months ago). AND you can share pictures in the XMB voice chat!

The PSN has a long way to go, but I've only owned a PS3 for a little over a year, and it's come an extremely long way in just that amount of time.

[callen]

Thanks for the great reply dolson, and I do agree with you that the PS3 has come a long way over the past year. I picked up my PS3 as part of the MGS bundle and I still get quite a bit of use out of it overall. Although, I do tend to play a lot more games on the 360. Anyway, it will be cool if we get the cross-game voice chat soon as that will help a lot. Any word on if it will allow you to do a party chat like on Live?

[az0madman]

Has the 'estimated time to download' always been there or is that new with the update?

[forbizzle]

I usually put off updates for a few days to see if it the rollout is stable.

What has changed exactly with the browser? I use it a lot right now to watch videos and it works on everything from megavideo to youku and toudu sketchy chinese sites. If I update, I wouldn't want to lose that ability.

[dolson]

Anyway, it will be cool if we get the cross-game voice chat soon as that will help a lot. Any word on if it will allow you to do a party chat like on Live?

I'm ignorant to what party chat is on Live.. I don't know if it's true that Microsoft has patented certain things preventing cross-game chat for PS3 or not, but I've heard that. Either way, Sony knows we want cross-game voice chat, and I'm sure it's coming eventually. Hopefully.

Has the 'estimated time to download' always been there or is that new with the update?
I think that is also new, I didn't notice it until after you said it and I was downloading Worms.

What has changed exactly with the browser? I use it a lot right now to watch videos and it works on everything from megavideo to youku and toudu sketchy chinese sites. If I update, I wouldn't want to lose that ability.
All I've noticed that's new is the ability to copy or Google for text using X and the analog stick. You can paste copied text into private messages or websites with textboxes. Very nice.

I don't know if it's just me or not, but the networking seems a LOT faster overall. I was downloading Qore and the Red Faction demo at about 1MB/sec last night, and loading a friend's profile is near-instant as well. Seems tweaked, to me. I'm using wireless right now, as well.

[scoobydiesel]

I dont care about the text chat....but the keypad deal is so creepy for the ps3 lol lke its the reverse of the 360's?

I do love that sony is updating every chance they get.

[tamtamg]

yay. another annoying update for my ps3 for features i could give a rats behind about. I wish sony would only update once a quarter or figure out a way to just patch the os, instead of having to reinstall it for every update.

[darknessgp]

yay. another annoying update for my ps3 for features i could give a rats behind about. I wish sony would only update once a quarter or figure out a way to just patch the os, instead of having to reinstall it for every update.

at least it wasn't one of those minor bug fixes... it does seem odd to me. Microsoft only patches their 360 OS, but does so infrequently. Sony does it via firmware updates, but IMO does it way too frequently. I agree, Sony should hold back updates, especially bug fix only ones. However, updating the firmware also means that they can give us features that wouldn't be possible if they were only updating the software.

[dolson]

I don't see why they don't make more firmware updates optional, and only in cases where something MAJOR is included (ie: trophies, security holes, etc), make it mandatory.

In the past year, there has only been one firmware update that was not mandatory, that I recall. And even then, it was mandatory in Japan.

[scoobydiesel]

Have they been adding trophies to older games alot or no?

[talkingorange]

My problem with updating my PS3 is that it esentially downloads the entire OS every time instead of having a way to update it in bits n' pieces. Takes for FRIGGEN EVAR! That is all :p

[dolson]

Have they been adding trophies to older games alot or no?

Sometimes, but that has really nothing to do with firmware. Games get patched with trophy support on an individual basis.

My problem with updating my PS3 is that it esentially downloads the entire OS every time instead of having a way to update it in bits n' pieces. Takes for FRIGGEN EVAR! That is all :p

I've only done it once, but it's actually faster to update by downloading using a PC and putting it on a USB stick. Might be worth a shot next time.

[forbizzle]

I've only done it once, but it's actually faster to update by downloading using a PC and putting it on a USB stick. Might be worth a shot next time. I've thought about doing that, but regardless you're still downloading hundreds of megs for what should be a < 1mb patch. They may not want to expose a patching framework for security reasons, or they may just be incompetent.

The least they could do would be allow people to continue to play online without flashing the firmware.

[darknessgp]

I've thought about doing that, but regardless you're still downloading hundreds of megs for what should be a < 1mb patch. They may not want to expose a patching framework for security reasons, or they may just be incompetent.

The least they could do would be allow people to continue to play online without flashing the firmware.

I agree on the allowing people to play online, visit the store, etc. without updating... especially if it's nothing more than a bug fix.

As for the firmware flashing, it's hardly incompetent, at least as far as choosing that direction. It will allow them to do far more than a simple software update would allow. The incompetence comes in when they decide to release an update, that is mandatory for online, that is nothing more than a handful of bug fixes. I really like the idea Microsoft went with of limiting their updates, I don't like that they decided to only do 2 a year and no more. Sony needs to limit updating, but IMO not stick with such a strict release schedule.