Video Game Console Review: Sony Playstation 3, 40GB Model

When the Playstation 3, or abbreviated PS3 first hit the market a few years ago, I told myself it was a cool console, but there was no way in hell I would cough up such a ridiculous amount of money on a video gaming system. My limit had been, and usually always had been $250.00. I told myself that if it is not a dream machine, or a high end PC, there is no way I'm shelling out $500.

As time went on though, I grew more and more fond of the Playstation 3. I'd stop by my local Best Buy, or Gamestop and be mesmerized at the graphics the system would deliver on their 'try me' TV's.

I never picked up the remote though, I never gave the console a chance. I knew if I did, I'd end up wanting it, and I wasn't ready to spend so much money on it.

Recently though I was offered a pretty sweet deal. With the purchase of my Samsung 40" HDTV, they would give me $100 off of a Sony Playsation 3 40GB console.

I didn't want to purchase it at the time, but I knew if I didn't I wouldn't ever be offered such a deal. Plus the salesman was so convincing, he basically told me that even if I wasn't into gaming, I would love the console just for it's Blu-ray player.

Blu-ray? Did he say Blu-ray? Indeed he did. With the new knowledge that HD players are pretty much done, I was relatively excited about playing Blu-ray on my new TV.

Appearance:
 
The Playsation 3 is a sexy machine, there is no other way to put it. With a black high gloss finish, that matched my HDTV to the tee, and a stylish design, the PS3 looks more like a sexy little DVD player.
The only thing about the design is that the console gets dirty pretty easily, and seems to have a loving relationship with dust. You will find yourself wiping the machine down every other day to clear it of dust and finger prints.

Set Up:
 
Before bringing the console home for set up, I was told I needed an HDMI cable in order to get the best picture quality for my console, and my HDTV. So, I went ahead and purchased that as well.

The PS3 40GB comes with an HDMI plug, component plugs for those who don't want top spend the extra greenery on an HDMI cable. The console also comes with 2 USB ports (which was a total suck fest when we tried playing Rock Band, which requires 3 ports!)
 
The console also comes with wifi capabilities, or you can use the Ethernet port to set your console up online. A demo introduction disc also comes with the console. This disc shows you trailers to new games, and Blu-ray discs. It's enjoyable and worth a look at.

So with all of the little geeky things out of the way-

I plugged the HDMI cable into the PS3, and into the available HDMI port located on the back of my HDTV. Next I plugged the controller in. I was at first taken back by the controller because I realized that the chord it came with was way too frigging short for comfortable game play. We later learned that this small chord was only meant to be plugged into the controlled when it needed to charge. Yep, yep, yeah yea, the controller is actually wireless.

Anyhow after plugging in the controller and HDMI, the last step was to simply plug in the wall plug.

Turning On The PS3:
 
This was likely the coolest introduction to our console. Me being a gamer since childhood, I grew accustom to buttons that turned on the console. The Playstation 3 40GB however can be powered on two different ways.

The standard general way would be to go up to the console and gently place your finger on top of the etched in button. There is no need to press. It's almost as if it is a finger reader or something, which I found to be pretty freakin cool.

The second way to power on the PS3 is by far the coolest way to turn it on (the coolest and the laziest). No need to raise from the couch to switch off your console. You simply grab your remote control and hold down the middle button that has the PS logo on it. In a few seconds the console will power up.
How delightfully lazy cool is that!?
 
I hadn't even began playing a game yet, and I was already in awe.

Now with the console powered up, I had to first wait for a few system updates to download. It was annoying, but there is no way around it. So...deal. After the updates and configurations I was then brought to my screen.

Hot diggity dawg! I was even impressed with the sharp picture quality and I hadn't even began messing with games yet. The screen is basically like your work area folders.

You have a music file, internet, gaming, photos, settings, and media folders all within this first start up screen. I liked it, the interface is easy to understand, and everything is placed to make things neat and organized for when you are seeking out your downloaded or uploaded files.

Internet:
 
Setting up the internet was done in less than a minute. At home we already have out wireless network up and running. Getting the PS3 40GB to recognize out network was easy, and only required me to add in my WEP KEY.

After entering my network key, I was up and running the net on the PS3 with their LINXUS browser.

Before allowing me to sign on though I had to create a user name to use in the Playstations Marketplace. Here in the marketplace, you can purchase games, backgrounds for your start up screen, movies, and so on.

I ended up buying QBERT and that ridiculous bath ducky game.

Overall browsing the internet on the PS3 is a little annoying, and unless you don't purchase a compatible keyboard, it's not worth even using it. The marketplace though is cool, and a must have for hardcore/serious gamers.

The Controller:
 
At first I was not over joyed by the PS3's controller, even with the SIXAXIS (tilting the controller for movement in some games). The controller that came with the Sony Playstation 3 40GB console however is wireless, and you can easily check to see how much battery juice is left in the controller by pressing the middle PS logo button at any time. If it is low, you simply reattach it back onto the small cord that it came with. I love this about the controller. It makes life easy, and the controller is always fully charged and ready for game play.

What I don't like about the controller though is how cheap it feels in your hand. The controller is very light, and feels hollow. The control sticks also seem to be made of poor quality plastic, which if dropped could likely break off with ease.

The way I see it though, is that if you slam your controller around and treat it like crap, it will break. If you keep it in a safe place I don't see there being any issues. Just don't leave it on the floor! You step on it, and likely it's shattering. Hehe!

The SIXAXIS feature is mediocre. I managed to play Ratchet and Clank: Tools Of Destruction this past week, and got good use of the SIXAXIS. In a few areas of game I had to float down from the sky on to land. Tilting the controller up, down and to the sides allowed me to maneuver my character around so he didn't hit falling debris, or bombs.

It works, but you have to be really careful. It's too easy to tilt too far, or not enough.

To put it simple, the SIXAXIS is flawed, and should definitely be tweaked. I prefer the Nintendo Wii's motion controller over the PS3's SIXAXIS.

The Graphics:
 
The Playstation 3 40GB's true gem comes from it's graphics. When plugged in using an HDMI cable, being displayed on a 1080p HDTV, the graphics are simply stunning. There have been many times where I will stop playing a game, just to look around at the gorgeous scenery brought before me on the screen.

Colors are gorgeous, scenes with water are more breath taking than water in real life. Truly, the Playstation 3 is a winner above all other consoles when it comes to jaw dropping drool fest graphics.

Blu-ray:
 
The Blu-ray player that comes built into the PS340GB was one of the first features we used on the console. Night At The Museum Blu-Ray was seriously like watching a brand new movie. You seriously do not know what you are missing till you play your first Blu-ray disc. Yeah, the movie is the same, but when played o Blu-ray, it is like opening up a whole new realm of your movie viewing experience.

Colors are vibrant, pores in actors faces are so clear that you could play connect the dot on their faces.

 Sound is stunning, and textures are flawless. Blu-ray makes the picture so perdy, that you feel jipped in real life, because things don't look as beautiful.

If you are not into gaming, like I said earlier, buying the Playstation 3 just for the blu-ray player is a win, seeing how Blu-ray players on the market are priced higher than the Playstation 3 console.

Downgrade?!
 
The only issue I have with the 40GB model is the fact that when the 20GB model was available to purchase (no longer for sale) the lower end model came with 4 USB ports, and the ability to play PS2 games.

The 40 GB model however only comes with 2 USB ports, which sucks the big one...and no compatibility to play PS2 games! What gives?!?!?!?
 
Games:
 
Another issue I have been facing lately is the lack of game titles for younger children. I myself have always been into kiddie type games like Mario, Viva Pinata, Sims, Lego style games, and games that offer awesome game play, but are more cute, frilly, pink and fluffy.

There seems to be a HUGE lack in games geared towards girls, and young children. Whenever I go out looking to purchase or rent a game, I come across the same over and over again. War games, shooter games, fighting games, race car games, or zombie games. Where the hell are the cute unicorns, the fairies, mermaids, and little happy smiling people?!
 
I will say that this has been the biggest disappointment thus far, besides the downgrades.

Overall:
 
Sony Playstation 3 40GB, is by far one of the most beautiful consoles I have ever gotten. With stunning graphics, and a flawless blu-ray player, I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I do wish though that someone would come out with something geared more towards girls. Right now it just seems to be a sexist little man box.

In due time I am sure more games geared at girls will fly onto the shelves, but it has already been quite some time now! You'd think that by now we would have been introduced to something more 'pink'.

Pricing:
 
The 40GB model is being sold for around $350.00 at electronic stores. There are models available with more hard drive space. The 40 GB model though is plenty of storage space for game downloads, and other media you may want to load into it.