The world’s most anticipated, lack-luster, awesome, crappy, or expensive (whichever word you prefer to call it) console ever produced. Is it any good? More like, is it even worth considering? Read on to find out!
pros:
-mgs4 (its a given)
-20GB/60GB have near perfect ps2 compatibility (80GB has like 75%-80%)
-hdmi and hard drives in every model from the start
-ability to upgrade hard drive without voiding the warranty
-ability to use different video and audio source at the same time (hdmi for video and optical for sound, or composite for video, and hdmi for sound, etc)
-gigabit ethernet
-psu is integrated inside the console, aka no massive power brick
-better gamepad for fighting games (im sorry, there is no d-pad on the xbox 360 controller, period. that “d-pad” is worthless on it)
-better gamepad in general
-60GB/80GB models have SD, CF, and MS readers, which is nice to view videos and photos on
-every model (except the 20GB) has wifi built in
-online is free and no restrictions like xbox live silver and gold has
-ps1 compatibility in every model
-no major hardware problems (RROD)
-playstation heritage
-slot-loading blu-ray player
-clean and simple interface
-pretty unique playstation store games to download (fat princess haha)
-best blu-ray player, as it is completely futureproof unlike most standalone blu-ray players
-can output 1080p from the start
-can output dolby trueHD and DTS-MA (music to my ears)
-blu-ray won out over hd-dvd basically because of the inclusion of it in every ps3
-awesome as a home theater/multimedia/all-in-one machine
-plays divx and other encoded formats of movies, and plays back audio perfectly
-life with playstation has potential
-folding at home rocks
-very quiet machine, even when reading from a disc
-usb peripherals work nicely on it
-internet browser! (yes youtube works perfectly)
-the playstation store actually looks good now
-ability to use memory cards (SD, CF, MS) to save and transfer saved games to/from it
-consistent firmware updates
-upscaling of ps1/ps2 (ps2 in 20/60/80GB models) games and dvds all the way up to 1080p via hdmi
cons:
-VERY expensive from the start, and still is today for people to consider as a gaming machine, especially when the 360 and wii are much cheaper and offer better “value” for gaming
-feels more of a entertainment machine first, and a gaming machine second
-had to go against the 360, which had a year head start, and the wii, which was 1/2 the price
-relied too much on ps1/ps2 heritage and then shot itself in the foot when it didnt sell nearly as well
-sony continues to lose money on each console sold, even today
-removed ps2 compatibility in the later models
-removed card readers in the later models
-gimped 20GB with no wifi at the start (now its standard)
-why remove the chrome trim from todays models? console looks cheap without it
-console exclusivity of some games are gone
-apparently, its hard to develop for
-costly to develop for
-still only comes in black in north america, but japan has had white, silver, and black for a while now
-launching with a rumble-less controller, saying rumble in controllers was “last-gen”, then putting it back in after a pending lawsuit and HUGE backlash from consumers
-calling the dualshock 3 as a “brand-new” controller, as its really just a dualshock 2 with motion sensing
-playstation “home” just sucks. period.
-felt underwhelming at the start – nothing really “stood” out from the 360 or wii.
-launch lineup of games just sucked.
-most of todays games on it just are underwhelming (except the obvious blockbuster ones – mgs4, uncharted, etc)
-online play is lacking compared to xbox live (MUCH better than wii though – gay friend codes)
-trophies are just a complete copy-off from xbox achievements
-blu-ray felt (sometimes still feels) like an afterthought
-still being outsold by the 360, wii, DS, and even its little brother, the ps2
conclusion: 8/10. if you want an AWESOME entertainment/all-in-one/home theater machine, the ps3 is for you. as of today, sony’s faults from the start have *mostly* been rectified, minus the removal of several features from todays models and the crippling of the original 20GB model. that is a stupid decision to make, but its “cost-effective” they say. yeah fucking right.
if you want the best ps3, track down a 60GB or a mgs4 80GB model. if you dont really care about ps2 compatibility, todays models will serve you just fine.
