This article talks about the PS3 and its features. Here's what I think of them.
The pricing of the PS3 core and premium seems to suggest that Sony cares primarily about selling the PS3 core. It makes sense, since it is substantially cheaper. Those damn Japanese are the only ones who get special treatment. They get a "special" price of only $430, $70 cheaper than the rest of the world. And retailers will make their own prices for the premium system.
The differences between the PS3 core and the premium are: extra 40GB of space on HDD, Flash Memory Slots, Built-in Wifi, and chrome lining aesthetics. The premium console is overkill. Seriously, Flash Memory Slots?! The core PS3 is a bargain with a built-in HDD and Blu-ray for $500; only $100 extra compared to the 360 premium. If you're worried about only having 20GB of space in the core HDD, you can upgrade it later. Sony says it's as easy as buying a 2.5? SATA notebook HDD and replacing the old one. Simple and impressive!
If the heat gets really bad, the system can ramp up its fans to cool the PS3. However, it's generally as quiet as the PS2. I hate how some people exaggerated the quietness previously. People said that the PS3 is whisper quiet. I know the PS2 isn?t whisper quiet. What the hell does that mean anyway? I think it is too subjective. They would do well to compare it to something current like these guys.
The Blu-Ray optical drive is an interesting, but risky choice. It's nice that it's basically included in the PS3 for only $100, but it does contribute heavily to the overall price of the PS3 and it doesn't get good yields. Because of the yields, they gave the 360 a bigger head start. I don't think the Blu-Ray disc storage space is needed for games. What I do think is that this is just a way of Sony pushing Blu-Ray on the market. However, on the positive, games will finally be region-free. Let?s hope this is true. But movies will not be. But region A includes USA and Japan, which should fill enough people with glee. Also, your discs won't get scratched when in a vertical position.
Cell. Firstly, it?s one of the most expensive pieces that drove up the price of the PS3, with benefits to gamers being hazy. And second, it's super hard to program for. Programmers have a hard time programming for Dual-core chips, now imagine the 8 chips in the Cell. It may be a long time before the technology gets completely used, if ever. And I'm worried about cross-platform titles. Since I believe that the 360 will take the stage this time around and they'll be porting from the 360 to the PS3. Cross-platform titles will be difficult to program on the PS3. According to a quote that I've read from Square/Enix it would take only a few months to port a game to the 360, but 2 years to port that same game to the PS3. Does it mean that PS3 will have more expensive ports? I guess we'll see.
On a technical side note: Holy crap, the article states that programmers had to code for the PS2 in Assembly. Wow, I feel sorry for them. That language sucks BALLS. Well, at least it's not Binary. Sony will actually give programmers high-level language tools for the PS3 this time.
The RSX will power the PS3 and while its similar to what powers the 360 it's inferior at the same time. The 360 can do AA without a negligible performance hit due to its 10MB of on die memory. The RSX will not be able to do that; it will sustain a performance hit. This tells me that there will be more jaggies on PS3 games on then on 360 games. Meaning the graphics will be better on the 360. Who knows, maybe those 10mb can be used to do some crazy effects as well.
PS3 controller. Anyone know why it?s called SIXAXIS? The analog sticks placement still sucks. I hate pressure sensitive buttons, but I think that's just me. The new L2 and R2 buttons now function like triggers, but from what I've read in another article, their comfort is questionable. And the controller now communicates its position allowing you to control a game just by moving it. This reminds me of noobs when they first play games, they try to move Mario on the NES like it's a body experience. This feature might be interesting, but we'll have to wait and see. I think it'll be uncomfortable to move the controller and press buttons at the same time, so I think it?s a shot feature. It's like the DS and its stick - uncomfortable as hell after a long play time. Actually, 30 minutes isn?t that long. People, like the creator of the DS, have forgotten that the point of a controller is for an easy, comfortable interface. But people will buy it because it?s something new that is promised as a revolution.
Also the PS3 controllers? battery life is only 30 hours. That?s 10 times inferior to the 360 controller's. Why did PS3 need to go with Bluetooth? That is a significant difference. Once the battery dies, you'll have to buy a new controller for $50. This may not be as bad as it sound though. Li-ion batteries are supposed to be rechargeable up to 1000 times and that should last you for a long time, even if you recharge once a week. But you will have to recharge it more often than not, compared to a X360 controller - once a week, if you game a lot. Again, maybe it?s me, but I don't like wireless because of the battery hassles. Because, with the PS3, I'd have to recharge more often, it would bother me.
The pricing of the PS3 core and premium seems to suggest that Sony cares primarily about selling the PS3 core. It makes sense, since it is substantially cheaper. Those damn Japanese are the only ones who get special treatment. They get a "special" price of only $430, $70 cheaper than the rest of the world. And retailers will make their own prices for the premium system.
The differences between the PS3 core and the premium are: extra 40GB of space on HDD, Flash Memory Slots, Built-in Wifi, and chrome lining aesthetics. The premium console is overkill. Seriously, Flash Memory Slots?! The core PS3 is a bargain with a built-in HDD and Blu-ray for $500; only $100 extra compared to the 360 premium. If you're worried about only having 20GB of space in the core HDD, you can upgrade it later. Sony says it's as easy as buying a 2.5? SATA notebook HDD and replacing the old one. Simple and impressive!
If the heat gets really bad, the system can ramp up its fans to cool the PS3. However, it's generally as quiet as the PS2. I hate how some people exaggerated the quietness previously. People said that the PS3 is whisper quiet. I know the PS2 isn?t whisper quiet. What the hell does that mean anyway? I think it is too subjective. They would do well to compare it to something current like these guys.
The Blu-Ray optical drive is an interesting, but risky choice. It's nice that it's basically included in the PS3 for only $100, but it does contribute heavily to the overall price of the PS3 and it doesn't get good yields. Because of the yields, they gave the 360 a bigger head start. I don't think the Blu-Ray disc storage space is needed for games. What I do think is that this is just a way of Sony pushing Blu-Ray on the market. However, on the positive, games will finally be region-free. Let?s hope this is true. But movies will not be. But region A includes USA and Japan, which should fill enough people with glee. Also, your discs won't get scratched when in a vertical position.
Cell. Firstly, it?s one of the most expensive pieces that drove up the price of the PS3, with benefits to gamers being hazy. And second, it's super hard to program for. Programmers have a hard time programming for Dual-core chips, now imagine the 8 chips in the Cell. It may be a long time before the technology gets completely used, if ever. And I'm worried about cross-platform titles. Since I believe that the 360 will take the stage this time around and they'll be porting from the 360 to the PS3. Cross-platform titles will be difficult to program on the PS3. According to a quote that I've read from Square/Enix it would take only a few months to port a game to the 360, but 2 years to port that same game to the PS3. Does it mean that PS3 will have more expensive ports? I guess we'll see.
On a technical side note: Holy crap, the article states that programmers had to code for the PS2 in Assembly. Wow, I feel sorry for them. That language sucks BALLS. Well, at least it's not Binary. Sony will actually give programmers high-level language tools for the PS3 this time.
The RSX will power the PS3 and while its similar to what powers the 360 it's inferior at the same time. The 360 can do AA without a negligible performance hit due to its 10MB of on die memory. The RSX will not be able to do that; it will sustain a performance hit. This tells me that there will be more jaggies on PS3 games on then on 360 games. Meaning the graphics will be better on the 360. Who knows, maybe those 10mb can be used to do some crazy effects as well.
PS3 controller. Anyone know why it?s called SIXAXIS? The analog sticks placement still sucks. I hate pressure sensitive buttons, but I think that's just me. The new L2 and R2 buttons now function like triggers, but from what I've read in another article, their comfort is questionable. And the controller now communicates its position allowing you to control a game just by moving it. This reminds me of noobs when they first play games, they try to move Mario on the NES like it's a body experience. This feature might be interesting, but we'll have to wait and see. I think it'll be uncomfortable to move the controller and press buttons at the same time, so I think it?s a shot feature. It's like the DS and its stick - uncomfortable as hell after a long play time. Actually, 30 minutes isn?t that long. People, like the creator of the DS, have forgotten that the point of a controller is for an easy, comfortable interface. But people will buy it because it?s something new that is promised as a revolution.
Also the PS3 controllers? battery life is only 30 hours. That?s 10 times inferior to the 360 controller's. Why did PS3 need to go with Bluetooth? That is a significant difference. Once the battery dies, you'll have to buy a new controller for $50. This may not be as bad as it sound though. Li-ion batteries are supposed to be rechargeable up to 1000 times and that should last you for a long time, even if you recharge once a week. But you will have to recharge it more often than not, compared to a X360 controller - once a week, if you game a lot. Again, maybe it?s me, but I don't like wireless because of the battery hassles. Because, with the PS3, I'd have to recharge more often, it would bother me.