Adding SingStar to the PS3’s XMB was a genius move. But we’ll come back to that.
Yesterday, when the latest firmware revision rolled around, people excitedly jumped onboard and updated their PlayStation 3s, largely blissfully unaware that their XMB, the user interface at the heart of the console, would be invaded, corrupted and systematically destroyed by an icon. It was, if you believe everything you read on the internet, a disaster for Sony.
Up in arms, the PlayStation faithful claimed conspiracy, SingStar’s content manager went on a PR-ruining rampage and, incredibly, decisions were made over some gamers’ choice of next generation console. Because of this icon, you can surmise, whatever Sony were to bring out next (let’s assume for obvious reasons it’s the PlayStation 4) it wouldn’t sell, because they wouldn’t buy it.
Ludicrous, right?
Well, that depends. Whilst there were (literally) hundreds and thousands of comments on the official channels that hated the presence of the new icon – which was, in case you’ve been asleep for two days, for family friendly singing game SingStar – there was something approaching an element of reasoning behind the rather barbed (and frankly ridiculous) complaints.
A reasoning that needs just one extra factor to make it hold any sense: the icon should be deletable. If it was, all the issues with people shouting that it “shouldn’t be in the Game menu” or that it’s “on top of all my other games” would be moot – it could just be hidden, or even moved into another folder out of the way. But it can’t – it’s fixed there, and that’s what the issue is.
There’s literally no need for Sony to lock users into having the icon (and its accompanying background screen) right at the top of the other games you might have downloaded – that’s just silly. It’s not that it’s automatically part of the XMB, that in itself would be fine if it could be moved – it’s simply the fact that it’s another click down to get to your games, or it’s something you need to skip past if you’re embarrassed to have a singing game on your console.
Wait, what?
Yep, I’ve seen it. We live in a world where everything has to be instant and everything has to conform to our own ideals. Of course, everyone hates change, but if that change can’t be moulded into something more akin to our current preferences, we rebel. In the age of the internet, this means voicing our opinions everywhere, and those opinions spread.
They’re not entirely invalid, as I’ve said, but complaining about having to tap down twice to get past it should really have been levelled at the fact that Trophies are now way over to the right – getting to those in a game takes more effort than dodging SingStar.
[drop2]But, and here’s where we come back to the statement at the start: SingStar represents Sony’s push for the casual market at this twilight stage of the PS3’s life – much as it did with the PS2. It’s the casual, family market that’ll now continue the sales of the console, something that’s evidenced by the massive attention the platform holder is giving to Wonderbook.The PS3 is no longer just about the core gamer, the priorities are shifting.
To a family, seeing that icon on the XMB won’t be a thing of disgust or disdain, it’ll be a curio, that’s clicked and explored. It’ll open up something that they might not have discovered before, and, coupled with the new option to sing via a PlayStation Eye (a device bundled with the equally casual friendly Move) they can jump in and start singing immediately. Playing. Clever, right?
And SingStar is a brilliant game, easily the most refined in the genre and boasting some pretty good tracks. My own circumstances mean it’s seldom used these days, but we, as a family and with friends, spent many a night blasting out the hits until the wee hours, and Sony are now hoping to attract a new group of people that won’t know the game exists.
That, clearly, is genius.
You might not like the icon, and chances are Sony will backtrack in a future update and let you remove it for good, but whilst it’s true that its placement could have been tweaked (at least once loaded) or even hidden, if it means more people get involved and the market for potential future games increases, surely that’s a good thing?
Me? I’m now indifferent. Although I’ve slept on it.
Moonpie
I don’t mind that it is on there, i just wish that I had the ability to move it somewhere else.
Blayney
I don’t play my PS3 much any more. However I have used it this week and downloaded this FW update.
I haven’t noticed the icon? Nor do I get what the fuss is about? Sony made the XMB ugly a long time ago when they changed the resolution it displayed at.
I’ll tell you what people should be complaining about more – how bad the store is now.
The Von Braun
The Sony of PS3 generation, very different it seems to that of those i ‘knew’ when i bought my launch Playstation 1.Back then, they seemed hell bent on delivering what the customer wanted and if you had a hardware problem, or just a general question? always happy to help.
Never had much to do with them PS2 era..won a launch model PS2, was’nt impressed, soon sold it, bought an Xbox.
Returned to Sony fold with PSP, then PS3 (which developed a problem), Sony took a very arrogant ‘Not possible’ approach when i described issue (lubricant on discs!), followed by a blunt ‘people on forums are liars’ answer when i said others had posted about same issue.
I did’nt want Singstar icon anymore than i wanted to download patches for Move and 3DTV support on games i’d purchased, but what does Sony care, they seem oblivous to how much PS3 initally struggled or how Vita continues to do so.
I’ll be watching PS4 and Sony’s attitude very closely before purchasing next gen.
ARIES5I
What kind of gamer are you if you complain about an icon? Hello you still have free online, Blutooth and Bluray wireless everything, built in wifi, web browser, PSN Plus, Home, and oh yeah tons of exclusive high quality games. But your right, nevermind all that. This icon is more important than anything. I’m going to put my life on hold to complain about this icon. Tomorrow I will make posters and go protest in the streets. I will not shower or go to school until the icon is removed. Screw gaming. I’m done. Thanks SingStar, for showing up as pixels and my screen and ruining life for me.