Sony PlayStation 3: the Ars Technica review

[Meshuggah]

Nice well rounded article that shows a lot of the pro's and a lot of the con's of this new system.

http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/ps3.ars/1

This is the entire seventh page, quoted, so if you want to not read it, click the link first

Conclusion

I think my main problem with the PS3 is that philosophically, it's a confused system. It doesn't really know what it wants to do. The 360 wants to be a social system; it wants to get you online, talking to people, playing these fun little minigames, and going for the high score and bragging rights. It wants to bring you together and make you remember what you love about gaming.

The Wii wants to get you off the couch, for you to be physical and to be part of this game world. Wii wants you to connect and to get your friends and family involved even if they don't like games. The Xbox 360 and Wii are systems that know what they want to do.

The PS3 doesn't have any grand ideas; Sony wanted something high-tech, so they started from scratch with the processor and GPU, but what does it get them? Very little so far. The controller is a mash-up of ideas from their old systems, the 360's triggers, and the Wii's motion-sensing capabilities, but once it has that tech it doesn't really know what to do with it. The Blu-ray adds cost, but adds very little to the gaming experience for the user. It's great as a media player, but for those of us who love games first and foremost, we have to look at it skeptically. The PS3 is a system with no core message, and that is what keeps it from being elegant. Will it do great things in the future? I hope so, the possibility and potential are certainly there. For now, it's power looking for a mission statement.

One significant issue with the PS3 is a lack of proper scaling. We know that if your HDTV can't display 720p, you will get knocked down to 480p in some games, which is a shame. The other problem shows itself in Blu-ray movies, with the system having trouble scaling things down from 1080p if your set doesn't support that resolution. In some instances, this results in a grainy image. Hopefully this can be addressed via a software update.

Sony wants to push new formats; we want to play great games and have a good time doing it. We want every bit of that experience, from the menus to the loading times, to help us get into that fantasy world and keep us there. Sadly, with all the new technology, Sony appears to have neglected the overall gaming experience to a degree.

Overall, I am impressed with the system's potential. The graphics power is there and once developers have had the time to tap into it, things should change a bit. In fact, I think we'll see great things from the second generation of games from the PS3. Combine that with a few software upgrades, better HD scaling, and a major overhaul of the online system and you can go ahead and add two points to the current score, three if Sony really delivers with the udpates. The hardware is solid, and the games are only going to get better, but the software implementation leaves a lot to be desired; the score reflects the PlayStation 3 as it exists now.

The Good:

* The hardware looks great, and runs nearly silently and very cool

* Wireless controller is light and feels great

* Great-looking Blu-ray movie playback

* Price is low for a Bluy-ray player

* A lot of multimedia options

* Solid backwards compatibility

The Bad:

* Terrible online store

* Slow, unituitive browser

* No background downloading

* Games continue to play even if you eject the disc; you have to manually restart the UI via the controller

* Messy UI

* HD scaler doesn't work right

* Price is high for a video game console

* No rumble, controller loses sync with system sometimes; little game support for motion-sensing features

* Uninspired launch lineup

The Ugly:

* Knowing that no one is actually playing this thing, every system is waiting in a box somewhere for the eBay profit

[magik]

* No rumble, controller loses sync with system sometimes

:blink: To me, that's unacceptable.

It's funny, Bluetooth isn't all it's cracked up to be and this is a case in point. You hear the uneducated fanboys (no one on this forum I mean) be all like "IT HAS TEH BLUETOOTH!!" :rofl:

[Ironman273]

Wow, what a depressing review :( It seems like Sony royally screwed the pooch with this one. It'll be interesting to see a) whether they wise up and patch it up quick, or b) they do little or nothing, in which case I wonder how long the name will carry it it.

[1759]

The Wii uses BT as well, wonder if it has the same connection problems.

The PS3 almost sounds like the PSP on a bigger, grander scale - at first a media centric device, with a proprietary movie format, games that really don't get online, and a lot of untapped potential; not sure what the hell Sony is thinking anymore.

Many of the problems could be patched with firmware updates, but if they didn't rush it to market, they would be better off in the long run.

[Spartan_X]

:blink: To me, that's unacceptable.

It's funny, Bluetooth isn't all it's cracked up to be and this is a case in point. You hear the uneducated fanboys (no one on this forum I mean) be all like "IT HAS TEH BLUETOOTH!!" :rofl:

oh no's "teh obviously" :laugh: :rofl: :p

[ToneKnee]

Sony have lost focus to what the playstation series is.

[Huleboeren]

I love how you guys bash something thats trying to improve..

and neoflux, what is it? tell me please

[Windam]

I love how you guys bash something thats trying to improve..

and neoflux, what is it? tell me please

you can't just give a final review just like that. It's like you said things need time to prosper just like a baby in a womb.

[jerzdawg]

you can't just give a final review just like that. It's like you said things need time to prosper just like a baby in a womb.

I'll agree if its to add features/tweak UI.... but it shouldnt need time to fix the problem with controller losing sync with system...

[giga Veteran]

Wow, some really large problems there. Games continue to play after ejecting? Losing controlling sync? HD scaler mayhem?

Hopefully these'll be fixed in due time.

[jordanspringer]

i agree totally that the PS3 doesnt "know what it wants to be". The 360 is social and the Wii is new way to play your games while the PS3 really doesnt nail down to one thing. It is confused.

[TheNay]

Slow, unituitive browser and No background downloading; I agree is true and sucks, I hope they fix that with an update. Thats one thing I like about the 360 is that you can download in the background and play your game.

HD scaler doesn't work right; well thats true as well all know, but Sony has made a remark that they are working on this issue with an update. Games continue to play even if you eject the disc, you have to manually restart the UI via the controller this was the same deal with ps2, didn't affect me really, but I can see its annoying for some.

Price is high for a video game console; Well it has a blu-ray player, thats why it's expensive, go buy the 360 (with 20gb hdd) and the hd-dvd add-on it'll end up being the same price as the 60GB PS3. You pay for what you want. Sony is clearly saying jump on the hi-def movie experience with us, its all-in-one. Sadly, its pointless for users who don't have a hdtv, and expensive in that sense.

I do like the ps3 more than any other console, however I think it isn't ready for launch and they pushed it out the door to make PR happy. Sounds like many other things when it got released... hmmm.. companies will never learn.

[myNando]

What's so bad about the game continuing to play after ejecting? LOL! It's like: "Hey, ma! Look, no disc!"

Does the game get partially stored in the hard disk or something and so the PS3 plays off of it? I dunno jack squat!

<~ clueless

[TheNay]

What's so bad about the game continuing to play after ejecting? LOL! It's like: "Hey, ma! Look, no disc!"

Does the game get partially stored in the hard disk or something and so the PS3 plays off of it? I dunno jack squat!

<~ clueless

Well I know with the ps2, it stayed in the memory. With the ps3 it probably stays in the hdd until reset.

[Sheppard]

Price is high for a video game console; Well it has a blu-ray player, thats why it's expensive, go buy the 360 (with 20gb hdd) and the hd-dvd add-on it'll end up being the same price as the 60GB PS3. You pay for what you want. Sony is clearly saying jump on the hi-def movie experience with us, its all-in-one. Sadly, its pointless for users who don't have a hdtv, and expensive in that sense.

Getting tired of people using that excuse, but but ours has blu-ray........... What if we dont want goddamn hidef movie playback, what if we want a games console for, oh i dont know, PLAYING GAMES, what a novell idea im sure no one has thought of it before.

The point is we get choice, if sometime down the line i want that, i can buy the addon, for the people that dont need it get a cheap console.

[TINman]

One significant issue with the PS3 is a lack of proper scaling. We know that if your HDTV can't display 720p, you will get knocked down to 480p in some games, which is a shame. The other problem shows itself in Blu-ray movies, with the system having trouble scaling things down from 1080p if your set doesn't support that resolution. In some instances, this results in a grainy image. Hopefully this can be addressed via a software update.

Now hold on!!! If your HDTV does not support 720p, I would rather have it knock down to 480p... 1080i interlaces the 1920x1080 resolution onto your largest supported resolution of your HDTV. If you don't support 720p, and you try interlacing 1080i, wouldn't you technically loose more than half of your picture, ending up blurry and non-readable?

If I'm wrong..., please let me know. :blink:

[Huleboeren]

Yeah, I dont get why its bad that it plays after you eject a the disc - that just means you can play on one game with two consoles and one disc (Until it has to load something :p)

I never just eject the games out of my X360 when i have to play another - i use the controller to exit to the dashboard, THEN i eject the disc.

The X360 did not have 'background downloading' when it was released - and not all games support background-downloading!

[TheNay]

Getting tired of people using that excuse, but but ours has blu-ray........... What if we dont want goddamn hidef movie playback, what if we want a games console for, oh i dont know, PLAYING GAMES, what a novell idea im sure no one has thought of it before.

The point is we get choice, if sometime down the line i want that, i can buy the addon, for the people that dont need it get a cheap console.

If your bashing my post, I did mentioned its a sad thing Sony did to consumers.

"Sadly, its pointless for users who don't have a hdtv, and expensive in that sense."

I'm tired of people complaining about whose consoles are better than X. Equally all consoles have pros and cons. Each console has its own idea behind it, and in my view Sony's idea is HD out-of-the-box (but with no HD cable, funny huh?). If your willing to jump on the bandwagon go for it, if not go with the Wii or Xbox 360

[Minchino]

First of all lol at anyone complaining about the game continuing to play when the disk is ejected. It's a feature since PS2 you nuggets. I would most certainly not call it a 'major problem' Giga. :laugh:

The Good:

...

* Solid backwards compatibility

Considering that this is a pretty major failure on the part of the PS3 that was supposed to bring 100% support for PS1 & 2 games I'm not sure what the hell the reviewer has been doing. Too busy ejecting the disk with the game running that reviewing the damn system.

Most of the other problems can be updated with a firmware updated and hopefully will be done so. There seem to have been a lot of conflicting reviews since its release, some saying the UI is better than the 360's and the other messy. Not a particuarly good article IMO.

[Huleboeren]

90% of the thousands of PS games are supported....thats alot better than the 20% xbox that are supported on the X360

Sheppard - Choice:

PS3:

Choose your own headset

Choose your own harddrive

Choose your own HDMI cables

Choose your own usb-charging cables

Choose your own power-supply cable

...

whereas the X360 locks you in all those areas...dont give me that crap about PS3 not giving you a choice..

[Inplode]

* Solid backwards compatibility

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Morphie]

90% of the thousands of PS games are supported....thats alot better than the 20% xbox that are supported on the X360

Sheppard - Choice:

PS3:

Choose your own headset

Choose your own harddrive

Choose your own HDMI cables

Choose your own usb-charging cables

Choose your own power-supply cable

...

whereas the X360 locks you in all those areas...dont give me that crap about PS3 not giving you a choice..

Choose your own overpriced adventure.

XBox gives you choices in areas where you'd want to have them. Not shipping with composite cables isn't a "choice" it's a horrible idea. I'm ****ed at the Wii for giving me normal video cables too and not having any available at launch but at least they aren't touting "hi-def" and then making you pay more for it.

All the things you listed should come with the system. XBox leaves out the HD-DVD drive b/c if you want it, you buy it, if you don't you save TONS of money not having it bundled in. It's as simple as that.

[Huleboeren]

Composite or Component?

If it doesnt ship with COMPOSITE cables, then its just plain stupid - I agree..

I get why they dont ship with HDMI cables - they dont come cheap

I solution like x360 did with composite/component would be nice.

The DVD would never have become such a succes as it is today if xbox/PS2 didnt force it on you..

Many use their consoles to play DVDs

[Joel]

The DVD would never have become such a succes as it is today if xbox/PS2 didnt force it on you..

Many use their consoles to play DVDs

Huh? The Xbox and PS2 were a wet dream in someone's pants when DVD took off. Unless you're going to tell me that the 2 of them are almost 9 years old...?

[Huleboeren]

huh?

What im saying is; ps2/xbox made DVDs more mainstream..