First impressions of my spanking new PS3

silvine

I took the plunge last night into Sony's pool and bought the PS3

First impressions:

1 It's heavy! And it even feels expensive. You wouldn't want to have to carry it around for a long. It makes the PS2 seem like a paper weight.

2 It seems well thought out. The extra USB ports and the media card reader etc will all come in handy and are in convenient locations. Plus you can even turn the PS3 symbol to match what way you have the console positioned (horizontal or vertical)!

3 The Sixaxis controller is lighter than the old one, the L and R buttons feel more responsive and setting it up wirelessly is simple. I hear you can attach up to seven (seven!!) controllers. The cord is a little short though, so it would be difficult to play on a low charge - although the manual claims a long batter life so this is probably nitpicking.

4 I normally play first person shooters on a PC. Playing them on a console will take some adjusting. I got stuck on a sniper scene, in Resistance last night, as lining my target up proved a little fiddly and frustrating. I hear the new Unreal game will be adding keyboard and mouse support- the more games that do so the better. It's hard to beat a mouse for FPSs.

5 The Xbar is easy to use but it can take a little bit of scrolling to find a setting buried in the menu. Still at least it's not confusing.

6 Setting the PS3 up for HD was a little fiddly but the shop gave me helpful instructions. You might get caught out (ie playing on a lower resolution) if you didn't know what you were at though. I suppose you can take a horse to water and all that...

7 Playing Oblivion on full HD looked fantastic and was very atmospheric. It really shows up the old PS2 games and how dated the graphics were. There may be very little triple AAA titles out yet but this one should keep me entertained for the next few months.

8 I like that I have to buy less peripherals than the Xbox 360 i.e. no need for a wireless networking card, online subscription or a converter to attach a keyboard/mouse. But it was a little annoying to have to fork out for the HD cable, still the improvement in pic quality was worth it.

I haven't tried wireless networking yet and I haven't tried the PS Network either, both of which I hope do the job. Online is where it's at these days!

I'm planning on watching a Blue-Ray DVD tonight. This is the main reason why I bought the machine over its Microsoft counterpart and it's what I'm most excited about.

Does the PS3 upscale old DVDs and can I use a Blueray keyboad with it?

Crucifix

silvine wrote:

Does the PS3 upscale old DVDs and can I use a Blueray keyboad with it?

I don't have one myself, but I've heard that regular DVDs will be upscaled to 720.

savemejebus

regular DVDs can be upscaled. However you may need to download the latest firmware update to unlock that functionality, depending on the firmware that was on the ps3 when you bought it.

You need to get it online to download the latest firmware upgrade. The PS3 will then upscale your DVD's.
As for blu rays I recommend you take a look at Apocalypto-incredible in HD.

McGintyMcGoo

Can I ask where you bought it and what deal you got?

McGintyMcGoo

culabula

silvine wrote:

I took the plunge last night into Sony's pool and bought the PS3

First impressions:
ved a little fiddly abuy less peripherals than the Xbox 360 i.e. no need for a wireless networking card, online subscription or a converter to attach a keyboard/mouse machine over its Microsoft counterpart and it's what I'm most excited about.

Does the PS3 upscale old DVDs and can I use a Blueray keyboad with it?

I take it you mean a bluetooth keyboard? Yes, you can.

silvine

I bought it in Xtragame in the Square, Tallaght. Apparently it IS a branch of Xtravision.

For €600 I got Ridge Racer 7, Resistance Fall of Man, the PS3, and an extra controller. They also threw in a €100 of money off vouchers, which have to be used by the end of the month.

I traded in my old PS2 (original version) with one game (God of War) for €35. I also traded in Ridge Racer 7 for €30 – I didn’t like any of the bundled games except Resistance.

I then bought Elder Scrolls IV for €75 and a HDMI cable for €40 (I was able to use a €5 off voucher for the cable, bringing it to €35). The HDMI cables are selling for a little over €30 including postage on eBay. I figured I'd just use the €5 off voucher and start playing in HD straight away.

Total Expenditure: €645

Turns, out I could have saved a tenner by using another voucher for Elder Scrolls but I didn’t realise this till I went home. If anyone is thinking of doing this you could probably make a little bit more (€10?) byselling Ridge Racer on eBay, but I got lazy and wanted Elder Scrolls.

HMV are running a good deal too which for an extra €30 includes 2 Blueray DVDS, but I didn’t fancy their offer.

Now all I have to do is find a sound system.

Hope this helps.


(Yes I meant Bluetooth, cheers!)

Dublinstiofán

silvine wrote:

I bought it in Xtragame in the Square, Tallaght. Apparently it IS a branch of Xtravision.

I then bought Elder Scrolls IV for €75 and a HDMI cable for €40 (I was able to use a €5 off voucher for the cable, bringing it to €35). The HDMI cables are selling for a little over €30 including postage on eBay. I figured I'd just use the €5 off voucher and start playing in HD straight away.

Well done, sweet machine and i just about agree with everything you said in your initial post, from my first experiences too. Except i had no trouble setting it up with the TV. I would be surprised if i did as they're both Sony

One thing i forgot to mention in all we said about the consoles before you bought was that a 5 metre HDMI cable was €24 in Power City, fe*k it anyway, meant to tell ya.

One thing you must do is get online when you can. The trailer for MGS4 in HI-Def is amazing and the demos for The Darkness and GRAW are pretty good too.

Good job getting rid of ridge racer i did the same its a load of crap.
One investment you should make is in either Rainbow 6 Vegas or GRAW (Ghost Recon 2 released in about 2 weeks time).

If you get online sure pm me your Playstation network id.

Good luck with it.

WellyJ

silvine wrote:

Blueray DVDS

Glad you're enjoying the system!

But please please please dont call them this.

They are Bluray Discs.

Simple, DVD doesnt come into it at all

I know this makes me sound like an ass but it just irritates the hell out of me

When you get your console online download the Heavenly Sword demo.
Set up a US account and download the 15 minute MGS4 gameplay video from the yanks playstation store. Its incredible. Also check out the Killzone 2 video.

silvine

Dublinstiof&#225 wrote: »

Well done, sweet machine and i just about agree with everything you said in your initial post, from my first experiences too. Except i had no trouble setting it up with the TV. I would be surprised if i did as they're both Sony

One thing i forgot to mention in all we said about the consoles before you bought was that a 5 metre HDMI cable was €24 in Power City, fe*k it anyway, meant to tell ya.

One thing you must do is get online when you can. The trailer for MGS4 in HI-Def is amazing and the demos for The Darkness and GRAW are pretty good too.

Good job getting rid of ridge racer i did the same its a load of crap.
One investment you should make is in either Rainbow 6 Vegas or GRAW (Ghost Recon 2 released in about 2 weeks time).

If you get online sure pm me your Playstation network id.

Good luck with it.

Great cheers for the tips. I'm glad to have finally bought the thing instead of endlessly waiting for the next bargain to arrive.

Ah it wasn't that hard to setup but if you were new to it all, you could easily end up playing in SD and not know it.
I've never played any of the Metal Gear Solid games (!!) but I'm anxious to give the new one a try when it comes out.

I'll be online line in a few weeks, when I get my connection from Digiweb. I'll buzz you then.

Cheers mate.

WellyJ wrote:

But please please please dont call them this.

They are Bluray Discs.

Simple, DVD doesnt come into it at all

I know this makes me sound like an ass but it just irritates the hell out of me

Good to know but I'd wager it won't be the last time you read the same mistake, after all the alternative is called 'HD DVD'. It wouldn't be technology if they didn't make it confusing for people.

thefinalstage

Pfft! They are all cds and if the person you are talking too knows the difference as you lot seem to, whats the problem?

mathias

The PS3 will upscale to 1080p with version 1.9 software , if you go online with it it will update for you , go to network update and let it work away.

Its one of the best upscaling DVD players out there , something to do with a multi-threaded Cell processor routine , so say the lads on Avforums.

300 is a great title to watch in HD if you like that sort of movie. I cant wait to get my hands on the Planet Earth box set when its released over here. I have it pre-ordered.

Its also capable of 1080p/24 , which is brilliant if you use it on a big 1080p screen , or a projector.

The controller has been lasting for days for me. The battery life is excellent.

Captain Chaos

I only got my PS3 on Sunday and I have had to charge the controller already after the full charge I gave it when I got it! I was getting over a week of around 6hrs a day gaming with the 360 controller with rumble. The charging cable is very short alright, other that that I'm happy with my PS3. It will keep me going till my 360 comes back. If it never died I would have never bought a PS3. I'm glad it did:o.

stereo_steve

silvine wrote:

Good to know but I'd wager it won't be the last time you read the same mistake, after all the alternative is called 'HD DVD'. It wouldn't be technology if they didn't make it confusing for people.

Thats because its from the guys that brought us DVD!! The whole naming thing drives me crazy aswell! I'm sure I sound like an ass too!

Blu-ray aside....Enjoy your PS3!

mathias

mathias wrote:

I cant wait to get my hands on the Planet Earth box set when its released over here. I have it pre-ordered.

You can get that region free from the states,its been out for a while now.

mathias

Yes , but from all reports , there is extra content on the euro version , 5 discs as opposed to 4 in the states , it will have the behind the scenes documentary , which Ive already seen on BBC HD and is superb , ( has the bit where they nearly lost the camera in a fire ) and the documentary , planet earth the future .......So I'll wait for that !!

American version here ,

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Earth-Complete-BBC-Blu-ray/dp/B000MRAAJM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/105-5133325-5699635?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1186684670&sr=8-3

Heres a quote

My one minor complaint has to do with the fact that on the HD transfers, there is absent the supplemental material that is present on the standard defintion release. There is no 110 minutes of behind the scenes footage of what took place on these excavations to these wonderous places or interviews with the people, Attenborough or anyone for that matter. The other special feature not found on either the Blu-Ray or HD-DVD transfer is Planet Earth: The Future, which is a 150 minute documentary(Shot entirely in high defintion mind you) which chronicles how the whole series was created,

The one Im getting is here , and has all that extra good stuff ...

http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/4-/3388938/-/Product.html?searchstring=planet+earth&searchsource=0

Dont be at yourself

Picked one up last week with an extra controller, Everybody`s Golf, Resistance: Fall of Man, for about 420e. Happy days!

am i bovvered

I never owned any game console before ( I am in my 30's:eek: ) and have recently set up a HE system and have bought wii and a ps3.

The wii is great fun with the kids but the ps3 is just class !!!
I can't believe the picture quality and now realise what i have been missing in regard to gaming.
I thought my ps3 was already upscaling normal dvd's but after reading this thread maybe not.

Today I am updating the version software today,
Some simple Qs Can you done load any games or films online through the ps3 I have a broadband connection. If so any reccomendations ? ,how long does this take and is it HD.
Where is a good place to get Blueray Disc films extravisions choices are very limited. The films I would love to see are 300, The 5th Element, Lord of the Rings, Sin City.
Any advice apprieciated,

LookingFor

am i bovvered wrote:

Some simple Qs Can you done load any games or films online through the ps3 I have a broadband connection. If so any reccomendations ? ,how long does this take and is it HD.

No movies yet. There's supposed to be a downloadable/streaming movie/music service coming sometime soon, though. For now there are trailers on the playstation store.

For games, there are some downloadable games on the playstation store, but they're not the same as the blu-ray games you buy in the shops. In the future, there'll be some releases on both blu-ray and on the playstation store (e.g. Warhawk, SOCOM, LittleBigPlanet). There are some PSone games up for download. Perhaps in the future there'll be PS2 games too.

am i bovvered wrote:

Where is a good place to get Blueray Disc films extravisions choices are very limited. The films I would love to see are 300, The 5th Element, Lord of the Rings, Sin City.

To be honest, your best bet is to buy online IMO. Currently, better selection and better pricing than in local retailers I've found. I use Amazon, but then I do have an imported system. Some American Blu-rays will work on your european PS3 though. Locally, I've found Virgin and HMV to maybe have the best selection, but they're fairly pricey.

savemejebus

Check out this site http://bluray.lindsite.dk/ for info on importing blu-rays that are compatible with your system. I've found amazon.com to be the best so far, online, for ordering blu-rays.

In bricks and mortar stores Gamestop have a decent selection for €17.99, and after that Virgin have a good selection at prices that are cheaper than HMV.

am i bovvered

I have gone through the registration process for the playstation network but when i try to log on it says its taking too long then i get an error 80710B23 ,the confusing thing is i can log on to the browser no problem ??

Nailz

Well try turning your broadband firewall onto 'Low'. I wouldn't recommend turning it off though, even if it doesn't work on 'Low'. Try something else if so, because it more than likely isn't the problem.

am i bovvered

Just to recheck, I have the cable running from the ps3 to the belkin router, not through the pc,The pc is connected through port 1, is this correct and if it is how does the anti virus work when you are online with the ps3.

am i bovvered

Turning off the firewall made no difference, its really confusing , if i put in the wrong password it comes up very quickly that the password is wrong, so this would indicate that there is some communication and the fact i can use the browser ??? but still get the error message 80710B23 anyone have any ideas, I have contacted the ps website.

Crucifix

I got one for myself today. God it's a real monster; my PS2 looks and feels so dainty next to that behemoth. Six axis feels nice and familiar, though the trigger style buttons might take some getting used to.
I got the console, two controllers, Resistance, Ridge Racer 7, and Oblivion for €645 in Game.

yabadabado

got my ps3 today delighted with it, it really is great looking .think the new controllers are a deadly job really handy.got it for €600 with extra controller and 2 games plus a €100 euro reward book from xtravision.got tiger woods 07 and fight night the fella working didnt seem to give a sh1t or know about what games were part of the bundle so i just said id take them 2 instead of the listed ones.delighted coz i had no interest in the other ones:D

Nailz

What games did you get with them anyway buddy?

yabadabado

tiger woods and fight night.instead of the the ones fron the list