Sony explains/defends PS3 firmware 3.0

By Tom Bramwell Published 9 September, 2009

Man talks glitter, chime, ads, Uncharted.

Sony has posted a blog explaining some of the changes in its most recent PlayStation 3 firmware and defending the more controversial ones.

For example, the loss of the "chime" noise you used to hear when loading PS3 games.

"One of the reasons we removed the PS3 jingle is that it was created to indicate the start of a game, but now we're offering non-game content such as Vidzone in addition to games," brand manager Mark Bowles wrote on the European blog. Hrm.

"More importantly though, this change makes the loading time a bit quicker than before, which we think will be a noticeable benefit for all game users." Ah, well, that's different.

There was also some "concern" from the faithful about the new font size (Sony's considering making it optional) and the new "What's New" page, which is the first thing you now see when loading up the XMB.

"It's not just about adverts," the blog's defence begins, capturing the essence of people's reaction to it. "The primary role of the What's New screen is to get you into the game more quickly.

"You'll be able to jump straight into the last three games or applications that you've been using. It basically acts as a shortcut to the games that are resident on the HDD, so that they can be automatically booted up rather than having to go via the game selection icons on the XMB."

Plus, of course, it's got adverts for things like news and downloadable content.

Elsewhere on the blog, Bowles said to expect Europe's first new dynamic themes in tomorrow's PSN update, explained how to turn off the dynamic theme included with the firmware itself (you know, the glittery background - I quite like that!) and said that a bug with Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is known about and being sorted.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (43) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • morriss #1 2 years ago

    I bet my life they'll never get anything right this gen. Total balls up from start to finish.

  • MeBrains #2 2 years ago

    what with the third party controllers and with the friends list?

  • mcbi4kh2 #3 2 years ago

    @morriss

    A bug in a game!? That has been found. And is being fixed? What a complete and utter cock up, I personally can't believe it.

    Relatively un-obtrusive (game realted) adverts for a free network? Shocking.

  • Dillinger #4 2 years ago

    why is anyone complaining about the adverts? go into the setting ans turn the 'whats new' option off and its back to normal. How difficult is that?

  • Gaol #5 2 years ago

    Have they commented on the fugly grey boxes around the friends list yet?

  • bad09 #6 2 years ago

    saw this yesterday. Not happy. ads, screen blur, ANOTHER store icon for some wierd reason. Mind you that iplayer is cool, the Mrs was well happy eastenders is no longer on the laptop and I was enjoying Mock The Week on it.

    As for "what's new". Keep it on the store or in software (like home or vid zone) not all over my user inteface. MS have gone mad on that and put me right off. You're doing the same Sony....

  • M_of_the_sys #7 2 years ago

    I liked the update. 'Adverts' for products on the PS Store aren't a problem for me. It'd be a different story if there were adverts for unrelated products. I will miss the little jingle when loading games though. :(
    The friends list is fine for me. I can still do the same things I could before and don't feel the need to whine like a mule about something so insignificant.
    The only thing about the frimware update I would be upset about is the Uncharted problems but I don't own the game so... meh.

  • wizlon #8 2 years ago

    Well I like the new firmware, bigger fonts make it more readable and the sparkles just look nice. Of course, I've turned off the advert start screen, just like any sensible person should. Thank you Sony, for making my PS3 better.

    EDIT: I also recently bought Uncharted and completed it without it crashing once.
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/09 @ 09:08

  • bad09 #9 2 years ago

    I must admit the bigger font does make it all look lovely, it's just a shame the background blurs, I have a lovely Trek theme I made which goes all blurry now :(

    Still very pretty.

  • siksik6 #10 2 years ago

    Well I thought all the changes were positive. So there.

  • Darren #11 2 years ago

    Personally I hate the larger font size, it looks horrid when scrolling down my list of songs on the HDD as fewer characters are displayed. Despite being in 1080p the XMB looks like it is running at a lower resolution. I really cannot understand why Sony forced it on users in the first place instead of making it optional. How hard would it be to add a Small, Medium and Large Font/Icon Size setting to the System > Display option? Also the Friends list is ugly beyond belief with that pointless grey border.

    The XMB used to be hi-def, sleek and minimalistic, which was why I liked it, now it looks, quite frankly, a mess.

    On the plus side, the animated themes are nice (assuming you download the free Japanese Afrika one as SCEE seem to have neglected to include any in the Euro PS Store!).

  • Darren #12 2 years ago

    Why are people complaining about "adverts". On my PS3, post-firmware update the machine reset to the "What's New" section. I didn't like it so I switched it off under Settings. Problem solved, now my PS3 boots up to the Games section like it always did. So what's the problem? I have no choice to do the same on my Xbox 360. :?

  • DevilsNeverCry #13 2 years ago

    I think people who are complaining are making a fuss about nothing really.

    I reckon 3.0 is brilliant. Although I do miss the jingle, they are likely going to re-brand it for the next firmware update with the new logo. And I suppose teh resolution thing is an issue but not one I can't get over.

  • bad09 #14 2 years ago

    It's still around though isn't it Darren. Like Home you are stuck with it and also a whats new pops up on the games tab on that silly second store icon. It's small in terms of problem but still a needless clutter. Like you I loved the minimalistic style of XMB, epsecially as I create my own themes for it, and it is getting cluttered these days like 360.

    People may mark me down all they want but I really dislike this gens need to hard sell on the actual hardware you are using, on the actual interface. It's turning the consoles into a commercial TV channel. Personally I don't like that approach, I make no apologies.

  • M_of_the_sys #15 2 years ago

    On the plus side, the animated themes are nice (assuming you download the free Japanese Afrika one as SCEE seem to have neglected to include any in the Euro PS Store!).

    Apparently, according to the article, themes will be added to the Euro store tomorrow.
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/09 @ 10:14

  • warthog2k #16 2 years ago

    @bad09 - iPlayer on the TV? Get Virgin Cable 'cos they've been doing it for years. It's pretty good too.

  • Darren #17 2 years ago

    @bad09 - I don't mind the additional PS Store or "What's New" icons so long as the machine doesn't boot up to them, which it doesn't if you disable the option.

    I don't like the PS Home icon though, I've tried Home and didn't like it at all, thought it was utterly pointless, so I deleted it but the stupid icon is still there waiting to be confused with the PS Store icon (which forces it to reinstall and use up 3 GB of HDD space in the process). I wish I could remove it completely.

  • bad09 #18 2 years ago

    @ warthog2k

    Yeah my Mrs only has Sky at home so Virgin is a no. analogue only flat sadly.

  • oreillymj #19 2 years ago

    At least we can turn off the annoying ticker under the clock. US gamers are stuck with it.

  • AusFreelancer #20 2 years ago

    Dunno about that designer....They did change the font for the slims casing, and for 3.0 boot screen. Having said that I do miss the chime, and the longer more symphonic boot intro. Hope they bring it back as an option....at least for the fatties.

  • metalmike25 #21 2 years ago

    I find it worrying that anyone would care this much about the start screen. In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter. Also the sparkles kinda look cool

  • SeesThroughAll #22 2 years ago

    It was well worth a laugh that the FAQ in the official blog wrote "what do the adverts offer us" as a question, and no explanation as to how can one turn them the fuck off. (I know it's very simple, but it should be in the FAQ)
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/09 @ 10:37

  • swissorc #23 2 years ago

    Speaking of Iplayer can anyone tell me what the play back of BBC HD on the PS3's iplayer is like any good?

  • Beige_Alert #24 2 years ago

    I haven't played around with it much but so far I mostly find 3.0 annoying. Ads, even though you can turn them off, cluttering up the UI. Store shortcuts instead of just having it in one place. Maybe there is a ton on nice little tweaks, but most changes seem only skin deep and quite a few annoying at that. And all of this gets a X.0 update, feels more like a .X in my opinion.

  • f01re #25 2 years ago

    @swissorc It doesn't do HD yet. It currently does acceptable SD but they're doubling the stream from the 800k one to the 1500k in the next couple of weeks which should make it broadcast quality in SD.

    HD's being worked on...
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/09 @ 10:59

  • skillian #26 2 years ago

    Why all the comments about iPlayer? Hasn't the PS3 had a browser, and therefore iPlayer, since it came out? Or did it not have Flash or something before?

  • makeamazing #27 2 years ago

    There are some very sad individuals indeed complaining about sparkle and ad's on whats new... seriously grow up. No one spends that long in this area anyway... just pathetic.... sometimes people just amaze me with their general negativity and complaining... firstly the PSN is Free, second - wow it sparkles... third - wow they switched off the jingle... really go and get a life right now because your obviously so obsessive you cant be objective anymore. :D

  • M_of_the_sys #28 2 years ago

    JD is being worked on but they have to work round the flash limitations, don't think sony updated the version of flash on the browser.

    Mmmm... JD. Slurp.

  • jefranklin18 #29 2 years ago

    @mr_writer - that would actually make sense, as they look as if they are about the right size/shape for the game cards. I don't mind the grey boxes as such, although I would have preferred it if they popped up when a person on the friend list was selected, as opposed to being visible all the time.

    Still, I am not going to commit suicide/scream hysterically/whatever like a lot have done. Hourses for courses, etc..

  • Bigglesworth #30 2 years ago

    @designerheadache
    I think that can be disabled using the 'screensaver' setting, in Display Settings.

  • KennySim #31 2 years ago

    Who gives a toss about the sparkles or PSN store adverts when this update has broken Uncharted? I bought Uncharted last week and I can't get past the second chapter due to consistent freezing at the same point. I even got another copy because I thought the disc was scratched at first.

    I've played enough to know that I'm probably going to absolutely love it. Would be nice to have a rough timeline on when to expect a fix.

  • Bravestinsane #32 2 years ago

    First of all i don't have a PS3 but i do have and Xbox 360 and a Very Powerful PC.

    I don't understand the complaints, PSN is FREE so Sony have to fund it somehow hence the adverts, charging Devs to put content on the PSN store etc. The Xbox is different i don't think there should be adverts for gold members or we should get the ability to turn them off. The odd advert doesn't bother me, new game add on's etc.

    Personally if and when i got a PS3 in the future is it really fair i complain when im not paying anything to play it online? the network is free which is most likely very expensive to run.

    The 360 on the other hand has no excuse for adverts on gold accounts. If anything you should be able to customise then, ie. Disableing adverts for Movies if you don't watch them. Perhaps the option to choose the adverts you want, such as choosing only to disply demos, and content for games you HAVE played and not the crap that you don't have.

    The PS3 while i see peoples point in it becoming cluttered, you should remember they are updating it you just need to give Sony time to catch up, Sony is hardware not Software which is the reverse for Microsoft. While it's becoming more clutted which some of you are saying, in time they can release patches to speed things up again. But at the end off the day while i understand you want it to be fast, they need to make money via adverts.

  • Skurmedel #33 2 years ago

    In the same spot as Kenny, just got my first PS3 and Uncharted with it, just to find out that the firmware breaks it. So yeah, a little disappointed. I'm gonna pick up Killzone 2 though and have a go at that till they fix it.

    Other than that, I have trouble understanding what there is to whine about, the chime sound when starting a game? Sparkly stuff in the background... ehm?
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/09 @ 14:14

  • davisorle #34 2 years ago

    @MeBrains
    If you are talking about all the bugs and shit, like non working and unsynced controllers.. which is a serious issues that this f**ked up firmware caused, they admited and said they are working on. I think the article should talk more about this since most owners with issues on the firmware would care to read about it.

    In other news "Whats New" is another step to cloning XBL. What happened to the innovation that Sony has been talking about? They have been ripping off MS and Nintendo on Live and controllers etc and onlything they did was the BR which is what almost cost them to quit console bussiness back in the days due to extremely low stocks with the PS3 release. Anyhow... Lets see if aftrer the makeover with Slim release they will manage with such talent to go down again. THAT will be remarkable :S

  • davisorle #35 2 years ago

    @Bravestinsane
    This is where you are wrong... Browsing and accessing fully PSN is free but why fund it with adverts? The reasons you pay XLB is cause of the shitloads of servers they pay and preserve for each online game you play and THAT is why everyone that has tried XBL and PSN knows the online gaming difference. PSN eitherway is a money maker since you buy your stuff from it. Neither Im saying they shouldnt put adverts but they had no actual reason to ruin the PSN with ads since as service aint that good yet. Thats my opinion on that bit.

    @Skurmedel
    Yeah... Sony had a great timing. +999% sales up ( well according to the article .. ) with a firmware that brakes the games that most ppl bought with their new PS3Slim. lots of thousands of ppl were dissapointed along with you. I know id be f**king swearing all day long. ( yeah I do that on stupidity and simple f**k ups :p ).

  • Skurmedel #36 2 years ago

    Yes but I don't because I still am happy with what I've bought. It's one game, I have two consoles and a proper PC. I can live with it.

  • andyk #37 2 years ago

    yeah i like 3.00. specifcally sending a second 2 channel audio via the HMDI to the TV as it means I don't always need to switch on the 5.1 via the optical. Shame the fat PS3 wasn't retroactivated with the Bravia Sync maybe in the future?

  • ahsanulislam #38 2 years ago

    i hate the iplayer. i was hoping for an application like vidzone when i first heard about it. then when i saw it i thought sony had just taken the easy way out. now that everyone has a bit of hard drive space why not let users download their fave shows to their ps3 hard drive? like most ppl are saying its just a dressed-up bookmark.

    whats new can be turned off so thats not a problem but why do we need a million shortcuts (3 to be honest) for one application (psn). i can also live with adverts as long as online play/maintenance is free. what the hell is ps home and ps life. next update needs to be more worthwhile

  • Bravestinsane #39 2 years ago

    @davisorle

    errr....

    You are aware that all the content free or priced, are all hosted on servers. Home is free and hosted on servers (Whatever you may think of it) PSN is hosted on servers, if you don't buy anything it still costs Sony money. They need to make revenue somewhere and there now doing this with adverts.

  • shimeehoho #40 2 years ago

    please oh please let them make the font size optional. i can understand the need for the larger font for sd tv's and people using smaller ones at a distance, but i could read the original on my 22" just fine from over 10m away.

  • VMerken #41 2 years ago

    You know, Sony just might be able to let the firmware recognise when a game is being started (or not), and play the jingle again (or not). The jingle is nice, slightly faster loading times are even nicer. Now all that's left is omitting the startup jingle and immediately skip to the XMB upon boot and I'd be happy (er).

  • Grayvern #42 2 years ago

    You can turn the ads and the glitter off who the hell cares. The ps3 in general has a far less cluttered and easier to use system than the 360.

  • Jelly_Head #43 2 years ago

    These are all fairly minor changes, aren't they? What justifies incrementing from 2.x.x to 3.x.x?