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Sony's PlayStation 3 Up Close

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

May 20, 2005, 8:56 PM

Up Close: Sony PlayStation 3Although it's six months behind Microsoft's Xbox 360 and demoed no actual PlayStation 3 games at E3, Sony did give BetaNews a peek at their next generation console. The sleek design comes in three colors, although a Sony representative stressed that everything was still conceptual -- especially the wireless controller -- and designs may change before the PS3's official debut.

View Images of Sony's PlayStation 3 Up Close

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By glasscpp

edited May 24, 2005 - 2:35 PM

I have both PS2 and xBox, and don't care to get into the which is better fued. Since this article is about the PS3, here's my two cents.

I like the fact that nVidia went in with Sony for this. I like the idea of the cell processor. I think graphically this should be a very impressive system. However I still think it lacks in design. I still don't like the fact that the On/Off switch is in the back, between the power and network jacks even? Seems like an odd place to put that... From what I can tell it doesn't appear from the pics that the system has any front side ports, seems odd as well especially if they plan on having other temporary connections to external devices. I'm also real concerned on how well the Bluetooth wireless controls will actually work. To me Bluetooth doesn't seem too stable yet. I have a bluetooth mouse and the freaking connection drops on it all the time... But other than that I think the graphics should be worth it.
cheers

Score: 0

By NULLedge

posted May 24, 2005 - 1:21 AM

I see by this controller they're attempting to making left right up down more error free with the D pad by hiding the diagonal portions of the pad. Seems like one more place for finger funk, but also seems rational since the analog thumb sticks are the new standard hotness for controlling anything game play wise anyway.

Score: 0

By nightops

edited May 23, 2005 - 11:46 AM

I like the clean designed of the PS3. It'll be interesting to see how much of this translates to the actual production model. The only hard part is going to be keeping up with the GPU system of the XBox 360... If you haven't read about it yet, go to www.hardocp.com and read their reviews with the folks at ATi about what all this thing can do. Cell processor vs. a PowerPC processor...I'd bet on the Cell... But Overall system...so far my bet is on XBox 360 (and I only own 3 consoles right now: Super NES, Nintendo 64, and a slim PS2) I just hope that MS/ATi brings the XBox 360 GPU to the desktop PC market...it could do amazing things for laptops and desktops alike...

Score: 0

By SaCo

posted May 23, 2005 - 11:36 AM

welp i like it it looks cool id get a blak 1 cause im a dirty kid....and for the Xbox i think B Gates has his panite in a twist and orderd em 2 release the 360 early

Score: 0

By adamdawg

posted May 22, 2005 - 10:23 PM

That is the coolest looking console I've ever seen. I hope this is a final decision.

I personally think the XBOX 360 is ugly as sin. Cheap design and white is .. boring.

Score: 0

By KSzostek

posted May 23, 2005 - 9:10 PM

I have to laugh at your comment.

Score: 0

By DigiBrian

posted May 22, 2005 - 11:32 AM

Where on earth is a normal person going to put this, too bulky too round to fit in a entertainment center, I dont like it I am going with Xbox this time.

Score: 0

By RootDaddy

edited May 24, 2005 - 2:18 PM

So that is how you choose a system... by what looks best in your entertainment system? I must admit that for now I gravitate toward the PS3 myself, but by the time I actually buy one one of these systems, it will be because of the GAME TITLES AVAILABLE ON THAT SYSTEM. Unless your comments (or anybody elses for that matter) are backed up by technical data, benchmarks, or features and useability, your comments are a waste of time and unwelcome.

Score: 0

By cap737

posted May 22, 2005 - 7:39 PM

Dude, they are concept designs! They still have quite a ways to go.

Score: 0

By KSzostek

posted May 23, 2005 - 9:11 PM

Not really do some research it will be close to this prototype.

Score: 0

By zenaphex

posted May 21, 2005 - 7:19 PM

I think it's a great looking piece of hardware. I wonder if the lettering for PlayStation 3 is the same style used for the Spider Man movie. Nothing bad about that. Just curious. Props to Sony.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted May 21, 2005 - 3:57 PM

I like the way it looks. It looks like a powerful machine and that's what it is. Can't wait to get one.

Score: 0

By straes

edited May 21, 2005 - 12:10 PM

All in all, I would say that the PS3 is worse looking than the X360. From the looks of it, Microsoft took the complaints people had about their console and learned from it by reducing the size and probably weight and at the same time increasing the curves and sexiness. Sony on the other hand, appears to have made their console bigger, most likely heavier, and in my opinion and all of my friends that I have talked too, really ugly.

The controller on the other hand is different. The console is ugly, the controller is extremely ugly and uncomfortable looking. The bottons on the back look like they are either too much of a stretch or will leave your hand in an akward position. Should have just gone with an updated PS2 controller.

Score: 0

By GeneralLeoFF

edited May 21, 2005 - 12:51 PM

I dont much give a damn about weight cuz it's not like I'm going to pick it up all the time. It being heavy will keep it planted in place so it wont fall so easy also. The size is pretty big though but it's not too big.

I think the shape is pretty nice but it does look alot like a coffen. Aome people say it looks like a George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine but I'll take coffen insted. The only part of the design I dont like is the curved top prevents you from being able to set something on top of it. I like it alot better then the Maxi-Pad shape of the 360 but the Rev has the best case design of the 3.

Score: 0

By adamdawg

posted May 22, 2005 - 10:27 PM

Lmao.

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

posted May 21, 2005 - 9:10 AM

Supporting upto 8 wireless controllers. Awesome. The wired controllers make my living room untidy.

I also like how the PSP intrgrates and can itself be used as a wireless controller for PS3, the screen on the PSP can even be used to show ingame stats..

Score: 0

By KSzostek

posted May 23, 2005 - 9:12 PM

Stop playing games and learn to spell.

Score: 0

By Maajid

posted May 20, 2005 - 10:15 PM

I've got only one thing to say: I just cannot wait till it comes out.

Score: 0

By Isoptera4

posted May 20, 2005 - 11:07 PM

Controller looks uncomfortable to hold so I hope they fix the design before it is released.

Score: 0

By GeneralLeoFF

posted May 20, 2005 - 11:50 PM

Does anyone know whats under the little cover on the left of the disc drive?

I'm guessing the flash card reader and PS1/2 mem card and controller ports are under it.

Score: 0

By MOTVG

posted May 20, 2005 - 11:49 PM

They really should just stick with the same design as the PSX and PS2 dual shock contollers. For me those controllers work perfectly. I'm old fashioned because I still prefer corded controllers. It makes it harder for me to lose the controller and I don't have to worry about batteries or recharging the batteries.

Score: 0

By GeneralLeoFF

posted May 20, 2005 - 11:58 PM

I had concern over the controller power life as well but reports seem to be saying I'm not going to have to be too concerned about them going dead mid game unless I'm playing for like 15 hours straight or something. Overall I would still prefer wires though.

Wireless or not tohugh they deffinitly should have stick with the trid and true duel shock design. It's really the best designed gamepad ever. The only big improvment I would want to make to it would be the inclusion of 4 new buttons that are along the same lines of the xbox black and white buttons. They would be half the size as the standard buttons and 2 would be placed on the upper right above "T" and "C" (in a layout kinda like the genesis 6 button controller) and the other 2 placed in the same position but over on the left side above the D pad. The second change I would make is tighten up the resistance on the analog sticks and replace the round socket with an 8 point socket. turning the L2 and R2 uttons into triggers like the xbox has would not hurt either but I havent figured out a comfortable way to pull it off that dosent alter the Duel Shock design too much.

Score: 0

By iceanfire

edited May 21, 2005 - 8:03 PM

I guess the reason they aren't using the older controllers is cause they got sued like crazy recently over the dual shocks.

Also it *could* be possible that the wireless controllers would be rechared using a wire, as a result if you didn't want the wireless capability, all you'd have to do is keep that wire plugged in. In my experience, when you have around 4 controllers, the wires usually get all muddled up and during an exciting match, someone steps on your wire and all hell ensues; destroying the experience of gaming.

Score: 0

By jshrk

posted May 21, 2005 - 6:13 AM

I would expect sony to allow for the use of controllers with remotes throught the usb connections at the back or something, adapters could proberbly then be brought to put your old controllers into the new PS3, i personally think the remote looks amazing visually and wireless does sounds cool, which is what many people would want it for, however i do think the previous controller is more practical.

Score: 0

By cngodles

posted May 21, 2005 - 9:00 PM

I definatly think you should just be able to attach the controller to the machine and let it self charge. I really hate the notion of batteries. I think most machines should be dual battery, having the ability to charge and being able to swap batteries out for quick changes for long playing.

I can't believe by the time I stopped getting new gameboys they finally had an internal rechargable battery.

Score: 0

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