[UPDATE] In-game XMB coming June 10?
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 00:31 EDT
Earlier this month we reported that trophies would be coming to the PlayStation 3 in the next system update, firmware 2.4. Recently other news outlets have been reporting similar tips, stating that not only will trophies be available, but full in-game XMB and use of custom in-game soundtracks.

According to Gaming-Age.com, PS3 users can expect such features as universal friends lists and in-game messaging. Also it's been confirmed that Sony already has a title with trophy support on the way. Sony's Official PlayStation website for upcoming Pixeljunk title, PixelJunk™ Eden, has been listed to support the new trophy system.

"The SDK 2.40 will be available to dev. late in June. The actual Firmware 2.40 might see the light of day a lot sooner (my personal guess would be launch aligned or slightly before MGS4 )." - stated PSU’s forum insider.

Also with the addition of improved Audio/Video communication, it's safe to say Sony is finally providing it's users with a better online community, nearing the quality of Microsoft's Xbox Live.

Stay tuned to PSU.com for more information.

UPDATE:

Videogaming247 has obtained some new tidbits of information regarding the above story.

-Sony is currently shifting through the PlayStation 3's library of games in order to see if the XMB is fully compatible or not. It is expected the new menu system, in-game messaging etc will function in all games, though the current black menu screen will likely be retained for the majority of titles.

-User music is only included in new development tools, which have only just been distributed to coders. Therefore, existing games won't utilize the feature unless they are patched to do so.

-The same applies to the new trophy system; developers have only just obtained the tools necessary to input the feature into their software, so it'll be a while until they show up in games.

-Some elements of the XMB won't be usable in-game until after the next firmware update, such as the photo viewer.

UPDATE #2:

According to PlayStationLifestyle.net, Sony plans to release firmware 2.4 on June 10, two days prior to the release of Metal Gear Solid 4. This would make sense as we have already stated that the firmware update was planned to arrive around the same time as the launch of MGS4.

NEARING the quality of Microsoft's Xbox Live.

good job sony, it only a year and a half to NEARLY catch up. pfft.

And neither an In-game XMB nor unified friends lists do Xbox Lives make

Sony, online, isn't even close.

Damn xbots, go and enjoy your RROD.

lol I completely enjoyed my RRoD for the 20 minutes I had it before I fixed it with literally 9 cents.
I'll be honest.. I almost bought a PS3 today at Costco.... but I couldn't think of one game I wanted to play on it.
I would say MGS4.... but I hear its 50% cutscenes...... no thanks.

lol. I neither like nor dislike the PS3. I don't get why a game that is padded out with so many cut scenes is being touted as the best thing since sliced bread, and a PS3 showpiece?

If I wanted 'brilliant directing' I'd watch Heat. I prefer games to focus on 'brilliant gameplay' instead.

xbots

I love the MGS story, but as for how it is directed, the long, sloppy indulgent crap that passes for Kojima's 'direction' would never make its way film.

And why is it the almighty PS3 showcase? Because the PS3 has nothing else.


Can you please stop using this word at the mention of any PS3 criticism, please?

Anyone can find fault in any game. Halo sucks because it's unoriginal. Bioshock sucks because it's too dark and not enough plasmids. Mass Effect sucks because the loading times are horrible. GTA sucks because it has drunk driving in it.

See, I can point out things I don't like about games too. Doesn't mean all aren't great games. Well except Halo. That just really didn't do it for me.

And why can't I use that word? Xbot.

in before the lock! Stop fighting both of you are fanboys.

Personally I've had PlayStation branded machines for more than the last 10 years. I ignored the 360 for almost 2 years just because I was waiting for the PS3 to pick up its games, drop its price and all that. But it didn't.

I don't hate on the machine so much as I'm disappointed with it. I'd love to play MGS4 and Tekken 6 and I'd love Sony to do something to help convince me to buy the thing. That's why it annoys me everytime its complex innards result in a game being delayed or running worse than on the 360, and everytime something like Home or the XMB gets talked up when its still playing catchup in terms of functionality.

So yeh I'm platform agnostic and would like to own both. The problem is whenever one of these topics comes up, it is just so much easier to take the 360's side- right now it is just wiping the floor with the PS3 in every regard. Let's see if that changes in the next 3 months.

I meant to say 6 months but MGS4 is really all that's that big. Is FFXIII even coming this year in English? GT5 is another good one but that's not a 2008 title either. Also I dunno how or why they hype Killzone 2 up when Killzone 1 was such a bomb.

That said, the 360 doesn't have any AAA exclusives left this year either does it?

There is also the problem of PS3's list of games that are hit or miss (Thus far, until the release of MGS4). Only a few titles are the on the "must have" lists (This list is more or less MGS4 + FF13's core title, not any of it's spin-offs, the majority of gamers seem to want those 2 more so then any other title). Even if Resistance 2 possible use of streaming data instead of loading everything to ram (How the hell is that gonna happen? Considering a PS3's blu-ray drive is only 2x, while those of us with Blu-Ray players will see an increase in drive speed while those on PS3s will most likely be stuck on 2x blu-ray drives for years to come), the first title, while it made some people's top 10 lists, it still too alot of flack for being too generic and boring on setting, and not offering anything unique in terms of gameplay. Which is, as many people know, a difficult formula to get in FPS games. I do agree that the setting, levels and everything else is generic and not very inspiring. For the life of me, CANNOT get into Resistance at all. I'm a heavy FPS nut as well, and I cannot get into Resistance. As much as I love the idea of WW2 cut short because of an alien invasion as it reminds me alot of some books I've read previously. Dream on paper, but fails at reality (Reality being the game).

In a recent live interview with Ted Price, president of Insomniac Games, all new details were revealed on their upcoming PS3 exclusive FPS, Resistance 2. In order to cover all the details that were given in the interview, we'll summarize it into a quick list, and for those of you who want to read more, click here for Eurogamer's interview.

New Resistance 2 Details:

- Intel Documents will be back expanding the franchise's lore
- More of Hale's background revealed and general history in the game's in-game story as well as the cinematics
- Co-op campaign will also help to flesh out the world with its separate story, although expect no big cinematics
- Many new weapons available in Resistance 2, mini-gun and marksman only ones revealed so far
- Streaming hi-res textures, detail maps, new lighting system, new effects system, better normal mapping, better specular response, redone shaders and lots of behind-the-scenes stuff
- NO LOAD TIMES!
- Bigger "levels" and "chapters"
- Resistance 2 will run in 720p at 30fps
- Resistance 2 will feature Trophy and Home support
- Great improvements coming to the PSN
- Resistance 2 to be as long or longer than Resistance FOM

From the sound of it, Resistance 2 is shaping up to be one spectacular sequel. Stay tuned for more information.

But what I'm afriad of is that Sony isn't going to pull a Nintendo suddenly where every first and second party title is a title worth having. Like I said, even with it's technological leap, the first game still recieved hate to the hype. It did not live up to what it was suppose to be. Sony's first and second party franchises are medicore at best with only a few titles worthy of having.

I am still highly skeptical that they've eliminated loadings completely. Cell is a powerful PowerPC processor, but it is still difficult to program for with it's processing order.

(Still haven't played Uncharted, no PS3 to borrow and no one has the game)