The PS3 under scrutiny
As a few of you might know, I recently got a PS3 and have decided to lend my opinion in it's direction.
Console:
The sleek black design, is truly for want of a better word, sexy. It looks amazing, like it cost a bomb and surprisingly feels pretty robust. I couldn't like the aesthetic any better. the controller, the Sixaxis, is more of a letdown, being that it really is no more than a Dualshock 2 but without the satisfying weight and solidity. The lack of rumble isn't immediately apparent, so doesn't really affect the gameplay much. It's still a letdown and what with the Dualshock 3 on the horison, I almost with the Sixaxis had been the flawed Boomerang design just to make life more unusual. The wireless capability is great though, with a nice satisfying adual ping when you connect.
Interface:
The Sony PS platform is practically unchanged form that of the PSP, which had the effect of making it both familiar and disappointing, I realised in a few minutes that I not only instinctively knew where it all was and how it worked, but that I also wouldn't find any surprises. It's still a slick and intuitive design, and I'm quite happy with it. Especially since it is markedly faster than the Xbox 360 menu. Which brings me to a direct comparison, in which I have to say, the 360 actually wins out, despite being slower and occasionally cumbersome, it also is more interesting and less cluttered. Another factor being that with the xbox you needn't load a seperate page to download media, but I'll get to that later. There is also a nifty news stream that can be followed to related web-pages, and is quite cool.
The Hard drive space seems limitless now, (as usual at the start) but most likely in time with more software, demos and videos it'll soon drop.
Media Playing:
It's odd but I like the way that it looks on the PS3 far better than on the 360. LArgely because of the faster interface and the branching icons rather than the sliding blades on the Xbox.
However it's not setup to really be as useable, making playlists isn't even possible as far as I can see, (not that you can save the xbox ones anyway) but it's a bit annoying. The playback is great with the system able to play the same range as the xbox, with a few minor exceptions.
The image quality is great, and all seems to run really well.
Networking:
I luvs it. it took all of 2 minutes to get the PS3 online using the wireless setup. the system found the other network places all by itself, (except for the xbox natch.) but doesn't seem as fast at streaming from the sources as the 360 is either through Media centre or manually. Which is surprising but not a real problem. But frankly not having to shell out £60 on a wireless adapter is a huge plus. (I'm looking at you Microsoft)
The internet connection is steady and works well, with good speeds, although the browser is as cumbersome as on the PSP, and a USB keyboard would help vastly. Personally I can't see myself using the browser, due to it's lethargic speeds compared to Firefox, IE or even Safari.
PSP & Remote Play:
The two combined are incredible. This, if not now, then in the future will be Sony's ace up the sleeve. Being able to access the console remotely from the PSP from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD is the most futuristic gimmick I;'ve ever come across, and I'm sold on it. True I can't play a DVD across the link, which sends the image and control of the PS3 directly to the PSP, but I can access any media on my network, and play any games which have remote play access. At present that means, Lair. (which I don't have) but in a years time or so this could be a viable proposition. You can already download PSOne games and play them on either system, and thus could use Remote Play on them (although they could just be played straight from the PSP)
In any case this is the main bit of excitement I've had from the system so far.
Games & gaming:
At this point, there isn't a lot in it in terms of games. They look as pretty as the 360 games, and the only real difference is the lack of rumble (which will be corrected soon anyway) I have yet to experience the fabled, 30 minute installation that accompanies some games But I certainly am enjoying The Club and Ratchet and Clank, along with the various demos I've downloaded, which brings me to..
PS Store:
Ok here's where I get nasty, PS Store, is bad, it's rubbish and it looks terrible. Compared to the 360's integrated Live blade (which admittedly took a while to appear in it's present state) PS Store is a horrible interface. It's slow, it's also a website so falls under the cumbersome browser controls as opposed to the slick platform system. Half the time it's clunky and even when it does work it's hard to find things, of which there are few. Add to this there are few if any obvious updates, and the quantity of downloads of demos and media is pitiful compared to XBLA at the same stage.
There is also a quirky odd technical issue, when you download a demo, the system gives you the option of downloading it in the background, or leaving the system on that page. If you do the obvious and sensible thing of downloading in teh background, you still need to install the demo once it's downloaded. Installing the demos, in my experience, has taken anything between 5 and 20 minutes, during which the system is otherwise unusuable. Now this isn't due to poor download speeds, it's once the demo is on the hard-drive! and if you leave the download screen up, it installs automatically and faster. I know that this is a quibble, and PC demos can take a while to install, but this is a console, I expect things to work once they're on, the 360 can do it, why can't the PS3?
Blu Ray:
Works fine, although packaging Stealth with the system has only lowered it in my eyes, as it's a crap crap film. It certainly looks ok, but that's on a 480p 28" Pan and Scan tv. In fact I've noticed that the lack of resolution on my tv makes some menus almost painful to look at due to the small writing. I'll no doubt have more to say once I've connected it to an large HD flatscreen.
In short, it's a nice system, and worth the purchase if you're still to take the plunge into the latest console generation.
The lack of PS2 support is still irritating, and likely will mean that at some future stage, I'll want to upgrade to a better model with more HD space and PS2 software emulation, (currently offered on the 80Gb model in Japan)
But for now, it's a grand wee toy, however on the whole there is NOTHING currently to recommend it over the far cheaper XBOX 360. This may change in a years time, but for the moment, unless youre a Sony junky, insanely wealth (and manage to get one of the superior and now all but extinct 60Gb models) then you'd be better off waiting, or buying an 360 and a shedload of games.
And if you just want HD films then here's something to consider, the price of HD-DVD players has now dropped to the ridiculous and with 1000+ HD DVD titles available (and getting cheaper by the day) it might be more cost effective to go for a cheap HD-DVD player, or the now £35 HD-DVD Drive for the 360. Just a thought.
There you go.
Console:
The sleek black design, is truly for want of a better word, sexy. It looks amazing, like it cost a bomb and surprisingly feels pretty robust. I couldn't like the aesthetic any better. the controller, the Sixaxis, is more of a letdown, being that it really is no more than a Dualshock 2 but without the satisfying weight and solidity. The lack of rumble isn't immediately apparent, so doesn't really affect the gameplay much. It's still a letdown and what with the Dualshock 3 on the horison, I almost with the Sixaxis had been the flawed Boomerang design just to make life more unusual. The wireless capability is great though, with a nice satisfying adual ping when you connect.
Interface:
The Sony PS platform is practically unchanged form that of the PSP, which had the effect of making it both familiar and disappointing, I realised in a few minutes that I not only instinctively knew where it all was and how it worked, but that I also wouldn't find any surprises. It's still a slick and intuitive design, and I'm quite happy with it. Especially since it is markedly faster than the Xbox 360 menu. Which brings me to a direct comparison, in which I have to say, the 360 actually wins out, despite being slower and occasionally cumbersome, it also is more interesting and less cluttered. Another factor being that with the xbox you needn't load a seperate page to download media, but I'll get to that later. There is also a nifty news stream that can be followed to related web-pages, and is quite cool.
The Hard drive space seems limitless now, (as usual at the start) but most likely in time with more software, demos and videos it'll soon drop.
Media Playing:
It's odd but I like the way that it looks on the PS3 far better than on the 360. LArgely because of the faster interface and the branching icons rather than the sliding blades on the Xbox.
However it's not setup to really be as useable, making playlists isn't even possible as far as I can see, (not that you can save the xbox ones anyway) but it's a bit annoying. The playback is great with the system able to play the same range as the xbox, with a few minor exceptions.
The image quality is great, and all seems to run really well.
Networking:
I luvs it. it took all of 2 minutes to get the PS3 online using the wireless setup. the system found the other network places all by itself, (except for the xbox natch.) but doesn't seem as fast at streaming from the sources as the 360 is either through Media centre or manually. Which is surprising but not a real problem. But frankly not having to shell out £60 on a wireless adapter is a huge plus. (I'm looking at you Microsoft)
The internet connection is steady and works well, with good speeds, although the browser is as cumbersome as on the PSP, and a USB keyboard would help vastly. Personally I can't see myself using the browser, due to it's lethargic speeds compared to Firefox, IE or even Safari.
PSP & Remote Play:
The two combined are incredible. This, if not now, then in the future will be Sony's ace up the sleeve. Being able to access the console remotely from the PSP from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD is the most futuristic gimmick I;'ve ever come across, and I'm sold on it. True I can't play a DVD across the link, which sends the image and control of the PS3 directly to the PSP, but I can access any media on my network, and play any games which have remote play access. At present that means, Lair. (which I don't have) but in a years time or so this could be a viable proposition. You can already download PSOne games and play them on either system, and thus could use Remote Play on them (although they could just be played straight from the PSP)
In any case this is the main bit of excitement I've had from the system so far.
Games & gaming:
At this point, there isn't a lot in it in terms of games. They look as pretty as the 360 games, and the only real difference is the lack of rumble (which will be corrected soon anyway) I have yet to experience the fabled, 30 minute installation that accompanies some games But I certainly am enjoying The Club and Ratchet and Clank, along with the various demos I've downloaded, which brings me to..
PS Store:
Ok here's where I get nasty, PS Store, is bad, it's rubbish and it looks terrible. Compared to the 360's integrated Live blade (which admittedly took a while to appear in it's present state) PS Store is a horrible interface. It's slow, it's also a website so falls under the cumbersome browser controls as opposed to the slick platform system. Half the time it's clunky and even when it does work it's hard to find things, of which there are few. Add to this there are few if any obvious updates, and the quantity of downloads of demos and media is pitiful compared to XBLA at the same stage.
There is also a quirky odd technical issue, when you download a demo, the system gives you the option of downloading it in the background, or leaving the system on that page. If you do the obvious and sensible thing of downloading in teh background, you still need to install the demo once it's downloaded. Installing the demos, in my experience, has taken anything between 5 and 20 minutes, during which the system is otherwise unusuable. Now this isn't due to poor download speeds, it's once the demo is on the hard-drive! and if you leave the download screen up, it installs automatically and faster. I know that this is a quibble, and PC demos can take a while to install, but this is a console, I expect things to work once they're on, the 360 can do it, why can't the PS3?
Blu Ray:
Works fine, although packaging Stealth with the system has only lowered it in my eyes, as it's a crap crap film. It certainly looks ok, but that's on a 480p 28" Pan and Scan tv. In fact I've noticed that the lack of resolution on my tv makes some menus almost painful to look at due to the small writing. I'll no doubt have more to say once I've connected it to an large HD flatscreen.
In short, it's a nice system, and worth the purchase if you're still to take the plunge into the latest console generation.
The lack of PS2 support is still irritating, and likely will mean that at some future stage, I'll want to upgrade to a better model with more HD space and PS2 software emulation, (currently offered on the 80Gb model in Japan)
But for now, it's a grand wee toy, however on the whole there is NOTHING currently to recommend it over the far cheaper XBOX 360. This may change in a years time, but for the moment, unless youre a Sony junky, insanely wealth (and manage to get one of the superior and now all but extinct 60Gb models) then you'd be better off waiting, or buying an 360 and a shedload of games.
And if you just want HD films then here's something to consider, the price of HD-DVD players has now dropped to the ridiculous and with 1000+ HD DVD titles available (and getting cheaper by the day) it might be more cost effective to go for a cheap HD-DVD player, or the now £35 HD-DVD Drive for the 360. Just a thought.
There you go.