A Whole New PlayStation Store for PS3
What do you get when you smarten up a clunky browser-like interface and drag access to all its goodies down local-like? Try the new PlayStation Store interface, coming sometime in April, localized and optimized to make browsing for content less of an eye-squinting, d-pad tapping fiasco.
If you've used Sony's PlayStation Store much, you know it's more or less like using a gamepad to navigate a browser. You've probably at one time or another lost the cursor while tapping around, groaned waiting for half the screen to refresh after a screen change, and generally felt like you'd traded the snappy confines of the PS3's native interface for something tacked on and klutzy.
Sony's PlayStation Store 2.0, coming soon to a PS3 near you.
As you can see from the screenshot above, the new PlayStation Store looks like it's part of the PS3's native interface, probably because it will be, and while you'll still access it via the XMB (XrossMediaBar) you won't be whisked off to somewhere else, but instead zip around in an ostensibly-as-snappy menu schema that breaks things down a bit more the way Microsoft and Nintendo already do. There's no shame in pointing that last bit out. It's not who gets it right first, after all -- just ask Blizzard.
The only downside? Per Sony:
To enable enhancements to be made to the store, no additional downloadable content will be posted prior to the revamp, starting April 3.
Existing content will remain available, of course, and PlayStation Store updates should be back on track middle-April, with the addition of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.
Replay
Fearless or feckless? Have your say below or pelt me with emails here.
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I'm glad they're going to change up the store, but that front page seems even MORE full of ads than the last one. I've always thought it was kind of ridiculous that they make me go through giant lists 5 or 10 options at a time on a high def screen.
Why are things like Rock Band songs even broken up by chunk of the alphabet? Give me the entire songlist, the entire demo section, the entire section for "classics" and let me browse.
Hopefully those kinds of things are changed, and the entire thing becomes a bit more intuitive, after the revamp.
What a terrible disappointment. Sure it's going to be better than the current version, but that isn't saying a whole lot.
The navigation looks almost identical to me, with the exception of the cursor being abandoned (thank god) and the additional ads. The frustrating practice of browsing through sub category after sub category seems to remain. And what's with the stupid icons for game categories? Just list them by name!
Too much crossover with the categories. "New releases" could be anything, "featured items" again could be anything, "add ons" should just be combined with "view all by title".
My personal pet peeve of the O button being the exit store instead of being the back button seems to be unchanged. If I want to exit the store, I'll press the PS button like I do with everything else. The O button is right next to the X, so they should both be used for primary navigation (select and return, forward and back). The R2 button just isn't as convenient.
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It's about time! The old PS Store was really lacking. I like the teaser screencap -- it's clean and looks easy to navigate. The main categories are there for easy access -- I'd bet most people will come to this with an idea as to what they're looking for and these categories should answer most needs.
For those with criticisms, don't just criticize -- that's a waste of bandwidth -- provide better alternative design suggestions.
Now, where's my HOME??? 8)
You think it will have a patch I am looking for? ;)
Only the PS3 store is going to get an update, or is the PS Store for PC getting an update too?