So my wife and I have decided to upgrade our woefully out of date PS2 it’s v1… had it forever, etc…) to a PS3. I just need to know what are the must haves for getting started with it, especially hardware oriented.
Suggestions for games would be great as well… to give you an idea, I will be getting FIFA 11 first (longtime fave game for ps2), but wife and I enjoy playing some games together, especially racing types. I am also a fan of more strategy oriented role playing games… long term career type stuff… any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
The PS3 has a lot of stuff built right into it, so you don’t really need too much. If you have a HDMI-capable HDTV, I’d get a HDMI cable to connect them (if your PS3 doesn’t come with one, and I don’t think they do). No need to buy a super expensive one, but I like to buy a step up from the super cheap ones you can get online (I’ve had a couple that were duds).
I think all PS3 models have built in wifi, but you’ll get better performance hooked directly into an ethernet connection (I’ve done it both ways for extensive periods of time).
Great games:
Both Uncharted games.
All the Assassin’s Creed games (especially II and Brotherhood, the first one was somewhat repetitive, but they did an exceptional job of addressing concerns with the sequals).
Red Dead Redemption and its add-on pack, Undead Nightmare.
RPG-wise, Mass Effect 2 is being released for PS3, or may already be (I’m not an RPG fan, but it got great reviews).
The only “must have” based on your mentions is a second controller. None of the current gen systems come with more than one, and it’s kinda key if you want to play anything co-op.
Well, okay, also the HDMI cable that StormCrow mentioned. Otherwise, I think you’re good to go, hardware-wise.
Games-wise, I’m going to refrain from giving you the same old schpiel that EVERYONE is going to give you about Uncharted/Bioware Games/Red Deadblahblahstuff. You know better than we do which sorts of games you like, and you’re just as capable of spotting all these 88+ Metacritic AAA releases as everyone else. Instead, I’m going to pitch you ONE title that DOESN’T get recommended all the dang time and which might tickle your fancy as a fan of strategy oriented RPGs - Check out Valkyria Chronicles.
If you find you like it, you can import songs from older Rock Band games into RB3, to have them all available in one game (there’s about a $10 license fee for the import, but the older games can themselves be under $10, so it’s not that much money.)
And just a reminder that Sony does a really good job of making demos available to download for most games that come out. Always check the PSN store to check out a demo before buying something sight unseen.
Airk’s Valkyria Chronicles suggestion is fantastic. If you’re a strategic RPG fan, you’ll not find a better game. You should be able to find it for $20 at GameStop. The demo has a quick campaign to get a taste of what’s what.
As for racing, I can’t really help. How serious of a racing fan are you? There’s a huge range of games in the genre - from the top end Gran Turismo 5 where you can tweak/customize every aspect of the car, down to ModNationRacers which is more similar to Mario Kart than anything else. (Again - demos here are really going to help guide your decision.)
Thanks all for the suggestions… Assassin’s creed looked pretty badass from the commercials, and we have GH for the PS2, and it is a blast. Does the lag/ calibration issue go away with the ps3 and hi def tv’s? I will definitely be taking advantage of the demos offered as well, games do get pricy, even used.
With the controllers, is it worth it to buy a charging system for them, or should is the battery life generally good?
Racing games… looking for more of the pick up and play type, not necessarily something for the serious gamer/ racer.
I have a charging station, and I love it. But you can charge it up via your computer as well. The controllers will not charge via the PS3 unless the PS3 is on, btw.
Battery life is real good for the controllers, and they recharge when plugged into the PS3 via USB, not with batteries like the XBox controllers. I normally use one till it runs out, and then plug it into the PS3 while I use my second controller.
Highly suggest springing for three extra controllers instead of just one extra. They charge pretty quickly, but it’s so nice to just be able to pop a fresh one off the PS3 and keep on going.
That ability however does not really help if you’re regularly playing with two players. Having a double pair lets both of you keep one on charge and one in hand.
Games?
Bioshock 1 & 2 are both so pretty.
Gran Turismo 5 is cracked out. I think my husband has spent over $200,000 on a “birthday present” 1969 silver corvette for me.
Valkyria Chronicles is a very good game overall, beautiful to look at, and plays very well.
Well, for starters, you’ll need a functioning Playstation Network, which is not an option currently:
Whatever the cause, my PS3 has been a shiny black paperweight for the past few days, since lately I’ve mainly been trying to level up in Red Dead multiplayer.
word is that the PSN will be up tomorrow in the US, so I can take full advantage of the system, includig a trialing of Valkyria Chronicles and ModNationracers if time permits (damn grad school getting in the way of gaming!). Thanks again for all of the advice, much appreciated.
BTW… I sprung for one exra remote and the remote for the bluray right off the bat, thanks for the suggestions.
It’ll take you a while to download those demos, FYI. Getting those queued up would be one of the first things I’d do. They’ll run in the background if you’re playing offline games or watching video.
Since the most obvious one was said (controller) I’m going to add a fast and most importantly RELIABLE internet connection. My PS3 hated my old apartment’s internet and it made it a total bitch to download the updates and impossible to play online.
While it’s slightly off topic, uh, PSN got…pretty messed up:
I wouldn’t bank on them necessarily being back at any particular time (I’m not sure if the “some service back within a week” means “A week from when this all started” or “a week from now as we make this announcement”). Also, if you gave Sony any personal info, it has probably/definitely/maybe been compromised, so act accordingly.
You should be aware that your PS2 games won’t work in a PS3, so don’t throw out your old box unless you’re sure you won’t want to play those games again.
