Next Generation: PS3 Not Worth $600

In their review of the PS3, Next Generation concludes that "the PS3 is a must-buy – eventually. But is it worth $600 and a night in a parking lot? Not a chance."

"So what are we left with? In 2006, PlayStation 3 isn't about what the system can do. It's about what the system will do. Yes, if you spend $600 you deserve to get $600 worth of entertainment. But it's a (minimum) six-year promise that Sony's making, and it'll take a while for the games to ramp up, as it always does. Is it worth it right now? No. Even the Blu-ray movie selection kind of sucks.

But will the PS3 be worth it in the end? There can't be a doubt. At a base level, Sony has achieved every function essential for this system to compete with the 360. You can argue the finer points, but if you suggest that the PS3 isn't exactly what it needs to be, you're simply wrong. It's the inheritor of the PlayStation legacy, and it's also a system that is a technical powerhouse and an attractive one, too. The PS3 is a must-buy – eventually. But is it worth $600 and a night in a parking lot? Not a chance."

[marcusfenix]

That it isn't worth 499-599, maybe 299-399. I still wouldn't take it if it were given to me with all the games and accessories. They are doing nothing to make the gaming community better, just making themselves look bad.

[Ugly American]

Really... you wouldn't take the hottest item on the market for free right now? Your life is really that good right now? I am an avid 360 gamer and soon to be PS3 owner, but that level of ridiculousness is well, ridiculous. You wouldn't even take it and sell it? Really?

[marcusfenix]

I despise Sony and their under handed tactics, you could say the same about Microsoft except Microsoft gives billions back to the community through charities and educational programs.

[Boink]

get a 360 or a wii now, and then get a ps3 when the price drops if the games interest you.

[PS360WII]

Have always said that the ps3 will take time. The golden games that playstation is know for won't be coming out for a year or two. So yeah the system is worth 600 bones easy. Just not at launch more of an investment really

[Ravenator529]

When it comes to gaming consoles, Sony just can't sit back and wait for people to buy the PS3. They are already a full year behind and the production numbers are WAY BELOW what they promised! Even after a delayed launch!

This is what Sony gets for being too greedy! They could have left Blu-Ray out and sold the PS3 at the same cost of the 360.

They already had the majority of studio support for Blu-Ray, so why did they have to mess up the Playstation line by trying to force Blu-Ray into the home? In turn, screwing up the greatest thing that Sony had going for them!

The hype will eventually die down, just like it did with the 360.

When there are 3 systems to choose from with readily available inventory, that is when the real race will begin!

But as of right now, Sony is playing catch-up!

[BenzMoney]

The PS3 is ESPECIALLY not worth it if you don't have a tv that natively accepts a 720p signal! *NONE* of the PS3's games that are 720p will upscale to 1080i! Therefore, if you have a CRT HDTV (only about 2% of them accept a 720p signal, natively) then your PS3 will be downscaling all games to 480p! SONY SUCKS! How is this acceptable?! Yet so many sheep are going to go out there and buy a PS3 without even knowing the facts first! Complete and utter crap! 480p?!?! WTF?!

http://www.joystiq.com/2006...

[PS360WII]

That's in another discusion, but thanks for playing

[OC_MurphysLaw]

BUT...given it down scales 1080i HD-TV's to 480p it really screams not worth $500-600. So yeah, it is kinda related. It's just a feature quirk that the author of this article didn't probably know about at the time. Cause it certainly is a HUGE reason not to buy a PS3 if you own one of those TV's. I WOULD BE PISSED HAD I BOUGHT A PS3 AT $500/$600 AS I HAPPEN TO OWN A 1080i HD-TV. I mean this is a very big deal as I think many people are under the assumption their existing HD TV's will work fine...and fact is...they may actually get a worse picture using the PS3 if they own one of those affected TV's.

[BenzMoney]

I caught the other post further down the page after I posted this comment. "But thanks for playing." Seriously, who the hell says that? Get a life, buddy. Even if the story *is* stashed further down the page, this is HUGE news. If all the PS3 can do is output in 480p then that is a nail in the coffin. Only blind fanboys will still buy a PS3.

[PS360WII]

tell me to get a life when all you do is hunt down bad pr about sony and post it in every forum.... okay look in the mirror next time you say get a life

[kingboy]

i`m with u dude..it`s a shame to see grown @ss dudes come on sites talking reckless.It`s him who needs to get a life cause for the record he not buying a console for anyone in here or decide which one to choose.(who the hell are u to tell people buy this or that?Sanchinos )

[BenzMoney]

Sorry buddy, but I could care less what you or anyone else decides to spend their money on. The article is about whether or not the PS3 is worth the price. It's not. I gave one big reason why it's not. If you decide to waste your money on it, then that's your choice and while I might not agree with it, I fully agree that it's yours to make. From my perspective though, I can only see people buying the P$3 who are either a) uninformed about the console and what its capable of, or b) too blinded by fanboism or corporate loyalty to care. My 1080i TV can't play games in that resolution? Then no, I'm sorry but $659 (Canadian) isn't worth it.

[jedicurt]

"uninformed about the console and what its capable of, or b) too blinded by fanboism or corporate loyalty to care"

I have a problem with you making this statement. I am not uninformed about the console. and i'm not blinded by fanboyism.

just because you don't think it is worth it, doesn't mean that it isn't worth it for me. I happen to have a tv that will play the correct resolutions and i am a fan of my 360 (now that GoW is out)

so don't say you don't care what people spend their money on and then tell me i am either uninformed or a fan boy for getting it

fine, so it doesn't work for you. then leave it at that

[atomheart]

That's it? For 600 bucks? No thank you.

Wow. Sony....poor, poor Sony.

[jedicurt]

what are you guys talking about? they must be older hdtv's cause between a friend and i, we both have hdtv's mine is a 720p LCD, and his is a CRT 1080i. and we are able to view both resolutions on both tv's.

from what i was aware of was that all HDTV's supported both, just one was native (hence giving the best picture) and then the tv's themselves actually either upscaled or Downscaled to the other format if needed.

I thought maybe i was confused after reading what you guys had on here, but have checking some 30 sites on the net, i realized i was right, and i am clueless as to what you guys are talking about.

yes, the PS3 does not upscale to 1080i, but your tv should downscale the resolution to view the 720p signal.

atleast i hope i got that right

[jedicurt]

no, i did get that wrong, it is the tv that upscales the image to 1080i. it can't change the resolution of the screen

atleast in the USA all tv's must be able to view both 720p and 1080i to have the HDTV logo on the tv, atleast as of 2005. it just must upscale or downscale the image to the native relosolution

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Mitsubishi 1080HD 55" TV does not have 720p as a resolution option. Only 960p or 1080i and ofcourse 480p/i. I got the TV sometime around 2000 and still is a great picture so i won't be "upgrading".