In 2006, this was called way too expensive and I hated it. Sure, the marketing was kinda cool here and there, but lets be honest: it was terrible on launch. Despite all the amazing features, it wasn't worth the price. After all, it's a game console. However, in 2009, there were rumors of a PlayStation 3 Slimline being developed. The price by then was already dropped by $200, but still not in the range of competing with the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. By this time, the 360 had captured the market in the hardcore community, the Wii had innovative technology that Sony only tried to mimic, and seemed to fail at first glance.
The PlayStation 3 seemed to had followed my expectations: hardly anyone would buy it. Then, Sony announced the Slimline, and a price drop to $300. This caught my eye, but it didn't make me want to buy one. Although, it seemed to scare Microsoft and Nintendo enough to take $50 off each of their consoles. I went over to a friends house one day before school started. I played the PlayStation 3 for the first time, and I was fairly impressed. The graphics were great, Sony added Rumble to their Sixaxis controllers (now dubbed DualShock 3), and this was a major up for me above the 360: a wireless internet adapter was built in, and playing games online was completely free. I then saw my ignorance to the current market, as my 360 would require an $100 wireless internet adapter for it to get internet, as well as $50 per year to play online. In the end, it would cost more than a $400 PlayStation 3. I quickly figured out that the once "too expensive for anyone" console was now more financially logical than its more popular rival. After thinking it over, I finally decided to buy a Slimline, as the review on Engadget showed its new triumphs against the prettier and older version.
So, on August 28, 2009, I had one in my hands. I soon hooked it up to the internet, created a PSN account, and began playing. This is my review on the console I once hated, only now to love.
Features
Despite not having an HDTV, the Blu-Ray disc player seems to impress me. Not only can it play normal DVDs, but it can play them at their maximum possible quality. The menu, or XMB(XrossMediaBar), it's easy to use and beautiful on startup. You see a wave of some sort, as the words "Sony Computer Entertainment" are on the screen, as a symphonic track begins to play, and then fades away. Everything is easy to set up, and the console can still be controlled by a PlayStation 3 remote control.
While the console rips music to the console more quickly than an Xbox 360, However, hardly any games have a Custom Soundtrack option. I found this slightly disappointing, but not a major annoyance.
Controllers
They were terrible on launch. Sure, it had Bluetooth, but not even a basic Rumble pack. Now, that's changed. The DualShock 3 includes Sixaxis, Bluetooth, and a Rumble Pack. While I'm not a major fan of the PlayStation controller, this seemed to be produced somewhat better, and the Bluetooth was actually most impressive. As the Xbox 360 controllers use basic IR transmitting, the DualShock 3 (as well as the DVD remote accessory) uses Bluetooth to automatically sense every button you press or any movement you make - all without any visual receiver. So, now I do not have to worry anymore about something or someone getting in front of console, as it will sense everything my controller does anyway.
Another feature is the built-in rechargeable packs, but I will discuss that in the next section.
Financial
This is one of the things I consider the most in a console: how much everything costs. As I said, the PlayStation 3 was embarrassing for Sony on launch. $600 for some missing essential features, lack of normal-DVD compatibility, and the small hard drive made people run away quickly. The power consumption was also huge, as it (as I'm told) generated enough energy to power a refrigerator. In terms of energy bills, not a good idea. The Xbox 360 was taking the crown, but the cooling problems made many angry, therefore giving Sony an edge with the lack of hardware issues versus the 360.
As the price dropped over the years, it caught more attention. Although, popularity had no significant increase. Everything was still expensive to add on to the console. Games stayed at high prices and didn't come down.
Then, 2009 came. Controller prices dropped, accessory prices dropped, and most of all...so did the price of the PlayStation 3. As the Slimline entered the market on August 25th (6 days before the official launch), everything was cheaper. Engadget did a side-by-side comparison of the former and new version, and found the Slimline to use less than half the energy consumption of its larger predecessor. Hardware speed was also faster, and the console is nearly silent when turned on while still keeping a nice internal temperature.
However, the prices of the games did not drop. They are still high and more than I'm willing to spend. With the rather small library of games, there's not much to choose from. Despite the small number of games, there are a few PlayStation 3 exclusives coming out that may go down in history as some of the best games of all time, such as Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo 5, and MAG.
As for other accessories, the PlayStation 3 uses Bluetooth, which will allow any Bluetooth headset device hook up to the console wirelessly, so you may use it in the game. The Xbox 360 requires users to buy a specific $50 headset just to go wireless. As for hard drives, the PlayStation 3 will allow any SATA hard drive put into the console, regardless of memory size or brand. However, the Xbox 360 requires a specified hard drive by Microsoft to be compatable that costs $160 each.
Controllers can have an easy comparison. The DualShock 3 has a built-in rechargeable battery, which will make the controller last 3 days on a single 15 minute charge. No addons are required. The Xbox 360 does not have this feature, as you may buy rechargeable batteries for an extra $10, and even then, you must buy a $30 rechargeable battery port to charge the batteries (two at a time only). This can add up and it simply isn't worth it.
Online is where the final blow comes. The PlayStation 3 comes with a wireless internet adapter built-in, so it requires no other addons. To play on PlayStation Network is completely free. The Xbox 360 does not have one built-in, and requires a $100 adapter for accessing the internet wirelessly. Then, it costs $50 a year to play online, meaning you will pay a lot more on a 360 than if you buy a PS3.
So now, whenever you consider a hardcore console to buy, think about how much you will spend on it over time. The PlayStation 3 wins this category.
A Final Word
I feel like a hypocrite. I slammed this console many times, hated Sony for making such a bad business move, and was angry for letting all those people down who played the PlayStation 2 for the 6 years when it was the best. But now, those thoughts are history. This is the single most impressive console since the Sega Dreamcast, and the wide range of features today show its future potential.
It used to cost too much, but now it doesn't. Buying a PlayStation 3 is only a little more expensive than buying an Xbox 360 on purchase. But, if you want to use any fancy features in the future, the Xbox 360 will end up costing you more. We've waited for the PlayStation 3 to have its prices dropped so that it might be a good console to use and play, but the conclusion I've come to is much greater than a "might."
And now, that wait is over.
The PlayStation 3 seemed to had followed my expectations: hardly anyone would buy it. Then, Sony announced the Slimline, and a price drop to $300. This caught my eye, but it didn't make me want to buy one. Although, it seemed to scare Microsoft and Nintendo enough to take $50 off each of their consoles. I went over to a friends house one day before school started. I played the PlayStation 3 for the first time, and I was fairly impressed. The graphics were great, Sony added Rumble to their Sixaxis controllers (now dubbed DualShock 3), and this was a major up for me above the 360: a wireless internet adapter was built in, and playing games online was completely free. I then saw my ignorance to the current market, as my 360 would require an $100 wireless internet adapter for it to get internet, as well as $50 per year to play online. In the end, it would cost more than a $400 PlayStation 3. I quickly figured out that the once "too expensive for anyone" console was now more financially logical than its more popular rival. After thinking it over, I finally decided to buy a Slimline, as the review on Engadget showed its new triumphs against the prettier and older version.
So, on August 28, 2009, I had one in my hands. I soon hooked it up to the internet, created a PSN account, and began playing. This is my review on the console I once hated, only now to love.
Features
Despite not having an HDTV, the Blu-Ray disc player seems to impress me. Not only can it play normal DVDs, but it can play them at their maximum possible quality. The menu, or XMB(XrossMediaBar), it's easy to use and beautiful on startup. You see a wave of some sort, as the words "Sony Computer Entertainment" are on the screen, as a symphonic track begins to play, and then fades away. Everything is easy to set up, and the console can still be controlled by a PlayStation 3 remote control.
While the console rips music to the console more quickly than an Xbox 360, However, hardly any games have a Custom Soundtrack option. I found this slightly disappointing, but not a major annoyance.
Controllers
They were terrible on launch. Sure, it had Bluetooth, but not even a basic Rumble pack. Now, that's changed. The DualShock 3 includes Sixaxis, Bluetooth, and a Rumble Pack. While I'm not a major fan of the PlayStation controller, this seemed to be produced somewhat better, and the Bluetooth was actually most impressive. As the Xbox 360 controllers use basic IR transmitting, the DualShock 3 (as well as the DVD remote accessory) uses Bluetooth to automatically sense every button you press or any movement you make - all without any visual receiver. So, now I do not have to worry anymore about something or someone getting in front of console, as it will sense everything my controller does anyway.
Another feature is the built-in rechargeable packs, but I will discuss that in the next section.
Financial
This is one of the things I consider the most in a console: how much everything costs. As I said, the PlayStation 3 was embarrassing for Sony on launch. $600 for some missing essential features, lack of normal-DVD compatibility, and the small hard drive made people run away quickly. The power consumption was also huge, as it (as I'm told) generated enough energy to power a refrigerator. In terms of energy bills, not a good idea. The Xbox 360 was taking the crown, but the cooling problems made many angry, therefore giving Sony an edge with the lack of hardware issues versus the 360.
As the price dropped over the years, it caught more attention. Although, popularity had no significant increase. Everything was still expensive to add on to the console. Games stayed at high prices and didn't come down.
Then, 2009 came. Controller prices dropped, accessory prices dropped, and most of all...so did the price of the PlayStation 3. As the Slimline entered the market on August 25th (6 days before the official launch), everything was cheaper. Engadget did a side-by-side comparison of the former and new version, and found the Slimline to use less than half the energy consumption of its larger predecessor. Hardware speed was also faster, and the console is nearly silent when turned on while still keeping a nice internal temperature.
However, the prices of the games did not drop. They are still high and more than I'm willing to spend. With the rather small library of games, there's not much to choose from. Despite the small number of games, there are a few PlayStation 3 exclusives coming out that may go down in history as some of the best games of all time, such as Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo 5, and MAG.
As for other accessories, the PlayStation 3 uses Bluetooth, which will allow any Bluetooth headset device hook up to the console wirelessly, so you may use it in the game. The Xbox 360 requires users to buy a specific $50 headset just to go wireless. As for hard drives, the PlayStation 3 will allow any SATA hard drive put into the console, regardless of memory size or brand. However, the Xbox 360 requires a specified hard drive by Microsoft to be compatable that costs $160 each.
Controllers can have an easy comparison. The DualShock 3 has a built-in rechargeable battery, which will make the controller last 3 days on a single 15 minute charge. No addons are required. The Xbox 360 does not have this feature, as you may buy rechargeable batteries for an extra $10, and even then, you must buy a $30 rechargeable battery port to charge the batteries (two at a time only). This can add up and it simply isn't worth it.
Online is where the final blow comes. The PlayStation 3 comes with a wireless internet adapter built-in, so it requires no other addons. To play on PlayStation Network is completely free. The Xbox 360 does not have one built-in, and requires a $100 adapter for accessing the internet wirelessly. Then, it costs $50 a year to play online, meaning you will pay a lot more on a 360 than if you buy a PS3.
So now, whenever you consider a hardcore console to buy, think about how much you will spend on it over time. The PlayStation 3 wins this category.
A Final Word
I feel like a hypocrite. I slammed this console many times, hated Sony for making such a bad business move, and was angry for letting all those people down who played the PlayStation 2 for the 6 years when it was the best. But now, those thoughts are history. This is the single most impressive console since the Sega Dreamcast, and the wide range of features today show its future potential.
It used to cost too much, but now it doesn't. Buying a PlayStation 3 is only a little more expensive than buying an Xbox 360 on purchase. But, if you want to use any fancy features in the future, the Xbox 360 will end up costing you more. We've waited for the PlayStation 3 to have its prices dropped so that it might be a good console to use and play, but the conclusion I've come to is much greater than a "might."
And now, that wait is over.
Last edited by Independence76 on October 1st 2009, 12:35 am; edited 2 times in total
