amers are a fickle lot. As good as things are now on the console front, there is definitely room for improvement. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of our biggest peeves, potential tweaks and suggestions for each of the three console manufacturers. From interface additions to in-game features, nothing was off limits. It’s not like we have to foot the bill, anyway. Read through them, think it over and then let us know what you’d like to see. Send us your suggestions, and we’ll incorporate them in a future readers’ wish-list feature.

What would we like to see from Sony in 2008? Frankly, a lot. In the age of online connectivity and gaming, Sony seems to be lagging behind in a few key areas. While its online features are available out of the box at no cost to users, the old “You get what you pay for,” saying applies in a lot of disappointing ways. Fortunately, things are looking up for PlayStation 3 owners, with a host of new things heading their way in 2008. Here’s our wish list for 2008, in no particular order.

PlayStation Home
Our biggest wish for Sony in 2008 is for it to get PlayStation Home up and running. While we’re a little concerned that it might be a little too ambitious for its own good, the idea of having a unified area that combines friend interaction, media capabilities, games, Trophies and more is something PlayStation 3 owners—and all gamers, really—should be excited about. It’s a pity the thing isn’t available now—it was originally slated for release before end of year 2007. Sure, it might be a little silly spending time decorating a virtual apartment while real-world homes stagnate, but customization fiends probably wouldn’t have it any other way.

Trophies
There’s no denying that Microsoft’s Achievements have changed the way a lot of people play their games. Whether used as an incentive to try new things in games (would anyone have thought to play Fuzion Frenzy 2 otherwise?) or just as an overall barometer, Achievement points have been a great success for Microsoft. Sony is following suit with its Trophies, though we’re still not exactly sure how they’ll work, and most of the developers we chatted with in the past year are interested in implementing them, but they haven’t gotten the tools – and this includes first party developers. Having in-game awards pop up in the Home interface is a slick idea, and the potential is great. Imagine beating a particularly tough boss, then finding a shirt with his picture on it in your avatar’s closet. Better yet, picture that boss as a statuette suddenly appearing in your Home trophy case.

Points for trophies
As cool as that functionality sounds, we’re hoping that there’s a point value attached to each trophy, too. One of the reasons Achievements have taken off is their simplicity. You can see at a glance what your friends and rivals have been up to, and a number is a simple and effective benchmark. It’s easier to compare numbers than trophies—having both could definitely elevate Sony’s gaming reward system ahead of its competition.

Points or no, the Trophy system seems like it could be a great opportunity for Sony to take user profiles to the Web at large. Part of the fun of Achievements is being able to log in at Xbox.com and compare scores with your friends. If Sony’s serious about this new functionality, it needs to step up.

Crossbar in game
The Cross Media Bar is a triumph in simplicity and functionality. Unfortunately, it’s as good as gone once you put in a game. Unlike the Xbox 360, which maintains the same blade interface through all levels of its user experience, the PlayStation 3’s XMB is only a front. Pressing the PlayStation button on the Sixaxis gives you the option to quit the game off or turn off the controller, for example, but those options are only presented in boring old text. We’d love to see Sony not only do those things with the familiar XMB interface, but also have complete access to our audio files and other system goodies. Why not, Sony?

Here's what we think an in-game XMB might look like.

Cross-game chatting
Sure, if your buddy is playing Ratchet & Clank and you’re busy exploring the jungles of Uncharted, you can always pick up the phone if you want to chat. At this stage, however, you shouldn’t have to. Sony obviously believes in Bluetooth communication—the PlayStation 3 has supported headsets from day one, and Sony packed one in the retail version of Warhawk. Unfortunately, without much of an overarching online strategy, each of the games on the PS3 feels like a separate island. Why not build a little bridge and at least let people talk to each other while playing different games?