I am about to buy a PS3 and I need some help.
I got a Wii as a wedding present a few months ago and it has helped get me back into video games. As happy as I am with the Nintendo frachise games (Mario, Zelda, Metroid) and the games my wife can enjoy with me (Guitar Hero, Wii Sports), I'm starting to look for a more hardcore experience. I think Silent Hill was the kicker because it didn't fulfill the SH experience I got from SH 1, 2, and 3.
Anyway, I've decided to get a PS3. I know what games I want and the Blu-Ray is bonus. So, what should I know before I buy one. What are the different hard drive sizes and costs vs. their worth. What are the pitfalls with a PS3 (does it die like 360's). Would it make more sense to buy on the secondary market (ebay or used) and what prices should I look for.
Any input would help, and thanks in advance.
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One thing I definitely think is worth mentioning: I can't speak for the new Slim, but the other models all use standard SATA hard drives and you can buy a hard drive from a computer hardware store and install it.
My neighbor bought the model that had the smallest hard drive (at the time) and installed a 400gb HD in his, which saved him a nice chunk of cash versus buying a fancier model.
I haven't tampered with the hardware in my Slim but I BELIEVE you can swap the hard drives out, I'm just not sure.
Other than that, they're pretty solid. I've got about a dozen friends, plus myself, who various models. Some of them have had theirs since the console released, and I haven't heard of any hardware problems.
They tend to run a little warm but not enough to overheat. Mine is stuck in a small cubbyhole in my entertainment center with very little circulation and hasn't given me any problems.
The only warnings I'd give are:
1) Be very careful not to get anything sticky on them. The face buttons stick badly when that happens, and I had a heck of a time taking it apart to clean it and reassembling it.
2) System updates can be pretty large, and are required if you plan on utilizing the Playstation Network. They aren't agonizingly massive, but still.
There's a good PS3 Hardware FAQ here which I consulted before purchasing my PS3 (an 80 GB Revision B - a 'Fat Lady').
Sadly, the PS2 retrocompatibilty has gone from the last models (since the 40 GB model); IF by any chance you can find a 60 GB model (discontinued in Japan in January 2008 and in North America in July 2007), THAT is a real beast (with FULL PS2 Hardware retrocompatibility - the 60 GB-E model we had here in Europe used a PS2 Emulation retrocompatibility), however chances are very slim and (if preowned, as it's the most reasonable change to find one) the model would have surely a lot of hours of usage, so I cannot really advise to try to find it...
I personally prefer to stick with a 'Fat' model however (as opposed to the newest 'Slim' model), at least in this early stage of distribution, since I prefer to purchase a new hardware only after it has been on the market for a while (to avoid bugs who might get unnoticed during the early releases).
This is a video which shows you how to change the HDD of a PS3 'Fat'. However, even the 'Slim' model allows for a HDD change (see here), so it doesn't really matter if you want to stick with a smaller GB model, take a greater GB model, or purchase a smaller GB model and later substitute the HDD with a greater storage device (just be sure to format it in FAT32 to allow the PS3 to see it).
Just my 2c.
EDIT: ah, if you ever played the Metal Gear saga on the PS1 and PS2 (Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty/ MGS2: Substance*, Metal Gear Solid 3: Operation Snake Eater/ MGS3: Subsistence*), Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a MUST HAVE for a PS3 owner (sure, if you never played the previous games... not so much, however the experience is astounding still, IMHO !!!)
*the enhanced versions of the respective games, released a year after the original game came out*
Thanks for this info.
Thanks for the info, but last night my wife jumped the gun and bought me a PS3 as an early birthday present. My only regret is that I was going to try getting a backwards compatible model on ebay. Don't get me wrong though, the one she bought is pretty awesome.
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Thanks for the info, but last night my wife jumped the gun and bought me a PS3 as an early birthday present. My only regret is that I was going to try getting a backwards compatible model on ebay. Don't get me wrong though, the one she bought is pretty awesome.
Well, at least the ps2 players are still available for sale and are reasonable in price, so you can still play ps2 games if you really really want to though yeah, that's a bummer about the noncompatible one you got.
Also, a new game coming out is MAG, if you're into massive first person shooter games. that one supposedly can go up to 256 players... O_o
You can always buy a new PS2 as well. They're down at $100 now.
I have a PS2 already, I was hoping to consolodate.
