Sony VP promises in-game XMB, NA video download service, PlayStation Cards in '08

It doesn't seem like those Sony firmware engineers will be a getting a break any time soon. With the PlayStation 3's v2.30 firmware and its DTS-HD MA / PS store upgrades barely settled Sony Senior VP Peter Dille jumped on the official PlayStation blog to let us know what the rest of 2008 has in store. In-game XMB? On the way this year, along with a video service that "separates the service from others you've seen or used...to give you the TV, movies and gaming content you want," and expanded community features. Also in store are PlayStation Cards (in $20 and $50 denominations) for the credit card-less among us. The four pillars of Sony's plan (community, free online gaming, digital media download services, and original content) hint towards the reasons we won't let the shiny beast get quite as dusty this year.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

[Lotheron @ Apr 16th 2008 7:31AM]

Maybe it's cause I don't own a PS3.. but what is XMB?

[Brian @ Apr 16th 2008 7:41AM]

XrossMediaBar

[nxtiak @ Apr 16th 2008 7:43AM]

"Xcross Media Bar"
Pretty much the Interface/GUI of the system.
You choose main stuff by pressing the left/right to choose from Game, Music, Video, etc.. then sub menus you press up/down.
So you press left and pick Photos, then press up or down to go to Slideshow. etc..

[Lotheron @ Apr 16th 2008 7:52AM]

Ahh, ok that makes sense. I hate it when people assume everyone knows what every acronym stands for.

[NHAnimator @ Apr 16th 2008 8:05AM]

What does "ok" stand for?

[Jason @ Apr 16th 2008 8:50AM]

xxxx cross media bar? wtf x im not seeing it... I guess i outta go get Zrayed. Mitch hedberg anyone?

[haulden @ Apr 16th 2008 9:47AM]

O.K.= Ol'Kinderhook a.k.a. Martin Van Buren.

[Frankenstein Black @ Apr 16th 2008 9:48AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XrossMediaBar

[Frankenstein Black @ Apr 16th 2008 9:58AM]

Oh yea, and it's an "Emmy award-winning" interface too ;^)...

[Michael @ Apr 16th 2008 11:06AM]

I don't have a PS3 either, but I do have access to Google, so I decided to look up XMB instead of ask a question that I could easily answer myself.

[Ben @ Apr 16th 2008 11:32AM]

I'm not sure how you define "easily answered" because I googled "in-game XMB" and "what is in-game XMB" and both only yielded results that talked about it coming, and not what it was. Some people just prefer the quickest way to an answer.

[BrokenFERN @ Apr 16th 2008 2:25PM]

Jason... Z-RAYED LOL!!! Nice Mitch Hedberg reference.

I had a parrot, but it did not say I'm hungry, so it died.

[nxtiak @ Apr 16th 2008 7:41AM]

Maybe call it "Pre Paid Cards" Cuz I thought you guys meant Gamer Cards (like on the the 360) with "Playstation Cards".

[Wisam @ Apr 16th 2008 8:22AM]

I thought so too

[caleb @ Apr 16th 2008 2:08PM]

These cards are fine, but as a new PS3 owner, is there anyway to add "money" to my "wallet" from my computer? As of now Sony has made the process of purchasing from the Store to painful for me to give them my money. I don't know how Sony managed to make the process so painfully.

[Bullitt @ Apr 16th 2008 7:49AM]

Gee, I wonder where they got the idea for prepaid cards to use to buy TV shows, movies, and game content. It's not like ANYONE could've come up with that before them. Not even rival game companies!

[whatphone @ Apr 16th 2008 7:54AM]

so what's the problem then? they just said that they'd introduce it. I think it's a good thing they do, since I am not willing to provide my credit card details. I'd much rather prefer the voucher route.

everything else sounds great as well. about time as well!

[SUPER DESU @ Apr 16th 2008 7:55AM]

I had no idea Apple was a gaming company?! D:

[Chris @ Apr 16th 2008 9:09AM]

Credit card companies came up with the idea of prepaid cards.

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 16th 2008 9:21AM]

It's not like Sony Online Entertainment has been doing prepaid game cards since the Everquest days either...

[Andy @ Apr 16th 2008 11:54AM]

The PSN cards are just to satisfy stupid customers. Prepaid Visa and Mastercard cards have worked on PSN since day one. Just go get one from the grocery store, or a bank, and its refillable and it works today.

[Justin @ Apr 16th 2008 12:56PM]

yea and i wonder where that other "game company" got the idea from? o yea maybe um "gift cards" at the retail stores. so don't come here with that weak crap.

[StephenD @ Apr 16th 2008 7:54AM]

I see he is regionalising the video download comment to North America. Why can't they hire a few more lawyers to negotiate these thins in all regions for simultaneous launch.

Grrrrrrr.

[Overseeker79 @ Apr 16th 2008 8:03AM]

Sony did *statistically* have a weak launch on the PS3. I had left mine folding@home a lot more than I actually played it.

Since that original purchase time, there's been a lot of improvement to the functionality and scalability of the system. The article on the Playstation Blog also reminds of the analysts quoting; "2008 is the year of the Playstation" - which will likely hold true if they can maintain this momentum that they have set themselves up for.

It's truely an amazing piece of hardware, there's no denying that. It will be exciting to watch how they will continue to grow with it and fully come to utilize it's raw computing power.

** Still a proud Playstation owner **

[Putty180 @ Apr 16th 2008 12:56PM]

agreed!!!!!

[Evan @ Apr 16th 2008 8:03AM]

The video service should appeal to the PS3's core audience of Blu-Ray/media-hub users, and Sony even threw in in-game XMB for the five people who play games on their PS3s!

Sarcasm aside, if the video service turns out to be good, it would further cement the PS3 as the best Blu-Ray player value-for-money and could lead to even more people buying the PS3 for use just as a media player.

[cduran01 @ Apr 16th 2008 9:15AM]

I think a little more than just 5 people use PS3's for games, unless the tons of people I see online playing Warhawk are playing it from their Xbox..... btw, I hope you do know that Warhawk is a PS3 exclusive.

[Reapman @ Apr 16th 2008 9:54AM]

"for the five people who play games on their PS3s!"

Wow that joke never gets old or anything.. what next call 360 users XBots? Or how the Wii is a kiddie console?

Back on TOPIC, I think this is great news... if they can add Home at least as a Beta to the lineup this could be pretty sweet, and long over due.

[Evan @ Apr 16th 2008 3:32PM]

Jeez, I even said it was sarcasm.

[STrRedWolf @ Apr 16th 2008 8:28AM]

That's not Snake, that's Jim Gordon from Gotham City!

[Qsat @ Apr 16th 2008 9:10AM]

And no word about HOME again, this is starting to look like vaporware to me, it's sad, that was something i was looking forward.

[Khaeos @ Apr 16th 2008 9:12AM]

patience is a virtue

[makishima @ Apr 16th 2008 9:59AM]

@Khaeos Yes it is. One that no one in the gaming community seems to actually have acquired unfortunately.

[deusfaux @ Apr 16th 2008 9:19AM]

How about getting on the PSP firmware engineers to do something about stuff like this:

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

[FrankTheCrank @ Apr 16th 2008 9:30AM]

What about CUSTOM SOUNDTRACKS????

You know, where I can play my own MP3's in the game?

XBOX has had this from the start!!!

[primetime4 @ Apr 16th 2008 11:15AM]

I imagine if you can access the XMB in game, than you can access your music files or stream them from your PC as well.

[nerrrrrrd @ Apr 16th 2008 9:49AM]

PS3 still playing catch-up.

[Brent Hollingsworth @ Apr 16th 2008 10:01AM]

I don't own a PS3, but I must say that Sony's dedication to improvement from launch is quite impressive. I might not be able to hold off much longer.

[Cal @ Apr 16th 2008 11:36AM]

They kind of have to don't they? They started out way behind. I figured they'd copy xbox live right out of the gate but it's taken until some unspecified time this year for it to happen.

[Putty180 @ Apr 16th 2008 1:06PM]

yea but they also didnt deliver on some stuff from launch like they said the would (2 HDMI ports ne one) which kinda made me mad. wat is the point of allowing 7 people to play if they can only play on 1 TV that is crazy. lol but either way i am still a proud PS3 owner and woudlnt have it any other way. cuz the 360 just sucks

[Jake @ Apr 16th 2008 1:28PM]

Whilst it would have been easy to copy Xbox live, Sony are being smart, they are taking the slow but sure method. Pretty much every post launch feature has totally eclipsed what the 360 can do, for that particular 360 feature.

The fact is, you get it better on PS3, but you have to be prepared to wait for it.

I have no doubt that when cross-game messaging and invites finally arrive, it will be better than the 360 offering.

[tiremfej @ Apr 17th 2008 1:07PM]

Jake, could you please enlighten me as to all the post PS3 launch features that eclipse the Xbox? I'm curious. You seem to be the all knowing one, and you're certain in game messaging is going to be better. I'd like to know.

In game chat? Nada
Custom Soundtracks? Nada
Cross Game Invites? Nope
Cross Game Chat? No
XMB? 360 day one. PS3 still finding it's way after a year and a half.

So please...tell me, it seems as if the PS3 is playing precious catch up to the 360. I mean it certainly isn't the multiplatform games that eclipse the 360 either.

[scott @ Apr 16th 2008 12:55PM]

Since I live in Europe (military), the PSN won't accept my overseas address. However, these $20 and $50 cards have been available at the local PX for about 4 months now.

[Putty180 @ Apr 16th 2008 1:26PM]

PX? wat is that

[Scott @ Apr 16th 2008 1:45PM]

It's the military-base equivalent of a walmart, except it's run by Aafes. Not sure what the P stands for, but the X is for Exchange.

[Teddy @ Apr 16th 2008 1:47PM]

If I'm able to pre-order the 80GB gunmetal gray PS3, on June 12th, I'll finally own a PS3 (I got my PS2 on the launch date). I'll be going to the SonyStyle store this weekend, so maybe I'll be able to pre-order then. I just picked up a PSP three weeks ago, so it looks like I'm coming back to Sony.

[Concura @ Apr 16th 2008 5:26PM]

The MGS Gunmetal Edition PS3 is supposedly a 40GB PS3, according to Konami. It will be very limited in quantity, the Japanese preorder sold out in just a short time.

There is another MGS bundle featuring the 80GB PS3 originally packaged with Motorcross bundles.

-C

[Matt Reb-izzle @ Apr 17th 2008 6:16PM]

Awesome news. however I'm holding off getting a PS3 until the MGS/80GB bundle arrives. Was playing GT5p at a friends house and wow, im sold.

This year could definately be the year of the PlayStation.

[jjsevdt @ Apr 16th 2008 6:36PM]

I work for the Military Exchange (Like Walmart on Base) and we've have the PSN cards since November, I assumed they were widely available already. I wonder why we have them for sale already if Sony is just barely claiming they will have them available.

[Skorpius @ Apr 16th 2008 7:56PM]

Backward compatibility, please.