One of the great things about the PS3 is the ability to download and create custom themes and wallpapers to personalize your console for no cost. Sony has a bank of avatars to choose from for free as well (Gamer Pictures to you Xbox 360 users out there). Not having to pay for these is terrific and I hope it always stays that way. However, the lack of additions to the avatar selection is upsetting.
When the PS3 launched, there were quite a few avatars to choose from in Account Management, varying from old school 8-bit icons to Kratos and Ratchet. With the system in its infancy, the selection worked well for everyone. But over the course of the past year and half since launch, Sony has only added 10-15 additional avatars to choose from. Given the high level of customization available with other areas of the PS3, I would expect a similar level of choice devoted to your avatar, especially since it’s what everyone sees online.
I can only hope that the rumored social networking features being introduced and the upcoming firmware allow further customization and choice. Home will allow you to create a digital self, but it will not change the 2D picture you use as identification in games and lobbies while playing online with friends. With PS Eye integration and the ability to browse the internet and network with your computer, it would seem very feasible that one could set any picture they choose, within reason, as their online representation.
Requests to Sony were not returned by press time, so we can neither confirm or deny if and when new additions will be made to the online avatars.
10 Comments
Write a Comment»I would love to use avatars from my PC, but we all know that would open the door to thousands of pictures of penises.
You can use any picture that’s in your Photo folder for an avatar, at least as far as your account(first part of the XMB) icon, if your talking about your store or friends avatar I don’t know about that.
@Makidian - yes you can change your account picture, but I was referring to your avatar as is shown in your friends list and online
Sony is too cheap to afford to add more avatars.
In Xbox Live, we offer the best online service for our customers to all Xbox 360 owners. Sony’s PlayStation Network… let’s face it, it’s a joke. Completely broken… I laughed my ass off when PS3 owners waited more than ten hours or so for their weekly Store update. In Xbox Live, we posted our update in the Marketplace ASAP.
Yeah, PSN is free!!!!
Well you get what you pay for……………..
Dozens to chose from for free or hundreds for $1-2. Just like every other Live/PSN comparison, It’s kind of worth paying for if you can actualy have content.
I’ll ask for custom avatars AFTER they give us in-game XMB.
suck my dick, microsoft
“Sony is too cheap to afford to add more avatars.
In Xbox Live, we offer the best online service for our customers to all Xbox 360 owners. Sony’s PlayStation Network… let’s face it, it’s a joke. Completely broken… I laughed my ass off when PS3 owners waited more than ten hours or so for their weekly Store update. In Xbox Live, we posted our update in the Marketplace ASAP.”
*Yawns* Is that all?
@ the fanboy (Microsoft)
Why do you bother trolling and promoting fanboyism? It shows that you have no life ’cause no one is paying you. I’ll just sit back and laugh because you fail.
Truly agree on you there! Can’t wait for the custom avatars, just made me a new forum Icon for my nick which i’d love to use on the psn. I think the option to customize avatars will be released soon though.