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[Korigama]

Short answer: Play offline.

No internet connection = no updates. That simple.

My counter-argument is this: The only reason you absolutely need the latest firmware is to play online; hence delays for firmware download are effectively online service interruptions, which at 5 minutes a pop several weeks or even months apart shouldn't be considered a real problem.

Firmware updates are occasionally needed to play new retail games offline as well, so they can't be avoided forever.

 

[MarkMclovin]

If only updates were four to six hours, I could enjoy the ultra win of a roast turkey with my Wipeout!

But now you can! Just sync your iphone.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Firmware updates are occasionally needed to play new retail games offline as well, so they can't be avoided forever.

Though in that case, the new firmware will be included on the disc, which gets around the whole "slow ass download" problem.

 

[Korigama]

Though in that case, the new firmware will be included on the disc, which gets around the whole "slow ass download" problem.

It wasn't in my case (last time this happened for me was with BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, which only came out a couple of weeks ago now).

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

It wasn't in my case (last time this happened for me was with BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, which only came out a couple of weeks ago now).

Really? Now that's a definite problem.

 

[InfiniteNine]

It wasn't in my case (last time this happened for me was with BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, which only came out a couple of weeks ago now).

That's probably more a case of Aksys being stupid.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Really? Now that's a definite problem.

Seemed that way for Singstar as well. I'd try to cancel out of the download and it'd insist that I wasn't allowed to play.

But then maybe I was doing something wrong.

 

[snap0212]

It wasn't in my case (last time this happened for me was with BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, which only came out a couple of weeks ago now).

This would mean that anybody without an internet connection cannot play newer games. I haven’t tried it myself, but I can’t believe this is true.

 

[PjotrStroganov]

This is a very important point.

In talking about this before, I brought up an example that I can't remember specifically now, but basically, it worked like this: on the Xbox 360 version of a game, you couldn't see other players with specific new character models unless you bought them, because patches aren't allowed to be big enough to include such things. On the PS3 version of the same game, you could see those new character models, even if you didn't own the DLC, because they were included in the patch.

So, again, one of many reasons I'll put up with the bit of hassle (though it isn't such a thing) the PS3 patch system gives.

Nah, these things can be done with DLC. I know that with downloading a free sample car in Forza 3, you automatically download the complete carpack. It just isn't unlocked until you buy it. It is possible to see those cars online though.

 

[Korigama]

This would mean that anybody without an internet connection cannot play newer games. I haven’t tried it myself, but I can’t believe this is true.

The first time it happened to me was with Folklore, which I got back when I first picked up my 60 GB. The system itself was manufactured in March 2007, while the game (one published by Sony themselves) came out in the fall of that same year, yet it didn't have a firmware update on the disc either.

 

[Koralsky]

The article is mostly full of bullshits - i live in Bulgaria, where there isn't even normal PSN (using US account) and i have any of the problem they mention. One hour?

It's all depends of network configuration, ISP and speed you pay for.

 

[DMeisterJ]

FW updates don't bother me much, since they go by so quickly, but I guess if you have a shitty ISP and hardly play the game, then you'd care. But if it's something you hardly play, why pay so much for something you don't really use?

 

[Ninja Moomin]

Muffin, considering you get pissed off every time someone says something negative about Sony, I don't think you get to tell people to get out more.

:lol :lol

Muffin! I love that

 

[snap0212]

The first time it happened to me was with Folklore, which I got back when I first picked up my 60 GB. The system itself was manufactured in March 2007, while the game (one published by Sony themselves) came out in the fall of that same year, yet it didn't have a firmware update on the disc either.

That's strange. Have you ever tried to disconnect from the internet before starting the game? If it doesn't work then you should just return it...

 

[Vagabundo]

Seemed that way for Singstar as well. I'd try to cancel out of the download and it'd insist that I wasn't allowed to play.

But then maybe I was doing something wrong.

Are you sure you were pressing the O button; squirrels can't tell shapes very well: fact...

 

[Mohonky]

I don't see how you can defend the updates personally. I just tonight turned my PS3 on to check out the online store; have to do an update. Might be less of an issue for those in the states with fast connections but it takes me anywhere between 15-20min for an update, then if a game needs a patch, add the patch download on top of that.

It has taken me at times over an hour to play a game I've just purchased. It's ridiculous.

 

[Ninja Moomin]

Are you sure you were pressing the O button; squirrels can't tell shapes very well: fact...

it's the one that looks most like a nut.


easy.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Are you sure you were pressing the O button; squirrels can't tell shapes very well: fact...

Yeah. All that does is bring me back to the XMB.

It's like:

PS3: An update is needed to continue. Y/N?

VKS: O

PS3: XMB with game icon selected

VKS: X

PS3 An update is needed to continue. Y/N?

Ad nauseum.


Unless you're spotting something I'm not (and clearly there's something there to spot), there's no way to get past that screen without hitting Y.

 

[Malvolio]

Looks like Ben is up to his old tricks. Too bad there is no longer a Frank to keep him in check.

 

[Vagabundo]

Yeah. All that does is bring me back to the XMB.

It's like:

PS3: An update is needed to continue. Y/N?

VKS: O

PS3: XMB with game icon selected

VKS: X

PS3 An update is needed to continue. Y/N?

Ad nauseum.


Unless you're spotting something I'm not (and clearly there's something there to spot), there's no way to get past that screen without hitting Y.

Yeah sounds about right. Sounds like a pain in the ass...

 

[grap3fruitman]

I remember visiting every goddamn gameselling shop in my hometown for Mario Kart 64, just to find out it was sold out everywhere. I actually went to another city by train to get it. NOW THAT IS HARDCORE (and slightly obsessive/idiotic)

Okay, now what if you had to do this every time you wanted to play Mario Kart 64? Even just to look at your stats. That's... almost how bad this is.

 

[Ninja Moomin]

PS+ subscribers right now:

Damn straight!

 

[Animation-Imp]

Disconnect and test...
There are many people out there who haven't connected their ps3 to the net.
As far as I know their firmware updates are on-disc.

Unless sony expects you to update via usb stick.

But that sounds too difficult for casuals.

 

[SonOfABeep]

The updates are shitty on ps3 and they have been shitty on ps3, and they're going to keep being shitty on ps3.

To the people complaining - Sony isn't going to fix it

To the people complaining about complaining about your beloved Sony - They haven't fixed it yet, so people are still going to complain. Accept it.

 

[CadetMahoney]

I rarely use either of my consoles, but in my experience, with both of my consoles wired, the PS3 is slow as shit and takes forever to download, install or pretty much do anything.

I find this too, although I usually don't use it as much for this and other factors.

 

[Korigama]

That's strange. Have you ever tried to disconnect from the internet before starting the game? If it doesn't work then you should just return it...

On both occasions when that happened, I wasn't connected to the internet. Things run just fine when I do comply with the updates, but it would've been a problem for me if I didn't have broadband (and even with that in mind, firmware updates take more than half an hour on my connection). Usually, I try to get away with not updating for as long as possible.

 

[Mithos]

Waiting a bit while updating FW done bother me so much, I can wait.

I'm more pissed about something totally different, consolelocked savegames. (sry for OT).

 

[Walshicus]

I'd rather take a little bit longer to download and install an update for a game and have it remain permanently on my ps3 than having to redownload them in the future because the 360 can only store like, 10(?) game updates at once.

And yeah, flamebait article is flamebait. I'm moving ars off my bookmark toolbar. TAKE THAT.

Ars has been going more and more sensationalist these last few years, and it really annoys me. Like that iPad / Star Trek piece they have up at the moment.

It's still on my favourites list, but at this rate I'm not sure for how long.

 

[dark10x]

but you turned your TV to play your PS3. I'm sorry but this is not defensible.

The alternative is simply no updates. It's not as if they release a new firmware every week.

If you really want to get going, you can skip the firmware update for the moment and start playing.

All sorts of devices go through this process. The iPhone takes just as long if not longer (the iPhone firmware file size is about three times that of the PS3).

I don't mind a download once in a while if it means having updated firmware. They've added so many features since the launch of the PS3 that I definitely deem it worthwhile.

 

[Stumpokapow]

All sorts of devices go through this process. The iPhone takes just as long if not longer (the iPhone firmware file size is about three times that of the PS3).

The distinction is that you don't need to update the iPhone firmware for anything except things that are directly enabled by the firmware.

The other distinction being that you can download the iPhone firmware in the background and just have it install to the phone when you plug it in.

 

[Zoe]

If you don't regularly play your PS3 then the various downloads and installs awaiting you are a significant issue. I still have Yakuza 3 and God of War 3 lying unopened next to my PS3 because i know i can't just jump into the game. I have a very fast connection. This is not an issue on the 360.

The discs will already have the minimum firmware required on them.

 

[snap0212]

If you don't regularly play your PS3 then the various downloads and installs awaiting you are a significant issue. I still have Yakuza 3 and God of War 3 lying unopened next to my PS3 because i know i can't just jump into the game. I have a very fast connection. This is not an issue on the 360.

I have a couple of Trailers downloaded to my 360's hard drive. I've never watched them, because I know I can't just watch them (without having to wait for that Zune Crap to load up). This is not an issue on the PS3.

Spoiler

There's so much wrong with either system. If you want to miss out on those games because of that... well... :-(

 

[DigiMish]

Never had any PS3 firmware take up longer than 15 minutes to install.

 

[NemesisPrime]

Never had any PS3 firmware take up longer than 15 minutes to install.

Wait... sarcasm?

 

[M°°nblade]

Wow 30 minutes sucks.

On my PS3, FW updates usually take 5 minutes or something.

 

[the nightman cometh]

I only recently got a PS3 and I thought the firmware download and install times would bother me but it really doesn't. It does take longer than the 360 but not as long as I feared and definitely not long enough to make me whine about it.

 

[lljride]

PS3 FW updates definitely aren't ideal, but at least I'm usually aware when a FW update was released and plan accordingly (I'll dl/install while I'm eating dinner or something). They don't bother me that much at all. Sucks for people that don't use their PS3 regularly or aren't on top of the latest FW news though.

 

[ULTROS!]

10-15 minutes is totally fine if I'm lucky (usually at non-peak hours like 1 a.m.-6 a.m.). I guess I'm really patient!

 

[industrian]

Considering I've not used my PS3 since September last year (it's in Scotland, I'm in Taiwan), the next time I use it and want to play a game on it I'll be in for a world of fun (especially since I don't think I'll be going home for another 2-3 years.)

 

[Dead Man Typing]

I have a couple of Trailers downloaded to my 360's hard drive. I've never watched them, because I know I can't just watch them (without having to wait for that Zune Crap to load up). This is not an issue on the PS3.

Spoiler

There's so much wrong with either system. If you want to miss out on those games because of that... well... :-(

Yeah, I hate that Zune crap too, I wish I could turn it off. However, it doesn't take that long to load up and there is a workaround. When you download a trailer, and the notification says "download complete", hit the guide button and select Play Now.

This will make the trailer play right away, and when it's finished it returns you to the old style menu for looking at video content on your HDD, no Zune crap.

As for the PS3, why is the "Turn off console after my downloads are finished" so well hidden? They have dozens of options under the settings option on the XMB, but this isn't one of them. It's hidden under the player tab. Once I found it though, it made downloading demos a lot less painful. (only got a PS3 last week)

Under what circumstances does background download actually download things in the background? Didn't seem to work when I was playing single player games, like it does on the 360. (hooray for all console ownership)

 

[dark10x]

The distinction is that you don't need to update the iPhone firmware for anything except things that are directly enabled by the firmware.

The other distinction being that you can download the iPhone firmware in the background and just have it install to the phone when you plug it in.

Yes, but even if you do that, the actual update process takes longer than the complete PS3 upgrade process (downloading + installing).

I'm not saying Sony has a great process here, but it's nowhere near the issue people make it out to be.

 

[Tobiasboon]

I mean they're not anywhere near as fast or streamlined as the 360 updates, and there are a lot of them in comparison, but they seem to come down pretty fast for me and always have done. Obviously now I'm a Plus subscriber I just install them and don't have to worry about the download part of it at all it's a bit of a non-issue to me. I'm sure (I hope) they will streamline it much better next generation for all users.

On the other hand, although not directly related and as has been mentioned, the BS you have to go through to get Everybody's Golf World Tour working is completely unacceptable and inexcusable. Like a 30 minute mandatory install followed by literally hours of updates if I want to play with my DLC or online. Luckily I haven't been unfortunate enough to experience that kind of behaviour from any other game. The curse of first generation PS3 software I guess. Good thing the game is still awesome!

 

[Tingfrmnongpradu]

I picked up Motorstorm: Pacific rift yesterday. Got ready to play it and I had to download a patch. Now, I ain't new to the PS3 and I knew I would probably have to update the game...

But when that 608!! (WTF!?) meg patch started I just said fuck that and shut it off.

That is just bullshit. And you can't even background dl that shit. :lol :lol

Definitely lots of room for improvement.

 

[JB1981]

Updating the firmware is a hassle on the PS3. This is fact. While the amount of time it takes to download the update differs depending on connection type, location, time of day, etc, the fact remains that we're talking about a firmware update of over 100meg. That's really excessive.

Having to install games after download is really dumb too. It often doubles the amount of time needed before you can actually get to playing something. It's kinda baffling that after downloading a small 50 meg demo (on the PSP even!) you have to "install" it for whatever reason, and that could take anything from 30 seconds or 1-2 minutes depending on the software.

Lots of room for improvement on PSN for sure.

Truth.

 

[Melchiah]

full article: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/...-a-reason-your-multiplatform-games-suffer.ars

when did Ars start doing comedy?

i mean if it takes 30 minutes to update your PS3.. there's something wrong alright... with your ISP!

Well, the usual updating takes only a couple of minutes for me, but when I bought Bioshock about half a year ago, it took at least 30 minutes to download and install all the updates that had come after its release.

 

[Princess Skittles]

They're exaggerating a bit, but the problem still remains. The length of time it takes to download and install firmware updates is much longer than it should be. Some game installs and updates can be excessive as well.

Yup. One of the many reason I sold my PS3 last year.

 

[Ninja Moomin]

Under what circumstances does background download actually download things in the background? Didn't seem to work when I was playing single player games, like it does on the 360. (hooray for all console ownership)

It seems to be to do with whether the game is activily using the network... some games will see the download carry on... others will stop it, or only stop it when you go online.

 

[Acheteedo]

I have a couple of Trailers downloaded to my 360's hard drive. I've never watched them, because I know I can't just watch them (without having to wait for that Zune Crap to load up). This is not an issue on the PS3.

There's so much wrong with either system. If you want to miss out on those games because of that... well... :-(

This isn't some anti-PS3 war, just because the 360 has it's own issues doesn't mean PS3-specific problems can't be discussed. And again, I'm not going to miss out on either game, I bought them to play them, I'd just begin playing them at my convenience if the update infrastructure was better.

 

[Brofist]

The updates suck I'll admit, just glad download speeds aren't an issue for me. The actual install usually takes longer than the download time for me.

 

[Sydle]

I have an incredibly fast connection and one time I signed on and there were updates for the firmware and the game I wanted to play. Twenty minutes later I was finally playing. Sounds like his ISP is part of the problem, but I definitely agree that there is a lot of room or improvement. I also agree that the install shit has to go. So stupid.

Xbox 360 updates never get in the way for more than a handful of seconds. I wouldn't mind if Sony went the same route with small, frequent updates that take less than 30 seconds total.