What the f is wrong with the PS3s network?

[Niode]

Here is the thing I hear the most about the Playstation Network, "The Playstation Network is FREE!" When comparing it to Xbox Live, which is also free, for Silver Members, and paid for Gold members.

As soon as Silver Members can play games online, then you can consider Xbox Live free. Until that day, Xbox Live will continue to be pay-to-play. Silver isn't an option, it's an insult.

What we are talking about here is not multiplayer. We're talking about basic functions that both systems have for free. The 360 can download demos, download updates for free, so can the PS3. Comparing the same basic level of service, ignoring multiplay (again, this not what this argument is about) the PS3 is leagues behind the 360.

360 average wait times*:

Demos: For an average 1.4GB demo it takes roughly half an hour on my connection
Patches: Seconds
Dashboard updates: Minutes, including install
Mandatory game installs: N/A

Overall time to complete all the above: 45m

PS3 average wait times*

Demos: At least a couple of hours for a 1.4GB demo, then 20-30 minutes for it to install
Patches: Depending on the size about 20-30 mins including installation
System Updates: 30-60 minutes to download, another 20-30 minutes to install
Mandatory game install: 20-30 minutes

Overall time to complete all the above: 2hr50m Minimum

There is something fundamentally wrong with the PSN, and something fundamentally wrong with the people who claim the PSN is far superior to Xbox Live. For Xbox Live Silver members it just isn't, it's not even in the same league. Yes, it sucks that Xbox Live Gold isn't free, but if you know where to look you can get it for as little as £2 a month. Considering the amount of time the 360 saves me over my PS3, my time is worth way more than £2 a month... Plus the games are cheaper on the 360, so I'm a winner all round, the amount of money difference it would cost me to get the same game on the PS3, it could go towards paying for the Live membership.

*based on my experience

[dsheinem]

*based on my experience

I my experience, any differences in dl/install times are negligible - the 360 is slightly faster for some things, the PS3 for others.

[miked]

PS3 average wait times*

Demos: At least a couple of hours for a 1.4GB demo, then 20-30 minutes for it to install
Patches: Depending on the size about 20-30 mins including installation
System Updates: 30-60 minutes to download, another 20-30 minutes to install
Mandatory game install: 20-30 minutes

Overall time to complete all the above: 2hr50m Minimum

Ok now I find that pretty interesting. In your earlier post you said you were on a nice 8Mps connection and I am on a truly poor 1.5mps connection and those are pretty much the exact same speeds I get. Give or take a few minutes of course, and you are half way around the world from me so it might not be the best comparison.

Even with the circumstances, my super shitty connection should not be anywhere close to yours in wait time.

On mandatory games installs, the only thing ive played that required them was MGS4. I watched Snake smoke for awhile and thought, "Hey good idea!" and went outside for a smoke. By the time I came back they were always done so it didn't bother me, but if they really do take that long Im sure it will piss me off sometime in the future.

[IcKy99]

my connection is only slow because my fucking roommate streams stargate episodes ALL FUCKING DAY off Hulu

[the7k]

What we are talking about here is not multiplayer. We're talking about basic functions that both systems have for free. The 360 can download demos, download updates for free, so can the PS3. Comparing the same basic level of service, ignoring multiplay (again, this not what this argument is about) the PS3 is leagues behind the 360.

I dunno - to me, online multiplayer is one of the basic functions of both systems. We had online multiplayer on systems (Saturn, Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube) long before we had hardware installs, system updates, patches and downloadable demos. As such, it's something I expect to be there.

I didn't sign up for a PSN account so I could spend all day downloading demos and watching videos - I did it so I could play some games online. Sure, getting a "Version 1.40 is out" message is a pain in the ass, but it's only an occasional pain in the ass. And it only costs me time.

Also, as for your speeds, maybe Sony is just shafting you guys in Britain-Land. An hour and a half to download and install a system update? 30 minutes for a patch? I haven't had speeds like that since I was in college, sharing a connection with the entire campus. Demos seem to download very quickly (for instance, I just recently download a batch of demos and it only took about 30 minutes), while patches do drag on for a lot longer than they should, but not 30 minutes. Closer to around 10 minutes.

The only time I have a speed issue is when I'm downloading stuff from Japan. I was downloading some E3 videos from the Japanese Network, and it took the entire night. Strangely, it only affects the Japanese store - the European and Hong Kong stores seem to be just fine.

[Niode]

Sony giving Europe the shaft... what a surprise.