Firmware Updates

I am really happy with Sony for the firmware updates they release. My PS3 and PSP are up-to-date and I feel like I own the latest-and-greatest product. I read on the PlayStatation LifeStyle Blog and article about other needed features in the PS3 OS. I thought about it and here is my list:

• Expanded PSN profile – Similar to Facebook. Pictures, Blog (like this one), Game comments, Torphies, and also a calendar. Hook all these it into HOME.
• Intergame Chat - Works the same way text messaging works, but with voice chat
• Download/Install/Shut-off - this may be done in 2.5, but maybe only Download. I'll let you know in Comments when I've done it Or, simply BEEP when done (I turn of my TV).
• Password on PS3 accounts - On my machine we have multiple users. I would like to partition music, pictures, and even games. I could lock the 10 year old out of M games.
• Organize Music by "Artist > Album," not just Album. And I would like the album art on the folder.
• PSN Music channel - This would be really convenient for my PSP!
• Internet Radio on the PS3 - just like on PSP.
• PS Life needs improvements. I would like to pick my cities. And I want better weather – a simple three day forecast on the screen.
• Email from PC to PSN account (and vice versa) - while at work I can set up clan matches for the evening.

I'm happy with what I got, but I am always wanting more!

LittleBETAPlanet

I was not going to do the LBP beta – I’ve had enough ‘fun’ with the SOCOM beta and I have two other games I need to finish. But my good friends at PlayStation Underground sent me a promotion code – unsolicited – and I thought I would give it a try. In my household is a cute little girl of 10 years old. She watched as I played the first two story levels. LBP is a great game and is a lot of fun, but let me tell you: it’s a lot more enjoyable with a giggly little girl next to you. She loved Sackgirl (of course we made it a girl) and all her expressions – and the concept of ‘stickers’ is always exciting to a 4th grader. And jumping around a cartoon garden is so much ‘safer’ then the Shooters I normally play. I have no idea how Big the LittlePlanet is: creating levels, sharing games, and on-line collaborations – but I am looking forward to simply going through Story Mode with the help of bright eyed, carefree princess. Side note: I have pre-ordered LBP from Best Buy and I will pick it up the day it arrives (but not at Midnight - I think). I will download the Nariko outfit soon after. Oh, one more thing: I have an extra Beta Code from the good people at USA today. If you would like it, leave your request in the comment section.

Getting Beta and Beta Every Time

I went to my local GameStop and pre-ordered the SOCOM Confrontation with the BlueTooth headset on the day the Beta went public. I got home, entered my information, and got the download codes in 10 minutes. I saw on-line that many people had not received their codes yet – providence was on my side.

The first release was not playable. The connection times were greater than 20 minutes! And once I got in, I was only able to be in spectator mode and follow along other players. But things continued to improve with each release. During my second attempt, I was asked to leave the server because I joined-in with a clan. I even got some votes to kick me off! I must have acted like a real noob: I moved and reacted so slow still trying to find the right buttons. (I still think switching weapons is too complicated and slow.)

This last release (1.50) fixed many things, but introduced another bug which renders the game unplayable again. Every few minutes, a dialog box pops-up informing me of server issues. Once, I ran down some stairs just as an enemy player turns the corner. We both aim and … ‘Pop-up!’ We both stare at each other – no motion - he must have gotten it too. I finally let go of every other button, press X, the box disappears, and I go to guns. We both fire at the same time – double kill. That was annoying and fun at the same time. My best round so far is 9 Kills, 2 Assists, and 7 Deaths – but mostly I am 3-0-7.

I have a list of improvements, but I will keep them to myself. Most have already been discussed on the message boards.

But I’ll say this: if it wasn’t for the headset bundle, I would not be buying this next week. SOCOM Confrontation will be a beautiful game – I even would suggest to Slant 6 to delay the launch. I would rather have the final game on a disk, rather than taking up space on the Hard Drive with the latest patch.

Version 1.60 is due out tomorrow; with each new release, they make it better and better.

Upgrade you HDD NOW!

Amazon is having a sale on the Western Digital 320 GB HDD. The same one I installed in my PS3 last week! $80 is an amazing price. If you have not upgraded yet, go there now! It qualifies for free shipping! While you wait for it to arrive, you can prepare for the upgrade process.

Hard Drive Upgrade

Do you own a PS3? I expect that someday soon, you will need to upgrade your hard drive (HDD). My PS3 was born with a 40GB drive - it was full in 3 months. (Assassin's Creed would not install; when I restarted my PS3, a warning appeared saying I had less than 500 MB left.) Yes, I play a lot of different games and download demos, but I did not have any full length movies or music files. My new drive from Western Digital is 320 GB. That should hold me for about 2 years. The process of upgrading is not difficult. Read the Sony manuals first then search the web for help. I found this site useful: DoomSpace. My hints:

• Have the right screwdriver (small Philips)
• Have a USB Thumb drive ready with the boot firmware.
• You will need around 32 MB on another drive to back up your existing data. I used an external hard drive with a 32MB partition. My backup file was 28 MB - it saved everything: demos, game data, saved data, trailers... If you delete what you don't mind downloading again, you backup file will be smaller.
• Be encouraged - I did it myself with no problems in one evening.

I lost one day of gaming to upgrading my PS3. But I will reap the benefits of no storage worries for years.