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FalconR6

So I love my ps3 but one thing has bothered me a bit lately it seems like every time I get a new game my ps3 tells me it must download an update for that game…

before I can play. I like the idea that developers can make fixes to a game after it ships but come on every game? A lot of the updates are not small eather the last thing you want to do when you get a new game home is wait 30 min for it to update before you can play.

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17 replies
Adielr

I've really had no issues with this. Firmware updates for me take about 5-7 minutes. Game updates vary on size.
1 like dislike
peter

I don't use my PS3 very often, maybe once every six weeks, and almost every single time I do I have to download and install a system update, which usually takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. It's a minor frustration in the grand scheme of things, but it's also lame to sit down for a movie with friends (my PS3 is my only Blu-ray player in the house) and have to wait around for an update to install.
1 like dislike
Adielr

Are system updates mandatory for watching Blu-ray movies?. Your usage is indeed very low. Why not sell your PS3 and get a dedicated Blu-ray player?
0 like dislike
dave

Flexibility. The ability to play both games and Blu-ray on occasion is nice.
2 like dislike
LANjackal

Also the fact that because the PS3 is a flagship tech product for Sony, it'll pretty much always be leading edge until EOL.
-2 like dislike
LANjackal

... which is why you update whenever new firmware drops instead of waiting for when you actually want to use the machine. It's not hard to keep tabs on, just about every major tech news site out there covers PS3 updates.

Waiting to update only when you're going to watch a movie is like waiting to install OS updates on your PC only when you're about to do a spreadsheet. Just install the updates as soon as they're available.
-3 like dislike
peter

That is just silly and completely at odds with how regular people want to use a product. Sounds like you just have a lot more free time than I do!
0 like dislike
LANjackal

Well idk dude, what do you expect? Sony has a responsibility to their users (or at least the ones who prefer to be on top of things) to keep development going on their products. That includes updates.

I really don't get a lot of the complaining about systems such as Sony's or MS Windows Update or any others. Apparently some people want to be safe and have max functionality but are unwilling to cooperate with the process necessary for the above ... ? That doesn't make any sense. It's an tech device, not a toaster.
0 like dislike
peter

Read this:

arstechnica.com­/gaming­/news­/2010­/08­/dear­-sony­-ther...

I'm not the only one complaining, and this is an issue where Sony IS worse than its competitors.
2 like dislike
Adielr

Maybe a little off-topic. But how do OTA Android updates compare to iPhone firmware updates? Are Android updates quicker/less bloated than iOS's typical 200-300MB ones?
0 like dislike
dave

Start a new discussion for that.
0 like dislike
itchyeyes

@LANjackal

It's not the fact that the PS3 updates that's the frustration. It's the quantity of the updates and the time it takes to update. The 360 updates also, but you don't hear near as many people complain. Why? Because they lump them all together and only push them out 2-3 times a year. And when they do release an update it takes all of 2 minutes to apply it.

Also, not all of the PS3 mandatory updates are actually adding things or fixing bugs. The most recent mandatory update simply locked the system down to prevent people from installing other operating systems on it.
1 like dislike
LANjackal

"The most recent mandatory update simply locked the system down to prevent people from installing other operating systems on it." - I used to have Yellow Dog Linux on my PS3 back in the day. It was cute to tinker with, but the PS3's low RAM specs made running it nothing more than a technical curiosity. It wasn't practical anyway.

Translation: I don't think anyone's missing the alternate OS feature that much.
-3 like dislike
itchyeyes

@LANjackal

Whether or not it was practical or not, was it really necessary for Sony to subject their users to a lengthy "update" process to remove it?

I've never had Linux on my PS3, nor do I ever plan to. But I still don't like sitting there for 20 min waiting for an update that doesn't improve the PS3 experience for me one iota when all I really want to do is play God of War.
1 like dislike
dave

Yeah, this is pretty ridiculous. Most of the time, firmware drops when I'm at work. I don't think it's necessary or prudent to put in some calendar reminder to make sure I update the PS3 firmware the moment I get home.

I use it infrequently enough that there's updates every single time I turn on the machine. It's actually seems like a pretty excessive amount.
0 like dislike
dave

I totally feel you.

It's not just that either. It's the frequent PS3 firmware updates too. Every other day, it's something new. Gizmodo wrote an interesting piece of this recently:

gizmodo.com­/5608475­/ps3s­-firmware­-updates­-punish­-t...
0 like dislike
LANjackal

Gizmodo trashes anything that isn't Apple.
-1 like dislike