Is a PS3 purchase worth it at this point?

[Gunstar Hero]

As a gamer my Xbox 360 just has not proved satisfactory. Don't get me wrong I love Rock Band and my Kinect games but as for normal run-of-the-mill controller based games I just don't see the fun. I love game systems like Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Master System, Genesis, Saturn, PS1, and N64 for consoles so I just assumed I was a "Retro Gamer." But then I discovered I was in love with PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox original, so I knew I was a gamer for all decades and the only console I didn't like as much anymore was my Xbox 360. I thought then that I just would have to see If a new console came out, when at gamestop yesterday with my friend I spot a PS3. I remembered my friends telling me post-Xbox 360 purchase, that the PS3 was the way to go. I of course thought it was filled with games similar to Xbox 360 (First person shooters without a light gun? No thank you.) so I never played one until yesterday. I tried out a Ratchet and Clank demo (A PS3 exclusive) remembering how much I loved the PS2 versions. It was up to four players which was very appealing, so my friend an I played through it and beat the demo like 3 times. We were in love with the game and wondered if the PS3 had more awesome games to offer. I tried Uncharted 3 and loved the split second button pressing mayhem and state of the art Blu-ray graphics. I was surprised the PS3 wasn't chock full of FPS's like the 360. Then I started to see FPS's and I started to lose hope... But suddenly I saw they could be played with an AWESOME LOOKING LIGHT GUN!!! I LOVE light gun games, so this definitely held my interest. All that, plus PS2 and PS1 backwards compatability? It seemed too good to be true, but after some research, it seemed as a saw it.

So after reading that, you probably have guessed my question. Is it worth it to get a PS3 at this point in it's lifespan? Will a PS4 come out soon with backwards compatability? Should I wait, or get the PS3? I ask beacause my 15th birthday is in July, and a PS3 seems like a perfect Birthday present.

[Cloud121]

I'm in the same boat. I've essentially been PS3less for about a year. Works fine, it's just that the thermostat is screwed, so the fan runs when it shouldn't. My 20GB was my baby, and I very reluctantly packed it up a few months ago and put it in the closet.

I want to buy a new slim this fall, but with Sony's new console being next year, part of me wants to take a wait and see approach. It's not that I wouldn't get any use out of it, as I have quite a few games (not too mention A LOT of PSN stuff) , but it's the cost factor.

[kupomogli]

No. The PS3 is a terrible system, get a Wii.

All kidding aside, the PS3 has the best line up of exclusives and multiconsole titles this generation. It took them awhile to get there and for few years, the 360 was the go to console having the better exclusives and all the multiconsole titles the PS3 had. Sony has been churning out great first party titles on a regular basis, they've been getting a lot of amazing exclusives, and most of the best exclusives for the 360 took a year or two, but have since came out on the PS3.

If you import, then even more so. Gundam Extreme Vs is definitely worth it, as you don't need to know Japanese in order to enjoy the game.

Then there's also PSN+. It's $50 for a year and it's pretty much a monthly rental service, but it's a damn good program, and if I didn't hate digital content so much and wanted to own a physical copy, then I'd pay the $50 a year for it. Well. That and my best friend pays for PSN+ and I just gameshare with him. Anyways. Each month you get quite a few PSN games, usually it's one really good item and the other ones range from good to mediocre. Some of the games, if it wasn't for the PS+ I never would have played being digital only. This month alone is offering Just Cause 2, Far Cry 2, Infamous 2, LBP2, Warhammer 40,000, Ratchet and Clank All 4 One, Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown(just came out this month,) and Hard Corps Uprising as the games that I'd say are either really good or good. People will argue that everything on there is random and you might not get anything you'd like, which is true, but what has been released has been good for the most part(although this months releases, I already own everything aside from Far Cry 2, Warhammer, Ratchet and Clank, and the digital titles.) If it runs out in a year and you don't resubscribe, once you resubscribe is when the games you previously subscribed to will be available to play again as well as new games offered, so it's worth it. Every month PSX titles are also pushed onto there as well. One month every Syphon Filter game was on the PSN+, another month the entire Crash series, Spyro series, Final Fantasy 5, SotN, and Castlevania Chronicles. Those are just the ones that I remember. PSN+ is a great deal. If I wasn't game sharing with my friend, I'd get it for myself, and even thought about getting my own on a few occassions because my friend has two PS3s, which I sometimes deactivate my account so his kid can play games on other console.

*edit*

Btw. The PS3 is not backwards compatible for PS2 games on newer models. PSX games yes, but not PS2 games. If you want a backwards compatible model, I'd suggest looking up the codes on a Wiki somewhere for the 20 and 60GB model numbers and pick one of those up on Ebay. Sony is allowing you to send your console back now and get a refurbished version of the exact same model you currently own, so you could always find a cheap one on Ebay and then send it in for a replacement, although the replacement is $100 something, you'll get practically a brand new 60GB PS3.

If you don't mind keeping your PS2 and then using your PS3 for just PSX and PS3 games, then I'd say get a newer model. I think they come standard with a 320GB hard drive now so you won't have to upgrade your hard drive like those of us with a 60GB more than likely did.

[SEGA_Queen]

I think they come standard with a 320GB hard drive now so you won't have to upgrade your hard drive like those of us with a 60GB more than likely did.


Actually, there's two models available right now. A 160 GB and the 320 GB model. So you've got a choice, depending on how much storage space you need.

I'm personally hoping for a permanent price drop on the system. But I don't expect that to happen until Sony's next system is announced.

[duffmanth]

As a gamer my Xbox 360 just has not proved satisfactory. Don't get me wrong I love Rock Band and my Kinect games but as for normal run-of-the-mill controller based games I just don't see the fun. I love game systems like Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Master System, Genesis, Saturn, PS1, and N64 for consoles so I just assumed I was a "Retro Gamer." But then I discovered I was in love with PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox original, so I knew I was a gamer for all decades and the only console I didn't like as much anymore was my Xbox 360. I thought then that I just would have to see If a new console came out, when at gamestop yesterday with my friend I spot a PS3. I remembered my friends telling me post-Xbox 360 purchase, that the PS3 was the way to go. I of course thought it was filled with games similar to Xbox 360 (First person shooters without a light gun? No thank you.) so I never played one until yesterday. I tried out a Ratchet and Clank demo (A PS3 exclusive) remembering how much I loved the PS2 versions. It was up to four players which was very appealing, so my friend an I played through it and beat the demo like 3 times. We were in love with the game and wondered if the PS3 had more awesome games to offer. I tried Uncharted 3 and loved the split second button pressing mayhem and state of the art Blu-ray graphics. I was surprised the PS3 wasn't chock full of FPS's like the 360. Then I started to see FPS's and I started to lose hope... But suddenly I saw they could be played with an AWESOME LOOKING LIGHT GUN!!! I LOVE light gun games, so this definitely held my interest. All that, plus PS2 and PS1 backwards compatability? It seemed too good to be true, but after some research, it seemed as a saw it.

So after reading that, you probably have guessed my question. Is it worth it to get a PS3 at this point in it's lifespan? Will a PS4 come out soon with backwards compatability? Should I wait, or get the PS3? I ask beacause my 15th birthday is in July, and a PS3 seems like a perfect Birthday present.

The PS3 has had the best exclusives for quite a while now. Metal Gear Solid 4, the Uncharted games, the God of War games, Infamous 1 and 2, Resistance 1,2 and 3, Killzone 2 and 3, etc are among the best games out there. The PS3 has many more years ahead of it with some of the best games coming next year like GTA5, Metal Gear Rising, God of War Ascension, The Last of Us etc. Don't let the possibility of the PS4 launching next year affect your decision to buy a PS3, the PS3 is gonna be supported with great games for many years to come.

[duffmanth]

I'm in the same boat. I've essentially been PS3less for about a year. Works fine, it's just that the thermostat is screwed, so the fan runs when it shouldn't. My 20GB was my baby, and I very reluctantly packed it up a few months ago and put it in the closet.

I want to buy a new slim this fall, but with Sony's new console being next year, part of me wants to take a wait and see approach. It's not that I wouldn't get any use out of it, as I have quite a few games (not too mention A LOT of PSN stuff) , but it's the cost factor.

Don't forget the PS4 is probably not going to be very affordable at launch, so getting a slim PS3 later this year is probably worthwhile.

[Cloud121]

I'd suggest looking up the codes on a Wiki somewhere for the 20 and 60GB model numbers and pick one of those up on Ebay. Sony is allowing you to send your console back now and get a refurbished version of the exact same model you currently own, so you could always find a cheap one on Ebay and then send it in for a replacement, although the replacement is $100 something, you'll get practically a brand new 60GB PS3.

How long has this been going on? I want to say I'm screwed as I got my 20GB PS3 fixed by a third party (The thermostat was screwed before the fix. I didn't realize it until after I had dropped over $100 on repairs, essentially wasting my money)?

Also, even if I were able to do this, would I just get another 20GB HDD back, or would they do a data transfer of some kind, so I keep everything on my 400GB HDD?

[kupomogli]

Also, even if I were able to do this, would I just get another 20GB HDD back, or would they do a data transfer of some kind, so I keep everything on my 400GB HDD?

You could always question them about it. I mean it does cost either $100 or $150 so it's not a free trade, but they give you the same model you have now(or atleast they were doing so six months to a year ago.) I'd question a representative about the issue first to make sure about it though before going through with it. It's always best to talk to a live person about everything rather than just send it and hope for the best.

With the hard drive you could ask the representative as well if they change it for you or if you would need to remove it and then just replace it once you receive the console or the refurbished console back.

I personally don't know because a friend of mine had his returned and he told me about it, still getting another 60GB back and he stated that it's not the same one because his old one had a scratch in it that this one didn't have. I think Frankie said he returned his as well. My PS3 has never had a problem so I haven't had to return it.

[Leo_A]

Easily 95% of the software library for both platforms is identical for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

If you don't like the 360's library of software, you're not going to enjoy the PS3's.

[kupomogli]

If you don't like the 360's library of software, you're not going to enjoy the PS3's.

Yet that five percent can potentially make all the difference to which library you like more. But I agree that there are a lot of amazing multiconsole titles. Lords of Shadow, Dante's Inferno, Sacred 2, Army of Two the 40th Day, and Grand Theft Auto 4 are only a few of my favorites. In two months Sleeping Dogs is coming out and looks like it has the potential to be my favorite GTA style game.

[substantial_snake]

Easily 95% of the software library for both platforms is identical for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

If you don't like the 360's library of software, you're not going to enjoy the PS3's.

Although possible, I doubt it from the OPs opening post.

Just a quick bullet point rundown of the features you get with a PS3.

Positives/Features:

Varried Genera selection of exclusive first party titles like Ratchet&Clank, Infamous, Killzone, Grant Turismo, Little Big Planet, Uncharted, etc.
Diverse selection of "quirky" exclusive games like Heavy Rain, Flower, Journey, Disgaea, Yakuza, Valkyria Chronicles, etc.
Access to a lot of the heavy hitter PS1 games through their download selection like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, etc.
Entire section devoted to PS1 imports if your into that
(slowly :/) growing selection of PS2 games to download
Near full physical disc PS1 backwards compatibility with all PS3 versions
No region locking for PS3 games, so a wide selection of current gen import possibilities
PSN+ is a pretty good subscrition service offering free games, early demos, and good discounts...and its not required for online play..or watching netflix on your console
Easy to upgrade harddrive (buy a cheaper model and stick a 500 gig in, literally a plastic panel and a screw and doesn't ward your warranty last I checked.)
Most big releases in the last year have MOVE and/or 3D support if your interested in that
Growing selection of exclusive HD remasters sometimes including 3D support like Jack&Daxter, Ratchet&Clank, Sly Cooper, RE Chronicals, Ico&Shadows of the Colossus, etc.


Negatives/Drawbacks

Large number of different models are confusing, do your research first if your buying used and want PS2 compatibility
PSN isan't as "slick" as XBL, lacking features like cross game chat
System Updates and Game Updates can be very fusturating if you don't connect often
Third Party games will usually be inferior ports, depends on the game how inferior (some of the timed Xbox ports are the "complete" versions of the game with DLC included on the disc or other added features just check on a per game basis)
Removal of PS2 backwards compatibility on mid to late models..fucking bullshit they did this..(and linux support too I guess)



PS3 has a really diverse library and I really can't understand the "no games" complaint at this stage of its life unless said person literally just doesn't like anything put out on the console for some reason.

I also wouldn't put your hopes in the PS4 retaining backwards compatibility with the PS3 from early reports. If you do get one go the cheaper route, buy the smaller HD model, and put in a larger one the whole process literally takes less then 5 minutes and on the older models it told you how to do it in the manual. Its really a great console and its a shame that a lot of people are going to miss out on its wide variety of awesome games.

[swlovinist]

As an early adopter here of the PS3. I have a 20GB version going strong all these years. Built very well. The system has its pros and cons. I think that overall the library of games and console exclusives makes it a win. While I would love to have others get a PS3, I think that there SHOULD be a system console price drop before the holiday(if they are smart). The extra coating on Blu Rays games is nice to have to protect against scratches. My real only drawback about the system is that more than half my friends play online with their 360.

[RCM]

I own 360, PS3, and Wii and strongly prefer 360. However, that doesn't mean PS3 is without its charms. Unless you really dig the Sony exclusives it's basically a 360 without the M$ exclusives. Also, as other posters said, most models don't play PS2 titles.

[Leo_A]

Although possible, I doubt it from the OPs opening post.

A relative handful of 1st party releases (Most of which hardly tread new ground such as the Resistance series and Gran Turismo 5 or represent types of experiences not available to 360 owners with counterparts like three Forza releases to a single GT game) and the occasional downloadable exclusive (Of which there haven't been many of) hardly seems reason to buy a Playstation 3 after apparantly being nothing but disatisfied by the selection that is available.

That selection is essentially the same as on the Xbox 360. I don't see how someone could fall in love with a Playstation 3 after being disgusted with almost the same library of games on the competition. And while you mention some nice positives that the Playstation 3 offers, I doubt most people consider things like PSone compatibility as game changers. And the Xbox 360 has gotten scores of niche releases that are prime material for the classic gamer like that excellent Raiden Fighters compilation.

I hope he enjoys the heck out of it since it's a nice console, but I just don't see it in light of what he wrote in his post. The library's are so similar and such a massive percentage of them are multiplatform releases available on both that I just can't imagine someone that thinks the 360's library wasn't satisfactory thinking any differently about the PS3's.

Kind of surprised with so many multiple console owners here that I'm the first to raise the fact that greater than 95% of all releases on both consoles are available on both. Seems foolish to recommend it to him in light of his experience with almost the same library of releases on the 360.

[Gamevet]

You probably won't see the next Playstation until the fall of 2013, or 1st quarter of 2014, so there's plenty of time left for the PS3.

The PS3 has been my favorite console for the past couple of years, though in 2007 I bought a 360 for Bioshock and Mass Effect.

[Cloud121]

As an early adopter here of the PS3. I have a 20GB version going strong all these years. Built very well. The system has its pros and cons. I think that overall the library of games and console exclusives makes it a win. While I would love to have others get a PS3, I think that there SHOULD be a system console price drop before the holiday(if they are smart). The extra coating on Blu Rays games is nice to have to protect against scratches. My real only drawback about the system is that more than half my friends play online with their 360.

Bah. Very jealous. I don't even know how my 20GB YLODed back in September 2010, as I always took the utmost care of it. I blame Resident Evil Gold. I put that in my console to check out the new content, and my PS3 spit it out, then yellow lighted. It's as if it was telling me "Get that shit out of me! I'm calling it quits!" Yeah, I really hated Resident Evil 5 too.

I'm thinking the thermostat got messed up the first time I got it repaired. But it didn't start acting up until around 6 months later or so...

That does it, I'm hooking the damn thing back up. Let's see what happens.

[Gamevet]

Your PS3 is probably okay. If you have the skills to do so, I'd check the thermal paste on your CPU.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Bah. Very jealous. I don't even know how my 20GB YLODed back in September 2010, as I always took the utmost care of it. I blame Resident Evil Gold. I put that in my console to check out the new content, and my PS3 spit it out, then yellow lighted. It's as if it was telling me "Get that shit out of me! I'm calling it quits!" Yeah, I really hated Resident Evil 5 too.

I'm thinking the thermostat got messed up the first time I got it repaired. But it didn't start acting up until around 6 months later or so...

That does it, I'm hooking the damn thing back up. Let's see what happens.

I know that we've been over this before, but for those who are still hanging on to outdated information from the early days where Sony stopped manufacturing backwards-compatible PS3s and the guarantee was not available I'll share again-

SONY DOES service/repair all makes/models and all variations of backwards compatible units and they presently guarantee that you'll get the same type back that you send in, even if they need to fully replace it with a new/refurb system.

No, under normal circumstances they won't transfer your HDD data during a repair, so there's a possibility of lost data, but - you can direct transfer from PS3 to PS3 using the built-in HDD transfer tool with an Ethernet cable if your unit is functional/not YLOD ...

So, Cloud, if your 20 GB PS3 is working post-"repair" (which I assume was somebody offering some type of unlicensed work) and you DO get a slim PS3 for general everyday PS3 usage, transfer all your stuff via the HDD transfer tool to the Slim, send the 20GB back to Sony for a full service repair (which will run you about $100 or so + shipping, worth it IMO to save/restore a BC unit) and when you get the unit back transfer the data BACK to the 20GB using the tool.

I know I know, it's not cheap, but it's a means to an end where you (or anybody else with that problem) will have as close to a factory fresh BC PS3 as is possible.

As far as the question of whether or not PS3 is worth it at this point? The software library is great IMO and while there's a very large parity with brick/mortar releases between PS3 and 360 I'm shocked people in this community are under-selling what is available on the PSN.

From PSOne games to Minis, to imports, to classic remakes, theres a metric ton of stuff on there that should appeal to the classic game enthusiast, and with PLUS you get access to a lot of that content for "free" (yes yes semantics) on a weekly basis.

[Cloud121]

What I'm worried about though is if Sony will even bother? I heard that if you've had a third party work on your console, Sony won't even touch it.

Okay, doing a bit of research, it appears that Sony could fix it, despite the third party work. It's only the warranty that is an issue if the console is tampered with. Considering the fact my 20GB is a launch model, don't think that's an issue at this point.

Also, I just hooked it back up to check things out. Fifteen minutes after turning it on, fan was on full blast. So I'll probably just go the slim route, and not even bother with my 20GB at this point.


It's done, time to retire it completely. I've put so much money into her with upgrades and repairs, I'd feel like I'm wasting my time and money at this point. :(

[kupomogli]

^Like I said, just contact them. It's much cheaper than buying a new PS3 and you'll retain backwards compatibility. They'll even offer the option of replacing your PS3 for a newer version. Still costs money, but it's cheaper than getting the exact same version back if I remember correctly. I think it's $100 for replacement of the current slim model and $150 to guarantee a refurbished or them fixing your current PS3.

Just remember to ask them if it's fine if you take your hard drive out and put it in the new PS3 will that allow you to keep everything or ask if you send it with the hard drive will they do it?

http://us.playstation.com/corporate/contactus/ 800-345-SONY

[Gamevet]

It's probably poor application of thermal paste. It's a fairly easy fix.

[duffmanth]

What I'm worried about though is if Sony will even bother? I heard that if you've had a third party work on your console, Sony won't even touch it.

Okay, doing a bit of research, it appears that Sony could fix it, despite the third party work. It's only the warranty that is an issue if the console is tampered with. Considering the fact my 20GB is a launch model, don't think that's an issue at this point.

Also, I just hooked it back up to check things out. Fifteen minutes after turning it on, fan was on full blast. So I'll probably just go the slim route, and not even bother with my 20GB at this point.


It's done, time to retire it completely. I've put so much money into her with upgrades and repairs, I'd feel like I'm wasting my time and money at this point. :(

Unless you absolutely have to have BC, I would go with a slim, they run cooler, have bigger hard drives and are more reliable. It wouldn't surprise me if Sony does away with BC altogether with the PS4 if it's gonna drive up the cost of the machine by $100?

[xelement5x]

The refurbed units you get back from Sony, have they addressed all the issues like thermal paste, fans etc when you get the refurb? I've got a box of 5 broken PS3s sitting in my living room and I'd be happy to send in a couple, pay some extra cash and get a fully refurbed 60GB unit back that still has backwards compatibility.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The refurbed units you get back from Sony, have they addressed all the issues like thermal paste, fans etc when you get the refurb? I've got a box of 5 broken PS3s sitting in my living room and I'd be happy to send in a couple, pay some extra cash and get a fully refurbed 60GB unit back that still has backwards compatibility.

If you could open a Sony-repaired unit up and visually evaluate that sort of thing it would certainly make for a good addition to our knowledge base.

Send one of your 60 Gig units in for repairs and document the results.

[Rickstilwell1]

I would never say it wasn't worth it to get any system late in its life. Even if you took a long time to get one, it's still going to take you a long time to play thru all the games you want for it and catch up. This is coming from someone who adopted almost all of his systems fairly late in their lifespan or long after the systems were retired from production. If you're into RPGs, there's plenty reason to get a PS3 with all those games that didn't get released on Xbox 360.

[Emperor Megas]

Easily 95% of the software library for both platforms is identical for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

If you don't like the 360's library of software, you're not going to enjoy the PS3's.These are my thoughts as well.

I don't understand why the XBOXES get dogged so much for having First Person Shooters in their library (someone the PS2, PS2 and PS3 all have as well). I've heard this since the original XBOX. It's like some people think that the system would be better if they removed all of the First Person Shooters from the library. I HATE sports, so I don't purchase sports games; it's really that simple. Having sport games in the library of these systems doesn't take anything away from them. If you don't like FPS, try some of the hundreds of other games.

If you don't care for the majority of games on the 360, you probably won't care for most of the games on the PS3 either, honestly. The biggest difference between the two systems to me at this point is the controller, and the online component. Unless there's a notable difference in the releases, I purchase multi-platform games for the 360 because I prefer the 360 controller. I don't play online, so LIVE! vs. PSN doesn't matter to me, but it's worth noting that PSN is free, though they offer the Premium "Plus" paid package which gets you access to a TON of "free" games (many full retail releases) to download each month and keep. The list of games changes every month, but you have access to the games you downloaded before so long as you're still a Plus member.

[Lucifersam1]

I like the 360 controller much more too,but enjoy playing on the PS3 because many of my "real life" friends that play video games have a PS3. So, what I did was buy a PS3 controller that resembles a 360 controller (Power A) :) If the controller is the issue, keep that in mind. Like the others, I would agree that if you don't like the games on the 360, you probably won't enjoy the PS3 so much. I do like the Uncharted series on the PS3 (exclusive), but other than that most of the games I play are cross platform.

You could always get into PC gaming...


These are my thoughts as well.

I purchase multi-platform games for the 360 because I prefer the 360 controller.

[substantial_snake]

A relative handful of 1st party releases (Most of which hardly tread new ground such as the Resistance series and Gran Turismo 5 or represent types of experiences not available to 360 owners with counterparts like three Forza releases to a single GT game) and the occasional downloadable exclusive (Of which there haven't been many of) hardly seems reason to buy a Playstation 3 after apparantly being nothing but disatisfied by the selection that is available.

That selection is essentially the same as on the Xbox 360. I don't see how someone could fall in love with a Playstation 3 after being disgusted with almost the same library of games on the competition. And while you mention some nice positives that the Playstation 3 offers, I doubt most people consider things like PSone compatibility as game changers. And the Xbox 360 has gotten scores of niche releases that are prime material for the classic gamer like that excellent Raiden Fighters compilation.

I hope he enjoys the heck out of it since it's a nice console, but I just don't see it in light of what he wrote in his post. The library's are so similar and such a massive percentage of them are multiplatform releases available on both that I just can't imagine someone that thinks the 360's library wasn't satisfactory thinking any differently about the PS3's.

Kind of surprised with so many multiple console owners here that I'm the first to raise the fact that greater than 95% of all releases on both consoles are available on both. Seems foolish to recommend it to him in light of his experience with almost the same library of releases on the 360.

The op specifically mentioned several things that are PS3 exclusives.

-mentioned loving playing PS1
-The Ratchet and Clank Series, and more specifically it sounded like All 4 One.
-"loved" playing through a bit of Uncharted 3
-Seemed uninterested in FPS offerings, until move support came up which is supported on Killzone 3 and Resistance 3
-Several light gun games offerings with move support

I am not denying that their library's are similar as this generation seems to have more cross-pollination then I've ever seen. However don't think their libraries are very similar when it comes down to exclusive experiences and since he already had a 360 and found it unsatisfactory that's the only thing we are really discussing here. The xbox360 definitely has a leg up on the PS3 in both SHUMPS, wider selection of DDR games, and the whole Kinect experience. It also has some of great offerings in XBLA but outside of a few exceptions I think its exclusive offerings are pretty weak unless you really love Halo, Gears, Forza, or Fable.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

First person shooters without a light gun? No thank you.

Holy CRAP, how could I have missed that comment?!

If your personal barrier to enjoying an FPS is the lack of a "light gun", seriously, Gunstar Hero, if you do ever get a PS3 - get yourself the Move bundle with Killzone 3 and the Sharpshooter attachment.

I'm really bummed that more people didn't experience Killzone 3 with that setup ... once you tweak the sensitivity settings to your personal liking (and it does have a wide enough range to allow for ultra-sensitive to not very sensitive) it works SO much better than one would imagine a setup like that to.

If you think about it, it's actually just a mouse/keyboard type aiming setup with the move tracking X/Y on the screen like you would with a mouse pointer and the nav controller handling your movement.

I can't speak for any other game that uses the sharpshooter attachment, but Killzone 3 is a perfect application of the tech that the developers obviously spent some serious time engineering to work.

Also, if light gun games are your thing, Move has proven to be a very competent traditional light-gun simulator. The Time Crisis Rizing Storm disc has some NAMCO arcade classics on there (though admittedly Rizing Storm itself isn't very good), and SEGA released House of the Dead 3 and 4 on PSN and Move works awesome with them.

[Leo_A]

The software library is great IMO and while there's a very large parity with brick/mortar releases between PS3 and 360 I'm shocked people in this community are under-selling what is available on the PSN.

From PSOne games to Minis, to imports, to classic remakes, theres a metric ton of stuff on there that should appeal to the classic game enthusiast, and with PLUS you get access to a lot of that content for "free" (yes yes semantics) on a weekly basis.


A good bit of it is shared between the two. Many of the types of games that appeal to the classic gaming enthusiast are shared between the two like the 2D Worms games, the Capcom releases, the Sega releases, etc.

And in place of all those nice Data East and pre NeoGeo SNK PSP Mini's, we have a significant portion of Konami's 1980's coinop library on the Game Room service for comparable prices.

I just don't see the PS3's library being such significantly different for someone that they'd appreciate this console much more than a 360 after being disgusted with the lineup available there. Just so much of it is shared between the two and much of it that isn't still has comparable options available on the other (Konami coinop downloads versus SNK/Data East PSP Minis from G1M2, for instance).

And with the 360 seemingly being the place for niche releases these days with things like Akai Katana, I'm not so sure if he wouldn't eventually decide he actually liked this library less.



I don't understand why the XBOXES get dogged so much for having First Person Shooters in their library (someone the PS2, PS2 and PS3 all have as well). I've heard this since the original XBOX. It's like some people think that the system would be better if they removed all of the First Person Shooters from the library.

In addition to that, they seem to not realize that most every FPS (And the occasional 3rd person shooter) is multiplatform and appears on both. And for the exclusives, they both seem to get them in comparable amounts. We have what, 5 or so Halo releases and 2 or 3 Gears of War releases to 2 or 3 Resistance releases. the Killzone releases, and several games from the SOCUM guys?

Eliminating a few games from the first year that the 360 was on the market before the PS3 (Like Call of Duty 2), I suspect the FPS counts for both have been extremely close. Not sure why people want to portray the 360 as a FPS haven and the PS3 as somehow being significantly different.


The op specifically mentioned several things that are PS3 exclusives...

I certainly think a PS3 is closer to what he wants than a 360 due to what I also read in his post.

But that still doesn't erase the fact that we're talking about fairly minor differences and that the vast majority of the experience is largely identical across both platforms.

If he buys a PS3, I hope he enjoys it. But I think there's a solid chance he won't considering his views on the 360.

One point you raise though that i think is a bit of a selling point for the PS3 are things like the House of the Dead games and Move. There are actually Move titles that interest me where as with the possible exception of Steel Battalion which I haven't paid much attention to yet, there's really nothing with Kinect that even intrigues me. But that still strikes me as a fairly minor difference and I think he'll find that the average Move compatable FPS actually is more playable with a Dual Shock 3 and that Move is best left for things like light gun style shooters, the upcoming Okami port (Too bad the RE4 port didn't have Move support), etc (With the exception of Killzone, judging by Frankie's post, I'd say Move adds to the experience there).

[Gamevet]

And in place of all those nice Data East and pre NeoGeo SNK PSP Mini's, we have a significant portion of Konami's 1980's coinop library on the Game Room service for comparable prices.

I jumped on the Game Room service early, but it had its problems. I found that a lot of the games suffered from a strange intermittent pause, that too often happened at the worst times. Breakout became frustrating, when the ball was inches from your paddle and then the game would have that slight pause, causing you to miss the ball. The same thing would happen with Centipede.



I just don't see the PS3's library being such significantly different for someone that they'd appreciate this console much more than a 360 after being disgusted with the lineup available there. Just so much of it is shared between the two and much of it that isn't still has comparable options available on the other (Konami coinop downloads versus SNK/Data East PSP Minis from G1M2, for instance).

There are plenty of exclusives like Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, with its added playable characters, extra bosses and true 1080p visuals. You also have God of War III, Heavenly Sword, 3-D Dot Game Heroes, Wipeout HD, Disgaea 3, Valkyria Chronicles, Metal Gear Solid 4, Heavy Rain, Super Stardust, Little Big Planet, Zen Pinball and the HD remakes of PS2 classics.

There's enough there to make it a nice alternative to the 360.

[j_factor]

I own a PS3 and I don't own an Xbox 360, and I still find that my taste in PS3 games skews more towards exclusive (and semi-exclusive) games than multiplatform. So I'd say PS3 is definitely worth owning.

However, the price is too high right now. It's really overdue for a price drop. You may want to wait a few months and see if it happens.

[substantial_snake]

I certainly think a PS3 is closer to what he wants than a 360 due to what I also read in his post.

But that still doesn't erase the fact that we're talking about fairly minor differences and that the vast majority of the experience is largely identical across both platforms.

If he buys a PS3, I hope he enjoys it. But I think there's a solid chance he won't considering his views on the 360.

One point you raise though that i think is a bit of a selling point for the PS3 are things like the House of the Dead games and Move. There are actually Move titles that interest me where as with the possible exception of Steel Battalion which I haven't paid much attention to yet, there's really nothing with Kinect that even intrigues me. But that still strikes me as a fairly minor difference and I think he'll find that the average Move compatable FPS actually is more playable with a Dual Shock 3 and that Move is best left for things like light gun style shooters, the upcoming Okami port (Too bad the RE4 port didn't have Move support), etc (With the exception of Killzone, judging by Frankie's post, I'd say Move adds to the experience there).

If he buys a PS3 for multiplatform games then yeah he will have a similar experience but that is not what it sounds like he is thinking of at all. Regardless I'll agree to disagree on this.

Thats funny that you mentioned Steel Battalion as that was the game that would of pushed me to pick up a 360/Kinect if it was done well and sadly it looks like it hasn't. Its a real shame too as lot of the features in that game looked to really bring you into the world they created but apparently the Kinect side of things is just too imprecise. I definitely agree about Move implementation on standard FPS games, its an alternative then an outright replacement for a Dual Shock. I found using the Sharpshooter+Move in Killzone that you sacrifice some quick turning ability for more precise aiming and it was more or less the same deal with Socom 4. However it is a ton of fun working with a physical object in your hands rather then just a standard controller in those games and I tend to find people who aren't used to the standard controller take to the Move controls much better. I haven't played a light gun game with the Move yet, however I hear good things and am looking forward to RE Chronicles HD's release coming up.

[Leo_A]

If he buys a PS3 for multiplatform games then yeah he will have a similar experience but that is not what it sounds like he is thinking of at all.

All he did was mention enjoying a demo for the Ratchet & Clank multiplayer game and Uncharted 3.

It's a pretty big leap from that to thinking he's primarily considering this just to play Sony published software (Much of which doesn't really tread new ground and several that have comparable exclusives on the competition... not to mention I bet MGS4 ends up being ported to the 360 before everything is said and done with this generation which is one of the big ones always mentioned).

I bet I'm right. If he gets his hands on a PS3, he'll have to revisit this thread down the road and let everyone know what he thinks of it. Got a feeling he'll be posting about just how similar the software lineup was to his 360.

I own this console for the exclusives and enjoy it. But I enjoy modern gaming and see lots to love on both platforms (Although there are certainly areas I think both are weak in such as the lack of classic compilations, the near death of the rally racing genre this generation, the lack of space shooters like the old days, etc.).

I just don't see how someone can care so little for the library of console A feeling any differently about console B when there are so many parallels (Not to mention the vast majority of releases appear on both). A gamer can certainly have a great time on here and never move beyond exclusives.

But those exclusives by and large don't really do anything different that you can't find from other publishers. Want fun arcade racers but lack a PS3 for Motorstorm? Give Project Gotham 3 & 4 a try. Want to play some exclusive first person shooters but can't play Killzone or Resistance? Give the Halo releases a try. Want to play a Gran Turismo style racer but lack a PS3? You got three clones that were all recieved well available on the 360 in the form of the Forza series. Want to experience a game like Heavy Rain? Download Indigo Prophecy and experience its predecessor on the 360 and one of the best running original Xbox games on the platform. Want to play a modern Ninja Gaiden game? You have original Xbox games that run and look great on the 360 as well as 360 releases. Want some MGS action? I believe that compilation made its way out on the 360 a few months ago which also seems to suggest to some that MGS4 will also make an appearance.

I don't see how Sony published software is going to give him a drastically different take on the software library of this platform. Now if he was going on about how much he loved modern gaming and his 360 and was wondering if PS3 exclusives were worth the purchase of the system, I'd be in here recommending it to him since clearly he's likely to enjoy PS3 exclusives as well.

But he doesn't feel that way and the PS3 is very much a comparable platform. Anyways, like has already been said, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Gamevet]

I own this console for the exclusives and enjoy it. But I enjoy modern gaming and see lots to love on both platforms (Although there are certainly areas I think both are weak in such as the lack of classic compilations, the near death of the rally racing genre this generation, the lack of space shooters like the old days, etc.).



You don't like the Dirt series?

[kupomogli]

All he did was mention enjoying a demo for the Ratchet & Clank multiplayer game and Uncharted 3.

It's a pretty big leap from that to thinking he's primarily considering this just to play Sony published software (Much of which doesn't really tread new ground and several that have comparable exclusives on the competition... not to mention I bet MGS4 ends up being ported to the 360 before everything is said and done with this generation which is one of the big ones always mentioned).

I don't see how Sony published software is going to give him a drastically different take on the software library of this platform. Now if he was going on about how much he loved modern gaming and his 360 and was wondering if PS3 exclusives were worth the purchase of the system, I'd be in here recommending it to him since clearly he's likely to enjoy PS3 exclusives as well.

But he doesn't feel that way and the PS3 is very much a comparable platform. Anyways, like has already been said, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Once the newest game comes out, there will be five Ratchet and Clank games on the PS3. I've only played the demo of All 4 One(although I now have the full game on my PS3,) and thought it was decent, but I've also heard that All 4 One is the worst in the series and that Tools of Destruction is the best. So if he likes All 4 One, there's four other games in the same series that have been highly praised. I've never played any of them other than the demo I've mentioned, so I won't go into "these games are amazing," because I have no idea. There's also the Ratchet and Clank HD Collection which brings three of the PS2 games onto the console as well.

If he liked the part of Uncharted 3 he was playing, then he'll more than likely also like Uncharted 2 and the original to a lesser extent. The first one does tend to throw more enemies at you and less of the other aspects though, but the other games are less shooting, more Tomb Raider style or big action movie sequence style, but still it's a shooter at its core.

Twisted Metal is the finest multiplayer game this generation. Unfortunately, the online fucking sucks. Such an amazing game has the shittiest online in the world. It's worth getting only if you have friends that will come over and play, but forget about playing it online as the community is pretty much gone because of how bad it is.

I didn't like the demo of the first Little Big Planet, but played the demo of the second, and liked the demo better, so picked up the second game. Every stage can be played single player or multiplayer with up to four players and is more fun playing with a friend.

White Knight Chronicles 2 is the best RPG I've played on the console, although if you're questioning this, no I don't count Demon's Souls as an RPG. I haven't played Eternal Sonata and Tales of Graces F though. Those could be better. I also haven't played Lost Odyssey, Infinite Undiscovery, and The Last Remnant, and while I've heard bad things about IU and TLR, I'm still interested in playing those sometime.

Yakuza 3 and 4. Everyone knows how much I love the Yakuza series. I have 80+ hours in Yakuza 3, I have the mini game master trophy(weapon mod and EX Hard is all I need to finish until I platinum it.) I platinumed Yakuza 4.

Valkyria Chronicles is a great game. It's really less of an RPG and more of a strategy game with slight RPG influences. There's no traditional way of leveling up. Every class that you have the same is on the same level. However, the game is a bit overrated. As great of a strategy game it is, and it's indeed good, it's pretty bullshit when your sniper misses a headshot fairly close to the target, but an enemy sniper gets two headshots in a row all the way across the map. Yes. The accuracy is bullshit and favors the computer in almost every instance. So make sure you know what you're doing before it's done.

Infamous 2. The first one is okay, but the second one is worth getting. I'd recommend watching a Youtube video of all the story for the first one though, because the story is pretty amazing on the first one, what little there is. The second game is an altogether better experience. The gameplay is more refined, and you can also use multiple different bolts, grenades, shockwaves, and missiles for each class, as well as some alternate stuff.

3D Dot Game Heroes. I liked the original Zelda, I liked Link's Awakening, but believe it or not, I hated Link to the Past and as many times as I've tried to play through it, I got bored shortly after starting the game and quit each and every time. I just can't play the game without getting extremely bored of it. Then I play 3D Dot Game Heroes. I didn't expect much, infact I thought I'd hate it due to the art style, 3D blocks and such. But after starting out, playing through it, man. Absolutely amazing game. It's also my very first venture into a tower defense and is the reason I purchased Pixel Junk Monsters for the PSN, and while Pixel Junk Monsters is decent, Block Defense is much better in my opinion. A mini game outdoing a full game.

Wipeout HD. One of the greatest racing games ever made. One of the only games, if not the only game, that runs 1080p on the PS3 while maintaining 60FPS.

So there's the eight Ratchet and Clank games along with 12 exclusives that I liked, and two more that are highly praised but I only enjoyed their sequels. That's just based on what I've played. It's not including the other exclusives out there. Most of these games have absolutely nothing comparable to them on the 360. Some do, but most don't. One major thing about these games is that they're completely exclusive. You can't jump over to Steam and also play these games. The only way you're going to play these games is on the PS3. The 360 has console exclusives as well, but most of the better ones other than the big four can already be played on PC, so it really doesn't make them that exclusive. Do you want to play Super Meat Boy, Breath of Death 7, Cthulu Saves the World, Bastion, The Last Remant, Left 4 Dead, etc, etc, etc, then get the dirt cheap PC versions.

Everyone has different opinions, and he might end up hating Yakuza 3, but just throwing out there a majority of the exclusives in my collection that I've played and liked. Not even including those I liked that are also on the Wii, like Dead Space Extraction(which is includued on the Dead Space 2 Limited Edition disc) or as a digital game. Dead Space Extraction is the best Move compatible title I've played. I didn't list the games, because they're not exclusive, so doesn't matter.

[Leo_A]

You don't like the Dirt series?

I enjoy the Dirt series (Besides Dirt Showdown which I have zero intentions of purchasing). In fact I've earned all the achievement points in Dirt 1, just need a couple of hours of multiplayer in Dirt 2 to 1000 it one of these days, and I've been working on Dirt 3 in recent weeks after buying the complete edition of it. Codemaster racing games have represented a significant part of my current generation gametime so far (I've also completed Grid, spent significant time with F1 2010, and have F1 2011 here sitting in shrinkwrap waiting for me to wrap up F1 2010 one of these days).

But with the exception of the original Dirt, they can hardly be considered rally racers. Rally racing is a very small component of Dirt 2 (There was like one rally course in the entire game set in Croatia as I recall with 3 or 4 stages) and Dirt 3 (Including the Monte Carlo DLC, I think it has 5 rally locations with a handful of stages each). And many key components of a rally racer like tire selection, managing damage during service stops, and such are completely absent.

Beyond the Dirt series, we just have the WRC series with two games and an upcoming 3rd. And they haven't even been released here in North America to date. I've had to import the PS3 versions from Europe just to play them. And for arcade games, we have Sega Rally Revo and Sega Rally Online Arcade. And if you want to count them, there are a couple of games based on Baja that are available (One that is average and another that is considered shovelware).

Off the top of my head, compare that with three Colin McRae releases from Codemasters that were pure rally racers, the excellent Dice arcade series called RalliSport Challenge that got two releases before dying, Sony's WRC series with 5 excellent releases and all were dedicated rally racers, Rally Championship, the arcade racers Rally Fusion and Rally Shox, Pro Rally or something like that on the GameCube, two games based on the Dakar rally, V-Rally 3, Richard Burns Rally, and Sega Rally 2006 bundled with a port of the original Sega Rally. Granted quite a few of those were import purchases unavailable here, but you get the idea...

Sadly we've seen this genre suffer greatly this generation. I just hope Dirt Showdown means that Dirt 4 will be returning to its roots so at least Codemasters will start making rally racers again (Or at least games like the original Dirt where rally appears more than a mere afterthought)...

[Gunstar Hero]

Thank you to everyone for all of the help. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'll just try to sum up what I've heard. The earlier models are cheaper and play PS1, PS2, and PS3 and don't seem to have any other negatives compared to the slim models besides the bulky design, which for me is no problem. Although it shares many titles with the 360, the PS3 has a considerable amount of exclusives for me to get my fix. The Uncharted games look great, if I got the PS move and the light gun then there are a good amount of light gun games out there, Ratchet and Clank is fun and great for Multiplayer (the new one), infamous looks great, and I'm sure there are many others out there. Mix that with PSN and the tons of old and new titles available with a membership and I'm sure I can have fun with those games. In addition it's a BluRay player and has the best graphics on the console market. The new Xbox and PS4 don't seem to be coming out any time soon and new rumors are saying the Wii U will launch at a whopping $600! If I can find a good deal on one (even on DP if anyone doesn't want theirs) I think I will love my new PS3. Am I missing anything or did I get anything wrong? Please tell me so I don't make a hasty purchase and become disappointed!

[kupomogli]

^ Unless you become a PS+ member before the first Tuesday of next month, the games previously listed will no longer be available. You have to be a current PS+ member and activate the games on your PSN account for future use. They'll be available anytime in the future, but if you weren't subscribed during the period they were out and downloaded them or activated them for download, you won't have access to them unless they're back a future month.

Just wanting to let you know that just in case that is one of your buying decisions.

[Rickstilwell1]

I just went down the RPG list on both consoles, deleting the multiplatform games and it seems both of them had roughly the same amount of exclusives from each other. Pretty close to 40 each. For someone who plays only RPGs most of the time, 35-40 games is a whole heck of a lot to miss out on. If anyone is into RPGs in general at this point I would say Xbox 360 and PS3 are both must haves. But then we get down to types of RPGs. Almost all the Xbox exclusive RPGs are action RPGs. On PS3, there are some more exclusive turn-based and Strategy RPGs than on the 360, but only make up about a third of the list.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Thank you to everyone for all of the help. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'll just try to sum up what I've heard. The earlier models are cheaper and play PS1, PS2, and PS3 and don't seem to have any other negatives compared to the slim models besides the bulky design, which for me is no problem. Although it shares many titles with the 360, the PS3 has a considerable amount of exclusives for me to get my fix. The Uncharted games look great, if I got the PS move and the light gun then there are a good amount of light gun games out there, Ratchet and Clank is fun and great for Multiplayer (the new one), infamous looks great, and I'm sure there are many others out there. Mix that with PSN and the tons of old and new titles available with a membership and I'm sure I can have fun with those games. In addition it's a BluRay player and has the best graphics on the console market. The new Xbox and PS4 don't seem to be coming out any time soon and new rumors are saying the Wii U will launch at a whopping $600! If I can find a good deal on one (even on DP if anyone doesn't want theirs) I think I will love my new PS3. Am I missing anything or did I get anything wrong? Please tell me so I don't make a hasty purchase and become disappointed!

Um, you're mostly on-point there. Some quick things to review:

Early backwards-compatible PS3's seem to have scaled down in value to reflect the overall MSRP of PS3s in general, but backwards compatible models still have a decent value proposition. I wouldn't call them "cheap". Early non-backwards-compatible PS3s are likely to be less expensive than new slim models, but if you're going a non-backwards-compatible route I'd recommend a newer slim for the sake of reliability.

Here's a short list of PS3s that you can play disc-based PS2 games on:


20GB Launch Model (hardware based PS2 emulation, no Wi-Fi)
60GB Launch Model (hardware based PS2 emulation, Wi-Fi)
80GB 1st hardware revision (software based PS2 emulation, there are a few flavors of this model)



All PS3s play disc-based PS1 games.

Launch model and early-gen "fat" PS3s can be prone to thermal breakdown (the yellow light of death), so if you buy a used "fat" PS3 keep that in mind. It's not as widespread as the hardware flaws found in early gen 360s, but it's a noted hardware issue. Sony does repairs on all makes/models for around $100/$150.

A PLUS membership is $20 for 3 months or $50 for a whole year. You get access to free games on a weekly basis, including a lot of PS1 games and many full-fledged games like Infamous, Little Big Planet, Ratchet & Clank, etc. discounts on games that non-members don't get, and early access to betas not open to the general public. As long as you keep your membership you can play anything you get for free. If you cancel your membership you can't play the games you got for free but you can play the stuff you bought on discount or non-game items given away for free (DLC packs, add-ons, avatars, etc.).

http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-plus/

FYI as of now you get access to that Ratchet & Clank game you liked when you join PLUS in addition to 11 other games. Check them out on that link.

As Kupo indicated - that deal ends on Tuesday of next month.

[Gunstar Hero]

Um, you're mostly on-point there. Some quick things to review:

Early backwards-compatible PS3's seem to have scaled down in value to reflect the overall MSRP of PS3s in general, but backwards compatible models still have a decent value proposition. I wouldn't call them "cheap". Early non-backwards-compatible PS3s are likely to be less expensive than new slim models, but if you're going a non-backwards-compatible route I'd recommend a newer slim for the sake of reliability.

Here's a short list of PS3s that you can play disc-based PS2 games on:


20GB Launch Model (hardware based PS2 emulation, no Wi-Fi)
60GB Launch Model (hardware based PS2 emulation, Wi-Fi)
80GB 1st hardware revision (software based PS2 emulation, there are a few flavors of this model)



All PS3s play disc-based PS1 games.

Launch model and early-gen "fat" PS3s can be prone to thermal breakdown (the yellow light of death), so if you buy a used "fat" PS3 keep that in mind. It's not as widespread as the hardware flaws found in early gen 360s, but it's a noted hardware issue. Sony does repairs on all makes/models for around $100/$150.

A PLUS membership is $20 for 3 months or $50 for a whole year. You get access to free games on a weekly basis, including a lot of PS1 games and many full-fledged games like Infamous, Little Big Planet, Ratchet & Clank, etc. discounts on games that non-members don't get, and early access to betas not open to the general public. As long as you keep your membership you can play anything you get for free. If you cancel your membership you can't play the games you got for free but you can play the stuff you bought on discount or non-game items given away for free (DLC packs, add-ons, avatars, etc.).

http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-plus/

FYI as of now you get access to that Ratchet & Clank game you liked when you join PLUS in addition to 11 other games. Check them out on that link.

As Kupo indicated - that deal ends on Tuesday of next month.

I have a question. If I get the Ratchet and Clank game will it go away from my PS3 on the tuesday of next month? Or will it go away from my PS3 when my meembership ends? Or is it a permanent download in my PS3 memory? I do not know much on the PSN subject.

[The 1 2 P]

I have a question. If I get the Ratchet and Clank game will it go away from my PS3 on the tuesday of next month? Or will it go away from my PS3 when my meembership ends? Or is it a permanent download in my PS3 memory? I do not know much on the PSN subject.

Any "free" games you get from being a member of PSN+ will stay in your account as long as you remain a member. As soon as you let your membership expire it will be deleted or no longer free to play.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I have a question. If I get the Ratchet and Clank game will it go away from my PS3 on the tuesday of next month? Or will it go away from my PS3 when my meembership ends? Or is it a permanent download in my PS3 memory? I do not know much on the PSN subject.

Anything you download through the PLUS membership will:

A.) Stay on your HDD even if you let your membership lapse, it will just "lock" until you renew membership.

B.) Stay in your download/purchase history so you can delete it off your HDD and even IF it's no longer available for new PLUS members to download you can go to your list or find it in the store and re-download it for free if you're still a member.


Any "free" games you get from being a member of PSN+ will stay in your account as long as you remain a member. As soon as you let your membership expire it will be deleted or no longer free to play.

Not deleted, just not accessible to play. It just locks down. You can leave the content on your HDD or PSP, it'll unlock whenever you decide to renew.

[scaryice]

http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-plus/

FYI as of now you get access to that Ratchet & Clank game you liked when you join PLUS in addition to 11 other games. Check them out on that link.

As Kupo indicated - that deal ends on Tuesday of next month.

They're planning to rotate out three games per month out of the twelve for the "instant game collection." The only ones that are going away next week are Hard Corps: Uprising, Virtua Fighter 5, and Zombie Apocalypse.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

They're planning to rotate out three games per month out of the twelve for the "instant game collection." The only ones that are going away next week are Hard Corps: Uprising, Virtua Fighter 5, and Zombie Apocalypse.

Well, that's nothing but good news for Gunstar Hero.

[duffmanth]

Easily 95% of the software library for both platforms is identical for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

If you don't like the 360's library of software, you're not going to enjoy the PS3's.

I would agree that the vast majority of games are the same on the 360 and PS3, but in my case all it took was that 5% of exclusives on the PS3 to be the deciding factor for me to get a PS3. The 360 has some great exclusives like Halo, Gears, Forza, Fable etc, but it just doesn't enough for me to go out and spend $200-300 on it. If I was deciding what to buy between the 360 and PS3, I wouldn't be looking at which console has the most exclusives, I would looking at the system that has the games that cater to my gaming tastes.

[Leo_A]

I would agree that the vast majority of games are the same on the 360 and PS3, but in my case all it took was that 5% of exclusives on the PS3 to be the deciding factor for me to get a PS3.

But do you completely dislike that other 95% of its library? Would you be very satisified with your investment if you did? And do you think you would even be likely to enjoy many of the Sony exclusives if you felt that way about modern gaming in general? Much of what Sony publishes is hardly revolutionary or unique. It tends to have high quality of course, but much of it is also very much standard fare for modern gaming.

I can certainly see the PS3 being a very viable choice. But with what he wrote about with his experience with the 360's library, I think there's an excellent chance he's going to be less than pleased with a PS3.


If I was deciding what to buy between the 360 and PS3, I wouldn't be looking at which console has the most exclusives, I would looking at the system that has the games that cater to my gaming tastes.

No one was suggesting that someone count up the number of exclusives between the two and select the one with the most.

And because 95% of the library is the same between the two, if you're selecting the one that best caters to your gaming taste, you sort of have to be investigating the exclusives for obvious reasons...

It's those exclusives that are what largely differentiates the two.

[kainemaxwell]

Um, you're mostly on-point there. Some quick things to review:
Here's a short list of PS3s that you can play disc-based PS2 games on:


20GB Launch Model (hardware based PS2 emulation, no Wi-Fi)
60GB Launch Model (hardware based PS2 emulation, Wi-Fi)
80GB 1st hardware revision (software based PS2 emulation, there are a few flavors of this model)



All PS3s play disc-based PS1 games.

Launch model and early-gen "fat" PS3s can be prone to thermal breakdown (the yellow light of death), so if you buy a used "fat" PS3 keep that in mind. It's not as widespread as the hardware flaws found in early gen 360s, but it's a noted hardware issue. Sony does repairs on all makes/models for around $100/$150.

Thanks for the summery, answered a few questions I had! So will these repairs that one can send to Sony if they get a BC model PS3 resolve the problems and make them efficient like the slim models? Then you just swap put the HD for like a 500gb and ready to go?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Thanks for the summery, answered a few questions I had! So will these repairs that one can send to Sony if they get a BC model PS3 resolve the problems and make them efficient like the slim models? Then you just swap put the HD for like a 500gb and ready to go?

I think it's just standard repair/refurbishment. I don't believe that they modify anything for efficiency's sake, but you can swap out the HDD for a 500GB if you want.

[Gunstar Hero]

Well, that's nothing but good news for Gunstar Hero.

I agree :)

[Rickstilwell1]

I actually think it is a very good time to get a current gen system for anyone. A lot of the good games are becoming around the $10-15 mark used at Gamestop. Even games that came out just a year or two ago are dropping that low.

[RPG_Fanatic]

Sony may be bringing out a new super slim PS3 - http://www.gamespot.com/news/new-super-slim-ps3-model-on-the-way-6385661

[Gamevet]

sony may be bringing out a new super slim ps3 - http://www.gamespot.com/news/new-super-slim-ps3-model-on-the-way-6385661

$200 ps3?

[duffmanth]

I actually think it is a very good time to get a current gen system for anyone. A lot of the good games are becoming around the $10-15 mark used at Gamestop. Even games that came out just a year or two ago are dropping that low.

This is very true, there are tons of games that are very cheap for all of the systems. Maybe a result of this console generation lasting longer than others?

[Rickstilwell1]

This is very true, there are tons of games that are very cheap for all of the systems. Maybe a result of this console generation lasting longer than others?

Gamestop employees I saw actually blamed it on the Wii U. They talk like this generation is coming to a close.

[duffmanth]

Gamestop employees I saw actually blamed it on the Wii U. They talk like this generation is coming to a close.

This generation is pretty much over for the Wii, the 360 still has some gas in it, and the PS3 will probably be supported for the next 4-5 years if history is any indicator.