Within a tiny timeframe both Echochrome and SOCOM: Confrontation will receive Trophy patches and gameplay upgrades. In SOCOM’s case, the version 1.30 patch appears as if it could fix many of the issues that we felt hurt the game. In a recent update on the official SOCOM blog, it was boasted that “fixes for over 100 issues” of varying degrees have been addressed.
Some of these problems are network performance tweaks, but there are a decent amount of solid, noticeable additions. In terms of gameplay, Slant Six is implementing a new D-pad leaning mechanism (instead of allowing SIXAXIS to do all the hard work), a dive to prone move, stackable inventory items and less precise radial menu control to streamline the inventory system. The much needed Quick Match and Party System (think Resistance 2) are being added in 1.30 as well.
Echochrome, in addition to Trophies, will receive an update that will add an additional 1,000 user-created levels and a special screenshot mode. The user levels can be accessed from the Freeform play option in the game and will probably be the greatest thing ever. I have been assured of this.
[Update: A reader has pointed out that the Echochrome patch is live and ready to downloaded at your leisure. You can also play a level of Echochrome in Sony’s Home via an arcade machine and earn some sweet armor. All the cool kids are sporting the duds.]
