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I had this weird problem yesterday knowing I have not done any video setting changes, nor recall a pending software installation. When I start the PS3, green light comes up and then nothing happens. Insert the Game into the slot, blue light blinks and again nothing happens. No video, no sound, and no, it’s not output setting problem as many others have guessed in forums. Try to assign your wireless controller and you’ll know. It doesn’t. If it was on, output and controller assigning I assume should be two separate things.

Symptoms:

• On start, PS3 Green light comes up but nothing happens. No sound or video
• Insert game or any disc into the slot, blue blinks and again nothing happens
• Try to assign wireless controller, nothing happens.
• Try restart the console, unplug it for a while, or keep it on for long time again does not solve the problem.

I was hoping for some reason it’s replaceable hardware failure rather than software one in a closed box like this. I didn’t know about the system restore feature.

Solution:

1. With the PS3 in Standby mode (Red light on), press and hold the Start button until you hear a single beep, followed by double beeps.
2. Connect the controller using USB cable and press the PS button on the controller.
3. Now, the system restore screen (or whatever they call it) will come up like this
   
   
   
4. You have several options here for restoring the system, some will unfortunately wipe up all your data, others will make you lose the file naming. For me, I tried the option top-bottom and eventually had to do the Restore PS3 System. Luckily, all I had were demos, trailers, and game saves. only game I was really playing now was Prince of Persia. I felt terrible still though, but much better than if I was playing Ninja Gaiden or MGS right? Or let’s say a game Fallout!

Sharing it for others with same misfortune. Guess we’ll need the PS3 included in the backup plan then.

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While Wii keeps promising the awaited Wii Fit that will launch in May, that some say would let you cancel your gym membership, others are making things more easy and lazy-proof with their Brain Control headset that would allow users wearing the $299 headset (cheap.. I’m buying one) to move objects by only thinking of their actions! The headset can also detect more than 30 different emotions and actions, and can also use your facial expressions as avatars to the game character.

While this technology is not new, it’s newly brought to end user and in the gaming industry. This headset is expected to be out in the market later this year, so it’s pretty soon. You can see the Brain Control headset link for snapshot and video of it, and also enjoy the other video from YouTub here.

One thing that comes to my mind is, how does outside interference affect the game? Say there is someone talking to you, a baby jumping over your lap, your hear a joke, or see an eye-catchy thing, or even sneeze. And this happens before you give the final boss his mortal combo attack. OUCH!!!

Anyways, you can find all those news story links and more on Buzz Out Load.

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So I wake up today to find an email from my in-law, Toshiba seems to be ready to raise the white flag, and hit the last nail into HD-DVD coffen, as CNET Buzz Out Loud like to refer to it. From their side also, rumors are spreading that Microsoft will be introducing a Blu-Ray player add-on to their Xbox 360! Just think how bad it must feel for Microsoft. But what I really feel sorry for is the HD-DVD users who have to buy add-ons or replace their DVD Player, and  I have to say, when I bought the PS3 I didn’t really think Blu-Ray will outdo the HD-DVD, even though I was strongly supporting it, enough being anti-Microsoft. Luckily, it did win.

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The January NPD data report on console and game sales in the US has been released, and PS3 sales have not only surpassed Xbox 360 with 269,000 units compared to 230,000, but it is also going Wii a real chase up with 6,000 units difference only! It’s true ofcourse, Xbox 360 has been in the market for quite some time, and Wii has been selling like candy all the time. On the other, considering the price difference between a PS3 and a Wii, for me this counts as PS3 is outselling right now.

Meanwhile, rumors are spreading of next generations of the Wii and Xbox 360 in 2010. With the delay Sony had in releasing PS3, I think the will have their own show in the next release, probably 2012. But then again, they might enjoy knowing their enemy tactics and countering them.

PS3’s main problem remains so far however, and that is lacking killer apps and exclusive games. Wii is fun for family, Xbox 360 has many exclusive games, and with strong internet multi-player support, while in PS3, and coming from Anti-Microsoft guy, still lacks the games that brings people to it. I am personally downloading many playable demos I find, and I hardly find ay worth of spending $60 on. Call of Duty? Well that’s not exclusive. MGS? Fans are still waiting! I know some people might be loving some games there but there isn’t just enough variety, and the lack of multi-player games there makes it less helpful in gatherings.

This Add-on device that will let PS3 users watch digital TV via their consoles might bring more value to it. There is a video demo of the device if you like. But for me, last week I knew I didn’t waste my money on the PS3 after I watch the first Blu Ray version episode of what I think is the best planet documentary ever made.

Watch the trailer and you will know what I mean.

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I came by the Google Trends and I was thinking of an interesting competition to make, and I thought “What’s better than console war?”. So I went and compared PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii. and here is the result:

Pretty obvious Wii came out of no where in 2005 Q4 to take over soon. Xbox 360 over does PS3 for most of the season. And only recently PS3 seems to be catching up with XBox 360, as it is becoming more affordable and has more games. That’s not all you can read from the marvelous Google Trend however. If you take your eyes down a bit to the regional break down you will see this:

What can you see? Xbox 360 is red remember. It is the lowest of all in Japan, and we’re not talking about a tiny difference. Not for any other console or region there is such low demand. Pretty interesting ha! Guess Japanese hate this thing to heart. The other interesting thing I noticed is that United States come at # 8 in ranking for PS3 demand, and does not exceed # 6 for the other two consoles. I didn’t think France, Canada and Spain would be topping the US in video game demand.

Now for a detailed look at how the graph looks for console demand in the land of games, Japan:

OUCH! Very very low for XBox 360. Wii is starting to get competition with the yet to prove PS3.

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Following the $100 price drop of PlayStation 3 their sales have topped on Amazon Video Games yesterday, overdoing Wii. Is the $100 all that was separating people from the PS3? Or is it just a temporarily reaction that will fade away? Both ways, I think this is the best time to strike with new games.

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Tough luck to me and all people who just bought it. The price of 60 GB PS3 will drop to $499 as the new 80 GB hits the market with $599 price. One of the main reasons for PS3 failure is high price tag so I wonder why they are bringing in a new expensive device into the market. PS3 is already not selling very well. Drop in price may encourage new buyers, but overloading shops with other expensive units does not make much sense to me.

The link above mentions figures about the low sales volume of PS3 (82,000 units) in May, compared to 155,000 XBox 360 and 338,000 Wii consoles. Now that the price of 60 GB PS3 is a bit close to XBox 360, we can expect to see kind of a fair fight.

Popularity: 32% [?]