In-game messaging info spotted on PS3 website

by Jem Alexander { Feb 13th 2008 at 9:00PM }

See that image above? Hard to miss, isn't it. This could be found on the official PlayStation website before it was taken down. A NeoGaffer reader did, however, manage to snap it before that happened, for our speculative pleasure. It's a bit blurry, so in case you're wondering it says the following: "Talk to others during game play, say hello anytime you're online, or have a video chat with an Eye camera; USB Camera or headset."

Pulling an image off the official PlayStation website does seem a bit suspicious and this does advertise a feature that isn't currently available on the PS3. With GDC happening only next week, the timing fits (let's not forget it's a year ago when the Kotaku Home leak fiasco happened). Does this mean In-Game XMB is coming? Not necessarily, but it does bode well for in-game messaging - and let's be honest, isn't what 90% of you want In-Game XMB for anyway?

[Via Ripten;Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Tags: in-game-messaging, XMB

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

88mr88 @ Feb 13th 2008 9:07PM

Well, a promise is a promise...

MrEverdred01 @ Feb 13th 2008 9:09PM

Listening to music during games would be nice also.

Syn @ Feb 13th 2008 11:11PM

Wow, I really don't understand the obsession with playing music while playing a game. For those of you who aren't so bright... You have many options, The Radio, Computer, Home Theater, ect. Wow, isn't that amazing kids. Who would of thought of such a crazy thing. Oh well. Enjoy your music free world. lol...

Syn @ Feb 13th 2008 11:15PM

That feature has been out since Atari my special needs people.

Its called a radio, a cd player, a computer, using your home theater system ect. Unless the ps3 is your only source of playing music... Use your brains for once.

Jtenma @ Feb 14th 2008 12:32AM

I'm going to stop you right ther SYN. Imagine getting up to a boss in a game and, instead of, orchestrated music playing... you had a bad-ass track playing! -it totally changes the feel for the game....oh and can you REALLY here the sound effects of your game when you have music blasting in the background...imagine playing DMC4 and every time you get into a wicked fight ................you play JAZZ????

Efeez1986 @ Feb 14th 2008 3:00AM

LOL Syn thank you so much, i thought i was the only one. I'm sick of people talking about in game music. If i want to hear some of my music, i simply turn the music off on the game and turn my radio on.

Carlton @ Feb 14th 2008 5:58AM

@ Jtenma
Yes, you REALLY can hear the sound effects when you have music blasting in the background. You just go into options menu and turn SFX up and MUSIC down.
The rest of your post doesn't seem to make much sense. Custom soundtracks a la X360 do not respond to musical cues in the game if that's what you're suggesting. Music is just played from the hard drive while you are playing. You can't make it automatically switch to a "bad-ass track" when you get to a boss or anything like that. The only difference between custom soundtracks and playing the music on a CD player is that it is slightly more convenient to do the former.

Carlton @ Feb 14th 2008 6:14AM

@ Jtenma
Yes, you REALLY can hear the sound effects when you have music blasting in the background. You just go into options menu and turn SFX up and MUSIC down.
The rest of your post doesn't seem to make much sense. Custom soundtracks a la X360 do not respond to musical cues in the game if that's what you're suggesting. Music is just played from the hard drive while you are playing. You can't make it automatically switch to a "bad-*ss track" when you get to a boss or anything like that. The only difference between custom soundtracks and playing the music on a CD player is that it is slightly more convenient to do the former.

Jtenma @ Feb 14th 2008 9:12AM

@ Carlton

"Yes, you REALLY can hear the sound effects when you have music blasting in the background."

-you REALLY can hear the sound effects when you have music blasting

-hear the sound effects when you have music blasting

-when you have music blasting in the background.

-music blasting

WHAT?

You can....I'm sorry I can't hear you...c what i did thar?

Anyway I like my sound to be ONE with each other..it's just cool to have...I'm not complaining though, all I want is in game messaging. (that is an absolute must-have).

cycopl @ Feb 15th 2008 1:58AM

Yeah, what if you DON'T have a radio or a computer near you to blast music over your TV? It's just a nice feature to have. You don't need to get all uppity about it.

Einslayer @ Feb 13th 2008 9:11PM

Here's a link if you want to see it for yourself.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:c-xTBQXrSzEJ:www.us.playstation.com/PSN/default.aspx+http://www.us.playstation.com/PSN/default.aspx&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a

The Aggie CEO @ Feb 13th 2008 9:13PM

hmmmmmmm.......

where did u find that at

deusmecha @ Feb 13th 2008 9:15PM

I have my sources. =p

zyxwiley @ Feb 13th 2008 10:21PM

it's google cache... good use of it.

anyone else notice home right above it? what are the odds that's coming out with it?

The Aggie CEO @ Feb 14th 2008 2:00AM

a google cache DIRECT from google would be on THEIR server.......

I could make that website easy......

ron @ Feb 14th 2008 2:26AM

That IP address does belong to Google

Dustin @ Feb 13th 2008 9:15PM

I got a boner....
-McLovin

Honestly, this is mostly what I want. Music would be nice too of course. Right now, I just turn on my Sirius radio on my Dish and play that in the background while playing Resistance online with my buds. Works great lol

Volomon @ Feb 13th 2008 9:36PM

You can talk to people in game, I did it just a few second ago while pwning a guy. Also I think video chats already in isn't it?

Nabiel Khayam @ Feb 14th 2008 12:14AM

u no wat be better if u can talk 2 ppl in any game any time. maybe using voip or sumthing. that would kik ass. u won haf 2 waste ur precious cell fone minutes.

Blaze463 @ Feb 13th 2008 9:21PM

in-game xmb has already been confirmed...this article is pointless >_>

deusmecha @ Feb 13th 2008 9:25PM

The point of the article is to point out that the site has been updated with information about an in-game XMB with GDC '08 right around the corner.

So the in-game XMB may actually come sooner rather than later (as we all have thought).

The Aggie CEO @ Feb 13th 2008 9:17PM

90% nah.......

maybe 60%

the other 40% is wanting Customizable soundtracks for games like Smackdown VS. Raw '08 and being able to play music that is streaming in game........

Thoas @ Feb 13th 2008 9:18PM

I hope thats a thing they talk about next week at GDC, because this feature is overdue on ps3.

Daniel @ Feb 13th 2008 9:21PM

i sent this in :D

TinyTim121 @ Feb 13th 2008 9:40PM

Please let this be confirmed at GDC '08! Please let this be confirmed at GDC '08! Please let this be confirmed at GDC '08!

There is nothing more annoying than quiting out of a game to say "Sorry, i'm playing last level of COD4 to come play Resistance right now" To then get back in, recieve a message, quit back out to read "Oh...what about Team Fortress 2?"

So yeah, Please let this be confirmed at GDC '08! Please let this be confirmed at GDC '08! Please let this be confirmed at GDC '08!

kentuckyfried @ Feb 14th 2008 12:35AM

Tell me about it...I want to hi-5 one of my buddies on COD4, or tell him I'm going out for dinner/have to sleep/etc, but I have to quit out of COD4 first before I can send a measley message.

I'm proud to say that once in-game XMB hits, it's going to be awesome...especially since the ps3 is not tied to any proprietary hardware and I have a bluetooth keyboard all set and ready to go with it.

Ruben @ Feb 13th 2008 10:07PM

Dude, I feel you.

TinyTim121 @ Feb 14th 2008 5:41PM

Just had an idea with in game messaging and the PSP

I rarely use my PSP these days, ussally just with GTA, Tekken or Killzone with mates. But how about this?

When you get an in-game message, instead of quiting out of your game, or indeed, using the in-game XMB as promised, why not have the option to also use your PSP to read your message?

While i still want in-game XMB to do messaging above anything else, i was wondering if gamers with PSP's would also prefer just pausing their DMC4 boss fight, flicking on their PSP, reading the message, replying to the message, putting the psp on sleep, then carry on fighting on DMC4.

Again, i still want in-game messaging for the PS3, but just wondering, would you guys like to have psp to ps3 messaging in game as well? And would you prefer that to the PS3 in-game xmb?

Caves @ Feb 13th 2008 9:49PM

Well, don't I already have In-game msg in Rock Band and some other games??? works just fine (when not ina song)

Chris Rah Osiris @ Feb 13th 2008 9:58PM

This would be good news and a welcome addition to the features of the PS3

ryan @ Feb 14th 2008 12:17AM

What other features is PSN missing that LIVE has?

I'm not flaming here, but I'm really wanting a PS3 soon when they get a rumble controller and are a bit cheaper. and the idea of playing online for free is nice too. if they can get all the features live has for free, then there would be no real reason to pay.

also why is it some people think Live is better?

The Aggie CEO @ Feb 14th 2008 2:02AM

we already have rumble controllers

ryan @ Feb 14th 2008 3:10AM

I mean rumble with the PS3 itself, i dont want to buy a separte Dualshock 3. I want rumble from the get go.

Carlton @ Feb 14th 2008 6:12AM

Friends lists, in-game messaging and custom soundtracks.

That's it.

The reason people bleat on about LIVE being better is that they have to justify paying a subscription fee for the measly additional features mentioned above. It really isn't a selling point to most people.

CONFUSEDgam3r @ Feb 13th 2008 10:18PM

"isn't what 90% of you want In-Game XMB for anyway?"

no, of course not. I want to watch videos, and of course play my downloaded games while playing a disc game. CELL FTW! [/sarcasm]

I actually saw a post like that in some forum somewhere. It was funny as hell.

JKPierce @ Feb 13th 2008 10:39PM

Surprisingly, personal in-game music has the higher ground, according to a November poll on the PlayStation.com Gamer Advisory Panel.

It's garnered 58% of the votes (3005), while in-game messaging is a distant second at 38% (1985).

For some reason, the third option was a larger friend list and options for categorization. It received 4% of the votes (219 Floridians).

zyxwiley @ Feb 13th 2008 10:19PM

it's google cache... good use of it.

anyone else notice home right above it? what are the odds that's coming out with it?

JKPierce @ Feb 13th 2008 10:43PM

Surprisingly, in-game user playlists appear more in demand, according to a November poll on the PlayStation.com Gamer Advisory Panel.

In-game music garnered 58% of the votes (3005), while in-game chat was a distant second at 38% (1985).

For some reason, the third option was friend list expansion and categorization features. It received 4% of the votes (219 Floridians).

The Sound @ Feb 13th 2008 10:43PM

K, sony, now's your time to shine. Cut the OS fat to 4% of the system, give us in-game XMB, and all that good stuff.

The ball is in your court now Sony, don't f*ck it up!

Joe @ Feb 13th 2008 10:59PM

This would help so much if it actually happened.

Phizzy @ Feb 13th 2008 11:34PM

In-game music?... I don't want to play rap over an orchestral soundtrack, and I don't want the PS3 to allow anyone else to do so. It's offensive to people who write game soundtracks. If I wanted to ruin my experience of a game I'd just get a rapper with a baby to prance around my room with a ghetto blaster on his shoulder.

Though... On games with pathetic licenced soundtracks, I wouldn't mind replacing some of the crap they play at me with something vaguely good. I'm glad Motorstorm at least allows me to disable 'Kool Thing'. That song... is just terrible.

Phizzy @ Feb 13th 2008 11:29PM

Argh, I write a couple of paragraphs about this sh*t just to find my message vanish because I said 'cr*p' once. Could you PLEASE disable the swear filter? Or at least make it blank out words instead of say 'OKAY THANKS CHECK YOUR EMAIL' and discard the message?

Kalil S. @ Feb 14th 2008 1:58AM

it bout time sony
plz make sum more big annocemrnt at gdc
tha b kool if they had tha next firmware ready to download afta they make sum newsat gdc

Haiddasalami @ Feb 14th 2008 12:36AM

Weird as I booted up resistance and foundthat they have an ingame messasging feature and you can read unread messages. Hope this is through XMB though me want Xcross Media Bar

Sorry for the bad grammar. Its 12 am.

Sammy @ Feb 14th 2008 2:03PM

12:36 am!!!

CLupula @ Feb 14th 2008 1:28AM

I'll be happy when this feature is on the PS3, just so it can shut up the 360 fanboys. However, I, myself, don't want to be interrupted when I play a game by someone trying to message me. I hope there will be an option to turn it off.

And as for custom soundtracks, some games warrant it, other games don't. GTA, I definitely want custom soundtracks. Something like Final Fantasy XIII or Metal Gear Solid 4 would totally lose their feel if, say, I had Darkthrone or Slayer playing or, if as the poster above said, someone was playing rap. Keep that feature game specific.

Demis @ Feb 14th 2008 5:43AM

Slayer !,,!

- Sorry, couldn't resist.

Groundskeeper Willie @ Feb 14th 2008 3:48AM

Messaging is the _only_ reason for in-game XMB. Custom soundtracks already exists in the PS3 firmware but must be enabled by the game developers (for instance MLB08, SS:HD). I think that's the way it will stay.

Vertrucio @ Feb 14th 2008 1:22PM

I have to agree with CLupula, although I don't have a huge playlist of music, some games you really shouldn't override their soundtracks since their music really helps drive the story. Imagine playing Ico, Final Fantasy, Shadow of the Colossus, or any other emotional games without their soundtracks.

Other games with generic music, or generic hard rock would be a good time to replace the music.