Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PlayStation Store download limbo (PS3 annoyance #004)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/20/playstation-store-download-limbo-ps3-annoyance-004/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/20/playstation-store-download-limbo-ps3-annoyance-004/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/20/playstation-store-download-limbo-ps3-annoyance-004/#commentsFiled under: , ,

ugh!Learn from your competitors' mistakes. When Xbox 360 shipped with crippled downloading functionality, we were all over it -- for months. When the problem was eventually corrected with a spring update, we figured our suffering had ended. Enter PlayStation 3.

That Sony's new console lacks background downloading and a download queue is maddening. It represents an utter failure on Sony's part to use these past 12 months to orchestrate a console launch that exceeds the precedent set by Microsoft. Sure, a firmware update could fix this, but why is Sony launching with a feature that gamers deemed unacceptable a year ago?

Update: As noted in Comment #6, if cancelled, downloads can't be resumed later (file must be re-downloaded in its entirety).

PS3 delights vs. PS3 annoyances
Xbox 360 delights vs. Xbox 360 annoyances
Wii delights vs. Wii annoyances

JoystiqPlayStation Store download limbo (PS3 annoyance #004) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadPlayStation StorePlaystationStorePS3ps3annoyMon, 20 Nov 2006 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Sixaxis controller is worth its weight (PS3 annoyance #002)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/18/sixaxis-controller-is-worth-its-weight-ps3-annoyance-002/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/18/sixaxis-controller-is-worth-its-weight-ps3-annoyance-002/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/18/sixaxis-controller-is-worth-its-weight-ps3-annoyance-002/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We were tempted to write that there's no excuse for the Sixaxis controller's extreme light weight, but even as we were writing that, an excuse popped into our heads: perhaps Sony cut the weight of the controller to keep shipping costs down as they air-ship PlayStation 3s hither and thither during this launch window.

We therefore hope that once all this launch fallout has settled, we'll be seeing a modified Sixaxis, with the following issues fixed (really, each of these could be its own annoyance):

  • Weight: Sony, stick some metal in this thing. Maybe some of that extra lithium you've got lying around after all the battery recalls? As many have noted, the PS3 controller feels light and flimsy. It doesn't match the quality and heft of the console... and here we thought the Wii controller felt cheap.
  • Synchronization problems: In our weekend playing the PlayStation 3, the controller had to be plugged in to the console multiple times in order to be synched. We've never had to plug in an Xbox 360 controller to accomplish any operation on the Xbox 360.
  • Surprise power-downs: The controller seems to turn off regularly. We're not sure why the controller turns off, or what situations lead it to do this, but too often we found ourselves mashing buttons on the controller only to discover that it wasn't on.

PS3 delights vs. PS3 annoyances
Wii delights vs. Wii annoyances
Xbox 360 delights vs. Xbox 360 annoyances

JoystiqSixaxis controller is worth its weight (PS3 annoyance #002) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PS3ps3annoysixaxisWiiXbox-360Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:51:00 EST<![CDATA[R.I.P. classic Playstation accessories (PS3 annoyance #1)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/13/r-i-p-classic-playstation-accessories-ps3-annoyance-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/13/r-i-p-classic-playstation-accessories-ps3-annoyance-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/13/r-i-p-classic-playstation-accessories-ps3-annoyance-1/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We are gathered here today to mourn the practical obsolescence of the various Playstation and PS2 accessories we have gathered over the last ten years. With the Playstation 3 missing the controller ports and memory card slots that have been standard for the last two generations of Sony hardware, we're suddenly stuck with a vast array of Dual Shocks, drums, dance pads and guitars that can't be used to play old games on our new hardware, not to mention all the game saves that are trapped on our memory cards.

We're aware that Sony has announced a USB adapter to transfer old memory card data, and that third party USB adapters can revive our old controllers (except for those guitars, it seems), but it's still a little annoying that Sony is asking us to buy extra hardware to support our old accessories. It's admirable that Sony has embraced industry-wide standards like USB, SD, CompactFlash and MemoryStick for wired inputs, but it's regrettable that they've done this at the expense of their old, proprietary hardware. Would it have been so difficult to stick a couple of memory card and controller ports onto the front of what is an already input-filled system?

JoystiqR.I.P. classic Playstation accessories (PS3 annoyance #1) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllersinputsPS2PS3ps3annoyMon, 13 Nov 2006 18:10:00 EST