Are you a slightly obsessive compulsive freak like I am? Do you like things to be exactly the same, in line with each other and in alphabetical order? If you said yes to any of these questions, then firmware 3.00 is for you!
Sony Corp. I feel is slightly OCD. They can’t leave anything alone until everyone is on the same page and happy. This is a good thing though, annoying at first, but a good thing. Where am I going with this? Why is the title of this article completely different than the text within? Well, it’s because I have to get you completely confused first, and then explain myself later.
Sony just released the PS3 Slim (due in stores, well, today!), instituted a complete re-branding of the PS3 image, logo and box style. They bring a new SKU into the console race, their commercials have changed formats, and they completely change their slogan to “It Does Everything”. They like all things PS3 to be on the same page. This is where firmware update 3.00 comes into play. If you plan on buying a Slim, make sure to set aside about 30 to 45 minutes today updating your consoles firmware before you go online. This irks the crap out of me most of the time. I plop down on the sofa ready to get my game on, only to be held up for 30 minutes updating the firmware, or updating the disc game and installing items on the hard drive.
Firmware revision 3.00 brings with it a wiping of the slate between the two consoles if you will, and brings both-I’ll call them Fatty and Tito-on the same page. I call it Tito because when have you ever seen a fat guy named Tito? You just haven’t! So here is what you’ll be getting when you turn on your Fatty or Tito this afternoon after work:
- What’s New – The small yellow and uninspiring “Information Board” is being replaced with a “What’s New” section now. From here you will see a more in depth view of gaming news when you start up the PS3. When you roll over the PlayStation Network icon in the Network tab, “What’s New” will change to display the latest game, video, and PSN news, all in a new animated style to really pop out at you.
- Status Indicator – Taking a little page from the Xbox NXE, Sony is going to start using an indicator bar in the upper top right corner to display your user icon (which I hope can be custom now), friend icons, and the number of friends you have online. It will also feature an envelope icon to let you know if you have any new messages. This new bar will also include a scrolling ticker that features the latest news from PlayStation Network. Again? Man, these guys really want you to know what the hell is going on! In addition to all of this in the upper corner, now when you press the PS button on your controller, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock.
- Friends List – You will be getting a slightly redesigned new look to how your PlayStation Network friends appear. Messages will be viewable from each friend’s profiles in your friend list, making it easier to navigate and send messages.
- PlayStation Store Shortcuts – Sony wants to make it ultra easy to buy stuff, so they have added handy shortcuts to the PlayStation Store icon under both the Game and Video categories. These links will quickly take you to the video store or game store respectively so Sony can eat your money.
- Personalization – Sick of your drab and motionless Sniper Anime Girls Theme? Now you can personalize your PS3 with new moving custom themes and avatars. These new themes and avatars (both free and premium) will be available through the PlayStation Store. The animated themes will add motion and zing to your XMB now, taking your screen to a whole new level as it incorporates animated objects into the background.
- Trophies – Update 3.00 is made for DLC gamers wanting to look and show off their trophies. In the update, you will now be able to combine or separate trophies from the base game on the disc and downloadable add-on content. Now you’ll be able to see all of your disc-based progress or all of your DLC progress independently or together. This spells good things for all trophy hunters looking to get all of those Platinum Trophies.
[...] PlayStation 3: Firmware Update v3.0 Is Live! – Loot Ninja [...]
I love the new look, but we can not custom’s,
I have my own avatar, I
larger font – too big and cannot be adjusted
Store shorcuts everywhere – not needed
when something is selected, the background goes all blurry and I get a headache very easily
I want my ’spiderman’ style banner back at startup with the chime
‘What’s new’ is annoying when you pass by it too slowly and all the icons start to load – l’ve read comments that you can adjust that feature, I hope so.
When you are in-game and want to check your trophies, instead of going from ‘Quit Game’ up one to trophies, there is another store icon inbetween them, that is just a matter of not pressing buttons too quickly and getting used to the change … but it is really uneccesary – I’m not going to pause a game and go to the store – you cannot, you have to quit the game anyhow.
I’m glad to see Sony continue to grow and expand – but with some features I would like more control over them. I loved the XMB the way it was, very sleek, quick and easy to navigate – we should be allowed some control over the appearance of the interface.