Playstation 3 @ MindSay

Spectre's another friend outside the internet. We've a history both convoluted and sketchy, but the feeling is good between us, and we now work at the same place.

About Mecc - by curious coincidence, everyone who works at the service desk is female. Everyone who works at the electronics department is male. We tend to have more interactions with electronics than any other department, just by the nature of what we both do. Spectre's over there, and I enjoy being able to exchange a few words with him through the course of our individual days.

Both of us have interesting phone-adventures. Mine nearly always start off with, "Service Desk, this is Ariane, please hold," because I'll be doing three other things at the same time. Spectre has gotten to the point where he answers his cell as though it's the electronics phone, but I derive amusement from hearing about how he deals with people.

For example, today:

Guest: "Hi, do you carry the Playstation 3?"
Spectre (quite helpfully, cheerfully): "Yes we do!"
Guest: "Great! Do you have any in stock?"
Spectre (in exactly the same tone): "No we don't!"
Guest: *silence*

I think Spectre secretly sets out to achieve that silence every time he's on the phone. Well, not every time - he gets annoyed with people a lot more easily than I do. There's an underlying difference to our approaches that no one else has quite figured out - when I'm feeling good, I'm quite cheerful, exuberant really. And I want everyone else around me to feel great, so it manifests itself that way. And Spectre is that way when he's at the top of his happy - but just a few notches below that, there seems to be a level where he's happy and derives amusement at others' bafflement, so he sets out to achieve that. It's not exactly malicious, but neither is it helpful. It's just Spectre.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow's adventure will be.

One of the only reasons I've thought about getting a PS3..ever..is  to play Metal Gear Solid 4.

However it might not be PS3 exclusive.

Click here for more info.

If the next Final Fantasy game becomes a NonSony exclusive title, I doubt I'll ever end up with a Ps3...at least not until the end of it's life cycle.

Is Sony Computer Entertainment a sinking ship?

Now that all of the systems are out, and I've played all but one (but with enough information on the one I haven't already played) I figured I'd give a rough analysis.

Alright, if you were to ask me "Hey, I'm looking to buy a system this Christmas.  Which would you suggest I buy?"

All problems with availability and pricing aside, I'd tell you this.

The XBox 360 came out last November and had a great opening.  Couldn't find one for months, etc etc.  Just like the PS3 (though I think the PS3 came out a little stronger in terms of the whole anticipation build up and release come opening day).

Since last November, hundreds of games had been developed and released for the 360, while Sony and Nintendo were developing their own systems.

Then November 2006 strolls along, all the preorders for the PS3 sell out, and there's lots of anticipation for both systems.  The PS3 has a strong processor and the graphics will be incredible, etc etc.  The Wii is groundbreaking in its controller system, etc etc.

And now we have all 3.

So first, I'll focus on the Wii.  The only one I haven't played (because Target won't let you play a Wii demo... too many factors with the controller to take into account).

I would put the Wii's graphic capabilities up there with the first XBox.  Pretty good.  I mean, hey, it LOOKS GOOD.  It's not like it looks terrible.
I had a few questions just before it was released about the controller.  Would there be a need to compensate for your placement on a room while playing it?  Would there be a need to calibrate the controller a lot?  I still don't really know the answers to these questions, but my guess is "sort of, not really."

Basically, I haven't heard of any problems with the controller, so I'm assuming there are no big problems.

The games.  Look, it's Nintendo.  Nintendo does not base its games around violent action games for the most part.  Instead, Nintendo develops games that are fun to play.  Nintendo has always been that way.  That's why we have Super Mario Bros., and that's why people like me still seriously play it.

So, fun games coupled with an extraordinary controller sounds great to me.  That's why I've requested a Wii for Christmas :-D

But "you" were the one who asked me what to get.

Now let's get to the 360.  At first I was like "big deal, PS3's gonna blow it out of the water."

But let's look at what the 360 has going for it.
-XBox Live
-A collection of hundreds of games already
-Fantastic looking games
-With some great games at that (Gears of War, Call of Duty 2 and 3, Tony Hawk's Project 8, Halo 3 will be releasing soon enough...the list goes on)
-Wireless controllers (given at this point.. did I really even have to say this?)

There's more I could list, but the 360 has stood its ground as a fantastic system.

Then we come to the Playstation 3.  I've played this a handful of times via Targets, Wal-Marts, and at a friend's house, playing Motor Storm.

Ok.  Let's clear the hype.  The Playstation 3, at this point in time, has nothing great going for it.

The graphics are great looking.  But they aren't revolutionarily good.  Gears of War (360) looks better than anything out for the PS3 right now.  I honestly can't tell too much of a difference between the 360 and the PS3 in terms of graphics and gameplay.  Different controllers same graphics.

So here is my suggestion to anybody looking to get a system this Christmas.

Get an XBox 360 or a Nintendo Wii.  There's no question for me.  Looking at the results, at this point in time, it's either XBox or Nintendo.  Basically, it depends on what types of games you want to play, and what price you want to pay.  Do you want to pay 400-500 dollars on a great looking system with hundreds of games already out?  Or do you want to pay 250 dollars for a great playing system with a handful of games out, with which the games will only get progessively better.

Not to mention, you probably will not be able to buy a Playstation 3 for regular price at a retail store until at least April.  I know at the GameStop I work at, we won't expect any shipments until March.

But don't lose all hopes for the PS3.  It's still November, it's only been just over 10 days since it was released.  Ask me this same question in January or February and I may tell you differently.

The great looking games Sony is telling us about probably won't be out until next year.  So if you don't want a Nintendo or an XBox, I suggest holding out until early next year and camping out at your lucky friend's house and playing his system before buying a PS3.

Oh.  And just cause I think it's funny...

I'm staring at an unopened Playstation 3 60GB model right now.  Gonna sell it on eBay once it gets closer to Christmas.

Any bids?

So the PlayStation 3 was released today.  I don't have one.  Unlike last year's Xbox 360 debacle when I didn't get my shiny new console, I didn't pre-order a PS3.  The price is $600 and that is too much.  I looked at the launch games and I'm unimpressed.  I looked at the very, very, very limited quantities and I didn't want to deal with the hassle.

I don't know when I'm going to get one, but I will eventually.  I would love to say that I'm not going to get one until the price drops, because $600 is insane for a game console, but I can't promise that.  In essence, I spent $1800 back in February on a new desktop computer so "World of Warcraft" looked better.  I certainly didn't need a new desktop computer, but I had the money and I wanted it.  The same will happen with the PS3.  If "Final Fantasy XIII" and "Metal Gear Solid 4" are out, the PS3 is in stock, and I can purchase it without carrying a credit card balance to the next month so I don't have to even pay one penny in interest, I'll buy it.  I know the way I work.  But today, with no decent launch games, a hassle to get one, and plenty of other awesome games on the Xbox360, the Nintendo DS, the Wii, my computer, and my now "old" Playstation 2, I have no desire to own one.

Yet, I'm jealous.  Roughly 150,000 people now have the latest and greatest new gaming gear.  If I was one of the folks that got one today, it would sit on my gaming shelf and collect dust, as I can't think of one game I'd get with it.  It would be a complete waste for me to have one at this time.  That doesn't mean I don't want one, because the tech-geek in me certainly does.

Although I have no intention of purchasing one, the Playstation 3 hits stores in less than 36 hours. This Friday and the weekend that follows will be one of the most enjoyable ones I have in years. Aside from any homework assignment I may be given, despite whatever drama or sickness may pressure me, I will undoubtedly enjoy the next five days. The ensuing rush from counting down the release of the PS3 is enough to send me into cardiac arrest. Not only is that exciting enough, but the actual day when it is released will undoubtedly cause chaos and pandemonium, that I'm afraid most people my age (and adults, even) are underestimating. The events could be catastrophic, need I explain why? The system itself is currently in severe shortage, and less than half a million units are being shipped stateside. There are no reservations available, there will be few consoles ready on launch day either. Anyone who even has a PS3 in their arms on 11/17 could potentially be mugged, and I'm almost positive there will be a extreme amount of people who are absent from school/work to stand in line for their precious system.

As if that's not enough, we have not even taken into consideration the mass aftershock that will be caused by the release of the Wii exactly two days after PS3 hits stores! Although I'm sure the impact won't be as severe, do not underestimate the power that Nintendo has gained in the past year. What started out as a skeptical gaming project from Nintendo that most people shied away from, has now evolved into a mass marketed system with infinite capability and a large fanbase that has rallied around it to support its launch into the stratosphere. There is a distinct possibility that Nintendo will outsell Sony AND Microsoft this holiday season using this powerful micro-weapon.

Now, me droogs, sit back and watch the insanity unravel.