As I was typing up this nugget of opinion last night, I was completely unaware of the so-called “downfall” of the PlayStation Network. However, when I tried to boot up Heavy Rain or even access PSN, I was shut out by error codes which seem to be plaguing the entire PlayStation community. The purpose of this article isn’t to kick a man while he’s down, it’s simply a gentle nudge at a few feature or improvements Sony could make, in order for the PlayStation Network to be a more enjoyable medium:
- Avatar System
Since the console’s launch, the PlayStation 3 has only had a dozen or so new avatars added to the ranks of dull and unspecific avatars. Too many times do I scroll down my list to find five people in a row donning the Altair avatar, or I see the occasional toothbrush or plug socket. They may be quirky and unique, but as gamers we want more gaming-orientated avatars. For those unaware, there are already LittleBigPlanet and MAG avatars available in the store at a reasonable £0.20. Ideally, I would like a regular weekly update of new ones, though at present the prospects are dire.
- Cross Game Chat
This feature has been available a long time for Xbox 360 owners, but for those who only own a PlayStation 3, they have to settle for text chat instead, and though efficient, it’s encumber-some during online play. Cross game chat has been hinted at for quite some time, and it’s something Sony will definitely have to implement to stake out against Xbox Live. It’s said that cross game chat will be made available in Sony’s rumoured “Premium Subscription” though nothing is solid as of yet.
- Background Downloads
Unlike the Xbox 360, some PlayStation games will also required constant updates. Some may only clock in at around 20mb, but for the more substantial file sizes, there should be the options to background download the patch. This would allow gamers to simply switch on another game while the update is active. There may be some technical issues that prevent this from becoming a reality, but it’s certainly worth looking into.
- PSP Store Prices
Luckily, I decided not to buy a PSP Go, and the sole reason I am glad for doing so is the audacious asking prices on the majority of PSP titles. Considering a digital copy of the game does not come with a solid case or instruction manual, why does it cost more than a copy found on store shelves? If the PSP Go hadn’t already drained the weight from your wallet, you will be very reluctant in buying games. With this said, there have been numerable sales and price drops, but still, when I can get a solid pre-owned copy of a 1-year old game for £7.99 and I see it on the store for £19.99, it’s not good news.
- Friend Networks
I am a Facebook regular, using the service solely to check out what my mates are up to in the real world. What if Sony were to go ahead and tally up some sort of “Friend Updates” page, available when you log into PSN. This page would list certain information about your pals, such as “X has just earned 17 trophies in Heavy Rain,” “X has just purchased Fat Princess”, or “X has added Prince of Persia to their collection.” This sort of unique feature on the PlayStation Network wouldn’t appeal to everyone, but for huge groups of gaming buddies, it could be a selling point.
If there are any other feature you would love to see, no matter how strange or minute they may be, please let us know in the comments section.
