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Anyone who has read this blog before knows that I'm an avid PS3 gamer. In fact, I have owned every Sony produced console since the original Playstation. This, in my opinion, is by far the most advanced system on the console market. The 360 is close, but since HD DVD is a dead format, it has lost a lot of clout. HOWEVER, I use GameFly.com as my main source for game rental since I live in Podunk, USA and don't have ANY place within 50 miles to rent games, and I must say that the selection of titles on the system is not that great.
I have never been very good at first-person-shooter games either (I was the laughing stock of every Halo LAN party in college) so that really limits my ability to rent or purchase games I'm going to get a lot of enjoyment out of. In fact, since buying my PS3 in November of 2007, the only two games I have gotten significant enjoyment out of that were worth the sixty dollar price tag are Bethesda's two giants, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and Fallout 3. Little Big Planet is a hoot. An amazing game, IF you have more than one person.I also loved Assassin's Creed, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Grand Theft Auto IV, but they didn't quite immerse me in the same way as Oblivion and Fallout.


It just seems to me that Sony is lagging behind in acquiring quality titles for their system. I can't really think of any titles on 360 that jump out right away as something that would sway me to purchase the console, but that doesn't stop me from being dissatisfied with the selection on PS3. I'm sure there are a lot of 360 fanboys and girls out there who would think that my distaste for their system is unfair, and they would be right. It is unfair. I have an ingrained hatred for anything Microsoft puts their name on. I mean, I could throw a low blow out there and mention that Windows Vista and 360 Red Rings have been a huge blemish for the company, but when I turn off my bias, I do have to admit that overall, they do produce quality products and have been a driving force in this technology industry that I love so very much.

The spark that inspired this piece though, is an article I read on Arstechina.com about online gaming. In that article they reported that not only is the 360 still the king of console online play, but that the Wii has surpassed the PS3 and taken second. Good lord. It looks like the honeymoon Sony enjoyed through the holidays has finally had the final nail driven into its coffin.
For the benefit of my journalistic pursuits, I've often thought of buying a 360 and possibly even a Wii so I could give an accurate opinion of all three systems and their games. I might just do so now, but, it has seemed so far that every time my faith in my beloved console gets humbled, Sony shocks the world with some big development that launches them back into the forefront. Maybe this time they'll finally develop a way to play my PS3 games on my PSP at work over Remote Play. Hey, I can dream.
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This is how it goes sometimes isn’t it? Sometimes the Gods of Journalism spin the roulette wheel and choose a single opinion blogger to whom they will serve a freshly peed in bowl of Cheerios. Maybe I’m too bias. Maybe I’m too one-sided. I don’t know.

For those of you who are wondering what I’m talking about, it has to do with this fancy new firmware Playstation released last week that I basically wrote an advertisement rather than an article about. I was baffled today when I switched on my PS3 and saw the “Update Required” message pop up. With a little bit of investigation (courtesy of CNet.com) I found out that the update has caused a few consoles to nearly crash. Well, I must have been granted immunity, because my system has been problem free, but it doesn’t make the fact that I talked the update up in excess of 500 words sting any less.

Sony was quick to release a patch, and although I haven’t been able to find any statistics, CNet reports that the problem only affected a small number of consoles. It also doesn’t appear to be a fatal bug. According to CNet, a simple call to Sony support has been able to fix many of the major issues. So I can still report a small victory in the quick response time of my beloved Sony, and the fact that no consoles were completely ruined. Plus, v2.41 includes an updated replacement to the bland trophy icon. Yippy.

I was write a review of the newly released Batman Begins Limited Edition Blu-Ray Gift Set, but this development has humbled me and I’ve decided to take a day to gather my confidence before I can write a worthy review. In the meantime, make sure not to fall off of the edges of your seats in anticipation. That would only further compound my guilt.
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New Firmware Makes PS3 Social

July 2nd 2008 12:39
One of the major weapons of PS3 bashers since it’s inception has been the almost total lack of social compatibility online. Compared to the 360 (Or so I’ve been told since I don’t play one) the PS3’s online experience has been very lackluster, not even allowing you to invite someone into a game while playing. But, the greatest thing about the Playstation 3 is it’s almost creepy ability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of its users, and this need is no exception.

On Monday, Sony officially announced the newest firmware update, 2.40 which is due for release today and will answer the cries of online gaming junkies everywhere. You know that nifty Xross Media Bar (XMB), the user interface of the PS3 and the PSP’s home screen? Well, the new firmware update will allow you to access the XMB and all of its features in-game. That's right, you can scroll over to the Network option and shoot an invite to a friend, and on some titles, you’ll even be allowed to access your music collection in place of the game default music.

According to Sony, the in-game XMB access will not only be limited to multi-player. It sounds as though it will entirely replace the black, limited option screen you’re brought to by pressing the PS button. This will allow you to configure your system settings, monitor your downloads, sign in to the Playstation Network all while in the game. I assume that you will also be able to quit the game and shut off the controller and system as well.

The update will also include a trophy system for select online titles with bronze, silver and gold trophies to be awarded upon completion of several titles. According to the official press release announcement:

“Super Stardust™ HD, a PLAYSTATION Network-exclusive released in June 2007, will be the first game to leverage the Trophies system and will offer a variety of trophies*. The following first-party games are also slated to offer Trophy support:

* BUZZ!™ Quiz TV
* LittleBigPlanet™
* MotorStorm™ Pacific Rift
* NBA 09 - PS3
* PAIN*
* PixelJunk™ Eden
* Resistance 2™
* SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
* Warhawk™*

*Requires a game update to be downloaded and installed.”

No mention yet of a release date for the on-demand video, but I’m sure that it’s not far off. Even die-hard XBOX fans have to admit that Playstation 3 has come along way since it’s sub-par debut. Sony has been smart enough to realize that their worst critics and most trusted advisers are the people who buy and use their product, and have engineered a system which is constantly reshaping to fit those needs.

In this writer’s opinion, the only reason why Sony should even think about a PS4 (and probably already are) is because most of their market is capitalist, and sooner or later they will have to release something new to compete. With proper firmware updates, this system has potential to stay relevant for years to come. Eventually processor speed, hard-drive storage and RAM will catch up to them, but the sheer capability of this machine is staggering in comparison to anything of it’s kind on the market, and that is not just my bias talking. I think anyone with a passion for gaming, or even a much more vague passion for home entertainment in general, really must agree.
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