PS3: Offline – It’s So Much Better
Playing what I want, without fuss.Published 28/12/2009 at 12:30 by nofi
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I’m a big fan of the PlayStation Network. Since the PS3’s launch, via a delicate but powerful combination of gradual firmware updates and some hard work from SCEE with regards to the actual Store, the PSN has become a force to be reckoned with, especially as it’s (currently) free. However, since moving home midway through December and the inability of some companies to maintain a decent broadband connection, I’ve been off the grid.
The area I’m now in doesn’t have a 3G mobile network, and barely manages 2G according to my Hero, so although I can share the ‘phone’s connection with the PS3 it’s not going to let me connect to the Network in any reasonable capacity. At first, I thought this would be terrible – I’d not be able to download whatever’s on the Store and I wouldn’t be able to see what my friends are playing at any given time. Actually, as it happens, it’s been a revelation.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that long term having an ‘offline’ PS3 is preferable to one connected to the great white cloud we call the web, but during the family-based Christmas period it’s been a blessing from above. I’m not bothered by friends requests from people I don’t know, or randoms asking me when TSA’s going to be updated next. I don’t have to sit through five hundred signing in notifications either, which is great when watching PlayTV.
And yes, I know that I’m currently missing out on Braid and Blue Toad, but I’ve finished Braid on the 360 and Blue Toad, according to the all knowing Edge, isn’t very good so I’m not in a rush to spend my downloadable bandwidth on those two particular gems. I did manage to borrow someone’s connection and download the GTR for Forza III (and Team 17’s wicked Alien Breed) though, but I’ve stayed offline on the Xbox too. It’s just better.
The biggest issue, of course, is TheSixthAxis. Whilst playing games offline has meant I can catch up on some older games without being hassled, writing for the site has had to take something of a backseat too until a whisper of something approaching a decent bandwidth drifts past my mobile, but each time I check it looks like we’re not missing much news anyway. Sure, there’s talk of a FFVII remake but who really cares about that?
So, yeah, it’s back to the family and the occasional blast of Jericho or Heavenly Sword or Half Life 2, something I’ve been meaning to re-play for over a year and only now, in this post-Killzone 2 generation, does the storyline actually shine. Sure, the graphics are pretty poor in comparison but at least there’s a distinct lack of generic buzz-cut foul mouthed ’spare marines’ to get in my way. Just Barney shouting ‘Hey Gordon’ over and over again.
And once that’s done, I’ll play through Portal again. Couldn’t ask for any more.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.« Previous 1 2
« Previous 1 2
Topov81 | 28/12/2009 18:45
Member
263 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
“I don’t have to sit through five hundred signing in notifications”
“It would be nice to be able to disable or shrink the notification box.”
Notifications can can disabled under Settings. I’ve always done this – the downside used to be that you’d miss a message, but now you have the envelope in the menu bar. Also this only friends sign in/outs and messages, you still get notification of download completions and your own PSN sign in/out.
Topov81 | 28/12/2009 18:46
Member
263 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
Last sentence should read “Also this only friends sign in/outs and messages, you still get notification of download completions and your own PSN sign in/out.”
Why no edit function ?
Deathbrin | 28/12/2009 20:30
Member
945 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
It may be well late, but i honestly can’t spot a difference.
skibadee | 28/12/2009 19:00
Member
3910 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
I am more of a single player guy myself every now & then I pop in.
Deathbrin | 28/12/2009 20:28
Member
945 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
I’m amused how the mostly antisocial persons devote themselves to a community website, a thing that works for the very people they hate.
LiquescentShadow | 28/12/2009 21:13
Member
1576 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
It’s hardly antisocial to not want your gaming actions watched every second. It’s not like he replies to every message he gets with “Fuck off!”
Also, running a community website is worlds different from not wanting to play online.
LiquescentShadow | 28/12/2009 21:11
Member
1576 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
It’s a refreshing change to be back like the old days of gaming isn’t it? Shame it doesn’t last as long as you want it to…
name | 29/12/2009 08:05
Member
116 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
you know you can turn off reminders right?
your missing out on some really cool stuff, just downloaded the dantes inferno demo, army of two the 40th day demo and the GT5 time trial.
and there keeping me afloat in the drought, till darksiders comes out.
and i dont like the sound of that “currently”
please dont jinx us.
the day sony starts charging for the PSN is the day my ps3 goes on ebay, and i go back to the PC.