PS3 Slim + Price Cuts!? (Aug 18)

[Sho]

software vs hardware emulation.

Ehhh, maybe I should have been all about PS3 when it was released-- so I assume the 60 Gig is hardware emulation and the 80 Gig is software emulation since it's "newer". You don't have to run that at me twice, 60 Gig it is, to hell with all that software conversion BS.

And I assume one can upgrade the hardrive whenever they want as well. Thanks Tyche~

[Priran]

If you have a Japanese PSN account, there's a free dynamic theme. It's based on Afrika, (which is like pokemon snap minus the pokemans) and features a thrilling scene of some zebras eating grass.

[Tyche]

Ehhh, maybe I should have been all about PS3 when it was released-- so I assume the 60 Gig is hardware emulation and the 80 Gig is software emulation since it's "newer". You don't have to run that at me twice, 60 Gig it is, to hell with all that software conversion BS.

And I assume one can upgrade the hardrive whenever they want as well. Thanks Tyche~

Actually, the 80gb software emulation works really well. I've never an into any issues with it. IIRC, less than 2% of games have issues with it. If you can find an 80gb MGS bundle new (I think there's still some around on amazon), I'd buy that over a used 60gb, unless it was a warrantied refurb.

[Shojin]

I found a list of everything that has been found so far in 3.0, people are still trying to discover new things still.

System changes

* [Information Board] replaced by a [What's New] feature.
* When the system is started it will display the [What's New] screen by default instead of the [Games] menu.
* A [Status Indicator] added to the top of the screen showing the user's online status, the number of friends online and an icon indicating if there are unread PSN messages.
* The swirling activity indicator has been redesigned and now looks like an analog clock.
* Analog clock displays current time whilst not indicating activity.
* The [Friends] list has been redesigned.
* Messages from a specific person will now be accessible from that user's profile screen.
* BRAVIA Sync allowing control of the XMB by BRAVIA TV remote control. (120GB PS3 only)
* Graphical changes to the XMB (increased font and icon size).
* The default theme has been changed to an updated version of the 'Original' waves theme.
* The previous version of the 'Original' theme is now renamed to 'Classic'.
* [Print This Screen] and [Save Screenshot] have been added to the [Internet Browser].
* [Trophies] now load and display faster.
* Support for new avatars (Note: Avatars are not included in update, will be released in the future.)
* [Remote play] now supports mobile phones. (in preparation for the Sony Ericsson ‘Aino’.)
* The start-up sequence has been updated with the new PS3 logo and sound. (Also on previous models.)
* Battery indicator for wireless controller and bluetooth headsets have been moved.
* There is now a copy/paste function when using the on-screen keyboard.
* A yellow icon is displayed next to the [Text Chat] icon informing user of an invite.
* Pushing triangle for more options, or opening some menus on the XMB now blurs the background.
* On certain menus, the text of inactive items fades out after two seconds if no action is taken.
* Leaning and shaking the controller pushes more sparkles on to the page in the ‘Original’ theme.

Game changes

* A new feature added allowing game developers to display Trophies in different ways, such as grouping them by add-on pack, etc.
* A [PlayStation Store] icon added under the [Game] category.
* "PLAYSTATION 3" is no longer shown when a game is booted.
* Platinum [Trophies] no longer count towards the total percentage. (Note: Still count towards overall user level)

Media changes

* A BBC iPlayer application for users in the UK/ROI.
* An ABC iView application added for users in Australia.
* A [PlayStation Store] icon added under the [Video] category (where available).
* Added the ability to upsample audio stored on the internal or USB hard drive to 88.2kHz or 176.4kHz.
* Earth Viewer whilst playing music has new views/shots.
* During Video playback, the right analog stick can be used to play content in slow playback, fast reverse, and fast forward.

Settings changes

* Support for new [Dynamic Custom Themes].
* [Install Other OS] and [Default System] removed. (120GB PS3 only)
* [Display[What's New]] added to the [Settings] menu to allow the user to change what the system displays by default on startup.
* Option to output audio through multiple sources (e.g. HDMI and optical) simultaneously.
* Under each setting now displays a short description about what the options manipulate. (e.g. Video settings: Adjust settings for video output.)
* Ability to check your internet connection upload/download speed in [Network Settings].

I bolded the ones I thought were interesting.

[Hiryo]

Nice find.
I just did the update myself. No problems so far. Looking forward to getting me some dynamic themes though lol

[Shojin]

Nice find.
I just did the update myself. No problems so far. Looking forward to getting me some dynamic themes though lol

Dynamic LBP premium theme is up on the US store already, $3 though.

[Shojin]

Actually, the 80gb software emulation works really well. I've never an into any issues with it. IIRC, less than 2% of games have issues with it. If you can find an 80gb MGS bundle new (I think there's still some around on amazon), I'd buy that over a used 60gb, unless it was a warrantied refurb.

I read that it was about 2% failure for hardware, and approx ~80% success for software. Either way if it plays the games you want then it doesn't matter.

You can check which games work on software or hardware emulation here:

PlayStation.com

Small list of games here:

List of PS3 backwards incompatible PS2 and Playstation games - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Hitoshura]

Ehhh, maybe I should have been all about PS3 when it was released-- so I assume the 60 Gig is hardware emulation and the 80 Gig is software emulation since it's "newer". You don't have to run that at me twice, 60 Gig it is, to hell with all that software conversion BS.

And I assume one can upgrade the hardrive whenever they want as well. Thanks Tyche~

I'm telling you right now you wouldn't be missing much. Unless you like playing Barbie's Horse Adventure Exposed or Animal Soccer World, you aren't missing anything at all. Yes that compatibility list fucking rules, it even tells you what kind of errors/issues it has.

[Shojin]

Still don't know why Sony hasn't released a Music store to complete the trio to their digital storefront, they a music giant for crying out loud. A similar set up to iTunes store on the PS3 would be awesome rather than downloading entire albums though. Maybe they don't want to kill CD sales even more?

[Julian]

So I tried the online chat thing, said would call me back, 3h later I Decide to just call them.

On the phone now, waiting.. hope I get it

I hate talking on the phone, and I have a cold so this is annoying as hell, even the automated system thing can't pick up wtf im saying.

Me: 33437
Her: 33427?
Me: 334 THREE SEVEN

ugh

this is why i didn't want to call, almost there.. >_<

edit:
Subtotal: $254.99
Shipping and Handling: $0.00
Sales Tax: $17.21
Total: $272.20

yay!

Estimated Delivery Date: 09/08/2009

boo :<

now i need cheap games lol

[Shojin]

So I tried the online chat thing, said would call me back, 3h later I Decide to just call them.

On the phone now, waiting.. hope I get it

I hate talking on the phone, and I have a cold so this is annoying as hell, even the automated system thing can't pick up wtf im saying.

Me: 33437
Her: 33427?
Me: 334 THREE SEVEN

ugh

this is why i didn't want to call, almost there.. >_<

edit:
Subtotal: $254.99
Shipping and Handling: $0.00
Sales Tax: $17.21
Total: $272.20

yay!

Estimated Delivery Date: 09/08/2009

boo :<

now i need cheap games lol

Hah, grats! Finally took the jump.

Can find cheap games pretty much anywhere

[Julian]

I have to decide what I actually want now <_<

I'm guessing.. Eternal Sonata, Disgaea3, and maybe Folklore and Valkyria Chronicles <.<

[Hitoshura]

Valkyria dude, no fucking joke. Don't look back, it's all you need to get started with the triple. Also some pro advice, keep the English dub because it's one of the few that is better than the original Japanese.

[Null]

Battery indicator for wireless controller and bluetooth headsets have been moved.

Since I've heard some bad things about the update I haven't done it yet. But what is this? Sounds like a horrid step back to me if I am reading it right.

[octopus]

I hate how logging in takes like 5 minutes to complete with 3.0 firmware

[Palom]

Since I've heard some bad things about the update I haven't done it yet. But what is this? Sounds like a horrid step back to me if I am reading it right.

Been moved. Not removed. (Different part of the screen.) Battery indicator used to obscure the clock.

I hate how logging in takes like 5 minutes to complete with 3.0 firmware

Does this to me just about any update. People are flooding the servers. When they stuck FF7 on the PS Store, I couldn't log in all night.

[Sho]

I'm telling you right now you wouldn't be missing much. Unless you like playing Barbie's Horse Adventure Exposed or Animal Soccer World, you aren't missing anything at all. Yes that compatibility list fucking rules, it even tells you what kind of errors/issues it has.

Ahh man, the list was looking good on wiki til I saw Gran Theft Auto, Star Ocean and Tekken Tag Tournament. It's not that bad however, the majority of the games I have for PSOne and PS2 had their problems adjusted for 80, so that's a cool deal as well. (I won't even lie though, Tekken Tag didn't even play well on PS2 itself for some odd reason.)

I'll give myself about 2 weeks to see if I can hold out for a cheap 60 Gig refub still, if I can't find one, I'll go for the 80. Either or is better than the new PS3 that can't even emulate PS2 games You'd think they'd gear PS3 towards backwards compatibility and such; the Emotion Engine must have costed them an arm and a leg to mass produce them when they did for PS3.

[Palom]

Ahh man, the list was looking good on wiki til I saw Gran Theft Auto, Star Ocean and Tekken Tag Tournament. It's not that bad however, the majority of the games I have for PSOne and PS2 had their problems adjusted for 80, so that's a cool deal as well. (I won't even lie though, Tekken Tag didn't even play well on PS2 itself for some odd reason.)

That's interesting you mention Tekken Tag had some problems on PS2.

I tried playing Star Ocean 3 on PS3 and found out it suffered from random lockups. I hooked up my PS2 to play it and found it still suffered from them on PS2 as well; only difference is after sitting there for 10-30 seconds, the PS2 would finally recover.

I'd assume it's some bugs in the software that the PS2 just-so-happens to work through.

[Sho]

That's interesting you mention Tekken Tag had some problems on PS2.

I tried playing Star Ocean 3 on PS3 and found out it suffered from random lockups. I hooked up my PS2 to play it and found it still suffered from them on PS2 as well; only difference is after sitting there for 10-30 seconds, the PS2 would finally recover.

I'd assume it's some bugs in the software that the PS2 just-so-happens to work through.

Indeed, but it happens, some software producers never really do go back to work out the kinks in coding (and I'm pretty sure in Tekken Tag's position, Namco fully emulated it right from the Arcade code).

On that note, I'm pretty well into knowing the difference between software and hardware emulation as much the next guy (making hardware the obvious choice), but if you guys are not really reporting problems, I see no reason why I should totally write off the 80 Gig anymore. :3

Whoop, nevermind the last part, found a list from search~

[Hitoshura]

Ahh man, the list was looking good on wiki til I saw Gran Theft Auto, Star Ocean and Tekken Tag Tournament. It's not that bad however, the majority of the games I have for PSOne and PS2 had their problems adjusted for 80, so that's a cool deal as well. (I won't even lie though, Tekken Tag didn't even play well on PS2 itself for some odd reason.)

I'll give myself about 2 weeks to see if I can hold out for a cheap 60 Gig refub still, if I can't find one, I'll go for the 80. Either or is better than the new PS3 that can't even emulate PS2 games You'd think they'd gear PS3 towards backwards compatibility and such; the Emotion Engine must have costed them an arm and a leg to mass produce them when they did for PS3.

PSN has an HD version Tekken Tag Tournament with leaderboards and you can play people online.