First, let me say that this is not an article promoting the PS3 or denouncing any other console. It is just a chance to let people know what it was like to be able to sit down in front of the Sony PS3. I was able to get my hands on a PS3 just weeks before it was released to the rest of the world: I felt like a kid in a candy store. You can read every breakdown, every news article with all the facts, figures and the rest of the mumbo jumbo, but actually sitting there with the controller in my hand made it all come to life.

There has been some arguments about the look of the PS3 (some comparing it to the George Foreman Grill), but once it was sitting on the table it looked like it belonged. It was every bit as heavy as it was sleek and shiny. As the T.V. came to life with the menu screen, you could see every detail on the mirror finish of the console. The system was much quieter than one would expect, causing only a low hum that was unnoticeable once the sound from the T.V. was on.

The controller was much lighter than expected, mostly due to the loss of the rumble feature. The bottom trigger buttons are not protected like its predecessor the PS2, but sit out more, giving it easier functionality. Finally I was able to test out the motion sensor function on MotorStorm. It was fun controlling the vehicle around the track, though I still had to use R2 for speed and X for turbo. After about five minutes and several crashes later, I missed the rumble feature. I think the motion sensor will entertain on certain games, but when it comes down to it, everyone will prefer to control with an analog stick and feel the rumble in their hands.

The menu screen gives the same feel as starting up the PSP. For those who do not own or have not played the PSP, the menu options are: Settings, Photo, Music, Movies, Games and Internet. The PS3 adds a couple more options including users: this allows players to create their own user icon. The main thing I noticed when starting the PS3 with its gentle touch sensor was the speed of the PS3 launching the menu and with the launching of the game, there was almost no waiting.