The PS3 in 23 simple facts
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Oct 24th 2006 at 9:25AM }
Here's a collection of useful (and useless) PlayStation 3 facts compiled by GamePro -- and complimented by our parenthetical remarks:
- Touch-sensitive power and eject buttons are a nice touch - literally (but we prefer handling said activities from the couch, with a remote or controller)
- 15,000 kiosks across the nation by the end of November (you might not be able to score a unit until 2007, but at least your local retailer will have one)
- The PS3 is not just a cheap Blu-ray player (actually, it's relatively inexpensive)
- Not all games will be 1080p (now that's an understatement!)
- The Sixaxis controller doesn't feel too light (we disagree)
- Speaking of which, the Sixaxis motion sensing takes some getting used to. (uh-huh)
- The PSP will connect via Wi-Fi to the PS3's hard drive (a good reason not to sell your PSP)
- The Sixaxis gets roughly 30 hours of battery life (if true, it blows Microsoft's Xbox 360 rechargeable -- but easily replaced -- battery away)
- There's no "lag" on the wireless Sixaxis controller, either (and there shouldn't be!)
- The Sixaxis's wireless range tops out at over 65 feet (20 meters) (how far away do you sit from the TV?)
- A new controller will set you back 50 beans (and there's no first-party wired alternative)
- Your PlayStation 2 save game files can be transferred to the PS3 (thank goodness! Transferring Xbox saves to 360 is tedious and requires purchasing third-party apps/equipment)
- The Blu-ray disc drive is slot loading, and it works like a dream (yeah, but does it have a paperclip-hole fail-safe?)
- One LED on the PS3 seems dedicated to tracking hard drive activity (so ... ?)
- The first 500,000 PS3s will be packaged with a free Blu-ray feature film (but it's Ferrel's "Talladega Nights")
- There's still a hard "power-off" switch on the back of the system, just like the PS2 (annoying)
- The PS3 is very, very shiny (so keep your greasy paws off it)
- As a whole, the PS3 itself looks incredibly sexy (see previous)
- The PS3 is super quiet (we hope -- 'cause the 360 is damned loud!)
- You can plug in a USB keyboard and surf the 'Net (and a mouse too?)
- The power supply is integrated directly into the system (in other words, there's no brick to trip over)
- Re-download all your merch to someone else's PS3 (or better, download a friend's merch on to your PS3)
- First-party games are priced at $59.99 (so are some of the 360's -- *sigh*)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
chad @ Oct 24th 2006 9:31AM
"The Sixaxis's wireless range tops out at over 65 feet (20 meters)"
How is this possible since bluetooth only goes 30 feet?
Dan S. @ Oct 24th 2006 9:34AM
Uhm...just on that last one, first-party Microsoft games (aside from, it would seem, sure-fire blockbusters), are supposed to retail for $49.99, unless something has changed since launch.
elnico @ Oct 24th 2006 9:38AM
man do i want one. too bad my rent, bills, girlfriend, and food get in the way.
C. Grant @ Oct 24th 2006 9:39AM
Dan S.--good call, we've updated that detail.
Doc @ Oct 24th 2006 9:47AM
30 hours of batt. life compared to the 360 which i get about 25 hrs. on....I'll take changing batt's over switching controllers or pluggin in to recharge while playing. Am glad to see that it's quiet though..does anyone know if they copied MS and let you turn it on and off from the controller??
Journal Fan @ Oct 24th 2006 9:47AM
Uh, of course the Sixaxis battery life is longer than a 360 controller. The 360 controller has the rumble functionality it's got to power, the Sixaxis doesn't. Longer battery life is less of a design feature for the Sixaxis, and more of a side effect from the SixAxis having so much less to power than it ought to.
Pulse @ Oct 24th 2006 9:59AM
This is enough incentive for me to buy a PS3 although unless I try half of that stuff myself, theres no proof of it yet, however this list isnt even half of the reason I want a PS3, what about backwards compatibility for one?
Yay, i'm excite for PS3, I can't wait to get one, its sux that they make it so shiney, I have a rubber cover for my PSP, now I'll neeed one for my PS3, lol. Wouldn't want any scratches on its nice shiney exterior would I, I hope it comes with a cleaning cloth like PSP, I'll be polishing it all the time, I hate dusty fingerprint covered stuff :P
Blizz419 @ Oct 24th 2006 9:51AM
how come i always hear about the 360 being loud, mine is silent, i mean one of my friends 360's is kinda noisy, but my other 2 friends systems are silent like mine, so i dont see how its the norm for the 360 to be loud, sounds more like a few bad seeds released back in 2005, luckily for me i learned you never ever buy a system at launch unless its from nintendo.
Doc @ Oct 24th 2006 9:54AM
yeah that is true "journal fan" I was expecting the battery life to be double that..since like you point out it doesnt' have to power any rumble in the controller seems like a weak batt or just really tiny..BTW I love rumble too bad sony screwed themselfs on that side of things
nootau @ Oct 24th 2006 9:55AM
Bluetooth can go up to 100 meters depending on the version and power used.
> @ Oct 24th 2006 9:59AM
No corded controller?
Plug in the USB cable..tada, its now wired.
Actually, the controller communications is completely wireless; so, when you plug it in via USB, all its doing is supplying power to the controller which still communicates via Bluetooth. So, you could plug the controller into an AC/USB adapter and still play.
Scott Krueger @ Oct 24th 2006 10:00AM
My 360 is Really...
Whats that? I can't hear you, My 360 is on!
the worm @ Oct 24th 2006 10:08AM
my 360 is loud, but only when the disc drive is spinning ie: gaming. when in dashboard its whisper quiet..
:D
N00b @ Oct 24th 2006 10:10AM
wow... I can see why people say joystiq is anti-sony...
computer gamer @ Oct 24th 2006 10:25AM
1. Concerning the Xbox noise and #7 comments. The noiser ones are actually the later ones with the hitachi drives. The tosh/sammy drives are a bit quieter. And the noise in question comes mostly from the DVD drive when spinning a game, the HD and the FANS in the console are fine, it's quiet when you need it to be and when you are playing a game (and disc is spinning) the game sound masks it anyway. ONly problem is at night when I play on headphones and the girlfriend is trying to sleep, it can get a bit "rattly". And as I've posted so much pro 360 stuff today and taken swipes at the PS3 I will say that if the PS3 is quiet then it's a good thing and definitely one up on the 360. Having said that the "Noise" issue is the ONLY issue I have with the otherwise perfect 360.
2.Battery talk - good that it lasts that long but it's nearly that long for my 360 controller and think about it - it doesn't matter. ANything over x amount of hours is fine. Thing is I can just swap in my always trickle charging spare batteries in seconds and im good for another 20+ hours on the 360 WITHOUT having to plug it in or (eventually) have to worry about the batter memory causing problems (as in the PS3 controllers).
3. It's "shiny" and it's "sexy"... no disputing that, it does look better in some ways than the 360. But as was said, youd better not touch it cos shiny doesn't like fingers - it turns into "tacky" then.
They also missed known facts:
. The GPU only has 256mb ram
. The Controller has no rumble
. The price is prohibitive
. The blu-Ray is slow loading (exactly the kind of drive you do NOT want in a gaming machine; talk about frustrating)
. The controller has flawed trigger placement
. The console may be worth buying in a year when the price drops and the games are out to prove if it's worth it or not (same as what I did with the 360).
and the most important fact:
. The console is not an object of unsurpassed power, it compares averagely with it's immediate rival and is underpowered in some areas (GPU, SHADERS, RAM) and overpowere in others (CPU,BLU RAY) this creates a bottle necked/lop side/pig of a machine to develop for.
. The console is definitely at least 50% corporate BS and is acting as a clever way to up blu-ray penetration (and cell). This is at the cost of the the most fundamental of things that are oriented to gamers, controller compromises, online compromises, gpu compromises, price compromises and even stock compromises.
.Even though the above 2 "facts" are true, anyone who has been having anxiety attacks about when they can get their hands on a PS3 will be in serious denial mode right now and will just fling FUD and bravado back atcha backed up by the Sony hype machine they are helping ot perpetuate (unwittingly and naively).
Thank you for reading :)
Regula Oblique @ Oct 24th 2006 10:13AM
My 360 is loud whether its playing a movie game or just on. actually its louder than my pc, kinda annoying...
Ben @ Oct 24th 2006 12:16PM
"The Sixaxis gets roughly 30 hours of battery life (if true, it blows Microsoft's Xbox 360 rechargeable -- but easily replaced -- battery away)"
Blows it away??? Are you on CRACK?? You've obviously been ignorant of any objective tests. Regardless, Microsoft says their battery life is 30 hours, just as Sony says their battery life is 30 hours. Since we all know companies inflate numbers (Rule #1 of public relations) we can realistically project a battery life of about 20-25 hours. The 360 lives up to this. Explain to me just how Sony's over hyped pseudo-controller can obtain a "blow-away" status?? That's what I thought.
ConstyXIV @ Oct 24th 2006 10:15AM
"Your PlayStation 2 save game files can be transferred to the PS3"
As long as those games aren't DDR, Guitar Hero, Time Crisis, or any other game that requires a non-standard controller.
Chalk one up on the Wii for full out-of-box backwards compatibility
Grok4Spock @ Oct 24th 2006 10:18AM
"Your PlayStation 2 save game files can be transferred to the PS3 (thank goodness! Transferring Xbox saves to 360 is tedious and requires purchasing third-party apps/equipment)"
While that's all and good, what's not mentioned is you have to buy a $15 First Party accessory that doesn't do anything but transfer your game save to the HDD. After that, then what do you do with it? Unless someone can tell me the other purposes for this thing, it'll become a $15 paperweight after you use it the first and only time...
> @ Oct 24th 2006 10:20AM
"Chalk one up on the Wii for full out-of-box backwards compatibility"
Really? So, i can pull out my Power Glove and play Super Glove Ball on VC? What about ROB or SuperScope... are those non-standard controller compatible with VC? I want my Mole Patrol.
Blizz419 @ Oct 24th 2006 10:21AM
my 360 doesnt make any noticable sounds even when playing game, although one of my friends 360 scared the shit outta me when one of my games was in his sytem i heard this loud as sound and got scraed and opened tray to check my disc for damage it was fine, i also got my 360 like 2 weeks before the system shortage problem was taken care of i remember going nuts trying to find one and ended up ordering it from sears.com then 2 weeks later everyone had them, so my system wasnt one of the first shipments so some of the manufactering bugs had been taken care of, ive never once had a problem with my system.
Jason @ Oct 24th 2006 10:21AM
Joystiq could try to be fair for once, and stop attacking Sony every chance they get. They love to kiss M$ fanboys asses.
Moogle @ Oct 24th 2006 10:23AM
So, you like ejecting disks from the couch? Why?
I forsee 3rd party controller battery packs that snap on to the bottom of the controller and plug into the usb port. Hell, it should be easy enough for people to do on their own with 4 nimh AA's, a RadioShack battery holder, and half a usb cable.
matt @ Oct 24th 2006 10:26AM
So I am curious to know what do you fellow's think will be the first
recall/warranty issued out by Sony with the first few batches of the PS3?
You know its inevitable, I love Sony systems, but will never buy the first
year around because of all the faults they always have within the first
couple versions released. So, I go back to my original question, what do you
think the first broken PS3 will bring???
computer gamer @ Oct 24th 2006 10:27AM
1. Concerning the Xbox noise and #7 comments. The noiser
ones are
actually the later ones with the hitachi drives. The tosh/sammy
drives are a bit quieter. And the noise in question comes mostly from
the DVD drive when spinning a game, the HD and the FANS in the console
are fine, it's quiet when you need it to be and when you are playing a
game (and disc is spinning) the game sound masks it anyway. ONly
problem is at night when I play on headphones and the girlfriend is
trying to sleep, it can get a bit "rattly". And as I've posted so
much pro 360 stuff today and taken swipes at the PS3 I will say that
if the PS3 is quiet then it's a good thing and definitely one up on
the 360. Having said that the "Noise" issue is the ONLY issue I have
with the otherwise perfect 360.2.Battery talk - good that it
lasts that long but it's nearly that long for my 360 controller and
think about it - it doesn't matter. ANything over x amount of hours
is fine. Thing is I can just swap in my always trickle charging spare
batteries in seconds and im good for another 20+ hours on the 360
WITHOUT having to plug it in or (eventually) have to worry about the
batter memory causing problems (as in the PS3 controllers).3.
It's "shiny" and it's "sexy"... no disputing that, it does look better
in some ways than the 360. But as was said, youd better not touch it
cos shiny doesn't like fingers - it turns into "tacky"
then.They also missed known facts:. The GPU only
has 256mb ram. The Controller has no rumble. The price is
prohibitive. The blu-Ray is slow loading (exactly the kind of
drive you do NOT want in a gaming machine; talk about
frustrating). The controller has flawed trigger placement.
The console may be worth buying in a year when the price drops and
the games are out to prove if it's worth it or not (same as what I
did with the 360).and the most important fact:. The
console is not an object of unsurpassed power, it compares averagely
with it's immediate rival and is underpowered in some areas (GPU,
SHADERS, RAM) and overpowere in others (CPU,BLU RAY) this creates a
bottle necked/lop side/pig of a machine to develop for.. The
console is definitely at least 50% corporate BS and is acting as a
clever way to up blu-ray penetration (and cell). This is at the cost
of the the most fundamental of things that are oriented to gamers,
controller compromises, online compromises, gpu compromises, price
compromises and even stock compromises..Even though the above
2 "facts" are true, anyone who has been having anxiety attacks about
when they can get their hands on a PS3 will be in serious denial mode
right now and will just fling FUD and bravado back atcha backed up by
the Sony hype machine they are helping ot perpetuate (unwittingly and
naively).Thank you for reading :)
Pulse @ Oct 24th 2006 10:35AM
This exploding battery and replacing business is stupid :P
Some of you take a little bit of news and blow it up to massive news, Sony said it would replace controllers, but unless you play day in day out, it will last a couple of years, by then I doubt you will have 1 controller to use still, why is it that big of an issue?
Unless you're stupid, you would have more then one controller anyway to play two player or more. When one is getting replaced, use the other, its not essential that you have less the two controllers is it? Are you telling me that you are even too impatient to wait a week or less for your controller to be replaced, I'd rather recharge and play then constantly have to buy batteries, its already bad enough you need to buy several games to up your gamerscore, but you would like to also buy several batteries.
Don't be stupid, if Microsoft had said they were doing something similar instead of Sony, little or none of you would have complained. Just admit, recharge controllers are better :) And the best part is you dont even need a socket, you plug it to the usb, like the PSP does :) Stop moaning!
Most likely, as big an issue as some of you make it sound, the replacing controller issue will not really effect ppl as much as you say it would :)
Especially considering the average gamer has more then two controllers anyway, while the other is getting replaced, they'll just use the one they have left.
Oh, and as for vibration, theres word you can use your old controllers (PS2) with the PS3, so if some of you are really that desperate for a vibrator in your hands cos it gets you excited, you can plug the PS2 controller in using an adapter and vibrate as much as you like :)
Silver Gecko @ Oct 24th 2006 10:33AM
I'm sorry, but what was the point of that list again? Surely it wasn't worth repeating, except to make fun of it.
bobby @ Oct 24th 2006 10:35AM
this website is a nintendo fanboys wet dream. joystick hates the hell out of ps3 and 360 . who cares if you have to push a button on the system? get off your butts you fat , lazy bastards
Steven @ Oct 24th 2006 10:36AM
My surround sound is so freaking awesome that I could care less if the 360 was powered by jet turbines! lol
++good @ Oct 24th 2006 10:37AM
I have a question. We know that there will be a PS2 memory card reader for the PS3 (works via USB), so isn't also possible that there will be a USB adapter for PS2 controllers, dual shock, guitar hero, DDR, etc? They have them for computers right? And therefore allow us to play PS2 games or possibly PS3 games with rumble (those not needing tilt anyway)?
Just a thought. I'd be willing to try it out.
jSn @ Oct 24th 2006 10:40AM
awesome, weeks away from launch and Sony manages to get some good press. Our controllers have good battery life, our console is shiny and our system is quiet. Seriously, out of 23 "facts", you could boil them all down to three, becuase that's all that anyone will care about. Too bad their games look boring.
Firegirl @ Oct 24th 2006 10:50AM
Wait, let me turn off my 360 so I can concentrate. Ok, would have to agree that the 360 is soooo loud. And I can't tell you how many times I've tripped over that brick of a power supply. My dogs have even stumbled over it a few times. Sounds like the PS3 will have some nice features, but some pretty crappy ones as well.
QF @ Oct 24th 2006 10:52AM
Fairly easy to beat Xbox controller's battery life when you have no rumble.
The PS3 will allow the user to switch it on and off through the controller (by holding down the PS button), yes.
Willie @ Oct 24th 2006 10:52AM
I was an Xbox 360 owner for five months and sold it once I got reserve on the PS3. I will admit that I have always been a Sony fan. With that aside, who can honestly post on here and say they are completely 100% satisfied with any of the next-gen systems? I am not that all impressed with either system. Microsoft (once you buy the HD-DVD) and Sony are both too expensive!! Nintendo is too expensive for what you are getting; party games or what it seems they are trying to use as their selling point.
Things that I am tired about hearing or dissappointed about with next-gen systems:
1. I am tired of hearing all the excuses for Microsoft that choice is a good thing for the HD-DVD format; sometimes choice is bad when starting a new format(LOL Sony for your many failures...UMD). This is where I will give my one propt to Sony; even though their track record is horrible. By "forcing Blue-Ray" into their system, there will be at least 500,000 Blue-Ray players in homes this November.
2. Tired of hearing about Sony's lackluster launch line-up; Microsoft is still lacking....and where is Nintendo's?
3. Price of games versus quality of games. I am talking about poor framerates...EA leads the pack in this department. What happnened to EA?
4. Sony's arrogance makes you want to *$%!# slap them!
There are a few more but don't have time to type them. Overall, just very disappointed thus far with next-gen!
JodyAnthony @ Oct 24th 2006 11:00AM
The 360 may be loud, but it sure doesnt beat the Dreamcast.
Try playing that at night with the sound on the tv down trying not to wake up your sleeping girlfriend
WCHRRRRRK KRRRRRRRRRRRRRK
Also, the ps3 design is fine, but I want buttons that you actually press in, not the touch-sensitive things. Sorry, thats REALLY nitpicky I know, but it's annoying. Could of saved themselves a couple of dollars manufacturing if they just used regular buttons. I swear, ever since the ipod touchwheel or whatever its called, everyone has to have the touch-sensitive buttons. Give me real buttons with a click any day.
Sulu @ Oct 24th 2006 11:01AM
''Sixaxis feels very light, that sucks''
Orginal PSX gamepad without dualshock feel even lighter, so what?
Chad @ Oct 24th 2006 11:12AM
you can transfer old xbox saves to the new one? everything i've seen says no, different file formats, etc.
Where is this kit you speak of?
Haunted One @ Oct 24th 2006 11:07AM
There's only one simple fact I need to know: 599 euros
computer gamer @ Oct 24th 2006 11:27AM
Actually "touch sensitive" stuff was around way before the ipod (which is a different kind and for a reason other than on/off). It was highly prevelent in the early 80's and was seen for a few years as "desirably futuristic", then became so passe' (and daft; and easy to wear out) and was so frowned on by the taste police that everyone stopped using it...
... except for Sony who are a law unto themselves.
Fatality4u @ Oct 24th 2006 11:31AM
I already knew most of those things, but I didn't know about the touch sensitive power button, that is kinda cool.
matthew @ Oct 24th 2006 11:30AM
yes, i need to know how to transfer my original xbox saves to my 360 as well! please, do tell!
Judd @ Oct 24th 2006 11:43AM
My mom always sends me e-mails with links to video game news because she's trying to connect with me, even though I usually know about the news weeks beforehand. In this case she sent me this article, and even though it didn't present anything knew, I seriously considered sending it in. The weird thing though is this headline says "The PS3 in 23 Simple Facts", while the link clearly says "24 things you need to know." One of you guys were wrong, so I counted, and then I checked the link, then I checked the direct article from Gamepro.com. They were wrong! How are you going to write an article with a list and not count it right? Well anyway, good counting 'Stiq!
computer gamer @ Oct 24th 2006 11:52AM
well Sony succeeded in closing down Lik-Sang because of imports which shows you how behind the times they are. This is sad news for lovers of video games everywhere and especially importers.
Now tell me Sony have the gamers interests at heart you lapdogs?
Jojo @ Oct 24th 2006 11:55AM
I was just curious, if the PS3 is so quiet and there is no power prick, how is it going to keep cool. The 360 had a lot of heat issues, and I imagine the PS3 would generate a lot of heat too.
computer gamer @ Oct 24th 2006 11:55AM
FROM THE ARTICLE
----------------
Lik-Sang marketing manager Pascal Clarysse went on to blast Sony's position.
"Today is Sony Europe victory about PSP, tomorrow is Sony Europe’s ongoing pressure about PlayStation 3," he railed. "With this precedent set, next week could already be the stage for complaints from Sony America about the same thing, or from other console manufacturers about other consoles to other regions, or even from any publisher about any specific software title to any country they don’t see fit.
"Blame it on Sony. That's the latest dark spot in their shameful track record as gaming industry leader," he continued.
"The Empire finally 'won', few dominating retailers from the UK probably will rejoice the news, but everybody else in the gaming world lost something today... It’s the beginning of the end of the world as we know it."
Sony has yet to respond to requests for comment.
Mr BoomStick XL @ Oct 24th 2006 11:56AM
I'm still PISSED because of the whole cheap cable included debate. It is just me or did I get the same type of cables with my SUPER NINTENDO WAY BACK IN 1990?? WTF!!! Sony once again kicks their fans in the teeth and say's to pay up!!
Rich @ Oct 24th 2006 12:00PM
FYI you can turn the PS3 on and off with the controller... As for ejecting im not sure i understand the reason for that one cause it wont put in a new game for you automatically...
maximus @ Oct 24th 2006 12:27PM
"well Sony succeeded in closing down Lik-Sang because of imports which shows you how behind the times they are. This is sad news for lovers of video games everywhere and especially importers.
Now tell me Sony have the gamers interests at heart you lapdogs?"
Boo hoo, so what. Lik Sang now can't make a premium price on imports, big deal. It's not the end of the world, it's the end of some of their profit margin. If Sony release 100,000 PS3s in Japan then they have every right to ensure Japanese gamers get the opportunity to buy them. Anyone who really wants to import a PS3 or whatever still can if they've got the intelligence to look around.
GamerZero @ Oct 24th 2006 12:27PM
Give me a power-brick anyday over keeping it in
the box.Power-supply do blow over time,ask a
PC owner so being able to replace it is a boon instead of sending your console off to be fixed.
The console also stays smaller whilst keeping it cooler at the same time.Too many benefit I'm afraid.
For those that trip over their brick,your house must be
a tip,either that or your an idiot!
Mack Swift @ Oct 24th 2006 12:35PM
The Deluxe PS3 has WiFi b/g built in, while the Basic PS3 does not. If the PS3 SIXAXIS controller communicates via WiFi, how will they connect to the Basic PS3 with it's lack of WiFi?