Customer Reviews

PlayStation 3 - 320 GB System/PlayStation Move Bundle

5 star:		(221)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

MOVE VS. OTHERS :)

Ever since the launch of Slim, the PS3 has been undertaking a quiet revolution or... could it be the console's midlife crisis? :) Here's what happened recently - and I will only note the more important developments going 12 months back (writing this in Oct., 2010):

- NetFLIX streaming, now disc-less, 1080p, 5.1 surround sound
- Much larger disc (this one is triple the size of the original Slim)
- Move
- 3D gaming
- Blu-ray 3D

This is a lot of new 'stuff' for a 4 year old console. I am not going to go into bean-counting mode and compare the PS3 improvements with what we see at the other guys but, clearly there is a lot of life in the PS3 and a lot of what the PS3 has to offer today - 3D gaming, Blu-ray 3D - either cannot be duplicated or is unlikely to be implemented by other consoles of this generation.

WHAT YOU GET, WHAT YOU MAY NEED

Briefly, this is what you get in with this bundle and I will make it very short because there's a lot of info. at the Amazon page:

- PS3 Slim with...
* 320GB HDD - as far as I know, the largest hard disk a console has ever had. You CAN upgrade it to a 500GB if you want but 320GB should probably be enough. See PS3 Slim reviews for details and features
* Move controller, of course
* PlayStation Eye camera (must have for the Move to work)
* Sports Champions (Ping Pong is simply awesome, some of the games play much better with a second controller)
* A demo disc so you can see what Move can do for you (most of the demos can be downloaded from the PSN)
- DualShock 3 controller (rumble, motion sensitive)
- ONE USB wire mostly to charge the controllers

I marked with asterisks the items that come with the bundle are not included in the Slim 160GB package.

Depending on how you are planning to use the PS3, this is what you don't get but may end up buying eventually:

- HDMI cable for HD output (a component cable should work too but you can get a decent HDMI for $3-5 or so)
- One or more extra USB wires same as above, don't pay more than $2-3 for one
- One more Move Controller (some games will either require two controllers or will play better with two)
- One or two Navigation Controllers (you can use the DualShock in your left hand but it feels weird)
- Dedicated charger, especially if you have more than one Move controller or you also have a Navigation controller
- PS3 TV remote controller to use when watching movies

TO BUNDLE OR NOT TO BUNDLE

We got the bundle because we really needed a fresh console but, it turns out, if you already have a PlayStation 3 Eye camera all you need is the stand-alone Move controller to be able to play Move games. If you don't have the Eye then it's going to cost a little more but the general idea is that it's possible to ease yourself into the Move universe and possibly stop if you feel that the Move is not for you. However, if you get yourself hooked, the odds are that you are going to spend A LOT on extras, eventually - see above.

THE PS3 BUNDLE VS. OTHER OPTIONS

At the time I'm writing this you can get a Move-less, 160 GB PS3 for $100 less. In my view, it's probably worth buying this bundle even if you do NOT want the Move because you should be able to sell your brand-new Move controller ($49), the PS Eye ($30) and the Sports Champions ($40) game and make close to $100 in the process and you will STILL have a console with TWICE the disc capacity.

MY RATING

This bundle is probably the best PS3 deal ever - see my notes on how you could sell the Move stuff if you don't want it and still end up ahead. I've been a PS3 owner ever since the 60GB classic became available and I've been impressed with the PS3's reliability, versatility and its sheer power - and I've owned both 'classic' and 'slim' models, upgraded most, gave away a couple. In the end it's a matter of personal taste but the PS3 is increasingly the most popular 'gaming' or 'entertainment' implement in our household. And we DO own an Xbox too.

I will not go through the long list of PS3's features. It would be an exaggeration to say that it does 'everything' but, in my view, it does a lot more than the competition and it's doing it increasingly well. Agreed, features and capabilities do not come for free and sometimes they don't even come cheap (see my list of possible add-ons above) but I can't say that I have the feeling of being constantly nickeled and dimed when I upgrade my PS3. I will have no choice at this time but to order the extra Move and Motion controller from Sony but the charger, the larger discs I used to upgrade my old classic, all of the cables came or will come from third party vendors and even for the old SixAxis and the remote controller there were alternatives at the time I decided to buy the Sony-made ones. In addition, the 'basic' PS3 console can take you pretty far as it is and you can have a lot of fun without having to spend one extra penny.

To conclude, this bundle gets 5 stars:

- for being chuck-full of 'stuff' (controllers, game, huge hard disc)
- for being the most cost-effective PS3 deal at the time I am writing this (Sep. 17, 2010)
- for the PS3 being the most feature-rich, well-balanced console you can get these days

____________________________________________

Aug. 16, 2011 Note:

Quite a lot happened to the PS3 since I posted my review. A week or so ago Netflix became part of a new category named TV/Video Services with Hulu PLUS, Vudu HD Movies, NHL GameCenter Live and MLB.tv. I've had Netflix for quite a while and if Hulu adds a lot of movies show to what I'm getting from Netflix I may say goodbye to my satellite provider. Under the Music tab I can see now Qriocity. I believe there is a 6 months free trial but I'm a Pandora guy so I'm not sure I'll sign up. It's good to know it's there.

Oh and... funny coincidence. I just read that Sony cut $50 of all consoles sold in the US. I paid $499 for my first 60GB PS3 back in 2007 (came with 8 or 10 Blu-ray movies so it wasn't THAT bad a deal) and it's still one of our 2 PS3. Not even a hiccup after 4 years of gaming and movie viewing.

--
>> Brush your teeth, it's the law! <<

I'm not going to comment on the quality of the PS3 Move controls or if it's better or worst than kinect or wii. I just really want to point out some things that you will need with this kit in order to maximize the PS3 Move experience.

INTERNET:
Internet Connection to the PS3 is required. WiFi LAN is highly recommended.
The PS3 itself comes with it's operating system on version 3.40 and in order to play PS3 Move, this needs to be upgraded at least to 3.41 or above. Currently available online version is 3.50. ** Update 3/01/11. I have seen reviews of some new system released already in version 3.50, but currently to take advantage of all online features, systems need to be upgraded now to version 3.56. **

In addition, the Sports Champion game needs to load an update.

So After opening the box prepare to be waiting for downloads depending on your internet speed.

USB Cables:
One extra Mini USB cable will be very helpful trying to charge controllers. The system comes with one cable already, but the PS3 has two USB ports already available. You could borrow this USB cable from digital camera or electronic device that connects via USB. You will use both ports in order to be able to charge your ps3 motion controllers.

NETFLIX:
Don't forget to order the PS3 Disk in order to be able to watch movies directly on your TV. If you've never been to netflix, you may want to take advantage of the current 1 month free trial (as of 9/26/10). Update (10/25) Netflix no longer requires to have a disk in the console in order to play movies off their server.

MOTION CONTROLLER
I'm going to put an Extra Motion Controller as REQUIRED. I strongly recommend ordering/buying an extra motion controller at the same time as this bundle. The Sports Champion plays better with two controllers when doing games like archery, volley ball or gladiator. Having to motion controllers also gives you the ability to play matches with another player. Besides if you are going to order boxing or do some aerobics, the extra controller is going to be very handy. So having your two motion controllers will let you play two player games (one controller each player) or one player playing with both controllers. BUY one extra motion controller.

HDMI Cable for HD TVs
If you don't have an HDMI cable, buy it. The system already comes with the typical PS AV cable, but resolution of the PS3 is best with the HDMI.

PS3 REMOTE CONTROL
Your PS3 is also a BluRay Player, but it does not include the remote control. You can use your DualSHock3 to control some of the functions, but in order to maximize experience, a remote will do. I strongly recommend ordering one of this with the console.

Highly recommended items you may end up buying in the long run and may be worth start shopping, but you don't have to have the first day you receive your bundle.
1) Charging Station.
1) PS3 Eye Camera Mounting Clip
1) PlayStation Move Navigation Controller
1) PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller

In addition to enable the PS3 for two players
2) Extra Motion Controllers
1) DualShock 3 Controller
1) Extra Navigation Controller

Extra gadgets to consider buying - added in 3/1/2011
1) PS3 Wireless Dance Mat
1) 2 Singstar POP ROCKS AMPED 90s 80s Microphones PS2 PS3

I went out and bought my PS3 320GB Console w/ Playstation Move this morning and must say that I'm pleasantly surprised at how accurate and fun Move is. As stated in the description, the bundle comes with the 320GB Slim PS3 console, a Dualshock controller, the Playstation Vision Cam, the Playstation Move controller and Sports Champions which is a game that is PSMove supported.

Concerning the Sports Champions game, it's a great way to get introduced to the controls of the new PSMove but it's not a breathtaking stand-alone experience. All that didn't really matter to me though as I wasn't looking for something captivating but more so a tutorial for the controls. It's very easy to pick up and learn so it should supply loads of fun for gamers of any age.

I purchased the PS3 with the Move bundle from Amazon because it came with the 320GB PS3 Slim and the price was the same the 120GB version with the TV bundle at Best Buy. Pricewise, it was a deal.

The Move functionality is really good. Extremely accurate and very responsive. The experience is much more emersive than the Wii. Setup is extremely easy, but not necessarily intuitive. There were no instructions in or on the box for how to set up the Move functionality. After spending 10 minutes or so looking for instructions I finally gave up and simply plugged the camera in and activated the Move controller. The PS3 took over from there (actually the game did) and assisted in the calibration of the controller to the game. Not exactly rocket science, but a 2x3" card in the Move packaging with a simple statement such as, "plug it in and it just works," could have saved me 10 minutes of minor frustration.

Sony should have chosen a better game to bundle with the Move, however. Sports Champions is more of a tutorial on how the Move works than an actual game. Once you've gone through all the games offered you've got it and there's really no incentive to keep on playing to the end of the competition, unless you really like ping pong or frisbee golf.

I am officially in awe of the Sony Playstation 3. I am honestly intrigued why anyone might opt for something else (no this is not an invitation for all the 360 trolls to crawl out from under the rocks and start spitting stink-venom, the 360 has value in it's own right too.) But the PS3 really does, DO IT ALL.

-Blu-ray - You get one of THE BEST Blu-ray players around. I also own the top rated Samsung 3D Blu-ray player that gets applause for its lightning fast load times. My PS3 was nearly the exact same speed in my side-by-side comparison. It is also a future proof Blu-ray player with it's 3D capabilities.

-320gb Storage - THE most storage available from any OEM console. I have my entire MP3 library on here and it streams perfectly to my surround sound system. I've set up playlists for all occasions and it really rocks the house. I also have 5 HD movies that I love to watch and rewatch saved on here. Given that I don't really REwatch stuff mutch, I probably will only save my favorites but I am sure to have enough space.

-Video Apps - Hulu Plus and Netflix are both so extremely robust I have actually cancelled my cable. They both stream in HD through the PS3 and look beautiful.

-Best Exclusive Game Titles - Between the Killzone, Uncharted, MLB The Show, Gran Turismo, Little Big Planet, Mod Nation Racers and Infamous series you can't go wrong. It has all the same cross-platform titles as the rest but these exclusives look absolutely stunning. There is no question, that a game designed for the PS3 looks like the most amazing thing in console gaming to date.

Motion Controller - I was skeptical about this. I have a Wii. It's fun enough, but it's a Wii and they games are well, dull. This is amazing. I cannot get enough of Ping Pong and the Gladiators game in Sports Champions. The 1 to 1 tracking works exactly as promised. The motion controller even operates the XMB (cross media bar, the main menu.)

Pandora - Yes, the PS3 web browser will go to [...] and stream your stations through your surround sound. I'm listening to "my" station right now.

Hands down, this is the best home entertainment value around. It has games for everyone in the house including little ones, teenagers and games for more mature folks. It also has a bunch of family friendly games. I know I sound like a paid spokesperson but I couldn't be happier with this console. From most of the reading, the poor reviews are really a result of slow shipping (likely their own fault for not choosing carefully) so be careful when reading reviews. As for Amazon, I buy A LOT from Amazon. Nearly every piece of electronics I own comes from them and given the A+++ customer service experience I've had I will never shop anywhere else. Yes, there is a BB 15 minutes down the street but they can't touch the level of service I've received from Amazon.

I already owned another PS3 system but I decided to "MOVE" on another level by purchasing this PS3 bundle. By the time
you factor in everything that's included in this combo, I think you will agree with me this is the one to get:

PS3 250 gig bundle = $349.00
Playstation EYE = $33.00
Sports Champion game = $37.00
PS3 MOVE controller = $50.00

The 320 Gig MOVE bundle will save you at least $70.00 plus you get 70 GB worth of HD storage...You can't loose!!!

Monetary considerations aside...Here is my take on the rest!

PROS:

- Extremely easy to set up the system as well as the MOVE controller.
- MOVE controller is very precise (you have to have played with the Wii to appreciate this)
- Included game is fun to play with and have enough variety to keep you interested...Your kids will thank you!!!
- A bunch of MOVE specific titles are coming out to keep your investment viable.
- Patches have been released for previous games....i.e. Heavy Rain (TM) etc. This means you can actually update
certain released games and play them with the MOVE controller.

CONS:

- Another MOVE controller needs to be purchased if you want to play with someone at home (kids or wifey!!)...
Plus certain single player games actually allows you to use 2 MOVE controllers for maximum effect...Another $50
dollar investment.
- PlayStation Move Navigation Controller probably needed later on $30.00)
- PS3 EYE camera clip needs to be purchased separately ($13.00) if you want to mount the EYE on top of your LCD monitor.
- Lots of lost productivity...count on it!!!

Thanks for reading my mini review...Till next time

For the person looking to pick up a PS3 that doesn't own one, this is an incredible deal. You're getting a 320gb system which usually retails for $349 and the PlayStation Move bundle for a total of $399. You're saving $50 over what you would be paying if you bought all of it separately. Definitely look into this if you're interested in the PlayStation3.

The Playstation 3 is perfect. This will be my second one because I need one for the bedroom. I have a phat ps3 and now a new slim. The slim is much smaller and stealthy quiet. So far I like it more and it stays cleaner looking than the phat but i do miss the touch sensitive buttons. I've owned a ps3 for 4 years with no problems and i love it. great blu ray, best games, surround sound, full hd, and the free psn. Nothing compairs.

I chose this bundle for the hdd space and for the playstaion move. I was looking forward to the move more for the unreleased games like Killzone 3, SOCOM 4, and The Fight: lights out but, I am surprized to say that I've been playing Sports Champions for hours now and its a lot of fun. ping pong and frisbee golf are increadable. It would be nice if it had a little bit more to it but I like it so far. I also am enjoying the games on the demo disc and am amazed im having fun playing tiger woods; golf isn't really my thing. What makes it so fun is that it actually tracks your motions like you would expect. you can throw the frisbee how ever you want; left, right, upside down. If you have played wii you will be amazed by the move. no simple wrist flicking on a game with awefull graphics. real tracking in 1080p is so much better. I just can wait for the best games to come out later this year/ early next year. I've been a long time ps3 owner and can honestly recomend this to anyone. It has the best games and something for the whole family.

if you are thinking about getting a ps3.. i presume you are torn between the 160gb $299 console only or the 320gb $399 w/ ps move bundle.

you may ask yourself "is it worth paying $100 more?"
my answer to that is "yes, it is worth paying $100 more for this bundle"..
and why? because the bundle has 320gb thats TWICE the capacity of the $299 ps3.
its got the PS move bundle(move controller + eye toy) buying the PS move separately will cost you $99(and not have a 320gb HDD capacity).
you may say "i dont want the PS move, i already have wii" im telling you if you bought this console w/ move bundle you might not need to play your wii anymore.. right now the games available ar kinda lame. but come 2011 when the developers have made great games compatible with PS move. you wont be sorry you bought this bundle.

do yourself a favor and buy this. for just $100 more from the 299 ps3,with this one you double your HDD capacity(tho in my case 160gb is more than enough) and you also get the PS move bundle(camera+contoller+cd). Thats a lot of saving right there. IMO this is the best console bundle available right now.
between PS move and Xbox Kinect? obviously i will go with PS move.. i still prefer holding a controller and pressing buttons when i play my video games. and ps3 has better console exclusive games than xbox.

Just unboxed it and we've been playing for a few hours now. We are Wii converts. The kids (5 and 7) love the Wii and I thought that it was time for dad to get a decent gaming system and I thought the Move was pretty slick. I'm not a gamer by any means. I really wanted to play UFC Undisputed, Fight Night and Madden, so I ordered them earlier this week.

The included Sports game is super fun. My kids are sweating from playing with Move and they are loving it. Unfortunately, I only have one controller and they don't like taking turns so I'm ordering another one now. The Move is exponentially better than the Wii and is very precise, so believe the hype. I'm a happy camper!!