PS3 system updates

[U-Warrior]

These things are ridiculous. They take for god damn ever, and it seems like everytime I turn on my PS3, there is a new one.

What is so important that I have to do this shit all the damn time.

[D Mac]

Hackers and shit.

[Kane Knight]

I haven't had to download one recently.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

There was one this week, but there hadn't been one for awhile before that. Next update should be getting the in game XBM, which will be great.

As for why it takes you so long, who knows? Mine go fairly quick, same thing with my PSN downloads.

[Kane Knight]

I should check. I haven't used my PS3 this week except as a Blu-Ray player.

I get them fairly fast, too. Probably takes longer to download from the store.

[Sepholio]

Yeah I downloaded the new update in like 2-3 mins tops. And that was with a wireless connection, too.

[Mercury Bullet]

They don't bother me too much, I just got a PS3 about a week ago. It takes a little adjustment to get used to downloading system updates and installing games now. I felt like an old man that was out of the loop and afraid of technology.

[Kane Knight]

You shouldn't have to get used to either. It's a bad system, and I wish one of their myriad updates would have done something about both.

[Sepholio]

So 2 system updates in the last 2-3 months is a myriad? Boy I must have the definition of the word myriad confused with something else.

[Mercury Bullet]

I've got mixed feelings on the PS3 vs. 360 issue. I think there is advantages and disadvantages to both. I plan on getting the 360 at some point, both systems have exclusive games that I want (MGS4 on PS3 which actually prompted me to buy the system finally, Fable 2 of XBox 360 which will probably be when I get that system as well.)

[Sepholio]

Yeah, I'm picking up a 360 later this year as well. Infinite Undiscovery, Fable 2, Gears 2, SO4, ToV. Some good games right there (hopefully).

Like I've said before, both systems have advantages and it is basically a reversal of last gen. PS3 is the XboX, XboX 360 is the PS2. One has superior hardware, the other has the superior library of games.

[Kane Knight]

So 2 system updates in the last 2-3 months is a myriad? Boy I must have the definition of the word myriad confused with something else.

That's exactly what I meant, and don't let any previous statements that seem to contradict what you stated fool you; they were just put there to fool lesser minds. You know, those concerned with logic, reason, or context.

[D Mac]

PSP has the same issues. They update it all the time to try to stay ahead of the hackers and shit using custom firmwares.

[Penner]

it's not that bad, i just deal

the in game XMB should be awesome

[darkpower]

Yeah, 2.4 is going to be one of the BIG ones.

In that update (rumored, but mostly just not etched in stone at this point) is:

- In-Game XMB (confirmed)
- Trophy support (confirmed)
- Custom soundtracks (this is understood to be in the update and is pretty much confirmed, but not sure how it will be done. No one above the fanboys thinks that the Microsoft "patent" will hold any water (and no one thinks MS can DO anything about Sony doing this, anyway)).

I believe they want to put in in-game messaging in this, too, but I'm not sure if I read that to be in 2.4 or something else.

[Kane Knight]

Okay, wait. Explain to be why nobody thinks the patent will hold water, when simpler concepts have been successfully patented and held up in court. Explain to me what makes it so unlikely (Since this is the first I've heard of it; every reasonable person has sited the memory constraints as the reason it hasn't been implemented) that only the MS "fanboys" think it's valid.

[Kane Knight]

Actually, I just looked at the patent, and it seems pretty solid.

Is "Fanboy" a pejorative for "people with a greater understanding of business and law than me?" Or just hypocrisy in motion?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Regardless of how tight it is, if it's there can anyone NOT see MS persuing it in the courts if Sony put it in? I could see Steve Balmer rubbing his hands at the thought of Sony adding custom soundtracks so he can try and stick it to them.

[Kane Knight]

Regardless of how tight it is, if it's there can anyone NOT see MS persuing it in the courts if Sony put it in? I could see Steve Balmer rubbing his hands at the thought of Sony adding custom soundtracks so he can try and stick it to them.

For that matter, I seriously have to wonder why anyone would think there's nothing Microsoft could do about it. I mean, they're a big, powerful, dare I say evil corporation. They could slap all sorts of litigation on Sony, and in the end, Sony would very likely lose a huge amount of cash.

Sony's already taking a bath on the PS3, so I'm not sure why they'd want to take it an additional step towards financial damage on a free update. Sony's not stupid, so I'm wondering why anyone would think they'd challenge something, especially if they thought it could hurt them in the long run.

[darkpower]

It all goes into one simple thing, though: Is the patent valid? MS can't exactly patent an idea, just their method of doing it (I made an example on N4G.com about this type of thing by analogy of a toothpaste: You can't patent a new feature, just the recipe that you used to make it possible). There is right now something similar going on with Gibson and their so-called "patent" on the type of technology that both Activision and Harmonix/EA use to do Guitar Hero and Rock Band; Gibson is trying to sue them both for "violating" said patent, Activision is fighting back, saying that the patent is invalid. I'm not too educated by what would make a patent as such (and for that matter, I haven't heard anything come out of it lately, so that issue is pretty much dead in the water unless there was something that happened recently that I missed), but that is one huge thing that is looming on patents (and yes, it IS complicated if you take the grain of salt that is Wikipedia at face value).

Where I go with this as far as fanboys are concerned (and since you decided to neg rep me on this, KK, without even looking into this ike you're known for, I'll decide to point this out)? On N4G.com (which is becoming a favorite site of mine to go to for this news), you can get comments to stories that bring the upcoming Sony PS3 custom soundtrack feature up (I call it the lunatic fringe because I sure as HELL hope that the majority of 360 fans do NOT act like this and I do dispise the lunitic fringe of the PS3 side, as well) bring it up like it came from God Himself and there is no way that Sony would be able to get around a patent or that, like they thought that whole GTA4 DLC matter was like, it was drawn up by the best lawyers in the fucking WORLD and would have absolutely no loopholes and it would never be invalid in any way. They basically think a patent and a copyright are the exact same things (they aren't. A patent is only taking care of a method. It's a copyright that is taking care of your idea, and copyrights have much stricter terms of language than patents do), and don't care that they ARE confusing the two (a view I echoed on N4G.com, twice, when that patent thing broke, and on both occasions, I had quite a few agrees). That's why I made it about "the other guy": because, right now, it's only the extreme of those fanboys that think that that patent can never be invalid and it's perfect in any way and it's so reaching that Sony can't even utter the WORDS custom soundtracks without getting nailed (okay, that last part i exagerrated a bit).

[What Would Kevin Do?]

I read Microsoft's patent, and it's... interesting. I say this mainly because the patent doesn't really cover anything concrete. It doesn't really even attempt to cover a method of using custom soundtracks, but the idea of custom soundtracks in itself. Instead of saying "We are patenting the method of using custom soundtracks using this program, or this delivery method." They seem to be saying "We're trying to cover any method of a system replacing the default in game music with other music. That's like someone in the 80's trying to patent "portable music player" as any device that plays music without the need of being plugged into an electrical outlet" , instead of patenting "Walkmen" instead.

Instead of trying to protect the method, they're trying to protect the act, which is the bigger problem. You might be able to patent a method a new grill uses for grilling, but you can't patent the act of grilling itself, and that's essentially what the patent is trying to do. It's patenting the act of replacing in game music.

That's a bit of a moot point though, because regardless of the question of wether or not the patent would hold up under scrutiny, there are still ways around it. For example, the the wording of the patent, it cannot ask you to use a "custom soundtrack" and replace the default soundtrack with it, or allow you to "create a custom soundtrack" and then replace the soundtrack with that. However, it does not say you cannot play a custom playlist during a game. So, in theory, if you can access the XMB in mid game, you can play the playlist, since the XMB is something separate from the game. Furthermore, they can't forbid you from turning off the default soundtrack, so if you can manually turn off the default soundtrack, and then turn on your custom playlist, it works around the patent.

Also, the patent seems to address the gaming system specifically doing it, but it has no mention of the video games doing it. So Sony could just have the developers put the features in the game itself (which they've already done.) If the gaming system isn't initiating it, but instead the game is, and pulling the soundtrack from the medium, it works around the patent as well.

[Kane Knight]

It all goes into one simple thing, though: Is the patent valid? MS can't exactly patent an idea, just their method of doing it (I made an example on N4G.com about this type of thing by analogy of a toothpaste: You can't patent a new feature, just the recipe that you used to make it possible). There is right now something similar going on with Gibson and their so-called "patent" on the type of technology that both Activision and Harmonix/EA use to do Guitar Hero and Rock Band; Gibson is trying to sue them both for "violating" said patent, Activision is fighting back, saying that the patent is invalid. I'm not too educated by what would make a patent as such (and for that matter, I haven't heard anything come out of it lately, so that issue is pretty much dead in the water unless there was something that happened recently that I missed), but that is one huge thing that is looming on patents (and yes, it IS complicated if you take the grain of salt that is Wikipedia at face value).

Where I go with this as far as fanboys are concerned (and since you decided to neg rep me on this, KK, without even looking into this ike you're known for, I'll decide to point this out)? On N4G.com (which is becoming a favorite site of mine to go to for this news), you can get comments to stories that bring the upcoming Sony PS3 custom soundtrack feature up (I call it the lunatic fringe because I sure as HELL hope that the majority of 360 fans do NOT act like this and I do dispise the lunitic fringe of the PS3 side, as well) bring it up like it came from God Himself and there is no way that Sony would be able to get around a patent or that, like they thought that whole GTA4 DLC matter was like, it was drawn up by the best lawyers in the fucking WORLD and would have absolutely no loopholes and it would never be invalid in any way. They basically think a patent and a copyright are the exact same things (they aren't. A patent is only taking care of a method. It's a copyright that is taking care of your idea, and copyrights have much stricter terms of language than patents do), and don't care that they ARE confusing the two (a view I echoed on N4G.com, twice, when that patent thing broke, and on both occasions, I had quite a few agrees). That's why I made it about "the other guy": because, right now, it's only the extreme of those fanboys that think that that patent can never be invalid and it's perfect in any way and it's so reaching that Sony can't even utter the WORDS custom soundtracks without getting nailed (okay, that last part i exagerrated a bit).

One of my favorite things about the ignorant is how they often make accusations of not looking intothings (apparently, in this case, "like I always do,") then proceed to spout patently (pardon the pun) false statements.

I think the problem you have, darkpower, is that you're too stupid to realise how ignorant you are. And then when you're called on it, you instead cleave to any bullshit reasoning you have going. Then, you will find one person who agrees with you, and cling to that, instead of wondering why you have to go through dozens of responses to find a single person who agrees with you.

Funnier still is that while you are correct in the misinterpretations people make about copyrights, you then go on to do so yourself.

But then, you're whining about the lunatic fringe while once again participating in the same crap that they are guilty of. Nor does it particularly make sense to bring up the forum of retards, since they had nothing to do with this prior to you bringing them in. Though, you should probably stay there, as it seems that they are truly your peers.

And Kevin, I think you're missing the point. Microsoft makes no claim to the use of custom soundtracks as a feature of any single video game. The patent is specific and not intended to do so. The point of the patent is to address the integrated system, not the custom soundtracks themselves. Not only doesn't that include custom soundtracks within games, but the concept protected would include any platform-wide use, so your XMB workaround would be lawsuit-worthy.

But since the issue here is whether or not they can use an integrated system, which is what people wanted, what DP claims is almost guaranteed, and what the patent does cover, the point is that they can't. Other methods work, and are already being used. That's not going to change.

[darkpower]

<table class="tborder" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><thead><tr><td class="tcat" colspan="5"> Latest Reputation Received </td> </tr> </thead> <tbody id="collapseobj_usercp_reputation" style=""> <tr> <td class="thead"> </td> <td class="thead">Thread</td> <td class="thead">Date</td> <td class="thead" nowrap="nowrap">Posted By</td> <td class="thead">Comment</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="alt2">http://tpww.net/forums/images/reputation/reputation_neg.gif</td> <td class="alt1Active" id="p2202855" width="50%"> PS3 system updates (http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2202855#post2202855) </td> <td class="alt2" nowrap="nowrap">06-27-2008 02:04 PM</td> <td class="alt1" nowrap="nowrap"> Kane Knight (http://tpww.net/forums/member.php?u=52) </td> <td class="alt2" width="50%">You really ought to think before you post.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="alt2">http://tpww.net/forums/images/reputation/reputation_neg.gif</td> <td class="alt1Active" id="p2202097" width="50%"> PS3 system updates (http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2202097#post2202097) </td> <td class="alt2" nowrap="nowrap">06-26-2008 04:26 PM</td> <td class="alt1" nowrap="nowrap"> Kane Knight (http://tpww.net/forums/member.php?u=52) </td> <td class="alt2" width="50%">You keep making it about the other guy. Wonder why.</td></tr></tbody></table>Wondering why you're even trying to bring down someone who is just disagreeing with you. Maybe you're getting scared or something. Trying to bring down my rep just because I'm making points you don't want to think are right is something that you're known for (you do it to everyone who dares to disagree with you), and you call everyone a retard who doesn't agree with you. This is having nothing to do with the subject of this thread anymore, but rather your continued holding of grudges and trying to be popular when you know that I'm just stating what I think and you have every right to disagree. I told you that I was not completely privy to all the details, and you STILL go about trying to label me, trying to say that I'm searching for the one person that will agree with me. When was I ever doing that...oh wait, yeah, that whole thing where the Noid delivered the same point I was making about Cole's job being in limbo (and you neg rep me for that, as well), and I say "finally, someone to see that point" because it seemed like everyone else was completely missing the point I was making (of course I could've taken the easy way out like you do and slam the neg rep button on everyone I didn't like in that thread, but yeah, that would be too easy). News flash: THAT CAN HAPPEN IN A THREAD!! I'm sure you had that very same experience somewhere. That does not mean it happens everywhere.

I did say I had so many agrees on my post on N4G.com (which, by the way, is not "the retard forum". There are people that give good points there) because I knew you were going to try that argument at some point. You wanted to find some way to destroy my argument (not just disagree with it, but to completely screw over who did post that). And, when you can't, you just go about using this "OMG, what a fucking retard" without even reading the post (did you read WWKD's comment, or did you just read what you wanted to read). And don't say it's just an accusation because you know it isn't. You continue to find posts of certain people and do whatever you can to destroy them because you didn't like something that you saw in the past with them (seriously, what has the Noid ever done to you to warrant you calling him on nearly EVERYTHING even when you have nothing to go on against a post of his, and why can't you get over it. For that matter, where did I start going wrong to you. I'd really love to know THAT one, since you had so much respect for me before you began this crusade). You're seriously becoming the Bret Hart of this forum (if your not already): you can't get over something that happened a long time ago and love to drag things out.

The simple thing here is that you neg rep anyone who hurt your feelings and you label anyone who has hurt your feelings a retard, and you reach for anything you can to tell people "oh, this is because of this" or whatever the fuck else you want to bring up to try to defend your point. And then you tell me "you should think before you post". Well excuse me, but I didn't know I had to walk on fucking eggshells with every post I make on here because I MIGHT be neg repped by someone who cannot handle the fact that not everyone will agree with him. Seriously, you do this to alot of people on here and everyone is beginning to catch on. This is a damn shame because I've agreed with you on alot of things and had alot of respect for you when you seem to be degrading into some whiny cunt for about a year now.

And you did it here, and you also did the exact same thing the "retards" on that "retard forum" are doing: Whenever someone makes a pro-PS3 point or an anti-MS point, regardless of how mature or how unbiased they can be, they are automatically labeled a fanboy, retard, you name it. They do this without even reading what was said (there is an agree/disagree system on there where you can click one or the other and it will add your vote to a particular comment without them even knowing it was you that clicked anything). And then they reach for any excuse or reason they can to tell them that the poster is wrong. This is in line with the more slimy 360 fanboys on the site that try to hide what they really are.

WWKD had some good points about this that I didn't see. He basically said that MS's patent was, to him, overreaching, which is what my point about the patent being invalid would be. What YOU did was continue to reach for anything you can to say that the patent meant ANY form of system wide use of the feature in any way, which can't be done in a patent (that is copyright, which you claimed to see my point on then turned around and say I was wrong. PICK ONE!).

Sony could just as easily invent a new way to bring us integrated custom soundtracks on the PS3 (they already have software-based ways of doing this, see MLB08), and THEY could patent THEIR way of doing it, as well. They could also make MS's idea BETTER and then patent THAT, too (in respects to the original patent). They probably already have, and since this has been in the know for some time now, I don't think MS is that worried about it anyway. There's so many ways around a patent (including the invalidity argument), yet you fail to see that and do what I said above.

Then again, I would expect you to neg rep me again and call me a retard that only make accusations "like you always do" instead of even reading what was said.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

And Kevin, I think you're missing the point. Microsoft makes no claim to the use of custom soundtracks as a feature of any single video game. The patent is specific and not intended to do so. The point of the patent is to address the integrated system, not the custom soundtracks themselves. Not only doesn't that include custom soundtracks within games, but the concept protected would include any platform-wide use, so your XMB workaround would be lawsuit-worthy.


Not quite. Obviously, the custom soundtrack only is in regards to actual games. I can create a playlist on my PS3 right now, with no problem. By having access to the XMB in game, you'd be able to play music, because that's an integrated part of the PS3, and has nothing to do with "custom soundtracks." The PS3 can play music, and can play it through the XMB, there is nothing contending that. Likewise, nothing in the patent says a game designer cannot make an option to turn off the in game soundtrack. As long as the option to play a song or playlist, from the XMB (even if that XMB is brought up in game), and the option to disable music is built into the game itself, then there is no issue. Specifically, because there is no real intergration between the two systems. Both actions are done independently. Microsoft has no legal right in the patent to limit when the PS3 can play music, nor can it limit the rights of a game developer to have an option to disable the default soundtrack.

The patent specifically focuses on the intergration of the two. So the game cannot have an option to suspend the soundtrack, and then search the PS3 for a custom soundtrack, or allow the user to "create a custom soundtrack" specifically. Likewise, the PS3, in it's music settings, cannot have an option to disable the default ingame soundtrack. If the two are done independent of each other though, by the user, Microsoft cannot stop it, as nothing in that patent gives them legal ground to.

The patent says nothing about a system playing music, or even playing music over the game/soundtrack. It simply covers how the system cannot interact with the game/soundtrack.



I still think the bigger problem with the patent is the fact that they aren't even really trying to cover the means, they're trying to cover the concept. It's like instead of patenting a certain type of fuel driven motor for a car, they're patenting cars that are power by any kind of a motor. The process is far too vague, while the method they're trying to cover is far too broad.

[darkpower]

Plus, like I said before, WWKD, they could fight to say that the patent is invalid (see the stuff with Gibson and Activision), and that could go on for years. Part of me believes that if MS really thought they had a case, the public backlash (although since when have they ever given a fuck what anyone else thinks of them) to such a thing (thinking of the recent Gibson case) may be too much of a risk.

Also, way could also mean programming language. Maybe just so much as a different coding to make it work would be enough to bypass any legal issues (to everyone's defense, NO one has even talked about that as being a possibility). Although that may be too much of a stretch, it's worth considering.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

The patent does not really cover anything about coding/programing language, etc... It's just vague in regards to the proess.

I really doubt Microsoft would be worried about the backlash either, but with that said, I think there'd actually be very little. On the spectrum of legal issues when it comes to technology, this wouldn't rank high.

Also, just to clarify, the above post I made has little to do with claiming that Sony should or will attempt that method. It's really just a response to KK's comment that the work around would be law-suit worthy. While it's not really practical, according to the wording of the patent, it would be very difficult to sue over.

[darkpower]

The patent does not really cover anything about coding/programing language, etc... It's just vague in regards to the proess.

I really doubt Microsoft would be worried about the backlash either, but with that said, I think there'd actually be very little. On the spectrum of legal issues when it comes to technology, this wouldn't rank high.

Also, just to clarify, the above post I made has little to do with claiming that Sony should or will attempt that method. It's really just a response to KK's comment that the work around would be law-suit worthy. While it's not really practical, according to the wording of the patent, it would be very difficult to sue over.

Judging from the notion that they haven't done anything yet, whatever it would be, I don't think they really give a shit (again, Sony announced this a long time ago for this summer and this patent wasn't known to exist until Ripten found it on April Fools Day, of all days). Which is kind of weird (maybe MS themselves don't know it exists).

Either that or their more worried about the state of the company now that Bill Gates retired (or whatever language was used for his stepping down) and that the 360 is not the juggernaut it was last year.

Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do with it and with this update.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

The patent system is fucked. I've seen less-watertight patents get upheld and some blatant rip-offs get off scott-free, ESPECIALLY when it comes to software patents.

Whatever state MS is in, there's no doubt that they are going to be a more aggresive comapny with Ballmer in charge. Sony better hope all the chairs are pinned down if they're ever in the same room as him. :shifty:

Regardless though, it's up to Sony if they wanna try and up to MS if they wanna sue. If Sony do think MS will sue, they won't pull the trigger, especially as they've already lost over $3 billion on the PS3 already. They'll probably just ask themselves wether custom soundtracks would sell many more consoles and I don't think it would. Sure, it's a nice feature, but right now I doubt anyones main reason for getting a 360 over a PS3 would be the fact that they could play their own music on it...

EDIT: Good god, I've just been on the forums of n4g to see it and from what I've read they seem to have been further back in the line when rationality was handed out than GameFAQs posters.

Then again, there's not really such a thing as a good video game forum these days, unless it's dedicated to some underground, specific topic.

[darkpower]

I don't know who this Ballmer character guy is (I honestly haven't followed that whole thing with Gates stepping down, it took a few days into that news story for me to even find OUT that it happened), so I can't agree or disagree with you about what the guy is all about, Hansey. All I can say is that if they haven't pulled the trigger by now, they more or less won't (again, I doubt they would even have a case because there's just too much that has to be considered, but then again, the notion that then patent system has been fucked for years, something Hansey brought up that I failed to, that could be all out the window). Also, if they haven't cried foul about the trophy system they are implimenting (which some say is a "ripoff" of the achievment system), which in my mind would be a bigger foul in some minds than this soundtrack deal, then I personally don't believe it will happen.

And personally, I hope it doesn't. I want to see custom soundtracks on the PS3, for the reason that I want to see a more even-level playing field between the two consoles than it has been. Finally, the PS3 has the momentum swinging their way, and MS is on defense in this current gen war right now. I not only want to see those LF 360 people (at the risk of me sounding like I'm a PS3 LFer) be put in their place about that whole thing, but for those that can only afford one system that had chosen the PS3 over the 360 because of the key games (I chose PS3 for FFXIII that's coming and almost forgot about MGS4 before it got dated earlier this year. God, I'm SO glad I got reminded of the game), that would be another reason for them to have it. I would love to see it (although I agree it's not enough to move one system over another, it's pretty cool).

By the way, Hansey, since you brought up N4G, I'm wondering what zone in the news comments sections you were looking. The '"Gamer Zone" has stricter restrictions (on paper, at least) than the Open Zone (which allows for heated fanboy-style comments). There's also a vBulliten-like forum that's seperate from the other parts of the site that people can visit. Members can also write blogs about games for the site (I've written five: Two on the GTA4 DLC debate, one on the MS "360 spin machine", one on the Konami MGS4 controversies, and one on the Jack Thompson "the Florida Bar will look like Hiroshima because of me" comment). So I'm just curious of what sections you based that opinion on.

[Sepholio]

OK so I just breezed through most of these posts so forgive me if this has already been covered. If MS holds a legit patent over custom soundtracks in game, why aren't they already suing? The PS3 exclusive game PAIN available only on PSN is already updated to allow said custom soundtrack. Also considering you can mute music in almost all PC games and play your own music why haven't they tried to stop that? Does said patent only apply to consoles? I just don't get how this patent could possibly hold up.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I don't know who this Ballmer character guy is (I honestly haven't followed that whole thing with Gates stepping down, it took a few days into that news story for me to even find OUT that it happened), so I can't agree or disagree with you about what the guy is all about, Hansey. All I can say is that if they haven't pulled the trigger by now, they more or less won't (again, I doubt they would even have a case because there's just too much that has to be considered, but then again, the notion that then patent system has been fucked for years, something Hansey brought up that I failed to, that could be all out the window). Also, if they haven't cried foul about the trophy system they are implimenting (which some say is a "ripoff" of the achievment system), which in my mind would be a bigger foul in some minds than this soundtrack deal, then I personally don't believe it will happen.

By the way, Hansey, since you brought up N4G, I'm wondering what zone in the news comments sections you were looking. The '"Gamer Zone" has stricter restrictions (on paper, at least) than the Open Zone (which allows for heated fanboy-style comments). There's also a vBulliten-like forum that's seperate from the other parts of the site that people can visit. Members can also write blogs about games for the site (I've written five: Two on the GTA4 DLC debate, one on the MS "360 spin machine", one on the Konami MGS4 controversies, and one on the Jack Thompson "the Florida Bar will look like Hiroshima because of me" comment). So I'm just curious of what sections you based that opinion on.

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39216371,00.htm

And thats when Billy G was still in charge.

As for N4G, it was the vBulletin forums.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

OK so I just breezed through most of these posts so forgive me if this has already been covered. If MS holds a legit patent over custom soundtracks in game, why aren't they already suing? The PS3 exclusive game PAIN available only on PSN is already updated to allow said custom soundtrack. Also considering you can mute music in almost all PC games and play your own music why haven't they tried to stop that? Does said patent only apply to consoles? I just don't get how this patent could possibly hold up.

Basically because it's not system wide, and is initiated and fulfilled by the game, and the system isn't doing it. Essentially, the patent covers a set up where the system initializes the setup, removes the default soundtrack, and replaces it. Since Pain does it in game (as does High Velocity Bowling), it's not really an issue, since it's being done by the game, not by the system.

[darkpower]

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/06/29/firmware-v240-walkthrough-part-1-the-xmb/

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/06/30/firmware-v240-walkthrough-part-2-trophies/

Enjoy!

[DS]

What are you doing? Don't you realize this thread is about the ridiculous patent system? Stop talking about PS3 system updates and everyone get back to your over-enjoyable essay sized replies!

[DS]

Oh, forgive me. I just saw the title.

How about those movies, huh?

[bigdaddysuperfreak]

I guess you are not allowed to have different veiws in this thread anymore.

[Penner]

Yeah those essays were horrible.

Just say your point and get over yourself.

[DS]

I guess you are not allowed to have different veiws in this thread anymore.
You're not allowed to have different views in any thread. :-\

[bigdaddysuperfreak]

so it seems to be the case nowadays.

[darkpower]

In any case.

About an hr away from launch of one of the biggest PS3 updates yet (depending on what hour they go live with this thing. They usually drop these between 12-3AM, but logging in to get it will be a bitch because everyone who owns a PS3 will be wanting to download this ASAP).