Firmware 3.10 Coming Soon

And yeah, look out for cross-game chat.

Published 25/09/2009 at 17:00.
By newsbot.

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This morning we picked up on a story from VG247 suggesting cross-game chat would appear in the next firmware update for the PS3. Well, this afternoon we can reveal that, if our source is to be believed, this is indeed the case – we’ve had a chat with our own source (who wishes to remain anonymous) that has confirmed in principle that the next software update will feature an XMB-based cross game communication tool centred around voice chat.

I can’t repeat everything that’s been said in terms of new features, and certainly can’t say 100% that this is going to happen (so don’t get your hopes up) but if our source is correct, the next firmware will be available in either October or November. It’s entirely possible that cross-game communication was planned for 3.00 but slipped at the last minute, but let’s hope it makes it out for the next update, eh? If we get anything else, we’ll pass it on.

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nickerton | 25/09/2009 17:01
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I cant wait, this will be so awesome if they do this!
Tuffcub | 25/09/2009 17:01
Team TSA: Writer
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Grief reporting which was meant to be in 3.00 is “almost” there as well..
- theshockwave | 25/09/2009 17:09
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  You know this?
  - Tuffcub | 25/09/2009 18:24
    Team TSA: Writer
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    The evidence is in this weeks news snatch – whenever someone hits the publish button :)
gazzagb | 25/09/2009 17:02
Master of speling mitakse
4742 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009

Still doubtfull. cross game chat is metioned in EVERY upcoming firmware story and so im not getting my hopes up. It’ll be awsome if it is true…
- Shlomi1995 | 25/09/2009 17:31
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  513 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
  
  Indeed so. This rumour is too old to be taken seriously anymore.
  
  Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
Erroneus | 25/09/2009 17:02
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
3438 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009

So if they add cross-game chat, fixes the grey boxes, tweaks the font and make the ticker optionable, 3.10 could be a “bigger” release then 3.0 … :D
- nickerton | 25/09/2009 17:21
  Member
  223 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
  
  I don’t know why people rip on the Grey boxes. I feel like I may be the only one here but I like them, I am pretty sure they are just the framework so eventually you can see trophy information of all your friends embedded in the friends list which would make every Trophy I achieve that much sweeter for bragging rights!
  - Shlomi1995 | 25/09/2009 17:35
    Member
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    Have you seen the fan designs?
    
    TSA made an article about one, you can even view the designs on youtube.
    Now those designs are of supposedly light weight, so should be easily integrated.
    
    And even if the grey boxes are the framework, why did they integrate it into 3.0?
    We are the disappointed beta testers of the goddamn boxes
  - Uhyve | 25/09/2009 21:59
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    717 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
    
    Maybe they had to drop a bit of 3.0′s functionality last minute and the friends list weirdness is just a remnant of that. I mean, I’m sure that Sony didn’t just add grey rectangles into a random part of the XMB for no reason, even the worst designers wouldn’t do something like that.
    
    I dunno, I think I’m a pretty patient person. I can wait for them to fix something that is purely aesthetic, it was stuff like the Uncharted problem that really needed to take priority, and that’s what they did. A few ugly rectangles, to me, is fine as long as there is something in the pipeline
scion_tc1 | 25/09/2009 17:02
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YES playing a single player game has never been so borring for me since i own a xbox aswell took sony long enough eh?
- Cadabena | 25/09/2009 17:07
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  But what about epic story moments? I can’t imagine Killzone 2 would have had the same effect on me if I were chatting to a mate during major cutscenes.
  - nickerton | 25/09/2009 17:23
    Member
    223 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
    
    Well that’s the nice thing about personal choice, if that would be something that matters to you than you would not choose to be chatting at that time would you?
matty | 25/09/2009 17:04
Member
1703 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008

nooo add an apear offine feature i will be spammed by chat invites and my mates cannot be in the same xhat as each other they start arguing for no bloody reason lol
- BadBoyBoogie | 25/09/2009 17:09
  Let There Be Rock
  3338 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
  
  Agreed, an appear offline feature would be good. Couple that with it stopping the pop-ups that constantly bombard you with messages about friends going online/offline whenever you’re watching something!! Now that’s a feature that I’d really appreciate!!
  - matty | 25/09/2009 17:13
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    you can turn notifacations off in the settings i don’t know where abouts but it is there have a look youll find it
  - BadBoyBoogie | 25/09/2009 17:21
    Let There Be Rock
    3338 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
    
    I never knew that!! Cheers mate, I’ll check that out later. :)
  - Shlomi1995 | 25/09/2009 17:39
    Member
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    Turning off the nots won’t nail it. Sometimes I do want to be notified.
    As we can’t have complete control over the sort off nots popping up,
    an appear offline function is just a very basic need SONY can’t seem to live up to.
    
    I mean, why do we even need to ask for this feature, SONY!?
    And, oh, the battery icon? Thank god you got it right in the third round FW update!
  - BadBoyBoogie | 25/09/2009 17:51
    Let There Be Rock
    3338 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
    
    I guess it’s all or nothing with pop-ups. I would like to be notified of messages, I just don’t want the constant online/offline status updates whilst I’m watching something. Still at least when I’ve finished watching whatever it is I’m watching, it’s pretty easy to quickly check for any messages received!!
  - kevatron400 | 25/09/2009 21:25
    Don't call him Kevatron400.
    2204 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
    
    I totally agree, being able to customise which notifications you recieve would be fantastic!
BadBoyBoogie | 25/09/2009 17:04
Let There Be Rock
3338 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009

I don’t really care about cross game chat, so I just hope that there are some other new features in this update to get me excited!!! ;)
C_S15 | 25/09/2009 17:04
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Party system! Not cross game chat!
- cc_star | 25/09/2009 17:05
  Team TSA: Writer
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  Agreed
  - matty | 25/09/2009 17:07
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    agreed
  - nickerton | 25/09/2009 17:24
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    Can I get a w00t w00t for both?
- Raen | 25/09/2009 17:07
  Team TSA: Writer
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  You know you can have both right?
  - C_S15 | 25/09/2009 17:09
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    Yeah, party system would be preferable.
  - cc_star | 25/09/2009 17:10
    Team TSA: Writer
    12535 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    yeah, but if dev time is limited – its a shame they’ve listened to the vocal minority, although perhaps that minority will move on to bleating on about a better partry system
  - Raen | 25/09/2009 17:18
    Team TSA: Writer
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    I guess party would be preferable. Would probably be simpler than cross-game chat as well.
  - Rob92 | 26/09/2009 20:33
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    Chris what ARE you on about? Its not the vocal minority at all. Its just people who differ from your opinion. I bet 90%plus would rather have XMB chat.
  - cc_star | 26/09/2009 20:37
    Team TSA: Writer
    12535 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    You are kidding, right?
    
    There are about 25,000,000 PS3 under people’s TVs, a few thousand of them bleating on about it on the Internet everytime the issue comes up, is a vocal minority.
    
    The reason it works on the 360 is because it has a robust ‘partying up’ system to underpin it, that is the reason it works.
  - Rob92 | 26/09/2009 20:45
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    Oh so just because doesnt put it on the internet, means that the console shouldn’t be improved? Its BECAUSE of the vocal minority “complaining” about these issues that we get them in the first place. Sony should listen to their consumers and in the majority of cases they do. And I’m definately sure most people would rather have a cross game chat rather than a party system. Yes a party system would be fantastic but what is the point when you cant talk to each other within? Hence we need cross game chat first. So really its opposite of what you said, its because of the cross game chat that the party system works so well.
  - cc_star | 26/09/2009 20:51
    Team TSA: Writer
    12535 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    It isn’t an issue
    
    the issue is that very few people with PS3′s even own mics, and those that do are silent… When Kaz was talking about the network the other day – He should realise his network is SILENT (ooh I can capitalise words as well)
    
    The cross game chat isn’t the magical solution without a method to buddy up and launch games – If 3.10 has that, then great – if not then it will add nothing because people don’t even talk when they’re in a game working to the same objective – In fact what little chat does go on will be killed by cross game chat, as the few people with mics will be talking to mates in other games.
  - Rob92 | 26/09/2009 20:56
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    lol I was trying to put emphasis on it if thats ok. No need to get patronising now.
    
    You can join up in games you know? Its not like you cant stay in a cross game chat and then simply invite your friend/s when your in the same game.
    
    I’d agree that most people don’t have mics, but then again I dont talk to anyone online that I dont know anyway. I’d much rather talk to my friend.
  - cc_star | 26/09/2009 21:05
    Team TSA: Writer
    12535 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    And that is the very issue with the PSN
    
    Games like which involve team play are silent – it really is half the expereince it could be. The XMB chatrooms are a half kind of solution, but they’re a bit clunky an unwieldy, if they could be interated in to the XMB better, and you can invite people to this lobby even if they’re in another game, and then everyone within it can launch a game, ending up in the in game lobby together – then cross game chat will be awesome, but if it’s just a feature where someone scoring a goal on FIFA can bother me, whilst I’m lining up a 2000yard headshot in Warhawk then it seems kind of pointless
    
    and sorry for that, you can use a quick html tag to help with emphasis, not that it really matters either way…….. < em >italicised< / em > remove all the spaces from the ‘em’ tags within the anglebrackets and hey presto italics
  - Rob92 | 26/09/2009 21:10
    Member
    2150 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
    
    True. I think its a matter of opinion. I’m probably more of a casual gamer in the respect that I dont really bother with tactics with people I don’t know. Thats why I probably prefer to have cross game chat so I can talk to my friends within a game.
    
    Aha cheers It works. I’m not much of a HTML user!
- Alex_Assassin_08 | 26/09/2009 20:50
  Member
  965 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
  
  what would be the point of a party system without cross game voice?
  
  also, why not just get an Xbox? it has both. If you get a PS3, be happy with what it offers. You chose to get it.
  - cc_star | 26/09/2009 20:52
    Team TSA: Writer
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    I am happy, I’m not the one moaning about cross game chat at every opportunity.
  - Rob92 | 26/09/2009 20:58
    Member
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    And neither are we!
    Look at the title and content of the article thats why we’re taling about it! I don’t see wh its such a problem :|
  - cc_star | 26/09/2009 21:08
    Team TSA: Writer
    12535 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    Neither do I – I just think its pointless on its own, and it will ruin what little in-game chat does go on
  - Alex_Assassin_08 | 26/09/2009 21:31
    Member
    965 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
    
    but CC, the fact of the matter is that PSN is a deadzone to Live users.
    
    Maybe if SONY had waited an extra year before launching the PS3, we would have had a seamless and integrated online aspect to the XMB, like with Xbox Live.
    
    And hell, eventually SONY should bundle every PS3 with mic, again like Xbox.
    
    I hope that in 2010 PS3 will see a huge overhaul to the XMB (AGAIN like Xbox) and get everyhting working properly :)
    
    Sorry if I’m coming across as a PS3 hater (i’m the opposite ^^) but damn, Micro$oft knew what they were doing in terms of online.
    
    And yes, I appreciate that PSN is free.
mynameisblair | 25/09/2009 17:06
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Wow… I am speechless.
- theshockwave | 25/09/2009 17:11
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  Blair, you keep posting these one liners that don’t add anything. Please stop.
  - mynameisblair | 25/09/2009 17:22
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    Just commenting on what my reaction was to this, I’m sure the people at TSA like feedback, even if it is only little.
  - theshockwave | 25/09/2009 17:35
    Member
    2793 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
    
    Really? Were you really speechless? I find that unlikely.
    And I’m sorry mate, but you do post for most stories and usually it doesn’t add much to a conversation. You just seem to be posting for the sake of posting.
  - mynameisblair | 25/09/2009 17:41
    Member
    4331 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
    
    Don’t want to argue with you, man.
    I try and post on every article on TSA, and I’m not trying to make a conversation, I’m just adding my opinion on the post.
    
    All I’m doing is writing some words, not offending anyone, no hate, just posting some comments.
    And I was speechless cause I thought Cross-game chat had been confirmed, and Sony were actually doing something to make the PSN even better.
    Sorry, if you don’t like my comments, I’ll take that on board and try and ‘add to the conversation’, but I’ll keep on commenting, cause this is my main source of gaming news and I like to be a part of it.
    Cheers.
  - theshockwave | 25/09/2009 17:49
    Member
    2793 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
    
    I don’t want to argue with you either. I just asked you, quite politely, to post stuff that people can reply to, laugh at, argue with… anything. I’m just saying that recently you have been posting unnecessary stuff.
    Like:
    http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/09/25/no-umd-conversion-for-go/
    http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/09/24/making-the-go-less-portable/
    http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/09/25/first-level-halo-3-odst/
    
    I am not saying you can’t post. Post as much as you like, just do it with something to say. Thanks.
  - mynameisblair | 25/09/2009 17:53
    Member
    4331 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
    
    Looks like I have a stalker ;)
    
    Right, I’ll get on with posting comments that people will love.
    Be prepared.
  - theshockwave | 25/09/2009 17:54
    Member
    2793 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
    
    That’s ma boy!
    And I’m not a stalker, just a secret lover. ;)
cc_star | 25/09/2009 17:06
Team TSA: Writer
12535 TSA Points | Member since: Forever

Presumably we’ll be able to use it in BF1943 then for in game chat
- Raen | 25/09/2009 17:07
  Team TSA: Writer
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  Would this be a “devlopers have to support it” feature like trophies? Or a full feature?
  - Hodgi92 | 25/09/2009 17:09
    The Thumb
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    Hopefully not.
  - cc_star | 25/09/2009 17:11
    Team TSA: Writer
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    Hopefully not, else it will be as rarely implemented as custom soundtracks and screenshot functionality
  - kevatron400 | 25/09/2009 21:29
    Don't call him Kevatron400.
    2204 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
    
    Ahh custom soundtracks and screenshot, my two most used features of the PS3
  - a inferior race | 28/09/2009 10:33
    I'm special
    2955 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
    
    In order to encourage developers to support, all of sony’s big 1st party titles would have to support it.
- nickerton | 25/09/2009 17:25
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  ZING!
- minerwilly | 25/09/2009 22:23
  Member
  1322 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
  
  This was exactly my first thought too CC . As it seems DICE , Sony , EA or whomever is to blame seem to be making no effort it would be fantastic to be able to chat in game in 1943 even if it just with my good mates and not random squad members though I suppose this could be possible too.
- paragers | 25/09/2009 23:34
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  Exactly my first thought when I read this story aswell, not being able to chat in BF1943 is a joke!
  - seedaripper1973 | 26/09/2009 11:20
    Member
    2423 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    i always thought it was ’911 is a joke’ (bit of flavorarism there) ;)