Okay, so I'm getting a PS3.

Actually, here's the full deal:

I decided to get an HDTV. So I went to NewEgg and ordered:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889210059

Next, I started looking at the whole BlueRay thing. I'd heard that the PS3 was comparable in price to other BR players.

Well, to make a long story shorter, there were only two games I really really wanted to play, and they were PS2 games ("Destroy All Humans!" games 1 and 2). Thing is, unless I want to pay $750, I can't reliably find a PS2 compatible system. See:

There have been four models of PS3 so far.

The 20GB and 60GB models did emulation for PS2 in hardware. They are officially discontinued and not being manufactured. Finding them "new" is nigh impossible.

The 80GB model was just recently discontinued and did emulation in software; reportedly, the emulation wasn't 100% compatible with all PS2 games.

The 40GB model, which is the only one easily available, doesn't have any PS2 emulation.

So, I'm stuck waiting for the PS3 sequel to the DAH series, and am also breaking down and getting:

Resistance: Fall Of Man
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

But I really wanted to play DAH 1 and 2.

Anyways, I don't have any BlueRay movies yet, but I also understand that for an "upconverting" DVD player, the PS3 is very good. So I'm getting it.

Any other PS3 gamers out there have good suggestions for PS3 games? I don't think I'd like FPS games on it (though I will admit that I know Resistance is an FPS); I'd kind of like 3rd person fun games like the R&C and DAH games.

I have no interest in DDR or GH, thank you very much.

The TV supposedly gets AIT White Glove delivered on Apr. 2; cable gets upgraded to Digital cable on Apr. 7 (I know with a QAM tuner I can get a few channels in HD over regular cable - basically anything I should be able to pull in on an antenna - but I really want to see NGC, Discovery, and History in HD). Not sure when the PS3 will show up (but the HDMI cable for it is on the way, supposedly).

Nice TV. I have a 42" plasma that's 2 years old and still going strong, but the next one will most likely be a LCD.

If you like this type of game, then Assassin's Creed is very good (I *think* it is out for the PS3 as well - only played it on the Xbox360).

My favorite PS2 games were the SSX series (even though one of my kids managed to leave them at a friend's house and they got "lost" - grrr!) So when I get the PS3, I will make sure mine has PS2 compatibility (if at all possible) so I can play those.

As far as BlueRay, yeah, it is currently the best bang for your buck since you get the console as well. Grats!!

Oh, and if you are getting an HD DVR, you may want to add a hard drive to it (if it is a Scientific Atlanta unit, you can get an external SATA-2 to work just fine).

In the non-FPS category I liked Heavenly Sword quite a bit. not a vastly long game or anything but challenging.

My sister has a PS2 and she may give it to me since she plays it like three times a year at most. I'm thinkin about it; that way I can hook it up and play (after spending $40 via Amazon) DAH 1 & 2.

PS2's are going for like $130 on NewEgg, so it's not like they're super expensive. However, it's easy to justify a PS3 (upconverting regular DVDs and BlueRay).

I thought about Assassin's Creed - pretty sure there's a PS3 version out, but I'd have to check. I just don't like paying more than $50 for a game (I got Resistance for $45; payed more than I wanted for R&C). So I might wait until I can find it for sub-$40.

Assassins Creed is made for PS3, I wouldn't pay more than 40 for it. Unfortunately I already did. I pick up a lot of games for consoles at pawn shops and swap meets and such. My steal of the month was a pristine copy of ratchet and clank FTOD for 20.

You might want to try Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Kind of like Tomb Raider but funner. Also Lego Starwars: The Complete Saga is pretty fun. Get to play through all 6 movies.

Good that you checked on each model to see which one plays PS2 games. Seems like people don't know that. I have the 20GB model that they don't sell anymore. They must made the PS3's capable of doing online interactivity with blu-ray movies. Not sure if it is even worth anything because I haven't used it, but I used the HD-DVD version. Resisteance is a pretty good game. I've seen it at Target for $39.99, but I haven't gotten it. I've only borrowed my brother's copy. I've never played Ratchet and Clank before. I've never even seen what it looks like. Warhawk is a 3rd person game, though it plays like an FPS game. It is pretty fun and the graphics look nice. You can download that game right now for $29.99.
Bottom line, I'm happy with my PS3. I've had mine for over a year and haven't had any problems with it. Movies have always played fine on it as well as the games that I've tried. The surround sound on it is great, but the PS3 doesn't do DTS-HD decoding. Who knows if they will eventually. Not that it matters because my receiver doesn't do HD surround anyways.

Amazon.com PS3 40GB Page wrote:

This console also provides for a sound experience by supporting Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, as well as Linear PCM 7.1.

I know there's an upgraded DTS standard, but right now all I need is for it to do regular DTS 5.1 through the HDMI, and then from the TV thru the optical to my sound system and I'll be happy (as my current 5 DVD turntable does DTS through the optical).

Note that my current tuner does only one optical, but the TV has an optical out and has two HDMI (one will be for the PS3, the other for cable).

I think in the long run I'm going to take my sister's PS2 (she only plays it like 3 times a year; has this thing for Luxor - 1, 2, and 3 - so she's playing it on her laptop when her Chihuahua hasn't chewed up her power supply) and buy the two DAH! games.

I've spent enough in the past month on this set up already; not ready to drop the $130 (actually $170 if you include the games) on another console already and that only for like two games ...

Smart thing to do and not spend a lot of money.

My PS3 review is up on my MySpace Blog.

BotFodder wrote:

My ,PS3 review is up on my MySpace Blog.

Nice review. However, you might want to review this link for games. I never pay retail price for new games.

http://video-games.search.ebay.com/ps-3-video-games_Games_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ62053

Spike wrote:

Oh, and if you are getting an HD DVR, you may want to add a hard drive to it (if it is a Scientific Atlanta unit, you can get an external SATA-2 to work just fine).

See my blog item about the gotchas with doing so that I've run in to.

Ouch! I'm so sorry - I knew about the compatibility issues but slipped my mind and didn't mention it. Sorry BF!