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PlayStation 3 unmasked

People crowded outside the event, which featured Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, who demonstrated the new device.

Credit: Richard Shim

Crowd outside the PlayStation 3 event

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SLICK !!!!!!!!
by May 17, 2005 7:08 AM PDT
Xbox designers must be sensing a sick feeling in their stomach right about now.
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Specs
by May 17, 2005 7:25 AM PDT
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!
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XBox just got fed it's own ass...goodbye XBox...
by nitewatch May 17, 2005 7:34 AM PDT
and good riddance!
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They used the...
by Bob_Barker May 17, 2005 7:50 AM PDT
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.
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XBox looks much better
by May 17, 2005 7:55 AM PDT
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.
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XBOX 360 what's that?
by ZP May 17, 2005 8:06 AM PDT
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!!!!???
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MG it's so good looking!
by May 17, 2005 8:10 AM PDT
The good: slick looking, powerful, the bad: another year before we get it.
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FUGLY
by the liquid man May 17, 2005 8:33 AM PDT
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
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From consoles and beyond, lets fight the good fight.
by chuchucuhi May 17, 2005 10:40 AM PDT
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.
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Fanboys Galore
by May 17, 2005 10:42 AM PDT
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.
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It doesn?t go with my PSP.
by rherrera0077 May 17, 2005 11:07 AM PDT
It looks a little like a toaster for English muffins?
I think they could have done a better design.
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One Gamer's Perspective: PS3 Edition
by Christopher Hall May 17, 2005 12:19 PM PDT
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.
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Just try and stack one
by Tank252ca May 17, 2005 12:22 PM PDT
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.
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Excellent impartial review
by May 17, 2005 4:31 PM PDT
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.
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This is just a re-design of PS2!!!!!!
by xboxpsp May 17, 2005 6:26 PM PDT
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?
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fuck me i'm crazy
by May 17, 2005 9:30 PM PDT
about this playstion 2
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U-G-L-Y
by May 17, 2005 10:17 PM PDT
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?
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bland
by TreyTable May 17, 2005 10:40 PM PDT
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?
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good
by May 18, 2005 5:56 AM PDT
good
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plastation 3
by May 18, 2005 5:57 AM PDT
psp more better u know and this one its too alen to be a gamw like its from space.
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (176 Comments)
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