So desire got the best of me yesterday and I ended up buying the new PS3. It was on sale so only paid a tad more than I paid for the Xbox 360. I have to say so far I’m not overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice console. But, to hear Sony talk, it blows the Xbox away. Not so. The graphics are about on par w/the Xbox 360.
I’ve always been a PS fan so I’m happy I managed to squeeze out the coin for a new one. It does play all my old games. [1]So far. I noticed a very odd glitch in that the some of the unused buttons actually repeat the primary button functions. I have the demo of FEAR on Xbox and I bought the full version for PS3. The xbox version looks much better. It may be because FEAR came out too soon to be radically re-written for the new PS3 architecture.
The big reason I made the purchase was for my favorite game, Ratchet & Clank. Adam clued me in a new version only for PS3 is coming out in October. R&C is my all time favorite video console game and I just couldn’t forgo being able to play it. I still play all of the last 4 versions often.
Microsoft gets big points for their online services. The XBL (Xbox Live) is incredibly intuitive and user friendly. Setup was simple and fast. The PS3, not so much. The menus are overly obscure and broken down too far. Some are even redundant. I also had a big problem registering my console so I could buy stuff online. Even though my billing address for my CC is my PO Box, it kept polling for my physical address. I had to call my bank, add it, and then retry it. Very annoying. MS charges for their online services but at $40 bucks a year, not a big deal. PS3 online is free however, another failure on the part of Sony. For such a nice console the online site is lackluster to say the least. The icons and logos are reminiscent of the old sega consoles. A huge disappointment. You can tell they really rushed it. I hope they get their act together and spruce it up.
The PS3 did have a variety of new ports this time for storage. Compact flash, SD/Mini SD, and Sony’s proprietary memory stick. [2]which never caught on w/anyone but Sony Sadly, no port for memory cards from the PS2. So you can’t port your saved games to the PS3. Another very annoying feature. [3]I found out from Adam, they do make an adapter. He is loaning me his. Such a sweetie. I have yet to watch any HD DVD’s on the PS3. I hear it is spectacular so I’ll have to get back to you on that one.
Over all, I think the consoles are pretty even on graphics rendering. However, Microsoft is the clear winner in mind. Maybe Billy is finally taking a page out of the Steve Jobs book and making his staff focus as much on aesthetics as function.
Pssst… you can’t play HD DVD’s on your PS3, just blu-ray.
Scotty and I got a PS3 as well, I regret getting it so early, though I know we’ll get it eventually anyway.
Though, to the defend, none of the games released so far has used anything near the capability of the console yet. I just wish for some better games to release on it.
And the lack of geek in me says “What in the hell are you talking about”? Is there a Geek 101 course? With a cute geekie sort of hunk leading it?
Trachalio ~ you are absolutely right. I was referring to the fact it would play HD format DVD’s. It didn’t dawn on me I was also describing one of the named formats.
i wrote back to you on the xbox, but you may want to checkout the downloadable games. i seem to play them more than the store bought games. also, blu ray looks great, but even regular dvds look really good on the ps3.
but out of the 3 systems, i still use the xbox360 the most. wii is more for when i got friends over. ps3 is good for porn.
I’m on PS3, send me a friend request at RDustinC 🙂 I bought it on an impulse, I agree there is really nothing out for it at this time that would make you want to buy it. I’m looking forward to Sony’s “Home” feature though, that was originally supposed to launch this fall (Grrrr)
Moby! Found your blog through turnipstyle…
I’m on PS3, too…Stm007 on the network.
I have no complaints thus far. 🙂