PS3 - The Best Console To Get Now

I can't believe the only post I had written for this blog was about waiting to buy a PS3.

Eight years later, I bought a launch model PS3 (aka Phat) and subsequently, bought another two to replace my R.I.P. YLOD (yellow light of death) consoles, death from overheating, the issue that plagued the XBOX360s and to a lesser degree the PS3.  I also bought a XBOX360 to play some of the platform exclusives such as Gears of War and HALO. I enjoyed both platforms and had many hours of online and offline gaming experiences. I have also plonked down some serious money to get a PS4 and a low input-lag TV in December 2013. I will write a few posts to fill in the blanks...2005 to 2013.

But the target audience for this article is for those who never had the living room couch gaming experience on the TV, typically they are PC gamers and smartphone casual gamers. As the title suggests, my predicament for you is that Sony Playstation 3 is the best console gaming experience that you should seriously consider.

Why PS3 not PS4?

Price

500GB Super Slim PS3 can be had for not more than RM1,199 (Update: May, 2014 - 500GB PS3 retails for RM899) whereas 500GB PS4 retails at RM1,799. The difference of RM600 will help towards funding for PS3 games or a PS4 when you make your purchase late 2014 or early 2015 (if you are able to hold off that long, *smirks*)

Future Hardware Revisions

Buying a PS4 later may also help you in other ways, for example, the 500GB manufacturer-supplied hard disk with the PS4 is unlikely going to be enough as every game will pre-load a large portion of the disc-based games and digital versions of PS4 games are typically more than 30GB in size. If you are buying a PS4 now, you may have to think about upgrading to a 1TB hard disk at the very least, whereas if you are buying a PS4 in the future, you may have benefited from a hardware version refresh (i.e. even lower power usage/heat, bigger hard drive, etc.)

Availability

With the PS4 launch being fairly recent and some regions like Japan, awaiting launch, stock availability of PS4 are likely to be low in numbers. The negative effect of this is some unscrupulous retailers jacking up their prices. PS3s are generally available in the market and if you are lucky you may even snag a used PS3 from the gadget-chasers for a good price.

Games

While PS4 launch line-up are solid, it does not hold the candle when compared to PS3's eight year-old line-up games. Ranging from  from big budgeted AAA games to the whimsical indie titles. Since currently you cannot play PS3 games on your PS4 (pending Sony future announcement of Gaikai-powered cloud-based gaming), you definitely want to get a PS3 to play some of the best games the platform has to offer. In no particular order, here are some of my best remembered games on PS3 and since a lot these are older games you can get them cheaper new or used. Some of the digital titles on PS3 (Flower, Escape Plan, Soundshapes) are also Cross-Buy; meaning buying the PS3 version will entitle you to get the PS4 version for free.

The Last of Us, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Pixeljunk Monsters, Mass Effect 2, Metal Gear Solild 4, Splinter Cell Blacklist, Journey, Might and Magic Clash of Heroes, Uncharted Trilogy.

Playstation Plus

PS+ as it as affectionately known is a monthly paid subscription based service offered by Sony. It is priced at RM129 per year on PS Malaysian store, and US$49.99 on the US-based store.

Since online multiplayer on PS3 has always been subscription free (unlike Microsoft's Xbox360), Sony has differentiated its PS+ offering with cloud-based saves, PS+ special discounts, monthly free games and instant game collection. It is a single subscription that is valid across all Sony-based consoles(PS3/PS4/PS VITA TV) and portables(PSVITA).

Upon joining, new members get to download a selection of titles for you to have an instant game collection. These games are free for you to play for the duration of your subscription. Every month, PS+ also offers up new free games of the month as the current game of the month makes it way out. Another point to note though, PS+ game offerings differ across different PS store regions.

Currently, the UK/Europe trumps in terms of content while the US store offers the best value/content mix. The Malaysian/Asian store is now catching up after a slower start last year.

For example, in December 2014, the PS+ offer on the US store's are shown below, offering hit games such as Uncharted 3, XCOM Enemy Unknown, Borderlands 2, ICO, Shadow of the Collossus and Gravity Rush.

In January 2014, new games of the month offering will be Don't Starve on PS4 while PS3 gets Bioshock Infinite, Devil May Cry and Brothers, whereas PSVITA gets Smart As and Worms. This month's content alone already paid for the subscription fees.

Source: http://us.playstation.com/psn/plus-latest/

PS+ Pro-tip:
Every month, you can add the PS4 game(s) of the month to your download queue so that when you get your PS4, you have a library of free PS4 games waiting for you.

Go Get it Now

If you are still reading by now, it means you are quite interested, so how do you go about getting one? Where to get it? What else do you need? Here are my recommendations:
Pre-requisites:
- Get a high-speed wired broadband service (Unifi/Maxis), preferably 10Mbps
- Get a nice Full HD 1080p TV of at least 40" in size
- Get some good used games at great prices

Buying and enjoying your PS3
- Visit a local Sony Store* (not Sony Centre as those are Sony-branded stores operated by resellers)
- Be a Sony Card member (buy something RM250 and above and be a member for free)
- Get a Sony-branded Credit Card
- Buy a PS3 with and additional Dualshock 3 controller, pay by zero-interest installments
- Connect up your PS3 and go online
- Create your Sony Store account (SEN account) and sign-up PS+
- Download all applicable free games
- Enjoy

* I am not affiliated with Sony, Sony Computer Entertainment or any of its partners