Firmware 2.40 will go live tomorrow (July 2). PS3 owners will finally get the in-game XMB they have been demanding for over a year. Personally, I couldn’t care less about in-game communication. The real gems in this new update are the support for custom soundtracks and the new trophy system. Though it is ultimately up to the developers to make each available in an individual game, the mere thought of wasting Chernovan scum to “Peace Sells” is enough to warrant a new pair of pants.
I won’t dissect every feature included in the new update. That would be a waste of time as the majority of you have probably already digested every single bit of information that Sony has divulged. I would, however, like to discuss one particular aspect of the new trophy system.
Continue, if you dare.
The trophy system is a welcome addition to the PSN. They will allow gamers to show off their gaming skills (or obsessive collecting habits) and will provide additional replay value to the games that support them. For instance, the skill points (different from trophies) in Resistance: Fall of Man, Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune provided gamers with additional challenges beyond simply beating the story mode. I personally plowed through each title’s single-player campaign multiple times in an effort to gobble up every possible skill point.
Even if you don’t like the idea of trophies, you can simply choose not to pursue them. Though, you might have to fend off insults from trophy whores (the distant cousin of achievement whores) who proclaim their superiority because they have more platinum trophies. After all, the number of trophies you earn is directly proportional to the size of your… wang (were you expecting something less offensive?).
One tidbit hidden within the information released yesterday was that players will not earn trophies for accomplishments completed prior to the release of Firmware 2.40. Dust off your launch titles, if you so choose, for a trip down memory lane.
My immediate reaction was unbridled anger. I considered breaking something of great value. However, not wanting to shell out the cash to replace said item, I opted for the next best thing. I sat at my computer and did nothing. I am an unstoppable ball of fire. Feel my fury.
After my rage subsided, I realized that I overreacted a tad. In fact, upon further meditation, I actually embrace the idea that trophies can’t be earned through previous save files.
First, it ensures that trophy whores can’t piggyback off of the hard work of others (i.e. copying save files). I guess this can be circumvented by having another individual play in your stead, but what would be the point of that? Sadly, I am sure a few people will resort to this in an attempt to bolster their trophy count. Let the trophy madness commence!
Second, these new challenges could potentially breathe life into old games. For instance, I already attained 100 percent completion in Ratchet and Clank Future. However, if the fine people at Insomniac Games add trophy support, I might have to take down Tachyon once more.
While Insomniac has not officially announced any plans for Tools of Destruction, a handful of previously-released and upcoming PS3 titles have been confirmed to integrate the new trophy system. These games include Resistance 2, Motorstorm: Pacific Rift, Warhawk, Super Stardust HD, PixelJunk Eden and LittleBigPlanet.
Despite blatantly copying Microsoft’s achievements, I think Sony has made a step in the right direction. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to show my PSN pals that I took out an entire nest of Chimera with a single punch (or whatever the minds at Insomniac can think up). Now, if only there was a 3D virtual space in which to store these trophies.
Source:blog.us.playstation.com
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10 responses so far ↓
1 Keith K // Jul 1, 2008 at 11:18 am
I am personally disappointed in the “Level”.. ugh That is exactly the gamerscore clone that we DIDNT want. Since day one of the announcement of “Trophies/Accomplishments” its been well regarded by the community that they didnt put in an e-peen score to bribe obsessive compulsives into buying more games. And now they’ve gone and done it anyway.. very upsetting and rather shameful that this trend is more than a passing fad.
Also the fact that trophies will not be retroactive from save files (though practical), basically discourages PS3 owners from going back and enjoying their pre-2.40 library until a trophy patch is provided by the developer.. if at all.
2 Yousty // Jul 1, 2008 at 11:20 am
“Despite blatantly copying Microsoft’s achievements”
Glad to see you’re not one of the PS fanboys who blatantly avoids admitting that.
3 Yamster // Jul 1, 2008 at 11:25 am
I’m really quite annoyed about not having retroactive achievements. I’ve traded in a few games now I used to have but kept the game saves; wouldn’t it be nice if 2.40 could simply scan those saves and add on whatever Trophies it could find?
Lame much?
4 Piranacon // Jul 1, 2008 at 1:28 pm
@ Yousty didn’t you know it was Microsoft copying Sony. Yeah Sony had it ready 20years ago but wanted to make sure it was perfect until Microsoft copied them ;).
After looking at the features of the XMB I’m not sure how much use I’ll got out of it, but I am looking forward to the trophys
5 Keith K // Jul 1, 2008 at 5:02 pm
The only feature I wanted from in-game XMB was the ability to turn on my Bluetooth devices. Luckily that is included.
There is likely more features to come, but perhaps Sony has learned that the best way to propagate is to kick your flawed children from Eden and allow them to evolve.
I think I just successfully joined creationism and evolution into one awesome metaphor.
6 brandon // Jul 1, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I wish tht you can have tropihies from the old save files! maybe sony in the future will…..we just need to speak up enough tht sony will let have to include it.
7 Sentry // Jul 1, 2008 at 9:06 pm
@ Keith K
Actually, it is exactly the opposite of gamerscore, which we did not want. Instead, it takes the gamerscore, and puts it behind the scenes, in the code, but not up front. That is replaced by your level. It is a genius idea, IMO, and many others tend to agree.
@ brandon
Uhh… that is exactly why they are making you play em again buddy. XD If it was off of the game save file, then people could DL game saves off the net and then be level 10s, falsely.
And for people saying this is a rip off of achievements… I will just say achievements is a rip off of skill points. Honestly, they function EXACTLY like skill points… and skill points existed WAY back on the PS2.
8 ItsMe // Jul 1, 2008 at 9:15 pm
How did Sony copy MS? I couldv’e sworn old PS games such as Ratchet and Clank, Spyro, and others had achievements that were saved so you can show off to your friends. It just wasn’t online because there was no online place to put them. Other than the Dreamcast; but i’m sure Sega stole that from MS also…
9 bueatifulraven // Jul 1, 2008 at 9:48 pm
oh man… It’s all this copied them, it copied that… Well in reality, they both copied me, I achieved birth… SO THERE… IN YOUR FACE
10 thrasher83 // Jul 1, 2008 at 11:36 pm
nice megadeth reference! lol
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