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Sony PlayStation 3

By Randolph Ramsay on 22 March 2007

Sony set out to make a multimedia powerhouse with the PS3, and we're glad to say that it succeeded admirably. The inclusion of a Blu-ray player makes it almost a must-have for gamers looking to get into high definition video (or even a high-def buff with only middling game aspirations), particularly at this price point. Hardcore gamers, however, may need to think twice. With few exclusive titles at launch and a dwindling list of PS3-only games slated for the future, the PlayStation 3 will surely have its hands full competing against the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii.

Editor's rating:8.2 User rating:8.8

Comments (445)

  • jez gave 9/10 on 30/03/2007 22:46

    All i can say is that sony can be thanked for helping to once again to spearhead the digital revolution. The ps2 was a brilliant dvd marketing strategy which bought affordable dvd players into the market along with a games machine which many millions of people world wide fell in love with. I am not a fan of the high prices of sony products but when you have a company that has the guts to take losses on products to back technology then they will always win my vote. Congratulations Sony :-)

  • Annon gave 8/10 on 30/03/2007 10:45

    • Good: It is a reasonably priced entry into High Definition video, although a decent HD television is necessary. It seems to play all the older Playstation games (at least all the ones I have tested). The old-style graphics do look pretty poor, though.

      The PS3 uses a similar interface to the PSP. So if you own, or have used a PSP, you will adapt quickly to the PS3.

      The interface and games graphics at 1080p look great. I even like the visualisation effects when playing music.

      The online “store” is a bit limited. However, it does offer some reasonable free demos and content that will effectively show off the PS3’s abilities. Gran Turismo HD will definitely impress your friends.

      Uploaded digital images look incredible on a decent HD television. The interface deals with them in a pretty logical way and they load quickly. Certainly is a nice way to show off your latest snaps to friends and family.

      The two games that came with my PS3 were Resistance: Fall of Man and Call of Duty 3. Both look great and the surround sound is really effective. When wandering around in Resistance, it gets extra creepy when you can hear the subtle sounds that seem to be missed when fed through the TV.
    • Bad: Remote Play on the PSP is a strange feature, as none of the games seem to be compatible. Also, why would you want to watch video content on the PSP screen when the PS3 is hooked up to a decent TV? I’d like to be able to hook up the PSP as an extra wireless controller, though. I haven’t worked out if this can be done, but will be disappointed if it can’t.

      There is a drawback with the sound: you cannot have the sound sent through both the HDMI and Optical cables at the same time. Switching between the two is buried in the System Settings menu.

    Is it necessary to be illiterate to post comments about the PS3? Sadly, that seems to be the case. Nevertheless, I'll post my comments with punctuation and capitalisation.

    Although I have never been interested in any games console in the past, when my daughter won a PS3, I have become quite taken by it. Games machines have never been hooked up to my AV system. But the PS3 is more than a games machine. It offers the kinds of features I am happy to integrate with my home theatre environment.

    Overall, I am happy with the PS3 and may have even spent the $1000 on one. The only problem I have found is that there is very little information (even on the net) that really explains all its capabilities and its non-gaming features.

  • Still Looking for answers gave 5/10 on 29/03/2007 17:46

    What sought of review is this???
    You say nothing of its multimedia abilities.
    Can it play, mp3, avi, divx, mpg, ts files?
    Does GUI let you dump from disk to HDD or must you FTP or Dump via USB?
    Some screens shots perhaps?

  • sherif ghobrial gave 7/10 on 26/03/2007 13:27

    • Good: awesome power, looks, blueray
    • Bad: blueray (costing high price), no good exclusives.

    PS3 is a power machine, but means nothing if no good games. Sony is loosing more and more exclusives, virtual firghter 5, devil may cry 4, GTA4, what is next metal gear? Games are too expensive to make for it, that is the reason. If blueray comes to be the standard,which i believe it will, then it would greatly help its sales. Good luck for sony...Microsoft keep kicking butt!!! but please make sure the next windows version doesnt crash that often!

  • Shifty Magician gave 7/10 on 25/03/2007 01:36

    • Good: Capability to be the best in the selection after a lengthy time, Ability to install an Operating System (via partitioning), excellently priced blu-ray player and media hub, Recognises most mp3 players including ipod, Nice look
    • Bad: Emotion engine emulation hardware not there, rumble feature not there, the obvious similar features that it incorporated from the competition (such as the home button and motion sensors), sony lost exclusive titles as there are a whole lot more of 360's and Wiis worldwide (making them develop titles for the competition to make their money), Overpriced for the average gamer, Limited codec support, Lack of documentation (forcing you to learn about its other features the hard way), No up-scaling and a handful of other playback-related issues (may be fixed with future updates), rumble feature gone

    If treated as a multimedia powerhouse, the PS3 has a pretty effective advantage with blu-ray, if it becomes the definite format for companies to use. And no one here should say it will be unless they are involved closely with it. But as a gaming console it isn't worth it AT THE MOMENT (disastrous opening night in AUS with very low numbers everywhere). As it just came out I do not wish to rant about its low assortment of games or dish out pain for its unimpressive selection, and I will not look at just key exclusives like a fanboy to judge on consoles. It will pick up in the future through major price cuts but rest assured Sony will have to lose a lot of dollars to get average gamers to their side, not just disillusioned fanboys. Sony might still win this through experience, but they won't be happy with how they handled it (Microsoft played smart by doing it earlier and gathering a very strong number of owners). Sony should also consider getting all new flagship titles besides the common games like Final Fantasy and Metal Gear (I will say Microsoft is also a culprit in this for Halo 3 and such, but Gears of War isn't a sequel of somethin).

    Overall the PS3 is a sure promise of unique things to come with its cell processor, but remember it is hard to develop stuff for all new hardware (for people who don't know, cell processor works completely different to normal CPU's) and so it's best to hold back until later when PS3 will make a better impact.

    It gets a 7 for its features and future possibilities. it lost 3 as its too pricy for its initial debu, poor starting game selection (due to developers still learning how to effectively use it),

    PS: All the fanboys everywhere can be real dumb in their posts. They state something and can't back it up with technical facts (just simple statements is what i see hear). And saying that there's nothing good about a console is real stupidity, as it doesn't matter what console it is in reality. You pick a console for the variety of games (I wouldn't buy a PS3 if all the exclusives went over to 360, as an example. And neither would you unless you really are that stupid since both varieties would end up for one console in this hypothetical case). Lastly their lack of intelligence shows in their posts. Research hard before you make posts regarding judgments on what is a better console.

  • arsa gave 9/10 on 24/03/2007 09:12

    Xbox dropt evrithing he gots.And soni just Whates.at theend of 2007 sony Will blow up the competicion, and Microsoft will bi left vhitout any veapon such as girs of war.Microsoft shovd his karts to earli.Sony is bether if you lok in the future

  • boggle01 gave 4/10 on 22/03/2007 18:24

    • Good: Cheap Blu-Ray player
    • Bad: Bad game line up, no good exclusives, and high price.

    It seems pretty espensive and it doesn't do more than the other console. Infact it seems to have ripped off both the Wii and 360 in some departments, and it has done it very poorly.

  • mirk gave 8/10 on 21/03/2007 08:48

    • Good: everything in one beautiful plack case. expect this to just get better and better as developers get their heads around it.
    • Bad: nintendo fan boys thinking they can tell the difference. Go play with your stick boys!!

    "it's too expensive, games uninteresting, hardware problems, POOR backwards compatibility and no blue tooth support. Sony has failed.
    Pros: Nothing besides its looks.."
    What? For $999 you a digital media hub, the best games system on the the market and wireless connectivity and just by luck it has a blue ray player and your complaining! try buying all that seperate. as for blue tooth thats what it has, no infa red but thats old tech anyway. I will buy one once GT is released and I have a plasma but stop complaining and go buy a wii.. wannabe!!

  • jemman gave 10/10 on 20/03/2007 22:18

    • Good: EVERYTHING
    • Bad: NOTHING

    this this is the best thing out there.ps3 hauls xbox360. think about it,sony has made,psp,ps1,ps2 and now ps3.they have way more experiance.

  • kieran gave 10/10 on 20/03/2007 19:08

    • Good: good grafics
      internet accses
    • Bad: the black finish is a finger print magnet

    look, if i had to choose between a xbox 360 and a wii or a ps3, i would choose the ps3 any day!!!

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