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PS3 GUI Takes Page From PSP Book

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the what-you'll-be-using-for-the-next-ten-years dept.

sdmonroe writes "As the PS3 launch approaches, the first glimpses of the console's new interface have started to hit the web. The interface borrows many features from the PSP GUI which got such broad acclaim, and includes simple drop down menus for accessing important settings like video resolution, audio output, and management of your virtual friends. Customizability and configurability are also some of the features gamers can expect."

4 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. XMB by earbenT · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's called the Cross Media Bar (XMB) interface, and it actually debuted on the ill-fated PSX (PS2+DVR combo) in 2003. It's since become Sony's standard UI for multimedia products such as the PSP, PS3 and even some higher-end TVs.

  2. Very...PSP... by the-stringbean · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Well it's certainly like the PSP interface. Which is good and bad. It means that it's going to be pretty easy to use but it seems a bit underwelming considering the power of the PS3, especially if it's true that one of the Cell SPUs are dedicated to running the GUI...

    The pop up menu during games seems a poor to me - white icons on a screen without a frame or background? I can see that being an issue with some games.

  3. Hibernate by fistfullast33l · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What I'd really like to see is the PSP's "game-state-save" functionality translate to the PS3. The ability to turn off the console and let it go into a type of hibernate mode without using any battery is arguably the best feature of the handheld. You can just keep switching it on and off and lose very little time waiting for it to come back up. I don't know if the DS does it, but I guarantee you if it doesn't it will soon. Very handy when you're on the go and can only play a few minutes at a time.

    The one downside to the universal GUI of the PSP is the save functionality. Many of the games would design their own save game functionality only to have the PSP save game come up after confirming the save in the game. So you'd effectively be saving the game twice in one shot. It's quite annoying if you ask me. More of a developer problem than Sony's, but something that needs to be worked on.

    1. Re:Hibernate by Vlastyn · · Score: 4, Informative

      The DS does this as well- Was happily surprised to discover it. The thing is, game consoles these days are "always on" anyway- in power save mode, waiting for a signal from the remote to turn it on and wasting electricity. Seems like a natural evolution of sorts to have it actually offer some additional feature while it's in this state.