HEXUS.gaming - Review : PlayStation 3

[Nick]

Let the arguments start, our review of the PlayStation 3 is live!

And fanboys beware, I will be taking names and cracking skulls if you can't be nice to each other!

Read our PlayStation 3 Review over on HEXUS.gaming.

[b0redom]

Hey, you mention that you can't stream media yet. What about dumping a DivX movie onto a USB stick? If I plug it in, will that play? How's the upscaling?

Also you mention that the PS3 does 1080i do you mean this, or do you mean 1080p?

[spazman]

One of my fave PSP apps pimp streamer is out for wii and PS3 this should allow you to stream pretty much whatever you want.

[Nick]

It does i or p

And dumping a DivX file to USB is hardly streaming, which was my point.

Like I said in the review, I can stream through the Xbox 360, (DivX too) without having to leave the sofa, which is the biggest difference between the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.

Edit to reply to Spazman:
Aye, I'll give that a go. Does it stream over the network though?

[Tom Scott]

Nick, after reading all that, do you think its worth the £425 price tag? i.e. would you spend £425 to get one?

[Nick]

Hey Tom,

The version under review is a UK PAL version.

I do already own a US version, which kind of reinforces my belief that this will be a serious gaming console once the games software has kicked in.

Oh and b0redom, I went back to the reviw to chek I had mentioned about the HD and here's the line:

One thing to remember is that the PlayStation 3 comes with a Blu-ray player built in and the console can output in full 1080p high definition.

But thanks for asking though. It made me make sure I'd covered the bases!

[b0redom]

Hey Nick,
I know dumping a DivX on a USB stick isn't streaming, but does it work?

If I wanna watch a film or whatever, it would only take a minute or so to copy it from my storage box onto a USB stick.

I have some hidef content I'd like to watch in hidef, but I only currently am able to watch it (on my TV) through my xbox.

Cheers...

[shaithis]

especially as the Xbox 360, though maybe not doing it all in 1080 HD

What doesn't the 360 do in 1080 HD?

It's had 1080i support since launch and 1080P was added recently via a downloaded update.

Other then that, its a nice review that re-affirms my decision that the console needs media streaming and some must have games before I would even consider laying down any money at all for it.....

[Mark@SCAN]

Great Review,

I think really it shows that currently the item is let down in terms of software support from SONY i.e. media functionality, streaming etc to be fair i would argue that this is something that over time can be added to the console.

The 360 has a good head start on the PS3 and the functionality that is on the XBOX NOW was not there originally and the majority has really only been a recent addition, i think that SONY DOES have time to catch up and potentially have a better all round package

[Nick]

Hey shaithis,

Thanks for the response and I'm glad you agree with me that the PlayStation 3 needs games...

I said to someone on MSN that I would buy one, just not now... I'd leave it a while and buy one when the hubbub has died down and more games are out.

That said, MotorStorm is a bloody good laugh.

As to the Xbox 360, the 1080 support is, according to one insider who is VERY well placed to know, far above the spec they were ever asked to support.

If you have a look around, there's plenty of stories and first hand accounts of Xbox 360s failing after the last Autumn update... seems that forcing 1080p caused the GPU to heat up and cool down with such drastic temperature differences that the expansion and cooling cracked the solder holding the GPU on the board...

Mine's yet to fall over but seeing as it's now out of warranty I'm playing safe and running it in 720p.


Edit to reply to Mark:
Aye, that's what I think. Seriously, if you'd seen the PlayStation Network a few months ago you'd have been appalled.

What would be good would be a third party app to allow full media connectivity... I don't have to shift off the sofa to use my Xbox 360 as a media extender, so Sony should aim for that too. But like I said, maybe Sony are not too bothered with the media side of things... in which case, as just a gaming console (with a few extras via USB), I think time and decent games support will put the PlayStation 3 firmly on the console gaming map.

[Kaos_Engine]

Nice review, not entriely convinced on the opinion regarding the backward compatibility.

For me personally I'd much prefer to have one machine that can play all the games I have. Sony managed this excellently with the PS2 and implied that the same would be possible with the PS3 and then all this changed at the last minute.

I think a big factor to take on board is the fact that a lot of people will want to trade in their old ps2 to offset the higher cost of a ps3 and may now feel that they will not be able to.

I agree that with a new console the emphasis should be on the new games and features but there are a lot of people out there dedicated to various franchises, MGS, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, to name a few of the more popular and well known ones, who enjoy going back to play the classics and may be put off the ps3 because of this.

[Nick]

The trade in value of a PS2 is going to be very low, looking on Ebay right now brings up consoles on their own fetching about £40, tops.

For that you might as well save a bit more and, like I said, hang on to the PS2 cos then you KNOW all your old games will work... oh, and you'll still ahve access to all your old save games too!

[pr0p4g4nd4]

Good review there chaps! One thing I'd like to know is, can you still not play music and/or download content whilst playing a game like on the 360?

[Blackmage]

For me, Sony has let me down big time. i originally was quite looking forward to buying a PS3, all the delays ended up with me buying a 360. will i buy a ps3? yes i will but any game that comes out on both formats i will simply buy it on Xbox360 due to a better experience with online play.

[chuckskull]

If PS3 had MGS, a proper Gran Turismo or GTA right now I'd go buy one tomorrow, but it doesn't and the current line up isn't exactly mind blowing. That's going to be the consoles biggest problem I think.

I know many people are in exactly the same position as me(I know most of my mates are). I think it's a great piece of kit, but there nothing to play on it.

[DeSean]

that’s ever so slightly opaque, giving you a hint of the mechanics underneath

Surely that should be "translucent" or "transparent" rather than opaque?

perhaps Sony weren’t prepared to right the enormous cheque

Write?

Anyway, as chuckskull said, the issues about media connectivity etc would be virtually meaningless if MGS, Gran Turismo and GTA all had shiny new versions ready to play. I don't know what the sales show, but I would bet that that trio are some of the highest selling PS2 games, and they will sell zillions on the PS3 too.

As a network fan (but not expert, frustratingly), I would like to see better streaming capabilities. Then again, you could just run Linux on it and use that.