Playstation 3
Alright hombres, it's opinion gathering time.
I want to buy a Playstation 3 and hopefully will be getting one within 6 months or so.
I have a few options in front of me. Just to make sure everyone's clear and knowledgeable, there are essentially two types of PS3s out there: those with hardware emulation capable of full backwards compatibility and those with software emulation that (as some sources say) doesn't work perfectly with backwards compatibility.
Now, I have a lot of Playstation 1 and 2 games and the PS2 that I inherited is probably going to die within the next few years. As such, I would really like a system that is capable of playing all three generations of games. It follows that the 60GB hardware emulating PS3 is the most attractive option.
HOWEVER, since the 60GB has been discontinued, you can only buy it used. Apparently Gamestop sells them used for about $450, a price that I am happy with. But it IS a used system, which makes me a bit leery. I bought a GameCube used and it worked just fine. But it was a GameCube.
So, my other option is to just buy an 80GB model for $400 and eventually purchase a new PS2 if it turns out that the PS3 doesn't run my PS1 games. That way I get a brand new console for a bit cheaper and it might even run the older games just fine.
So, here's my question. Which path should I take? Should I brave the waters of used hardware to get a spiffy all-in-one package (60GB), or should I play it safe and get a new system and deal with any lack of backwards compatibility later (80GB and possibly a new PS2)?
I want to buy a Playstation 3 and hopefully will be getting one within 6 months or so.
I have a few options in front of me. Just to make sure everyone's clear and knowledgeable, there are essentially two types of PS3s out there: those with hardware emulation capable of full backwards compatibility and those with software emulation that (as some sources say) doesn't work perfectly with backwards compatibility.
Now, I have a lot of Playstation 1 and 2 games and the PS2 that I inherited is probably going to die within the next few years. As such, I would really like a system that is capable of playing all three generations of games. It follows that the 60GB hardware emulating PS3 is the most attractive option.
HOWEVER, since the 60GB has been discontinued, you can only buy it used. Apparently Gamestop sells them used for about $450, a price that I am happy with. But it IS a used system, which makes me a bit leery. I bought a GameCube used and it worked just fine. But it was a GameCube.
So, my other option is to just buy an 80GB model for $400 and eventually purchase a new PS2 if it turns out that the PS3 doesn't run my PS1 games. That way I get a brand new console for a bit cheaper and it might even run the older games just fine.
So, here's my question. Which path should I take? Should I brave the waters of used hardware to get a spiffy all-in-one package (60GB), or should I play it safe and get a new system and deal with any lack of backwards compatibility later (80GB and possibly a new PS2)?
Comments
Of course, my current PS2 is just old, I haven't had any problems with it other than the A/V cable being a bit loose in the back. It might last me for quite a while.
The new 80GB PS3, which is the only new system you can get, does not have backwards compatibility for PS2. It does, however, play PS1 games, regardless of model. (???)
However, he said that though it isn't confirmed, rumor has it that the reason they're taking out backwards compatibility now is that they're going to make it an optional download in the future, so that if you don't want to play PS2 games, you don't need to take up the hard drive space. This makes sense, since all the backwards compatibility after the first two models was software based.
The new PS3, however, lacks certain features. It has 2 USB ports instead of 4, no flash card reader, and no SACD support, and (currently) no PS2 compatibility. Now, will these be a big deal? Maybe not. I'm pretty sure the flash card reader and SACD reader won't be necessary, but I do know that lack of USB ports is a problem on the Xbox 360. I still have a PS2, so that's not a big deal, and it sounds like they may fix the compatibility problem in the future.
So I guess my only concern is the lack of USB ports. I think, though, that almost all PS3 controllers are wireless, so that potentially nullifies that. But it's still a spot of worry in the back of my mind.
But, as you both say, I do want to spite Gamestop, and the security of a new system is nice. I'm leaning toward a new 80GB system at this point.
I've read a different source that states something contrary to what I was previously told. Apparently the rumor of a software add-on that would allow PS2 backwards compatibility is false. Of course this could be false as well. But the man essentially stated that the PS3 just doesn't have the capacity to run PS2 games on exclusively software support and make them look good. So if you want to run PS2 games, you're better off with the hardware emulation (60GB). Dammit. Why the hell couldn't they just keep the 60GB one in production?
Or wait for the Pandora.
The older systems basically had an PS2 built in. This only really happened in North America and Sony was already losing loads of cash on every PS3 they sold so, they cut the PS2 hardware as a cost cutting measure.
That said, the newer systems are using an updated processor that is more energy efficient than the original and the graphics hardware could be as well, I'm not sure on that. The upshot of that is that it would produce less heat meaning it can run a bit quieter (less cooling required) and/or last a bit longer (less stress on hardware). The lack of PS2 hardware certainly adds to this as well.
That said, not being used isn't the only reason new hardware would be good.
And you may even have swayed me. I suppose PS2s are going to be quite plentiful for many years to come, so in the event that my PS2 craps out, I'm sure I could easily get a new one.
And the new PS3 comes with a year warranty.
But I plan on getting Guitar Hero and Rock Band eventually... will I have to resort to a crappy USB hub as you do with the Xbox Rock Band? That's why having 4 USB ports instead of 2 is attractive to me. That and the fact that new PS3s don't have any kind of card reader, unlike the 60GB model.
Urrrghh... I don't know! Each path has pros and cons.
60GB
+ 2 more USB hubs
+ Flash card reader
+ Plays PS2 and PS1 games nearly perfectly
- Costs slightly more
- Less energy efficient, may crap out sooner
- Used, so a little more risky
- Have to buy from Gamestop (probably)
New 80GB
+ New system, so more reliable
+ Slightly less expensive
+ More energy efficient, lasts longer
+ 1 year warranty
- Only 2 USB hubs
- No card reader
- Only plays PS1 games
BUHH!! I don't know. New is sounding better right now. I have a fully functional PS2, it would be nice and shiny and all mine, and it would suck less power.
Here's what I need: personal experience. Is there anyone out there with a PS3? Anyone who knows someone with a PS3? How necessary are those two extra USB ports, especially with peripheral-heavy games like Rock Band? Or were the two extra ports just unnecessary, so they cut them out?
Rock Band I know requires you to buy a USB hub. I always found it odd that it didn't come with one, considering both the 360 and Wii versions do. But you can get one for pretty cheap, and then you'll have 5 USB ports! I don't know of any situation other than Rock Band/GH4 that requires more than 2 USB ports though. Unless you have a lot of wired controllers.
Also, do you buy a special Playstation 3 USB hub, or just a general USB hub?
Regardless, you again have made me reevaluate. It doesn't really matter that much whether it has the extra USB ports or card readers... if I REALLY need them I can just get external attachments.
So, the only thing that remains is the lack of PS2 backwards compatibility, which doesn't seem like a large concern.
80GB it is!
Edit: from watching a un-boxing video the mic and drum use USB but the guitar is wireless, so 2 USB ports should be enough. Video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t12s5oILKY&feature=related
The Xbox could be doing the upscaling thing I was talking about having the computer do. It'd just be doing it internally to the machine. On the other hand, the X-box uses directX which can support all this stuff pretty easily. Did you know the original X-box ran a stripped down version of windows 2000? It was basically a windows PC. It supported higher resolutions and all this from the beginning, so it's no surprise that the X-box games which already basically supported HD still do.
This is what confused me. My argument is that this is basically false. The SD content is that way on the tv now because it is not upconverted in an effective manner internal to the TV. For whatever reasons the TV's don't scale stuff very well. It's like scaling a photo in mspaint versus scaling it in photoshop. A PC with the right software could do this much better. It's the same principle behind upconverting DVD palyers.
The changing output res of the 3d part in PS1 emulators? This is a good point. I wasn't really thinking too hard about this with my earlier comment. But really, you'd need a faster version of the PS2 hardware that can run an extra layer of software to force a change in the rendering resolution and upscale the 2D bits while you're at it (what's the point otherwise?) and do so without a loss of performance. So basically a Playstation 2.5? That wouldn't make business sense. Sony can't afford to go developing consoles all will-nilly so stop dreaming.
Your options are thus: Buy a PS3, or hook a PS2 to a PC and try to upconvert the signal that way as I said. If the PC option won't work then you have no recourse but to buy a PS3 for your PS2HD needs, and I don't even know if the PS3 will do a good job of that. It might these days, but I'm not up on that news.
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Pattaya Heights Condos
Here's the best part. It only cost me $250 plus shipping.
Yes, I got a brand new 80 GB PS3 for the price of a Wii. So though I won't get backwards compatibility, I'll have a spanking new system within (hopefully) two weeks. Woot!