Software Comparisons & Requirements By Alex Waldron
Playstation 3
Playstation 3 System Software The PlayStation 3 system software is the updateable software and operating system of the PlayStation 3. Each update includes all previous update data (except for features that have been reported to be removed). The software may be updated in a number of ways. These include downloading the update directly on the PlayStation 3, downloading it from the user's local Official PlayStation website to a PC, using a USB storage device to transfer it to the PlayStation 3, or installing the update from game discs containing update data.
Continued… ‘The 3D computer graphics API software used in the PlayStation 3 is LibGCM and PSGL, based on OpenGL ES and Nvidia's CG. The PlayStation 3 uses the XrossMediaBar (XMB) as its graphical user interface.’ stem_software stem_software
Continued… The Playstation 3 System Software is constantly being updated. Due to the number of ways in which players can update there systems, updating is a fairly hassle-free process. Since November 11 th 2006, the Playstation 3 System Software has received 58 updates, all varying in size.
Xbox 360
Xbox 360 System Software Xbox 360 system software is the updatable software and operating system for the Xbox 360. It resides on a 16 MB file system and has access to a maximum of 32 MB of the system's memory. While the System Software updates may sometimes provide updates to the system's firmware, it is unlikely that this occurs with many, if any, updates. The updates can be downloaded from the Xbox Live service directly to the Xbox 360 and subsequently installed.
Continued… Microsoft has also provided the ability to download system software updates from their respective official Xbox website to their PCs and then storage media, from which the update can be installed to the system. Since November , there have been 27 updates to the software system.
Differences Between the Two… The Xbox 360 system software includes built in software emulation support for the original Xbox game system. Software emulation is achieved with downloadable emulation profiles, which require a hard drive. The last reported update to the list was in 2007 and support has since been discontinued for adding new titles. The latest versions of the PS3 system have no such backwards compatibility.