Comments on: Photos: PlayStation 3 unmasked

It's sleek, speedy and comes in three colors. But how does Sony's new console compare with the Xbox 360?

SLICK !!!!!!!!

Xbox designers must be sensing a sick feeling in their stomach right about now.

[mb36sr]

Only because they are eating PS3 alive!

Yeah their sick because they will eat the PS2 remake alive.

Specs

The specs on thsi unit are amazing. I'm a little weary about the controllers, but maybe my hands will have more room this time around and won't get all sweaty.

I pray to God that Sony's Online support gets to be as good, or better than XBL. Right now it just SUCKS on the PS2.

So, here's hoping to a new Metal Gear!

[nitewatch]

XBox just got fed it's own ass...goodbye XBox...

and good riddance!

[jmmachg]

I second that!

I second that!

[lukegamble]

Bill Gates has the PS3 bent over a chair...

I don’t even need to say that that new Xbox will be better then the PS3. Halo3 ALONE will have more sales and profit then the PS3. PS2 fell second to both Halo's and Microsoft's Xbox. Only reason anyone would buy this POS is to 'attempt' to hack it, which is the only reason PS had any sales at all, for that simplicity to copy games.

[jackasssiegel]

Xbox

Xbox might win out. heres why.

Xbox was better system but Ps2 already had a year head start. Xbox's numbers were higher in past few quarters than ps2. 360 will have at least 6 months on PS3 therefor greater library of games 200 this year alone(pushing for 360). Xbox will be backward compatible on most games. 360 should be alot cheaper due to no Bluray out of box. MS might even be able to further slash price by the time PS3 hits shelves. it comes with free xbox live right away. Sony doesn't have anything to compare with live. By the time PS3 hits 360 developers will be ready to push its limits. 360 also has pulled alot of companies from Sony. ie.. Square Enix will have next FF on 360.

[madman6699]

You're Joking RIGHT!

If anyone think xbox 360 is just going to lay down and die they better be ready for the biggest suprise of their life. xbox 360 was showing real time not some CGI crap that is just there to to get some small piece of the huge microsoft pie!!!

the playstation will be gone just like nintendo is now

look sony makes nice game consoles, but come on lets be serious we are talking about the biggest computer genius building a superior super computer (xbox 360). Bill Gates will put playstation out of business

I dont think so

As a true hard core gamer I expect great things from the PS3, Xbox360, and the Revolution or the new nintendo console for those of that havent heard.

No No No

Microsoft is one of the top pc franchises in the world so they wont fall that easily, but i'm not saying sony will either.

[Bob_Barker]

They used the...

They used the Spiderman movie font for the new logo. I guess Sony studios made the movie though eh? This design is pretty slick altough it's not much different than a PS2. Just a few curves and a slot loading DVD bay. That controller is questionable. Pretty though. Get the white one and it'll match your 360. Haha.

XBox looks much better

Personally, I couldn't disagree more with the people who think this looks better than the XBox. I prefer the more square shape of the XBox to the strange oval shape of the PS3.

I hate slot loaders and prefer trays. Finally, the PS3 controller looks like a reject boomerang from Batman's utility belt.

[201293546946733175101343322673]

Yes, XBox looks better......

......in the restroom :)

That's what you think

I like the PS3 better because it's more modern and futuristic looking. But I'm not going to knock the design of the X-Box just because I don't like it. It's all just a matter of opinon.

Oh come on, what matters is the INSIDE not OUTSIDE...

Look, if U buy a console for it's looks... come on..
here u have the "PS3 Vs Xbox 360"

CPU

PS3 - 7 SPE's @ 3.2Ghz each. 512kb L2 Cache.
Xbox 360 - 3 Cores @ 3.2Ghz each. 1MB L2 Cache.

Memory

PS3 - 256MB of XDR RAM (Main) & 256MB GDDR3 @ 700MHz (Video).
Xbox 360 - 512MB GDDR3 RAM @ 700 Mhz DDR (Shared).

Graphics

PS3 - Custom NVidia Card @ 550Mhz.
Xbox 360 - Custom ATI Card @ 500Mhz.

Storage

PS3 - Removable Hard-Drive (capacity TBA)
Xbox 360 - Rmovable Hard-Drive (20GB)

Display

PS3 - 1080p Standard.
Xbox 360 - 720p minimum. 1080i Optional.

Network

PS3 - 1000mbit Ethernet. Wi-Fi. Bluetooth 2.0
Xbox 360 - 100mbit Ethernet. Wi-Fi

Audio

PS3 - 5.1 Digital
Xbox 360 - 5.1 Digital

Disc Media

PS3 - CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, SACD, Blu-Ray
Xbox 360 - CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW

Release Date

PS3 - Spring 2006
Xbox 360 - November/December 2005

So.. Maybe Xbox look better by the CPU and RAM numbers.. but while PS3 processes at 2,18 teraflops, Xbox only has half of it...
well it was enought for me just to watch the Killzone2 teaser to make up my mind: PS3 :]

d

d

[SteveBarry687]

After returning from E3

I can tell you that the Xbox 360 is definitely not square. It is just as curvy as the PS3. Next.

Don't judge a book by it's cover!

u know the old saying: don't judge a book by it's cover. First off how do u know the boomerang shaped PS3 controller is uncomfortable. When the x-box came out, lot's of ppl complained about how big the controller was well at least around my community and friends. But after i tried it the x-box controller wasn't so bad. Second i think that the PS3 hardware looks way better than the look of the PS2 and the boring square shaped x-box 360. Plus the software is amazing for the ps3. The only reason x-box still exist and ppl bought them was basically halo came out for it. If it wasn't for halo, x-box would have been history. I think there are more fans of halo then for the x-box. That's why lots of people bought x-box. If Halo came out for PS2, then Nintendo and Microsoft would've been pwned.

[ZP]

XBOX 360 what's that?

How could the XBOX compete? Just look at the specs, the design, blu-ray, What deos XBOS have for it Halo? Oh boy another FPS geez that's never been done before. I will have to admit when I saw the new XBOX I was a little impressed and worreid if Sony might lose. But not anymore. Did you see the specs to this thing!!!!???

MG it's so good looking!

The good: slick looking, powerful, the bad: another year before we get it.

[David Dudley]

Demo Box

Was Sony also using a Macintosh to demo their games or are they further along than Microsoft?

I don't mind waiting another year if the console is as powerful and the games as high quality as some of the PS2 games were. As long as the PS3 launch titles are not as lacking as the original PS2 launch games were, then Sony should have a winner on their hands.

[the liquid man]

FUGLY

The design is hideous! The controller looks like a cheap pc controller. I hope this isn't the final design. They should make it look like a Vaio. Now those things are beautiful O_o

[David Dudley]

Eye of the beholder

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

I for one think the new PS3 is much better looking than the XBox 360 which Microsoft obviously spent too much money on with very little return on their investment. They should consider hiring away Jonathan Ivey and his team from Apple to do their industrial design (especially on their forthcoming music player that they are having Samsung, etc. make for them that is due by November, aka the iPod challenger).

As it stands now, the PS3 has overwhelmed the new XBox in every spec possible which means that in order for the new XBox to compete, not only must they beat Sony's delivery date (which they are apparently supposed to do), they must also beat it's content, which have they have a track record of not being able to do. Moreover, the new XBox has to have bigger sales in Japan, which they are resoundingly infamous for not being able to do. When the XBox was selling 10 units a month, they were getting outsold by the cancelled Dreamcast!

If you do the math, it is plain to see that the original XBox did marginally well in the US only, got a lukewarm reception in Europe and was shunned in Japan (which they hope to resolve by getting Square/Enix as a licensee, who they are probably paying to make games for the XBox 360). On the other hand, the PS2 did well in *all* markets.

Anyhow, to quote the bard, in the end it's all about the quality of the games, not the power of the hardware.

[chuchucuhi]

From consoles and beyond, lets fight the good fight.

Looks like the PS2 with a beveled top with a controller thats been done before. Three "colors" though technically 1 color two tones. This should be an interesting console "war." It should be intersting to really see what CELL can do. From a technical standpoint these new consoles can produce are capable of a color pallete even wider than is capable to the human eye. Should be fun to have lot of games to play and maybe some real convergance so the RIAA and MPAA start to understand the real power of the internet and stop suing everyone and their mom. I think in this next wave of consoles lets stop fighting over which console is better and focuus on how we want out media content delievered and tear through the red tape that is stopping us from really enjoying entertainment.

Fanboys Galore

Funny how everyone knows which console is better before they've even played it.

What I do know is that that PS3 contoller is awful. If it vibrates like other systems, then it could double for a two pronged *****.

Gates is on the offensive for sure by releasing the console first and scheduling Halo3 release on the same day as the PS3. How would you like to work at Circuit City that day? Argue as much as you want about Halo's quality, but it is very popular.

What I don't know is: Is the GTA series for next gen consoles going to be on PS3 only? I've never played a GTA game, but I was considering getting the SanAndreas for xbox when the price dropped.

Forget Halo, I'm wanting ElderScrolls: Oblivion. What games should we expect for Sony that won't be on Xbox...and vice-versa.

[chuchucuhi]

that controller

I do hope they change the controller pictured. That exact style was tried years ago and failed miserably, do any of the designers look at past products? I mean c'mon some basic research here. Oh and the XBOX 360 kinda looks like a Sony boombox.

[rherrera0077]

It doesn?t go with my PSP.

It looks a little like a toaster for English muffins?
I think they could have done a better design.

[Christopher Hall]

One Gamer's Perspective: PS3 Edition

This post is in direct parallel to a similar post I made regarding my thoughts on the Xbox 360, which can be found at the following address:
http://news.com.com/5208-1043-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=6734&messageID=44251&start=-1

Since it is most certain that I will be buying all of the next generation systems, I feel obligated to offer an unbiased viewpoint of how Sony's next console makes its first impression.

Much of what was good with the Xbox 360 is also good with Sony's new toy, the PlayStation 3. The PlayStation 2 was a very functional, almost industrial machine, with aesthetics taking a back seat to technology. With the PlayStation 3, we have a merge of the two in equal parts. As with the Xbox 360, the curves on this machine are gradual and stealthy. I have no criticisms about the appearances of either system. Sony's decision to include three different color choices is wise. To a gamer, this choice is more personal, but to a non-gamer, this makes the PS3 an easy addition to a home theater setup, given the versatility of the device.

Inclusion of wireless controllers is a good move for the next generation, and BlueTooth is as good a technology as any. Here again, included rechargeable batteries are a must. I'm not quite sure what purpose linking seven controllers to one game system is, but I'm keeping an open mind. The controller shape is very slick and very aggressive. The boomerang design choice will most likely be a controversial one, but I will have to hold it in my hands before I can make an adequate decision.

Backwards compatibility has been confirmed all the way to PlayStation 1 games. The importance of this inclusion is major. Backwards compatibility made the GameBoy the best-selling game machine on the planet and Sony is smart to take a page from Nintendo's book. For many people who still play PS1 games, not to mention those who aren't quite done with their PS2 games, I suspect this will be a major selling point. One concern worth bringing up, though, is that I do not see on any of the pictures where a memory card would insert, so that you could transfer your save games to the hard drive. I would suspect Sony would introduce a USB attachment to remedy this, but I have heard nothing to back this up.

I hate to say it, but high-definition and surround sound is now a moot point. All of the big players, thus far, have made it standard equipment (which means most of us have some upgrading to do).

Once again, I'm blown away by the power this system weilds. The Cell processor may very well be revolutionary, but it's important to keep in mind Sony's tendency to favor proprietary technologies that the industry is slow to adopt or entirely disinterested in. 2.8 teraflops is an impressive number and ought to allow developers the freedom to do pretty much whatever they want with the system, if used properly.

The power behind both of the next-generation systems introduced thus far is almost unbelievable, but we will have to see what they do with the power. The various tech demos I've seen for both systems are impressive, although there don't seem to be many differences. Could it be that we've actually hit a point where power is almost irrelevant? While I doubt that is or ever will be the case, I'm excited to see how developers harness all the power.

One fairly major concern I have, though, is the price of the PlayStation 3. With the launch of the PSP, Sony proved to the world that they could charge a premium for their products fairly easily and still move inventory. That's not to say that I don't love my PSP, but I'm concerned that Sony may be tempted to break the $300 barrier for the PS3. I haven't heard anything regarding the price, so I'm not holding my breath either way, but all that power and technology doesn't come cheap.

I haven't been this stoked about a next-generation console - or in this case, multiple consoles - release since the Dreamcast. The vast leaps of technology from the current generation to the next can only lead me to deduce that Microsoft, Sony, and possibly even Nintendo are in direct contact and/or collaboration with a multitude of alien governments. I think we're all in for a real treat.

So, besides the undeniable power differences, it seems to be "much of the same" between Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The battles of the next-generation's war will be fought with the games, though, not the hardware. That much we can always count on.

[Christopher Hall]

A correction

Having seen the screenshots and movies closer up than what I had previously seen, I'm retracting my initial statement that the graphics quality is not an issue. The PS3 exhibits a much greater clarity and quality than anything I saw on the Xbox demo, hands down. It would seem that Microsoft has some catching up to do in this department.

It's worth noting, though, that the Dreamcast, Xbox, and GameCube all looked better than the PS2 across the board, yet PS2 won out on games.

Time will tell.

[whiterabbit--2008]

... proprietary tech

"Sony's tendency to favor proprietary technologies that the industry is slow to adopt [http://...|http://...]"

In this case I think that Sony is doing this less than Microsoft is. The PS3 directly supports OpenGL, Bluetooth, and USB, all open technologies. In the Sony PC, the guys from Epic said that, because of the PS3's open system, it took almost no learning time to entirely take advantage of the PS3 system.

As far as them being such pioneers, adopting Blueray, it is certainly benificial to the rest of the industry. Blueray is already destined to take over from DVD. The rest of the industry is simply not in a position to take it up so quickly.

[mgarfein]

some things to think about

Here are some things to think about:
The Cell processor is designed for grid computing.
Won't this give the PS3 platform a significant edge?
Imagine a gaming world in which a million PS3's are sharing CPU resources, (let's just hope the AI doesn't get angry).
I did think of a use for the 7 controllers. What about five on five basketball and other team type play?
Another thought I had was that depending on how quickly the new DVD standard is developed the XBOX 360 could become useless as a DVD player years before the console lifecycle is complete. Not to mention Sony's overall capacity advantage because of the blu ray disk.

[Tank252ca]

Just try and stack one

I for one prefer function over form. I don't have just a game console hooked up to the TV, so my PS2 sits with my other audio/video components and we like to set the controllers or game boxes on top of it. Neither the PS3 or Xbox 360 allow you to stack anything on top of them, which will just be a PITA. Although the hub built into the PS3 is a good idea, and the media centre capabilities of the Xbox are cool, there is a reason that virtually all audio/video components are box shaped.

[Christopher Hall]

Shouldn't stack them, anyway

The only game consoles I own that actually have flat surfaces on the top of them are the original NES and the PS2, neither of which I would ever put anything on top of. Stackability simply isn't a selling point at this moment in time.

[Andrew J Glina]

And?

You can't stack an XBOX or a Gamecube either.

Same story for the Genesis/Mega drive, SNES, Nintendo 64, Amiga CD32, Atari 2600, PS1/One....

[SteveBarry687]

I think it is a crime..

to put anything on the top of your game console. You should make sure that code enforcement doesn't come and arrest you.

Excellent impartial review

Based on the available facts you presented a good balanced review. I, for one like the confirmed backwards compatibility and on that alone I am sold. Although I hear rumblings that some PS1 and PS2 emulation may eventually be available on the 360.

I was an early adopter for the launch of ps2 and my only regrets are the first gen issues with the controller ports and the DVD functionality, both consoles have finally crossed the threshold from gaming box top media center. Sony's heavy consumer electronics presence and Microsoft's ubiquity in the PC world are different approaches from slightly different angles, but, in general they seem to be converging to the point of "set top box" rather than "gaming console."

Looks to be a good fight. Given the specs and support from 3rd party publishers, any way you slice it, we the gamers are the winners.

[xboxpsp]

This is just a re-design of PS2!!!!!!

This isn't a revolutionary design and it's not as good looking as slim PS2. Seems bulky and still have t check the weight of this system. It looks like thay just added curves and where does the hard drive go?

Not Xbox....

PS3 doens't have a hard drive from what I hear. This is n't a re-design of the PS2, it doesn't look anything like the PS2. But I do perfer the Xbox design overall. But the PS3 writing is tight thou!!

fuck me i'm crazy

about this playstion 2

U-G-L-Y

Out of all the new console unveilings, this is the ugliest of the three! Looks more like a resurrection of the old Phillips CD-i. What's up with the Spider-Man font and that cheap looking boomerang controller? I thought design was one of Sony's strenghts, how could they screw up on something as important as Playstaion?

[TreyTable]

bland

The PS3 design looks more like a cheap printer than anything else. I wonder if it will break down or plain not just work (in its first few runs) like every other PlayStation product?

good

good

[Christopher Hall]

What is "Can you hear me now?"

:)

plastation 3

psp more better u know and this one its too alen to be a gamw like its from space.