Blu-Ray won the Format War
With Blu-Ray having won the format war, the PS3 is looking more and more tempting for AV-philes. Not only is it one of the cheapest Blu-Ray players on the market today, it's completely futureproof with future Blu-Ray profiles. Bu-Ray profile 2.0 will be ready before summer and the PS3 will be updated to support it from day one.
With Blu-Ray having won the format war, the PS3 is looking more and more tempting for AV-philes. Not only is it one of the cheapest Blu-Ray players on the market today, it's completely futureproof with future Blu-Ray profiles. Bu-Ray profile 2.0 will be ready before summer and the PS3 will be updated to support it from day one.
High Quality PSN Games
The quality of games on the PlayStation Network speaks for itself. Sony seeks out the most innovative and experimental content for its downloadable game service such as flOw and Everyday Shooter. Their in-house studios also develop great downloadable titles with no size restrictions such as PixelJunk Monsters, Toy Home, PAIN, Loco Roco Cocoreccho and the soon to be released mind-bender, Echochrome. Some full retail games, such as Warhawk, SOCOM: Confrontation and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue are also made available via the PSN Store. Finally, Super Stardust HD remains one of the system's best titles - not bad for less than 10 dollars.
The quality of games on the PlayStation Network speaks for itself. Sony seeks out the most innovative and experimental content for its downloadable game service such as flOw and Everyday Shooter. Their in-house studios also develop great downloadable titles with no size restrictions such as PixelJunk Monsters, Toy Home, PAIN, Loco Roco Cocoreccho and the soon to be released mind-bender, Echochrome. Some full retail games, such as Warhawk, SOCOM: Confrontation and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue are also made available via the PSN Store. Finally, Super Stardust HD remains one of the system's best titles - not bad for less than 10 dollars.
Great DLC support for first party titles
First party PS3 games receive excellent downloadable content. Motorstorm, even a year after its release, still continues to receive updates in the form of new tracks and vehicles. Both Warhawk and Resistance receive free updates and improvements as well as purchasable map packs. Warhawk, in particular, improves exponentially with each update as new weapons, items and vehicles are added. Finally, Folklore has been supported with nine downloadable packs, six of which each offer four new quests, a new monster to catch and a new costume. The other three add-on packs are free and contain a special monster - one of which was designed by a Folklore design-a-creature contest winner.
First party PS3 games receive excellent downloadable content. Motorstorm, even a year after its release, still continues to receive updates in the form of new tracks and vehicles. Both Warhawk and Resistance receive free updates and improvements as well as purchasable map packs. Warhawk, in particular, improves exponentially with each update as new weapons, items and vehicles are added. Finally, Folklore has been supported with nine downloadable packs, six of which each offer four new quests, a new monster to catch and a new costume. The other three add-on packs are free and contain a special monster - one of which was designed by a Folklore design-a-creature contest winner.
DualShock 3
The DualShock 3 reintroduces rumble to the PlayStation brand. These controllers have been out in Japan since winter 2007 and will be heading to America in April. SIXAXIS motion sensing is implemented into most new releases, with developers like Rockstar and Kojima Productions discovering that less is more, you'll never have another Lair experience. Dualshock 3s will be included in the American Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle, which will be available on June 12.
The DualShock 3 reintroduces rumble to the PlayStation brand. These controllers have been out in Japan since winter 2007 and will be heading to America in April. SIXAXIS motion sensing is implemented into most new releases, with developers like Rockstar and Kojima Productions discovering that less is more, you'll never have another Lair experience. Dualshock 3s will be included in the American Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle, which will be available on June 12.
Value for money
Sony lowered the price during 2007 from the ludicrous $600 starting pricetag to a much better value $400. The PS3 is one of the cheapest Blu-Ray players on the market and is guaranteed to contain a HDD, built in wifi and a free online service. This means there's no extra cost for the complete PS3 experience - just grab a console, a game and you're off.
Sony lowered the price during 2007 from the ludicrous $600 starting pricetag to a much better value $400. The PS3 is one of the cheapest Blu-Ray players on the market and is guaranteed to contain a HDD, built in wifi and a free online service. This means there's no extra cost for the complete PS3 experience - just grab a console, a game and you're off.
Regular firmware updates
Sony continually updates the system to improve the user experience. Over the last twelve months we've been given DivX support, backwards downloading, Remote Start, Folding@Home, themes, Blu-Ray profile 1.1, DVD upscaling and more. These firmware updates will continue with "in-game communication" being added in version 2.4. The hope is that this will fix the PS3's final weakspot - the inability to reply to messages from within the game. No doubt Sony has other features up its sleeve, like the upcoming PSN Store redesign.
Sony continually updates the system to improve the user experience. Over the last twelve months we've been given DivX support, backwards downloading, Remote Start, Folding@Home, themes, Blu-Ray profile 1.1, DVD upscaling and more. These firmware updates will continue with "in-game communication" being added in version 2.4. The hope is that this will fix the PS3's final weakspot - the inability to reply to messages from within the game. No doubt Sony has other features up its sleeve, like the upcoming PSN Store redesign.
Remote Play
PSP owners can interact with their PS3s even when they're in a different room (or country) thanks to Remote Play. Once your PSP is synced up to your PS3 you can turn it on and off from anywhere with wifi access. Once connected you're able to access the PlayStation Network Store (perfect for queuing downloads ready for when you get home from work), access your friends list or even play certain PS3 games on your PSP via streaming. Currently, only a few games support Remote Play, but more are promised in the future including Capcom's Bionic Commando Rearmed.
PSP owners can interact with their PS3s even when they're in a different room (or country) thanks to Remote Play. Once your PSP is synced up to your PS3 you can turn it on and off from anywhere with wifi access. Once connected you're able to access the PlayStation Network Store (perfect for queuing downloads ready for when you get home from work), access your friends list or even play certain PS3 games on your PSP via streaming. Currently, only a few games support Remote Play, but more are promised in the future including Capcom's Bionic Commando Rearmed.
Metal Gear Solid 4
The final chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga is arguably the most anticipated PlayStation 3 title this year. Sony recently announced a worldwide June 12 release date for the game, along with a pre-order bonus including a place on the Metal Gear Online beta and a bonus DVD full of extra content. Hype successfully built. Millions of PS3 owners are counting down the days to the biggest release of the console's life so far.
The final chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga is arguably the most anticipated PlayStation 3 title this year. Sony recently announced a worldwide June 12 release date for the game, along with a pre-order bonus including a place on the Metal Gear Online beta and a bonus DVD full of extra content. Hype successfully built. Millions of PS3 owners are counting down the days to the biggest release of the console's life so far.
LittleBigPlanet
Originally shown off at GDC 2006, LittleBigPlanet captured gamers' imaginations with its adorable characters and innovative gameplay. The biggest draw of the game, which sees its release later this year, is the ability to create your own levels to be uploaded and rated on by your peers. With promises of special levels from other Sony first party developers and a wealth of player-created content, you'll never run out of levels to explore with up to three friends online. There's rumor of a beta coming this summer in order to bolster the online content for the game's release.
Originally shown off at GDC 2006, LittleBigPlanet captured gamers' imaginations with its adorable characters and innovative gameplay. The biggest draw of the game, which sees its release later this year, is the ability to create your own levels to be uploaded and rated on by your peers. With promises of special levels from other Sony first party developers and a wealth of player-created content, you'll never run out of levels to explore with up to three friends online. There's rumor of a beta coming this summer in order to bolster the online content for the game's release.
Home
Sony's ambitious answer to Xbox Live is coming on in leaps and bounds recently. With news that first party titles will receive their own Home spaces, complete with mini games, extra content and game-launching Home is shaping up to be more than the "Second Life clone" some originally pegged it as. The beta received a large update recently which added several shops, items that can be used within the Home environment as well as other improvements to various features, such as the Wardrobe. When Home finally gets released, you can be sure that it'll be well worth the wait.
Sony's ambitious answer to Xbox Live is coming on in leaps and bounds recently. With news that first party titles will receive their own Home spaces, complete with mini games, extra content and game-launching Home is shaping up to be more than the "Second Life clone" some originally pegged it as. The beta received a large update recently which added several shops, items that can be used within the Home environment as well as other improvements to various features, such as the Wardrobe. When Home finally gets released, you can be sure that it'll be well worth the wait.
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