Sony exec confirms arrival of in-game PS3 messaging
Firmware 2.4 coming this summer
The PlayStation 3 will get system-wide in-game messaging and video chat, a Sony executive has confirmed.
This icon sparked rumours of a messaging update for the PS3
At a trade event held this week, Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss Ray Maguire told dealers that the additional XMB UI feature, which was first rumoured to be in development last month after a “Friends & Messaging” icon appeared on the company’s US website, will be delivered to gamers through a firmware update.
"Our momentum will continue with the introduction of in-game communication in the summer [and] firmware update 2.4," Maguire said, according to trade title MCV.
Macguire also revealed that more than 1m UK consumers have bought a PS3.
COMMENTS
Iain
The comment about folks moaning about the PS3 as a BR player is that yes, those amongst us who don't read the Daily Mail for educational purposes have indeed realised the machine is the most versatile BR player available, but a lot of people still bitch about the machine simply for the sake of it. Many of those bitches are in complete contradiction to the bitches from six months ago! As I pointed out.
That's my issue. Having owned virtually all gaming machines from the last 20 years, as well as three arcade cabs as we speak, I don't have any preference or specific loyalty to a machine. PS3 or otherwise. My comment was that we have some stability in the industry again, healthy competition amongst all the platforms and killers games for each. If all people can do is moan about messaging and DTS-HD I simply felt they were missing what is right in front of them and depriving themselves of enjoyment.
Point taken though about Sony continually saying "coming soon" about DTS-HD.
One for the Ladies
@Andy - who are you calling a pasty faced doughgirl?
I should prob'ly admit to not owning a PS3 just yet, but I got the rest of that s**t, man.*
*cos it's not cool to list your possessions, even to prove how cool you are. ;)
Paris, because ladies like to play.
PS3 blows the 360...
"As for Sony catching up. Thats pretty laughable, as whilst you may pick this single item, every other respect PS3 blows the 360 out of the water..."
Except the main thing a GAMES console needs... actual decent games
Re: DTS-HD
This wouldn't be an issue if Fox were to use either Dolby TrueHD (which is more efficient) or PCM (well, there's plenty of room now they've started using dual-layer discs at last), both of which the PS3 does support. Instead, they went with a format that until recently absolutely nobody had support for, simply because it's a little bit cheaper than a TrueHD encoder.
Re: complaining so much about it, I don't think people would have quite so much of an issue if Sony didn't keep making vague noises about being added any day now.
Monkey: There was a whole load of talk about the PS3 being a poor BluRay player before it came out, not because we were Eeevil 360 Fanboys, but just because the PS2 was so astonishingly poor at DVD playback on release. I think everyone who is vaguely sensible has since realised that it's in fact by far the most feature-rich player on the market, and the only reason for buying a standalone player is because you're either really desperate for the analogue audio output sockets, hate Sony a lot, or can get it cheap through some deal.
Good lord
Consoles are the new Apple/PC religious debate.
What amazing poetry these bonehead gamers will write on their networked PS3 boxes. Their philosophical musings will aspire to explain life in its entirity. Their voices will sing grand anthems and sorrowful hymns over the ether. PS3 is advancing human civilisation by allowing sweaty social failures to chat to each other. Sony is the catalyst by which our civilisation will be born.
Sony's decision to include video conferencing is just cruel to the gamers though. This will remove any doubt that HotCHick69 is really some doughfaced American boy. You'll be able to see in detail that all of your online pals haven't seen the sun in years and own extensive collections of fantasy role-playing games.
It will be pretty funny to see that Lord Mordor, slayer of the 13 dungeons, dragonkiller, and owner of many purple items is just some kid with a mouth stained orange from eating chips.
I would love to say that PS3 video conferencing will be the only one these joypad jockies will ever see a real life girl. But I've never met a decent girl who plays PS3. I once met a pasty faced doughgirl who in the darkened room she plays PS3 in could possibly pass for attractive. Lets hope the video conferencing is grainy. This will allow the console players to use their imagination when fiddling with their joypads in bed.
Traditional taunts will adapt and evolve. "pwned j00" will become "you fat fucking glob of lard you've been sat on that couch all day" spoken over video conferencing.
