Tag: PS3

Burnout Paradise becomes a PSN download this Fall

Burnout Paradise becomes a PSN download this Fall– Cool, the PlayStation Store could do with more full PS3 games (that go to retail stores as boxed versions) as digital distribution is the way forward.  Seriously, what’s the harm in doing both?  Warhawk and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue are great examples.

Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty clocks in at 2.3GB

Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty clocks in at 2.3GB– With a 40GB hard drive in my PS3, I’m thinking I need to upgrade to a more spacious size!  That reminds me, I must get round to buying Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction.  Found out from testfreaks.co.uk that I can get it for as little as £12 on EBay, or £35 on Amazon.  Decisions!

Trophies: The Bigger Picture

This article originally appeared on TheSixthAxis on July 12, 2008

I have recently been pondering the effect of the trophies update in the latest 2.40 (and 2.41) firmware update. Just what has Sony caused within the gaming community? And how could this addition change perceptions to the PS3’s value?

I have been playing Super Stardust HD like most of you, as it is currently the only game to support trophies. I have to admit I passed on this game the first time round, but the trophies update has caused me to think again, and give it a go. Of course now I’m totally addicted to the game, but also wonder what ‘the trophy effect’ will have had on sales of the game? My guess is that the addition of trophies has caused sales of the game to rocket, but I still hope that some updated sales figures are released to confirm my suspicions.

So after I purchased and downloaded the game I eventually earned my first trophy (see also My First Trophy by Al for a great idea of what it feels like), although it took me a little while to keep up with the frantic pace of the game! But what’s this? I find that a friend of mine has got the game as well, and also has a trophy. Game on. We never really talked to each other about it, but both knew we had our reputations as true gamers at stake. So we both spent the evening silently playing away. And every so often after I’d earned another trophy, I’d pause the game and compare trophies with him to find that he was catching up! I’m sure he was doing the same thing as me.

All I can say on this point is this is exactly what the PS3 needed: that element of competitiveness that just wasn’t there before, like achievements on Xbox Live. I’ve come across chatter on the interweb that suggests that Sony’s effort is ‘too little, too late’. Whilst I do agree that this update has been released quite late after the console’s launch, it is not too late for the prospective gamer.

Whilst this part is quite speculative, I’d imagine that it is not too far from the truth: a lot of hardcore and FPS gamers in particular flocked straight to the Xbox 360 and have no doubt been loving Xbox Live, their gamerscore and achievements. However there will have been plenty of people who have hung onto their PS2s possibly even bought a Wii. Yet now when comparing the Xbox 360 against the PS3, there is free online multiplayer over the PlayStation Network, the visually gorgeous and continually improving PlayStation Store, some fantastic exclusives on the PlayStation Network, and trophies which you can compare with your friends and level-up, just like a RPG.

Sony should take note however, that there is still much they can do to stay competitive such as enabling a PSN gamer to be able to show their stats on their websites and blogs, just like Xbox Live gamers can. Maybe Sony’s trump card that will combine the online community and trophies will be PlayStation Home. But that’s enough speculation for today.

This of course, is just my thoughts and opinions on trophies and the bigger picture. Agree, disagree? Then sling a comment this way and I’ll be happy to answer anything.

The Comprehensive PS3 Fan Guide

It seems a lot of people are still hungry for more information about their PS3’s fan: how loud should it be?  And when should the PS3’s fan kick in?  I’m hoping that this is THE comprehensive PS3 fan guide that will tell you everything you wanted to know.  I’ve done the hard work for you and hunted amongst Sony’s support sites and documents. I mean, let’s face it- how many of us will actually read through an instruction manual cover-to-cover?

NB: if you want to see the documentation directly, I’ve linked straight to the source.  Anything I am directly referring to will be quoted, and my own advice written underneath.  So, shall we begin?

Common solutions for troubleshooting the PLAYSTATION 3 system

Check your Environment

  • Make sure to allow adequate ventilation to flow from the PLAYSTATION 3 system’s vents (i.e. avoid obstructing the vents etc.).
  • Make sure to keep the PLAYSTATION 3 system away from excessive dust, smoke, steam, extreme temperatures, humidity, or direct sunlight.
  • See the PLAYSTATION 3 system Safety and Support guide for full details on Safety Precautions and Use and Handling.

I’ll add that the best way to position, and therefore cool your PS3, is to stand it on its side, so that it is in the vertical position.  This ensures that a greater surface area of the PS3 can be in contact with air.  If you have enough room, place your PS3 on the same level as your TV, rather than in a confined shelf where there will not be much fresh air circulating.  See the picture below:

Notice the location and position of the PS3- allows for optimum cooling eficciency
Notice the location and position of the PS3- allows for optimum cooling efficiency

Anyhow, let’s have a look at the next document, shall we?

PLAYSTATION 3 system Safety and Support guide

Use and handling

  • Do not allow liquid, small particles, or other foreign objects to get into the system or accessories.
  • Do not expose the system or accessories to dust, smoke or steam.  Also,  do not place the system in an area subject to excessive dust or cigarette smoke.  Dust build-up or cigarette smoke residue on the internal components (such as the lens) may cuase the system to malfunction.

Vents

Do not block any vents.  To maintain good ventilation, follow the guidelines below:

  • Place the system at least 10cm away from a wall surface.
  • Do not place on a carpet or rug with long fibres.
  • Do not place in a narrow or cramped space.
  • Do not cover with cloth.
  • Do not allow dust to build up on the vents.

Cleaning
– Vents

  • When dust accumulates in the system vents, remove the dust with a low-powered vacuum cleaner.

Other Issues

– The system makes noise

  • When using the system in a location where heat can build up, such as an enclosed AV cabinet, the fan will rotate rapidly to reduce the system’s internal temperature and this may generate increased noise.  Move the system to a location with good ventilation.

Most of this documentation is common sense, but what is the main message flowing through the documentation?  You could say ‘location, location, location’.  But in this case, it’s probably ‘ventilation, ventilation, ventilation.’  If you follow official Sony guidance (listed above) then you shouldn’t be having any problems.  Check your environment and follow the steps for cleaning your PS3 and removing dust.  As for running the PS3 fan test on 40Gb PS3s… rather you than me.

The PS3’s fan is very quiet.  If you are experiencing abnormally loud fan noises for a sustained amount of time, then double-check the location of your PS3.  If the location is fine, then you may have a faulty PS3.

See also: PS3 Fan Noise Controversy.  It contains extra info which may help you to  put this article into context.  If I’ve missed something then either send me an email, or comment on this article, and I’ll update it!

So many games, too little time

I suppose that this post has as much to do about money as it does about there being loads of games out there, but not having enough time to play them!  Anyhow, I might as well recount from the beginning.  I got my PS3 for Christmas 2007 and played on Assassin’s Creed.  A lot.  My brother and I then got some extra games as well to be playing through, such as Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, The Orange Box, Resistance: Fall of Man and Colin McRae: DiRT.  Quite enough to be getting through, don’t you think?

I think I had finished Assassin’s Creed (or there about) a few weeks after Christmas as I had to go back to Uni for exams in January.  Between January and Easter 2008 I got hooked on Uncharted and played it as much as I could each weekend I was back home… every 4 weeks!  I then finally completed it at Easter.  Over Easter I got stuck into Resistance, DiRT, and the Orange Box.  I’ve still yet to complete either DiRT or Resistance!  Anyhow, I decided to attack the Orange Box over Easter and over the following months got a fair amount of it completed.  I then came to the end of my journey with the last bit of Half-Life 2: Episode 2 to finish and Portal.  By mid-May The Orange Box was completed.

Don’t even mention Grand Theft Auto IV; I just haven’t had time to go on it or been particularly bothered with playing it.  It’s not going anywhere, so I’ll get back to it at some point.  Since being home for the Summer, Race Driver: GRID has been out and I love it.  I have still got way over 3/4 of the game left to finish!  Other times, I’ve fired up GRID and decided to play online for a good hour or two.  Recently released is Metal Gear Solid 4, but there’s no way I can afford it, let alone have time to play it!

Assassin's Creed

I suppose this little story of my PS3 game playing journey might be a bit boring, but I’ve been trying to describe the plight of a gamer more often than not, not being able to play any games!  As a student I don’t have that much money to start shelling out on £40 and £50 games, and my PS3 is left at home whilst I’m away at Uni.  I can however appreciate people who have full time jobs as both this year and last year during the Summer, I have worked 40 hour weeks and you don’t necessarily feel like gaming after a particularly rough day.

Really, this post has become a kind of message to all those kids with a 40-strong PS3 (or Xbox 360, why not?) games collection who play every night and complete one game a week.  Which is ridiculous.  So my message is, erm get your homework done(?!) and gaming will have to take a back-seat in your life in future, so enjoy it while it lasts.

If anyone is wondering what on earth has being going on in this post, then you are not alone.  I, myself am not really sure either.  I’ve kind of gone off-tangent and started to rant a bit, but I’ve covered everything I’ve wanted to say, so I’ll leave it at that.  Comments, as always are most welcome.