Sony prepping firmwares updates for PS3 launch

You might've hoped that after years of PS3 strife -- coupled with a couple of weeks in line, of course -- that once you'd forked over your $600 + games + accessories + HDMI, you could finally plop down on the couch and start washing away all the grief with MotoStorm / Genji / Ridge Racer / Resistance, smug in your next-gen digs. Well, you can... after you run a quick firmware update. See, Sony saved its PlayStation Network online service functionality for a version 1.1 update, which can be accessed from a menu item on the PS3 on launch day. Sony says it's also prepping a 3.0 PSP update for late November that will also add PlayStation Network support, along with the ability to access PS3 content via WiFi.

[Raia @ Nov 10th 2006 11:45AM]

Jay, heavy sarcasm there. I was poking fun at a statement Krazy Ken (PS Boss man) made. He said something to the effect of 'ps3 will last two console cycles, 10 years'

[Sizer @ Nov 9th 2006 7:30PM]

Me: 'What if your PS3 isn't hooked up to TEH INTARWEB?'
Kaz: 'But how can that be?'

[Kev50027 @ Nov 9th 2006 7:37PM]

Oh, finally an Engadget post about the PS3 that doesn't criticize every little effing thing about it. Thanks Engadget. Please, PLEASE stop the idiotic childish bias. It's getting really old, and annoying. Seriously, just look at the comments of your other posts. We're all tired of it.

[Boorcove @ Nov 9th 2006 7:39PM]

yeah really...i'm eventually going to get a ps3, but i feel bad for the people that get it then have to wait those agonizing minutes to download and install the update...

[Zhoe Garcia @ Nov 9th 2006 7:48PM]

an update?!?! omFG!

ps3 ftw!

[Otsego @ Nov 9th 2006 7:56PM]

if you can friggin afford a friggin PS3, chances are you already have a friggin highspeed connection.

if not, you have no business owning a ps3.

[Jonathan Keim @ Nov 9th 2006 8:00PM]

Some rich people live in the country and satilite internet isn't really all that fast.

[willie @ Feb 21st 2007 11:22AM]

So your saying because I live on a farm and satelite nor broadband isn't offered in my area, I shouldn't be given the opportunity to play a playstation 3?

[Neebs @ Nov 9th 2006 8:15PM]

Day 1 patches, always good for a product.

[Intrepid @ Nov 9th 2006 8:19PM]

HAHAHA. Sony sucks and so does anyone that buys this rubbish.

[roundabout @ Nov 9th 2006 8:21PM]

If you don't have an internet connection, you don't need the update. Look at what it's for. That includes you MSNgadget.

[Rainier @ Nov 9th 2006 8:30PM]

Wut in da Hail?!?!

[Chris @ Nov 9th 2006 8:32PM]

Im gonna be in line for a ps3 tonight (10 or so hour wait), gonna try and blog updates (if anything interesting is happening) and if all goes well, ill have one by tomorrow morning! Yay!

My blog\'s at http://blogger-off.com

And - Whats with everyone moaning about the PS3 pricetag?? A high end graphics card costs more, a blue ray drive costs more, and the PS3 has alot more than just that! Unlike most people, im initially buying the system for the hardware, then the games. Its just so cheap for all the hardware you are getting.

And - Most people (gamers anyway) in Japan are on a 100mbps (up and down) fibre connection, so net speed aint a problem.

[Steve @ Nov 9th 2006 8:36PM]

Getting a little old with the sony bashing, how much are you getting paid?

[Raia @ Nov 9th 2006 9:05PM]

Me: 'What if your PS3 isn't hooked up to TEH INTARWEB?'
Kaz: 'But how can that be?'

You: Kaz, broadband penetration isnt what it is in Japan
Kaz: Oh, don't worry PS3 is going to last 10 years, bu then everyone will have it

[TC @ Nov 9th 2006 9:25PM]

Hmmm... My 360 had a patch waiting for me as soon as I got it. Also it didn't come with HDMI cables. Just like every other HD CE product out there.

[James @ Nov 9th 2006 9:32PM]

ppl who buy this at launch should be shot. the games will SUCK. Genji was the only thing that even looked mildly good and it got a 6.4 on Gamespot and the gameplay looks more repetitive and boring than Dynasty Warriors.

[Toe TagR @ Nov 9th 2006 9:44PM]

"What's with the SONY bashing" ...are you seriously serious? I'LL TELL YOU WHY. are you Sony fans die hard or what? Do you have a blindfold wrapped around your eyes!!!

GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!! HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEWS LATELY? Sony products suck bro! The Laptop batteries BLOWING up, The consoles overheating at the last gameshow, now an update required (not software, FIRMWARE) I have no problem paying a lot of money for a console IF IT WORKS.

People have been waiting for the PS3 since spring (when sony promised it would debut)You couldn't convince me to own a Sony product EVEN IF IT WAS FREE!!! The last SONY thing I bought was a Mini-Disc Player. I really thought everyone was gonna buy one. I was just with my friend at the mall and he bought a 1GB memory stick for $65 NO LIE! I was like Dude you know you can buy a 1GB SD card for $19.99 He was like, "yea but I can't use those with my PSP"

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEIR BLU-RAY!!!

I can see it now...
...Dude why don't you just buy an HD-DVD...cause I have a Blu-ray drive built right into my snazzy PS3 that only me and 2 other people in my town own.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 10th 2006 12:48AM]

Firmware IS software. And the XBox had just as many, if not more reports of freezing, crashing, and overheating before and after it's release. How about YOU take off the blindfold?

[Amber-Daisie @ Nov 9th 2006 10:07PM]

I believe the firmware will ship with these three games. Genji: Days of the Blade, Ridge Racer 7 and Resistance: Fall of Man. So no need to download it.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/744/744063p1.html

[Zach @ Nov 9th 2006 11:06PM]

"..that will also add PlayStation Network support, along with the ability to access PS3 content via WiFi."

So out of the box a $599 ps3 won't even support it's built in wifi?

[VaSt_NsT @ Nov 9th 2006 11:09PM]

weird how they complain about $600
how come theres no complaining of $2000 computers televsions?

y, is it because its worth it?
im guessing people are thinking its not worth the money (the ps3 which is $600)
and don't computers have games also? so whats with the +games +accessories

[Jeremy @ Nov 9th 2006 11:12PM]

I say it's brilliant. What better way to keep "accidentally pre-relelased" consoles from using a gaming network that might not be completely working before launch day?

Out of the box, the console will only connect to the update server, which isn't turned on until launch day. If you're online and want to play, just download the "enabler" patch, and go. If you aren't online, there's no need for you to enable the online content.

(What the crap am I doing defending Sony? I'm a Nintendo/Apple fanboy!)

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 10th 2006 12:48AM]

You mean like the Wii system disk? Apparently it's OK for Nintendo...

So, you say you want to get online with the PS3, but online capability requires a software update, which you have to connect online to get, but you say you don't have an internet connection? Am I missing logic here?

You said it yourself, the update is required for the online part of it. If you don't have an internet connection, why are you worried about it?

[Kyle @ Nov 10th 2006 9:37AM]

Hey, moron, software is NOT firmware. There is a MASSIVE difference.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Computer_abstraction_layers.PNG

See, the software sits at the application level. It's the firmware that allows OS to interact with the hardware that manages the software. Really, it's not even close.

Maybe you'd know that if you stopped blowing Sony long enough to look it up...

[David @ Nov 10th 2006 1:24AM]

Everything has problems when they first come out, be glad that Sony is finally on top of things and wants to keep everything up to date. And I agree with everyone else, if you can't get online then you dont even need this update. Anyways won't most of us want to mess around with setting the system up and getting used to everything before jumping online???

[MPG @ Nov 10th 2006 1:45AM]

"Everything has problems when they first come out,"

Uhm.... nope. The vast majority of gaming consoles did not have any problems whatsoever when they first came out. In fact, I know many people who prefer consoles over PC gaming for exactly THAT reason - they don't have to worry about hardware conflicts and they don't have to deal with driver updates.

BTW, as far as Sony bashing goes - check out some other websites from time to time, there's hardly anything but bad news about Sony and the PS3 nowadays. I guess I could count as somewhat of a Sony fanboy, seeing how I own a Sony TV, video camera, digital camera, PDA and until very recently an AIBO, but even a fanboy has to realize at some point that this has been a really crappy year for Sony, and - shockingly enough - they are well on their way to being beaten by Nintendo in the console business.

[pete @ Nov 10th 2006 9:36AM]

Am I the only one that silently freaks out whenever doing a firmware update on anything?
The fear of bricking induces near-paralysis in me for that minute or so (What if the power suddenly goes out? What if it crashes in the middle? What if someone sneezes?).
Anyone who bricks their PS3, after standing in line for 9 days, the first time they power up the system , should be given a voucher allowing them to kick both Kaz and Kutaragi in the 'nads.
Good luck getting a replacement - remember what happened with defective launch 360's? People had to wait for weeks for their replacements.
You have my sympathy.

[2nd2none @ Nov 10th 2006 5:20PM]

ey dumbass....when it comes to electronics, you're either dealing with software, or hardware, and i DONT think a firmware update is considered hardware. if you were smart enough, you' d realize there are different types of software.

and by the way....wikipedia is not a good source to look up things, considering anyone who has access to the internet can change the info there (duh)

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 10th 2006 7:24PM]

Perhaps you need to go back to school and stop reading Wikipedia, which is still correct according to your picture. Anything that can be reprogrammed without swapping hardware is considered software. Software includes the Kernel, OS, Firmware and anything else run my assembly or machine language.

[Togashi @ Nov 10th 2006 5:05PM]

GG Sony, whats next a recall on the bad dvd player. ooh I want to see an exploding power supply!

I think I'll just stick with my NES and computer for gaming. Consoles dont offer much and the games all end up on PC anywho. Long live PC Gaming!