Beyond all the hype since its inception, the Playstation like any other game console did not interest me. I am an IT freak as well as a game freak but I balance my cravings with my wise spending policy. Why buy a game console that is expensive but does nothing more than gaming when you can buy a PC that does lots of things and gaming as well? That’s why I remain loyal to playing N-Gage games on my N-Series rather than own the likes of a PSP. I had always preferred spending my last dime (not the last in my account) on the best hardware and software to keep my cravings for IT and gaming alive preferably on a gadget. As such, I would buy the best PC of the time and give it all the necessary RAM and VGA card upgrades amongst others.

Then, the evolution emerged in 2006: Playstation 3, the best home multimedia gadget ever produced. Now, that’s personally hyped but most people that have felt the prowess of this gadget will attest to this acclamation. Which gaming console gives you the best of graphics game, interacts with your PC’s multimedia so easily, serves as a powerful multimedia box and plays movies on blue ray. There’s one unique answer: SONY PLAYSTATION 3; Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo Wii do not even come close. To crown it all WAS the ability of PS3 console to have Linux installed on it. Wow, that means you can use it as a personal computer. Yes! Now, we are talking; I can actually spare some cash on a game console and still turn it to a PC with an operating system that is free unlike the imposed Microsoft Operating Systems. Every PS3 owners must have thought it can only get better but not with the latest bombshell.

Sony suddenly did what I will call a SPAM. They released a firmware (version 3.21) that robs usl of one of the best and unique features of the PS3: the ability to install an operating system on it and use it as a powerful gaming console as well as a personal computer. This they did first by disabling this feature in recent versions (like the PS3 slim). Well, that’s not bad as you can simply decide not to buy that version. Then, Firmware 3.21 released on April 1, 2010 came to take this big feature off those that are enjoying it already. Before pointing accusing fingers at me (of course via your keyboard and comments), you need to know that approximately 75% of PS3 owners are lamenting about this exploitation by Sony all over blogs, forums and communities. However, the total number of users who actually used Linux on PS3 is much less than 20% of the universal population of PS3ers. But then, many of those who never used it were only waiting for a capable guru or a confident ‘read-and-do’ person (how to install Linux on PS3 guides on the Internet) to hook them up while few don’t even know about it.

Sony’s official reason for this sudden shortchanging action was said to be a security precaution. Like my philosophically influenced uncle will definitely respond to such an invincible excuse, ‘I don’t buy that’. Some sources speculated it’s probably because George Hotz, the ‘Immaculate Hacker’ (as I christened him) claimed he has successfully hacked his own PS3. However, Tom’s Hardware US dissected that Sony’s intention is to beat the recession. By dropping the ‘Other OS’ feature of PS3, Sony will no longer need the level of sophistication that upcoming firmware and hardware revision of PS3 would require, thereby affording them to manufacture a cheaper and more profitable hardware platform. More so, dropping the Linux support makes it difficult for movies bought or rented from the PlayStation Network to be pirated. This could mean more money in Sony’s purse.

George Hotz, the brilliant young man (will be 21 in October) promised to make it tough for Sony by releasing his own firmware that will undo their efforts to eliminate the Other OS features. This is the genuine hacker who hacked the i-everything (iphone, ipod…) in about 5 days and incessantly pursues his unselfish dream of saving people from the monopoly and greed of manufacturer of gadgets especially those that want to drain your purse by locking such devices to use their approved but expensive applications. He however recently left a status message on his post to the word that he’s given up on trying to hack the PS3. I personally think he’s just making them relax while he continues his research.

In the words of Rockinthepe who has no PS3 but can’t bare seeing consumers being taken advantage of, “it’s unethical to pull supported features after a product has been bought, Chevy can’t recall Camaros to limit top speed to 60 mph and threaten to void your warranty if you don’t comply… there’s a very thick line between companies protecting their rights/interests and violating the rights of the consumer… the only difference between them (con-artists) and Sony is that Sony isn’t prosecuted”

Irrespective of how exploited you must have felt here’s my consolation for you: You can still get the best of your PS3. My wife and I got a PS3 just few months ago and we are maximizing its possibilities so much that my laptop is hardly on at home especially as far as entertainment is concerned. Perhaps it has more features than you are aware of. Catch me if you can at my new post: Get the best of your PS3.

Source: http://fredbek.com/blog/?p=1

What's new, it's the PS3 Jailbreak. Can it really be banned? Catch the extensive review here: http://fredbek.com/blog/?p=25

Just when it seems Sony’s cheated the owners of the PlayStation 3 console with the drop of Linux support, some software guru raised hope of victory for the PS3ers that prefer having all the control over their console. Imagining the possibility of installing your favourite Linux again? From claims, this new product called the ‘PS3 jailbreak’ would do even much more than that; it can unlock your console, shield it against the monopolies and greed of Sony’s firmware updates, and even allow you to write games for your PS3,  Read more

Is it possible to play ps3 games on PC?

I don't know how far they have gone on that. The PS3 Jailbreak might be pushing an edge closer to that. What is certain however is that you can develop a game on your PC and move it to the PS3 using the Jailbreak. However, that will mean you are against the policy of Sony and your console as such has no warranty.

In my opinion. The removal of Linux Support was a betrayal of my trust by Sony. I was so excited when I found out a few days ago that you can now downgrade your console and bring back Linux Support plus do a whole lot of amazing things using the PS3Break V1.2. See link http://www.ps3breakng.com

Die hard gamers dont use pc or laptop for gaming,, and beside no matter the ram or vga ur pc have,, there is a different btw using pc to play game and playing game on ps1 ps2 or ps3,,, so i dont think u are game freak u are just a pc freak and not a game freak,,,, game consoles are specially designed to play advanced with sophisticated features which u cant find in ur pc,,, a pc or laptop thats has a high ram or advanced vga to play a game quit fine will be almost 4 times d price of ps3, and the pc will still have one issue or two,, u could burn ur pc motherboard while playing a long adventure game,, ok, how many 3rd party game developers do u think are intrested on developing game 4 pc, But go to ps1 ps2 and ps3 game collections u will see so much of games and developers,,, guy pc/laptop gaming aint worth it,,, die hard gamers spend money on console b.cause thats where d game spirit is,,,, my guy i dont thing u are a game freak

martinz1:

Die hard gamers dont use pc or laptop for gaming,, and beside no matter the ram or vga your pc have,, there is a different btw using pc to play game and playing game on ps1 ps2 or ps3,,, so i dont think u are game freak u are just a pc freak and not a game freak,,,, game consoles are specially designed to play advanced with sophisticated features which u cant find in your pc,,, a pc or laptop thats has a high ram or advanced vga to play a game quit fine will be almost 4 times d price of ps3, and the pc will still have one issue or two,, u could burn your pc motherboard while playing a long adventure game,, ok, how many 3rd party game developers do u think are intrested on developing game 4 pc, But go to ps1 ps2 and ps3 game collections u will see so much of games and developers,,, guy pc/laptop gaming aint worth it,,, die hard gamers spend money on console b.cause thats where d game spirit is,,,, my guy i dont thing u are a game freak

There's no easy way to say this.
You're an ignorant idiot. I can understand someone not knowing a lot about stuff, but when you voice such ignorance confidently, it brands you as a rather daft person.

martinz1:

u could burn your pc motherboard while playing a long adventure game

Easily the dumbest thing i've read on Nairaland since i joined in 2006.

U dont know much about pc /hardware and gaming.,, if u do u should know that some advanced graphics game require much vga power,, and u should know the continues effects of that on ur vga cards on ur motherboard,,. I have successfully installed a software to enable u to play ps1 and ps2 cds on a 4gram laptop with nvidia graphics card ,it plays but there is always issues,,even the owner of these software,, will tell u about the issues and vga requirement,, if dat is the doumbest u've ever heard ,, well its not ur fault,, u just dont know much about pc/gaming i dont even u know how many games u've played on pc for u to compare it with gaming series on the playstation,,, eg,, go and play god of war on ur average laptop (4g, ram an nvidia) and also play god of war on ps2(let me not even get to ps3) then compare the graphics effecs,,

Dont throw insults just because u re corrected,,, millions of playstation users worldwide cant be wrong and only u will be right,,  if u dont like it u can go and buy usb pads and keep playing games on your laptop untill ur screen goes black then u go and buy anoda laptop for N120,000 or more when u can buy a ps3 less than that, Mr. Prof

martinz1:

U dont know much about pc /hardware and gaming.,, if u do u should know that some advanced graphics game require much vga power,, and u should know the continues effects of that on your vga cards on your motherboard,,. I have successfully installed a software to enable u to play ps1 and ps2 cds on a 4gram laptop with nvidia graphics card ,it plays but there is always issues,,even the owner of these software,, will tell u about the issues and vga requirement,, if dat is the doumbest u've ever heard ,, well its not your fault,, u just dont know much about pc/gaming i dont even u know how many games u've played on pc for u to compare it with gaming series on the playstation,

You're an idiot.
Do you even know what an emulator is? You're emulating an entire console hardware on a PC using software and you expect it to perform as good as the original?
You mention a VGA card, what do you think that is? NVIDIA and AMD/ATI make dedicated cards to render advanced 3D graphics and you think mere gaming will 'spoil it'?

Rendering 3D animations and movies is even more tasking that gaming on your PC, and PCs handle that with no issue. Jeez, you sound dumber each time you open your mouth.

martinz1:

go and play god of war on your average laptop (4g, ram an nvidia) and also play god of war on ps2(let me not even get to ps3) then compare the graphics effecs,,

You numbskull, there's no God of War on PC. The version on sale in Computer village is just a PS2 emulator with the PS2 image file in it. And of course it plays worse than the PS2, its emulation for you!
COmpare any game released on the PC and PS3 at the same time. The PC versions have better textures, Anti-aliasing, better framerates and far higher resolution that their PS3 and Xbox 360 counterparts. Compare Pro Evo Soccer 2011, Black Ops, Mass Effect, Gears of War to their PC counterparts.


You need to learn more about something before stupidly running off your mouth in Public. You're lucky this is an obscure topic in the Tech Market section. Post this crap in the 'Gaming' section and see if people like oyb, Darkmanzero, Ex Inferis and mobinga don't rip you a new a-hole.

Just don't get involved in a battle here because I will be offline when you start reporting to got banned or any issues. Just talk yourselves to an understanding point. You educate where necessary and not words battle.

Hello guys, thanks for the input.

Martinez, I began gaming in the days of the 8bits, before the PS1. Then, came sega 18 bits, But before PS1 came, my love for PC made me consider it as a gaming platform and I was never disappointed. These were days when you could only play a network game on PC. You needed to see how upgraded my PC's always were. More so, most of the games I played did not come to game consoles until after a long time. Games like Age of Empires, Unreal Tournament, You need a time machine and see how a minimum of 7 game lovers would be at our house playing capture the flag on Unreal Tournament. More so, these games were written and designed on PC. We've now got 2.5TB of RAM (not generally affordable).

The games you like playing may not be on PC but you will always see the top guys like FIFA and KONAMI to mention just few doing a PC version. I actually also felt the graphics of FIFA 10 looked better on my PC built for gaming than on PS3 even with HDMI.

I can see you tried to make your point but thinking my console determines my love for game is not logical. I just believed in a multi-purpose console rather than a single purpose once. Hence, my love for the Nokia Ngage when it came out. I write based on passion rather than perfection.

Cat the latest tech updates on http://knowledgeunveiled.com By the way, I am looking for voluntary writers in Tech, Marketing, Politics and International Development to satisfy my audience.