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November isn’t just a time for big games to launch. It’s traditionally a time when game consoles make their big splash in the States. With the exception of the PlayStation 2 and the PSP, every major game console of this decade has launched in November in the US. Today’s the three year anniversary of the PlayStation 3’s American launch. Over the next few days, many of us will be taking a look at each of the major consoles, their history up to now, and the prognosis for 2010. Just for the hell of it, I pulled up a birthday horoscope for today:
“Although you have a talent for communicating, you are not an open book. Your personality is vibrant, and others notice you wherever you go. As emotional as you are, you prefer to present the strong side of your personality to others. You may readily discuss your personal past, but you are not one to whine about your life. You do have an interesting life story, no doubt about it, as you tend to attract change and even crisis into your life with your controlled yet powerful emotions. Your life is far from static, likely because your personality is very dynamic.”
Yep, sounds like a PS3 to me. Here’s the specs:
Launch Date: November 17, 2006 (US)
Launch Price: $599 (60 GB), $499 (20 GB)
Significant Price Drops and Hardware Iterations:
- 80 GB PS3 (introduced 2007) eliminated the Emotion Engine, which allowed for hardware emulation of PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games. It dropped the price to $499.
- 40 GB PS3 (introduced late 2007) eliminated PlayStation 2 backwards compatibility, as well as two USB ports and flash memory readers, yet it existed alongside the 80 GB hardware iteration for nearly a year. It also dropped the retail cost down to $399.
- 120 GB PS3 Slim (introduced in August 2009) reduced the size and power consumption of the console. In addition, it brought the price down to $299.
Games of Note
Year One: 2006-2007
- Resistance: Fall of Man
- Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
- Warhawk
- Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
- MotorStorm
Year Two: 2007-2008
Year Three: 2008-2009
Features That Made It Better
When you look at a chronological list of updates, it’s amazing to think that the console has seen so much tinkering since 2006, nearly all of it for the better. Here’s a look at the most notable firmware updates that have really improved the PS3 experience:
Update 1.50 fixed the horrific jaggies that kept many an early adopter from swiftly hocking their PS2s and ruined many hours of Final Fantasy XII and Okami during the 2006 holiday season.
Update 1.80 opened up the feature floodgates. Among its features, update 1.80:
- Provided HD upscaling for PS2 and PlayStation games, which immediately caused a surge of used PS2s at GameStop (not actually proven)
- Let you transfer PS2 save files freely between your console and memory card, which meant that you could transport your PS2 saves to a memory card to bring to your friends’ houses to play on their inferior hardware.
- Allowed Blu-ray playback at 720p (previously, you could only watch HD movies in 1080i or 1080p)
- Allowed upscaling of DVD movies to resolutions up to 1080p
- Allowed DLNA compatibility (what’s up, TVersity and PlayOn!)
- Introduced Remote Play over the Internet (I used this feature during Games Convention 2008 to play Bionic Commando: Rearmed on my PSP, which was in San Francisco. But it was kind of laggy).
- It was at this point that the PS3 started to become serious business.
Update 2.00 introduced rumble in time for the Dual Shock 3’s 2007 bow and nullified Kaz Hirai’s spin of eighteen months prior.
Update 2.30 revamped the PlayStation Store and eased navigation through its menus, which addressed the surge of content on the platform.
Update 2.40 introduced in-game XMB, which killed many PSN users’ ability to conveniently ignore friend messages while playing games. It doubled the PSN friends list from 50 to 100. Also, it introduced Trophies, which allowed fanboys to brag about their time spent playing games instead of meeting girls, and ravaged my Gamerscore irreparably. I'm at least 8000 behind where I would’ve been had I played on 360.
Update 2.41 fixed the fatal error in Update 2.40 that bricked select consoles. Ouch.
Update 3.00 provided a big aesthetic update to the interface and got rid of the blingy noise when you fire up a game.
Things We’ll Try to Forget
- Ken Kutaragi’s audacious claims prior to PS3’s launch. When you think about it, it wasn’t that long between launch and his resignation.
- An awkward launch that did early adopters few favors.
- Not using the Blu-ray player much for the first seven months.
- “Rumble is so last-gen.”
- Loose and fast DLC regulation takes coin out of developers’ pockets far too easily.
Things Console Warriors Might Forget (But Shouldn’t)
- Despite the awkward launch and a year of PR faux pas, the end of the PS3’s first year brought great games like Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Warhawk (arguably the game that has lived up to SOCOM’s community-focused multiplayer more than any other first-party game), and Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. There were indisputably games to play, if you had the coin for the machine. And the legacy of those games is still being felt to this day. Well, except for the rumored Starhawk. (We’re tapping a foot impatiently.)
- Although multi-console owners bitched about having to update their PS3 “every time they turned it on” throughout 2007 and 2008, Sony’s frequent updates gave owners new content more often, rather than hitting users with twice-yearly updates.
- In spite of the higher quantity of games on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network has taken a more boutique approach to downloadable games. Granted, there’s no shortage of crap on either platform, but exclusive titles like Flower and the PixelJunk brand really stand out among a sea of downloadable games.
- Unless you’re a sulky teenager whose game purchases are dictated by your parent’s wallet, the cheaper PS3 Slim (which comes in at half the launch price) has enabled more gamers to become multi-console owners, and roughly at the same time in the console’s lifecycle that many gamers adopted a second console in the last generation. GTA: San Andreas and Halo 2 pushed many a gamer to bring a second console home five years ago. If you’re a 360 owner, this may very well be the year to take the plunge.
Prognosis for Year Four: 2009-2010
Positive. The biggest deterrent for most consumers hasn’t been a lack of games. It hasn’t been solely based on Xbox Live. It’s the price. At this point, the PS3 costs as much as a launch-era PS2. That’s a hell of a lot more reasonable than the $600 price point it launched at.
Although both Microsoft and Sony have made some big strides in providing on-demand video content through their platforms, G4 readers are vocal in their love for physical media. And they might not be a vocal minority. As more consumers move over to HD and Blu-ray movies slowly drop in price, the PS3 could be poised to repeat the “DVD player plus more” strategy that made the PS2 such a success.
And then there’s the games. Between Gran Turismo 5 and God of War III, Sony has two huge franchises to anchor for the first half of 2010. The jury’s still out on Heavy Rain, but if Sony manages to hit the sweet spot with marketing, it could crossover to an audience that doesn’t traditionally play adventure games. Don’t be stunned if Insomniac makes any big announcements regarding the Resistance franchise prior to March’s Game Developers Conference.
At this point, the PS3 has overcome most of its growing pains to deliver a great entertainment experience.
Comments
Displaying 1–20 of 90
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super_stevo
three years of awesomeness is more like it
masterjesse283
my people, sons and daughters of SONY! This muxh i vow, the history of these days will be written in BLOOD! By crushing the armys of our enemies and seizing the games they thought to turn against us, We were fighting for our every exclusive. But if there are those who will deny us peace and refuse us our rightful place in the gaming industry.... THEN WE WILL RELEASE SUCH TERRIBLE VENGENCE!! THAT GENERATIONS YET UNBORN WILL CRY OUT IN ANGUISH!!!
o_NIGHT_TRAIN_o
This is going to be a great year for the ps3. I am guessing by or at next christmas the ps3 will be ahead in sales of the 360.
xXSTR8FSXx
My best console is the Dreamcast and it's about damn time I get an upgrade. My PS2 broke so I'm down to a DS and DC. I'm getting a job and getting a PS3. Sure 360 has better online play but on how broke I am there's no way in hell I could afford to pay for it. Long live free online gaming!
Angelicsin87
PS3 FTW! I got it when it came out, got all the games this article mentioned, and I have no regrets. PS3 has been like that loyal friend, never dissapointing. I liked Wii, but too cheap and kiddie. I liked XBOX 360, but not enough real hit and unique games for me. PS3 on the other hand has served me far more better even thou it was expensive. It has the 5 star hit games and it has the unique games i've been looking for. Thanks PS3.
Angelicsin87
PS3 FTW! I got it when it came out, got all the games this article mentioned, and I have no regrets. PS3 has been like that loyal friend, never dissapointing. I liked Wii, but too cheap and kiddie. I liked XBOX 360, but not enough real hit and unique games for me. PS3 on the other hand has served me far more better even thou it was expensive. It has the 5 star hit games and it has the unique games i've been looking for. Thanks PS3.
suzaman
...THE FUTURE IS HERE...
The PS3 is the onlty system I have ever bought the day it came out. I bought the 20gig backwards compatible one. Now today I still own that same machine and its only crapped out once, two months ago. It has made my eyes happy for so long now with its sleek Blu ray player and with games like, MGS4, RESISTANCE 2, LITTLE BIG PLANET AND UNCHARTED 1&2. With its free online play and excellent selection of games to play online SF4, MVSF 2, LBP RESTIANCE 1&2 AND KILLZONE. It has given me little to complain about as thew true next gen game system(I throw that around lightly as it seems they keep designing these consoles as a computer to do everything and less focused on the "Game" features, at times) I going to be honest. I really don't use the PS3 online that much, but I don't need to, to enjoy it. It's there. It works and it has plenty of media, friend meeting and matching to play with for days. As we know. Sometimes its the systems features that sell them(people sure did like buying a dvd player that played PS2 games back in 2002 when dvd's where at there peak) other times its the games. I love RACHET AND CLANK, and the new CRACK IN TIME. It should not be missed by any gamer that loves having fun while playing games. It's that good. Yet the price of the console is a factor, not so much now but you know. As for anybody who has bought any Sony product, console, com, or T.V. you get what you pay for... Quality! With The new ridiculous price drop. Everone who hasn't picked one up already will be making someones Holiday season happier. (Sony)...cough.
For 3 years you've rocked my world. Please GOD OF WAR 3, and FF13 don't be late ...Suzaman...
betatheta
Happy three years PS3
JayLoser
Don't forget Final Fantasy XIII in those upcoming games . . .
progta
PS3 AND PS2,PSP ARE THE BEST SONY ROCKS.
RockieOllie
You should give a end of the year wrap of each system every year.
Gyrorobo
Maybe it's just me but I thought that the Xbox was released in like june or something but who cares, HAPPY B-DAY playstation 3(one day late that is) ;)
Silky08
I never had lag for the time I owned a ps3. Uncharted 2 multiplayer is quick and responsive and I love playing Fat Princess with my friends and their roommates. The other day some girls played with us, but they were very.... into it. Violently into it I might add.
ionic_photard11
Sony won the war with HDDVD. It makes it a bit more attractive now, But lets face it GOOD games make a console. Anyone remember PS vs nintendo 64?
mittens1231
@v1nz1984
I was looking at saving up for the ps3 since the summer before. Since i was young the oly way i got paid was with good grades. So i felt like i deserved it :).
But yes i had some money for it.
ghettoe
I frankly have held up on buying an xbox because I just wouldn't know what to do. I wouldn't know which games to buy for the ps3 and which ones to buy for the xbox which would equate to massive head ache. So instead I go over to my friends house when I'm feeling xboxy and she comes over when she wants to play the ps3.
krispybacon1
the ps3 is gaining momentum and it won't surprise me if it crushes the wii or 360
Carnage_Asada
Happy birthday PS3. I love you like a fat kid loves cake!
Sesslersprodigy
now all we need is for ps3 to stop letting microsoft get all the exclusive DLC, and buy some of those multiplatform games that are good and make them even better. I would love to see some of these average games that only take 20%-30% of the ps3's core and go up to what uncharted had around 80% and 90%. that old 360 is holding the ps3 back especially if you look at the detail of uncharted 2
NinjaCrisis
Nice article G4, and Happy Birthday, PS3!! I'm a fan of ALL consoles, it's the games that count for me.
And i have to say it's quite nice to see what Sony has lined up for us in 2010. You don't have to agree with me on this one, but in my opinion the exclusives for PS3 look like one of the best (if not the best) game lineups of next year for one console alone. i think 2010 is going to be the start of many tight games and features PS3's future. So keep delivering shweet games and i'll keep playing lol ^_<.
And price, PSN lag(don't lie, we've all know lag has been experienced on Live.) and small game library aren't valid excuses anymore. Don't be a wii-fan, xbot or PC fanboy. Flame wars only make you miss out on whats good in the gaming community, you'll be the dude that's like, "oh no i never played that one" and us multi-console gamers gonna be like =O..daaaaaang lol. Go get you a PS3 and see whats poppin' ^__^.
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