PlayStation 3; is it worth the money?

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SVX

The White Comet
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Afternoon everybody.


As some people might know, my PS2 has recently kicked the dust which has left me with out a gaming station (other than my PS1 which in our loft). So I was wondering, should I upgrade to the PS3 and 'get in' with all the hype or should I just look for another PS2?

A couple of questions:

Are they reliable? I've seen lots of PS3 get YLOD (that's for the PS3, right?) after 2 years of ownership, and many broken ones on Trademe (NZ's/Australia's equivalent of ebay) very cheap with problems.

Do they take PS1 and PS2 games? I've got lots of games for my PS2/1 and would be kinda gutted to have to sell them.


Thanks for your time.





SVX.
 
If you buy a new Slim system, you shouldn't have any issues with the YLOD. As far as playing older games, I think they will play PS1 games, but they will not play PS2 games. I keep a PS2 Slim around that I bought for all of $50 to play the few games I have for it.

I have an older phatty 60GB PS3 that has yet to die on me, but I still plan on replacing it soon with a new Slim model. Depending on if I decide to move to another state though...
 
So far, my PS3 hasn't gotten YLOD after about 5 or 6 years. Still a fatty. It can take PS1/2 games, in fact I still sometimes slap in GT2 to take a couple laps, though I don't think they will keep the memory unless you saved things with that game. Somehow GT4 still has all my memory, even though I never transfered my save from my PS2 Memory Card.
 
^^^ You sure? The game doesn't just transfer your save with the disk. You had to have transferred the save somehow...
 
There is a new ps3 coming out very soon that you can play HD games without the HDMI cable. As far as old games you can buy them for cheap on the playstation store, but I don't think they can play the disc anymore. I'd suggest going to garage sales and checking to get a ps2 for cheap if you really have to play. Also ps3 is way more than just games since it has blue ray and Internet browser and a million more things.
 
There is a new ps3 coming out very soon that you can play HD games without the HDMI cable.
You could do that anyway, just with the new model you can't do that with Blu Ray movies anymore. HDMI cables are dirt cheap online anyway (Never buy the ones they try and sell you instore).

Just have a look around at what games you might like for the PS3, I rarely use mine anymore except for DVD and Blu Ray.
 
Also ps3 is way more than just games since it has blue ray and Internet browser and a million more things.
1: Blu-ray
2: Internet browser
..
..
..
..
..
..
1,000,000:

Can you fill in the number sequences and items please?

Anyway, to the OP i say go for it, you won't regret it, I mean, what's the worst that could happen?
 
Only the 60gig Fat model will play PS2 games out of the old range, I've no idea about the Slims. But I'm pretty sure they all play PS1 games. I've got the 80Gig Fat and it's working fine, never had any issues with it, had it nearly 4 years now.
 
I have the old 40 gig fatty 3 years with no problem. I de-dust it every so often and upgraded the hard drive to 350gig for $60 and I'm good to go.
 
I got a launch 60GB fat PS3 in March 2007 at £425 and it survived until November 2010, when the blu-ray died. The PS3 itself still 'works', except it doesn't read any discs. I used it a fair bit for gaming, but nowhere near as much as other people, and I mostly used it as a blu-ray and DVD player, so it normally got daily use. Was it worth £425? Almost... but I expected it to survive atleast 5 years. Instead, I got 3.5 years out of it...

I replaced it with a slim 250 GB PS3 for about £280 (including GT5) and that was a good buy. I use it mainly for blu-rays and streaming (iPlayer, Lovefilm), and it's very good for both. Sadly, it does not play PS1 or PS2 discs, and that's annoying - but, my PS1 and PS2 still work, so it's not the end of the world. PS3s are much better value than they used to be, but it is questionable how many years you will get out of it (seems quite variable) and also when it is due to be replaced/made obsolete.

My advice, if you want GT5 and various other PS3 exclusives, plus a good blu-ray player, and you plan to use it daily for the next two or three years, then it's definitely worth it. Xbox 360 is a good alternative, so check out your options and shop around.
 
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I myself am very tempted by the x-box360 but the only thing holding me back is that I have a wheel which is not supported by xbox and as I live in a small condo I don't have the room for 2 wheels so I am always turned away by that.
I don't want to spend the money If I'm going to play forza4 with a pad.

But is you don't have a wheel already or your heavy into online then for sure the 360 warrants a look.
 
My launch 60GB PS3 has never stuttered. It also plays PS2 games. I have to say that it was worth every penny - and it cost $599.99 at the time.
 
If you currently only have the PS2 and want a new console then I would say go for it and get the PS3. The blu Ray player is excellent, some great exclusives like Little Big Planet, Uncharted, and Killzone, and the PS Home. It has many other features but I mainly use it for Blu Ray. I have had several freezing issues with mine and it hardly gets used at all.

I have had my slim PS3 since last April 2010. Heather bought it for me as a christmas gift. I had one a few years ago when it first came out but couldnt justify the purchase because there really wasnt anything out hardly at all in terms of exclusives. Even still today I hardly touch the PS3 besides blu ray movies. But keep in mind I also have the 360 and spend a lot of time on that. The online is much better in almost every way and most of my gaming is online. You will probably get a lot of use out of the PS3, even though it doesnt play PS2 games.
 
I'm now curious to how long a ps3 can last if one didn't use it for anything games.. so no DVD/BR movies, net browsing, PSHome, other videos, etc.
 
I am one of the newest PS3 players. Have been for about four weeks. I wanted a PS3 for Gran Turismo 5 and to start a new library of games after having at least 30 PS2 games. Plus, I wanted to keep up with the times. My issues with the PS3 (and I have a slim 160GB version) have been mostly minimal. A few times, the PS3 web browser and YouTube XL froze on me and went slow. A few games stopped up on me. For the most part, the PS3 is very solid. I've read online about how the PS3 has better reliability than the XBOX 360.

My XBOX 360 experience is extremely poor, and I do have a Wii in my household. I would recommend a PlayStation 3. If you got the money, go get you one. This is all being said in a non-biased way.
 
I replaced it with a slim 250 GB PS3 for about £280 (including GT5) and that was a good buy. I use it mainly for blu-rays and streaming (iPlayer, Lovefilm), and it's very good for both. Sadly, it does not play PS1 or PS2 discs, and that's annoying -

Have you tried PS2/1 games in the launch PS3? I have a launch ps3 that won't play blu-ray's but will still play PS1/2 games.
 
Have you tried PS2/1 games in the launch PS3? I have a launch ps3 that won't play blu-ray's but will still play PS1/2 games.
Yeh, unfortunately it doesn't recognise any type of disc.
 
Personally I have found the PS3 extremely unreliable, the laser broke just outside the warranty with only about 6 months real use because its original module design was overcomplicated and flawed. Apparently each Blu Ray diode in the early units can last as little as a year.

I've had to replace the thermal paste to prevent YLOD because the stock paste is poor quality and the chips are not well mounted to the board partly due to to the lead free solder and party due to poor manufacture. Also the 60GB's heatsinks don't sit flush with the chips and there's a few mm gap which is huge when your talking thermal transfer.

I would say it was a bad buy, you always feel like its going to break which has ruined the whole experience.

Having said this the slim is much more reliable but lacking in functionality, features and style (in my opinion). For the price point its reasonable but I think you would be better off with a dedicated Blu Ray player and something like a gaming PC or 360S to go with it.

There is a new ps3 coming out very soon that you can play HD games without the HDMI cable.

I think you've got it the wrong way around, the new one won't allow HD movies through component, HDMI only. So its yet another feature they have removed but I guess component is old news now.

Robin.
 
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I think you've got it the wrong way around, the new one won't allow HD through component, HDMI only. So its yet another feature they have removed but I guess component is old news now.
That's only for Blu-ray movies, not games. It's Sony bringing the PS3 into compliance with Blu-ray copy-protection standards, which only applies to HD movie playback - so to say Sony is removing component video out for games is a bit wide of the mark.
 
My old 40GB model clapped out on me (had it since Christmas of launch year), Finally upgraded to a 320GB slim.

PS3's are well worth your money.
 
That's only for Blu-ray movies, not games. It's Sony bringing the PS3 into compliance with Blu-ray copy-protection standards, which only applies to HD movie playback - so to say Sony is removing component video out for games is a bit wide of the mark.

Yeah I edited my post after to make it clearer.

I am curious to know whether Sony will disable BR movies in HD via component on PS3's already out there with a firmware update or will it be new silms only? I would presume they would do to keep all systems up to date with the AACS.

If they do disable yet another feature on existing consoles I could see another revolt and probably more hacking again. :scared:
 
From what I can tell, it only applies to new systems going forward and existing consoles won't have component BD removed via an "update", so don't worry :lol:
 
This is why you should get one. I barely play games just gran turismo, god of war, and uncharted. Than maybe a random here and there if it's spectacular, but for the most part I use it for all it's other features. You can watch Netflix or hulu plus or if your like me and dot have a subscription just log onto the Internet browser and google a movie to watch and it play no problem. You can store photos and show them to people or have songs on it. For me it's hooked up to my HD tv with surround sound and ya u could do this stuff on my computer but it's so much better on a big tv with awesome sound in comfy seats. You can also watch blue ray movies which look so good or torrent them (make sure it's under 4gb) and put them on a USB and watch them as well. It has built in wifi so everything you can do on it you can also do threw streaming it from your computer. Any song, movie, photo thats on your computer can be seen on the ps3 wirelessly and is so much easier. Finally it has free online play. Unlike xbox where you need to purchase a subscription, ps3 allows you to play any game online for free. The only plans they sell are to make games cheaper for you or give you free stuff. It's not that expensive, it does tons of different things, these new ones are supposed to be good quality, there aren't too many downsides. Final verdict. Get a ps3.
 
The PS3's internet browser is awful.

Yeah, it's really bad. :lol: I bought a Mac instead of a PC intentionally to avoid games on my computer (no, thats not the only reason - just the one I'm highlighting). PS3 is for playing games and watching movies, lap top is for browsing the net and all the rest. I like to keep my technology separate. I even have a dumbphone because I don't want it for internet/games. Phone is for communicating! Everything has its job and I just made sure to buy the ones who'll do their jobs well and be durable. (although I'll probably buy an iPhone in a year or whenever this phone I have craps out).

So far so good. No complaints for my MacBook, my PS3, or my LG. Had the phone for 2 and a half years, PS3 since launch, and my laptop since Spring 2008. 👍
 
Lol you people are the biggest hatters. Every time I list good points someone's gotta comment saying how it's so ****. Obviously your not going to be doing any big research projects using it's Internet even tho you could, but go to letmewatchthis.com and watch any movie or tv show you want threw the ps3 on your actual tv. Too good.
 
Earlier today, I was looking around on the PlayStation Store through PlayStation Home, and the system froze up on me. Had to shut off the system manually. Having to restart is something I don't do all the time, though. If the whole thing is frequent and common, then it becomes a problem. The last time I remember having to manually shut down the PS3 was either when an online race in GT5 that I exited didn't want to return me to GT Life, or when I was using the Web Browser as YouTube XL froze up on me trying to watch a video. Nothing is ever perfect or runs perfectly. When I am not using the PS3 for something other than gaming or fooling around, I usually just let Folding@Home run.

It's still up to you whether you want to get you a PS3 or not.
 
Yeah I edited my post after to make it clearer.

I am curious to know whether Sony will disable BR movies in HD via component on PS3's already out there with a firmware update or will it be new silms only? I would presume they would do to keep all systems up to date with the AACS.

If they do disable yet another feature on existing consoles I could see another revolt and probably more hacking again. :scared:

That's highly doubtful. This reminds me of the rumor that Sony was going to disable the Emotion Engine after the new models without PS2 playback were launched.
 
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