Official "Is the PS3 worth it?" Thread

[RickTheRipper]

HD-DVD can't even touch Blu-ray. The sales alone are 3:1 (I think that's dic's sold, not players), and for HD-DVD to match the capacity of a single layer Blu-ray disk, it has to have multiple layers (don't know the exact). And let's not forget the fact that Blu-ray is more highly supported than HD-DVD in the movie business. How many support Blu-ray? Practically all of them. How many support HD-DVD? As far as I know it's 1-3 (I don't go to the sites that talk about this, but I try to remember what I read as best as I can).

Also, what do you see more commercials for, HD-DVD or Blu-ray? I'm being completely honest right here, I have only seen 2 HD-DVD ever since I got my PS3, while I've seen dozens of Blu-ray commercials. Usually when Blu-ray has more commercials (tons more) than HD-DVD, it means it's being backed up more than HD-DVD. The only commercial for HD-DVD I can remember is The Departed, and that went to both platforms.

And as far as waiting a year for the PS3 to get really good games, how long did it take the 360 to get it's heavy hitters? About a year. Dead Rising was a good one that came out in the summer (about 7 or so months, right?) and then came GoW a year later. What games did the 360 have that were considered heavy hitters before the year passed? And if you give me a name that I haven't heard of or seen people raving about, then it doesn't count.

Now I'm not saying the PS3 completely stomps the 360, or vice versa, but I am saying that you guys are spewing out complete garbage and should really read up on some stuff before posting.

[Negative Creep]

Originally Posted by RickTheRipper

Also, what do you see more commercials for, HD-DVD or Blu-ray? I'm being completely honest right here, I have only seen 2 HD-DVD ever since I got my PS3, while I've seen dozens of Blu-ray commercials. Usually when Blu-ray has more commercials (tons more) than HD-DVD, it means it's being backed up more than HD-DVD.

Well, I see lots of commercials on TV for Tampax brand tampons, but that doesn't mean that they sell any better than a different tampon brand.

I really don't see a connection between the frequency of commercials aired to what is considered to be "popular" by the masses.

[RickTheRipper]

Well, when I put that up there, I meant it like this.

More movies are being paired with DVD and Blu-ray then they are being paired with DVD and HD-DVD. And if you check the frequency of Blu-ray commercials versus HD-DVD commercials, the difference should be evident.

And commercials do show the demand/popularity of something. Name brand cola is very popular, but there is that generic cola that the grocery stores make. Now do you see commercials for those gorcery store made cola's? No. Why is that? Because it's not popular.

Now that example is kinda "whack," so I'll use a better one.

In America we see tons of video game commercials for football games, basketball games, and baseball games, but we hardly see any for soccer games. Why is this? Because those sports are the favorite of American's, while Soccer is more like golf/tennis. You still see commercials for them, but nowhere near as many as football, baseball, and basketball games get, because it's less popular.

Or someone could just go on the internet and check the sales figures and find out the answer for themselves. But commercials are an easier indicator instead of going to the computer and surfing the net looking for the info.

[OME6A]

Rick, I really respect your opinion. Truth be told you're my favorite Alaskan forum member.

I do do my research before forming opinions. I frequent several tech industry blogs and news sites each and every day, salivating over countless products that my wife would kill me for buying.

Simply put, there's really no safe bet on the format war in the current market. Sony has a greater number of releases, primarily because of it's exclusive deals with movie studios. Because many Sony products are used in that industry, it's easier for them to get titles released on their format than it is for microsoft.

In terms of storage capacity, it doesn't matter much on the video front. A dual layer HD-DVD is 30GB, and holds 8 hours of HD video content. A dual layer Blu-ray is 50GB, and holds 9 hours of HD video content. Not a big pusher there.

Sony was banking a lot on the PS3 being the big driver for the success of their new format. Every PS3 in a home equals to a Blu-ray player in a home. Unfortunately product shortages, game title shortages, reduced features, a hefty price tag and a lack of interest from the general gaming populous in regards to HD movies have resulted in poor PS3 sales.

Sony originally defended the price of the PS3 because it's capable of so many things. It's not just a gaming machine. It's a media delivery system for home entertainment. That's all fine and good, but it's solely been marketed to gamers, who obviously have a greater interest in gaming. Another shortcoming is that Sony has just released a Blu-ray player for $599. So, if Blu-ray movies are your interest, why get the PS3?

Then there's the issue that HD TV owners, the ones that would truely benefit from the wonderous new format, are still in the minority. Couple that with the fact that consumers typically wait to see who the victor is in a format war before siding with one, and there's destined to be poor sales on both fronts.

So this now brings us to consumer electronic manufacturers. Sony makes it's own, and aside from a few other names, there aren't too many making Blu-ray players. Microsoft has it's external drive for the 360, which gives gamers the option of paying the extra cost for something they may not want, along with a couple manufacturers making HD DVD players.

Most manufacturers are aiming to produce systems that can play both formats so that they don't suffer in sales when one emerges the victor. It's effective, but including hardware for each results in an elevated price.

It's still anyone's game, and by all estimates, will take a long time to declare a victor.

Betamax, a video format purposed by Sony over a decade ago, ended up losing to the VHS format because a product was quickly released that allowed consumers to record their own content on the tapes.

Perhaps something as simple could be the deciding factor again.

I'd also like to point out that the frequency at which a product is advertised is not a direct result of it's popularity. Case in point, the PS3. I see ads for it all the time, and yet sales still slump behind the 360 and the Wii.

True, you do see a lot of advertisements for products that are leaders in their markets. But, advertisements serve the sole purpose of generating interest in a product.

[RickTheRipper]

I have no idea what to say to that except....... I'm someone's favorite AK poster! Take that you other AK posters!

But anyway, we really won't see who's going to win between HD-DVD and Blu-ray for awhile because of what you said, most people wait for a winner.

But until we do see a definite winner, I'm gonna back Blu-ray, but won't be too surprised if HD-DVD wins. Well, I will be surpised, but not in complete shock.


On a more personal note, R6 better not turn out like crap when they finally release it (PS3 of course), or else I'll be one very unhappy person. But with all the delays, it gets you worried. Are the delays because of technical issues, or are they just adding stuff/fixing glitches? If it's technical, then chances of it being crap are higher, but if they're just removing glitches/adding new stuff (motion control maybe), then the crap factor is lower.

[oxfordfreestyl]

I could've sworn i made a big rant post in this topic not too long ago =/.

I'm no fan boy, i have a 360, hate it, but i have it.

I really see us not getting anywhere, we're all so well informed on all subjects that we can counter everyones argument with one of our own. Oh well, here goes:

The new GamePro has a section about the PS3, and Sony. It says that BR is outselling HD-DVD more than 2:1 atm, mostly due to the sells of the ps3. Sony seems to have a niche for inventing new products, that in many ways are better than the competition, but fail in the end (BetaMax for example). However, the real kicker isn't just that one extra hour of HD video, its the unsurpassed space to use for making a game. Resistance used something like 16 GB, have you ever known a game to do that? Or even to be ABLE to do that before BR? Doubt it.

As for games for the PS3, Rick hit in right on the head. The 360's decent (yeah decent, none of the games now are mind-blowers) lineup now took more than a year to develop, as will the PS3's. The new GamePro also mentions thse "9 games we gotta have" (in bold are ones with very high potential):

Lair
MGS4
Killzone2
Heavenly Sword
Grand Turismo 5
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Final Fantasy XIII (I'm not bolding this on the simple fact i've never played any)

then there is an "ALSO..." section with the last two being:

Socom 4
Ratchet and Clank 5

[SlasherMovieGuy]

I never did end up buying either system yet, but I did come to realize that if you buy a 360, your only buying it (as far as games go) to eventually play Halo 3 and to play Halo 3 for 3 more years after that. There are other great games for the system, but face the facts Halo 3 is what 90% of the xbox fan base wants to play.

[OME6A]

Originally Posted by SlasherMovieGuy

if you buy a 360, your only buying it (as far as games go) to eventually play Halo 3 and to play Halo 3 for 3 more years after that. There are other great games for the system, but face the facts Halo 3 is what 90% of the xbox fan base wants to play.

I guess I'm of the 10% thta does'nt want to play Halo. I've never liked the game much.

Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon are both outstanding 360 titles. Gears of War has legions of fans that would say the same about that game. There's scores of awesome sports and racing games.

There's much, much more to 360 than just Halo.

[Negative Creep]

Originally Posted by OME6A

I guess I'm of the 10% that does'nt want to play Halo. I've never liked the game much.

Make that two Xbox 360 gamers that are in that 10%... I'm not the biggest fan of that series, either.

[oxfordfreestyl]

*Ahem* 3.

I play H2, but i'm in no way caring about Halo3 on a multiplayer level. I'd like to beat the SP and return it after i buy it. Halo 2 online is just about the biggest waste of time ever.