HankScorpio

And no witty people saying "return it"

After a couple of false starts and cancelled orders, PS3 is arriving tomorrow.

Any tips on setup? i've heard something about downloading updates to usb stick first - what's that about? Any thing else I need to be prepared for?

RB5-Black

I'm not taking the pi$$ here. Be prepared to wait an hour or more after initial setup befor you play anything.

Install + Updates suck

First install is pretty simple it's all auto. Just get your WEP key to hand for your net setup and that's all you should need. Oh and an Hdmi cable cause thats not included

HankScorpio

Got a cable included (thank you Sony Centre) and now have the 2.53 update on a stick ready. Will be wired rather than wireless which is just as well as I can't remember my key!

Is the install different from the update?

RB5-Black

Each game dumps varing amounts of game data to the HDD because of the slow read speads of the Blu ray drive. Think my total install for GT5 was 3-4GB + the update downloads. LBP was only around 1GB

P1Fanatic

I asked this question on another thread but cant remember which lol. With all this moaning about PS3 updates Im assuming the 360 does no updating and you can play straight away?

Simon

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

The 360 does update occasionally, but it litterally takes seconds.

P1Fanatic

So for any games you buy there are no updates other than for additonal content? Seems strange as the games must be similar.

Simon

Iain Young

Games on the 360 do have occaisional patches/fixes released. Far fewer than for the PS3, but they do happen. The difference is that they usually downlaod and install in a few seconds on the 360, whereas on the PS3 they usually take around half an hour.

Problem with the Sony patches is that they seem to break as much stuff with each patch as they fix. They seem to have a pretty bad QA department.

p.s. Look out for another PS3 firmware soon to fix a problem with trophies breaking games...

Geezer

For you maybe, games patches for most people take very little time.

You really have a downer on Sony don't you?

Geezer

Iain Young

I know 5 people with a PS3. All of them complain about slow downloads, and there have been several postings on here from other people also complaining of the same issue. I get the impression that people who have a good experience are in the minority. last time I turned on GT5 it was nearly an hour before I could actually play the thing (that's how long the latest update took to download and install).

Yes. I am very disappointed with the PS3, and feel I have wasted my money. The only reason I still have it is that I am waiting for God of War 3 (may well sell it after I've finished that). Issues I have with it include...

• The exclusive games are generally average at best, and the cross platform games generally tend to run better on the 360.
• The online service is free but rubbish. Very slow and unreliable. The new home application is just a joke.
• Because I cam using component video to connect the thing to my tv, it will not upscale dvds (it will only do that over hdmi).
• The controllers are too small, feel cheaply made, and do not have replaceable batteries. I've had the batteries in two controllers die on me and unlike the 360 (where you can just get a new £6 battery), on the PS3 you have to replace the whole flippin controller
• The hard drive (mine is a 40gb) is also too small due to having to install nearly every game due to the slow speed of the blu-ray drive.
• Very average looking lineup for the next year

Other than that I suppose it is ok . You can see how much I use it when you look at the numebr of games I have for it. About 10 for the PS3, well over 100 for the 360...

HankScorpio

System update took couple of mins, but Burnout is taking ages.

Loving the box though, bought a mag with 25 demos on it so that's the next few days taken care of.

scoobyboy

is the ps3 an upscaling dvd player as well?

RB5-Black

both the 360 and PS3 are upsacaler's

Iain Young

The PS3 will only upscale if you use the hdmi connection. If you connect through component video, it does nothing for some bizarre reason.

ScooByer Trade

Wait a second there is 5 of what look like screws but aren't in the sixaxis controller, can't you remove them and replace the battery.None rumble pad i'm mentioning.

PeteBrant

Some games. Not each.

With regards to updates, it seems to be luck of the draw. My kids is lighting quick, Mine was rubbish - Then I changed my wireless router, and its much, much better.

Oh, and 360 doesn't upscale DVDs over component. Only VGA and HDMI.

Ant

my ps3 update quick, but i only have two games gt5 pro and mgs4, i have a hacked 360 so play all my games on that

HankScorpio

GTI Club demo is cool, bit retro but I used to love the arcade machine with the handbrake

Got a strange look from my mrs when I said "I'm going to dive down the shortcut through the houses" and then proceeded to do it. I think the look was pity, 10 years and I can still remember the course!!

Granby

iTrader: (5)

Thats how i did my first update, only took a few minutes, downloaded a few videos and haven't had any problems (ie slow)

RB5-Black

MTV Multiplayer The Mystery Behind PlayStation 3’s Sometimes Mandatory Installations

Jamz3k

My honest opinion on getting a PS3 is DON'T i hate mine, it literally is a load of toss and gimmickery.

Best option is as follows
Buy an Xbox Premium - £169.00
Buy a Samsung Blu-ray Player - £150.00

This way not only will you have a good blu-ray player but u'll also have something thats fun to play games on.

HankScorpio

Loving ti so far, as posted by me before, I'm not a gamer but like the odd trundle round a track.
Primary task for it is CD/DVD/BR but enjoying the games I've being doing so far. (Except NFS prostreet - cack)

ScooByer Trade

Colin Mcrae Dirt 2 is set to be released in 09, as is a 4x4 game named Off Road Drive. Both games are on all formats. Personally i was waiting for a decent off roader and hoping they are both good.

Nathan.

P.s Motorm4x is a 4x4 game to look out for, U.S release only though and Hummer 4x4 too.

spectrum48k

Iain, I think some of those points are a little unfair...

• Totally agree about cross platform games tending to work better on 360
• I've had zero problems with the online service.
• Social networking services like Home don't interest me so I can't comment, but it's certainly an interesting first attempt.
• I don't think either consoles upscale DVDs via component, do they ? Get yourself an HDMI switch box!
• Another subjective one - I find the 360's controllers too BIG. I find the Sony ones an ideal size and weight. And I MUCH prefer the rechargeable batteries on the Sony wireless controllers. I have power saving turned on and they seem to last for ages.
• My hard drive (40GB) is just over half full and subsequently fine.

After all that, and knowing the poor reliability record of the 360, my PS3 is the only one of the two that buggered. That was tempered slightly by Sony only taking 4 days to replace the thing with a delivery guy exchanging at the door.

Excusing reliability, I think Microsoft did the more accurate job of giving the public a next-gen console at the price point they needed.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Here's something to throw into the mix..

I had an original 60gb PS3 and so did my mrs' brother.. we both sold them but he decided he wanted another PS3 and bought the 80gb PS3..

Saw him the other week and he wanted to show me the 'new' PS3 and it's dodgy looking graphics. I went and looked and indeed it did look pants, infact he has the xbox 360 and the same football game on both and said the xbox looked better.

Now we both had the original PS3 and this new one deffinately looked inferior graphically, he was quite keen to show me how bad it looked. We tried swapping the hdmi about on his TV ports etc and it still looked crappy.

Anything in this? ie has the newer PS3 got a lesser graphics card or something? He was most puzzled.

bob269

You must have puny hands, the 360 is spot on

As for battery life, does it last for ages from lack of use , same with the hard drive, get some games for the ps3 and it will soon fill up,

Sony's arrogance is going to be their downfall, they can't even use the well it's a great bluray player card anymore as there are plently of firmware upgradable better players on the market

P1Fanatic

Something like the controllers are subjective. I started off preferring the 360 ones (not the clunky massive original Xbox controllers that were awful) but the more I play on the PS3 ones the closer the gap gets. Think if push came to shove Id still probably go 360 if I had the choice.

I spent a good few weeks debating which one to go for and still believe I made the right choice for me (PS3). However here is one for the 360 crew - games sales for November 2008:

November Console Games Sales: Wii Dominates as Gears of War 2 and Call of Duty Sell Millions - Shacknews - PC Games, PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Wii video game news, previews and downloads

CoD: World at War selling the most units per title but 360 selling over double the units of the PS3.

What I did find interesting is that a World of Warcraft expansion pack is up there at the top also. Who says PC gaming is dying?

Also interesting is the number of Wii titles in the lists. Wii Fit still selling very strongly as is Mario Kart.

Simon

Jamz3k

I actually sat and played COD4 on my PS3 last night and gasp i actually enjoyed myself while my PS3 was turned on!!! The controller is a weak point and on COD4 on default keys are dreadful but with a little bit of tweaking you can get it to me almost as enjoyable as playing it with the Xbox controller.

My hands gets very sore very quickly with playing the PS3 though

scoobyverysoon

iTrader: (1)

Can you post a pic of your hands Im baffled - controller is perfect for me

Iain Young

PS3 controller makes my hands hurt after about half an hour. Can use the 360 controllers for several hours in one sitting