I’ve been planing on getting [del]myself[/del] my kids a PS3 for Christmas. They don’t know or suspect this. We have a Wii, and play Rock Band a lot. With the new Rock Band 3, with the new instruments, I decided I’d like to have the hard drive to import songs from multiple disks into a single game, and also have the higher resolution graphics. There’s also games not available on the Wii, and it’s a BlueRay player.
So today, my oldest son (15) says he knows what he wants for Christmas: A PS2. And the Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2 games. Which are only on PS2, AFAIK. He’s been looking at used or refurbished PS2s on GameStop online.
For the PS3, I want to buy new, but used or refurbished for the PS2 is OK. New PS3s don’t support PS2 games any more, do they? So what should I do? Are there any good options other than just buying both? Are PS2 controllers, at least, usable on a PS3?
Are PS2 disks readable on a PS3, to the point of being able to import Rock Band songs from a PS2 disk, even if the game itself isn’t playable?
About Kingdom Hearts specifically, the game says it may not work with all controllers. Is this just scare tactics, or do I really need a genuine Sony controller.
New PS3s don’t support PS2 games, and I don’t believe ANY PS3 supports PS2 controllers, because the controller port went from proprietary to USB.
I expect PS2 disks are “readable” but I doubt you’d be able to import Rock Band songs.
I expect the “may not work with all controllers” is there to stop you from trying to play the game with something stupid like a fighting game stick. Any PS2 “standard” controller will be fine. These games are indeed only available on the PS2, but frankly, the PS2 has an awesome library of good stuff and you can get them for right cheap. I’d seriously consider passing on the PS3 unless you have some particularly compelling reason you want one, and spending that $300 on a bunch more PS2 games.
Yeah, there were only a few early PS3 models that played PS2 games, and if you can even find a legit, working model of one of those, it’d be cheaper to buy a new PS2 and PS3.
Might be worth checking out if the games are downloadable on the PSN store? (to play on the PS3)
If not a used PS2 and 2 games isn’t going to set you back that much more if you’re still set on getting a PS3. And he could keep the PS2 in his room, you have the PS3 downstairs as a family thing and theres less arguments about who’s using the TV when.
Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 are not on PSN, afaik. There is a decent chance they’ll make a collection out of it and release them as ps3 games (like the god of war and team ico collections), but it’s not something I’d count on, and it definitely won’t come before xmas. If at all, it’ll come around the time they finally move out KH3, which officially hasn’t even been announced yet as Tetsuya Nomura (series creator) is too busy working on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix (PSP) and Kingdom Hearts 3d (n3ds).
Really an early PS3 is the best of both worlds. It wouldn’t be impossible to find an early PS3 in good condition. Replace the hard drive with a new 500GB 2.5" drive for $50 and you’re in business.
The 60GB PS3s seem to be going between $200 and $300 on eBay from reputable sellers.
Early PS3s have also been experiencing widespread failure over the last 6 months. I would strongly recommend against getting an old unit. Get a new slim and a used PS2 off of craigslist for $50.
There are nearly daily reports of Yellow Light of Deaths on the Amazon forums. I’d love to have a PS3 with all the original features, but I wouldn’t take the risk.
I was just looking at Amazon, and the PS3 40 GB or 60 GB are more than the current PS3s with 160 or 320 GB by enough that it’s be cheaper to buy the PS2. (I’m assuming those are more expensive because they can play PS2 games.)
Is it worth it to get the 320 GB? Vs. the 160 GB? It’s a lot more, although I haven’t scoured the internet for the lowest prices. Would it be possible to swap out the drive myself, if I start to run out of room in a couple years?
Yes, it’s extremely easy. I swapped out for a 750gb drive last year, and love never having to worry about space for demos, videos, music - oh, and save files! The process is simple - the only hard part is finding a tiny (precision) screwdriver to get a couple tough screws out without stripping them.
If you have an exisiting PS3, it can be a little tedious, since you’ll most likely want to back up your old one to transfer. That means finding an external drive, formatting it to FAT32 (which you can only do easily with 32 GB without a utility (that didn’t work with Windows 7 last year)), and backing up. If you go into the purchase with swapping out the drive (i.e. nothing to transfer), that would be fantastic.
Paying console manufacturer prices for big hard drives is a ripoff no matter who you buy them from. The 320gb PS3 is pretty much pure money for Sony above the 160GB model. I’d suggest avoiding it, especially since, as mentioned, you can easily upgrade the HD yourself if you need to, but truthfully? I have a 60GB drive in an Xbox, it’s about half full now, after three years, and me NEVER deleting anything except game demos where I played it and said “Wow, this is terrible.”. YMMV, but unless you’re planning on buying a LOT of downloadable content, there’s not much use for a big hard drive.
Anyway, the answer to the original question is still: Buy a cheap PS2 and a new PS3, assuming you really feel you need the PS3.
Well the other thing is I hear that the PS2 looks horrible on a HDTV. However playing a PS2 game on a PS3 hooked up to a HDTV looks fine. (Something I can confirm personally My PS3 playing PS2 games on my HDTV looks fine. I haven’t tried the PS2 on the HDTV directly though. Guess I could try hooking it up.)
I filled up my 60gb PS3 but it took a couple years.
I think the older PS3s upconvert PS2 games but the textures can suffer a bit because they weren’t made for 720p or 1080i. Overall they aren’t bad though. And managing saved games is easy on the PS3, no swapping memory cards.
I’ve settled on getting the PS2 and PS3. There are multiple PS3 bundles out there, all with the PS3, a controller, and some combination of games and a blue ray movie:
God of War 1, 2, and 3
Ratchet & Clank, plus SingStar Dance Party Pack (Bleah, but the kids might like it)
Little Big Planet (GoY), Mod Nation Racers, and Cars blueray movie
Uncharted 2, plus Karate Kid Blueray
How are Ratchet and Clank, God of War, Mod Nation Racers, and Uncharted 2. (I know everyone likes Little Big Planet). I don’t think my kids are interested in either of those movies.
I’m kind of leaning towards the Ratchet & Clank bundle since both God of War and Little Big Planet are coming out bundled with a controller in a week. (I have three kids, so three controllers is the absolute minimum.)
Some other questions: Controllers take two AA? Is there a special HDMI cable I need, or is it a standard one?
Nope, controllers have a rechargeable internal Li-Ion battery. You plug it into the PS3 with a USB cable to recharge it. The charge lasts for a long time, too. FYI, the PS3 has to be on to charge the controller…that’s my only real complaint about it. But you can even plug the controller into the USB port of your computer and it will charge! Or buy one of those generic “USB wall chargers” that plug into 120V and have one or two USB slots in them and those will charge the controller too.
And it takes a regular HDMI cable, and it even comes with it! That was one of the best things Sony could have done, IMO. Both the Wii and 360 make you pay more for the HD cables, AND they are proprietary. (ok, the Wii is only component, and not technically HD, but still higher quality than the composite one it comes with.) By bundling the HDMI with the PS3, and making it a regular cable, they both ensure more people will actually use it and notice the better graphics and if it ever breaks, will be easier an cheaper to replace.
Edit: The God of War bundle is technically the best deal…three full games (GoW 1 and 2 are remastered PS2 versions on one disc, GoW3 is a stand-alone PS3 title on it’s on disc. Is the “God of War controller bundle” that’s coming out just GoW3 and a controller, or all three? If it’s just 3 and a controller, it might be less of a deal…though the God of War Collections (which is the disc with 1 and 2) isn’t that pricey.
Second edit: Oh, and if you were ever a fan of the old 8 and 16 bit Zelda, Dragon Warrior, and Final Fantasy games, buy 3-D Dot Game Heroes.
Unfortunately that’s not the case. At least for me. Ps3 controller WILL charge in the computer’s USB, but only so long as it has a driver for it (which I’ve gotten, but forgotten where). I CANNOT get it to charge with a USB to wall adapter, for reasons which continue to perplex me…
My PS3 playing PS2 games on my HDTV looks fine. I haven’t tried the PS2 on the HDTV directly though. Guess I could try hooking it up.)