Sony May Reconsider New Friends Format On XMB

Don't think Sony hasn't heard about your feedback concerning the recently released firmware update 3.00. They really are listening, and it seems they're considering re-revamping that new-look Friends list.

Perhaps it was one of the first things you noticed after downloading update 3.00. Gray boxes surround each friend on your list, and while we get the helpful addition of a few new statistics, it really doesn't jive with the sleek presentation of the XMB. And after SCEE's PS3 Brand Manager said on the European PlayStation Blog, "updates to firmware don't always suit everyone's tastes," we find that Sony is "looking into" the Friends list complaint. Mark Bowles also said they "appreciate the feedback," so whenever you feel the need to speak up about a new update, don't think your feedback falls on deaf ears. Okay, if you're in the minority, it might fall on deaf ears, but if a lot of people dislike something, they're likely to let everyone know. So what do you think? Do you believe Sony should change that Friends list back to the way it was? Or do you like the new format? Or would you prefer some other design? Sure, they got rid of the "PlayStation 3" logo when games boot up (slightly faster loading times), but even then, people can have mixed opinions.

Obviously, most users are more interested in some of the technical issues caused by firmware 3.00, but hey, cosmetics matter too, ya know.

9/10/2009 9:18:13 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (53 posts)

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Xra897
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 9:47:40 PM
Reply

some people didnt like it but i didnt really mind, but i hope its optional cuz it might turn out even more un satisfying

2 up, 0 down

Swim_Irr
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 9:53:50 PM
Reply

Oh man... Those grey bars are horrendous. But the scrolling game info is a great addition

4 up, 2 down

Highlander
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10:39:10 PM

The grey bars just don't look like they belong with the rest of the XMB interface.

2 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10:49:41 PM

They do look a tad out of place. Random.

1 up, 0 down

Frenchy17
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:23:16 PM

Agreed, huge grey bars gotta go!

0 up, 0 down

Wage SLAVES
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 5:12:03 AM

The update was soo a WIN except for that lazy @ss grey bar friends thing. A prettier XMB with the nice sparkle then on the far corner a Huge gray splotch of friends, bleah!!

0 up, 0 down

Masterofallz
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 9:55:25 PM
Reply

God, I hate the complainers so much. I mean, I realize that people have different opinions, but I just blew up on anybody that said Sony 'sucked' because of those gray boxes.

3 up, 3 down

Jawknee
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10:51:21 PM

Maybe Sony can make it better. I don't hate them but they could do better.

0 up, 0 down

Gregory Freeman
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 9:57:46 PM
Reply

YES! the first time something i post in the forum's turns into a news article!!

lol srry its kewl...

and imo, it looks awesome!!

0 up, 2 down

Origami_Killer
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10:30:48 PM
Reply

Sony should keep them both and let the ps3 owner choose. They should do the same with the ticker and the extra store icons.

4 up, 0 down

Qwarktast1c
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 12:07:09 AM

definitely

0 up, 0 down

mexgeo86
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10:31:23 PM
Reply

Honestly, as long as the network is stable and keeps adding new functions, I'm indifferent to how the menus and lists look.

2 up, 0 down

fatelementality
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10:38:36 PM
Reply

At least they listen to feedback and try to please the masses. As long as it's a legitimate complaint that's made by the majority of PS3 users, then Sony should adjust the firmware accordingly.

3 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10:41:38 PM
Reply

If they're listening to the feedback, that's great, but they also need to get more pro-active about issues like the counterfeit Dualshock controllers that people have that are no longer terribly compatible. I'm not suggesting Sony should support them, but they should at least get the message out that the lock-up problems in Firmware 3.0 are largely the result of these fake DualShock controllers.

2 up, 0 down

SkantDragon
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10:53:04 PM
Reply

The sheer amount of whining from most of the commenters on PlayStation Blog is insane. I mean... they just bi*** about every little thing. Especially if it's a tiny nitpick.

And then they get really upset that Sony "isn't listening to them" when Sony doesn't respond to juvenile comments. "Why didn't you personally respond to my previous comment where I called all of your mothers whores because you increased the font size, Sony? Why don't you ever care about your customers?!"

I couldn't care less about the gray boxes.

I would like to have an option to turn that ticker off though.

Last edited by SkantDragon on 9/10/2009 10:54:39 PM

5 up, 0 down

H8WL3R
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 2:07:07 AM

I also thought the grey boxes aren't the most terrible addition to the XMB. That being said however, having info in them does improve it and it would be nice if they were possibly more dynamic and/or could match the background (either by one's choosing of colour and/or some other type of blending). I do overall like the aesthetic of it and don't think it surpasses 2.80 by leaps and bounds nor is it dramatically different either. Some of the things can be turned on/off (such as What's New? and the sparkle effect). The bigger font also doesn't bother me so much on a HDTV and can actually help in seeing the text a bit better, however on non HDTV that change is definetly... apmlified.

One of the things has has bothered me far more thus far though, is the fact that some of the rumble has disappeared from one the games I was enjoying immensely. I do not like the fact that The Darkness, that had supported the vibration function previously (with 2.80 anyway) no longer seems to. I'm hoping that will be restored and it wasn't purposely yanked. I tend to like the option of vibration/rumble in most games.

Overall though I do find that it seems to be running games, movies and such overall with more fluidity. Has anyone else noticed (or is it just me)? Most importantly, I find that technical improvements and tweaks, along with added features and bonuses to be more benificial. In my opinion, choices though, whether cosmetic or technical (generally with improvements/additions and not retractions) are great and benefit us in the end.

Last edited by H8WL3R on 9/11/2009 2:23:19 AM

0 up, 0 down

Squirreldriver
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:02:11 PM
Reply

I really had no problem with 3.0 I mean, how long are you going to stare at the grey bars anyway? But I would definitely support an option to turn it and the scrolling bar off. Great to know they are listening though. The squeaky wheel gets the grease! ;)

@TheHighlander
What fake DS3 are you refering to exactly? I have a white one that I imported from JA and it too has issues after the update. I've only tested it in Batman:AA but it did lose the connection a couple of times. But trust me, I know it's not a counterfeit. I've had it entirely apart while modifying it and the PCB and all the guts are the same as my 2 black DS3's.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:22:18 PM

Apparently there are some fake DS3 controllers being sold. From what I have read it's fake ceramic white controllers. They look just like DualShock 3 controllers, and are marked and branded as Sony controllers, but there are a few telltale signs.

From what I'm seeing, after Firmware 3.0 a lot (or all) of them are initializing as controller 7 when you turn them on (LEDs 1 and 2 are lit). Some games may need controllers to be in ports 1 or 2. So a controller that initializes as port 7 may not be correctly identified. Certainly if you have the Singstar microphones plugged into your PS3 and start yourPS3 by pressing the PS button on your controller, you'll find using Home a challege because your controller will initialize as controller 2, and Home won't see it. You can use the XMB with any controller, but when you start Home, it has to be controller 1 or nothing responds. The 'funny' thing is that it will look just like Home has locked up, and nothing will work until you hit the PS button.

Of course there also might be a problem with the BlueTooth circuitry such that the fake controllers don't sync properly with the PS3.

Here's a YouTube of someone with a fake DS3 (though considering the flaw in the button layout on their controller, they should have noticed it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9JRxzOaECE

Last edited by Highlander on 9/10/2009 11:22:56 PM

2 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 12:18:30 AM

I just watched that video and yeah, he points out the flaw in the buttons. Pretty obvious and ugly.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 1:23:49 AM

Yep. Judging by the comments on Joystiq, and the Playstation forums and other places most of the fake controllers are not quite so obviously flawed. It sounds like Sony added something to the BlueTooth handshaking code that has gimped the fake ones. Whether they did it on purpose or not isn't yet clear. Personally I think they'd be well within their rights to do that since they've taken a bath on the cost of the PS3 and have to make back the investment through game and accessory sales.

Having said that, I'd be pretty ticked if it turned out that my DualShock 3 was a fake, and that Sony deliberately gimped it.

Sony is damned if they do or don't in that regard.

2 up, 0 down

jaybiv
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 10:09:35 AM

Highlander, a customer who bought a fake DS3 can't be mad at Sony if they did gimp the controllers. Sony has to protect their investment. Just as I couldn't be mad at say Gamestop if they refused to take a counterfeit bill I was unknowingly trying to pass to them.

2 up, 0 down

Culoslap
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:05:29 PM
Reply

I'm all for the new friends list format. The current is aesthetically annoying. I wish Sony would allow more customization options. For example, when I get a message or a friend signs on/off, why can't their current avatar show up instead of the generic buddy icon?

Instead of a boring gray box we could change it to whatever color we wanted. A customized color for each friend. The more customization options we have the easier it is to make everyone happy.

2 up, 0 down

ThugNificent101
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:48:20 PM

Exactly
Customization is key.

We simply want more options is all. I personally like what they were trying to achieve with the friends list, but it was executed very poorly.
If they would have made the boxes more transparent - as seen in the picture - it would have been much more appealing, as the grey boxes simply dont go with the backgrounds on the XMB... especially the dynamic themes.
if they were to have the color change for the friend boxes, then they could - as you said - make the colors fully costomizable for each person, or have the color change in conjunction with the theme (changes with the month or something of the sort)

along the same lines, but not necessarily on topic... I would like an option to have sound notifications when a friend logs on and/or messages you. Only then will i be able to create the PERFECT Metal Gear Solid Theme =)

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 4:07:02 AM

I would guess the current set-up is a placeholder and that Sony always planned to refine the boxes as they added functionality (similar to the mock-up). There's a lot of empty space. I'm sure they had a reason for the opaque boxes, but I bet the next version is more transparent.

I wish they would increase the length of the comment bubble and the "about me" field...just generally more info in the profile.

As for customization, I would rather have more practical options (e.g., choosing which kinds of notifications we want to receive, instead of on/off) than aesthetic options.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 9/11/2009 4:11:13 AM

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:18:36 PM
Reply

Bring back a "PS" symbol of sorts when you start a game

That's ALWAYS been an important part of Sony's consoles!

By the way, I actually LOVE the new friends list grey boxes, really individualizes each friend. Makes it less painful to find them as well.

3 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:23:45 PM

Indeed, it's actually so important that it features as the PS button icon. I'd love to see the old style PS1 initialization screen when a game starts.

2 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:37:03 PM

The powerful rumble of Sony's logo followed by the BRILLIANT sounding PS logo is still the best startup of any console to date.

I'm with you on that one, they should bring back the PS logo in one form or another.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:45:55 PM

I miss the PS start up too.

2 up, 0 down

Banky A
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:47:37 PM
Reply

Well I like it. But I'll love an even better looking one lol.

I am easily impressed, which is just how I want to stay ^_^
I pretty much can't get disappointed right?

0 up, 0 down

Banky A
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 3:22:34 PM

Yessss lol

0 up, 1 down

Ricochet
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:53:15 PM
Reply

Fix the freezing game(s) issue. Other than that I can deal with the huge gray boxes.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 1:24:31 AM

Is it freezing games or de-syncing counterfeit controllers?

1 up, 0 down

BigT_1980
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 12:49:02 AM
Reply

The only I am really concerned with the 3.00 update is the extra PlayStation store icons under the video and game sections of the XMB. The only place it should be under is network section of the XMB. And fix the controller issue. All the other stuff is cosmetic and isn't that big of a deal with me.

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 4:19:53 AM

Or at least move them away from the "central" vertical placement and put them all in the same relative position.

1 up, 0 down

Douchebaguette
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 1:25:19 AM
Reply

Hhahahahahah. Watched that video last night; the guy has an awesome idea of what PSN should be like. Only thing that's possibly flawed about it is the fact that PSN trophies display / sync takes aagges to load.

They should also stop gimmicking the PS2 logo and use the logo above.

0 up, 1 down

Douchebaguette
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 12:09:00 PM

Actually the PS3's is Mata-bold. Practically the same.

And by "PS2 gimmick", I didn't mean Spidey. I meant the new PS3 Slim logo [which looks alot like the squarish PS2, PSP ones].

They've also updated their original Zrnic font, yet they don't show it that much anymore. Makes me a ssaaddd pandaa =[

0 up, 0 down

___________
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 2:04:04 AM
Reply

thats the fan made change i was talking about, im really starting to wonder who if not what is in charge of the ps3 XMB and FW updates.
i mean fans kids for christs sake are doing a better job than a mutli billion dollar company.
now what does that say?
i dont know about you, but i would be really blue if i was sony now.
thats not the only one we have seen to, ive lost count on how many trophy and friend fan made comparisons i have seen and every one looks better than the one sonys done.

0 up, 1 down

Highlander
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 2:22:31 AM

The trouble with fan based ideas is that they suit the person that made them and a vocal minority of supporters. But they may not suit everyone. Sony has to cater to the whole audience, not just a small part of it.

That said, the gray bars suck mightily.

1 up, 0 down

___________
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 8:35:55 AM

true but hop on the playstation blog US theres hundreds of posts saying sony should use that one.
if sony did implement that user created one they would be nothing but high praises it looks incredible.
im positive there will not be 1 complaint, well you cant please everyone but i cant see why someone would not like it.

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 12:25:47 PM

You also have to consider the Japanese, the Europeans, and those in other countries

The Japanese might really love the new appearance.
I know I do

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 12:38:26 PM

@Scarecrow,

Everything except th4e gray bars is a big win.

0 up, 0 down

RadioHeader
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 5:17:22 AM
Reply

If Sony are really listening... I think each trophy - bronze, silver, gold, platinum should have its own jingle. Use the current sound for bronze but each higher one has a little more jazz to it, and when you reach the Plat, it should play Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody in full!

...Okay, maybe not the Queen song but you know what I mean. They should differentiate the trophy sounds to make acquiring them a little more satisfying. Sorry if I'm slightly off topic but I've been sitting on this dynamite idea for a while now.

2 up, 0 down

RadioHeader
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 8:26:46 AM

Now you're getting it, ffrulez. It could be the current bling for bronze, the silver would be be biddlybing, the gold - biddlybiddlybing, and the Plat - biddlybiddlybaddlybuddlyBING!!!!!!*jazz hands*

I never realised how easy it was to write music :P

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 7:09:43 PM

That's a damn good idea RadioHeader.

0 up, 0 down

kevinater321
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 6:44:31 AM
Reply

I actually like it. But i think someone said it above that people should have the option to have the gray bars. Well maybe there is, i for one have not been in the settings tab in a little wile. (excluding the theme tab)

0 up, 0 down

tridon
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 10:16:10 AM
Reply

Even though the gray boxes do make it easier to see your friends name if you have a light-coloured wallpaper/theme, they still are rather ugly. If Sony gave you options to change the colours or even the shapes, I think this would make a lot of people happier. However, things are more important to me for Sony fix such as the ability to play Uncharted without the game freezing. Priorities should be made first before worrying about the prettiness of the XMB.

0 up, 0 down

BeezleDrop
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 11:22:22 AM
Reply

I'm satisfied with the update, I can understand complaints, I heard about it bricking some systems. I just don't have any issues with it, well except for the CUSTOM AVATARS being no where to be seen.

0 up, 0 down

Robochic
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 1:17:45 PM
Reply

Would like custom avatars please :) or just something new please :) hate having to see that ugle kitty cat which is the only thing I can tolerate

0 up, 0 down

Randomhero1
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 2:17:01 PM
Reply

I like the new bar thing. Makes it look better.

0 up, 0 down

JPBooch
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 2:37:27 PM
Reply

I like them. Much easier to see who is on-line. Th eold one blended in with the XMB and was annoying. I left the original XMB wallpaper because I got frustrated trying to read messages with the background.

0 up, 0 down

Bugzbunny109
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 4:07:55 PM
Reply

I WANT MY SPIDIE LOGO BACK! I loved the old playstation 3 logo. Also, they need to get rid of those gray boxes.

1 up, 0 down

Alienange
Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 7:12:16 PM
Reply

Never mind friends list, what the hell is with the files fading away into nothing when I sit on one for a second?

0 up, 0 down

mykjessnjr
Saturday, September 12, 2009 @ 10:29:55 AM
Reply

Agree that customization is the key. It's all gonna be based on personal preference- one person may like it, while the other one hates it.I think in the future updates, it should be made as an option, not automatically thrown into the mix.

0 up, 0 down

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