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New PS3 - Some Thoughts

M

Minjin

Platinum Member
I just got a PS3 and GT5 for Christmas. Here are a couple thoughts I posted about GT5 in particular:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=30972308&postcount=615

And following are some miscellaneous random musings. So far, I am very impressed. I have very little console experience. I've mainly gamed on the PC in the past 10 years so that is what I am used to. Hardware wise, this seems like an extremely nice unit. I had an Xbox360 in my hands recently because I was working on it and it didn't exude quality like the PS3 seems to. The menu system and interface also seems very polished and isn't as cludgy as seemed on the 360 or the old Xbox I used to have.

The RF remote is very nice but it pretty much eliminates any thought of getting a Harmony to control everything because it isn't compatible with anything else (from what I understand). Kind of a double edged sword.

The controller doesn't seem quite as easy to use as the Xbox controller. The sticks seems a little nicer but the triggers and other buttons on the Xbox are a better design. Also, when I go to pause a game, nine times out of ten, I hit the P button instead of start. The buttons in the middle just aren't very easy to get to. I don't like the idea that it will only charge when the system is on. That means I have to think about keeping it fully charged and so far, I end up just leaving it corded all the time so I don't have to deal with it.

I like the downloadable demos. Pretty nifty how it they are so easy to find and install. However, I d/led Modern Warfare 2 (I think) and I don't know how anyone can possibly play an FPS on this thing. What a horrible experience. I'm not a hardcore gamer but using a mouse and keyboard is just so vastly superior of an experience that I don't think I will even bother with FPS on the PS3.

I remarked in the GT5 thread that an SSD might be worthwhile. I did some searching and while people talk about it, it doesn't seem very common. Do people really need that much hard drive space? I have the 160gb version and I don't really understand what the purpose of all that space is. Replacing the drive with a small cheap ssd seems like an easy decision to me and since people aren't doing it in droves, I must be missing something.

What is the purpose of the six axis part of the controller? I know what it is and how it works (EE). I'm just curious as to what games actually use that feature and if it is worthwhile.

Lastly, the PS3 bundle included the game Uncharted 2. I haven't tried it yet. Is this worth playing? Normally, the bundled free games aren't all that great. Any non FPS "must haves"? I like RPGs but I doubt the experience is any good on a console. Same thing for RTS. What's left? Adventure games? I have no idea what the state of that genre is. Last one I played was probably Parasite Eve which I really enjoyed. I have no interest in sports games. Oh yeah, I remember liking Metal Gear. Is that any good anymore?
 
Minjin said:
I just got a PS3 and GT5 for Christmas. Here are a couple thoughts I posted about GT5 in particular:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=30972308&postcount=615

And following are some miscellaneous random musings. So far, I am very impressed. I have very little console experience. I've mainly gamed on the PC in the past 10 years so that is what I am used to. Hardware wise, this seems like an extremely nice unit. I had an Xbox360 in my hands recently because I was working on it and it didn't exude quality like the PS3 seems to. The menu system and interface also seems very polished and isn't as cludgy as seemed on the 360 or the old Xbox I used to have.

The RF remote is very nice but it pretty much eliminates any thought of getting a Harmony to control everything because it isn't compatible with anything else (from what I understand). Kind of a double edged sword.

The controller doesn't seem quite as easy to use as the Xbox controller. The sticks seems a little nicer but the triggers and other buttons on the Xbox are a better design. Also, when I go to pause a game, nine times out of ten, I hit the P button instead of start. The buttons in the middle just aren't very easy to get to. I don't like the idea that it will only charge when the system is on. That means I have to think about keeping it fully charged and so far, I end up just leaving it corded all the time so I don't have to deal with it.

I like the downloadable demos. Pretty nifty how it they are so easy to find and install. However, I d/led Modern Warfare 2 (I think) and I don't know how anyone can possibly play an FPS on this thing. What a horrible experience. I'm not a hardcore gamer but using a mouse and keyboard is just so vastly superior of an experience that I don't think I will even bother with FPS on the PS3.

I remarked in the GT5 thread that an SSD might be worthwhile. I did some searching and while people talk about it, it doesn't seem very common. Do people really need that much hard drive space? I have the 160gb version and I don't really understand what the purpose of all that space is. Replacing the drive with a small cheap ssd seems like an easy decision to me and since people aren't doing it in droves, I must be missing something.

What is the purpose of the six axis part of the controller? I know what it is and how it works (EE). I'm just curious as to what games actually use that feature and if it is worthwhile.

Lastly, the PS3 bundle included the game Uncharted 2. I haven't tried it yet. Is this worth playing? Normally, the bundled free games aren't all that great. Any non FPS "must haves"? I like RPGs but I doubt the experience is any good on a console. Same thing for RTS. What's left? Adventure games? I have no idea what the state of that genre is. Last one I played was probably Parasite Eve which I really enjoyed. I have no interest in sports games. Oh yeah, I remember liking Metal Gear. Is that any good anymore?
Click to expand...

You get used to the controller. The controller will charge from any powered USB port. Yes everyone complains about FPS on a gamepad, its not bad when you're used to it.

The space is for media purposes if you want to use the PS3 as a primary media center device and for Demos if you never ever delete them, and some games like GT5 writes a ton of data to the drive. Boot times for GT5 on a SSD are half of what they would be on a standard HDD.

SixAxis is a motion control device implemented in the controller which is just a couple of accelerometers that detect movement in six axises. Its really not worth getting into as games barely use them anymore.

Uncharted 2 is one of the greatest games this generation has to offer and the Uncharted series as a while is one of the best series this gen has to offer.
You must have only played PC RPG's because Console RPG's are damn good, and many are better than RPG's you can find on the PC. Must have in this category is Demons Souls. One of the best Action RPGs ever period.

Must haves include Metal Gear Solid 4, you mentioned MGS, but 4 is really for hardcore vets of the MGS series who can really appreciate what its about. Infamouse if you like the superhero genre, Uncharted 1, God of War 3, Valkyria Chronicles (A damn freaking awesome tactical RPG, shooter hybrid), and others, depending on your tastes.
 
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PS3 quality > 360 quality by far, though not speaking about the new 360 as I haven't had one nor used one in person (sans display models).

I actually find myself to prefer FPS on a controller, but that is completely subjective. I also highly like the PS style over the 360 style controller.

I've heard SSD doesn't speed up anything much, if at all.

Is Uncharted 2 worth it? That's like asking if sex is pleasurable. :awe:
 
I'm pretty evenly torn between the PS3 and 360, as they both have some different glaring weaknesses. Like you I prefer the 360 controller, but I also prefer the 360 sticks.

I like how much cleaner the PS3 interface is, but I don't feel it's as fluid as the 360. When I push the PS button, it's takes quite a while for the icons and menus to load. On the 360 it's instant.

While Live costs money, I feel it's worth it from what I've seen. The PS3 just doesn't hold as strong of a connection either in wifi or wired. It's an individual decision which dictates if Live is worth the money, but anybody who has used both can't say PSN is superior. If both were free Live would be the undeniable champ. It's just a matter of if it's worth the premium.

The PS3 seems to be a better media box. I prefer its Netflix app, and it does a better job with a wider variety of video formats.

I use my 360 far more because I've had it longer and have more games for it, plus my friends play on the 360. But the PS3 still does a few important things better.
 
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