So heres the deal.

I’ve got a computer capable of fulfilling my every gaming need (Core i7 / WD Raptor / 1gb Ati 4870 yadda yadda yadda..) Trouble is it’s situated in our home office which I share with my wife when she works from home. During the day is when I do 90% of my gaming, therefore a lot of the time I simply can’t get to damn thing.

I’ve got a laptop (Dell XPS 1530) which is just about good enough to play TF2 / L4D but just isn’t the same on a 15” screen and my skill level drops off when using it. Plus I use it for my job so I often have to interrupt my gaming to monitor mail.

So I’m trying wondering if I’d get enough play from a PS3 to make it a worthwhile purchase and know (from the SPA blog) that some of you guys have a PS3 in addition to a PC. So I need some advice that cuts through the biased views of pure ‘PS3 owners only’ forums. A couple of specifics that I wondering are:

What is the online play like? Is it going to be 12 yr old teenager rage hell?
Are there any decent games to play online?
Is it any good for media use – I read it’s a good blu ray but how practical is it?
Is it just a bad idea and I should stick to PC?

And here is the biggy

How do I justify it to my wife? (its out of my own saved money but so thats not an issue but I’m gonna get the usual “It’s a waste of money….., You will never use it……., yadda yadda yadda x 100

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

dude , you got a rocket pc , why do you need a ps 3 ? Yer pc kick azz

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"The bots came, saw Saints post count and gave up instantly."-[SpA]futari

next to that, you can't play tf2 being on mumble with us on a ps3. I got a better plan for ya, move your freaking computer and buy yourself a cheap ass pc to work on, or work from your laptop. I don't know what you do for work, but do you actually need such a good computer for working or would a simple dual core with a cheap ass video card suffise?
Man o man, this sounds like you bought yourself a ferarri but you can't leave the street cuz of the sleeping policemen so you looking into buying yourself a bike

Let's buy a ferrari and use it solely to drive to the end of the lawn to pick up the newspaper and back...

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M.A.S.K. , is the mighty power that can save the day

I'm beginning to think I may have done that.

The trick is I can't get to my PC all the time as I've got to 'share' office time. I built the PC for pure gaming - then my wife started working at home more which meant it sits there switched off.

I work on my laptop but it not really great for gaming.

I probably have 7 hours per week where I could 'game' but can't because of the above. I'm wondering if a PS3 would be worth filling this gap.

I'm trying not to think about my unused ferrari parked upstairs.

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

lol bucky xD

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"The bots came, saw Saints post count and gave up instantly."-[SpA]futari

still think you should spend that money you planned on spending on the ps3 to buy yourself a work pc and move Da Gamin Beast! Tell your wife it's necessary as she's working more at the office and you can't game in the mean time or she has to find herself another workspace.

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M.A.S.K. , is the mighty power that can save the day

DIVORCE!
there's simply no other solution to this problem

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[SpA]Revenge "Wheres the element of surpise :/"

[SpA]Mint "IN.... MY....PANTS"

[SpA]Minimoose "Revenge is going to jump out of your pants?"

To answer your questions:

The games I've played online, I found it really good. You have all the common functions you know from pc gaming, like voice chat, text messaging, etc. Of course you will find some raging teenagers now and then...but my experience till now has been very positive. And you have that kind of species everywhere. If they suck, you can mute them. Playstation Store gets updated every week with new content, like DLC, demos or smaller games (which tend to be very original).

There are really good games to play online. The predominant genre is of course FPS, you have tons of those. I've been playing Killzone2 lately and it's been a blast! Really some nice action going on online, love it. Then I've also been playing StreetFighter IV, which is also a very good game, and it's nice to play online against friends for example. If you have no friends available, you'll always find someone to play against. There are a lot of really good players you can challenge. I've also played Metal Gear Online for a while, which was kinda nice too. That's how far my online experience goes till now. But there are plenty of really good games on PS3 to play, and this year the line-up is really impressive.

Yes, I also use the PS3 for media. Once you've watched a blu-ray on it, you'll always end up buying more and more. I love the blu-ray experience. You can also watch photos on your console, or play music. Overall it is very easy to use. The operationg system of the PS3 is really well made, you'll find everything you need right away. Watching movies etc, with the controler is simple, no need to buy the remote control in my opinion.

The only downside is the price of the PS3 I'd say, as it's the most expensive console atm. Games are not cheap either (60-70€), although I've been buying a lot from amazon.co.uk recently as things there are REALLY cheap compared to what you get here. I've bought Killzone2 at its release for lets say 30€ while here in the continent it costs double that price! But still there's some money to invest. Online gaming though is free on the PS3 (which is not the case on the XBox).

But yeah, Bucky got a point, you should consider that as well. I mean, you seem to have some good PC equipment, would be a shame not to use it.

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Ze Ãœbermensch

Bucky +1 - just buy a cheap box for the home office for the missus to ebay, sorry work, on.

I just want to know where you will reinstall the beast - the attic or the garage!

Thank Migu - really good response and useful.

Gahrain and Bucky - moving the PC suggestion has given me another idea. I can't move my PC as we don't have anywhere else I can set it all up (unless I buy a bigger house), however I wonder if there is a way to bring the power of the PC downstairs (leaving where it is).

What I would need is:

• Some type of wireless usb hub to connect a keyboard and mouse to.

• Bluetooth headset which would work fine from upstairs for audio

• Some way to connect video from my PC upstairs to the back of my HDTV in the lounge.

If I can do the above I could use my pc and play games from it on my HDTV in the lounge, thus not requiring a PS3. Something else for me to find out.

Sorry I didn't make it clear on one point - my wife doesn't actually use my PC. She has her own laptop. However the office where my pc is based (converted room upstairs) is only big enough for one person and I need to share that room - i.e. one of us has to work in the lounge while the other gets the office.

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

Want mine?
I'm atm trying to get rid of mine, not because I dont like it, but I just dont have the money to buy the expensive games all the time, which are partly even more expensive than pc games, and I dont really have the time to play a lot on it, since I'm more busy with my pc.
Concerning ur questions:
I really enjoyed playing Litlle Big Planet online, but cant really say more, because this was the only game I played online. But I heard from some friends that if u want to play cod4, it is full of 12 yr old teenager rage hell.
As I said, I realls enjoyed Little Big PLanet.
I use my ps3 as dvd/bluray player all the time, it even plays burned dvds and u can save em on ur ps3, doesnt even take a long time.
If u have the time to play with it, buy it.
To ur wife: Its a mens need to game, its unexplainable, same thing "why do women love shoes so much" u cant explain it.

Oh my god - the perfect rebuff, I will try this repy when the opportunity arrives. If it doesn't then I may be dead.

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

I'm aware this isn't really getting to the heart of the matter, but these are just a few points to keep in mind anyway

while online gaming is all well and good on the PS3, just remember that the games will not be as frequently or as well updated as the PC version of the game, if at all; I know this is certainly the case with TF2, it is more or less still in its 'as released' state and is full of bugs, class imbalance, no unlocks yet etc. so, if you were making the purchase for online gaming mainly, then I would just leave it and stick with the PC, personally

also, getting a new pc is going to be ALOT easier to justify to your wife than getting a new console is, for obvious reasons :p

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ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: true genius
ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: doesn't make sense
ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: till you're senseless

don't buy a ps3, kick your wife out of the house, it's cheaper

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DISCLAIMER: If you find a posting or message from me offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it. If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate...

a) Move kickass pc into lounge disguised as coffee table or b) install cup of tea, switch dross daytime TV on, let wife multi-task in lounge whilst you game in peace in man-cave (or c) buy SHii for her )
Can't do that - who'd do the cooking, cleaning and ironing. I look forward to JLM's post on buying a ShirtVapouriser 3000

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"The bots came, saw Saints post count and gave up instantly."-[SpA]futari

How come she can't work from the lounge then? You could at least switch days?

Build a wall in the "office" and divide the room.

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SaintK: I'm completely lost

Sharing the Office is what we do. However that means that at least 2/3 days per week I don't have access to my PC.

Building a wall would mean the room would be about 3ft by 3ft!


Damn I really should of just ask 'should I buy a PS3' and kept it that. Learn't my lesson lol

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

So the PC and a small chair would fit in?

You really thought you could post a simple question in the forum here?

New solution: Just buy a Wii... so your girl can stop working and play cute Wii games?!

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SaintK: I'm completely lost

Well I bought one in the end.

Surprisingly its not that bad.

Love
Streaming media aspect of it as makes life so much easier. Actually streams HD files no problem (not tried 1080p)
Wireless controllers also nice.
Shiny new toy - nice.
Console focused games - Res Evil 5 and Motorstorm.
Sing Star. Even though I haven't tried it yet I still love it. Need a party and booze. Then The Killers will rock.
Sitting on the sofa, not office chair.
Bluray player - very nice.

Don't like
Trying to find a nickname that was valid - took 10 minutes and nearly sent the bloddy thing back. JediLardMaster was gone, finally got JediLard to register.
Trying to train my thumbs back to using a controller. Spent most of first few hours shooting the floor.
Shiny plastic cover - gonna get scratched not matter what I do.
2 year old daughter deciding that when I play she has to sit on my lap and press the bloody buttons as well.
Sony Home - WTF, get a life you people.
PS3 mags - really shite. PC Mags are much better.


As a second choice gaming platform its really good. I can definitely confirm that PC gaming is on the whole a much better experience.

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

but little big planet!!! it's so much fun playing wiht friends......

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"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving."