Ask PS3 Fanboy: Volume 12
by Majed Athab 
{ Nov 15th 2008 at 9:00AM }
Keep checking back every weekend -- we'll be sure to answer all intelligent, fun, and relevant questions that you may have. If you haven't asked us anything yet ... why haven't you? Send an e-mail to majed @ ps3fanboy.com with the subject "Ask PS3 Fanboy." We'd like to stress, if your e-mail doesn't include that subject heading, your question will not be answered. If you've got PSP-related questions, be sure to ask them on Ask PSP Fanboy.
one, would I be able to get the software, and would the hardware work?
PS3F answers: It will most definitely not work. In order to use PlayTV, you need to have the Freeview service. Unfortunately, that service is not available in North America. So even if you bought it, there would be nothing to capture and record. Last we checked, North America is using the ATSC standard, while Freeview is using something entirely different. In other words, don't get it.
bklynmadmon asks: Is pre-order DLC worth it? My friend and I argue about this all the time. My take on this is you're getting something for nothing that the other gamers can't (and won't) get. My friend thinks the all-mighty dollar speaks louder and the gaming companies will eventually release the same DLC to the general populous. Who's right?
PS3F answers: Well, in some respects you're both right. You're completely right in saying you're getting something for free because you're not paying extra for it -- you're just paying a little bit of money early. But, you're wrong if you think that DLC will be exclusive to pre-orderers later on. There's no reason for companies not to offer DLC at a certain amount of money later on if the content is already there. So, that sort of DLC will be made available to everyone eventually. Take a look at it this way -- it's totally worth it to pre-order and grab the bonus because 1) you didn't pay a cent while others will pay a premium, and 2) you've enjoyed the content way before others have.
Kalil S. asks: My question is what is the different between a cheap HDMI cable and expensive HDMI cable?
PS3F answers: Price. That's it. They work exactly the same. Remember, HDMI is a digital signal -- it has no need for gold plating and what other nonsense that makes cables overly expensive. Go for the cheap one, you won't regret it.
Chris B. asks: When will we finally start seeing Trophies on ALL future Sony games? Can we hope to see this by next year?
PS3F answers: Yes, we expect that to fully saturate by mid-to-late 2009. There will be an increased number of Trophy supported games as the year progresses.
Brent W. asks: What's the deal with the Trophies for Legend of Spyro: Dawn of Dragon?
PS3F answers: Although Trophy support was originally announced for Spyro, a PR representative confirmed that the final game did not ship with Trophies. Unfortunately, it looks like Sonic Unleashed may also meet the same fate. Why it's so difficult for developers to add Trophy support is beyond us.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Candelaria @ Nov 15th 2008 9:12AM
ust for reference for people if you want a good HDMI cable go to monoprice.com . . .thats were i get all my cables i got a 6 foot HDMI cable with overnight shipping for just about 10 bucks. . .sorry if this seems like an add but they have great stuff and it's the best way to go , , , thats my opinion
vahdyx @ Nov 15th 2008 9:21AM
I support Mike and his Ad, Monoprice.com is freaking awesome and their HDMI cables are good and cheap.
They have to be stealing copper or something because their prices are cheap and their products are indeed good
I've ordered 3 HDMI cables red, black and blue cables.
I also recommend www.monoprice.com
deathxrebirth @ Nov 15th 2008 11:02AM
Amazon has some for under $5 shipped by sfplanet.
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Super-Resolution-Cable-Eforcity/dp/B000E8OVMQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1226764775&sr=1-4
iamkid @ Nov 15th 2008 1:30PM
i approve of your advertising. i got mine from there, it was 5 bucks plus shipping. amazon is also a great place for hdmi, i remember seeing lots on there for 1 penny.
Chris Are @ Nov 15th 2008 6:31PM
Umm, excuse me, but I work for -big electronics chain- and you are WRONG! Gold plated HDMI cables are absolutely worth the price. Here are ten reasons why...
Jk. :-)
Adam @ Nov 16th 2008 9:11PM
Could not agree more. Always get my cables from there.
Courtney @ Nov 18th 2008 12:04PM
It's not an ad when the advice is so good. Been buying my cables there on the cheap for years. I was going to post the same thing, but ya beat me to it.
Plus, it's good for more than just HDMI. That's what introduced me to the site, but I've gone back and picked up a bunch of other cables. You can get a 10+ foot mini-usb to USB cable for dirt cheap too, which is what I have to charge my PS3 controllers with while playing (as the stock ones are so short).
Jake @ Nov 15th 2008 9:22AM
playtv isn't that good anyway, i would buy it if i could take the recordings off it onto my pc but apparently you can't do that
linton @ Nov 15th 2008 10:17AM
you can take recordings off your ps3 and play them on pc, i've been doing that since day one with play tv
Jake @ Nov 15th 2008 10:44AM
i swear i read that they did have that feature and that it was taken out so they weren't sued? I swear that was part of its downfall in reviews aswell
Kspraydad @ Nov 15th 2008 12:19PM
Video is transferable.
jaffa @ Nov 15th 2008 3:14PM
Yes, but they changed it back so now you can transfer videos.
Cameron @ Nov 15th 2008 9:54AM
I'm more interested in if microphones are going to be bundled with PS3's in the future and if sony plan's to add anymore features to the online community side. I've said it before - the one thing that PSN lacks is a people talking ingame. It's the sole thing that 360 > PS3 is their online community. It's just not the same for the PS3 at the moment.
Anyone got anything to help me out?
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 15th 2008 1:31PM
More likely to have microphones bundled with games like we have seen with SOCOM & End War recently. I simply use my Playstation Eye as my head set. It works perfectly and you don't have to hurt your ear.
Chaos744 @ Nov 15th 2008 10:20AM
I went to Amazon.com this morning - picked up some HDMI cables for 1.29 (6 feet) you just have to shop around and be saavy. Happy Gaming!
Monkey Majiks @ Nov 15th 2008 10:23AM
@Cameron I am hoping with the imminent release of the official headset and the firmware patch to enable high band talk quality on the PS network, that this should be standard by mid-end of 2009. Granted its a bit behind the 360, but you have to remember the original Xbox didn't originally start shipping with headsets etc, and they introduced it later in the consoles lifecycle, building on top of the infrastructure when the 360 rolled along. We are just a little behind the curve on this, once its implemented and standard (as trophies will be by around the same time) the whole "mine is better than yours" arguments will hopefully be a distant dream, and we can focus on the games!
Monkey Majiks @ Nov 15th 2008 10:26AM
Actually i would like to ask a question, hope this is the right place!
What happened to the LBP costume we saw in all the trailers, the one with the really long stripey scarf?
MY GF has been after this forever, and she never stops moaning its not in the full game!
DLC at some point, or abandoned as early concept?
Darkfire @ Nov 15th 2008 4:18PM
@Monkey Majiks
The dragon mask you refer to that has the long striped scarf (tail) is still in the game. It is acquired in the last x4 co-op challenge room in the story campaign. I believe the level is called The Collector's Lair. It only takes 3 people to do that exact co-op challenge.
So go grab it! It's my favorite costume.
xino @ Nov 15th 2008 10:42AM
It's already in the game. You have to play with 4 players to get it though. I believe it's in the level called "tundra" or something. I have yet to get it myself, but it is in the game already. You just need 4 players to access it.
Monkey Majiks @ Nov 16th 2008 2:05PM
cheers guys, ill go grab it :P
pat1202003 @ Nov 15th 2008 10:29AM
Sonic Unleashed with no trophies!!?!??! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
For it to be coming out almost a month after the others consoles on the PS3, it better d*** well have some trophies!
Cory @ Nov 15th 2008 11:16AM
I'll stick with expensive Monster cables thank you. So far their 1000/M series is the only one I've found to support 120 hertz and they are also wall rated and have a lifetime warranty. I'll gladly pay the extra bucks for them.
Ott @ Nov 15th 2008 12:17PM
how much more are they?
Kspraydad @ Nov 15th 2008 12:28PM
Um...
1) There is no such thing as 120Hz rated cables.
2) Even if there was your HDTV only accepts 24p & 60p over HDMI. While it displays at 120Hz it still only accepts a 24Hz or 60Hz signal. There are no consumer grade HDTV with a 120p input. Period.
3) Even if there were 120Hz cables (there aren't) and your HDTV accepted 120p input (it doesn't) no BD player has 120Hz (120p) output. Since content on the disc is 24p there is no reason to output it as 120p. It is output as 24p (using less bandwidth than 60p) and your HDTV applies a 5:5 pulldown to 120Hz.
Cory @ Nov 15th 2008 12:36PM
Alls i know is when i was using my 800 series cables and a generic best buy brand cable i could not use the 120Hz feature on my samsung or my sony. Knowing that 1000 and M1000 would let me use this feature i picked those up. Quite frankly i don't care about all your number mumbo jumbo. I just want the features on my TV to work and those cheap cables didn't do it for me. I never said the cable was 120Hz rated i said it let the 120Hz work on my TV. I did say it was in wall rated and had a lifetime warranty.
Cory @ Nov 15th 2008 12:38PM
@Ott
Since i work for Best Buy I get a hefty discount on them. I believe they retail around $300 for the M series and $100 for the standard 1000 series.
leatherface @ Nov 15th 2008 12:41PM
@ Kspraydad, check the Monster cable website, they talk about the 120 hz feature and their cable that supports it. He also mentions the PS3 in his tech talk. Also check out a demo at the local t.v. store to compare 120 hz to 60hz, you will be surprised at the difference.
@ Ott, buy'em at Amazon they are way cheaper than that damn Best Buy.
Kspraydad @ Nov 15th 2008 2:29PM
There is NOTHING to 'support'.
The signal from your BD player is not altered to 120mhz until it reaches your TV. The signal traveling through that wire is EXACTLY the same. Period.
Therefore ANY HDMI cable will do.
Any tricked out comparisons are just that, tricked out.
As for comparing the too on screen...sure...there is absolutely a difference...but that has EVERYTHING to do with the TV and NOTHING to do with the cable.
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11276_7-6845988-3.html?tag=rb_content;rb_mtx
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/marketplace/packing_the_deal.wmv
Kspraydad @ Nov 15th 2008 12:57PM
At leatherface.
I'm not arguing if 60mhz or 120mhz looks better...I'm pointing out that the cable has NOTHING to do with it...the signal going INTO and OUT OF the cable is the EXACT same.
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 15th 2008 1:41PM
I will argue that 60hz looks better than 120hz pictures. First of all you need a TV that supports 120hz to even make use of the technology. Usually those televisions use an algorythm to change the frames from 60hz to 120hz. This is why it often times looks extremely fake and digital because it's not a native 120hz signal.
As far as the HDMI cable being 60hz or 120hz- It's marketing BS to make you buy another more expensive HDMI cable. These companies want you to think there is a difference in the cable, shielding or signal but in reality there is no difference at all. These cables have a very low overhead for companies to produce and are sold at astronomical prices to the end user. You can get an HDMI cable online from a cable manufacturer for around $10.00. This cable for $10.00 will function exactly the same as a Monster Cable from Best Buy for $100.00. Just because it cost's more doesn't mean it's better.
Don't believe the PR marketing hype.
ducttapeBigSexy @ Nov 15th 2008 5:21PM
1. If your TV is capable of refreshing at 120 Hz, it will always do that, whether or not it is enabled. The TV just displays each image twice.
2. You're probably getting 120 Hz confused with frame interpolation. Frame interpolation is where the TV creates additional frames from the existing 60 fps source (so it's doing 120 fps). Since those additional frames are being created by the TV, if your HDMI cable can deliver 60 fps from the source material, you will be able to enable the frame interpolation feature.
3. Lifetime warranty? So, one Monster cable will run me $100, a monoprice.com cable will run me about $5. In the rare event the cable would die, just go buy another one. Or ten - it's still cheaper.
My PS3 is hooked up to my HDTV with a monoprice.com HDMI cable. Frame interpolation works perfectly with it. It's a digital signal - either it's there or it's not. If you don't believe me, do some Googling - multiple sites have done comparisons between Monster and cheap cables.
On an unrelated note, all this talking about Monster makes me want to go get an energy drink :)
Cory @ Nov 15th 2008 6:41PM
I quess i'll point this out i dont pay $100 for the monster cable. I work for Best buy i get a fairly large discount. I paid around $20 for my M1000 series cable. Even if i didn't get the discount i would still buy it. I think its a better cable. I don't care for your technical mumbo jumbo. I work on the belief that there has to be something better about these cables or else they wouldn't get made. I'm happy with it i'll leave it at that.
Kspraydad @ Nov 15th 2008 10:53PM
Cory 'works for Best Buy' but doesn't care for 'technical mumbo jumbo'.
Oh my F ** CKING GAWD.
deathxrebirth @ Nov 16th 2008 12:01AM
@ Cory
"I work on the belief that there has to be something better about these cables or else they wouldn't get made."
I wasn't going to join in on this because everyone had it covered. And you have the right to buy them as you see fit, but this has to be one of the more idiotic things I have read.
Really not trying to insult you dude, but that is some extremely flawed logic.
penny @ Nov 15th 2008 1:22PM
adding music while playing pain on my ps3
can any body help me?
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 15th 2008 2:24PM
The thing for the pain jukebox is the songs must be in MP3 format instead of AAC. You need to have either MP3's or format your AAC music from CD to MP3 using a PC.
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 15th 2008 2:27PM
http://www.download.com/Free-Mp3-Wma-Converter/3000-2140_4-10442362.html
Use that free software on your PC then import them to you PS3 using a memory stick. You will need to delete the AAC files as well.
Hostile @ Nov 15th 2008 12:41PM
Does anyone know if imported games still net you trophies? An example being importing the EU version of MKvsDC.
Peter @ Nov 15th 2008 1:12PM
Yup, in fact, you can get that weird Japanese cat game for free and earn trophies with it.
Kspraydad @ Nov 15th 2008 1:43PM
That 'weird cat' is Toro Inoue
Peter @ Nov 15th 2008 1:11PM
Price doesn't matter so much for HDMI cables to an extent, but I have two HDMI cables in front of me, one cheap, the other a Sony and the Sony inexplicably gives a sharper image. However, the only reason I can think of for this is that it carries more information than the cheaper one.
I'd love to know why.
bobrez @ Nov 15th 2008 5:47PM
What you've said about HDMI cable is NOT true. Maybe now it doesn't matter(so much) what cable you go with, but the difference b/w HDMI cables are also for the amount of signals that they can transfer per unit of time. It's a misconception to think that it's just about 0's and 1's so it doesn't make any difference!
Kspraydad @ Nov 15th 2008 6:41PM
When our hardware and cable companies start pushing more than 1080p...and our TV can handle more than that...I'll buy another $10 in the future that can handle it. Why pay $100+ now for something that is doing NOTHING for you?
No matter what your reasons it make NO sense to ever pay more than $2/foot for cables unless you are going a VERRRRRY long way with them.
Davey @ Nov 15th 2008 9:07PM
Hi not sure if this is the correct place to ask but can you tell me when, if ever, PES 2009 is going to work online, its unplayable at the moment even with my ADSL2 connection. Cheers
mikemansor @ Nov 25th 2008 5:59AM
Just because it's digital doesn't mean it's not affected by signal degradation. When Toslink (optical) came out, it was thought that because it's digital, there's no need for a well designed cables and that has proven wrong. Although there's a limit of how much I would pay for a HDMI cable, I would still pay for a cable that comes with a gold plated connectors that prevents corrosion but more importantly a well shielded jacket. Like most speaker cables, HDMI cables are still basically copper wiring, so the best compromise for price: performance ratio is oxygen free copper. If where you happened to live is really humid, you really need a well encased cable because regardless for whatever reason it is for- if it's poorly enclosed, the corrosion over a short period of time isn't pretty. So at the end of the day you realise that when you pay for a relatively expensive cables, you're essentially paying for a well thought out and constructed product (perhaps overbuilt), not so much for the material that goes into building it. And you're basically pay for something that would last a little bit longer.
zamme @ Nov 16th 2008 12:16PM
Um... am I the only one waiting for VC's review? been waiting like forever. =-=