GDC08: Sony t-shirt teases in-game XMB

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 19th 2008 at 9:00PM }

SCEA just updated their Flickr page (aren't they so web savvy these days?) with an intriguing image: shirts that proudly display the phrase "in-shirt XMB." Apparently, Sony's picked up a sense of humor these days. We read this either one of two ways:

ZOMG, in-game XMB confirmed!!!1
Sony is just teasing the gaming community in a cruel, but humorous way

In-game XMB has been one of the most requested features for the PS3 since its inception. Currently, gamers are forced to quit games in progress in order to do things like check which friends are online, read a message or play music. This much-awaited feature has been promised for "this year." According to our watches, that includes now. Stay tuned.

[Thanks, Matt!]

Tags: gdc08, ps3, xmb

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

XanthouS @ Feb 19th 2008 9:25PM

I LOL'd

Incoming In-Game XMB =]

Also, a couple of those shirts would make for some gooooooood Joyswag!

Dan CiTi @ Feb 19th 2008 9:27PM

Nice work. Sony gets a few points for this.

koehler83 @ Feb 19th 2008 11:04PM

Thats good. I revel in big names laughing at themselves.

Ian Whelan @ Feb 19th 2008 10:26PM

Sweet! All we need now are some decent games to use it in!

lordwindowlicker @ Feb 20th 2008 8:59AM

That had better be a joke.. otherwise you're so ignorant it hurts.

Word Up, North Korea! @ Feb 20th 2008 12:53AM

stfu

Brandon @ Feb 19th 2008 9:49PM

That shirt is made of awesomeness. I want one SO badly. Sony +1 for you.

A-Troll-Named-Slickback (Yes the A Troll Named part, and yes every time!) @ Feb 20th 2008 4:16AM

Sony thanks you, your "plus one's" means so much to them.

Dav @ Feb 19th 2008 10:03PM

I, for one, welcome this newfound kindness..

=D

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 19th 2008 9:56PM

I'm ready. When can I download it?

Mike @ Feb 19th 2008 9:57PM

Teasing is not delivering... Sony is trying to make ingame XMB a big deal, when it should've been part of the OS to begin with. They really need to step their games up and start delivering on a timely manner.

"Don't tease unless you're a stripper"

John McPoop @ Feb 19th 2008 10:18PM

Yeah they should rush everything related to the because its better off to get it out and worry about the problems later (see: Microsoft RROD December LIVE outages).

Not to mention your bitching (and comparing) a pay service to a free service.
I am sure Sony is working on the issue's.

Thats like bitching about a free sub because Subway doesn't have the same quality meat as the $6.00 sub at Quiznos. In the end they are both sandwiches ad serve the sam core purpose which is nourishmnt.

BPM IIDX 8th style @ Feb 19th 2008 11:33PM

Dude, you've gone WAY off topic, McPoop.

He was taking about the OS of PS3, not its networking service. So, why are you bringing LiveVsPSN into this?

And what does the Live outage have to do with ANYTHING?

Mike @ Feb 20th 2008 12:03AM

Thanks BPM IIDX 8th style. Glad to see you understood what I was trying to say. I'm actually a big Sony fan. I wasn't going against them. Home and in-game xmb should've been part of the OS from start. It's been a year and a few months now and no DS3 in the US. All I'm saying is Sony didn't think things through before launching the PS3. Though I do enjoy my PS3 very much.

Some titles do have in-game xmb already. Burnout Paradise for example.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 20th 2008 12:23AM

Sony was being sued and releasing a rumble controller with PS3 wasn't really much of an option when the PS3 came out.

I'm sure DS3 will be here soon.

This argument about "what should have shipped with it is rather silly". Xbox 360 shipped without the ability to have jump-in/jump-out online play (due to lacking APIs in Live) but that doesn't mean it wasn't working great by the time Gears needed it.

Let's worry more about the present and future and less about the past. We can't even change the past.

Kalil S. @ Feb 19th 2008 10:04PM

dam the shirt is hot
joystiq plz do a contest to give away one
make sure u get the big sizes

kilodelta @ Feb 19th 2008 10:14PM

what, next years shirts will say "in-shirt achievements"?

Arno @ Feb 19th 2008 10:14PM

Hmm shouldn't they have had this at launch?

Anticrawl @ Feb 19th 2008 10:14PM

Considering how much resources it takes to power the PS3 OS abomination it is appalling it didn't included in-game XMB from day one. Sony gets +1 on their long list of negatives from me. Maybe we can forget this whole mess when Little Big Planet comes out.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 19th 2008 11:05PM

It's not an issue with how much CPU time is available or even RAM. It's that Sony didn't get it. Online gaming isn't as big in Japan as it is here, and it was even smaller two years ago.

And Sony was too foolish to listen to their US arm to realize that these feature mattered. So they didn't even start working on them until well after the PS3 came out.

Harping on resource specs makes no sense when it's the features that matter.

Anticrawl @ Feb 19th 2008 11:18PM

Harping on resources is what matters here haha. The PS3 has plenty of power to make fantastic games and still provide much wanted features. But the OS is poorly coded and implemented which is apparent when one notes the 13% percent of resources it eats up. That percentage is even more absurd when you compare it with the Wii or 360. Then again Microsoft has been making OSs for a long time now so you'd figure they should be the ones to get it right and Nintendo obviously knows what the hell they are doing considering their the most profitable software company in Japan in the last 50 years.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 20th 2008 12:28AM

Anticrawl:
The number you speak of is only how much of the CPU time that is RESERVED for the OS. It doesn't even use it all. Sony knew they needed to reserve more than they used so they could add features in the future, like in-game XMB.

Your arguments that the OS is poorly coded are groundless.

Did Sony reserve too much? Maybe. But since you can't take back what you once gave away, they were more conservative.

Wii basically has no OS. They don't have background downloads or voice chat. Hell, they don't even have the network up most of the time. So using N as an example of getting it right is bizarre. Do you have a DS? I do, and I can't play Mario Kart online because the networking isn't supplied by the OS on the DS. All the networking, including the WiFi protocols was built into the game. And since WPA didn't exist when Mario Kart was developed, I can't use my DS on my home network that uses WPA. That is a great example of how "good" N is at OSes.

Note that on the PSP, later firmware upgrades came along and updated the OS to support WPA/WPA2 even in games that were released before WPA/WPA2 came to be. Sony did better on the PSP OS than N did with the DS OS.

Anticrawl @ Feb 20th 2008 12:41AM

Are you implying Mario Kart DS took nearly 4 years to develop? I'm confused. Mario Kart DS released in 2005 and WPA was already a “standard” in 2003. I realize this confirms your arguments for the DS but I was never pointing out their handhelds. Handheld gaming was meant to be on the go, and the DS does it perfectly. The only time I go online with my DS is when I'm out of town and stopping by at a coffee shop or other place where I can get unsecure Wi-Fi.

Also I wasn't trying to get technical in my post, as you may well know most people wouldn't follow as easily if I did. Also the 360's OS uses up no more than 3% of total processing power.

Anticrawl @ Feb 20th 2008 12:47AM

Eh and WPA2 didn't become a "standard" in Wi-Fi devices until 2006. Anyway I'm off to revel in the Too Human news then head off to bed. Have fun supporting your company of choice among the big 3. I'll continue following the games and picking apart the corporations who control console gaming when they make bad choices.

ssuk @ Feb 20th 2008 2:45AM

Correction, WiFi connection data is stored in the DS' memory, however the menu you use to edit that data is on game cards.
Make a new connection for say Mario Kart, then go to a new copy of the DS Browser, open network configurations and it will be there.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 20th 2008 3:55AM

I don't have a company of choice, I have pretty much every device from every company. But I don't claim one is better than another based upon arguments about whose OS code sucks. What I do like is games, playing games. I don't play OSes, and I sure don't play OS utilization specs.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 19th 2008 10:15PM

Oh crap. Now I read elsewhere Sony ISN'T going to announce In-Game XMB at GDC.

If they put this T-shirt on their blog and DON'T announce In-Game XMB for availability ASAP, then they're completely stupid.

Sony, don't be dumb and create a (even small) media splash and then say "it's not ready yet".

DCBlack @ Feb 20th 2008 11:42AM

That's what we call a teaser, I believe.

They don't have to announce it at GDC, but just get it done within the next couple of months at least.

Psaakyrn @ Feb 19th 2008 10:44PM

So perhaps I'm just a stupid clueless douche. But what is XMB supposed to mean?

Anticrawl @ Feb 19th 2008 11:01PM

Xross Media Bar, or Cross Media Bar. You didn't need to know what it meant though, just that you want it.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 19th 2008 11:07PM

In-Game XMB is a slight misnomer. What people are saying is they want to be able to start and end chats, send messages, see stats on friends and other stuff like that, all without exiting the game they are in.

This, of course, is all possible on 360 already.

A few games already have in-game XMB (Rock Band uses it to send messages and start online games), but that isn't what people mean when they refer to in-game XMB generally, they want it ubiquitous and they want things like chat in games that don't explicitly support it already.

ssuk @ Feb 20th 2008 2:47AM

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/XMB

DCBlack @ Feb 20th 2008 11:45AM

I'm also hoping to be able to turn surround sound output on and off without having to quit the game, as I use both the receiver and TV depending on time of day.

maverick_saturn_626 @ Feb 19th 2008 11:07PM

All good :) Bout time too, but nevertheless, like sony says, quality over quantity.

Add the feature to PSP too >:(

Anticrawl @ Feb 19th 2008 11:14PM

That's a pretty big typo there. You meant quantity over quality right? They love packing in tons of half-baked features into a single item, this is especially true post PS2 days. I was saddened by the outcome of the PSP and by the time I learned of all the useless tacked on features of the PS3 I lacked any sort of heart at all. Seriously, they could have just stuck to making the gaming experience perfect rather than being this absurd jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none.

Brandon @ Feb 20th 2008 12:03AM

I have a slight disagreement with you on one thing Anticrawl. Why restrict a device from doing some things that it easily could handle? I mean sure, they did go somewhat crazy with the number of features, but at the same time there are numerous "extraneous" features that I use every single day on my psp that if it were simply a dedicated gaming machine, it would not nearly be such an ubiquitous part of my daily stuff.

I hook it up to speakers in my painting studio, play games in waiting rooms, watch movies, listen to podcasts. It may not be the ideal mp3 player or whatever, but neither is my car's trunk the ideal cargo transporter, but I am more than glad it's there.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 20th 2008 12:54AM

I split the middle here a bit. I'm glad Sony is making lots of features available. As you say, why not? I've already paid for the hardware, why not use it for as much as I can.

But looking at the XMB, it could really use some work. The areas in the middle are fine, but the left side (settings) is just too full of options. Sony needs to do a better job of arranging the available functionality so that it isn't so off-putting. I'm shocked that the put the busy, complex XMB UI on their TVs now.

So I'm for functionality, but I'd also like to see it organized a bit better so that it isn't just a mess of settings.

PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 20th 2008 1:26AM

amen brandon. i dont use nearly all of the features of my PSP or PS3 but im sure there are plenty of people out there that do use them. i do know that i use my PSP and PS3 everday as opposed to the rare occasion i dust off my DS and Wii. if i dont feel like playing games on my PSP, i can listen to music on my 4GB memory stick, or surf mobile joystiq, watch some tv shows ive formatted for PSP play, show off some pictures ive made in photoshop and such, and even transport my school files. i cant do any of that with my DS.

my thing is, i do more than game, and having almost everything in one is convenient. sure i know that all in ones are rarely as good as a single feature device but the PS3 and PSP handle their other features pretty well. it also makes my $250 and $500 purchases that much more justified if im using them everyday.

BPM IIDX 8th style @ Feb 19th 2008 11:34PM

I want this shirt. WHERE DO I BUY ONE?!

Curmeo @ Feb 20th 2008 12:43AM

i want that shirt!

on a more serious note though, i think in-game XMB will be the tipping point of whhen PSN truly becomes superior to Xbox Live. what else remains?

PSN = dedicated servers with no lag, Xbox Live = some lag due to user servers

PSN = free, Xbox Live = $50 retail price (yes i know cheaper deals are sometimes available online, but so are cheaper deals on used PS3s etc).

PSN = PS Home (yeah nobody will put a gun to your head if you dont want to use the free service, its not required to play online), Xbox Live = n/a

PSN = voice chat works with any Bluetooth headset, Xbox Live = Buy 360 Pro for wired headset or shell out extra $$$ for propriety wireless headset, both of which are known for their quality control issues.

PSN = no size limit on games, Xbox Live = what is it 250 mb now?

i gotta tell you, its too sweet playing Warhawk with three of my buddies locally againt a bunch of people online. we all use bluetooth headsets and best of all we dont have to worry about when our subscription fee runs out! oh and did i mention no lag at all? keep dreaming if you think MS will offer an 800MB size AAA online game on Xbox Live, aint gonna happen.

once in-game XMB comes, Xbox Live aint got nothin on PSN anymore(only a $50 per year bill)!

Ghost52 @ Feb 21st 2008 1:43AM

@ Curmeo

you stole the words right out of my mouth. lets see how many M$ fanboys are gonna come out to defend Live to the death. Retards! i like buying games not a pass to play online.

Anticrawl @ Feb 20th 2008 2:04AM

Bluetooth is just terrible, and all microsoft 360 headsets have a lifetime warrenty. In fact until recently they'd replace them without having to send in the old one. You just had to call, I've gotten a wireless and wired replaced free of any charge already. Not only that one can use any wired headset with a 2.5 mm connector.

As for the rest of your points I'll leave them to someone else.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 20th 2008 4:04AM

I use Bluetooth daily, it's fine. Don't like it? You can use any USB headset you want. Personally, I stick with Bluetooth.

The audio quality of in-game chat is not do high that Bluetooth can't do the job very well, on either platform.

That's great MS' headsets have a warranty. It'd be better if they worked. As far as I can tell, the wireless headset MS made for 360 just plain doesn't work with some 360s at all. Two of my friends bought it and both returned it because of serious audio quality problems.

http://www.stageselect.com/News/NewsViewer.aspx?newsid=2498&fromint=1

I'm tired of hearing of MS warranties. Just get it right in the first place, then warranties aren't as big a deal.

I personally find the "free" Xbox 360 headset to be fine. Yeah, it's cheap crap, but it works for me, and when used with a wireless controller, it might as well be wireless as you can carry the controler with you (not so when used with the awful 360 Racing wheel).

Anticrawl @ Feb 20th 2008 1:06PM

The idea of using Bluetooth sounds appealing but I've had nothing but trouble since its conception. Bluetooth headsets are among the closest thing to a working wireless Bluetooth device. I've used many of the Bluetooth peripherals for say laptops, version 2.1 and they can be used for nothing more than simple browsing. Though the leap from version 1 to 2.1 was a pretty incredible change in making them usable.

And yes I know of USB support, as I use my usb Logitech headset for Warhawk.

I personally have had more success with the shitty prone to death wireless MS headset than I have had with most Bluetooth headsets. At least for the short time my first one worked it did as it advertised quite well and had a superb battery life. It is hard to decide whether I’d rather spend 30-50 bucks on something that works great for a short amount of time or only somewhat works for a great length of time. I sure as hell hope Bluetooth gets another update soon so I can bear to use a headset when I'm driving. It’s too difficult to operate a manual transmission car in the city and talk, so I usually make it a rule to never talk while driving unless I need to.

PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 20th 2008 1:55AM

hey, if in-game XMB isnt released or officially dated this week then im changing my name and avatar to say "the shirt is a lie"

TrojanGuy @ Feb 20th 2008 2:01AM

Wow, I didn't realize that the PS3's XMB was such a pain to use (I don't own a PS3 yet). I find it pretty funny that they're so excited about this feature that the 360 has had from day 1.

lordwindowlicker @ Feb 20th 2008 8:59AM

Well I guess that 360 has to have SOMETHING to make themselves feel better about no Ratchet. Oh well... keep reaching for that rainbow.

Curmeo @ Feb 20th 2008 3:26AM

unlike you, ive used both the XMB and blade interfaces and i find XMB to be more intuitive and elegant than the cluttered and kiddy looking blade interface.

both Sony and PS3 owners are excited for this feature because 1) it will be offered on the free PSN service, as opposed to Xbox Live's $50/year. no wonder MS could deliver this feature on day 1, since they were able to hire extra developers with the subscription money. Sony is doing it for free, so props to them.

once in-game XMB is incorporated, PSN will be pretty much superior to Xbox Live in terms of features. and PS Home will be the iceing on the cake.

GoonieGooGoo @ Feb 20th 2008 4:42AM

How does giving PS3 XMB ingame make it better than XBL exactly??? I've seen some bold Fanboy statement before.....but cmon.

I have both PS3 and XBOX360....the PSN & Store have a looong way to go to even match the ease of use and functionality of XBL.

How soon we forgot that these features were promised by SONY on day 1 release of PS3....

I've yet to play an online game on my PS3 that yet has proper functionality with a Bluetooth headset....

They should focus on basic playability and functionality instead of wasting more time on dead in the water HOME.

TrojanGuy @ Feb 20th 2008 4:47AM

I wasn't commenting on the XMB being unintuitive (I've heard that it is, indeed, more streamlined than the 360's dashboard). I was commenting on the fact that if you went to the XMB to see what friends were online you had to quit your game. THAT is laughable considering it's been so seamless on the 360 since it came out in 2005.