PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3, or PS3 for short, is a system software gaming system designed by Toshiba, IBM, and Sony that has the option to update online or from a disk.  PS3 systems include nine options:  Photo, Music, Video, Users, Settings, Network, Friends, PlayStation Network, and Games.  The Photo option allows you to store photos and make slide-shows out of them.  PS3 also allows for copying of audio CDs, playing movies, and video chats.   

The PS3 system itself looks somewhat like a DVD player.  It has a disc slot that accepts CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, Audio and PS3 discs, and a memory card reader.  In addition there are USB ports to connect controllers, storage devices, etc.  The hard disk drive light flashes orange when in use, while the Wi-Fi light flashes green when there is a wireless connection.   

PS3 offers many accessories such as 3D glasses, headsets, remote controls, dual shock controllers, charging stations, eye camera, “Move” motion controller, keyboard, shooting attachments, and navigation controllers. 

PS3 is marketed towards kids and teens, however, many adults enjoy playing the games, using the Wi-Fi, or using the chat feature.  The technology of PS3 is useful in the fact that the risk of a virus is not there, you can connect it to a large television, you can play movies on it, and personal data is not at risk for being destroyed.  The PS3 is part of the seventh generation in video-gaming, it allows three trillion plus calculations per second, and is considered the best gaming console.  

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii are similar to the PS3. The three systems offer the same as far as online gaming, movies, motion games, and similar accessories.  The main difference is PS3’s online gaming service.  This service is the PlayStation Network.  PS3 also allows for connection of the portable PlayStation (PSP).   

PlayStation, as well as other gaming systems are built off of the Atari.  The Atari was released in 1977, and was the first video gaming console. The Nintendo NES followed in 1985; this system followed arcade games and used removable cartridges.  In 1989, the Sega Genesis was released.  Sega went a step further than Nintendo by offering better graphics.  Shortly after in 1995, Sony PlayStation was released.  This system used CD-ROM games, had better graphics and controllers.  In 2000, an even better version of the PlayStation was released, the PlayStation 2.  The competition kept up with the release of the Nintendo Game Cube and Microsoft’s X-Box in 2001.  In 2005 Microsoft upgraded the X-Box with the X-Box 360, and in 2006 Nintendo released the Wii.  The basic idea of technology for each system remains the same; it just advances with each newer version.

American culture has been greatly affected by the release of PS3, as well as other gaming systems.  People have an immediate means of fulfilling a fantasy by game simulation, watching a movie, chatting, etc.  In the past one would read a book, go to a movie theater, or visit someone in person; however, the options are much easier now.  Technology of this nature has made Americans lazy and somewhat less educated.