PS3 FAQ

Q. What exactly do I need to play the PS3 in HD Quality?
A. The 3 crucial elements to playing the PS3 in HD Quality are:

1. The PS3 (obviously)

2. HDMI Cables – The PS3 does not actually come with the HDMI cables that are required to connect the PS3 to a HDTV and you'll have to buy them separately. I recommend going to http://www.froogle.com and typing in “HDMI Cable.” You should buy the “male to male HDMI cable”

***You do not need to spend 50-100 dollars at your local B&M store for a workable HDMI cable. The 10-15 dollar HDMI cables that you can find on the internet through Froogle or many other online stores will do the trick.

3. An HDTV. Your TV must be an HDTV, or HD-Ready in order to play PS3 games in high resolution. Once you connect your PS3 to your HDTV with the HDMI cable, you are ready to play in high definition. Make sure your television is set to HD mode.

*Note that you can play the PS3 on a regular television in stunning quality as well, without any issues, it just won't be as detailed and crisp as an HDTV. The PS3 comes with the cables you need to play on a standard television.

Q. Does the PS3 come with a camera?
A. As part of the package, the PS3 comes with an HD IP (High-Definition Internet Protocol) Camer
A. This camera can broadcast high quality video anywhere in the world and works off of an internet address.

Q. What sort of network connections will be available? Does it feature WiFi?
A. Both versions of the PlayStation 3 have a 1000MB Ethernet port, and the 60GB version has 802.11b/g wireless.

Q. Will the PS3 be compatible with the PS2 and PS1?
A. Yes. Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 will be almost entirely compatible with PlayStation 2 and PS1 software. Games that do not work have not been disclosed.

Q. Does PS2 Guitar Hero work on the PS3?
A. IGN Tested this out using a PS2 USB adapter for the PS3. As of right now it did not work, and there is hope in the future that Sony will release a working adapter.

Q. Will PlayStation 3 be compatible with the PSP?
A. Yes.

Q. How does the PS3 interact with the PSP?
A. The PSP will be able to connect to the PS3 via USB and a wireless network. With the Remote Play option, you can stream music, videos in 1080p, and images from your PS3 to your PSP. You can also download PSP related content from your PS3 to your PSP. You can download PS1 games to the PSP that can be played using the PSP'S PS1 Emulator. In one demo, the PSP was used as a rear view mirror in the game Formula One 06.

Q. Can you attach a keyboard and mouse to the PS3?
A. Yes you can, and you should buy a USB mouse and keyboard for your PS3 to make it easier to type and browse the internet.

Q. Will the PS3 upscale DVDs HD Quality?
A. Current, the PS3 is not capable of upscaling DVDs to HD quality.

Q. Will the PS3 upscale PS2 and PS1 games to HD Quality?
A. Sony has said, that just as the PS2 played certain PS1 games in better quality, so will the PS3. It is not certain yet as to which games will be in better or HD quality.

Software Questions

Q. How do you update the firmware for the PS3?
A. Firmware upgrades can be downloaded via System Update, or through a game that requires a firmware update. In case you didn't know, firmware is software that is actually embedded in the PS3's hardware, and it provides the instructions on how the PS3 communicates with its hardware. Updates to the PS3's firmware will generally increase stability, performance, and compatibility with games.

Q. What does the online network for the PS3 offer?
A. The online network is an open and free network. The online network has a variety of options including friends lists, internet browsing, content downloading (both paid and free), voice chat, video conferencing, and free online multiplayer games for most games except MMORPGS. You can also download game demos to the PS3 hard drive. Basically, if you can download something for free on your PC, you will be able to download it for free with the PS3. You can download PS2 and PS1 games onto the hard drive for a cost of around $8 to $15 dollars

Q. Will the PS3 support Linux?
A. As of now, there is a Sony sponsored version of Linux called “Yellow Dog.” This was released on November 27, 2006 and can be downloaded through Sony's content network.

Q. What does each menu option allow you to do?
A. There are 8 options on the PS3 menu. This interface is known as the “XMB” or “Cross Media Bar”. You have Users, Settings, Photos, Music, Video, Game, Network, and Friends. You can have different user profiles, store music and movies on your hard drive. Similar to a computer, you can listen to music and browse the net, or chat with your friends. Much more can be found in your user's manual.

Q. How can you type text with a controller?
A. You should not try to use the controller to type, instead purchase a separate USB keyboard and attach it to your PS3. However, if you do not want to use an external keyboard, the PS3 is capable of typing using T9 “dialpad” system, much like text messaging on a mobile phone. This system predicts the words that you are typing as you spell them out, which is good because it speeds up the time it takes to type words, but bad because you'll have trouble typing non standard words such as e-mail addresses or usernames. Your best bet is to purchase a USB keyboard online for very cheap.

Q. Are PS3 movies/games region-locked?
A. Sony has said that it doesn't plan on region-locking games. Some third-party software developers might choose to region lock games, but they will be noted on the cover. Movies are region locked however. Click Here For More Articles About: Video Games!