Here it is, possibly the most important topic for PS3 owners ever! Sony has ramped up their online service for PS3, and loads of us play online on a regular basis. To join in the fun, post your usernames in here and I'll get them added to the list. If you have a headset let me know and I'll put you in on the list in blue so you're more likely to get added by other people with headsets. Much better for team games and online gaming in general.Joining A FriendUnlike Microsoft's service, on PS3 you can't (yet) simply join a friends game via their name on your list, the service will vary game by game, but there is nearly always a way to do so once you've worked it out! In some games (Rainbow Six) you can join a friends game only if they send you an invite. On others (Warhawk) there are no invites but you can join a friends game via their name. In games such as Motorstorm, you have a friends list which will tell you which server your friend is playing on, but you'll need to then go and find that server yourself. Since update 2.40 you can now message friends in game via the XMB & arrange games that way, so arranging games is now much more user friendly.
Voice Chat In GamesOnce again this feature varies depending on what game you play. The vast majority of games support this though, so a headset is highly recommended. Most Bluetooth headsets are supported by PS3, but a great wired alternative is the USB Socom Headset from PS2. A USB Keyboard is also supported in a few games, but this is rare. I'd still recommend one for anyone intending to use the PS3's built in Web Browser though.
Online ScoreboardsMany games, especially games from the PlayStation Store, have Online Scoreboards. Most of these can be set to view your friends only, and there are some very competitive games. The most competitive I've seen is the brilliant Super Stardust HD, which about half of my friends list have played. Add a few people from the list below and I guarantee you'll get more value from your games as you try and squeeze out a few million extra points!
Viewing The Friends List In Game Via the XMB (Cross Media Bar)This is now available in all games. You can not join a friend via their name here, but you can see what they're playing and message to arrange where to meet etc.
Friends List LimitYou can have a total of 100 users on your PS3 list. This was previously 50.
CostThe PlayStation Network is a free service, there is no cost to join and no subscription fee to pay. Developers can however charge for online play for MMORPG's (Massively Multiplayer Role Playing Games) such as Everquest or World of Warcraft. There are no games on the PS3 at the moment that require an additional subscription charge. PS3 has a built in wireless adapter, so if you already have a Wifi connection at home, you wont need to buy any adapters to play online. You can also simply slip an ethernet cable into the back of your PS3.
MoreThere is a guide built into the PS3 which Sony update with their firmware updates. Simply click Online Instruction Manuals on the XMB.
See AlsoThe PS3 Trophy Topic in Challenges & Online Gaming.
The ListGRcade / Gamesradar Name - PlayStation Network NameHeadset /
No HeadsetA-N-G-E-L - A-N-G-E-LAbacus - abacusonline
Abs - Abs_innit
Agent47 - BlueFury47Akai XIII / HieBieJieBie - Akai_XIII Andrew_Version1 - Andy_IS_LEGEND
Anung Un Rama - Burbots_Revengeassassin2k8 - assassin2k8
Avon - Avonblack stig - black_stigbuffaloman - buffaloman_01Burlappens little hat - De4dw1ng1979
BruceoftheLee - TitchJonesyB-dog - lmhr34
cammy100 - cammy100
captain red dog - captain-red-dogchalkitdown - chalkitdown
Cheeky Devlin - Cheeky_Devlin
chelski4life - chelski4lifeConnlan - ConnlanoffCrash Hornet - CrashHornet
Cropolite - CropoliteCrystalGipsy - IHatePSN
Daniel - DanielFullard
darksideby182Dav - KatanaStrikesDeadFishUK - Wildhook
degoose - degooseDelboy - Delboy1984
dirge - Dirge
Dowbocop - DowbocopDPAD Dave - DPAD_MagazineDr Spoon - DrSpoonDraiman - DraimanDisturbed
DrPepperMan - DrPepperMan85
Dr. Buckles - Drbuckles
Echo - Polythene
El Diablo Rojo 52 - eldiab52
emilythestrange - gingerwookie
Fallen Phoenix - FallenPhoenixUK
Firewarrior706 - Firewarrior706
Firexo - Firexo
Follow The Gourd! - FTG1975GamesMan - WhiteLocust
gaminglegend - westy22H_S_H_23 - HSH25
Happy Lobotomy - Goshooter
Herbi - Malon_GRHero_Of_Canton - IgglePigglehoratio_huffnagle - EnragedYogi
Icecold - RafalutionUK
Insert 10p to continue - Ketsly
invincible - JDFORGE
irishguy2004 - EmotionalWorm
jamcc - jamccJamiej - Chasing_Cars
JediDragon05 - JediDragon05JediDragon85 - JediDragon85jigglywiggly - jigglesJimmy In A Shed - Jimmy_Shedders
Joer - Joer131
karlosswan - karlosswanKazemI - orbital1989
Kiran - Kiran-KjGarly - KjGarlyKnoyleo - KnoyleoLaggyJim - VerticalJim18
Look Over There - look-over-there-
lostintransit - lostintransit
Mafro - Mafroafromarillion Col - marillion_ColMCN - MCN2007
Minty - Mintydog82
Mitch uk - mitch_uk_psnMogster - Mogster
mouseninja - mouseninja
Muhren - Judoscar
NickSCFC - RandomLovePump
Ninja - Neuojinnot new*allusion - newallusionOctoroc - JohnMcMonkeyord1000 - Bulletzenosloman - sloboy91outoftime101 - Instansoup
Pedz - P3DZy1984Peem86 - Peem86
Pelloki - Pelloki
plasticcoated - plasticcoated
Plurbs - loveshack
Pred - RoughOutline
Prototype - scotsian
PurplePenguin - AdamTyson1
P-Dogg - P-Dogg
quaium - quaium
Quimbaby101 - QuimbabyRamSteelwood - RamSteelwood
Raz - Razilez
Raze - Novus_XIIIRazilez - Razilez
Rex Kramer - Harmon_Smith
rhythm2stealth - rhythm2stealth
Rik - RikyRjpt - RjptRodders9 - Rodders9Ropes - Ropes82
Rubix78 - Rubix_78
samoza1 - Samoza1 Samuel_1 - Samuel_1satriales - satriales
Seven - SevenFisher
Shadowkhan - Shadowkhan
Shalashaska - redbullninja
Shime Waza - shime_wazaShocker - FantomShock
ShyLad - ShyLad
SillySprout - SillySproutSkilled - Skilled
slayerx - Slayerx_UKsomething fishy - sumthinfishy
SpaceJebus - SpaceJebus
Spider-Fan - damagedhero
ssxpro - Samus_AranSt Nick - Tommy_Blaze
Stealthboy50 - Stealthboy50
Steve - Steve78SuperFinal - SuperFinal
suzzopher - Suzzophersw26 - sw26
The 1 and 0n1y - Da1and0n1y
The Crimson Clown - TheCrimsonClown
the plumbersdungarees - Rapidly-GreyingThe Shadow - MisterChief
Tiarny - Tiarny
tnman] - tndom
Towering_Hobbit - Towering_HobbitTragic Magic - TragicDan
traveljug - Traveljugtriron - tricky92T9Flake:CD79Weapon of Choice - Mephistico
Wedgie - KHDelBoy
wolvesfc - wolvesfc
X Malinthebeast X - Malinthebeast
xPEZZAx - xPEZZAx
XxOMEGAxX - XxOMEGAxX
Yoshimi - PolyphonicBoy
{degoose} - degoose
$ilva $hadow - Silva_Shadow