SONY PLAYSTATION 3
($599)
When it launched the PS3 last November, Sony had every reason to believe its new console would soon establish itself as the market leader. After all, both the PS and PS2 had dominated their respective console generations. And didn't the PS3 use a microprocessor that cost nearly half a billion dollars to develop? Alas, things didn't go quite as expected. PS3s gather dust on shelves, as Wiis that cost about half as much practically fly out of stores. But it's still way too early to write the PS3's obituary. Sony has invested too much in the console — and the PS3 is simply too darn good — for this to happen. Well, at least for now.
WHAT WE LIKE
Let's see, we like the PS3's HDMI support (yes, it's only a factor if you own a high-def TV, but trust us, you'll be making that jump sooner than you think), cell processor (the smart and powerful chip that makes all kinds of real purty pictures), and built-in Blu-Ray player (especially considering that stand-alone players start at $500).
We also like the PS3's quiet fan (like the whisper of a bunny when compared to the Xbox 360, which reminds us of a 747 powering up), graphical user interface (understated and très elegant), and still expanding connectivity with the PSP (we can't wait for the killer app that uses the considerable power of both devices). And then there's the console's cool and menacing design, its Linux compatibility, and varied flash-memory card readers...
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE
There are a number of PS3 issues that bother us, but we'll only address the top three. First is the price. We'll be the first to admit that you get way more than you pay for in the PS3, but what you pay — practically $600 — is simply beyond the price range of many gamers. Even though the company loses as much as $250 on every PS3 sold (according to one industry estimate), Sony must realize that the console's long-term viability might require a lot more red ink. Cut the price to $500, and if that doesn't move units, prepare to cut the price some more.
We also have a problem with the vaunted SixAxis controllers. They seem too light and insubstantial, and do not hold up well against the Xbox 360's weighty and comfortable controllers — in our opinion, the best in the industry. And why is it only now that Sony decided to settle a long legal dispute and finally add a rumble feature to the SixAxis? And to follow a question with another question: Where are all the great games? There are a few better-than-average titles (see below), but Sony's current roster isn't making anyone wanna head home, dip into their graduation money, and run to the store. The PS3 is a sexy beast of a machine. So why isn't this happening?
MUST-OWN GAMES
It's not a long list, but the following are all quality games. A launch title, the creepy first-person-shooter Resistance: Fall of Man, still delivers the goods. MotorStorm has you racing all manner of vehicles — use the motion-sensors to steer for maximum sweaty-palm goodness — through desert environments that look almost real. A tough game with a steep learning curve, Ninja Gaiden Sigma remains, in the opinion of many hardcore gamers, the best fighting franchise around. Upcoming games we're most looking forward to playing: Final Fantasy XIII. Gran Turismo 5. And (insert drooling sound here) Metal Gear Solid 4.
WHAT WE SAID THEN
We judged the PS3 thusly: ''Clad in a stylish tuxedo-chic shell and accessorized with cutting-edge electronic gadgetry, the PS3 is all dressed up...with no place to go.'' We also advised readers to ''resist temptation and sit on the sidelines until there are more compelling and practical reasons to commit to the PS3.'' A little more than half a year later, our judgment still stands.
Our grade then: B
WHAT WE SAY NOW
No one can dispute that the PS3 is the most technologically impressive of the three consoles. In the scheme of things, a sluggish two or three fiscal quarters won't doom a machine. But a sluggish year or two most certainly can — that's when perceptions solidify into common wisdom. Really, there's nothing so wrong with the PS3 that a few breakout titles and some bold executive decisions can't fix. We lowered the grade — but can't help thinking that a few shiny stickers could still wind up adorning the PS3 report card this winter. Our grade now: B-
