Roadmap to PS3 Firmware 3.0

Quote from site:

"Well the results from all of our polls asking you what additions, features or changes you would like to see made to the Firmware or PS3 system itself by Firmware 3.0 are in and we would like to thank you all for voting, here is a break down of the results from a total of 4282 unique voters".

[wotta]

On that site, it's amazing. :)

[chaosatom]

n4g.

but on topic: i think ps3/ps1 games and cross game invite and chat will make it top xbl in no time and we can stop arguing on which is better.

[FantasyStar]

Off-Topic: That's pretty neat! It took a while for the next page to load, but it's pretty "unique".

On-Topic:Agreed, the reason I prefer XBL more is because it's easier to send out party invites, get people together, send voice messages, and starting a private chat so I only talk to my friend. It makes matchmaking games more fun because I'm not talking over someone else.

Unified Online Architecture FTW!

[interrergator]

hope they keep doin this

[Mutley416]

They need to catch up on the chat & join player option ...It`s the beef and potatoes of the XBL...And is the reason why The XBL is better-

[Cajun Chicken]

Apparently due to the patents MS took out for XBL, its going to be difficult for Sony to do it in a similar way. So my bet is, the firmware with these features is actually the next set of actual PS3 software.
Just look at the Killzone back cover when it was sent here, it had all the dev patches allowing custom soundtracks and all the others.

I think the next batch of games are the actual key to Cross-Chat and Join feature XBL has.

[Kushan]

I don't think patents are going to be a problem and even if they were, they could just pay Microsoft royalties to use them.

[Cajun Chicken]

I'm pretty sure that Sony hasn't really been in the position for that, due to the price of the Cell and Blu-Ray they didn't pay off Immersion for rumble for ages.

I'd doubt they'd pay MS, that would be embarrasing for Sony, its exactly the same why MS are currently rejecting Blu-Ray on the 360.

Thats why Sony's been finding workarounds by patching the features into the games and not the actual firmware. They DON'T want to give a penny to MS and who blames them. Who in the past patented things on consoles, thats just stunting progress and being selfish, in my view.
If Nintendo patented the controller back on the NES, where would we be now?

[Fruit Loops]

wow, i never saw it like that. thanks for the insight

[Kushan]

Ummmm...Nintendo DID patent the controller. They patented the whole console, every single console released (aside from a few of the open source Linux varients) are patented to hell. Ever wonder why the d-pads on nearly every console out there are vastly different? Because they're patented. Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sega, Philips, they all own a plethora of patents regarding games consoles. Don't pretend that Microsoft is more evil and has thus patented more stuff, they've all patented whatever they can because it makes business sense to. That's why you don't get cheap knockoff PS3's and 360's that can sort of play 360 and PS3 games.

In fact, Sega made a big mistake by NOT patenting the Mega Drive/Genesis correctly, which EA took complete advantage of (look at any EA game's genesis cartridge - notice it's different from standard Sega ones? They also didn't pay any royalties to Sega, either, which went to court - why do you think they screwed Sega over with regards to the Dreamcast? But I digress).

With regards to the ingame cross chat, it wouldn't matter if it was part of the OS or part of the game, any patents would still apply all the same. Plus, recently there's been a whole debaccle with Software Patents anyway, whereby nobody's sure if they're even legal or not (a verdict was recently passed that essentially nulled all software patents, but it hasn't went to court yet). If Sony hasn't added it, it's not due to patents, it's due to something else, like time or technical constraints (it may be hard to implement it WITHOUT breaking existing games)

EDIT: Just to solidify my argument, check this out - http://digg.com/gaming_news...
Nintendo DID patent the NES, the patent only expired a short time ago.

[Darkseider]

The patents for cross game chat, player invites and custom sound tracks will not hold water in court. Simply put as long as the programming used, IE: Source code, is not the same the feature can be implemented. MS has been too complacent with their patent library, especially knowing that the majority of them are so vague they will not stand the test in court. This is why MS postured their patent portfolio at Linux and the open source community and were laughed at. Same goes for Sony or any other console manufacturer. If the source code is different, regardless of the method used, a software patent is moot.

[Jellzy]

Im all for Cross-game chat more than any other feature for a few reasons. These being;

1. The voice codecs/quality in some games are really crappy and it is hard to understand people at times, especially when 5 or 6 people are speaking at the same time or some eejit decides its a crackng idea to listen to music whilst remaining to have his headset on (Im looking @ u CoD, with ur un-mutable lobbies). Im guessing that private chat could use higher quality codecs and/or reserve more bandwidth for better quality.

2. It also doesnt help that most bluetooth headsets just arent that gd and your running around some games playing with what sounds like 10 or so 'Microsoft Sams...' Ok it isnt that bad but you get my point.

3. a couple of months back having already got a headset and laptop sitting rather closely me and a few friends spent £5 on a crappy although really reliable and good bit of kit. A profile 2.0 Technik Bluetooth USB adapter. Within about 15mins of setup, we had a much better quality private chat using skype whilst gaming. Having used both Ventrilo and TeamSpeak in the past it was alot more satisfying being able to talk to your freinds across games, and during games whilst they are loading and starting up etc. Point being although we didnt need to do this, we shouldnt really have to.

4. Erm... Actually think ive made my point and given my opinion...

Really i see this as the most needed feature of the PS3 as it allows for better quality chat, more organisation, and a better overall gaming community. I was all for Home and its game launching but a simple feature such as this for me alteast would be alot more apropriate as it allows the same functions without too much faffing about and in a quicker and sleeker presentation.

p.s. I understand why many of you would personally like to see Backwards Compatibility in your console via an emulator currently seen in the older 80G Consoles but this is just my 2 cents and my opinion. :D

Oo Yeah, and also as for Patents etc. as far as im aware as long as the source code is different but achieves the same results then it isnt infringment. So the whole MS patented this and that etc. is nothing more than a myth. If you have any proof the please share though as this sorta stuff interests me, and it would silence a niggling argument in the OTT console war.

[Sheddi]

One thing i would love is the option to install ur ps1,ps2,ps3 games on the HDD. That would be so awesome! I dont know how Sony should solve the problem with piracy then, but i know they can, Sony's smart! :P

[Cajun Chicken]

I've been wondering soley about the ripping of PSone games before, I mean, it should be possible. There must be a way like when you find album covers through the PS3 for MP3s but to do a similar search, but with the legality of your disc.
Just imagine having all your old PSone games availble to play indoors on your PS3 and elsewhere on your PSP, wouldn't that be excellent?

And a reason for those with a PSP to get a complimentary PS3?

[heyheyhey]

"Most Wanted Miscellaneous feature:
Price drop for the PS3 (20% of votes)"

this relates to firmware how?

[kosovo]

?

[ChiddaPotta]

really hoping for .mov support. What's the point of downloading 1080p trailers if you can't play them on your lcd tv from your ps3.

[ThatArtGuy]

Generally, if you can find a 1080p Quicktime file of a trailer, you can find it in other formats as well.

[xg-ei8ht]

SONY

AD2P SUPPORT.

[tonytouchx]

i wish they put something where u could upload ur own avatar,instead of using what they have on the ps3

[rockleex]

Or they could just make it so that developers HAVE to include their own Avatars on the game disc.

Whenever you insert a new game into your PS3, it automatically downloads the Avatars that were included on the disc onto your PS3.

That way Sony doesn't have to keep updating their Avatar library, nor do they have to sort through user uploaded pictures of penises, etc.

[MONOLITHICIDE]

i would like to have more games letting me play my own music, especially online games.

[Kushan]

Love them or hate them, you have to give Microsoft credit for allowing this in ALL games released for the 360. You can even stream music from your PC while ingame.
I want that feature on my PS3.

[Cajun Chicken]

Thats good, except they legally blocked anyone else doing it for free; hence stunting progress.
Only MS consoles will have these features in the future due to all that patenting.

[Kushan]

I cannot prove nor disprove that claim, but you're very adament that Microsoft are the only company that patents things, even in this industry. They're not, they all patent stuff.

However, I strongly doubt that Microsoft COULD patent this particular feature - there's hundreds, if not thousands, of devices out there that can play streamed media, it would be hard for Microsoft to get a patent on that without getting hit by Prior art. Plus the PS3 already DOES do streamed media, just not in game. But it DOES allow you to play your own music in game if it's on the hard drive, a feature first adopted by Microsoft on the original hard drive - so why isn't THAT an issue?

I think you'll need to show a patent document to prove this claim, otherwise I think you're just speculating and assuming that Microsoft would do the most evil thing possible.

[shawnsl65]

group join feature would be nice. some nba games won't even allow you to be on the same team with your friends in the same room. Kinda bogus on the developer's part.

[Superted2007]

Custom RSS feeds and more support for games launching in Home oh and it will be massively sized, somewhere in the range of 300-700MB

[zainkool]

Hopefully these voting results will put to good use by SCEE and might help us folks from the U.S. also. SCEA should conduct a similar survey for the North American territory.

[supremacy]

i understand peoples obsession over backwards compatibility and all, but seriously people let that rest and push Sony to improve online gaming.

i mean i rather have cross in-game invite and cross private chat and that whole 8 party system along with voice messaging, this in essence is what makes xbox better in my opinion the flexibility of getting in contact and always in touch with your friends no matter what games you play? now that is future proof my friends these are the features you want Sony to get working on than worry about everything else seriously.

with games like killzone 2 and infamous as well sf 4 re 5 having these features implemented would be a dream come true.

im not too into gossips or rumors or any of that but the hip-hop gamer maybe on to something here, yeah i know everything he brings up sometime could sound delusional and common sense. but i mean couple these polls along with live now going down to like 30 im hearing, only lead you to believe such things maybe actually happening rather soon than later.

in my personal opinion the only way the ps3 can truly evolve from here on isn't through its hardware capabilities but rather through its software and engines and most importantly that would also and should also include the psn.

Sony only in my opinion needs to do just 3 things in 09 and going forward and these are pretty simple.

1. pricing, working on your price its the only way to get some lost ground and stay afloat.

2. marketing, market all your exclusives and fight to position multiplatform games leading on the ps3 platform in commercials.

3. online/updates, its that simple. online is really the only thing that keeps most gamers re buying the 360 console after they brake down or something, since both now share pretty much the same amount of games across the board with the exception of exclusive ips.

obviously getting everything xbox live have in a short period of time is a bit unrealistic if you ask me, but getting the key core functions is what sony should put effort into i mean even more so than home.

again what are these core key functions?

they might not be able to get all these in 09 but a good portion should do wonders either way some of these features ive listed as well are just ideas and aren't currently in live so keep that in mind. now with that said if i were in charge and director of the psn i do my best to make sure you, the gamer get these features, but since i don't i just hope someone at Sony does listen to my cry and make this happen. now on to the list.

1. private chat cross all games
2. voice messaging across all games like text messaging even through the psn store and web browser as well.
3. universal 8 player cross chat parties, across not just all games but across all functions as well.
4. in-game invites across all games and applications.
5. custom soundtrack support for all existing games, via in-game xmb access in the same way text messaging is universal across all games this isn't hard to pull of either in fact is the simplest of features to pull off seriously.
6. netflix? cant sign netflix fine, than sign their rival and one of your major bluray supporters since day one in the form of blockbuster with their versatility in store pick-up or streaming ofcourse.
plus columbia pictures is a Sony company just like tri star and mgm are pretty much.
7.forward to all messages in text and in voice messaging.
8. universal in-game picture capturing. dont really know how but if you could text in-game in a universal scale i believe you should be able to do this as well.
9. sign a major deal with sega, atari and neo geo and release a vc console within the store along with fresh psone content an impending ps2 catalog to come after the ps3 is profitable enough to hang on its own.
10.multiple sign in ids on one console, seriously i want this.
11. auto audio and video settings depending on what you have plugged in, always choosing the highest and best settings.
12.no game installs instead once you finish downloading a game or some random form of content the install policy should be already be in bedded with your download.
13. number of people on the network, regardless if its on a ps3 and psp so the numbers should be universal.
14. fix battery life and time issue.
15. add small weather info based on your region but mainly your postal zip code, should be displayed everything you press the ps button along with your time and battery life or simply when the sign in icon appears as well.
16.add the psp to the trophy system.
17. further communication features between the psp and ps3, anyone should be able to text and voice message their buddies on the ps3 from their psps or vise versa.
18. allow gamers to buy off pool tables and chess tables as well as some arcades for use privately in their apartments with friends, this will force many to buy bigger spaces in the future helping sony generate some much needed profits.
19. whether you turn off your system while in home or the xmb, when you turn your system back on you should have to log on and automatically start where you left off whether that be home or the xmb, the experience should be flawless as simultaneously. also this will help tie home in to the psn even more.
20. also if you are web browsing or just watching a movie or a simple trailer anyone should be able to see that your watching a movie under your icon/avatar, the name of the content should only show public if you want with a public and private options.
21.also would be cool but not really needed would be to someones time zone along with weather and lever and trophy number whenever you highlight their icon/avatar.
22. add more different video and audio format support.
23. this isn't part of an update but would be needed, add an official ps headset with every unit and along with that but only to the 499 bundles a headset as well as an hdmi cable.
23. a ranking system should be added to the trophy system while retaining the level up system, gamers should also received ranking names that should be link to small rewards every 5 levels, example level 1 would be something like beginner while level 5 would be something much better, i mean this will further the need to get trophies and therefore buy ps3 versions of games. imagine getting qore privileges or better some form of free content or a discount on a single item of your choosing from the store?
24. a rip off of a personal profile in the breath of myspace should be added to your gamercard.
25. the ability to sort your music and edit your personal tracks.
26. support for custom avatars.
27. all games should mandatory should be able to launch from home or wherever you are no matter what you are doing at all times.

28. if i miss something please let me know, but i think once all these features are added than and only than will i say the ps3 is without a question of a doubt the only system worth getting but until then, sony's got a lot of work ahead of it. seriously.

sorry for the long post but i just couldn't help myself.

[Cajun Chicken]

Good ideas, but however I think everyone has the right to have all 3 Playstation consoles in the PS3. Not just early adopters, I think honestly late comers are being technically ripped off. Every PS3 user deserves it.

I'm a EU 60Gigger user myself and I think nobody should be left out.

[Omegasyde]

Sony should move forward not backwards.

If you really want to play PS2 games, buy a PS2. And if anything, why isn't the PS2 $99 USD yet?

[Jellzy]

Your number 10 point may already be a possibility, as Insomniac Games have stated they are hoping to add a feature that allows the 2nd characters profile/stats etc. to be saved. Previously they couldnt do this as it required an updated firmware which devs now have available.
Although this is only an assumption, i believe that this may be the ability to have more than 1 (Prob not more than 2 though i'd imagine) PSN users signed on at the same time to the one console.

Source: http://blog.us.playstation....

"Now you may be asking, “But what about adding the option to save the second player’s character progress?” Truth be told, it required a certain PS3 firmware that wasn’t available at the time of Resistance 2’s release. We now have that firmware and are currently working to implement the feature. As soon as it’s ready, we’ll get it out to you"

p.s. I forgot to mention that your list is superb and spot on in my opinion. My biggest gripe with my PS3 is that it doesnt allow Cross-game private chat between 6-8 players atleast. + Bubbles 4 you my friend. :D

[Cyrus365]

Curious is this the official SCEE site? Like the us.blog.playstion site is the voice for SCEA?

Or is this a fan made/3rd party site?

PS. I'm surprised more people didn't vote for cross game invites?

[supremacy]

tell me about it, is as if they are refusing to embrace the true future of gaming.

[Cajun Chicken]

Fan site. It's been made to try to force SCEE to pay attention and pull their finger out.

[Cyrus365]

That's too bad, then I don't think Firmware 3.00 will be as Big as some people are making it out to be....

Just like 2.00 wasn't either...Not to say there won't be some cool features...but people are expecting some big things...

[JD_Shadow]

It's unofficial, but they are going to forward this poll to SCEE in the hopes that they take into account these requested features.

[Bathyj]

After all that whinning for cross chat and invite, they voted for BC.

God, let it go, you should have bought at launch, you'd have it.

Or dont buy at launch, and dont have it. Either way, you knew it was coming, they didn't phase out BC overnight, and you had the chance to make your choice. Live with it now, stop crying like teenagers and get on with it.

Move forwards, not backwards.

[Omegasyde]

Move forwards, not backwards.

Exactly, buy a PS2 if you want to play PS2 games so bad.

[Pennywise]

Good comment BathyJ!!

Cross game voice chat is THE feature that is needed. Not this PS2 crap.

[poeo]

i really want one little sixaxis function (that you can turn on/off) for the XMB, should be extremely easy to implement:

tilting the controller upwards would be the same as pushing up on the d-pad, tilting it left the same as pushing left on the d-pad.. etc. that way you could go through your xmb without pressing buttons, it just makes sense to me!

anyone else want this? yes? no..? lol.

[Cajun Chicken]

Thats totally a pointless idea for a feature, but I LOVE it!

[Cartesian3D]

.mkv format support.. I have many HD videos in mkv format. it will rock if they put this feature in next updates..

[NDoerrFans]

That is the one thing I want, really. I've so many MKV files and they're so difficult to convert (soft subtitles in most).

I don't mind plugging my laptop to the TV via HDMI (I lub my laptop), but it's just inconvenient as far as playing, fast forwarding, scene selecting and such goes. Wireless mouse and keyboard, sure, but meh. I just want to laze on my couch and watch these without a pile of wireless gizmos next to me.

In short: Yes. MKV support, plz.

[patterson]

People can get a hold of me on my cell, my home phone, e-mail, text messaging, etc... there's plenty of ways where I can get an online game going. This was never a deal breaker for me.

I can understand having BC back though because I know quite a few PS2 owners who've been hesitant about getting a PS3 when they found out they'll still have to keep their PS2. Some of them wanted to sell/trade in their system and use it as a small down payment. Some of them have limited room for only one console. Some of them started looking towards xbox since it isn't BC to PS2 either... so "might as well look at all my options", where it would have been an automatic no-brainer if PS3 already had it.

People shouldn't under estimate the void that lack of BC brings. Part of what helped PS2 become a quick success was that bridge and as of now, that's over 120 million users without one.

[Omegasyde]

Sorry but why would you say give your cell/home Tel # out to random people in your clan/squad?

Cross Game chat would be instant and save you money. I am not going to call some guy in another country to play Socom etc.

And the PS2 time is due, let it die out.

[patterson]

Who said anything about giving my phone number to random strangers?
Most of the people I play online with are people I know.

And if I do play with strangers it's through the games in-built matchmaking.
What's so hard about that?

As for dropping PS2 games, that's your thing. Plenty of people still play games from older systems including Dreamcast and whatever. But the point I was making was that there are a lot of PS2 owners that would like BC to transition over among other things. Read my points again.

[divideby0]

I just want to play games online...I dont care about chit chat features...

I'd be happy if the browser supported video players from abc, cbs....

I dont use many of the bloated Live features...I still use Lives old interface, that was fine for me...

I dont want Sony to give a bunch of creature features, than expect to charge for the rip off Live type service

[Daves]

"More support for developers to include in-game music from the XMB (392 votes)"

What a cool idea, I'm often loading up Bionic Commando just to listen to the music.

[Giriath]

Full backwards compatability emulator via an optional install on your XMB + the ability to create and manage your own voice-chat party on the XMB while running in-game. The voice-chat party should have features such as having smaller groups in the party as well as voice-priority for groups and individuals. When an individual or a group of your choosing speaks, all other chat should get quiter or disappear.

All games supporting voice-chat should be patched with an option to disable in-game voice-chat so that it doesn't disturb the chat in your party. It should of course support the HQ mode of the official Playstation 3 headset.

Think about how awesome this would be. It would be the Ventrilo of console gaming!

[xg-ei8ht]

No 4th dimension.

I control the horizontal and the vertical.

[rTR-Pioneer]

looks like we aren't going to be getting private chat across different games anytime soon, was that even an option?
that is certainly my number 1 request since the ps3 was launched

[LilMissGoddess]

i believe that sony has a long ways to go, being that there last firmware update failed...so i don't think that 3.0 will have cross communication, they better have it tested out so they don't make fools of themselves like they have done in the past(the last update)...all and all i hope sony can pull it off!! microsoft did good on there updates in the past, they did alot of testing so hopefully sony can do the same and make there's a success??

[LiquifiedArt]

lol. Its nice they are forwarding a list, but they already know this. They have a buisness plan and they are executing on that plan.

[ForROME]

Cross Game invite and chat, is a must, no ends or buts about it, todays gamings its a core piece to people now.

Speed up xmb and trouphy support this rotating arrow thing is annoying but thats just a nick pick =(

[abi980]

anti aliasing please

[Sty]

In game voice chat with your friends, like teamspeak our ventrilo, that is the only thing that I want :D i really hope Sony puts that future...