Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Playstation

Wife-friendly PS3 games?

entropic — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:08:33 -0800

Suggestions for good (local, not just online) multiplayer games for the PS3? Other non-gamer friendly suggestions welcome as well. (Two similar questions, but both are 2+ years old.) I'm looking for games my (non-gamer) wife and I can enjoy together. She doesn't care for modern/realistic shooters. Multiplayer co-op suggestions especially appreciated, perhaps with an emphasis on more free form stuff - she doesn't like "dying" in the same place over and over on a level. Bonus points for cheaper titles. For instance, I'm probabaly going to grab Burnout: Paradise since it's only $20 (even if it doesn't fit all of my criteria). Other "wife-friendly" suggestions welcome, as well (I know that's a stereotype, but in this case she fits it - only using it for that reason).

"easy" game on the PS2 for children?

thermonuclear.jive.turkey — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:48:25 -0800

Hi Can you recommend an "easy" game on the PS2 for children? (more...) Hi,

I have an action item, to buy a playstation 2 game for a child in elementary school. The child in question has complained that other games that the family owns, are too hard.

Specifically I think the issue revolves around games with puzzles in them - games like Up, Wall-e etc. are rated "E" but are puzzle-heavy (to proceed you need to figure out what to do, and how to do it...). Lego Star Wars, Katamari Damacy seem to be OK in terms of the level of difficulty and complexity. Need for Speed yes it's a Teen game is fine in terms of complexity, you're just driving around, but parts of it can be challenging for teens and adults to win, and losing more often than not is a source of frustration. There are similar issues for other racing games that the wee gamer has played.

So, can you recommend for me a straightforward game, one possibly aimed at a pre-teen gamers, with a modest level of complexity and difficulty?

Why does anyone buy a PS3, anyway?

explosion — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:09:07 -0800

OK, we got a PS3. Now what? We bought a nice TV, and it came with a free PS3. That's great, but what do we do with it? Specifically, what games are Playstation 3 exclusives, or if not exclusives, play much better on the PS3?

We also have a Wii and XBox 360, each with 4 controllers, so "exclusive to PS3" would really be the only reason we'd be buying a game for the Playstation.

Older games are fine, we don't need the newest games. I already know the inevitable "MGS4 and LittleBigPlanet," and I just don't have time any more for games called "Final Fantasy" without the word "Tactics" in the title.

Thank you for your suggestions!

xBox around the world?

fantasticninety — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:28 -0800

PS3 allows players to play with players from other countries. xBox 360 appears to restrict players in North America to only play with other players from North America. Is there a workaround here? It's fun to play with players from all around the world, and unfortunately xBox seems to prevent this from happening. Does anyone know any workarounds to this? Thanks so much for any help!

PS3 has turned so ugly

porn in the woods — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:30:14 -0800

PlayStation 3 firmware update 3.0 is truly a pile. Font size is ginormous on my 42" LCD (akin to going from 1024x768 to 640x480), icons are shilling for the PlayStation Network in every menu and there's a hideous update bar in the upper right-hand corner I can't figure out how to turn off. I wish I hadn't taken the plunge -- if you haven't, don't do it! Does anyone have solutions to mitigate this nightmare, which has turned the menus of my console and home theatre box into a janky-looking POS?

What is the name of this old playstation game?

FireStyle — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:23:03 -0800

I'm trying to find this old playstation 1 game... it was an action shooter game which used a third person overhead camera (well slightly angled, i forget the name of this angle). There were two guys, one in a red suit and another in a blue suit. The distinctive feature of this game was the cutscenes used live action video which for its time was very cool. only thing is i can't remember for the life of me the title. if anyone here knows the game, i'd forever be in your debt!

Resident Evil 5 not starting on PS3, how do i fix it?

manny_calavera — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:20:32 -0800

I installed Resident Evil 5 on my ps3. The game started with the cinematic but after that it just kicks me back to the home screen of the PS. Now the game does'nt even start and it just keeps coming back to the home screen. I have tried other games like Little Big planet and Street Fighter which are not giving any issues. So how do i get this game to work. I have the latest firmware 2.76 installed.

What's the best game system for Rock Band?

Space Kitty — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:15:02 -0800

The Beatles: Rock Band - help! So after reading this thread, I realize I must have this game. I want to pre-order ASAP so I don't end up waiting forever or paying a premium because it's completely sold out. The problem?

I've finally got to decide which game system to go with: Wii, X-Box, or Playstation. I swear I'm not trying to start a PC/Mac flame war - but I don't know the relative strengths/weaknesses of the systems, or even what qualities will be important to me. I trust the collective intelligence here - how do I pick?

Obviously, I'm not a gamer, but I've enjoyed Rock Band, Katamari Damaci and DDR in the past. I've had a great time playing the Wii but don't know how well Rock Band translates to that system. Your experiences, shopping regrets/triumphs, anything you wish you'd thought of sooner all welcome here.

Thanks!

Flip Video on PS3

mzurer — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:39:57 -0800

Anyone have any luck getting Flip Video clips to play on a playstation 3? It's an F260. Doesn't work over a media server or hooked up directly.

Can a Man have a Playstation and a Girlfriend at the same time?

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:20:35 -0800

The other night, my girlfriend and I had finished cleaning up the place and doing the dishes so I went to have a shower. When I got out, she was reading her book on the lounge. I sat down as well and watched TV for a min and then decided to put the Playstation on. That's when the bad things happened. Since she just kept on reading while I was sitting on the lounge, I assumed she was content to keep on reading. Oh how wrong I was.

After I had been playing for about 3 mins, she went into the bedroom. I assumed to go to the bathroom in our ensuite. Then 5 mins later she came out, got a drink of water and walked back into the bedroom issuing a surly "Good night," as she went past.

I may not be a genius when it comes to women but I knew I was in trouble for something. I went in there and she is almost in tears, saying she was looking forward to sitting on then lounge with me for a quiet evening and how I had ruined everything.

This event has got me pretty worried. Firstly because I can't see I did anything wrong. We were both sitting on the lounge together having a quiet evening just like she wanted. She was doing what she wanted to do and I was doing what I wanted to do. There would not have been any more or less communication or connection between us had I been reading as well or doing anything else. She was fine when I was just wtching TV but as soon as I had control over what was happening on the screen it all went off the rails.

Secondly, do I now have to ask permission to spend 30 mins on a Playstation like I was a 7 year old only to be told I have to finish my homework first?

Thirdly and most importantly, I'm worried that this is a sign of something a lot bigger.

console or PS2 controller for someone with carpal tunnel?

cjmchampton — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:15:21 -0800

My girlfriend -- an avid fan of console games -- was recently diagnosed with carpal tunnel and can't use a PS2 controller for more than a few minute without experiencing debilitating pain in her right arm. Does anyone know of an alternative controller that might free up her right hand? Has anyone used a DDR pad for non-dance related games, for instance? Or, have you tried the access controller? I'm worried it might just start aggravating her other arm, though... How about other consoles that have such an option? Controllers that essentially work the same way as a standard controller, but are smaller/larger/more ergonomic don't seem to help.

The XBox 360/PS3 war rages on.

spamguy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:29:00 -0800

Almost time to buy a current-gen console, but I'm morally split between XBox 360 and PS3. I love my PS2 to death. It's the first and thus far only console I've ever owned. (My parents always figured the family Mac was good enough for gaming.) I'm slowly exhausting my list of games I want/need to play, and I'm sick of having a widescreen TV that can't play widescreen games. It's nigh time for me to start living in 2009 and get a current-gen console.

It's an even battle between the XBox 360 and the PS3. I feel a complex web of emotions here. I loathe Microsoft, and will go to great lengths to avoid giving them money. (Hypocrite alert: my MacBook Pro uses a MS laser mouse.) This doesn't necessarily make me a Sony fanboy: they've botched PS3 management so badly that I don't feel they've earned that $X00 premium. On the other other hand, Microsoft's 'red ring of death' plague shows just as much laziness and incompetence. So yes, as I said, a complex web. Do you see it as rational to spend $X00 more on a PS3 simply on moral principle? Which of the three evils is the biggest?

This is not quite the same question as one that was asked more than a year ago. Still, as a secondary question, I'm curious to know how the battle has changed since then. Personally, I see 2008 as a big win for the XBox. LittleBigPlanet and PlayStation Home were duds, while XBox won a port to Final Fantasy XIII and (I'm putting money on it) Metal Gear Solid 4.

I want to access PS3 Online Store via Playstation 3 overseas

omaralarifi — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:02:13 -0800

How can I access playstation US store overseas via playstation 3 console? Is there a way I can access (by playstation 3) the US version of playstation online store?

I am outside the US.

Maybe by vpn or proxy or dedicated IP address or other hacks?

there must be a way!

And if there is a solution, how to set it up?

Recommend casual games for a new PS3 owner

IndigoRain — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:24:43 -0800

My friend's husband just bought a PS3. She wants a game like Super Mario Bros. She's in her 40s and loved the original Super Mario Bros. I had to explain to her that Mario is a Nintendo franchise. Unfortunately, their PS3 is not a backwards compatible model, so that rules out the PS2 library, and I see a very limited number of 2D platformers on the PS3. She is a casual gamer. She has Buzz! for the PS3 but gets bored with it quickly, and they have some sort of poker game. She doesn't seem to enjoy her husband's games, like Ratchet & Clank. She has played my Nintendo DS and liked Clubhouse Games, with the bowling and darts. Can you suggest any Mario-like games for the PS3, or any other titles a casual gamer might like? Easy (non-frustrating) controls would be a great bonus. (Her daughter is getting Guitar Hero World Tour for Christmas, so she'll be able to try that out. She does not like to sing, so would not like the SingStar titles.) Downloadable titles through the Playstation Store would also be acceptable. Also, as I understand it, all PS3s play PS1 games?

Thinking about hacking a PSP

l2yangop — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:27:49 -0800

i'm thinking about getting a PSP. i want to hack it and be able to play downloaded games and movies. what do i need to know before proceeding? (i.e. difficulty, what not to get, etc) dont bother with legal mumbo jumbo. i already know the risks

Gaming for the new oldbie

vizsla — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:39:28 -0800

I'm 40ish. I know nothing about modern gaming. I used to love adventure games back in the 80s like Zak McKraken, KGB and Thermonuclear Wargames. I have some time on my hands and want to take the plunge into the modern world of gaming. Where do I start? I had a look at those role-playing multi-user games like Second Life and I just don't see the point. Maybe I'm missing something. I like games that involve some (if not, a lot of) thinking. I guess I used to enjoy SOME games that involved a lot of manual dexterity - I did play Wolfenstein 3D when it first came out. I am not a huge science fiction fan. I like games that teach you something maybe. But again, I shouldn't put too many restrictions down - I might surprise myself. So I guess I'm looking for ideas for games and platforms to play them on. Again, I know nothing - never owned any gaming equipment before so please don't assume I actually do know what I'm looking for!

Does the PS3 outperform the PS2, playing PS2 games? A lot?

grobstein — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:31:47 -0800

Does the PS3 outperform the PS2, playing PS2 games? A lot? So I fouled up and got the PS3 model that doesn't play PS2 games. This turns out to have been bad. I'd like to play PS2 games. I'm trying to decide between 1) selling my current PS3 and upgrading to the better version, or 2) buying a new PS2.

Option 2) is cheaper.

What I want to know is, does the higher-end PS3 do a better job on PS2 games than a new PS2 would?

Are there major graphical improvements?

Can the PS3 sometimes play PS2 games in HD (um on reflection this seems pretty improbable. . . )?

MetaFilter Solid 4: Wisdom of the MeFites

Doctor Suarez — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:31:02 -0800

MetaFilter Solid: New Playstation owner, getting Metal Gear Solid 4, but I've never played any of the earlier games. How can I best get up to speed? I looked on Wikipedia for the story summaries, but they're incredibly short, and since the stories are notoriously confusing anyway, the passages actually made my eyes hurt.

Also, since I'm enmeshed in GTA IV right now, playing the first three MGS games doesn't seem like a good (or efficient) option.

Is there a better way for me to get acquainted with the characters and events, or are the Wikipedia blurbs the best I've got?

Also, if some or most of the previous games' content isn't going to be all that relevant, I'd love to know what I can just ignore.

So come out from under those cardboard boxes and help me out!

What are the best display settings for a PS3?

Effigy2000 — Sat, 31 May 2008 23:31:25 -0800

What are the best display settings for a Playstation 3 to ensure I get the best possible picture quality when watching Bluray discs and standard DVDs? I just bought a Playstation 3. I bought it pretty much for the sole purpose of playing Bluray discs and upscaling my existing DVD collection.; games are pretty much an added bonus here, as far as I'm concerned.

So with that in mind, what are the optimum settings for a PS3 in the display settings section of the PS3's setup menu, especially where upscaling is concerned? I'm running it through an HDMI cable and my TV is a Sony Bravia 40" LCD TV. Assume I'm not an AV guru when telling me. I've also updated the system software, so you know.

Thanks in advance!

Where can I get a mod chip for the original Playstation?

bradbane — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:05:50 -0800

Where can I get a mod chip for the original Playstation? I realize this sounds like I want to pirate games, but I found my old PSX in my parent's attic and all my discs are scratched up and unplayable. I'm visiting a friend soon who has some of the same games and he said I could make copies, but I would need to track down a mod chip. My Google-fu is failing to turn up anything that doesn't set off my scam radar, and it's hard to tell what's legit when all the customer reviews I can find are years old.

I would rebuy the games used, but a lot of them (I like RPGs) seem to have become collector's items on Ebay and cost more than I'm willing to pay.

Best karaoke game with unlimited songs?

jjsonp — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:52:51 -0800

Best karaoke for PC? What we want is some program + service which provides a Konami-like interface with a vocal+ musical track, and with (paid) access to _all_ songs, because what you really want with karaoke is to sing songs you LIKE. And that of course changes as new songs come out.

My wife and I have had a blast over the years playing karaoke-style games on XBox, PS2 (and now the Wii). We much prefer the Konami games to Sony's SingStar - SingStar is nice since it has the original artists & videos, but the absolute time-track on Konami's implementation is far superior if you don't know the song well (which is usually the case at parties).

The fatal flaw of both however is that the number of songs you can access is extremely limited. We downloaded all the songs for Konami via XBox Live years ago - about 80 (and cost about $80), 70% of which were lame songs no one's ever heard or would want to sing. SingStar sells separate genre-based discs, with about 50% of the songs being worthwhile.

I can't believe the recording/gaming industry haven't recognized that millions of game-buyers are willing to pay a dollar a song or whatever to have it in their karaoke collection.

What is out there to provide this functionality? Thanks!

Tranferring game (NHL) data from Xbox 360 to PS3?

xmutex — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:01:26 -0800

This is probably a dumb question to which I already know the answer, but: is it at all possible to transfer an NHL 08 (EA) season from an Xbox 360 to a Playstation3?

PS2 plays some DVDs and not others?

carsonb — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:02:17 -0800

Why does my roommate's PS2 play some DVDs and not some others? Is there anything I can do about it? I've seen plenty of previous threads where the PS2 DVD drive 'wears out', etc. From what I gather, however, that means that the player won't play any DVDs—whereas our PS2 is picky. For instance, it will play the Planet Terror Bonus Materials disc (disc 2) but not the actual movie disc (disc 1). Same goes for my Death Proof DVDs. There are various other discs that I've tried in it, and results so far seem random. It'll play burned DVDs but not a brand-new Criterion disc. This disc 1/2 delineation is the first seemingly predictable response from the damn machine. Is the drive just going out? If it is short for this world is there anything I can do about it to prolong the magic? What else could it be?

For completeness' sake, I haven't tried playing an actual PS2 game on this rig though by all accounts (roommate's) it works fine as a game console. It has taken and played all music CDs I've introduced. It ate the PB&J I fed it yesterday with no complaint. (Boysenberry, yum!) I'm frustrated, and want to spend my Sunday watching bloody gore and car chases. Help!

Stereotypical Girl Gamer

Laura in Canada — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:59:11 -0800

My apologies in advance for furthering the stereotype. I'm a girl, I like video games, but I lean towards puzzles games & sims... & my skills suck. My boyfriend is a video game collector & fairly avid player, as it is, his interest in types of games & his skill level are a fair bit different than my own. We recently got a PS3 & I'd like to expand the library by adding a few new games for myself (I'm looking for older stuff preferably: PS2 or even PS1 games). I like to play, but often have trouble finding games... so here I am turning to the MetaFilter Suggestion Engine. The problem, to me, seems to be that the catalogue of games for Playstation is enormous & much more "hardcore-gamer" oriented than the Nintendo systems. I've looked at Metacritic, but it's overwhelming & hard to pinpoint games I might like.

Games that have held my interest in the past:

Nintendo DS:

Phoenix Wright
Mario Kart
Super Princess Peach
Puzzle Quest
Mario & Luigi:Partners in Time (although got too hard in the last stages)

Gamecube/ Wii:

Pikmin 2
Elebits
Trauma Center
Lego Star Wars

I'm also a fan of The Sims (1 & 2) on the PC & enjoy Loco Roco on the PSP. Last example, we bought Kingdom Hearts (PS2) yesterday & I enjoyed that as well, it's different than other games I've played & I think it will end up being too hard for me in the long run, but I like the gameplay.

P.S. I did find other similar threads & have Katmari Damacy on my list to add to our library, I'm just hoping for more suggestions to fit my interests.

Will a PS3 bought in Singapore work in Brazil?

dcrocha — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:38:32 -0800

Will a Playstation 3 bought in Singapore work in Brazil? By "work" I mean play the games in color and not black-and-white. Devices bought in the USA work because TVs in Brazil are all PAL-M/NTSC compatible, but not sure about Singapore's color system.