Seven days.
That’s how long I had to wait.
One whole week of waiting before I’d get my hands on Sony’s PS3.
Well, I’d been waiting for months already, and the knowledge that I would be one of the first in the country to get a taste gave me some comfort.
Getting a taste
Finally, the wait was over - for me, and for the millions of PlayStation fans in the
So, has it been worth the wait?
Just little taste that is
Now bear in mind, that my only interaction with the PS3 involved a 45-minute demo of its bells and whistles, and around the same amount of time taking two of its launch titles for a spin.
I had just about enough time to sample, not nearly enough time to formulate an objective opinion.
Regardless, this is what to expect from the much-awaited and soon-to-be-launched (maybe change this to “just-about-launched”) Sony PlayStation 3.
The Package
Sony’s standard package on offer in
Your money buys you;
Ø The PlayStation 3 console with pre-installed 60Gb HDD
Ø One SIXAXIS PS3 wireless controller
Ø A USB cable
Ø An Ethernet cable
Ø An AC power cord
Ø A composite AV cable
So that means, if you’re planning to share you gaming experience with anyone, budget for an additional controller straight off the bat, and if you’re hoping to tap into the PS3’s high-definition potential, you’ll need to buy an HDMI cable as a separate accessory.
The Console
The 60Gb PS3 console looks good. Really good.
It’s the kind of appliance that looks like it deserves pride of place in your home entertainment set up.
Sleek lines, stylish finish – it looks impressive and imposing. It’s weight’s pretty imposing too; the PS3 weighs around 5kg so it’s certainly a hefty hunk of hardware.
The console houses the power supply as well, so it understandable that it pumps out a bit of heat, but it’s also surprisingly quiet, with minimal fan noise. This is an often-overlooked characteristic for any serious piece of home entertainment equipment – not that anyone will notice when you’ve got your volume cranked up though.
Features
Ø Cell Broadband Engine advanced microprocessor
Ø Blu-Ray Disc drive
Ø Bluetooth technology
Ø Four USB ports
Ø High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI 1.3)
Ø SIXAXIS wireless controller and support for six additional controllers
Ø CompactFlash, SD Memory card and Memeory Stick Duo slots
Ø Pre-installed removable 60Gb HDD
The cheaper 20Gb version may make its appearance at a later date if consumer demand warrants its introduction.
This version misses out on the pretty silver cosmetic trim and one can’t help but feel it’s been purposefully uglified, though some may like its more understated looks.
It also to make do without WiFi or the card-reader.
Of course, on both versions the installed HDD is easily upgradeable – the PS3 uses an industry standard 2.5 inch Serial ATA hard-drive.
The User Interface
The PS3’s UI will look rather familiar to owners of the PSP. In the little time I spent with it, the interface seemed to work well enough though owners abroad have complained that it’s not as user-friendly as it could be.
In addition to all the in-built applications that allow multimedia playback, the system allows users to install an operating system of their choice, making the PC3 a fully-functional PC replacement as well - a definite drawcard card for gamers looking for an all-in-one solution.
The Controller
So, the SIXAXIS; Besides being a palindrome, what does it do?
No more tangled wires
For a start, it’s wireless, bringing a new level of freedom to the gaming experience. The controller charges via USB, with 2.5 hours of charge time giving up to 30 hours of gameplay time.
Strangely though, it seems the controller will only charge when the console is switched on – surely the system could trickle charge while in standby mode?
Not feeling the vibes
The new controller also no longer has DualShock functionality, which is pretty major in my book.
According to Sony, this is because it’d conflict with the new SIXAXIS motion-sensing system. Personally, I’m not convinced its completely unrelated to their court battle with Immersion a few years back.
In my limited experience with the tilt-sensing system, I must say I was left unimpressed.
It felt gimmicky and added little value to gameplay. We can only hope that future titles will make better use of a feature that could bring another dimension to the gaming experience.
Blu-Ray Disc Playback
Blu-ray discs store up to 50Gb of data and offer transfer rates of up to 72Mbps.
It is Sony’s key technology for the next generation of video playback. It’s hugely important for their future.
The PlayStation 3 represents an opportunity to secure the future of Blu-Ray as the standard for next-gen video and it enters the market as the best-value Blu-Ray player around.
PS3 Online
The online element is a major factor for the new generation of consoles.
A choice of WiFi or Ethernet connectivity makes going online a snap.
Surf the web
The PlayStation 3 features an inbuilt browser so you’re free to surf your favourite websites – like this one for example.
Connect with PS3 owners around the globe
The PlayStation Network is intended to be the global home for all PS3 owners. Here you can download new content, hook up to play online games against competitors or communicate with other users around the world.
System updates
In addition, Sony will use the PS3’s online capabilities to regularly update the system’s firmware, allowing for continuous improvements to operating system.
PS3 Virtual World
Another big factor will well be Sony’s PS3 virtual world plans. It suggests that Sony have taken heed of Internet-driven social media revolution and it will be very interesting to see where this goes.
Key to its success of course, as with all social media initiatives, is to allow the community as much freedom as possible to define the platform.
Compatibility with the PSP
It’s very clear that Sony want the PSP and PS3 to be very good friends.
Integrated into gameplay
In addition to being able to share files between the two devices, many PS3 titles will have special features geared towards integrating the PSP into gameplay.
For example, play F1 on your PS3 and use the PSP as your rear-view mirror or have it display the map in your favourite FPS.
As game developers get more comfortable with the PS3 platform I’m sure we’ll see lots of novel ways to incorporate the PSP.
Use it as an additional controller
The PSP can also act as an additional controller connecting via WiFi, though obviously without the motion-sensing technology.
Backward compatibility
The PS3 will play around 90% of PSone and most PS2 discs. At least that’s the case in the parts of the where the PS3 has already been launched.
According to a recent news report, the version coming to
It is not yet clear whether this will be an issue only for the initial batch of consoles but it may very well be an issue that turns many buyers away and will definitely not please gamers who’ve invested heavily in their sizeable game collections.
The Gaming Experience
This of course, is what its all about. It a gaming console. How well does it game?
The answer I’m afraid, is less than awesome – at least for now.
First-generation of the next-generation
Ok, so these are first generation PS3 titles and developers haven’t quite made the most of it yet. I’m actually reluctant to call them “PS3 titles” – they’re more like PS2.4.
Graphics looked fantastic on the Sony Bravia, HD-ready TV used during the demo but gameplay was average rather than excellent.
I’ve only sampled two of the five expected launch titles but neither of them are good enough to make me rush out and buy the console.
The hardware potential is clearly there. What remains to be seen though, is how well developers turn that potential into reality.
Is this the future of next-generation gaming?
This is not Sony’s first gaming rodeo. With the PSone, they faced stiff competition from Sega’s Dreamcast. Internationally, Sony won hands-down. Locally, Sega never even had a sniff.
Then Sony’s PS2 had the Xbox to contend with – again, the PS2 absolutely killed, despite the Xbox being a more powerful machine.
While the first Xbox did OK internationally, it never really made any inroads in the local market and worldwide sales figures prove the PS2’s success. It’s also worth noting that the PS2 cost around 5k at launch.
This time the PS3 is has the highest spec level of all the new generation consoles, but sells for around 70% more than the premium Xbox 360 package.
The Sony product is fully HD-compatible but local sale of HD technology has not yet taken off.
The fact is, the PS3 may just be ahead of its time is
Should you buy it?
If you’re in the market for a Blu-Ray player, buy the PS3.
If you’re planning to buy a new PC, the PS3 might be a worthwhile option.
If you’re looking for the best console gaming experience around, then you’ll just have to wait and see what the game developers dish up over the next 18 months or so.
The wait, I’m afraid, continues.
We Like:
Ø It’s really good to look at. And I mean beautiful.
Ø BluRay DVD playback provides stunning picture quality
Ø Bluetooth controllers mean no more tangled wires
Ø SIXAXIS motion-sensing could potentially open up a new avenue for the gaming experience.
Ø It’s got WiFi
Ø Backward compatibility and interconnectivity with the PSP
Ø The fact that you can install whatever OS you fancy and have a fully functional PC. (if you’re proudly South African, it’d better be Ubuntu)
Ø Wide variety of multimedia playback options
We Don’t Like:
Ø Price – Yes, I know it’s the cheapest Blu-Ray player around and all and that it’s supposed to be the most advanced console on the market. But 6 grand is a lot of money for most gamers.
Ø No DualShock *sob* I’m really gonna miss this one
Ø Launch titles don’t *really* impress
Ø SIXAXIS is currently no more than a gimmick with lots of potential. But will it ever be realised?
Ø UI could be better.
Ø Load times are longer than I’d expected. Hopefully developers will allow the installation to the hard drive and speed things up.
Ø If the PS3 is supposed to be geared at the HD market, why do I have to buy the HDMI cable as an accessory?
Ø It’d make a great replacement for your PC – *if* you could hook it up to your VGA monitor, but you can’t.
Ø Price – I’ve mentioned this before haven’t I? Let’s hope the 20Gb version comes to SA at a more reasonable price.
