PS3 Review – Snakebyte Premium Bluetooth Controller
There is no doubt that the PlayStation 3 market doesn’t have as many third party controllers available as the PlayStation 2 era. This most likely ties into the fact that the DualShock 3 has much more featured in it than the previous DualShock 2, including both Bluetooth and SIXAXIS motion controls. Snakebyte is one of the few companies to step up to the plate with it’s latest controller, the Snakebyte Premium Bluetooth Controller.
The controller is built very solid overall. It features all of the features that a traditional DualShock 3 would have, motion control support, rumble, bluetooth, and rechargeable battery via USB cable. Typically with most third party accessories you will lose some functionality, but Snakebyte made sure to give all the functionality that you would find in a typical Sony controller. The question is how is how well does the controller actually hold up both aesthetically and functionally against the Sony controller.
The Snakebyte controller both looks and feels good in your hands. It is much larger than the DualShock 3, and definitely fits your hands better if you are a someone with larger than average hands. The layout of the buttons is the same of as the DualShock 3 of course, but there are a few differences between the actual buttons themselves. The D-Pad is probably one of the most notable differences between the two. It works very well, and initially when looked at reminds you of a mix between both the DualShock 3 and a Xbox 360 controller. Since it is a mix of both it actually does hold up pretty well, particularly in fighting games.
The L2 and R2 buttons are another big difference as well. They fit in really well with shooting titles seeing how they are shaped. They feel a lot like the trigger buttons found on a Xbox 360 controller, though they are shaped a bit differently. One thing that the controller does have that the DualShock 3 doesn’t is a turbo feature. For those that have used it on other controller before the premise is the same, simply push the corresponding button you want it assigned to and push the Turbo button. This button will now be pushed rapidly by you just pushing the button and holding it. To clear it just push Clear and then the button you would like cleared.
The one thing that can be complained about would be the “stiffness” of the L1 and R1 buttons, which is a lot harder to push than Sony’s Dualshock. It feels as though you would not get a response when pressing these buttons, and that will worry you at times.
The battery in the controller is great and lasts a long time just like the DualShock 3, this is definitely something that is a huge plus for the controller. Though for when the controller does need to be charged there is a cable included to do so. Also the bluetooth signal holds up great, and was never an issue while playing games.
When purchasing the controller gamers will get a total of 3 things within the package. The first being the controller itself, then there is a 10 ft. long cable that allows for charging the controller itself, and then there are a couple of clip on triggers for your current DualShock 3’s that come with the PlayStation 3. These are very similar to the RealTriggers that are available in stores now.
Overall the Snakebyte Premium Bluetooth Controller is a great controller for those looking for an alternative to the Sony DualShock 3. The only drawback that could be found within the controller itself would be the “stiffness” of the L1 and R1 buttons. Everything else within the controller was top notch. It is nice to see a third party step up to the plate with a controller that features everything standard that the DualShock 3 does, this offers a different option to gamers.
Among the handfuls of information Sony revealed at E3 2010 was the announcement of the long-rumored PlayStation Plus. After months and months of rumors regarding a pay-to-play PlayStation Network, it was announced that the new PlayStation Plus will be an optional subscription-based system which rewards the consumer with several cool incentives including free games, early beta access and more. While the reception has been largely positive, several PlayStation 3 owners have voiced concerns about what the service will entail. However, when looking at what Sony is offering with PlayStation Plus side-by-side with Microsoft’s competing Xbox Live platform, PlayStation Plus is undoubtedly the better service.
To understand the true value of the upcoming PlayStation Plus service, first one must look at what both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live offer without a subscription. PSN is well-known for its free offerings, primarily the ability to play online games without any fees. On the other hand, Xbox Live requires a $50/year subscription in order to be able to play online. The question is, what do both offer without subscription and what benefits are there for those who pay the yearly fees? Below you can see what Xbox Live offers with its free Xbox Silver membership:
On the other hand, PlayStation Network has been offering and will continue to offer the following without a subscription or fees:
Right off the bat it’s easy to see that PSN offers a much more robust and complete experience with the absence of fees. Without spending a single dime, PlayStation 3 owners can create a PSN ID, play online, earn trophies and chat with friends. However, many will argue that the selling point of not only Xbox Live but the Xbox experience as a whole is Gold membership. Unfortunately, the Gold Membership requires a fee of $50/year. Upgrading from a Silver account to a Gold Account nets you the following bonuses on Xbox Live:
Besides the video chat, cross-game voice chat and online play, Gold Membership doesn’t offer much more over the standard Silver membership other than application integration, most of which are available through the PS3’s internet browser. Now, of course online play is the centerpiece and holy grail for the Xbox 360, so many consumers justify the $50/year based on the ability to play online alone. This is mildly disturbing when you look at what PlayStation Plus offers for the same price:
In total, subscribers can expect to receive 48+ games per year on top of the other benefits of the service. Dynamic Themes and Premium Avatars range from 50 cents to 3 dollars, and when coupled together with early beta access and retail trials, this is a service that really provides a subscription experience that consoles haven’t seen before. Sony has announced that retail games such as LittleBigPlanet will be finding their way onto the PlayStation Store, and PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to play these for 1-hour free of charge before deciding whether or not to pay for the full game. Subscribers who choose to keep the game will be able to continue from their demo save and experience the game as if they purchased the game to begin with. This on top of the other neat bonuses will ensure that subscribers have something to look forward to and keep coming back for more.
While Xbox Live Gold is popular, its only real benefit is the addition of online play. Being able to look forward to new additions every month with PlayStation Plus is something that will excite consumers as they wait for the next month to come around so they can see what games are next. This is all while retaining the same PSN experience that PlayStation owners have come to love over the years, and online play will remain free. Essentially, for $50/year you receive basic features and online play with Xbox Live while PlayStation Network offers that as well as tons of free content and more. When both are taken into consideration, it’s easy to see why PlayStation Plus is the better service between the 2 kings of the court.
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Sony has shown off the latest additions to its
Playstation console range at the E3 expo in Los Angeles.
Among the planned launches announced are stereoscopic 3D games, PlayStation
Move motion sensitive controller, and an all in one surround sound system
for the PlayStation3.
The Move controller, a rival to Nintendo's Wiimote and Microsoft's Kinect
controller free system, is set for launch in the US, Europe and Asia in
mid-September, with a retail price of $50 or 40 euros. The two-part
controller requires the PlayStation Eye camera, although a bundle with the
camera, controller and Sports Champions game is set for release at the $99
mark.
Move will be accompanied by two official Sony peripherals, a charging
station, and a gun attachment for shooting games. Sony plans to have 20
Move-compatible games available by March next year, including Tiger Woods PG
Tour 11, Resident Evil 5 Gold edition and EyePet.
Also on the games front, Sony announced that it is making a number of titles
available in stereoscopic 3D. The PS3 console is already capable of playing
3D games thanks to a firmware update, but Sony now plans to release 3D
versions of titles including MLB 10 The Show, MotorStorm: Apocalypse,
Killzone 3, The Sly Collection, and Gran Turismo 5, while other publishers
will also release titles including Mortal Kombat, Crysis2, NBA 2K11 in 3D by
the end of the year.
a subwoofer built-in, all-in-one Surround Sound System for the PlayStation®3
(PS3TM) system in fall 2010 in Japan, North America, Europe/PAL territories,
and Asian countries/regions at a recommended retail price of 19,800 yen
(including tax), US$199, and €199 respectively
Another add on for the PlayStation3 comes in the form of an
all-in-one Surround Sound System. The system will have four sound fields and
sub-woofer built in, and connect to the console with an optical digital
cable, The Surround Sound System comes with two audio inputs - an optical
audio input for connecting high-end entertainment systems including PS3, and
an analog audio input for connecting portable devices like the PSP. The
surround sound system is planned for worldwide launch in the autumn.
