Sony mocks the 360 for its XBLA de-listing and UI
by Dustin Burg 
{ Jul 3rd 2008 at 11:00AM }
"We definitely want to make sure that [the PlayStation Store] offers quality titles and games that our consumers are going to enjoy" Lempel told GamesIndustry.biz, saying that "depending on what type of UI you have you can accommodate a lot of titles." Then, Lempel throws in a verbal left hook, saying that "over at the competitors' UI they may have some issues just displaying content, and scrolling up and down lists isn't the easiest way to find things." Ouch. We'll be the first to acknowledge the 360's XBLM may not incorporate the best way to navigate content, but the PSN isn't all peaches and creme either. Maybe Sony is just feeling the need to blow off some steam because, as we all know, releasing a 2.4 update can cause a lot of unwanted stress.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shogan @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:06AM
I don't own or plan to own a PS3, but jabs like that will hopefully inspire Microsoft to work on it's horrible interface.
Boff @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:11AM
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Deagle @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:13PM
PS3 BLOWS
BananaBoat @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:32PM
The new PSN store is actually a little better than the 360 store in terms of finding things (everything has a thumbnail which makes it easy to identify) but that said, it's still probably a thousand step process to purchase anything from the PSN store (google for "PSN Store steps it takes" or something similar, and you should find the laundry list of steps it takes to buy anything).
If you look at the Dashboard right now, there are alot of blades that basically do the same thing (seemingly). Personally, I think it'd be very easy to combine the game launching blade (with XBLA titles, etc) and the main blade. So there is room for improvement there. I have no complaints about the PS3's UI, and if Microsoft could learn anything from it, it's probably that allowing us more customization options wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing (on the PS3 you can customize icons, the background, the music, etc, whereas the 360 forces background advertisements on you when on certain blades, and has zero icon customization etc).
I thought this would be a quick reply...but it seems I could write a thesis on the pros and cons of both UI's. I don't think the 360 is being hurt by it's UI right now, but I don't think an upgrade would be such a bad thing.
Oh and one last thing...I spent half an hour downloading and installing the PS3 update the other day, only to find out that Sony pulled it because it could brick my console. This information wouldn't have stung so much if it hadn't taken me 30 minutes to get the stupid thing from their ridiculously slow servers, which I know I'll have to do again when they put out a fix. Thank you MSoft, for quick and painless updates. (so glad it didn't brick my console...would have been angry...trying to do MGS4 on boss mode)
grimlock26 @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:08AM
Careful, they might send the Haze army after us next. Run from the boredom.
Gemini Ace @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:21PM
I own all three now and I think the PSN is pretty easy to navigate. Both have advantages and disadvantages. The store on the Wii can be pretty cumbersome at times, too.
That being said, I think the XBLM is due for an overhaul.
FordGTGuy @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:41PM
I wish everytime my car broke down I could just send it to the dealership to be fixed for free.
Ian @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:58PM
You can... its called a warranty and road side assistance.
Killer @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:19PM
@evilfoxhound
That's showing Microsoft! Instead of them having to spend money of replacing your console, you decide you want to set it on fire. Very nice protest, I'm sure Microsoft is happy to keep their profit from your elite purchase.
Killer @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:23PM
And now I feel like a dumbass, I clicked the wrong reply thread. Fuck... That comment goes to the other longer thread below, MY BAD!
Tombstone @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:08AM
Just so you guys know the PSN store kicks ass and is infinitely better then the XBLM. And I have a 360 and PS3, I should know.
Also: "Maybe Sony is just feeling the need to blow off some steam because, as we all know, releasing a 2.4 update can cause a lot of unwanted stress."
At least Sony addressed the problem on the same day it happened, instead of a certain other company we all know. Just sayin'.
I'm suspecting already that this comment might be voted down and me be called a Fanboy, even though I have 360, PS3, Wii, and a good PC.
Matt @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:10AM
Comment valid.
Tombstone @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:11AM
*instead of being like a certain other company
Addressing mah grammar problem, if it is one, needed to make the sentence make more sense.
Ejab @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:12AM
PSN Store sucks, downloading shit then installing its super slow, and xmb is clunky, and yes Tombstone you are a fanboy, you probably dont own anything other than a Pos3 gtfo.
Tombstone @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:14AM
@ Ejab: I lol'd
Xav de Matos @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:20AM
You don't own an iPod? Your comment is not valid.
FordGTGuy @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:22AM
Just so you know I own both an Xbox 360 and PS3 and the XBLM kicks PSN's ass.
SadisticHam @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:23AM
You own all the consoles so you're not a fanboy? What owning other system = not a fanboy?
You're still being a fanboy. Look watch this:
Pity Sony wont help all those that got their ps3's murdered by their latest update, no warranty covering that shit guess what? They have to *pay* to get it fixed. Just like the PS2 and it's problems that only ever got addressed when they got taken to court.
But sony's the shit right? They couldn't do a thing wrong?
Oh btw i own a 360, xbox, ps1, ps2, ps3, ps4, pc, gameboy, gba, ds, psp, N64, Gamecube and a Pippin. So I'm not a fanboy, well, unless I'm saying something about sega, then they've got me.
--------
As for sony uh, not to bright to be talking shit when there latest update was a huge let down and also buggy.
Makoto99 @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:30AM
To rephrase the old "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you" comment... just because you own them all, doesn't mean you're not a fanboy.
I own all the current-gen systems, and am an unabashed VirtualBoy fanboy. Waterworld ruled.
FordGTGuy @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:38AM
I spent $600 on a PS3 and $400 on an Xbox 360 and bought and beaten MGS4 and bought 15 Blu-Rays and have a big Xbox 360 library including Halo 3 legendary and Rock Band. Whether or not i'm a fanboy doesn't matter but whether or not I have the right to talk about the stuff I bought is and as far as i'm concerned i'm well within my rights to do it.
It sounds like Sony is just jealous that PSN doesn't even come close in design or amount of content to the Xbox Live Marketplace.
evilfoxhound @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:37AM
I owned both consoles until my elite RROD'd last week. I'm not even going to send the piece of shit back, i'm just going to fucking burn it. I've had enough, I really have.
emirabal @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:14AM
Is it not my understanding that the update was pulled already.
Ejab @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:19AM
Yep it was bricking alot of PoS3s Perfection my ass Lmao
Tombstone @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:19AM
@ Ejab: Sounds strangely familiar to another console I know of....
Ejab @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:21AM
Yea PoS2
mirage @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:32AM
@ Ejab
Know of...I thought you owned one! Oh well, when the PS3 has some decent exclusives for me to download content for on the PSN I will fork over the loot. Until then my 360 is doing just fine. No problems with updates bricking my system here,
mirage @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:34AM
Well there goes all of my credability. My previous comment was in response to Tombstone, not Ejab. Poops McGee. :(
juju187 @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:18AM
just because we have so much content that we have to de list stuff is a bad thing? how bout we give em to you ps3 boys it make going to ps store worth it. but watch dem credit card numbers.
kultyper @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:43PM
people need to stop making fun of sony pulling their 2.40 update due to bricking systems. Its not like sony will have to put aside $1 billion to support this issue like msft did for RRoD's!! xbox users have bigger problems to worry about.
juju187 @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:16PM
no they dont have to set aside 1 billion dollars because in every case i seen sony does not stand behind their product telling ppl to pay $150+ to fix their system.(psp and ps2 included)
Magic Whiskey @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:20AM
...As long as the 360 doesn't get a crap 'service' like Home, I'm completely fine with the Dashboard as it stands.
There will always be a point where people want to overwork everything. 9/10 of the time, it's totally for an arbitrary reason.
Home seems to me like a typical Sony answer to a problem: they always
1. Side-step the issue
2. Try to create a new market for something they own, based on someone else's ideas
3. Make this 'new' concept sound as if it's the answer to problems we weren't aware of and weren't suffering from
This is what I'd call the Sony Formula, and it's exactly why they're struggling still in most markets.
Trogdor @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:22AM
This type of comment seems very stupid coming from a company who has been behind since day 1 in regard to content on their marketplace.
I expect MS is working on something that will make the XBLM a lot more accessible than the PS store, and then Sony will have to eat crow....again.
Conor @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:28AM
I guess Sony won't be copying xbox's crap user interface,like they copy everything else. :P
Aegis @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:30AM
Did everyone forget the name of the site or something?
bamaredwingsfan @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:31AM
Sony has alot of room to talk, they just upgraded the PS3 from DOS to windows 3.1, so i guess they are feeling cocky.
Neuromancer @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:08PM
Haha good one
I like my PSP, it sucks though I have to download games/demos etc to my PC then use a cable to transfer it. Built in browser hello?
MDJ2010 @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:36AM
Seriously??? Sony having a dig at anything relating to online gaming content?? Are they mad? Probably should stay quiet unless they want people who have yet to purchase either console comparing the two services properly. Seriously Sony, sort out your own isues before slating Microsofts'.
Birdshake @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:40AM
As long as the titles are a-z and the left/right trigger still takes me up/down to the next list I really don't mind the interface. Although a search function would be nice but isn't a necessity.
However! A browser is necessity! Come on MS.
Jcarpio @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:52AM
Not to make fun of Sony man..
But don't you have to have alot content first before you boast about its ability to handle it.
My math may be off here.. but digital games wise.. hasn't XBLA released about as many games in the last two months than PSN has in two years?
offday @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:09PM
"over at the competitors' UI they may have some issues just displaying content, and scrolling up and down lists isn't the easiest way to find things."
Buying a system that has no games isn't the smartest thing to do either.
zero.player @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:10PM
@offday
you cant make fun of the ps3 'not having games' anymore because right now they have pretty good games out there...
josearoldan @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:12PM
I have never had a problem with the xbox market place, seems like Im just used to it or something.
I own a launch date Xbox 360, never had a problem with it, no frozen games, no RRoD. Got a second one, because I wanted to place it on the living room with my hdtv, same thing, I guess I just take care of things or something. That or Im just lucky....
Doug @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:15PM
Personally I much prefer the 360's interface over the PS3's. The interface on the PS3 seems so... utilitarian... bland... and yet cluttered (too many unnecessary options!) at the same time. It kind of reminds me of something that would have been designed in the communist cold war era.
Not to mention that the text in the PSN is so small its practically unreadable on any TV under 40".
deaftly @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:16PM
Kinda like how Sony de-listed their 2.40 update huh?
webster1990 @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:21PM
My step bro has a PS3 and i play on it when im at my Dads house.
From what i have seen the PS3 xmb feels unorganized and slow. While it does look swish and i like the little videos that are played for a few seconds before you decide to play the game, everything is grouped together and isn't properly organized into Demos, Arcade games and your Disc based games like it is on Xbox.
Plus having to download anything from the store and THEN install it is a pain in the arse.
And from the videos of the 2.40 update i have seen, "Trophies" look a bit poo, aren't properly incorperated into the system and it is clear they have ripped of the Gamercards from the Xbox 360 but replaced recent games with recent trophies.
Ryan @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:25PM
Eric Lempel perhaps should go look at the new LIST feature added to the PS Store; it is an awful lot like scrolling up and down a list. :)
Having said that the Marketplace blade spends too much space on ads and not enough on content, and the scrolling hitches on me a lot.
DSK UK @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:30PM
I personally think they didn't release a spring update because they're working on a new interface and therefore needing more time so that it works fine. I'm probably wrong, but a man can dream :)
Don't get me wrong, I think the 360 interface is good, I just think some aspects (marketplace, all the adverts, performance) could be a bit better. But you have to give MS credit considering the OS can only be a max of 16MB
LoyalistRevolt @ Jul 4th 2008 2:02AM
No dude your right they plan to do a rehall
Terror @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:31PM
I would'nt mind a Vista Aero look for the live dashboard. Other then that I'm good with live.
DJcube @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:55PM
What's wrong with scrolling through stuff? There's not really enough stuff on either XBLM or PSM to make search features useful - it hardly takes any time to find stuff you're looking for, and new stuff have their own menu.
So what if it doesn't look flashy? It works. And I tend to spend most of my time playing games, not using the UI.