Many are calling 2008 the year of the PS3. Well, they are not doing this just because they can, they are saying this because PS3, PSN, and the Blu-Ray camp all have a lot coming their way this year. Sales on Sony’s PS3 is already up over 114% for 2008 (1). Most people accredit this increase to the HD-DVD & Blu-Ray war coming to an end with Blu-Ray coming out on top. While I think this is a huge factor in the sales growth, I also think it has to do with some of the big name exclusive PS3 titles that are coming out for the PS3 the first half of 2008. Below I am going to give a review of the PS3 as both a game system and a Blu-Ray player.

I will first start off by saying that I was a early adopter of Blu-Ray. I purchased my first BR player back in November. It was a standalone Sony BDP. I traded in my Sony BDP for a PS3 in January. My main reason for switching was the soon-to-be released GTA: IV. While waiting for GTA: IV, I also purchased Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Burnout: Paridise.

Well, the new Playstation Network Store is here. The new retooled design is a widely welcomed adjustment. Many complained about the old store. The old store was a real pain to browse with the PS3 controller. The new design features a completely revamped design that makes it not only look better, but much easier to use.

After the fall of HD-DVD in March, many have turned to PS3 to use as a Blu-Ray player. This recent spike in purchase activity on the PS3 has resulted in many people using the PS3 game demos section as a game library. When a movie buff buys a PS3 only to use it as a Blu-Ray player, they will most likely find themselves browsing the store looking at game demos that are free. If you are not an avid video game player then you really don’t want to spend $50.00 on a game for this system that you might only play every few weeks. I can imagine that this reason alone has increased traffic on the PSN Store.

I just downloaded the new 2.30 firmware to my PS3 and I am very happy with the changes. Along with the new store, this 2.30 firmware update includes the addition of DTS-HD Master, High Resolution Audio.

Grand Theft Auto is back, and it is more badass then ever! I am not sure about you all, but I am completely excited about this game. I have been a avid player of past GTA games all the way back to the 2D version of the game. While I am not much of a gamer, I do enjoy this series. I wanted to post and give you all some details on the game.

Synopsis:

Niko Bellic is Eastern European, between 28 and 32 years of age and has come to Liberty City to pursue the “American Dream”. Niko was persuaded to move to Liberty City by his cousin Roman, who claimed in multiple e-mails to Niko that he was living a fabulous life, with a mansion, women, hot tubs and sports cars. Roman’s claims turn out to be lies to hide his own failures, however, and in reality he only owns a small taxi business, which he wants Niko to work for.

Roman is the only person Niko knows in Liberty City to begin with, and is one of his major connections in the first part of the game. Niko is a tough character, whereas Roman is friendly. Roman is heavily in debt and a lot of people are after him. He desperately needs Niko’s support, hence the reason he deceived Niko into traveling to Liberty City. They are constantly bickering. It is later revealed that Niko has also been avoiding other, as yet undisclosed, problems at home.