CNN's Chris Morris: PS3 is not yet worth it
by Ross Miller 
{ Nov 16th 2006 at 6:40PM }
With all the talk of PS3 shortages, it might be refreshing to hear someone say that picking the console up for launch isn't worth it. CNN's resident gamer Chris Morris reviewed the PlayStation 3 and concluded that, while it "has the potential to be all the PS2 was and more," it just isn't worth it yet. Reasons for his decision include a lackluster launch lineup, a steep price (from the perspective of a game machine, not as a Blu-ray player), and its power is not realized without a 1080p-capable TV screen.In the long term, the PlayStation 3 could succeed in retaining Sony's dominance in the gaming field. But let's play devil's advocate for a minute: beyond bragging rights, how many of you are willing to shell out hundreds of dollars in order to play Resistance and Ridge Racer a few months before everyone else. Have those waiting in line lost that much interest in their current generation consoles?
For those bitter about not getting a PS3 tonight, consider this a mantra you can tell yourself for awhile. Morris suggests waiting until the console receives a $100-$200 price drop and some better games, but a drop that steep probably won't come until there's talk of a PlayStation 4.
See Also:
USA Today suggests waiting on next-gen
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joe SMith @ Nov 17th 2006 12:58PM
Or you could just pick up an Xbox 360 and a pile of games.
Leron @ Nov 16th 2006 6:45PM
Yes, 1st. Booyah
FSK405K @ Nov 16th 2006 6:51PM
Price drop? Before Nov 07? I'll believe it when I see it.
Kestrel @ Nov 16th 2006 6:51PM
omg cnn omg liberal bias!1
Pulse @ Nov 16th 2006 7:16PM
I'm waiting, I'm not that desperate, I have a love life, lol
I will buy no doubt, but not right now, too many other things to sort out.
zymman @ Nov 16th 2006 6:56PM
I was just at a Wal-Mart eariler and they got their PS3 up and running for play today. I was playing the demo of Motorstorm and just as I was about to round the final corner...it freezes!!! No Tokyo Game Show, no thousand people crowd, just me alone in front of a display case and the system freezes. That's sad. Sony quality continues to prove itself.
mr. bob @ Nov 16th 2006 6:59PM
haha.....ps3 loses and wii wins....xbox is cool to...
Ross @ Nov 16th 2006 7:02PM
If PS3 sales tank once the initial frenzy is over, I think you're more likely to see Sony bundling it with games or Blu Ray movies than you are to see a price drop in the next year.
I don't buy the argument that a good reason to buy the PS3 is because it is a cheap Blu Ray player. Stand alone Blu Ray players will drop in price long before the PS3 does. This argument only makes sense if you are the sort of person that would have been an early adopter for BluRay regardless of the PS3 launch.
Gimbal @ Nov 16th 2006 7:12PM
There is a poll on cnn.com titled: Is the $599 Playstation 3 overpriced?
Currently the results are 94% Yes out of almost 63,000 votes.
Whatever happened to the Joystiq poll about the Wii, 360, and PS3? When do we get the results of that one?
Walshicus @ Nov 16th 2006 7:19PM
Of course, the "power" isn't even visible on a 1080i screen for many games... ;D
visionep @ Nov 16th 2006 7:22PM
I think that the price drop will be coming right after Christmas, but the thing to keep in perspective is that the drop won't be coming from Sony, it will be coming from all of these people that have purchased PS3's for resale.
I'm guessing the average retail price right now is probably $1000, and by mid January it will be $599. There's $400 that you can save to purchase the games that will have finally come out.
I want one now, but if I can't get it for MSRP I'll be patient and wait. (Patiently playing my wii and 360 that is.. heheh)
Siraris @ Nov 16th 2006 7:22PM
Oh yea I'm way over paying to buy it today, when I could wait til this summer and pay... $600... to buy the same exact thing.
Last I checked, I don't need people from CNN or anywhere else to tell me how to spend my money.
Hank @ Nov 16th 2006 7:55PM
Well, while the guy has a point, the system is right at the begining of its sales. While Sony could of waited until next year to release the system, they had to release it now because of 360 and Wii.
While things look grim right now, given the fact that PS3 has a lot of return franchises to help with the push of their system, it would be a sad day to see Sony in a state of disarray.
Because with no competition, there will be no innovation.
zenprism @ Nov 16th 2006 7:53PM
It's the games that matter. No games that I care about, no sale, no dice. I'll have the Wii60 combo by this Sunday anyway.
Someday, when goats go airborne and airships are standard public transportation, I'll purchase a P$3.
PhantomVI @ Nov 16th 2006 8:02PM
I waited six months to get my 360 and I don't regret losing any time. I'll get a PS3 in 6 months as well, once they actually have some games I'm interested in playing.
DiahrreaMan @ Nov 16th 2006 8:08PM
In that sense, no one should buy overpriced consoles at launch. But then again, that only applies to the PS3, Wii and 360 are priced accordingly. Sony is just playing the "PS3 is an inexpensive Blu-Ray player" card, and I think it won't help much now, or in the long run, they should've sticked with DVD's. Then, you'd have an inexpensive "next-gen" console and people would swarm to get it and there'd be no production failures because there's no coveted blu diodes needed. But, oh well. Wii for me all the way.
STILL WAITING FOR GOLDEN SUN 3 DAMMIT!
Orangecoke @ Nov 16th 2006 9:51PM
For those buying it - what games are driving that decision? The only reason I can see to buy one right now is Resistance, and that's just not enough.
Brian @ Nov 17th 2006 1:31PM
I really REALLY wanted a PS3 and was going to bite the bullet on it even though it is overpriced. I'm an early adopter and have bought every system since the launch of the PS1. Evidently, my local EB took preorders on the PS3 some morning a while back. On a day that I had to work. So no PS3 for me, I'm not going to wait in line for one (I hear my local Target has had people camping out since Wednesday night and I'm not going to do that!)I'm actually GLAD I didn't preorder one after all. Resistance looks cool but the other title I really wanted, Untold Kingdoms, is getting panned pretty bad. And I'm not that crazy about Resistance either. The launch of the PS3 is really poor, very few exclusives. Like a lot of you, I will wait sometime next year, probably when there is a fair amount of exclusive AAA titles for it. SO I will get a PS3, just not one for a while.
Krog @ Nov 17th 2006 7:47PM
I'm glad to see that people are finally seeing through the hype and see the PS3 for what it really is: a glorified and more expensive Xbox 360 with Wii-motes. Bias aside... Sony is going to have to have to become much more innovative to deal with those that can see that the mother of invention is neccessity. Neccesity to be #1 in the console wars...
kcetyks @ Nov 16th 2006 10:45PM
well I see two different futures for ps3...
1. ps3 will succeed and become the true next gen on gaming and have just as much popularity as its predecessor ps2(if not more).
2. ps3 will fail in trying to impose new portable media with such a high price, and just like in the article says "its power is not realized without a 1080p-capable TV screen", I mean not every body has the money for a 1080p-capable TV, hell some people barely have for a $599.99 PS3 + a $59.99 game with out mentioning any extras.
bottom line ps3 has to truly show its "bragged" potential otherwise I see xbox 360 on top.
Frank @ Nov 16th 2006 10:45PM
There is really no reason to buy a PS3 right now. Has anyone seen their anemic launch line-up? The only real reason to pick up Sony's overpriced super computer is "Resistance: Fall of Man", but even that game is getting mediocre reviews as it is just a mish-mash of FPS favorites like Halo and Call of Duty. No one can really take advantage of the systems graphical capabilities unless they've already invested in a high end 1080P HD-TV set. And in all honesty, I've seen side by side video of Tony Hawk's Project 8 running on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 respectively. Sorry to say it Sony fans, Microsoft's graphics just look better. See? Not even the developers can take advantage of the PS3's graphical capabilities (Oh sweet irony!). Its common knowledge that the PS3's cell processor is difficult to work with, so it is going to be a while before developers get the hang of programming the new hardware. We probably won't see definitive PS3 titles until 2007. Please folks, keep your money in your wallets until Sony delivers a few killer apps and finally proves what it's new next-gen system can really do.
mocax @ Nov 17th 2006 2:55AM
Give PS3 a couple of years, sales should pick up after they drop their prices.
Right now, PS3 is for fanboys with deep pockets (or fanboys with deep pocketed relatives)
Hell, I got my PS2 just last year, practically free of charge, and I enjoy the humongous library of games.
I got my Xbox and Xbox360 FOC too, the catch is I've to renew my broadband contract (2 years ago for xbox, this year for xbox360).
But I bought the Gamecube, because Nintendo's too cheap to give it away :P
The ZeroCorpse @ Nov 17th 2006 4:32AM
After having played it, I can say it is a waste of money to buy one now. Maybe in two years (if it's still around) it will be worth $300 but right now, I wouldn't give you $10 for a PS3. Crappy launch lineup. Crappy support for 1080i. Crappy controller. Crappy freezes on demo units. Crappy graphics on first-gen titles. Crappy attitude from the majority of people who will be on the PS3 network (unless you like playing with gangsta wannabes, crazed otaku, and Sony zealots).
There's absolutely nothing compelling about the PS3, except maybe that it's nice and shiny. Let the profiteers and suckers have them. They aren't worth even 1/16 what my 360 is worth to me, right now.
If I want lame PC, I'll pick up a Dell.
The ZeroCorpse @ Nov 17th 2006 4:32AM
In the electronics business, one thing I learned is that 94% of the people who walk into the big box stores don't have any idea what the difference is between HDTV and SDTV. Most of them don't have HDTVs. Almost 99% have no idea what the difference is between 1080i and 1080p.
So Sony's really, really overreaching with this item. The only people who will get it are those who think it's somehow "better" because they were told it was, or the technophiles who get EVERY new gadget.
I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot cattle prod.