Sony recently released a version of its popular PlayStation 3 video game console for people who don’t play a lot of video games. Sure, it comes with a controller and all and plays PS3 games, but it’s not for the hardcore gamer. In an effort to compete with Microsoft’s 4-gigabyte Xbox 360 system at the same price of $199.99, Sony’s latest incarnation of the super-slim PS3 model eschews a traditional hard drive in favor of 12 gigs of NAND memory (aka. Flash memory).
Look, all you hardcore PS3 gamers are snickering right now. They know that if they want to play more than one or two games at once, they’ll either have to delete and reinstall games every time they change titles, or invest in a memory solution like an external hard drive or flash drive (both of which are fully compatible if formatted in FAT32 on the nearest PC). They know all this because many PlayStation 3 games require you to install them on the console’s internal memory in order to play. While many games only require a few gigs, some of the more recent triple-A gaming experiences like GTA V (8 concerts) and Splinter Cell Blacklist (12 concerts!) require a little more.
So, right now, you might be wondering, “Well, then, who should buy this?” The answer is “Pretty much everyone except expert players.”
Let’s be honest, a PlayStation console is much more than just a video game machine these days. First of all, they also play DVD and Blu-ray movies, a must-have component for any movie lover’s living room. Yes, to get the benefit of improved picture quality from your Blu-ray movies, you’ll need to upgrade the cable that came with your system. But a component or HDMI cable is a small extra cost for a major improvement in picture quality. I’m going to go straight out and say it: if you have an HDTV and you’re watching standard definition DVDs, then you’re doing it wrong.
The PS3 also browses the web, and while you can use the controller if you want, for a more PC-like internet experience, you can plug in your USB keyboard and mouse. Along with that internet connectivity also comes access to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and even YouTube. There’s also been a lot of talk lately in the tech news about a deal that Sony and Viacom are signing. Supposedly, the deal would allow Sony to offer its customers access to Viacom’s television channels, which includes networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon, in an Internet-based streaming service. In short, we are talking about live cable television over the interwebs. Sony has already reached out to other network providers like Disney and Warner Brothers as well. It will be interesting to see if Sony can come to some sort of deal with these or others in the coming months.
Even if you don’t want to subscribe to a streaming service like Netflix, the PlayStation 3 also lets you stream media from a compatible PC. This means you can watch your video files, listen to your MP3s and browse your pictures right from your computer directly to your big screen TV. All this functionality, and the PS3 still plays games too.
Sony (and let’s be fair, Microsoft too) has done a lot in the last ten years to make its systems not just a game box, but the true focal point of the modern entertainment center. So while the 12-gig PS3 may not be the best choice for the ‘hardcore’ gamer, it’s a great buy for anyone looking for an all-in-one Netflix/Blu-ray solution for their living room. It’s also a great gift idea for the casual gamer, the media curious video game addict, or the parent who wants their child to get skylanders turn off the television in the house and take it to your room. Pick one up at your local Slackers today!