If you owned a PS3 or a PSP you probably spent a bit of time upgrading your machine’s firmware. And then updating it some more.

The promise of the ever-evolving console was realized in 2007 by Sony, with mandatory firmware upgrades to the company’s gaming machines adding customizable themes to the PS3, an online store for the PSP, a popular folding@home cancer research initiative, rumble support for PS3 controllers that aren’t even sold in the U.S. yet, and a bevy of other security and functionality tweaks (alas, no “Home” service — not yet.)

How many times has the firmware been upgraded in PlayStation platforms this year?

I count 25 occasions and list them all below.

I pulled the list together using Sony’s official U.S. PlayStation blog, the Joystiq-affiliated PSP Fanboy and PS3 Fanboy sites and the handy dated forum posts on NeoGAF from users who reported downloading the firmware.

I have not noted how the PSP’s functionality improved each time, but I have mentioned one or two facets of each PS3 firmware upgrade.

Take a look at the list below. PlayStation fans, did you like your year in firmware?

January 24, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.50
Included: Addition of auto-sign-in to PlayStation Network

January 30, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.10

February 5, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.51
Included: Improved support for PS2 titles

February 7, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.11

February 24, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.54
Included: Improved USB camera support

March 22, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.60
Included: Folding@Home; addition of full-size keyboard

March 28, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.30

April 19, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.70
Included: PS1 downloadable titles playable on PS3; PS2 controller rumble enabled

April 19, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.40

May 23, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.80
Included: PSP-PS3 Internet-based Remote Play enabled; adition of 1080p upscaling

May 31, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.50

June 15, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.81
Included: Correction of color-setting issue

June 28, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.82
Included: Addition of compatibility with AVC High Profile movie files

June 29, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.51

July 24, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.90
Included: Support for customizable backgrounds; added emoticons in personal messages

July 24, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.52

September 4, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.92
Included: PS3 software compatibility improvements

September 11, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.70

September 12, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.93
Included: Addressed “Warhawk” incompatibility issues introduced by 1.92

September 13, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.71

October 23, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.94
Included: Support for rumble-enabled DualShock 3 controllers

October 30, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.72

November 7, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 2.0
Included: Ability to set customizable visual themes; Added PlayStation news-ticker

November 18, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 2.01
Included: Improved stability

November 29, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.73