The PS3 Review Thread

[ryoohki]

As far a BR playback it's excellent, it doesn't have many good games but thing are picking up slowly. The Wii is a waste of time IMHO... it still the same old Nintendo, withc the same 20 years old games. Nintendo never had a great 3rd party game since the N64, and it sure didn't change with the Wii as only the nintendo franchise make a bilpt on the radar... Sure it's sell like crap because it's cheap, and i'am all for kidz moving around a bit when playing. But at 30 years old with a 9 hours/day job, the LAST thing i want to do when i get tought 1 hour of traffic, is moving more... LOL!

[xwingsct]

Originally Posted by dakota81

If it's stretched wide, that's usually a tv setting in how it handles 480i/p content.

Most special are usually not arnamorphic like movie so it will look distorted when playing back on WS TV. I don't think there's anything you can do about it if you chose your TV as 16:9 in the setting. On my TV With HDMI connection I can't do anything about it. But with component connection I can change my TV setting to either Zoom or stretch and the picture will look normal and fill up the whole screen.

[Doc_Stew]

Originally Posted by dperrone

Question, I have had a PS3 since they came out but have had it in a set up where I have always had a stand alond (Sammy 1000, 1400) I just replaced the 1400 with a Panasonic BD30. I have always used the PS3 for games only. My question is, how does the PS3 do as far as Upconversion of Standard dvd's? I have 400 + , I just got the BD30 and that is getting a lot of mixed reviews on upconversion, than I just read the post above about the PS3. Would I be better off playing standard dvds in the BD30 or PS3 or are they about the same? thanks for any input

I tested the upconverstion personally against the top of the line Oppo 981HD, and in my opinion, the PS3 (with the newest firmware obviously) outperformed the Oppo. Colors were more vibrant, and picture was slightly clearer. I was VERY impressed.

[JVOC]

Does anyone know any American retailers that sell their Playstation 3s internationally? I BADLY need a Region A player. Cheers.

Buy through ebay.

e.g. See here.

[DefTechPioElite]

I had a launch 60gb PS3 and it was good to me until about 4 months ago. It started freezing occasionally about 6 months ago, then got to the point where it was several times a day. Fotunately, I was able to transfer my data before it completely died and I had a replacement plan from best buy. Now I have a new 80 gb. while I miss my 60gb with the emotion engine, it's doing great for me. I just REALLY want DTS-HDMA decoding or bitstreaming, preferably bitstreaming, so my Elite can do the decoding, also the option for True HD bitsreaming would be nice. So, ultimately, I would like PS3 to be set to bitstream TrueHD, DTS-HD,or send out a PCM signal from a PCM soundtrack instead of a lossless format, all without adjusting my audio settings. Then it will be my dream player! Other than those minor requests, I love it. I make great use of the Memory Stick slot, as I have a PSP, and the SD slot with my European Razor V3x. I really like the XMB interface, I was used to it from the PSP and it's as easy as ever to use! I would like to be able to access my friends list and voice/video(in a little box?) chat while in game though. As far as games, I cant say I'm in love to be honest. Not until recently at least. Now that I have Uncharted and....Well, that's it. Resistance was great and the first FPS I ever liked, so it was great to have a good launch title! I've had good times with downladable games too...like Stardust and PSOne Castlevania! Two big hitters though were just kinda disappointing though... While I enjoyed Heavenly Sword, it just did not sweep me off my feet like Uncharted did! And LAIR, I'm not even going to say anything except that until that game, I had not thrown a controller since I was 7. But the future is bright, I am an RPG fan at heart and I will probably faint once FFXIII is in my hands....hopefully next year. 2008 is definitely going to be a key year for PS3 owners that wnat good games, I cant wait.

[pug]

Who did NOT get their five free BD movies with a PS3 or BD player purchase? Mine were shipped early November and were never received. Sony is re-shipping. I wonder how many sets of free BD movies get stolen?

[RedsFan44]

Does anyone know why I am watching a Blu-ray disc (16 Blocks) that is 16:9 video on a 16:9 plasma tv and can't get rid of the black bars??? How do I set up the PS3 for widescreen? I have it hooked through the HDMI outputting at 1080i. I can't find a display setting anywhere that addresses aspect ratio of the monitor...

[kylen]

Originally Posted by RedsFan44

Does anyone know why I am watching a Blu-ray disc (16 Blocks) that is 16:9 video on a 16:9 plasma tv and can't get rid of the black bars??? How do I set up the PS3 for widescreen? I have it hooked through the HDMI outputting at 1080i. I can't find a display setting anywhere that addresses aspect ratio of the monitor...

16 Blocks is 2.40:1 aspect ratio--you will only not see top and bottom black bars if it is 1.78:1 ratio (16:9).

[JesseW316]

Ok, I've looked around and can't seem to find a solid answer anywhere. I'm in the market for a blu-ray player, and it seems like the PS3 is the best choice. The games aren't super important to me as I do feel my XBOX 360 is superior for game selection, but it is a plus as I'll be able to get the PS3 exclusive titles and at least be able to have both systems.

The most important part for me is that the current PS3's do a good job of upconverting standard DVDs. I have an LG 1080p LCD with HDMI inputs, and I want to be absolutely sure that the PS3 does a good job of upconverting standard DVDs to 1080p. I've heard the blu-ray player on the PS3 is awesome and with HDMI hooked to a 1080p TV it is excellent. That's great, just want to be sure that the upconversion is quality for my existing DVD collection.

Any discrepancies of quality between the 40GB and 80GB models of the PS3?

[Bourne1]

Originally Posted by JesseW316

Ok, I've looked around and can't seem to find a solid answer anywhere. I'm in the market for a blu-ray player, and it seems like the PS3 is the best choice. The games aren't super important to me as I do feel my XBOX 360 is superior for game selection, but it is a plus as I'll be able to get the PS3 exclusive titles and at least be able to have both systems.

The most important part for me is that the current PS3's do a good job of upconverting standard DVDs. I have an LG 1080p LCD with HDMI inputs, and I want to be absolutely sure that the PS3 does a good job of upconverting standard DVDs to 1080p. I've heard the blu-ray player on the PS3 is awesome and with HDMI hooked to a 1080p TV it is excellent. That's great, just want to be sure that the upconversion is quality for my existing DVD collection.

Any discrepancies of quality between the 40GB and 80GB models of the PS3?

I have no problems with my PS3's standard DVD upconversions. I think it does a wonderful job. And no, you will not find any quality issues between the two different models.

[secret]

Originally Posted by JesseW316

Ok, I've looked around and can't seem to find a solid answer anywhere. I'm in the market for a blu-ray player, and it seems like the PS3 is the best choice. The games aren't super important to me as I do feel my XBOX 360 is superior for game selection, but it is a plus as I'll be able to get the PS3 exclusive titles and at least be able to have both systems.

The most important part for me is that the current PS3's do a good job of upconverting standard DVDs. I have an LG 1080p LCD with HDMI inputs, and I want to be absolutely sure that the PS3 does a good job of upconverting standard DVDs to 1080p. I've heard the blu-ray player on the PS3 is awesome and with HDMI hooked to a 1080p TV it is excellent. That's great, just want to be sure that the upconversion is quality for my existing DVD collection.

Any discrepancies of quality between the 40GB and 80GB models of the PS3?

Please read the very last paragraph at the bottom. I was a bit upset this morning and made that rant that recapped what I mentioned almost a year ago on this forum. It seems as if you are my first and only proof so far...lol. You might want to read the whole rambling I made to see my take on your contribution to the gaming and movie industry by choosing the xbox360











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Earlier post: Be advised, it might might you mad if you read it. The writer is not held responsible for any inflamatory or false statements below. Thank you.
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11 games:

1. Resistance Fall of Man (still a favorite)
2. Marvel Ultimate Alliance (a must have comic book game)
3. Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction (a saturday morning cartoon)
4. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (a book of adventure)
5. COD3 (my first taste of next-gen)
6. COD4 (probably the last xbox360 "emulated" game for me)
7. Fight Night 3 (punching controls are kind of slow)
8. Ninja Gaiden Sigma (awesome)
9. Motorstorm (awesome)
10. GRAW2 (awesome)
11. Virtua Fighter 5 (awesome if there is human competition)

--------------------------

Notice that half of my games are xbox360 "emulated" games. This is one of the reasons why I knew from the get-go that I should get a PS3 over an xbox360. Even if there are a slight hiccups here and there in these "emulations," they're still good enough "backwards compatibility quality of xbox360 games, so to speak." I'll settle for small hiccups here and there in the ports as a tradeoff to having to buy a full blown xbox360 to play these games. The remaining 360 games are available for the PC or will be available at some point.

So, the PS3 was the only route to take. The chunky, meaty main course would be the PS3 exclusives, PS2 and PS2 compatibility, and a bluray / DVD player to boot with free online gaming. By getting a PS3, I got the main course.

And I viewed the extra $50 to $100 to buy a PS3 at launch as the cost of getting a free xbox360"emulator" that's doing a very good job. And I knew that over time, the free online gaming would cover the $50 to $100 extra cost of owning a PS3 at the time of launch. After all, it's almost 1 to 2 years now. Had I bought the xbox360, the $50 and $100 would've gone into xboxlive. But without the bluray player, without the PS3 emulator, without the PS2 emulator, and without the PS1 emulator to show for it.

I'm so fanboy now. I wouldn't be if the xbox360 owners and the media weren't such jerks in the beginning. They've calmed down ever since the $399 playstation arrived, it seems. But I'm still bitter that they're getting away with war crimes that they've committed in the past with a free get out of jail card. Sure, they're acting nice now. But how were they back then? Who's making them pay for what they've done. No one's holding them responsible.


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But also notice that most of the games at the bottom of the list are the multiplatforms or what I like to call "xbox360 emulations" like PS2 emulated games on the PS3. Compared to the PS3 exclusives, even if the emulations are perfect and identical like COD4, I don't think they're any good at all. They're "almost" next gen now that I've experienced Ratchet and Uncharted and Motorstorm. And certain levels of Resistance.

I'd stick with Multiplats if they're comic book games like Marvel Ultimate Alliance or have a really compelling art direction and gameplay like GRAW2. But, I think the smoke & mirrors and artificial life support, such as the media support Microsoft's been getting, aren't working for me anymore. Half of my games are xbox360 games. Half are PS3 games. I can see the difference.

And stop the video comparisons between the ports, because they've been unrealistically instilling doubt in the PS3's architecture. Using an xbox360 games to speak on behalf of the PS3.....Why not take it to another level and compare these ports to the PS3 exclusive like Grand Turismo (the demo version even). I have a hunch that the xbox360 can't port Uncharted, regardless of the number of discs used. But I have a feelilng that Insomiac games can definitely port a perfect Gears of War to the PS3 if they were given the chance.

All those video comparisons tell me, in comparison to the PS3 exclusives, is that when the developers continue to focus on the architecture of the xbox360, this generation's graphics potentials are not being met. The mediocre console is dictating this generation's graphics potential. The slowest car is allowed to be in front of the freeway. It's smoking and overheating. It's slowing down traffic, blocking everyone's way. Move it aside and let traffic run free again.

Let's not forget that the xbox360 supports HD-DVD also. So, in addition to capping this generation's graphics so far as one of its sins, it's also prolonging the life of HD-DVD, causing several movie goers the agony of either buying both a Bluray Player and HD-DVD player knowing that only one format might survive, sitting on the fence until the format war ends, or forgoing one movie or another.

Yeah, competition is good for the customer in putting pricing in check, but as a PS3 owner, I'm getting a little peeved at the quality of games thanks to the xbox360 being the lead platform -- colorless games, short game length, barren worlds with only a few objects moving randomly, independantly, and simultaneously. Time is ticking. Let's free up traffic now. Let the cars run free again.


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I don't mean to offend all xbox360 owners. But I do intend to offend the nasty ones who purposely roamed forums to create problems when the PS3 launched. In fact, I estimated early on that it is, ironically, the xbox360 owners who will end up helping to win the bluray format war because their HD-DVD add-on has subpar picture quality and / or almost all the good movies are on bluray. Because of this, they'll end up wanting to look for a standalone bluray player when they get the urge for hi-def movies to go with their hdtv. And after some research, they'll most likely find out that the PS3 is probably the best valued bluray player out there, especially if they like games, too.
I actually own shares of stock in Microsoft.

[JesseW316]

I agree with that last paragraph. I've never had anything against the PS3 or Blu-ray. When I was in the market for a new gaming system it seemed (and still does) that the 360 was the better choice. Graphics were excellent, it's HDMI compatible, has a huge hard drive, extensive online capabilities, and large game selection.

However, I am also a cinema-file and although I at first wanted to wait out the war and align with the winner, I just can't wait any longer. I'm in the mood for some hi-def movies w/ my new TV. That being said, I need a blu-ray or HD DVD player. I already have the 360, so I def might go out and get the HD DVD add-on for it just because it's a cheap way to be able to experience any HD DVD's I want to see. It may not be the best or most amazing choice for HD DVD, but it seems like I'll mostly be sticking to blu-ray anyway and just need something in case I'm desperate to watch a movie available on HD DVD. Since it looks to me like Blu-ray is going to win the war (barring some 12th round miracle knockout blow from HD), I might as well get the PS3 as my player, because it's cheapest and also has great quality.

If I can get at least one more person to come and assure me that the PS3's upconversion of standard DVD's to 1080p is top notch on both the 40GB and 80GB models...

[Bourne1]

The quality of the up-conversions of standard DVD on both the 40 gig and the 80 gig is not going to make a difference. Either way you a going to have a really nice up-converter player that is also a great Blu-Ray player. I have the 60 gig (bought it the first month it came out) and I have not had any problem's whatsoever. Also Sony keeps on throwing firmware updates to us all the time, which has given PS3 owners great improvements. I would recommend the PS3 as Blu-Ray player and a up-convert system.

[MrJulius]

I hope that I am posting this in the correct section.

I have spent the last couple of hours attempting to find the answer to my question. So far, no luck.

I have the PS3 under the Christmas tree. My HDTV only has a component input for the HD signals. I have purchased the Sony Playstation 3 Component AV Cable. I was going to send the HD video signal straight to the HDTV via this cable and the audio signal to my amp via Toslink. I don't have HDMI anything.

After reading many, many posts about current audio profiles, I would like to get the best audio that I can.

Here is what I would like to do:
1- Purchase the Onkyo 605 amp that has HDMI
2- Run an HDMI to HDMI cable from the PS3 to the Onkyo
3- Have the Onkyo handle the audio
4- Run the PS3 component AV cable from the HDMI output slot on the Onkyo to the component in jacks on my HDTV.

Since the Sony PS3 Component AV Cable seems to convert the HDMI to component can I use this same cable "after the fact" and attach it from the receiver to the HDTV?

Is the Sony cable proprietary on the PS3 side???

Thanks for any help (Except "get a new TV" )

[PeterTHX]

HDMI is a standard cable.

You can run component directly to the TV if the Onkyo doesn't allow HDMI audio only input.

The PS3 will output audio via HDMI only and video via component. Keep in mind the PS3 will not upconvert DVDs thru component, Blu-rays will play at 720p/1080i and DVDs at 480i/p resolution.

[MrJulius]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

HDMI is a standard cable.

You can run component directly to the TV if the Onkyo doesn't allow HDMI audio only input.

The PS3 will output audio via HDMI only and video via component. Keep in mind the PS3 will not upconvert DVDs thru component, Blu-rays will play at 720p/1080i and DVDs at 480i/p resolution.

I found out that the Onkyo will not pass HDMI through the component output. I also found out that the Onkyo will allow HDMI audio only. I just have to figure out how to make the connections on the PS3. It is still under the Christmas tree as is the Sony PS3 component cable.

Does anyone know if the the Sony PS3 component cable plugs into the "multi-out" jack or the HDMI jack on the back of the PS3?

Thanks

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by MrJulius

I found out that the Onkyo will not pass HDMI through the component output. I also found out that the Onkyo will allow HDMI audio only. I just have to figure out how to make the connections on the PS3. It is still under the Christmas tree as is the Sony PS3 component cable.

Does anyone know if the the Sony PS3 component cable plugs into the "multi-out" jack or the HDMI jack on the back of the PS3?

Thanks

Multi-out

[MrJulius]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Multi-out

Thanks again PeterTHX,

Looks like I can pass the 1080i video through the "multi-out" via component and the audio through the HDMI to an AVR.

[gsi3000]

hi guys,
just been reading some of your threads, sorry don't understand most of the techy bits, but please can you help:
i'm looking at buying a blue ray player, why should i buy a ps3 over a stand alone player? apart from the obvious of course, if a stand alone player is best - which one?
many thanks
steve
oxon
uk

[brtql8t]

Hi,

I am sorry if this question was asked before as I could not find it in this forum

Is the PS3 capable of decoding Dolby True HD and DTS HD? If not, what does one need to do to get this capability?

Thanks.