Sony Playstation 3

Price: £300-350

Styles: 40GB.

Release date: Out Now

Creator: Sony

The Sony Playstation 3 had a shaky start when it was released back in March 2007. It had missed the perfect launch ramp of Christmas 2006, and as such, had a depleted game base to start with, something that hit it hard when compared with it’s main rival’s, the Xbox 360, game library. The 360 had been out for a year, and the motion sensing of the Wii had created unimaginable hype amongst casual gamers. On top of which, the high specifications of the PS3, whilst meaning an amazing future ahead, slowed it down considerably with a weighty price (£425), and a system that developers needed to get used to before they could create some real gaming gems.

Luckily, the PS3 has found its feet and is really starting to show what it can do. Many argue that whilst advertised as predominantly a gaming machine, it is a multi-media station. Whilst this could have been said to be true during the game drought of summer 2007, this is no longer true. The console is bringing out a whole lot of new games, and this started back around September, with the arrival of Heavenly Sword. The game was too short but had high production values, and was a fun game. Insomniac’s new Ratchet and Clank soon saw daylight afterwards, followed by Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, from Insomniac’s rival/friend Naughty Dog, a stunning game that is recommended for anyone who has or is planning to purchase the console. Lair was also released, disappointing to some, but it was the first game to be playable on the Playstation Portable, via the Remote Play feature of the PS3. These were just the exclusives, as the Multi-Platform stunner Call of Duty 4 was released, along with Assassin’s Creed, Guitar Hero 3, The Orange Box and more recently, Burnout Paradise.

The PS3 is now running it’s race, as a console that I believe will last for many years to come, a future-proofed, multi-media gaming platform. So lets discuss features. What are these multi-media effects that people are getting excited over? The console features the ability to play music and movies, either through CD, DVD or the High Definition Blu-ray Disc (more later). On top of which, it can play them via a USB storage device, such as an Ipod, MP3 player, phone or flash-stick. The original 60GB model also had memory stick slots to make transfers from cameras, phones and PSPs easier, although this has been dropped in favour of a lower price. It can also store photos, which can be viewed normally, or through a stylish, but ultimately pointless, ‘tabletop’ slideshow.

The console has full Internet access, either through an Ethernet cable, or through it’s built in Wireless (WiFi) receiver. Web pages can be viewed through a browser, and it has capabilities to go on sites such as Youtube, and play the videos competently. On top of this, it can connect to the PSP through ‘Remote Play’. This allows the user to connect to their PS3 from anywhere in the world over the Internet, provided you’re near a WiFi hotspot. It can even be turned on. Saved data can be accessed, i.e. movies and music, although games, saved or on disc, cannot. However, Lair has been the first, and so far only, game to be playable through Remote Play, and hopefully games will pick up on this. The Remote Play feature’s main benefit at the moment however, is that you can watch as many movies and listen to as much music as you can save on your PS3, effectively expanding the size of your PSPs memory, if you have one of course.

Now, one of the console’s main features is its online service, the Playstation Network. Many have argued that it doesn’t provide as much as the 360s more established Live service. You can’t chat to friends during games, or access the main menu during a game, without having to leave. However, Sony is working on changing that, with goals such as an in-game XMB (the main menu), in-game music and in-game chat. Currently though, the PSN is fine for what it does, and considering it’s completely free, unlike Xbox Live, it’s not like you can lose out. Friends you pick up in games will stay friends in other games, and can be mailed and talked to, albeit out of game. On top of which, there is the Playstation Store. Updated with new offerings every Thursday, the Store features free downloads, in the form of demos, trailers and wallpapers (for your main menu), and downloads you pay for, such as full games (like Warhawk, a genius online multiplayer) or items for games already owned, (like new songs for Guitar hero 3). Such content keeps games fresh, and gamers entertained, and it will only continue. Sony also plans to bring out movie downloads too, although the extent of this is unknown. What is known is that they plan to launch a Youtube style service, with user created content.

User-created content. This is key with Sony’s plans for the console. Coming soon to the PSN, is Playstation Home. This free download is like The Sims and Second Life. Players are given a character they can design, and an apartment, to furnish and update over time. They can invite friends over to watch movies, or listen to music stored on their hard drive, or go out into a special area for recreation. This will feature mini games, such as bowling and pool, as well as a cinema, with trailers, and potentially full movies and the ‘Sony Youtube’. People can chat, over headsets or through keyboards, and plans to fund through in game advertising could lead to building of new areas to play in, such as maybe an Adidas sponsored shop, with shirts for your avatar, and so on. There will also be a Trophy Room, or Hall of Fame. This will work a lot like Xbox’s Achievements, with gaming records being rewarded with trophies for friends to see. Potentially, you could win new shirts, wallpapers, furniture, or even apartments by doing well in games, depending on how Sony sees things. This should prove a great addition to PSN.

So, lets hear more about user-created content. Sony is touting it, and putting a lot of work into showing they support it. Microsoft’s refusal to let players ‘mod’ the game Unreal tournament 3 on their console, has meant that Sony is ahead, as they plan to embrace the idea. So much so in fact, that their game LittleBigPlanet, due this year, is based around it, with users creating and sharing levels with each others, to be played and rated.

Now then, games. PS3 received a lot of stick at first for their meagre releases of two major games, Resistance: Fall of Man and Motorstorm, before a long drought of any real noticeable games. This year however, may as well be called the Year of the Playstation. The sheer volume of games on release are shocking, especially when contrast with last years stark offerings. There are a ton of exclusives, and plenty of other games to sate anyone’s hunger for gaming madness. Here’s a small list of some major games, these are all due for 2008, but they may take more time to do, so don’t blame us:

• Metal Gear Solid 4
• LittleBigPlanet
• Gran Turismo 5
• Haze
• Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
• Resistance 2
• Area 51: Blacksite
• Killzone 2
• Grand Theft Auto 4
• Final Fantasy 13
• Just Cause 2
• Mercenaries 2
• Afrika

And there are many more besides, some believe over 150 will be released. I don’t know if the number is only the disc based games, but there will also be plenty of downloads coming, hopefully some more games like Warhawk.

My final point is Blu-ray. Some believe this is the key to the Playstation’s success. It is now almost 100% certain that it will win the ‘format war’ against HD-DVD, making it the new format for entertainment. Like DVD replaced VHS, Blu-ray should be the new format for all movies to be based on. Currently, PS3 is the cheapest Blu-ray player that can upgrade itself (a feature needed for some extras on BR discs). With this, and many other features, it is popular amongst those who like their films in the best quality available. The firmware updates that keep Blu-ray up to date, also let Sony upgrade your machine, so features that people want, people may get.

The point is, that this console is future proofed, in every way. Games can be improved, features can be added constantly and it can play the latest media format to be released. It features top end graphics and power, and developers say that so far, even the best games have only tapped 30% of it’s power at most, meaning quality should rise continuously, something we can see when we compare games from the start of the Playstation 2’s reign, to those released at the end. Some will say that £300 is still too much for a console, but this is so much more than a console, and it has the potential to get better and better for years. It’s also worth noting, that recent decreases in hardware cost could mean another price cut, so keep eyes open for any news on that front. All in all, I thoroughly recommend this console, and all it has to offer. It does so much more than play games, and it’s games are still amazing, with huge room to improve over time, until the PS4 is released. If you haven’t already, go and buy one. If you can’t afford it, remember, that may not be for long. Thanks for reading.