PS3 Fanboy

Large mandatory installs have been a crux for us PS3 gamers for quite some time. By now, many of you have probably sacrificed your precious gigs in order to play Devil May Cry 4 or Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds on the PS3. Sure, we all knew we'd be getting better load times from downloading data on to the hard drive, but why did we need to put up with it in the first place?

MTV's Multiplayer blog investigated further into this, citing that it all comes back to developers getting to know the Blu-ray technology and utilizing its unique characteristics. For multi-platform games like DMC4, the issue is that developers are not optimizing their titles for Blu-ray tech. There are two factors: the disparity between DVD and Blu-ray reading techniques, and the size of Blu-ray discs compared to DVDs. If developers just simply plop down their DVD data onto a Blu-ray disc, essentially, all that extra space on a Blu-ray and the single speed that the data on it is read will cause excessive load times. Think of it this way, if DVD is looking for a needle in a haystack, then Blu-ray is looking for a needle of exact same size in a haystack three times larger.

So what about PS3 exclusives like Hot Shots Golf? A similar concept is involved -- there's too little data on the disc and too much excessive space. Despite this, many other devs have found a work around. One way is to copy data multiple times to fill the entire disc; this allows for data to be read quicker as there are more areas to read from. It's all rather an interesting read, why not check out the entire article over at Multiplayer.

Is 60GB (or 80GB) simply not enough space for your PS3? We know it's easy to swap PS3's hard drive ... but GamePro's picture-by-picture guide makes the process even easier. The tools required are simple: Husky Precision Screwdriver, external hard drive or USB thumb drive (for copying over files), and a 2.5" SATA laptop drive. Thanks to the XMB's easy to use interface, the process of copying over files and formatting the new PS3 drive is a cinch. Maybe you'll want to throw in a new 160GB hard drive into your PS3? They only go for about $100 these days.

[Via digg]

Xbox 360 Elite is Microsoft's attempt at matching PLAYSTATION 3's impressive hardware features. While the Elite doesn't provide wi-fi support like the premium PS3, nor does it feature integrated HD disc support, it does offer a whopping 120GB of hard disk space, dwarfing the 60GB PS3 hard drive.

According to a recent FCC filing, it appears Sony is going to modify the current PS3 and include a larger 80GB hard drive: "The model CECHE01 to be added by the difference of the capacity of hard disk." Although this doesn't match the Elite's hard drive, it does add even more value to the $599 PS3. Current users need not feel short-changed, though. Unlike 360 users, PS3 owners are free to install almost any hard drive into their system, without having to pay ridiculous prices for proprietary peripherals ($180 for 120GB hard drive?!).

[Via Engadget]

As you can see above, there are a few things different between the two PS3 SKUs planned. (Hint: the obvious alterations concern high-def output and wireless connectivity -- though Bluetooth controllers should work just fine with both, with or without any chrome case highlighting.)

So what's HDMI, built-in multimedia card-reader slots, wireless internet connectivity, and an extra 40 gigabytes' hard disk space worth to you? $100? Now that Sony's gone with the 2-SKU approach with its next-gen hardware (a la the Xbox 360's premium and "Core" systems), we can expect some tough consumer choices after six months -- with console shortages possibly for another six months after that -- as $100 separates the base $499 and premium $599 versions of Sony's "Clear Black" hope.

HDMI is important to those who want to take full advantage of Blu-ray high def and have the new screens to use it; MemoryStick, SD, and CompactFlash slots would be nice for the PS3 memory-card users and those will run multimedia on the system; Wi-Fi's the only way to avoid stringing ethernet cables for online access; and 360 owners might appreciate the full 60GB available to potential buyers of the premium PS3 model. Neither model comes with a second HDMI port; thankfully, one should hopefully be all most users need. The details are laid out in a feature-comparison table at the end of Sony's official PS3 hardware press release, available in both Adobe Reader and Microsoft Word formats. Determine what's most important to your PS3 ambitions there.

[Image pieced together from the PlayStation.com forums; thanks, Guru]

Can't get enough Phil Harrison in your life? Check out this video from the media Q&A following his GDC keynote for 20 minutes of Phil-y love (and maybe a few furtive glances from Kaz Hirai sitting in the background).

We just love how Phil "swerve[d] a couple of the questions" regarding the hard drive and other hardware-related issues, but we also like how he managed to clarify those questions regarding "content offerings" that will be charged at a "premium," though he did say that there were "no plans to charge for [multiplayer gaming] at the moment."

But, yeah, Mr. Harrison wasn't as combative in his answers as some media outlets portrayed him, which is another great step for platform executives who tend to make rather grandiose statements and fiery claims. If you want to see as well as hear the Phil handle all comers, this is one of your best chances yet. We'd love to hear it all clearly in English at E3, too.

[Thanks, Fan; video courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Su of Citizen Valley]