A Sony Disposition...

[HasteInTime]

@ PSN experience: I actually like it better than I liked Xbox Live during the period I had it. Though I never cared at all for voice-chatting while playing anyway. I just prefer written messenges, really.

I also have more titles for my PS3 than my 360. Generally, I play much more single player games than multiplayer games too. And for those, instant-chat with people isn't anywhere near as important.

Disgaea 4 was the first game that I quickly started make PSN friends in. Being obsessed with challenges and loving the map-making that D4 introduced to the series, me and another guy ended up having a battle of "making the most difficult map", where the winner would be the first person to make a map that only they themselves could clear. We talked a lot through messenges during that period. Occasionally, others would try our maps too and sometimes give our maps terrible ratings for being far too difficult and masocistic, which was hilarious. I met a couple other cool people through Disgaea 4 too, many of which have tried out less popular RPG titles that I enjoy myself.

Then there's Dark Souls, which I've met another bunch of people in and had lots of fun online experiences in. Other than that, I mostly just casually write messenges about 1 player games that others are playing as well and stuff like that, really. So yeah.

Well then It's nice to make your acquaintance Ultima Shadow. :]

I can't say that has happened to me before on PSN and I welcome the cool challenges like those. For example I have Mod Nation Racers, Which I love to make maps on and I think 3D Dot Heroes has something like a character editor at least. I figure there are different communities based around those games, kinda like EoFF is I guess. ^^'

To me it's just easier to speak, over typing constant messages even though I have done that in the past and don't mind it as long as it doesn't get in the way of playing. I just like to relax, so anything that frees up my hands for something else is great for me. In this way, I can keep the focus purely on game time. ;]

EDIT:

The Community Builder: Bringing the Fun and Cheer...

Like any gamer would. I just wish to build my Friends list and build the community of Friends I want. It's just that- now, it seems all but nigh impossible now.

And why is that? Is it because sony now charges for online play? Xbox has been doing that for years and no one seemed to mind.

Regional Barriers:

As over the last two years I met far too few UK players (rare) and even less US players (super rare) compared to Xbox's Live services... I wish to play with those in my preferred language and country

You are complaining about barriers, but what you are implying is that there is a lack of barriers. From my understanding of the service, you are connected to the players playing at the same time as yourself with the best connection. While this may be from area that are not in english, I'm afraid that shows the popularity of the games you want to play online. I had played a game called Vampire Rain in which most of the achievements are earned via the multiplier, but there were 0 players online to play it one year after launch. Compare this to a game like call of duty with thousands of players online constantly. You are more likely to find someone in your region.

The is E for Effort or EoFF?:

I'm among so many EoFF there are some really deep passionate Sony Fans here and that is fine. I expected that to come with the turf, it's based on Final-Fantasy mostly during the years of 7's release. Which would put it in primarily Sony's PlayStation fan-turf.

The final fantasy seems to be shared among 3 main areas. Mobile, Sony and Nintendo. The original final fantasies were on Nintendo platforms until FF7. This changed when the 5th console generation rolled round. Final fantasy evolved with the new generation and transferred onto disc based storage. Nintendo Stuck with cartridges. This improved storage space allowed for the cinematic that square is best known for today. This could not have happened on Nintendo consoles, and Xbox had not emerged at this point, and Sega were already circlin the drain. Sony stuck with the series until FF13 which became multplatform on Xbox and PS3, while Nintendo has most or all of the spin off series. Mobile games are adopting the smaller of these spin off series now.

Wishful Pondering:

Personally I'm not really able to enjoy 50% of Sony's Experience because the Community experience is just as important as the Solo. Right now I dont have that on PS3 but I want to create and have that similar experience on PSN+ as I did with that of Xbox's Live service.

This comes down to games, rather than a community. The service itself is irrelevant when it comes down the experiences that you are getting from them. If you were to play COD on any platform I would wager that the service will me mighty similar with the exception that PS3 has free multiplayer play. The service may be better via Xbox live, but in the end it comes down to players. More people chose Xbox 360 this generation as it was the first of the consoles to come out and it was cheaper than the PS3. This allowed Xbox to get an early lead on Sony last generation. Sony have learned from their past mistakes are are setting themselves up to take this generation in the same fashion the Xbox 360 did.

For the Record I have PSN+ .... >.<

I am complaining about barriers in general. You can't tell me that it would not be nice to see region selection in games that can pair you with others in your region or nearby. I think it's not a bad idea. After all that would make connecting to players less laggy as well. :P

I see no reason why the PS3 could not take advantage of some of the features Live had already. Sony doesn't think the PS3 can handle it, then calls it a "hardware issue" when its software that can fix it. So the PS4 was their answer to the fans whom wanted cross party chat and the other advanced features they have planned. It now looks like the PS4 will fill that gap to an extent much like that of Live on Xbox 360.

I do have a lack of Friends on my list on PSN and I aim to remedy that. You need to really work on building a community and on PSN I feel no sense of greater community like that of Live has with ease of use. Like the fact everyone gets a headset in w/the 360 vs PS3 with none. (making it easier to communicate vs not)

As I stated I feel far flung away from other PS3 users that use PSN in the US or UK. Matches usually pit me with others from far away. Language is a barrier for me that I can work on and am. However I rarely come across those in my own region or elsewhere more than the Hispanics in the deep South Americas. Maybe its not the amount that counts but why cant I have more than 6 friends in case those six go offline for any period of time? Why not. Indeed.

Why would I have picked the 360 Originally? Cause of the Games and Cause of communication reasons. Weather it's idol chatter or Game related which it usually is. Cause of a sense of Community I had on the Xbox itself with Mech-Assualt or Halo 2 back in the day and it didn't have a mic in the box but I got one and I enjoy that part of communication- being able to tell others to look out for the enemy coming around the next corner. The friends list I built. The Controller and So on. There are many reasons why I play games and many reasons why I picked the 360. None of my reasons were because it was cheaper though.

It's simple for me though as I do enjoy more with paid features over Live than PSN/free and in the case of those who dont get alot of money PSN+ is a great way to get other games. In this way and vice-versa I can get the same game they are playing for free, unless its region locked to their PS store. Then in the other case I at least can purchase it and download it (at discount w/PSN+). Not everyone can buy tons of games Like I can but this is one of the reasons why I like PSN+ for the Digital 'rental' freebies. Makes gaming more- instant.

It's all good though. I will get there someday. Maybe my list on PSN will never be larger than it is or even ideal- but I will still enjoy what I have, even if most games next gen are supporting co-op and Multiplayer than before on PSN. It's Not like I'm angry at everyone, I'm just disappointed with Sony overall really.

Edit 2:
I'm willing take Multiplayer game suggestions. :/