PlayStation 3 Magazine hands-on video with ... PS3 [update 2]

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 2nd 2006 at 7:55PM }

Folks over at the eponymous PSM3 Magazine (the first M is for magazine, and the magazine is for magazine so, in case you were wondering, this is a magazine) were lucky enough to get their hands on a PlayStation 3. Apparently they were lucky enough to get their fingerprints all over it, too. These things are shinier than the black Nintendo DS, and will probably give rise to a slew of third-party, PS3-branded chamois cloths to keep them looking pristine.

These guys define the word bias, seeing as how they publish PlayStation 3 Magazine, but the machine does look powerful and, well ... shiny. The startup video looks impressive, especially the tuning orchestra-ish sound, although so was the one on the PS2. By the fifth time you booted that sucker up, you weren't paying attention to it. Remeber the simple PlayStation One startup? It was simple, to the point, and not too flashy. Everything now has to look like a music video. The XMB interface looks a lot more lackluster than expected, and looks miles behind the Xbox 360 dashboard. Although we're willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it might be not be complete.

Rest assured that if a unit showed up at the Joystiq offices, we'd have smiles glued to our faces as well; though we may not require plastic surgery to remove 'em. Some of those PSM3 staffers look like poster boys for good dental hygiene.

[Update: added YouTube vids of PS1 & PS2 startups, minor grammar fixes]
[Update: added Google Video link]

Tags: Playstation 3, Playstation3, PS3, PSm3Mag, video

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

WUDDERSUP @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:58PM

I think it's impossible for Joystiq to be unbiased too.

dolemite @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:01PM

I liked the minimalist screen, I think the 360's has a little to much going on. This is all a matter of opinion though, and to each his own.

JJ @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:00PM

Interface looks alright to me. I guess Sony devs are firm believers in K.I.S.S
*shrug*
Plus if it looked like the 360 dashboard sony would probably never hear the end of it. Looks like the desktop for a Mac or something though.

Well as long as it gets the job done, i could care less how its dashboard/interface is set up as long as its sleek and easy to use i'm happy. (and as long as i can change the background like on the 360... which i do daily)

FOX @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:08PM

I agree. The 360 dashboard does look much better.

dolemite @ Oct 3rd 2006 1:34PM

being able to load a pic as your background would be cool

jharr @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:04PM

Ironically, they sound European. I guess this video is all that Sony is giving it's European fans come launch time.

iceatcs @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:13PM

I gotta to agree with #1.

You joystiq motherfucker!

Ah, now I'm felt better

Tim @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:09PM

"The XMB interface is a lot more lackluster than expected, and looks miles behind the Xbox 360 dashboard."

Oh shut up. The XMB interface isn't supposed to have crap loads of stuff everywhere like the 360 has. It's meant to be clean, simple, and easy to use. I really can't stand how Joystiq tries to be so anti-PS3 even when it's good news/info.

Me @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:13PM

Joystiq is mostly bias also !! I didn't think a blog that is mostly bias could actually talk about somebody else being bias !!??? WTF

darryl @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:10PM

I've been waiting for this story to show up on Joystiq. I was curious to see how they were going to put a negative spin on it.

It's shiny and shows finger prints.

Well, I guess it's a good thing then that my hands would never be all over it considering its not a portable gaming device.

You couldn't say a single good thing about this?

Not like I needed any additional evidence, but man Joystiq, you guys are ... nevermind... I'll go sit in the corner.

Happy to see the PS3 as real hardware. Very happy to know it's quiet. Excellent loading times, great interface, and yes, it's shiny... imagine that.

JJ @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:12PM

Well yeah the 360 Dash DOES have a lot going on, but i guess the fact that its been out for almost a year people are used to it, just like they'll get used to the minimalist screen of the PS3.

Now i wonder, can you make your own icons? That would be neat, a bit of personalization that you couldnt do on the 360 dash. Or your own folders for stuff? similar to a PC... since after all the PS3 is part super computer right? =)

Spilt_Milk @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:17PM

Excellent loading times? Are you high darryl?

psp loading time != excellent loading times unless you happen to be from 1980.

Erec @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:18PM

It took 16 seconds for the disc to load. I have no idea how that compares to other systems, but that seems pretty long.

Me @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:15PM

I have one more thing to say btw....The 360 dashboard is laggy, slow, and sometimes causes the system to freeze up. I bet the PS3 menu doesn't do any of that shit !!!

Z-247 @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:15PM

A minute and a half of video...no game loaded....mostly blank screen...yeah, who wouldn't smile at that?

xbox360dsPSP @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:37PM

The interface and experience look just like my PSP.

Cage @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:17PM

Is it that hard to get the system up and going? Does it really take that long to load the game? I thought we would see more...but...again...unimpressed.

$600 to say..."Wow! Look at the horrible interface!"

On a side note: The PSKids have come out to play. Are there any intelligent Sony fans to explain the slow load?

Miniboss @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:18PM

"Excellent loading times"

Yeah, you obviously didn't watch the same video I just watched.

Spilt_Milk @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:18PM

I have never experience a laggy or slow 360 dashboard and it has never froze a single time in the last year while at the dashboard.

You are either lying or you keep your 360 under the tv wrapped in a towel in your subtropical non-airconditioned trailer.

reguy @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:19PM

man i dont get it, say you like the ps3 and there was this one website that you think is always saying bad things about your console of choice, why would you keep coming to it?
on top of always coming to that website you say things like omg yer so biased!!! so all of a sudden you're surprised that the website you think is biased goes ahead and posts negative(or so you think) articles about (console here)

man fanboy logic is awesome and by awesome i mean really pathetic

Sarmstrong @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:38PM

That took forever to load. What the hell is that about. They ran out of video by the time it finally loaded up.

Infil @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:21PM

The interface looks really simple. That may not be a bad thing. We'll have to see how easy it is to use when people start buying them.

And darryl, the PS3 could indeed be quiet, but I have no idea how you can tell from this video. You can't hear much other than the loud voices of the editors.

I'm surprised they didn't do more with the interface than just immediately start the game. Maybe it's not finished or something.

drsilverworm @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:24PM

@ 11: PS3 menu is not laggy or slow? Let's see.. it looks identical to the PSP menu, and both my PSPs are bricked. They turn on, but all I get is black. They suck to much for me to make any effort to replace them, all I ever did on that machine was browse the internet. I couldn't be happier with the 360 interface. I play more XBLA then anything else, I love the whole marketplace aspect. PS3 will not survive without something similar, and they can't successfully replicate it with this simple of a menu.

darryl @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:25PM

"Excellent loading times? Are you high darryl?"

If your including the time they spent playing with XMB, then you're the one that needs another hit off the pipe. Once the game was selected, the main title screen is up within 30 seconds. If that's not fast enough for you, then there is no pleasing you.

"Yeah, you obviously didn't watch the same video I just watched."

Obviously I did considering there is only one available to watch. If what was shown is considered to be a long loading time in your opinion, then you may have to see a doctor about your impatience - can't be normal or healthy.

"Rest assured that if a unit showed up at the Joystiq offices, we'd have smiles glued to our faces as well; "

I predict: No PS3 for you! (like you really care anyway)

Negativecool @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:27PM

The point of a minimalist screen is so you can see your customized backround folks. Like desktop items on your pc monitor. I'm glad I can gaze upon my own pics while going through their icons, and I'm glad their icons don't get in the way of my viewing pleasure...that is until I pop a BD movie or game in it or something.

Happy @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:27PM

Wow, they sacrificed alot on the interface just to make it look stylish. Everything in little rows under a little icon..

Xboxies @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:30PM

Shit, it seems much better than my dashboard.

Mine took bit a while to loading up but hey it is truth...

Look like I will drop Wii for PS3

Spilt_Milk @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:31PM

There is no way to get around the 2x blueray read speed.

That is 300k/sec which = long load times in games.

Anyway you paint it, Bucky, it's going to be turtle slow for any significant content loadout.

Steve2 @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:32PM

drsilverworm:
That's ridiculous. The same info as on XBLA can be expressed with this menu.

Spilt_Milk:
17 seconds load time in 1980? Are you kidding? Load time was nearly instant in 1980. They have gotten worse and worse over time. 360 is no exception and I doubt PS3 will be either.

I'll go boot up some 360 games tonight, but 17 seconds seems about the same as 360 load times to me. It's definitely a lot better than in GRAW where the entire game loads, then you pick single or multiplayer and it loads another whole program.

Infil:
The PS3 is quiet. Why do people keep denying it? The info is confirmed from several sources now. Deal with it.

Cage:
Get it right, it's $500. The $500 PS3 has the same or higher specs as the $400 version of the 360, so there's no reason to use the $600 version as a reference when comparing to other platforms.

I can't say the PS3 menu system blows me away. Not that I care much. I'll be playing games and BluRay movies on it most of the time anyway. Besides, Sony will make it display ads to you first thing when you boot it up like the 360 does I'm sure. It's about monetizing the customer, which Sony has to do at least as much as MS does, given that the online system on PS3 doesn't have a subscription fee.

I'm excited by the video in general. Can't wait to get one.

jharr @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:32PM

Xboxies You decided to go with PS3 over a minute and a half video showing it load? Strange.

B33 @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:32PM

Thanks Joystiq, for yet another old news topic and a biased report. The Xbox 360 interface isn't that more complex or fancy either. And why does it matter how the interface is?

daush @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:32PM

Love it.

i want the mine now!!

found play3: 3500$ (well. i need a 1080p LCD now.. my older lcd olny has 1080i)

RandomDouche @ Oct 2nd 2006 10:22PM

That video was complete bullcrap. The 360 dashboard is better. The PS3's "XMB" looks like a low-budget version of the PSP interface. It is CRAPTABULOUS!

darryl @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:34PM

"And darryl, the PS3 could indeed be quiet, but I have no idea how you can tell from this video. You can't hear much other than the loud voices of the editors."

If you read the write-up about it, the staff said it was:

"1) It's quiet like a sleeping baby. A barely audible hum. With the TV on you simply can't hear it at all."

...but ofcourse, they're lying! Right?

"Let's see.. it looks identical to the PSP menu, and both my PSPs are bricked."

Gee I wonder how that happened!? If you still have these that tells me that Sony won't replace them. Which means that you f**ked them up yourself. If not, then why not have them fixed and then sell them?

Next time you buy an expensive *portable* device, think about an extended warrany. Enjoy your bricks.

Bbnight3 @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:34PM

Umm, yeah. That is a long time to load up to the start screen of the game. Technology is supposed to make things faster. It didn't even look like there was anything on the screen telling you it's loading! What's the point of a pretty interface it the thing looks like it's turned off when you actually select on of the options?!?

B33 @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:34PM

16 seconds is about the time it takes for a 360 to load... And it's unfinished software. There is still some kinks to fix.

steve2 @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:36PM

Spilt_Milk: the transfer rate of a 2X BD (as in the PS3) is 9MB/sec. 1 "X" on a BD is 4.5MB/sec. 1 "X" is only 150KB/sec on a CD. On a DVD it's like 1.2MB/sec or something.

The 360 is a 12X CAV DVD drive, so it peaks at 16MB/sec. On the inner tracks, it is 7MB/sec or so. Transfer rate depends on where you are on the disk. The PS3 BD is a 2X CLV BD drive, so it is 9MB/sec anywhere.

So it's likely the transfer rates are close enough that it will be developer optimization that determines which games load faster on which platforms.

icemorebutts @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:38PM

At $600 you'd think I'd be a little more impressed... Wait who makes this? Sony? Oh ok then, nevermind.

darryl @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:40PM

"That is 300k/sec which = long load times in games."

Try 72 Mbits/s which is 9 MB/s. At least but some effort into your FUD, you look like an ass.

Negativecool @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:42PM

drsilverworm-

For the amount of money you spent to brick the PSP's (which are easily converted to coasters) you could have bricked your PS3(easily converted into a table).

brock2621@cs.com @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:43PM

Go to the link:

"The start up is amazingly fast. And game load times were faster than expected. In fact, PS3 does both at about the same speed of PSP. ie, Long load times due to the massive Blu-ray disc? Nope. Simply not an issue."

Spilt_Milk @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:42PM

Which is still twice as slow as the 360's transfer rates which is 16 MB/s.

Einhanderkiller @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:45PM

"At $600 you'd think I'd be a little more impressed... Wait who makes this? Sony? Oh ok then, nevermind."

I'm guessing you're the kind of guy that pays $2,000+ for a Mac for the pretty interface.

Chucky's Cat @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:47PM

It looks like a biggie sized version of the PSP dashboard.

Darth Pixel @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:47PM

A lot of people are going to look stupid when PS3 mops the floor with the other 2 consoles.

The Xbox 360 interface is not as good, since blades only slide left and right. The PS3 interface implements full up/down, left/right navigation, which offers more options, while remaining intuitive and simple to use.

Frosty22 @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:48PM

Anyone ever pose the question as to why major gaming sites are bias? It is not as if they wake up one morning, flip a coin, and decide which system they want to throw their support behind. All the crappy stunts that Sony has done recently would definately put a sour taste in my mouth.

Now I'm not saying their bias should be taken as a reason for everyone to fold their support for the PS3. But just remember they have their opinions for a reason.

Xboxies @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:48PM

"27. Xboxies You decided to go with PS3 over a minute and a half video showing it load? Strange."

Sorry but it is truth. Oh hey, least I got 360.
Cos of am addict to RPG. 360 don't really have much I want. But hey it is another truth as well :P

Will get wii in other time, maybe next year since it is not enough value to me. $250 seem to high for this technology.