Playstation 3 console. Review of the Sony PS3 Slim game console

12.12.2019

Sony PLAYSTATION 3, PS3 (jap. 3 Pureisute: son Suri:) - game console seventh generation, the third (formally) but the fourth taking into account the PSP (PS1, PS2, PSP and then PS3) in the "PlayStation" family of gaming systems. With PS3, you can play, watch movies, listen to music, send mail and open web pages. Also, since launch, the PS3 has supported most of the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games.

The console's main competitors are Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. The PS3 was released in Japan on November 11, 2006, on November 17, the console appeared in North America (including Mexico in the first quarter of 2007), and in March 2007 - in Europe. Initially, there were two configurations of the system, the main difference between which was the volume of the hard disk: 20 GB in the cheaper version and 60 GB in the complete set. The 20GB model was relatively popular in Japan, but sales were discontinued in North America on April 11, 2007 due to low demand. On July 9, 2007, Sony announced the beginning of sales of the 80GB model in North America in August 2007. Also on October 5, 2007, a version with a 40 GB hard drive appeared, which does not support games from Sony PlayStation 2 and does not have a built-in card reader. On August 20, 2008, an update of this version with an 80 GB hard drive appeared. It comes with a DualShock 3 joystick and, like the previous 40 GB model, has only 2 USB ports and does not support the PlayStation 2 format.

At the moment, sales of the console with a 60 GB disc in Russia are officially discontinued. Thus, three versions of the console remained on the Russian market - with hard drives of 40, 80 and 160 GB (sales of the latter began on October 31, 2008).

At the moment, sales of the console with a 60 GB disk in Russia are officially discontinued. Thus, two versions of the console remained on the Russian market - with hard drives of 80 and 160 GB (the latter began selling on October 31, 2008).
Moreover, the best version of the console is rightfully considered a console with 60 GB due to its compatibility with PSOne and PS2, best quality body finishes and built-in card reader.

Specifications
The theoretical power of the PlayStation 3 is two trillion floating point operations per second (2 teraflops), which is 35 times more than the capabilities of the PlayStation 2. The console supports and is based on open APIs.
The PS3 processor is a Cell Broadband Engine, a multi-core processor jointly developed by IBM, Sony and Toshiba Corporation. The Cell consists of one POWER-based processor element (PPE - POWER Processor Element) and eight synergistic processor elements (SPE - Synergistic Processor Element).
The console also uses the RSX graphics processor or "Reality Synthesizer" created by NVidia and SCEI. The video chip operates at 550 MHz and has 256 MB of memory. The GPU is a slightly modified G70.
The PS3 has 256MB of Rambus XDR DRAM.
The main optical media for playStation games 3 is Blu-ray, but the set-top box's drive can also play regular DVD and CD media. For a 2.5 ″ hard drive with a capacity of 40 gigabytes or more, it is possible to disconnect and replace it with a larger one. The set-top box was equipped with card readers for reading Memory Stick, CompactFlash, SD and MMC formats, in the new models they were removed due to the cost of the console.
Networking and wireless technologies are provided by Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b / g), Gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth 2.0 standards. There are four USB 2.0 ports on the body of the set-top box for connecting external devices.

Upscaling (eng. upscaling) - the process of increasing the resolution and quality of a digital image or video.

Used in hardware in some DVD players and Sony PlayStation 3.

Also used when enlarging images. The picture is better than when the resolution is simply increased.

Interface and operating system

XMB (Xross Media Bar) interface

The set-top box has a full-fledged operating system for which patches and updates can be downloaded through the online service. The system includes a full-fledged web browser that allows you to browse the Internet and check mail.

The PS3's Xross Media Bar (XMB) graphical interface was developed from the PSP's interface and is the control center for the console's capabilities. The program allows you to view photos, play music and movies from your hard drive. In addition, the XMB provides USB keyboard and mouse compatibility. There is the possibility of communication between players, including through voice and video chat. The interface uses two types of accounts - administrator and user, with which parents can limit, for example, the amount of money spent by children in the online store.

An operating system from the GNU / Linux family can be installed on the set-top box, for example, such as: YDL Linux (Yellow Dog Linux), Yellow Dog Linux for Sony PlayStation 3, Ubuntu, Fedora 7, however, some hardware features (for example, a 3D accelerator) will not be available ...

Hits

Heavy rain
Grand Theft auto IV
God of war iii
Killzone 2
Little big planet
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Uncharted 1/2
Gran turismo 5
Final Fantasy Versus XIII

Media player

In addition to games, the console can be successfully used as a video player, both standard and high definition (up to 1920 × 1080). Movies can be watched from both Blu-ray and regular DVDs (for example, in DivX or MPEG-4 format), and you can also use the set-top box as a client for a home media server (for example, FreeNAS).

Price and equipment

PS3 packaging, version "60Gb"

Sony has released two different PlayStation 3 configurations. The “Premium” or “60Gb” version includes an internal 60GB hard drive. This version of the set-top box is also equipped with a Wi-Fi interface, HDMI output and a card reader. The “Core” or “20Gb” version with a 20 GB hard drive does not include Wi-Fi and a card reader, but it does support the ability to replace the hard drive and add missing interfaces using adapters. Initially, the company did not intend to equip the younger version of the set-top box with an HDMI connector, however, on September 22, 2006, Sony changed its decision, and, in addition, reduced the price of the "Core" version in Japan to $ 429. Also, both versions do not include HDMI. cable required for full HD output.

Also supplied with the prefix:

One controller
USB cable
Stereo AV cable (Stereo AV, Component, D-terminal, multi-terminal)
LAN cable
Power cord

On November 11, 2006, PS3 sales began in Japan, and on November 17, the console was released in North America. The launch of the PlayStation 3 in Europe took place in March 2007 due to a lack of production capacity, and the configuration of the console for this region has undergone changes. On April 11, 2007, the production of the minor version of the console, "20 GB", was discontinued.

On July 8, 2007, Sony announced a price cut for the 60GB North American version of the box, which will now be priced at $ 499, and a new model with an 80GB hard drive has been announced and will go on sale in August for $ 599. ...

On October 18, 2007, Sony announced a price cut for the 80GB North American version of the set-top box, which will now be priced at $ 499, and a new 40GB hard drive model has also been officially announced for America and will go on sale on November 2nd. price 399 USD

Equipment

Opportunities	20 GB (NTSC)	40 GB (PAL, NTSC)	60 GB (NTSC)	60 GB (PAL)	80 GB (NTSC)	80 GB (PAL / NTSC)	160 GB (PAL / NTSC)
Removable 2.5 "hard drive	20 GB	40 GB	60 GB	60 GB	80 GB	80 GB	160 GB
USB 2.0 ports	4	2	4	4	4	2	2
Colour	The black	Black, white (Asia only)	The black	The black	The black	The black	The black
IEEE 802.11b / g Wi-Fi	Not	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Flash card adapter	Not	Not	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not	Not
Chrome panel	Not	Not	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not	Not
External finish	Glossy	Glossy	Glossy	Glossy	Glossy	Glossy	Glossy
SACD playback	Yes	Not	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not	Not
PS2 compatible	Hardware	Not	Hardware	Hardware	Software	Not	Not

All models include: Blu-ray / DVD / CD drive, HDMI 1.3a and Bluetooth 2.0 support

Prices by region

Region	Declared value	20 GB Model	40 GB Model	60 GB Model	80 GB Model
European Union	EUR	Not for sale	€399	Discontinued	€399
Great Britain	GBP	Not for sale	Ј299	Discontinued	Ј299
Japan	JPY	¥ 49,980	¥ 39,980	Discontinued	¥ 39,980
USA	USD	Discontinued	$399	Discontinued	$399
Canada	CAD	Discontinued		Discontinued	$669,99
Russia	RUB	Not for sale	15990	Discontinued	15990

Accessories

DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller

Wireless Buzz! ™ Buzzers

PLAYSTATION®Eye

SIXAXIS Wireless Controller

Sixaxis is a Bluetooth wireless controller. According to Sony, the battery will last up to 24 hours of use and will use a USB cable to charge the console. The process of recognition of additionally connected wireless controllers is easily visible on 4 LED indicators. Up to seven controllers can be connected to the PlayStation 3 at the same time.

The main feature of Sixaxis is the ability of the controller to determine its position in space, as well as to detect movement and rotation in three planes, which will allow using new techniques in games that do not require pressing buttons. Sixaxis does not support vibration function, which also makes the device lighter. The company said the vibration was removed from the controller solely to reduce the price of the device, although the vibration features were previously thought to interfere with motion sensors.

The Sixaxis has replaced the Analog switch and indicator on the front of the controller with a PlayStation logo button, similar to the Guide function on the Xbox 360 controller. The height of some buttons has been increased for greater comfort. The “L2” and “R2” levers at the rear have become almost analogous, now their degree of depression can be adjusted like the pedals in a car. The analog joysticks have increased maximum deflection angle and increased sensitivity.

At TGS'07, SCEI officially announced the DualShock 3, which differs from the original controller in the presence of vibration.

Blu-ray remote control

On December 7, the company also released a remote control with which the set-top box can be used as video player Blu-ray discs with standard features: rewinding, switching between movie chapters, navigating through menus, etc. The planned cost of the device is € 24. May be included in some configurations.

Component AV cable

The component AV cable connects the PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3 system to your TV.

AV cable

An AV (Integrated Audio / Video) cable connects the PlayStation system to the TV.

HDMI cable (3 meters)

S-VIDEO cable

This cable is used to connect the PlayStation system to the TV. Supports standard definition (576i) output, compatible with most TVs with S-VIDEO input *.

Playstation network

Once you have set up PLAYSTATION 3, you can go online and join the PLAYSTATION®Network service.
The Network section is located on the main menu - here you will find the most advanced features of PLAYSTATION 3. Network gives you access to the Internet version of the Owner's Manual and also connects your PS3 and PSP to the vast world of Internet and content in the PLAYSTATION® Store.
The Internet browser is your window to the Internet. Browse your favorite websites, bookmark your most visited locations and use up to six windows for quick browsing.
If you enter PLAYSTATION®Network in the Friends category of the Main Menu, you will have access to the PLAYSTATION®Store.

There you will find free game demos, high-definition promotional videos and many more extras for different games. You can also buy and download full versions of games, including those available only on PLAYSTATION 3.

Internet play
Your unique global identifier, ID, will allow you to enter the world of online collective games, regular tournaments and competitions, will give you the opportunity to independently create various materials and share them with other PlayStation Network users.
Internet play

PlayStation Store
Visit the PlayStation Store to download exclusive PS3 and PSP content - full games, high-definition movies and game cutscenes, as well as beta games and community demos.

Friends and messaging
Send text, audio and video messages with friends and family and stay connected using PlayStation Network's control tools.

Visit the Internet
Get online with ease with the built-in Internet browser on your PS3 and PSP systems.

How to register?

PC registration

You can register for the PlayStation Network at eu.playstation.com by following the link below. If you have a PSN ID, you can also use it to instantly access the PlayStation Network from your PS3.
Register now at playstation [dot] ru.

Register PS3

1. Connect your PSP to the Internet via a broadband connection.
2. Select [Sign up for PlayStation Network] from the PS3 main menu and create a new account.
3. Done! You can go online.

Register PSP

1. Make sure you have installed latest updates system software. They are available at eu.playstation.com.
2. Check if wireless is available on your PSP.
3. Select [Sign up for PlayStation Network] from the main menu of your PSP and create a new account.
4. You can now log into the Playstation Network from your PSP.

PlayStation Home

Chat with friends
Meet friends, make new acquaintances, chat with them and play online games, then return to PlayStation Home to discuss the completed game and organize a new one.

Explore a 3D world
Home is a stunning high definition project featuring Central Plaza, Bowling Alley, Shopping Center, Home Theater, its own room, themed play spaces and more.

Get Home for free
Since you have a PlayStation Network account and access to the PlayStation Store, you can download Home for free.

PlayStation Home Surfing

Red Bull Air Race Game
IN game Red Bull Air Race you have to become a pilot of an airplane (the characteristics of which you set yourself) and overcome a difficult air track with obstacles. Break the records of other players in this high-speed test of your nerves and reactions.

Bowling alley
Get together with friends and open the bowling alley right at home, playing virtual arcade-style bowling. Compete with each other in knocking down pins, visit separate rooms of the play area and enjoy the pool.

PSP-3000 Treasure Hunt
Find out more about the exciting new PSP-3000 launch events at PlayStation Events Space here ...

Home theater
Sit back in front of the Home Theater to watch videos of upcoming games and movies and learn about the latest technology. The videos to watch will be updated regularly, so check back often.

PS Home stuff, minigames, videos, and other PSN paid content are purchased with $ 20 and $ 50 PSN credit cards and payment cards!

Decoding error codes Playstation 3

Below is a list of all the known errors that the PlayStation 3 issues in case of various unforeseen situations. If the proposed solutions do not help you, then you need to contact Sony technical support by phones: 8-495-258-76-69 (for Moscow) and 8-800-200-76-67 (free from anywhere in Russia).

00710102 - DNS error. DNS server is not available. Try to set the servers as DNS servers]]\u003e OpenDNS ... 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.
80010001 - Serious error, the ability to run games is disabled (Possible physical damage to the BluRay drive).
80010006
80010007 - Error while trying to start. Try restarting your PlayStation 3.
80010014 - The downloaded content is corrupted. Usually occurs when there is an error while downloading games from PSN. The download must be repeated.
80010017 - Unable to start the game from Blu-ray disc.
80010036 - Error deleting.
8001050B- Unable to run demo game from hard disk when Blu-ray disc is inserted. Remove the disc.
8001050D- Error when starting the STB. Remove the disc from the set-top box, reinsert it and reboot the system.
80010510 - Unable to start the game from the hard drive - unknown reason.
80010514 - Error reading BD disc.
80010516 - Error starting PSONE game. Remove the disc, re-insert it, and reboot the system.
8002178F
80022D27- It is not possible to compare trophies at the moment. Try again later or reboot your box.
80022D68- Trophy sync error, please try again later.
80023102 - Error in credit card information, check the correctness of the entered data.
80023103 - Error in credit card information, please check the correctness of the entered data or try again later.
80028801 - Starting with firmware version 1.8, this is an error of playing files in the ".ts", ".m2t" and ".m2ts" containers. To play, you need to rename them to ".mpg" and they will be played.
8002880C- Error playing DivX video files of unsupported type.
80028818 - Same as error 80028801
80028E01- Unable to connect to the Internet. Try to overload your router.
80028EA5- Unable to connect to PSN. Try changing your DNS settings to those described in 00710102, if it doesn't help, contact technical support.
80028EA6- Internet connection error, router problems. Try to overload your router.
80028F10- Incompatibility of the game format with image output formats. The reason for the occurrence is the discs of the wrong region as the set-top box. The only normal way to fix it is to connect the set-top box to the TV via HDMI.
80028F17- Error starting PS2 game. Remove the disc, re-insert it, and reboot the system.
80028F18- Incompatible PS2 disc. Occurs when you insert a disc with instruments, IQ Remix or other non-standard disc into the console.
80028F19- Error starting PS2 disc. The data stored on the hard disk cannot be read. Use the set-top box toolkit to fix the problem.
80028F1A- Error starting PS2 disc. Network error.
80029023 - Key exchange timeout expired. Try connecting again.
80029024 - The waiting time for the IP address has expired, check that you have a working DHCP server.
80029301 - Error deleting data from virtual PS2 memory card. To fix it, remove the memory card that showed the error.
80029513 - Content protection error when installing the game to disk. The system does not have users who bought this game.
80029516 - You need to log into PlayStation Network to start the game.
80029564 - Error installing content downloaded from the network. Usually occurs when an error occurs while downloading games from PSN. The download must be repeated.
80029945 - Unable to play BD-R movies.
80029946 - Error starting DVD movie that is not compatible with the video format (NTSC on PAL system).
80029C68- File (s) are damaged. Usually happens with files on an external hard drive.
8002A10D- Unable to add friend to XMB or use chat - unknown reason.
8002A220- PlayStation Network is not available. Reboot the STB and wait for the service to return to normal operation.
8002A227- Your console is denied access to the PlayStation Network. Please contact technical support.
8002A231- This PSN-ID is denied access to PSN. Usually the reason for this blocking is credit card fraud. For example, paying for PSN through intermediaries at bargain prices - $ 100 per 100 rubles. You need to contact technical support and find out what you can do to solve this problem, or get a new PSN-ID.
8002A4A6
8002A515- PSN login failed.
8002A548- Unable to authorize on the server.
8002A705- Unable to connect to the game server. TCP and UDP ports required for correct operation are closed. Check your router settings.
8002A71A- NAT error, you can connect to the game server, but you will not be able to join games and create your own.
8002A854- PSN service timed out.
8002AD23- Your connection type does not allow starting network mode. This usually happens if you have a NAT3 connection type.
8002AE1D- An error occurred while establishing a connection to the server. This is usually a DNS server problem.
8002B241- A DVI cable is used to connect the set-top box, sound transmission is not possible.
8002F029- Problem with updating firmware. The firmware file may be damaged.
8002F147- Unable to update the firmware over the Internet. Possible solutions: disable proxy, try not to use Firewall, disable UnuP support.
8002F147- Updating the STB via the Internet is not possible.
8002F994- The update server is overloaded, please try again later.
8002F997- Error updating the set-top box from external media.
8003041F- An error occurred while copying a file from a network share. Try to repeat the process.
8003051E- The game will not be saved.
80030920 - File copy error, the file is damaged or there is not enough disk space. Try to repeat the process.
80031150 - Error saving system settings. Damage system information... Press "X" to restore default settings.
80031601 - An error occurred while creating a user account.
8013013D- WPA key error, insufficient signal strength, or unsupported encryption used for example WPA2. For WI-FI network.
8013013E- WEP key error, try creating a key from all numbers, switch to WPA or disable encryption.
80130203
8013030 - System error due to unsuccessful update download.
80130301 - Your connection type does not allow you to join PSN. It usually happens if your connection type is NAT3.
8013030F- No access point found.
80410418 - DNS error.
80410A0B- Internal PSP error, please contact technical support.
8070102 - DNS server error, DNS server not found.
80710016 - Playstation Network is currently unavailable, please try again later.
80710092 - An error has occurred, the PSN session has been terminated. The connection timed out or a temporary connection failure was timed out. Highly common mistakeif the region of your PSN account does not match the region of your set-top box.
80710101 - Connection error.
80710102 - IP address conflict. Try to change the IP address of the set-top box or reboot the router.
80710104 - No connection with the gateway. Try to overload your router.
807101FF- DNS error.
8071053D- Requires a hard reboot of the system. Put the set-top box into sleep mode (hold down the power button and hold it for ten seconds), when the set-top box turns off, turn off the power switch on the back of the set-top box and unplug the power cord from it. Also disconnect your router from the network for three to five minutes. Then turn on the router, turn on the set-top box and create a new connection to the network.
80710541 - The server connection timed out. Press "X" to restore default settings.
80710723 - Your connection type does not allow starting network mode. As a rule, it happens if the connection type is NAT3. Try to open TCP ports: 80, 443, 5223 and UDP ports: 3478, 3479, 3658 or add your prefix to the DMZ.
80710736 - Unknown video playback error.
80710A06- An error occurred while trying to install the game. Try downloading the game again.
80710B23- Playstation Network is not available, maintenance may be underway or too many users. Try later.
One of the possible reasons for this problem, in addition to prevention, may be incorrect Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) settings in the router and set-top box. Try changing the MTU settings in the router and set-top box from "Auto" to 1500 or lower, for example, 1492, 1480, 1472, 1478, 1462, 1454 and so on until the connection with the PSN is restored. If you also have a computer connected to the router, you can use the command ping -f -l #### www.google.com where #### is the MTU size to find the packet size that fits. Send ping with new values \u200b\u200buntil you get a response from the server and try using the received value.
80710B24- Playstation Network is not available.
80710D23- Overheating of the console. Completely disconnect the set-top box from the power (turn on the switch on the back and remove the power cord) and let it cool down for 30 minutes.
80711008 - Your connection type does not allow starting network mode. As a rule, it happens if the connection type is NAT3
81019002 - Unable to copy save.

Interesting Facts

Astrophysicist Gaurav Khanna used 16 PlayStation 3 consoles to create a "supercomputer", writes Reghardware. The scientist connected the set-top boxes with an inexpensive Ethernet adapter, and loaded them under the Linux operating system to enter the data into the consoles.

He uses the resulting system to study the activity of black holes for the physics department at the University of Massachusetts. With this project, Hanna wants to describe the properties of gravitational fields that occur when black holes collide.

Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) - a game console that replaced the generation of Sony PlayStation 2 game consoles and went on sale in 2006.

Sony PlayStation 3 Slim - updated version PlayStation 3, which has received a number of software and technical updates. PS3 Slim went on sale in 2009, replacing the previous model of this gaming platform.

The Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim is the latest modification of the PlayStation 3 to complete this generation. The game console was released in a new ultra-thin case for a stationary console, with two options for internal memory - 12GB and 500GB. The PS3 Super Slim also received new technical equipment, and the data processing process became noticeably faster than that of the PS3 Slim.

The PlayStation 3 was originally the first video game console to feature a BlueRay drive and 3D support in play mode. In addition, the platform has received a significant expansion of the capabilities of the PlayStation Network. Games became available for purchase online, download demo games, join gaming communities, and so on.

The image quality reproduced by the PlayStation 3 will pleasantly surprise everyone. But this is natural, because the combination of BlueRay and Full-HD images speaks for itself.

The PS3 also received an updated controller - the Sony DualShok 3, which received vibration and better performance than the Sony DualShok 2.

The multi-format console and Internet access have made the PlayStation 3 a real multimedia center for leisure activities.

Also, the PS3 has received such components as the PlayStation Eye camera and PlayStation Move, thanks to which the user can control the character in certain games with his own movements.
The PlayStation Eye camera will record your movements, and PlayStation Move will duplicate them in the game! These components are especially relevant for family leisure and collective children's games.

Specifications Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim:

Attachment type	Stationary
CPU	Cell, 3.2 GHz
GPU	NVIDIA RSX
RAM	256 MB, XDR
Video memory	256 MB, GDDR3
Hard disk space	from 12 to 500GB
HD support	there is
Network connections	Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n), Ethernet
Supported formats	WMA, MP3, SACD, JPEG
Supported media	Blu-ray, DVD, DVD R, DVD RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
Connectors	AV out, HDMI, USB x2, optical audio out
Dimensions	290x60x230 mm
Weight	2.1 kg
Supports console games	PlayStation One, PlayStation 3
Accessories included	Wireless Controller, Component / Composite HD AV Cable, USB Cable, Network Cable
Media type for games	Blu-ray Disc

By purchasing a Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim, you will open up a whole virtual world entertainment, exciting challenges and tasks for thought, as well as carefree pastime with popular games!

Thinner, lighter, most powerful, the latest model of the PlayStation 3 gaming platform - the PlayStation 3 Super Slim is ready for your leisure time!

Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) - a game console that replaced the generation of Sony PlayStation 2 game consoles and went on sale in 2006.

Sony PlayStation 3 Slim is an updated version of the PlayStation 3 that has received a number of software and technical updates. PS3 Slim went on sale in 2009, replacing the previous model of this gaming platform.

The image quality reproduced by the PlayStation 3 will pleasantly surprise everyone. But this is natural, because the combination of BlueRay and Full-HD images speaks for itself.

The PS3 also received an updated controller - the Sony DualShok 3, which received vibration and better performance than the Sony DualShok 2.

The multi-format console and Internet access have made the PlayStation 3 a real multimedia center for leisure activities.

Specifications Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim:

Attachment type	Stationary
CPU	Cell, 3.2 GHz
GPU	NVIDIA RSX
RAM	256 MB, XDR
Video memory	256 MB, GDDR3
Hard disk space	from 12 to 500GB
HD support	there is
Network connections	Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n), Ethernet
Supported formats	WMA, MP3, SACD, JPEG
Supported media	Blu-ray, DVD, DVD R, DVD RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
Connectors	AV out, HDMI, USB x2, optical audio out
Dimensions	290x60x230 mm
Weight	2.1 kg
Supports console games	PlayStation One, PlayStation 3
Accessories included	Wireless Controller, Component / Composite HD AV Cable, USB Cable, Network Cable
Media type for games	Blu-ray Disc

By purchasing the Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim, you will open up a whole virtual world of entertainment, exciting challenges and tasks for thought, as well as a carefree pastime with popular games!

Thinner, lighter, most powerful, the latest model of the PlayStation 3 gaming platform - the PlayStation 3 Super Slim is ready for your leisure time!

GPU RSX 3.2GHz (2 cores) 256MB / 128Bit

RAM 256MB Rambus XDR DRAM (3.2GHz) + 256MB GDDR3 (0.7GHz)

Hard drive 20 - 500GB (depending on configuration)

Blu-ray drive

Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, S / PDIF, HDMI

Despite the venerable age of the console, its characteristics do not seem completely weak and outdated. The console copes well with most modern games, albeit with a loss in graphics quality. True, this is felt so far only in games coming out on all platforms. Exclusives look flawless - they are tailored to the parameters of the PS3.

What's the difference between Playstation 3 Fat, Slim and Super-slim?

Console revisions from a perspective technical characteristics are identical. But they differ not only in size. Playstation 3 Fat has 4 USB ports, there is a card reader, reads Super Audio CD, it is also possible to install Linux if the console firmware is lower than 3.15. Playstation 3 Slim has lost the above functions and has 2 USB ports.

But, in turn, Slim'ka is made according to a more modern technical process, which made it possible to reduce the weight of the set-top box, its power consumption and heat dissipation. The last two parameters significantly influenced the reduction of the noise level during operation. The Super Slim version has become even more compact, although this version of the console does not have the ability to unlock, like the latest Slim lots.

Note that we are engaged in the rental of playstation 3 and playstation 4 game consoles in the city of Minsk and we use slim-versions of consoles as rental ps3. There is really much less hassle with them than with the fat version. Therefore, if you live in Minsk and want to rent a set-top box, please contact. Prices, conditions and more here - rental of game consoles ps3 and ps4 in Minsk. We'll make a 10% discount if you say you've read the ps3 review with us;)

Console ports and connectors

The following connectors can be found on the rear panel of the set-top box:

Gigabit Ethernet port, which is for connecting the Playstation 3 to the Internet. It is also possible to connect the console to the Internet via Wi-fi
HDMI connector - designed to output high definition video (supported via HDMI 720, 720i, 1080, 1080i)
S / PDIF - designed for high quality audio output. By the way, for music lovers, Playstation 3 can be an excellent audio combine. The set-top box supports surround audio, not to mention standard.
Next is the standard connector, known since the first Playstation, through which you can output both sound and video in the lowest quality (576p)
Power connector. PS3 has a built-in power supply.

In front there is:

2 USB 2.0 connectors (the first version of Playstation 3 - FAT has 4 ports)
Blu-ray disc input (Super slim version inserts the disc from the top)
Only FAT "ki still have card readers and a slot for an expansion card

External storage media (flash drives, external hard drives) can be connected via USB ports. The console will recognize music, photos, videos from them. Thus, PS3 can be used as a multi-media system. But the most important thing is that you can reset your save files so that no one accidentally deletes them.

Devices designed to play on ps3

The game uses a standard Dualshock 3 controller (we have a separate article about it) and Playstation Move - a device that allows you to interact with the console with gestures. You can pick up Move and play, say, boxing, archery simulator, bowling and other games, but for this you also need a special Playstation eye camera that can recognize gestures.

Menu type and its features

The standard PS3 menu is very similar in style to the XMB (Xross Media Bar) PSP, and in general it is easy to recognize the Sony corporate identity. In terms of ease of use, I would like to say the following: after another hour of wandering around the XMB, you can already roughly navigate where what is located, even if this or that parameter has never flickered before your eyes.

Everything works very quickly and smoothly. There is even a built-in browser through which, in case of urgent need, you can surf the Internet. There is also a built-in player for watching movies and listening to music. Playstation 3 is also a great Blu-ray player ... Otherwise, everything is as it should be for a modern gaming system - various settings, profiles, data management, Internet services, including PSN, where you can buy a game, and more.

The background color and theme of the menu can be changed, it is even possible to put a screenshot or photo in the background. There are no complaints about navigation. Everything is simple and intuitive.

What playstation 3 comes standard

When buying a set-top box, it will be interesting and useful to know what is in the box with the Playstation 3 and what else will need to be purchased.

This is what the standard console configuration looks like:

The Playstation 3 console itself
One Dualshock 3 gamepad (Sixaxis was included with Fat - it has no vibro)
Gamepad charging cable
Cable for connecting to a 220 V network
An analog cable for connecting to a TV. (It is better to immediately purchase a good HDMI cable - through the analog image, the quality is much lower)
Operating instructions with demo disc

There will also be games for the playstation 3, and what makes the console so special?

Playstation 3 for more than 8 years of its existence on the market has accumulated a not sickly list of games. The list of all games can be found in a special section of our website - games for playstation 3. And in some of them any person who considers himself a real gamer is simply obliged to play.

Since November 15, 2013, the Playstation 3 successor, the Playstation 4, has been on sale. But, according to the developers, games for the Playstation 3 will still be released for several years. For example, FIFA 14 was released for Playstation 2. In addition, Playstatin 3 will not lose its relevance for a long time due to such exclusives as: God of War 3, Gran turismo 6, The last of us, Little big planet, Uncharted series and others.

Thank you so much for your attention to the article. Unfortunately, the block for comments is not ready yet. Therefore, if you have any questions, then leave them under a similar video on my YouTube channel. I will be glad to answer all your questions.

Sony PlayStation. Over the past decade, this phrase has become a legend and almost synonymous with the concept of "console video games". In the now distant 1994, the Japanese corporation Sony decided to try its hand at the electronic entertainment market that had once again become fashionable, and released the PlayStation game console (which loosely translated into Russian means "Game Console").

Not everyone knows that the first PlayStation was born out of a joint project between Sony and the highly experienced company Nintendo to add a CD drive to the SNES console, which would allow not only playing SNES games from Nintendo, but also fully using the new CD format at that time, actively promoted by Sony.

However, something went wrong between the partners during this project, and the SNES version with a CD drive never came to light. But since a lot had been done, it was decided to use the developments in its own game console (much to the discontent of Nintendo, which because of this filed a lawsuit against Sony).

The first attempt was surprisingly successful - the PlayStation console was produced for 11 years and sold over 100 million copies, becoming the first game console in history to reach this mark. Curiously, the direct competitor of the Sony PlayStation console from Nintendo - the Nintendo 64 console released two years later - sold only 33 million units - Sony's bet on the advanced multimedia capabilities of the console was fully justified.

Six years later, in the year 2000, Sony introduced the second version of the console, unpretentiously named PlayStation 2.

The PS2 phenomenon remains largely unsolved to this day. It cannot be said that the PS2 outperformed its competitors (in particular, the Sega Dreamcast) so significantly; PS2 cannot be said to have such a large library of amazing exclusive games (at the time of the launch, there was not much to play on it). Perhaps the only significant difference between PS2 and its competitors was the support of the DVD media, which was very common in 2000, but it is difficult to explain the huge excitement around the new console, its meteoric rise to the top and unconditional victory not only over the first, but also over the second wave of competitors.

Most likely, we have witnessed a synergy effect, when there are many seemingly small advantages (DVD media, advanced technologies, ahead of time to market, support from large independent publishers, many of our own exclusive brands, successful design, well-chosen retail price etc., etc.) after the merger in one product have become something more than the sum of the "features" on the box.

The PlayStation 2 has undergone several transformations, and in its latest incarnation is being produced to this day, successfully overtaking some of the new consoles in sales. Currently, about 120 million PlayStation 2 have been sold in the world - Sony broke the record set by the first version of the console.

But time does not stand still, and a new generation of game consoles begins to appear on the market - in the fall of 2005, Microsoft began selling the Xbox 360. Of course, Sony, which twice trampled its competitors on the PlayStation, was not going to give up without a fight - and ahead of time, in May 2005. years, six months before the release of the Xbox 360, announced the PlayStation 3.

"GameConsole-3"

For the first time, something plausible about the new Sony console sounded when Sony, together with Toshiba and IBM, announced the development of a new processor - the Cell. Then it became clear that this particular processor will form the basis of the next PlayStation.

Then, however, came the "season of dense fogs". There was no new information about the PlayStation 3 until the end of 2004, when Sony, rather unexpectedly, announced an agreement with NVIDIA to develop a GPU for its new console.

Then came the announcement (E3 exhibition in May 2005), negative reviews on the prototype of the new gamepad, a series of planetary speculations about the specifications and the date of the new console on sale, the shock from the announced retail prices, and so on - we won't remind you of the details, the story is still fresh in memory of those interested in the subject. Instead, let's focus on the main features of the new console, and start with the technical stuff (which you can learn more about in ours):

	Playstation 2	Playstation 3
CPU	CPU Emotion Engine jointly developed by Sony and Toshiba: one MIPS R5900 core, an additional FPU and two vector coprocessors VU0 and VU1; frequency 294 MHz, 16 KB instruction cache, 8 KB data cache, 16 KB integrated memory ("scratch pad RAM")	CPU Cell jointly developed by Sony, Toshiba and IBM: one core of the modified IBM Power architecture, 8 SPE (1 SPE is disabled to increase the yield of usable chips in PS3); 3.2 GHz frequency, 32 KB L1 instruction cache, 32 KB L1 data cache, 512 KB L2 cache
Video chip	Sony GPU Graphics Synthesizer: 16 Pixel Pipelines, 4MB EDRAM, 147 MHz	GPU RSX developed by NVIDIA and Sony: 24 pixel and 8 vertex pipelines, functionality corresponds to API DirectX 9 and Shader Model 3, frequency 500 MHz
RAM	32 MB UMA	512MB NUMA (256 MB + 256 MB)
Audio system	two processors SPU1 and SPU2	audio processing via CPU
HDD	external optional, 40 GB	standard, 20/60/80 GB (can be replaced with more capacious models)
Primary storage medium	DVD-ROM	BD-ROM

So, at the heart of the PlayStation 3 console is the Cell processor manufactured by the STI consortium (Sony, Toshiba, IBM).

Cell - central processing unit

The Cell processor developed by the STI consortium is a multi-core asymmetric CPU. In total, Cell has 9 cores, but only one of them is full - this core is based on the IBM Power architecture and is called PPE (Power Processing Element).

(Surprise surprise! The PS3 is the third and final next-generation console to use the IBM Power architecture - we pay tribute to IBM, which has managed to "hook" the entire console industry on its processors.)

Although PPE is a relatively stripped-down processor core (In-Order Execution with multithreading, only 512 KB of L2 cache), it is at the same time the most complete core in the Cell chip.

The other eight cores are called SPEs (Synergistic Processing Elements), and are SIMD "number crushers" - small, stupid and ineffective when executing traditional, non-optimized code. However, on specially prepared for SPE cell code, thanks to these small but wicked "number crushers", demonstrates amazing performance, comparable to the performance of entire compute clusters on traditional CPUs. By matching marginal performance metrics, Sony likes to impress people who don't realize that these metrics can only be learned from the Cell in a narrow range of applications.

Each SPE is equipped with 256 KB of "local memory" - not a cache, but full memory, which is accessed with the lowest latency and maximum speed.

All Cell processor cores can independently communicate with each other via the Element Interconnect Bus, with memory (via the onboard Rambus XDRAM controller), and with devices connected to the Rambus FlexIO (via the onboard FlexIO controller).

In general, the Cell processor can be thought of as a single traditional processor (PPE) surrounded by a bunch of fast coprocessors (SPEs) that, when executed with their optimal code, provide unparalleled performance.

Here we can draw a parallel between the Cell and Emotion Engine processors: EE was one “full”, “central” core (MIPS R5900) with 2 vector coprocessors VP0 and VP1; Cell is one "full", "central" core (IBM Power, PPE) with 8 SPE vector coprocessors. There is something in common, isn't there? Of course, both the "central" core and the coprocessors themselves in Cell have become much heavier and orders of magnitude faster and smarter than their predecessors in the Emotion Engine, but the basic scheme of the PlayStation console's CPU has not changed.

Directly in the PlayStation 3, one of the Cell processor SPEs is disabled in order to increase the percentage of chips usable for use in consoles, and another one is reserved for system needs (operating system execution, copy protection, etc.). Thus, only 6 SPE Cells are actually available for PS3 games. It should be borne in mind that the SPE also has to count all the game sound - which, by and large, reduces the number of available SPE developers to 5.

But six processor cores, each of which has SIMD functionality, and PPE, in addition, is able to execute two software threads simultaneously (analogue of HyperThreading, but, according to rumors, with much higher efficiency) - this, by today's standards, is quite a lot. The only question is how difficult it is to extract peak performance from the Cell Crushers. And here things are not very good.

In fact, the program for SPE is limited not only by the need to "lay down" on the architecture of the "number crusher" (and this, at least, means that it should be very SIMD-capable and avoid using conditional jumps and calculations with double precision real numbers), but and be content with 256 KB of RAM (access to main memory has such a latency that it can only be used in exceptional cases - and SPE does not have a cache).

If we assume that SPE programming is a very nontrivial task and requires retraining on the part of programmers, and one PPE core is frankly not enough for modern video games, then we get a serious problem: programmers have to learn to achieve the same result with new algorithms. That is, time is wasted (and time is money), and it is wasted on “reinventing the wheel”.

In other words, Cell is, of course, a potentially good processor, but whether its potential will still be relevant by the time they learn to extract it is a difficult question. While Cell programming difficulties are an obstacle to the creation of high-quality PS3 games, competitors with weaker and simpler processors are gathering full and temporary exclusives under their "wing", which is not the best effect on the image of the PlayStation 3 as a whole.

RSX - video chip

The PS3 video processor was developed by NVIDIA on the basis of the NVIDIA GeForce 7900 (G71) video chip - the number of pixel and vertex pipelines is retained in RSX, but the memory bus width is halved (from 256 to 128 bits). In addition, the chip was transferred from the PCI Express interface to the FlexIO interface, as well as related changes in the size of the on-board caches.

Let's briefly recall the characteristics of the G71 chip:

24 pixel pipelines (2 vec3 + scalar ALUs in each);
8 vertex pipelines (1 MIMD ALU in each);
compliance with API DirectX 9 and Shader Model 3;
278 million transistors;
technical process - 90nm, TSMC.

RSX does not differ much from its progenitor - in the above-mentioned bus and interface, tweaks of conveyors and, perhaps, in the technical process: it is also manufactured according to 90nm standards, but not at TSMC factories, but at Sony and Toshiba factories.

One of the most controversial features of the PS3 video system - and indeed of the entire system architecture of the new console - is the RSX chip's dedicated 256MB of memory bus. That is, the console uses two pools of RAM of the same size, but fundamentally different types. While the Cell runs with 256MB of Rambus XDR memory, the RSX is equipped with 256MB of GDDR3 memory.

In addition to purely production problems (more expensive, harder to assemble, etc.), this leads to inevitable duplication of data in each of the two memory pools - that is, in fact, to a decrease in the amount of RAM available to developers.

Indeed, if you look at the multiplatform games released on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, then one of the most common drawbacks of PS3 versions is the reduced texture detail - which is a direct and unambiguous consequence of the lack of memory in the "256 + 256" configuration compared to the "512" configuration used in the Xbox 360.

It should also be noted that, despite the theoretical superiority of the PS3 system in the overall memory bandwidth over its competitors, in practice the PS3 is significantly inferior in this indicator to the Xbox 360. The fact that the PS3 is forced to “drive” the memory bus when creating a frame buffer (and this is a back buffer in increased resolution in the case of using AA, this is blending, these are "heavy" high-precision texture formats such as FP16, used for HDR, etc.), the Xbox 360 does the whole thing inside the "pseudo-EDRAM" of the Xenos chip, writing to the main memory only the final result, due to which not only memory bandwidth is saved, but also the amount of RAM in general.

We have to admit that it is the RSX chip in the PlayStation 3 system that looks like a foreign body - even a person unfamiliar with the behind-the-scenes rumors of the industry has a persistent feeling of “screwing” the RSX chip to the PS3 “from the side”, “anyhow”. And if we take into account the rumors mentioned, then this first impression is supported by rather strong evidence. However, we will talk about this in another article - hopefully soon.

Blu-ray - storage medium

A unique feature of the PlayStation 3 console is its Blu-ray drive, which allows you to play video discs of the same name.

Recall that Blu-ray is a new optical disc format promoted by an industrial consortium, which, in addition to Sony, includes players such as Hitachi, LG, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Thomson and others.

Blu-ray disc contains 25/50 GB of information (single / double layer), and the main purpose of the format is to distribute home video in 720p and 1080p HD formats. According to the creators, the Blu-ray format should replace the usual DVD discs.

Buyers of PS3, thus, have at their disposal not only a game console, but also a new generation video player. The situation, however, is somewhat complicated by the fact that at present there is no common industry standard for a new video medium (in the last generation, the DVD format was supported by all film companies and equipment manufacturers), and Blu-ray actively competes with the similar HD DVD format - while the formats are incompatible, that is, you cannot watch HD DVD discs on PS3, just as you cannot watch BD discs in HD DVD-players.

In addition to the obvious benefits when watching HD videos, the impressive capacity of Blu-ray discs removes a lot of restrictions on the size of game content - in PS3 games you can expect long and numerous HD videos and high-quality music that you don't have to compress into "ringing" MP3 for the sake of to fit the game onto one DVD.

Hard drive and wireless

With the PlayStation 3, Sony first decided to include a hard drive in the standard console configuration. Moreover, Sony did not reinvent the wheel, but used the Serial ATA standard and hard drives of a standard 2.5 "form factor.

HDD not only is always present in all versions of the PS3 console (only the sizes differ - the standard versions of PS3 supplies at the time of publication of our article have HDD volumes of 20, 60 and 80 GB), but the owner of the set-top box, if possible and willing, can independently, without waiting for any or Sony's actions, purchase a 2.5 "HDD of the required size and immediately install it in your PS3. In this case, the PS3 will not turn on without the HDD.

This is strikingly different from the position taken by Microsoft in the development of the Xbox 360 console: in the Xbox 360, the HDD is not an optional component (a step back compared to the Xbox console), but its connection to the console is via a proprietary connector, which forces Xbox 360 owners first wait for the appearance, and then significantly overpay for new HDDs of a larger volume.

The inclusion of a hard drive in the standard PS3 configuration allowed Sony to make the option of installing Linux OS on this hard drive standard - for PS2 Linux was sold separately. In fact, a PS3 running Linux is a full-fledged computer based on an IBM PowerPC CPU - you can type texts (by connecting a standard USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse), surf the Internet, connect external recorders, printers, etc. Such an opportunity will certainly be interesting for those who do not have a stationary PC at home, but only have a laptop, as well as those who want to try their hand at programming the Cell processor.

Another new feature compared to the previous generation of PlayStation is the inclusion of wireless functions in the PS3. PS3 has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules. The first is used to connect to Wi-Fi networks (and, through them, to the Internet; however, you can use a regular LAN cable), the second is used to communicate with gamepads, headsets, and other Bluetooth devices.

And again, comparing the PS3 with its main competitor, it should be noted that Sony did not skimp on trifles, and equipped all configurations of the new console with wireless communication - the PlayStation 3 basically does not have conventional, "wired" gamepads, only wireless ones. The Wi-Fi module is only in the expensive version of the PS3, but at the time of this article's publication, the cheap version has been discontinued and has practically disappeared from stores, that is, de facto, the Wi-Fi module has also become a standard component of all PS3 sold.

A few words about backward compatibility

PlayStation 3 has the ability to launch and run games for the first two generations of PlayStation consoles. Of course, the games must be licensed and comply with the regional restrictions of your console (PAL games sold in Russia can only be launched on the European or Russian version of PS3).

Old games are played on the PS3 console almost unchanged - in one of the new firmwares there is a possibility of upsampling the picture, which is expressed in stretching the PAL / NTSC resolution of the game to the HDTV resolution of your screen and filtering the result (upsampling and filtering of old games can be controlled in PS3 settings).

This, of course, is far from the full rendering of old games in HD resolutions that Xbox 360 offers its owners - we hope that Sony is still working on backward compatibility of the PS3 console, and that in the future - if not for everyone, but only for key games - upsampling will be replaced with full-fledged high-resolution rendering.

It is also worth noting that PS3 compatibility with old games is incomplete, because in the case of all European and new consoles from other regions (80 GB model), it is implemented partially software - the Emotion Engine processor is emulated on Cell (we noted the similarity of their architectures above, so nothing complicated and surprising in this).

As in the case of the Xbox 360, the emulator of older consoles is constantly updated and refined: a list of older games compatible with PS3 and the extent of their support is given on the official European and American Sony PlayStation sites. If you plan to play older games on your PS3, it is a good idea to check if your PS3 supports these games before purchasing a console.

Also on the market, you can still find PS3 consoles of the first months of release, equipped with HDDs of 20 and 60 GB and intended for the Japanese and American markets. These models of PS3 consoles are, in fact, completely built-in hardware from the PS2, and therefore they are almost 100% backward compatible. Now these consoles have been discontinued and replaced with new models with software backward compatibility - for the sake of reducing costs.

When talking about backward compatibility, it is worth noting the lack of vibration function in standard PS3 gamepads - and, as a result, the lack of this function in all old PS and PS2 games. It is curious that if you connect a PS2 gamepad to the PS3 (via an adapter to USB), then vibration will appear - those who are interested in this function should think about this option. Finally, there are persistent rumors that very soon Sony will announce a new version of the PS3 gamepad, which will return the vibration motors so coveted by many.

Appearance, ergonomics of the console

Our test laboratory was visited by an expensive version of the PlayStation 3 equipped with a 60 GB HDD - in fact, this is the only version that is officially sold in Russia.

In a fairly large (of the three new generation consoles - the largest) and easy-to-carry box, we found:

the PS3 console itself with a pre-installed HDD;
one Sixaxis wireless gamepad;
USB cable for charging the gamepad;
composite cable for connecting to SDTV;
cord to connect the PS3 console to the mains (the power supply is built into the console itself).

It should be noted that we experienced a rather difficult feeling when we found such a meager set of accessories in a box with a console for 20 thousand rubles. We were especially unpleasantly surprised by the absence of any cable for connecting to HDTV screens - neither component nor HDMI cables are supplied with the PS3, they must be purchased separately.

However, this configuration also has a downside: we mentioned that when developing the PS3, Sony tried to make the most of the standard connectors and protocols. And in this sense, such a package looks reasonable. First, you can use a component cable from your old PS2 with your PS3. Secondly, you probably have a Bluetooth headset in your apartment that will most likely work with your PS3. Third, instead of wasting money on standard cables, Sony deliberately forces PS3 buyers to choose the cables and accessories they need.

For example, the USB cable for a gamepad, which Sony did put in a box, is no more than a meter long - you are unlikely to be happy with this cable, because when recharging the gamepad, you will have to sit on the floor with your nose buried in an HD TV. Now imagine that the box would contain an HDMI cable the same meter long - you probably would still have to buy your own, because this one would not be suitable for your apartment. In other words, there is still little use for standard cables in the box.

However, in order to start using the PS3, you only need to purchase one cable: to connect the PS3 to an HDTV screen. Which we did by purchasing an HDMI cable of a suitable length and using it to connect the PS3 console to the 24 "Benq FP241W Z monitor.

Piano Black or "Drunken Black"

But before we go directly to the body, let's take a look at the outside of the PS3 and evaluate the design of Sony's new product.

We do not know whether Sony does it consciously or by accident, but in the PS3 console we again see a combination of chrome parts with a glossy black body - a similar design was possessed by the PlayStation Portable pocket console.

This solution has both pros and cons.

The advantages are a very stylish, impressive appearance of the console, which allows it, without any reservations, to look appropriate next to ultra-expensive HDTV equipment. A very nice console. Compared to her, competitors look sloppy plastic crafts. But...
The minuses are ergonomics, usability. The glossy black body is great for collecting all kinds of dirt, especially dust and fingerprints of unwashed children. Therefore, if you want the PS3 console to continue to look impressive next to your one and a half meter HD TV, then you will have to keep a rag somewhere nearby to erase traces of using the console from the PS3.

On the PS3 itself, there is only one switch-button that controls the power supply and two LED indicators - on / off and an indicator of the presence of a disc in the drive. Two more buttons (on / off and ejecting the disc) are touch-sensitive - you just need to touch them with your finger. We don't know what sensor is under these buttons, but we tried to press them while wearing cotton gloves and the buttons didn't work. Thus, if you plan to use these buttons, then fingerprints on the PS3 case will inevitably appear.

On the other hand...

Six axes and a fifth leg

On the other hand, you may not use the touch buttons at all, because the console gamepad provides the same functionality.

Pressing the transparent "drop-shaped" PS button in the center of the gamepad turns the PS3 on and off, and the console interface allows you to eject discs without having to press the Eject button (note that the first firmware versions did not have such an opportunity - and initially it was one of our complaints about the ergonomics of the console ).

The PS3 gamepad itself ... is ambiguous. Actually, because of this ambiguity, we did not write about it in the chapter devoted to the main innovations of the console. Let's fill this gap.

Firstly, it is wireless, with a built-in battery (built-in "tightly"; if the battery "dies", then you have to buy a whole new gamepad) and the ability to recharge from the USB connectors of the PS3 itself or, for example, your laptop.

Secondly, it lacks the vibration function - despite the fact that Sony has officially announced a different reason, we tend to believe this is the result of a long and tedious litigation between Sony and Immersion, which owns key patents for game feedback technology.

Thirdly, accelerometers are built into it, allowing you to track the movements of the gamepad in space - something similar, albeit in a much more advanced form, is in the article about the Nintendo Wii. (Actually, it is the addition of accelerometers to the gamepad that serves as the "official" reason for the absence of vibration motors in it - they, de, would knock down the location of the gamepad in space.)

In terms of appearance The PS3 gamepad has undergone the most minimal changes compared to the PS2 gamepad you probably know (aka the second PS gamepad):

there was a PS button, which turns on and off the gamepad itself and the PS3 console, as well as calls the console's system menu from the game;
the lower "shifts" are now implemented in the form of "triggers" - a direct borrowing from the Xbox console gamepads and, unfortunately, not entirely successful.

We have three complaints about the new gamepad:

The main one is the new "trigger shifters". They are made in such a way that it is almost impossible to use them - your fingers slide off them under the gamepad, you have to constantly hold it on top. This is a direct consequence of the extremely strange choice of the shape of the "triggers", which, instead of being concave (like the Xbox prototypes), for some reason made convex.
Not a critical, but annoying problem - the lack of a function in the PS3 system software to automatically turn off gamepads after a certain time. Several times, after leaving the PS3 to download something from the network overnight, we found that we forgot to turn off the gamepad ourselves, and as a result, it was discharged to a state of "off". A trifle, but unpleasant.
And a minor problem: if you borrow the successful finds of a competitor, then in full, and "rip off" the "trigger", do mini-sticks. No, we are not so much about their location - in our opinion, the symmetrical arrangement of the sticks is no worse, and often better than the asymmetric one - but about the shape and coverage. Convex stick caps, in our opinion, are inferior in terms of convenience to the grape-shaped stick caps of the Xbox 360 controller - fingers slip off, sometimes it is difficult for them to catch on to the stick.

In general, according to the results of almost three months of playing on PS3, it should be admitted that the gamepad of the new console is somewhat inferior to its direct competitor - the Xbox 360 gamepad. In this assessment, we take into account all the above characteristics: both extremely uncomfortable triggers and the absence of vibration. and a non-removable battery compartment, and worse implemented software support in the console itself, and less convenient mini-sticks.

At the same time, the PS3 gamepad surpasses the Xbox 360 gamepad in weight (it is lighter due to the absence of vibration motors in it), has a much more convenient crosspiece and connects to the console much faster at the start. Let's not forget about the accelerometers built into Sixaxis (although, as practice shows, they are of little use).

And if the rumors are true, and soon Sony will introduce a new, vibration-equipped version of the gamepad for PS3 (the trial with Immersion ended this spring), then this new version it can also correct other shortcomings we have noted. In this case, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gamepads will become approximately comparable in their characteristics.

Using the console

So the console is on. Chu, what is this? Has the console turned on? Accustomed to the noise and ringing of our Xbox 360, at first we did not understand whether the PS3 turned on, the new Sony console works so quietly and unobtrusively.

It is possible, of course, that this, as in the case of the Xbox 360, is a feature of our particular PS3 - there are complaints on the network about the noise of the PS3, but to our ears, the PS3 can be called silent. The noise appears only if a disc with a game or video is inserted into the console (from the disc itself) and slightly increases if this disc is started (the speed of the built-in fan increases).

After switching on, the PS3 console greets the owner with a symphonic musical chord and ten seconds after pressing the "on" button it is ready to work - the interface of the embedded OS appears on the screen.

OS interface

An interface is such a thing that is better to see once, or even better - to visit it yourself once:

PlayStation Portable owners are familiar with this interface. It is called Xross and is a two-dimensional matrix of an unlimited number of items. The main items (settings, photo, video, audio, game, network, etc.) are located horizontally, and specific sub-items (for example, screen settings or a demo version downloaded from the network) are located vertically in these items.

The interface is elementary, simple and straightforward. However, this is our subjective opinion - we know people who did not like it. All of them make the same claim: the interface is too simple for the powerful functionality of the console. To some extent, this is true - it is not always possible to find the desired menu item right away. But as you get used to the interface, this problem disappears.

It is also worth noting the "thoroughbred" design of the interface - like the PS3 itself, the interface gives the impression of an expensive, beautiful thing (and, like the PS3 itself, ergonomics can be sacrificed to this beauty in some places).

At the same time, navigation in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 interfaces is implemented in approximately the same way: both here and there on the horizontal axis are the main items / pages; both there and here on the vertical axis are the item / page options.

However, the set of these items differs significantly between consoles. So, everything that is located on the Media tab on the Xbox 360 has been moved to its own separate items (Photo, Music, Video) on the PS3. The PS3 interface does not have an analogue of the Marketplace page, instead, in the Network item there is a PlayStation Store option that launches something like a web page (by the way, not too different in design from the Xbox 360 interface) - which this online store, in fact, is:

Almost the whole life of the PS3 console hides behind the unprepossessing name of the PlayStation Store. Every week, this store is replenished with free videos and demos of games, as well as paid minigames (analogous to Xbox Live! Arcade) and full-fledged games distributed over the Internet (a recent example is the multiplayer shooter WarHawk, which many tend to consider the best PS3 game at the moment. ).

Some of the difficulties with navigating the store are a consequence of the PS3's flexibility in supporting a variety of input devices - remember that you can connect a mouse and keyboard to the console, and the developers of all PS3 interfaces and components have to take this into account. However, it should be noted that navigation from a standard gamepad (this is how 99% of PS3 owners will use the store) could be more convenient.

And one more small remark regarding the demo versions of games: for some reason not clear to us (perhaps in order to reduce the size of the distribution kit?), The demo versions downloaded from the store must be "installed" before launching. This, of course, is not the installation of programs, familiar to us from Windows OS, everything is much simpler, but it is not an instant launch of the downloaded demo version, which is familiar to us from Xbox 360. Another unpleasant little thing.

Games

What can I tell you about PS3 games? Let's start with the fact that they are not. Yes, the story of the PS2 and PSP is repeating itself (even in more violent forms): the first year of the console's life there are practically no games on it.

We will soon tell you separately about the two most worthy launch titles, the shooter Resistance and the racing MotorStorm, and besides them, only the fighting game Virtua Fighter 5 and the slasher Ninja Gaiden Sigma deserve attention. Sparse for a console at this price point.

Yes, you can buy some fun mini-games from the PS Store (Super Stardust, Calling All Cars, etc.), as well as download a free demo of Gran Tourismo HD racing (prototype of the future GT5). But this is not enough, not enough, not enough ...

The situation is aggravated by the fact that multi-platform projects, which are the majority these days, are released on PS3 with annoyingly constant delays. The latest example: the shooter Stranglehold, recently released on the Xbox 360 and PC and postponed, it seems, for October on the PS3. A similar picture with multiplatform games on PS3 is the norm.

What is it? Sabotage by publishers? No, PS3 is the most technically challenging platform, which also came out after Xbox 360 by almost a year. Developers need time to learn how to work with the PS3, and time is money, and no one is going to put off the finished X360 and PC versions for the sake of finishing the PS3 version.

It is also worth noting that most multiplatform games on PS3 look worse in terms of graphics quality than on Xbox 360. Partly the fault is for the same inability of developers to program a complex and new platform, but only partly. In most cases, the main difference between the X360 version of the multiplatform game and the PS3 version is the presence of anti-aliasing in the first one.

As you remember, the Xbox 360 video system allows you to implement almost free anti-aliasing, which cannot be said about the PS3, which critically lacks the memory bandwidth to work with the frame buffer. As a result, games without anti-aliasing on PS3 are the norm rather than the exception - which is strikingly different from the exact opposite situation on the Xbox 360.

However, we will conduct a full comparison of the technical capabilities of the new generation consoles in another article.

Regarding games on PS3, we note one more thing: the PS3 console does not contain a built-in video output scaler, and therefore games on PS3 are always output in the resolution in which they are rendered. In other words, if the game is rendered at 1080p, then it will be output at 1080p (or 720p if your screen does not support higher resolutions). If the game is rendered at 720p, then it will be displayed in this resolution - if the PS3 is connected to a 1080p screen, and this is indicated in the screen settings on the console.

In practice, this means connecting your PS3 to a 720p screen is more beneficial - in this case, you will get a clear 720p picture in all PS3 games.

When connecting your PS3 to a 1080p screen, you should be prepared for most of PS3 games will be displayed on it with interpolation ("stretching") by means of the 720p screen itself to 1080p resolution. Interpolation is almost always bad - "blurring" appears, noise, small details are lost.

However, if you are a fan of Gran Tourismo games, then you should know that it is GT on PS3 (and this is not only the full-fledged GT5 coming out next spring, but also the free GT HD released and the GT5 Prologue coming out this fall) is working in full 1080p - and looks amazing (judging by GT HD). That is, before deciding on the choice of HD-screen for PS3, it makes sense to think about what games you like and try to find out in what resolution they will work on PS3.

It is worth remembering, however, that buying an HDTV with HDMI input support and 1080p resolution is a more reasonable investment, because you can probably use such an HDTV not only with the current generation of consoles (even if some of today's games will be displayed on it with "stretching »720p up to 1080p), but also with the subsequent, for which the 1080p mode will become the base, the minimum.

In addition, the PS3 also has another use for which a Full HD TV will not hurt - watching videos from Blu-Ray discs.

Let's say a few words about PlayStation Network - an analogue of Xbox Live! for Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. Sony is not overly emphasizing the possibilities of the PSN network, because, of course, it is inferior in its thoughtfulness and degree of integration to the rival Xbox Live! However, it provides similar basic capabilities.

The only significant difference is the lack of coercion for developers: PSN services do not have to be embedded in all PS3 games, and access to PSN is free for PS3 owners. If you need to pay for a general subscription to Xbox Live for any online games on Xbox 360! Gold, then the payment model for online games on PS3 is free for the publisher of each particular game to choose independently. It brings a bit of chaos to the PS3's network infrastructure, but at the same time gives publishers almost unlimited flexibility to design and operate their own, innovative and unique payment schemes.

Let's say, the distribution model fashionable in recent years online games, in which the buyer pays for the box, and further payments from him do not come in the form of a subscription, but in the form of payment for unique virtual items, skills, in Xbox Live! impossible to implement, but on PSN - as much as you like.

But Sony's similar flexibility and liberality in the interaction of PS3 games with PSN has both back side: For example, due to the lack of the need to integrate PSN services into all PS3 games, there is no analogue of the Xbox 360 gamertag so beloved by many on PS3, which accumulates the most diverse information about all games ever launched by one particular user. Sony plans in the future, if possible, to correct this defect, but to achieve total "gamertaggerization" of all PS3 games is now still not possible.

Concluding the chapter on games, it should be noted that the period of complete and total absence of PS3 games seems to be coming to an end: a very good exclusive slasher Heavenly Sword and a multiplayer shooter WarHawk have already been released, a sequel to the hilarious Ratchet & Clank and the curious Uncharted: Drake's Fortune are on the way. , and on the horizon are the blocks of Metal Gear Solid 4, GT5, Final Fantasy XIII.

Anyway, there will always be something to play on the PS3 - the only question is, is it worth buying a PS3 today for the games that come out tomorrow? There is no unequivocal answer to this question, everyone decides on their own, but in our opinion, buying a PS3 now, in Russia, is a bit premature - the lack of games and the meager catalog of localized BD films are proof of this. Moreover, if you wait another six months, then it is quite possible to wait for a decrease in the price of the PS3 - and, you must admit, paying for a console, say, 15 thousand rubles is not the same as giving 20 thousand for it.

Films and stuff

By integrating a Blu-ray drive into the PS3 console, Sony expected to market the format in the same package as a game console. In fact, any buyer of a PS3 console at the same time buys a fully functional, high-quality and almost the most reliable BD player on the market.

Sony's calculation was right and wrong. It was justified in the sense that the Blu-ray format for a year has surpassed its competitor, the HD DVD format, almost twice in sales of discs (and this despite the fact that at the time of the appearance on the shelves of PS3 consoles, HD DVD players sold for six months). In fact, if you bought yourself a console for games and you got a BD player "on load", then you are very likely to buy at least one BD disc - just to see what kind of BD video is there and than it is better than your familiar DVD. It is through such purchases that the growth of penetration of the Blu-ray format into the market is ensured.

On the other hand, integrating a Blu-ray drive into the PS3 did not work in the sense that people are in no hurry to take the PS3 as a BD player, despite its rather attractive price for a BD player.

It is worth making a small excursion into history here. The reader may remember that the PS2 console also had problems with the availability of games in its first year after the start of sales, and that many, very many then took the PS2 as a cheap DVD player.

Sony and a number of analysts hoped for a similar synergistic effect with respect to the PS3 console: they say, it doesn't matter that the PS3 will have few games at the first stage - it will still be taken as a cheap BD player.

But this calculation was not justified: in the conditions of the “format war”, the buyer is in no hurry to give quite a lot of money for a video player that supports only one of the competing formats. What if HD DVD wins this war, why would you need a BD player? The situation, of course, is unlikely (the trend of the last year shows that Blu-ray will win, and not least thanks to the PS3 console), but it confuses the buyer, and therefore the number of PS3 purchases as a BD player is extremely small.

The only thing that can be said about the films themselves is shock. And, surprisingly enough, the author of these lines was shocked not so much by HD video (you can watch HD video in one way or another without a BD player, downloading clips and whole films from the network), but rather from HD -sound. No DTS DVD video you know can compare in quality to the power and detail of uncompressed PCM - honestly, it seemed to us that in the cinema, when watching the new action movie about James Bond, the sound was worse in quality than on a BD disc (between by the way, the first BD disc with Russian localization).

It should also be borne in mind that PS3 has support for a huge number of audio formats, and is able to output them both decoded and compressed to external receivers via an HDMI cable. You can find out the peculiarities of connecting and using PS3 as a video player on specialized forums; we just note that in terms of the degree of versatility and the number of functions, you are unlikely to find a media player on the planet better than the PlayStation 3 - and this applies not only to Blu-ray, but also to DVD-video (according to a number of tests, the upsampling of DVD-video implemented in PS3 in its own way the quality surpasses the upsampling of Hi-End DVD players from Denon), as well as new generation audio media (in particular, Super Audio CD).

Moreover, in addition to video and audio of all generations, Sony has equipped the PlayStation 3 with the ability to display photos in the main graphic formats, for which it has built a card reader into the PS3 that supports, in addition to the "native" Sony Memory Stick format, Secure Digital and Compact Flash cards. And in one of the firmwares, the ability to stream content from external media servers using the DLNA standard was implemented - this opportunity will be of interest to those who have a large media storage at home on a PC connected to a local network.

And we're not mentioning the little things that PS3 has a full-fledged web browser that allows you to surf not only Sony's online stores, but any other website.

So, is the PS3 worth the price if you buy it purely as a media player? If you are mentally ready to take the side of Blu-ray in the current struggle of new generation HD formats, then - definitely yes! Even if the PS3 weren't a gaming console, its media capabilities would justify its price tag. And so, in total with the support of most hits from PS and PS2, in total with the upcoming PS3 games, this question makes no sense - PS3 justifies its price by all 200%.

Another thing is that while there are not enough PS3 games and localized BD films on the market, it makes sense to wait - it is quite possible that by this expectation you will save yourself several thousand rubles and will not lose anything in terms of content.

And one more small remark at the end of this chapter: for those who plan to use the PS3 not only as a game console, but also as a media player, it will be useful to purchase a “native” remote control for it. The author had no problems with controlling BD movies with a regular gamepad - especially since it is now wireless! - but his colleagues, who used the PS3 primarily as a media player, could not get used to this "perversion", and bought themselves a regular PS3 remote control.

This remote control is interesting in that it uses not an infrared sensor to communicate with the PS3, but the Bluetooth protocol - yes and no infrared sensor on the PS3. A funny consequence of this fact is the ability to control movie playback from the remote control even from the next room :-)

findings

So, a point-blank question: did the new "big" sony console? The answer, unfortunately, will be negative. But not because the PlayStation 3 is a bad console, not at all - expectations from the PS3 were much higher than what we got as a result.

Yes, Sony made the PS3 with a double-proven formula: the game console was supplied maximum number multimedia functions, which attracted the attention of buyers to it, creating the notorious synergistic effect.

But this time Sony, it seems, overdid it: multimedia functions were somewhat ahead of their time (in particular, Blu-ray, which can only be bought in Moscow or abroad), and the resulting high retail price for the console made them by no means " free add-on "to the game console.

At the same time with a somewhat overkill in the sense of multimedia, Sony was unable to equip its new console with advanced gaming technologies: in terms of a number of technical indicators, the Xbox 360 released a year earlier turns out to be more powerful and flexible than the new PlayStation. And if the overload of the console with multimedia functions is understandable in its own way (it is necessary to somehow promote the new HD format to the market), then we cannot explain the weakness of the RSX by something other than the mistake of the console designers.

But despite the fact that the PS3 console did not become a clear leader, as its predecessors did twice, we believe that the future of the PS3 is not so bleak.

Firstly, of all three consoles of the new generation, it is the PS3 that has the richest functionality that will allow it to stay out of date for quite some time. For example, the Xbox 360 will soon run up against both the limitation of the maximum volume of DVDs and the lack of support for new generation HD media, which is quite important for such a console (let me ignore the external HD DVD drive - its sales are negligible, and interest in it is minimal ). And the Nintendo Wii has long annoyed many with its inability to work properly in HD resolutions.
Secondly, if we consider the PS3 console approximately equal in its gaming capabilities to the Xbox 360 console, then it should be recognized that in general, taking into account the multimedia and non-gaming capabilities, the PS3 is a more powerful and advanced console than the new Microsoft console.
Thirdly, PS3 is still the uncontested platform for all fans of classic PS-games: Metal Gear Solid, GT, Final Fantasy, God of War, ICO, Ratchet & Clank - sequels, the continuation of these series you can only play on the new Sony consoles.

However, in the end, everything depends on the price. If Sony can close the price gap with its main competitor, the Xbox 360, then the PS3 will win over new console Microsoft will be provided with it. It will be more difficult to fight the phenomenally successful Nintendo Wii, but here the time itself may come to the aid of the PS3: as the next generation consoles age, it is the Wii that will look more and more dull and uninteresting for the buyer.

We, of course, are far from predicting the PS3 ultimately a complete victory over the competition, but we do not believe that the apocalyptic predictions that have recently become popular are correct. Ultimately, the PS3 is going to be a good gaming console with a range of unique and exclusive gaming experiences and unrivaled multimedia features.

Of course, one article is not enough to cover all topics related to new game consoles. We'll keep an eye on the front of console warfare and keep you updated on the latest movements of your opponents. Moreover, read the first summary on the pages of our site in the near future.

pros

Advanced multimedia capabilities (Blu-ray, Super Audio CD, content streaming, photo display)
The presence of a number of exclusive gaming brands that are unlikely to ever appear on other consoles (potential key exclusives, partially - GT5, FFXIII, MGS4 - already announced, partially - GoW3, Jak & Daxter, ICO, Shadow of the Colossus - not yet)
Cell processor performance reserves that could potentially help PS3 games outperform Xbox 360 games
Beautiful and stylish design of the console and embedded OS interface
Backward compatible with most PS and PS2 games
Advanced PlayStation Networking (PlayStation Store, Friends Lists, etc.)
Integration with playStation console Portable
Quiet operation of the console, high build quality, low breakdown and failure rates
Potential possibility of further expanding the functionality of the console through new firmware and the release of additional software modules (for example, the PlayStation Home service).

Minuses

The key disadvantage is the high price!
Pretty weak for such a high price game graphics - often inferior to that of the much less expensive Xbox 360 console released a year earlier
The lack of significant innovations in the gaming component of the console - this disadvantage is especially evident against the background of the success of the innovative control of the Nintendo Wii
The status of the Blu-ray format is not clear at the moment - there is still a possibility that HD DVD will win in the format war, and then the Blu-ray drive in PS3 will become a "dead weight"
Lack of vibration motors and other complaints about the ergonomics of gamepads (perhaps an updated official gamepad for PS3 will be presented soon)
Comparatively meager equipment of the console - for a full connection, something needs to be purchased separately (in particular, an HD video cable)