Monday, October 6, 2008

Screw the PS4 rumors: PS3 will keep us busy for years

PS4 rumor is confusingI just bought a PlayStation 3 console when I read the rumors of a PlayStation 4 coming out soon and all the mind blowing possibilities of the theoretically new console. I could barely afford the PS3 much less worry about what its going to cost for a PS4. But, based on what Paul Holman (Sony Vice President of Technology) told TechEBlog in 2006, the PS4 will not be out until at least 2010.

Then there’s the rumor that the future PS4 will use the same existing cell processor that the current PS3 uses, according to a Japanese tech news site PC Watch. I’m not sure about that because if this rumor does prove to be true, I’d be sorely disappointed. For the most part, why invest in all these upgrades for the PS3 coming out soon only to purchase a PS4 which as we experienced with the PS3, having limited to no backwards playability again?

They just came out with a PS3 Bluetooth headset for the console, not to mention a possible controller that will function like the controllers of a Wii. Sony is still upgrading the PS3 and making it more backwards compatible for those of us still clinging to our PS2 to play our favorites.

What I found out about the new upgrades, which are done through firmware installs, will make the PS3 more media centric and help players become more social with the newest firmware upgrade using the trophy system. This current feature works like the Xbox 360 Achievement system that is displayed in your new profile complete with bronze, silver and gold trophies depending on a player’s game rank. According to Arstechnia this will encourage the social aspect of gaming.

The director of PlayStation Network Operations, Eric Lempel explains the newest update on his blog with a video on the PlayStation Blog website.

According to the blog, the games currently using the Trophy system include:

  • BUZZ! Quiz TV
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • MotorStorm Pacific Rift
  • NBA 09 - PS3
  • PAIN
  • PixelJunk Eden
  • Resistance 2
  • SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
  • Warhawk

To add to the excitement of the new update, Lempel wrote that the players currently using Playstation Network will have their friend’s list doubled to 100. Seriously, with all this investment in the PS3 continues to grow. In future firmware updates, the introduction of third-party applications may evolve according to PlayStation’s website further upgrades coming to the PS3 include a wireless keyboard which can snap over the system’s Sixaxis or DualShock 3 controller. Date of release for this item is unknown at this time but will give PSN users the same capability of downloading music and videos to their PS3.

Read [GameCyte] Read [TechEBlog] Also Read [Smarthouse] Also Read [Arstechnica] Also Read [PlayStation Blog]

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