The Future of Gaming: Sony Playstation 3

Indeed, the current state of the PS3 isn’t one to be proud of. Losing much territory in the console wars, the PS3 doesn’t hold too much of a competitive advantage in any aspect — its pricing is higher than its competitors, its navigation is very traditional, and its hardware — although powerful on paper, is still comparable to those of the Xbox 360. In fact, the only thing I can actually see is the free online play, which kind of sold the device to me. It has lost much of its unique selling points, including certain PS3-exclusive titles (Final Fantasy XIII sold me to the PS3 — but not to worry, Final Fantasy is expected to be PS3-exclusive). However, the PS3′s booth at E3 launched the PS3 in some interesting directions.

Sony's new PS3 Wand in action.

Firstly, the PS3 Wand really popped out. Initially, I was torn — sure, Sony took a huge page from Nintendo’s playbook, but at the same time, when paired with the PS3′s graphics, this could be an interesting combination. The unofficially named PS3 Wand has millimetre-precision, enabling just as much control over motion as the Wii. Also, upon seeing some pictures, I couldn’t help but note that this PS3 Wand looked much more advanced than the Nintendo Wiimote (I mean, look at the design of that thing — it looks like it came off an Alienware truck or something!).

A great slew of games await the PS3, including the ever-so-popular Uncharted 2.

Not to mention those titles that are still PS3-exclusive — Uncharted 2, ModNation Racers, MAG, Gran Turismo 5, and God of War 3 come to mind — are still coming right around the bend. The PS3 surely is still in the game, but will the PS3 Wand be able to turn the tables? I’m also thinking that the PS3 price will drop soon due to pressure from both the lack of sales and Activisions influence. The next six months should be interesting for the PS3, and if you’re looking for a device to combine both the Internet and media experience and blend it into your living room, the PS3 is not a bad investment (not to mention it still plays Blu-Ray — another capability that sealed the deal for me).

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sony-ps3-wand-is-best-of-both-worlds

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10254966-1.html