Video Game News 2

Move Fitness from Sony Announced

Well, it took them long enough, but it looks like Sony is officially throwing its hat into the fitness gaming arena with “Move Fitness”. They announced it at the recent GamesCon conference. Here’s the official trailer.

Right now, it looks like the game is going to be largely derivative of previous games available on the Wii. From the video, it looks like everything from using basketball simulations to encourage squat jumps, jumping jacks, sparring, heavy bag punching, and sword fighting will be included (things we’ve seen already in EA Sports Active 2, UFC Fitness Trainer, Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout, Wii Fit, and Wii Sports Resort). It looks like there are a few things that will be original (the exercise with the lady breaking the glass windows looks promising).

While such obviously derivative games are usually not destined to do well, I think Move Fitness will have a few things going for it. First, it’ll use the resources of Sony to ensure that the Move Controller accuracy is spot-on (as much as I enjoy EA Sports Active 2 for the PS3, at the end it feels like a direct port of the Wii version, rather than something that really uses the Move to take it to new heights). For example, using brightly lit “targets” to hit when doing jumping jacks and jump squats looks like a promising way to discourage “cheating” (which is easy to do on both the Wii and Xbox). Second, since the title is by Sony, it’s going to have a very high quality standard to meet.

Anyway, I’ll post more here when the release date is set, and when it’s ready for pre-order.

Playstation 3D

Everything you need to know about the Playstation 3D Display

Since the whole premise of this blog is to reach out to people who are interested in 3D on the Playstation, I thought I’d post answers to a few frequently about the Playstation 3D Display that’ll be released in the Fall. Note that I am NOT affiliated with Sony, so this is not an official FAQ, just answers based on my own research.

Which games will be included with the Playstation 3D Bundle?

This is an interesting one. When the bundle was announced at the E3 conference earlier this year, they said the game would be Resistance 3 (sequel to the best-selling Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2. In July, Sony reversed its decision and said they’d bundle Motorstorm Apocalypse instead (a racing game that’s supposed to have some of the best 3D available). Sony has not been doing so great in the overtime department lately, as this sudden change caused a lot of anger in the Playstation community. Gamestop was the first retailer to say that they would still include Resistance 3 for free in addition to Motorstorm. Amazon.com soon reciprocated. Long story short, Sony has since announced that they would include BOTH games officially in all bundles at all retailers–if you pre-order before September 30. Personally, I believe your best bet would still be Gamestop or Amazon, as my guess is they will continue to honor their promise to bundle Resistance 3 with all pre-orders until the release date, even if that’s after September 30.

What is the actual value of the Playstation 3D Bundle? 

By my calcuations, here’s the full retail value:

  • Motorstorm Apocalypse: $59.99
  • Resistance 3 (for pre-orders): $59.99
  • HDMI cable: $10
  • Pair of 3D Glasses: $69.99
  • 24 inch 3D TV: $400-500 (based on current prices for 32″ 3D TVs)

In short, you’re getting between a $100-200 bargain by purchasing the bundle? Why is Sony doing this? My guess is that because 3D has been out for a year now and isn’t getting very many bites, they’re hoping this will bring 3D more into the mainstream.

What is the release date? 

Sony first gave a rather amorphous “Fall 2011”, and has since adjusted it to “November 2011”. Sony probably wisely is not setting an exact date yet, seeing how most electronics manufacturers miss the date anyway. But to not release it this Fall would be a major, major black eye to them, so you can bet they’re going to meet it no matter what it takes. As soon as I hear a specific date I’ll post it here.

Will I be able to watch 3D Blu-Ray movies on this TV?

By all means. Not only that, since firmware release 3.5 your Playstation 3 has been a 3D Blu-Ray player waiting to be used.  Most of your favorite movies that you enjoyed in the theater, from Toy Story 3 to Avatar, are or will soon be available on Blu-Ray 3D. Check Amazon for the latest list of bestselling 3D Blu-Rays.

Will I be able to watch 3D Cable TV on this TV?

Yes, assuming that your cable box and cable plan have 3D channels. Major sports from the NFL to Nascar to MLB to golf are all being broadcast in 3D now on ESPN 3D, and many regional sports networks like MSG and YES here in New York are putting up 3D channels. Most major cable companies offer 3D movies on demand as well. DIRECTV is getting into 3D in the biggest way, offering three full 24 hour 3D channels.

Can I connect a PC to it?

There will be two HDMI jacks and a Component jack, so as long as your system has the proper output jacks and cables, you will be able to use this display as a PC monitor. As long as your PC or laptop can output 3D through an HDMI-CEC connection, you should be able to output 3D content as well.

For example, I just purchased the Qosmio F755-S5219 15.6-Inch 3D Gaming Laptop (Fusion X2 Finish in Brilliant Red), which I am writing this on (if Amazon is out of stock, you can also get it at Best Buy). This laptop allows for 3D viewing without glasses. So far I am THRILLED with it, but it’s really good for one-person viewing. When I get the Playstation 3D Display, I’ll be able to hook it up and have 2-3 people watching together using glasses.

Why would I want a 24 inch TV? 

A couple reasons.

  • Chances are you spent thousands of dollars on a plasma or LCD TV, and as much aren’t really eager to throw it out so you can replace it with a 3D model.
  • Large-screen 3D TVs are going to continue to plummet in price. This is a good way to experience 3D now while you wait.
  • The technology for 3D TVs is going to continue to change. Most manufacturers can’t agree on standards, while others are working on brand new technologies such as glasses-less 3D. So as with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, some early adopters may end up with a very expensive brick. Again, by purchasing a cheaper model you can experience 3D now.
  • You want to watch shows other than what others in your family want to watch. By putting a second TV in the den or family room, you can enjoy that football game or baseball game while the wife and kids are enjoying CSI or Wizards of Waverly Place.

playstation 3d displayWill the Playstation TV be a good quality TV or just a cheap one?

I did a little research and it seems clear (no pun intended) that this will be a high end TV in all respects except for the size. Here are some of the specs, which I’ve translated into layman’s speak:

  • Panel type: LED. Arguably clearer and crisper than either LCD or Plasma.
  • 23.5 inch screen size. This means it’ll be perfect to put on a desk or table for two people to view.
  • Optimal resolution of 1920×1080 with 16.7 colors. This is pretty much standard these days for high-end 1080p LED screens.
  • Sound output: full range 2 channel stereo output (3W) with subwoofer (5W). This means the stereo sound on PS3 games will be very powerful, with deep bass. There’s also a headphone output.
  • Viewing angle 176°/176°. This means that two people can sit (or stand with a Move controller) comfortably about 2-8 feet from the unit and see perfect 3D from practically any angle.
  • Inputs: 2 HDMI inputs, 1 component (yPbPr) input
  • Contrast Ratio: 5000:1. Pretty standard for a set of this type, it means your blacks will be black and your whites will be white.
  • Support for IR remote control with BD remote control. I assume this means that the BD remote control you and I bought for your Playstation 3 years ago will finally get some use!
  • 240 Hz refresh rate. With 3D displays, the effective refresh rate is halved, because each eye needs a separate picture. For this reason, the minimum recommended refresh rate is generally 120 Hz, but 200 Hz is optimal. The Playstation Display’s 240 hZ display blows this number away.
  • Active, not passive, 3D. With Active 3D, you get full HD 1080p 3D playback, unlike Passive 3D which gives you half the resolution (for example, if playback is 1080p, you will see only 540 lines of resolution).

Is it bad for your eyes to watch 3D TV?

Most ophthalmologists agree that unless you’re talking about very, very young children, there is no risk at all in watching 3D. The worst problem some face will be a sense of disorientation or dizziness on certain 3D platforms. In many cases, those affected can acclimate yourself to the TV and get used to it. But if not, again, $499 is a smaller price to pay than $3000 to find out (plus, you can continue to use the TV as a regular 2D  LED TV).

What does “SimulView” mean? 

This is a rather exciting feature that’s going to be available exclusively on this TV set.  For certain PS3 games that have two-player mode, instead of having the screen split in half as most 2-player games currently do, each player wearing the glasses will see their own content, but not the other player’s content, on the full width of the HD screen. The output will be in 2D, not 3D, of course.  The games which will support this still haven’t been announced, but imagine playing MLB12 on a full screen with you seeing the pitcher’s view (and the location of your pitches) and your opponent seeing the batter’s view. Or imagine playing a FPS with both players being able to roam the world freely without seeing each other’s location.

Do you have other questions? Post them in the comments field below and I’ll make sure I get them answered for you!

Playstation 3D

Welcome to 3D Playstation!

Welcome to 3D Playstation!

This new site is sort of a natural extension for me. I am the owner and purveyor of the Playstation 3 site PS3Fitness.Com, where I provide news and reviews of Playstation Move hardware and games that can be used for fitness and exercise. On this site, I hope to share news and reviews of  all things related to the Playstation in 3D.

The Playstation 3 first started to be capable of playing games in 3D on June 10, 2010 with firmware update 3.0. In September of that year, with firmware update 3.5, the PS3 was made capable of playing 3D Blu-Ray movies.

Of course, in order to play 3D PS3 games or watch 3D Blu-Ray movies, you need a 3D-capable HDTV set. In 2010, they were going for $3000-5000 easy. As of 2011, a good set is available for around $1000-2000. But in this economy, very few people can afford this, especially since it was not so long ago that we all forked over thousands of dollars for a regular HDTV. This is why even after being on the market for over a year, you don’t hear many people talking about their 3D Playstation games.

In the Fall of 2011, Sony aims to change all of that. They had great success by including a Blu-Ray player in the Playstation 3 which let PS3 owners watch Blu-Ray movies “for free”. While they’re not going to offer a 3D TV for free, IMO they’re changing the game by selling a complete 24″ 3D set for under $500. The PlayStation 3D Display is already available for pre-order at Amazon, GamestopNewEgg, Best Buy, and other retailers. I highly recommend Amazon or Gamestop, as both of them are bundling a copy of Resistance 3 (which Sony had promised but reneged on).

I’m going to make a bold prediction and say that these things are going to sell like hotcakes. While paying another $2000 for a TV is beyond what most of us can handle, it’s less of a challenge to buy a$500 TV, especially when you can also put it in another room in the house and use it to watch regular TV programming, Blu-Rays, or DVDs (3D or not).

And so, this site is meant for all of you out there who are going to buy one of these things. On this site, I hope to share advice, reviews, and my own experiences in this new world of 3D (I just placed my order on Amazon myself!) Overall, I hope this site will be fun and informative and helpful in all things Playstation 3D. Enjoy the ride!

 

Video Game Deals

Refurbished Playstation for a ridiculously low price at Best Buy

Need a Playstation console (or an extra one?) Best Buy’s “Deal of the Day” has a
PlayStation 3 Refurbished Console (250GB)
for only $179.99 with free shipping. That’s cheaper than a Wii and most standalone Blu-Ray players!

It’s a great opportunity to get an extra console to put in your home gym, or maybe ti hook up to that old non-digital TV you still have sitting around. But hurry, these will be going fast.

Wii Fitness Game Reviews 4

Review of UFC Personal Trainer for Wii

UFC Personal Trainer by
Platform: Wii
Rated:E
3 of 5 stars – Decent workout games that fans of UFC will appreciate, albeit marred by some bugs
by ,
Written on August 29, 2011

ufc personal trainer review for wiiWe’ve posted reviews of UFC Personal Trainer for the Xbox and the PS3. On both sites the game got a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The game was essentially identical across both platforms, both positive and negative. And I’m happy to say that with the Wii version, you’re pretty much getting the same game that’s available on the other platforms.

On the positive side, UFC Personal Trainer is easily the most intense workout you can get for the Wii. Note that intense isn’t necessarily for everyone. There were workouts at “beginner” level which were extremely challenging for me. Still, if you’re a UFC or MMA fan, you know that the sport is all about pushing and challenging yourself, so that’s great motivation to try the exercises over and over until you do them right.

I guess the main negative about the game is that it’s not all that much “fun”. I would have hoped that given that this is a UFC title, there would be at least some fighting simulation or more creative activities (as you’ll see below, the “fun” activities they do have aren’t all that fun). Still if you’re committed to working out and especially if you’re a UFC fan who’s familiar with these personalities, you’ll be plenty entertained just by the concept of having “personal training sessions” with real UFC fighters.

As with the PS3 and Xbox versions, you start out by creating a profile. Unlike those two versions, you can optionally use the Balance Board to measure your weight. For controls, you have the choice of using two Wii remotes, or a Wii remote and a nunchuk. For many of the exercises that require leg movement, the game comes with a leg strap that you can simply drop your Wii remote into.

The first thing you’ll do is a “fitness test”. As with the other systems, this test alone is a pretty intense workout in itself. You start by doing as many sit-ups as you can in a minute, holding a Wii remote in your hand and crossing your hands over your chest. I was pleasantly surprised that the system picked up my motions perfectly–even better than the Xbox or PS3 versions (which have the limitation of requiring you to be in camera view). The next test was a push-up test, where I had to put the Wii remote in the leg strap. Again, surprisingly, my push-ups were detected perfectly (granted, it’s easy to “cheat” by not doing a full rep or even just by flailing your Wii remote around, but why would anyone want to do that?). The next test was a test to detect your active heart rate. You do jumping jacks for a minute, and then count your pulse rate as the Wii counts down 15 seconds. From there, it’ll calculate your active heartrate. When the test is over, the system will assign you a level–beginner. intermediate, or advanced. On all three systems, I was diagnosed as a beginner, I’m guessing mainly because of my complete inability to do push ups.

From there, you’re brought to the main menu. Your menu choices are:

Workouts – There are essentially three sets of 20 workouts (each about 15-20 minutes long) that are given by UFC personalities Mark Delagrotte, Greg Jackson, and Javier Mendez. Before you start the workouts, there’s a video introduction to each UFC Fighter, followed by a menu where you can select workouts that focus on Core, Upper Body, Legs, Cardio, Strength, and more. The trainer (in cartoon form) will demonstrate each exercise, offering very detailed verbal instructions and advice. In some cases, the exercises as basic cardio and calisthenics exercises, but in some cases you’re actually learning real MMA techniques. There is supposedly Balance Board support for some of the exercises, but for the life of my I couldn’t find one that used the Balance Board.

Quick Workouts – Here, you can jump straight into exercises intended to meet a specific goal, such as weight loss, building strength, or building endurance.

The biggest pet peeve I have with the workouts is that far too much time is spent on stretching and warm-up/cool-down. I understand the importance of proper stretching, but in some cases the warm-up and cool-down take even longer than the workouts themselves, and in some cases aren’t even relevant to the particular exercises you’re doing. The good news is, you can customize workouts yourself and/or use the remote to skip the repetitive stretching exercises, but I just found it very annoying.

Activities – These are “fun” activities which provide quick, focused simulations of using real equipment to work out. You can choose from a virtual heavy bag, a virtual speed back, a heavy tire to flip, or hitting mitts held by a UFC personality. I wouldn’t say these are particularly challenging nor very fun, although they are decent simulations of the real thing.

Multiplayer Games – Here, you can play Tire Flip or Speed Bag against someone side-by-side, or take turns with someone to see who can score the highest on Hit the Mitts, Tire Flip, or Speed Bag. This would probably be more interesting if the activities themselves were more interesting.

Programs – Here, you can choose from different programs to meet certain goals. There’s a strength building program, a weight loss program, and an endurance building program for 30 days or 60 days, similar to the 60- and 90- day challenges in EA Sports Active 2 and NFL Training Camp. When you select a program, you’ll be brought to a calendar where you can see which specific workouts you’ll do on each day during that time.

Overall, as with the Xbox and PS3 versions, UFC Personal Trainer provides some of the best workouts you can get on the Wii. The videos, graphics, audio, options are all identical across all versions, and of course you’ll pay about $10 less for the game on the Wii than those systems. I found the motion controls very accurate for a Wii fitness game, and I appreciated that you could play it without forcing yourself to fit in a camera view, and that you could use the Balance Board. I’d say it’s a must-have in you’re a UFC fan looking to lose weight, or if you don’t mind pushing yourself. All other things being equal, I’d give the Wii version the same 4 stars that I gave the other versions.

However, there is one thing on the Wii version that forces me to drop it a star to 3 stars. The game constantly crashed on me. This is a problem that has been reported on a very widespread basis, even on THQ’s own discussion forums. But disappointingly, THQ has been silent on the issue.

What happens is, you’ll be in the middle of a workout and suddenly this will happen:

What makes it even more annoying is that your entire Wii freezes up. You can’t press buttons on the controller to reset, or even press the power button on the Wii to shut down. You actually have to unplug the power from the unit. It’s the first time I’ve seen anything like this on the Wii, and it really shows some lax quality control on THQ’s part. Worse, on the discussion forums, the THQ customer support people are telling people to clean their discs, which obviously is the wrong information given that this is happening to so many people.

The scuttlebutt on the boards is that the solution to this is to disconnect the Wii from the Internet. I tried this and it seems to work. But until THQ acknowledges the issue and releases a patch to make the game work for everyone, I can’t quite recommend the title just yet.

Nutrisystem

Ready for Irene, thanks to Nutrisystem

Back in January, I wrote about how Nutrisystem could be used as an emergency food system.

We had our first earthquake on the East Coast yesterday. The latest weather reports have Irene slamming into my hometown sometime around Sunday. I feel a bit like I’m being put through the spin cycle and the wash cycle in my washing machine.

Of course, if the past few years of weather reports are any indication, this means is it’ll probably miss me completely.

But just in case it does hit, I’m ready. My car is parked on higher ground, away from trees. I’ve got a full box of Fiji Water delivered to my home. And while my neighbors are falling all over themselves emptying the shelves of the local supermarkets, happily I have about 3 weeks of food all prepared and ready to eat, thanks to Nutrisystem.

Hopefully the power won’t go out; if it does, that’ll likely doom my frozen foods. But the shelf stable food should be fine to eat. I can even use a portable gas burner to heat them up.

In all honesty, even if you’re not on a diet, Nutrisystem makes a much tastier alternative to those “food insurance” programs you hear about all over the Web. And buying one month of food (available at the cheapest price of the season) should be enough to last you and your family through hurricane season. And if the hurricanes don’t hit, you could always use them for their original purpose–to help you lose some weight 🙂

Video Game Deals

NFL Training Camp Available for a Ridiculously Low Price at Amazon

And the deals just keep coming. I’m not sure how long this will last, but EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp for the Wii, normally $39.95 (and yes, I paid $89.95 for it back in December) is now only a ridonculous $16.05. That’s right, $16.05 for the game, an extra motion controller for your leg, an extra motion controller/heartrate monitor for your arm, a resistance band, and the NFL Training Camp disc.

Considering that extra motion control sensors alone usually cost upwards of $30, this is a veritable steal. It is perfect if you’re getting just a little tired of EA Sports Active 2 and would like to mix up your routine a little. Or, it’s great if you’ve always wanted to work out with a family member or friend but never got around to purchasing the extra controllers (they will work with multiplayer options on both EA Sports Active 2 and NFL Training Camp).

Looking at the landscape of Wii Fitness Games for Christmas 2011, it doesn’t look like EA will be coming out with EA Sports Active 3 anytime soon, at least there’s no indication from EA so far. The only new games appear to be dance games like Just Dance 2, Rhythm Heaven, and a new Zumba (which hopefully is much better than the last one). As for “pure fitness games”, while recent new entrants into the field like Exerbeat and UFC Personal Trainer have been impressive, nothing has yet knocked EA Sports Active 2 and NFL Training Camp from the #1 spot as far as the best exercise games on the Wii go, and it looks like that’ll be the case for the foreseeable future.

Video Game Deals

Great Deal on Just Dance 3 for PS3 at NewEgg

NewEgg has had a number of great deals on pre-orders of fitness video games lately. This one is no exception.

Just Dance 3 is one of the most anticipated games coming out in the Fall. Just Dance and Just Dance 2 for the Wii were the first games to teach real dance moves to real songs, rather than the old style of pattern-matching games where you stomp your feet or wave your arms. Both sold out quickly at their full price when they were released for the Wii, and you can expect the same to happy to Just Dance 3.

Ubisoft is doing something very smart by launching it on Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3 simultaneously. What this means is regardless of what system your family or friends have, you’ll be able to practice dancing on your own system and take those dance moves anywhere.

Just Dance 3 for all three consoles is only $29.99 after you apply $10 promo code EMCYTZT698 at Newegg.com. But hurry, this expires tomorrow (Thursday, 8/25), and chances are you won’t see this at less than the retail price moving forward until after Christmas. So not only can you be first on line for what’s sure to be one of the hottest games of Christmas 2011, you’ll save a bunch of money to boot.

Video Game Deals

Great Deal on Just Dance 3 at NewEgg

NewEgg has had a number of great deals on pre-orders of fitness video games lately. This one is no exception.

Just Dance 3 is one of the most anticipated games coming out in the Fall. Just Dance and Just Dance 2 for the Wii were the first games to teach real dance moves to real songs, rather than the old style of pattern-matching games where you stomp your feet or wave your arms. Both sold out quickly at their full price when they were released for the Wii, and you can expect the same to happy to Just Dance 3.

Ubisoft is doing something very smart by launching it on Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3 simultaneously. What this means is regardless of what system your family or friends have, you’ll be able to practice dancing on your own system and take those dance moves anywhere.

Just Dance 3 for all three consoles is only $29.99 after you apply $10 promo code EMCYTZT698 at Newegg.com. But hurry, this expires tomorrow (Thursday, 8/25), and chances are you won’t see this at less than the retail price moving forward until after Christmas. So not only can you be first on line for what’s sure to be one of the hottest games of Christmas 2011, you’ll save a bunch of money to boot.

Video Game News

Playstation 3D TV Bundle for Fall 2011 – Why This Could Change Everything

3D television has been out for some time now. How well is it doing? Well, let’s put it this way. How many of your friends have purchased a 3D TV so far?

Of course, most people are holding off. Why?

  • Most people just spent a ton of money on a huge LCD (or plasma or LED) TV that’s the centerpiece of their living room, and are in no rush to spend another couple of thousands of dollars to replace it.
  • There just isn’t much content out there. Yes, my cable company lets me subscribe to a package to watch sports in 3D–if I subscribe to their top tier package for over $1000/year.
  • The technology is awkward for multiple people viewing. To get a good picture, everyone in the family need to squeeze into a tiny section in the middle of the living room sofa. Oh, and make sure everyone has their 3D glasses at another seventy bucks a pop.
  • The technology is early. Just today, they announced that several manufacturers are getting together to decide on standards for 3D glasses. It may be a few years before they all agree on something!

Sony has been releasing Playstation games with 3D capability for some time now. By all accounts, gameplay in 3D is phenomenal. Imagine facing down a fastball in The Fight: Lights Out or reaching in to beat up bullies in The Fight: Lights Out. But unless you have a lot of disposable income you don’t know what to do with (and who does these days), chances are you’ve though to yourself that you’ll live with the 2D version for now until 3D becomes a lot more affordable.

I’m really bullish on the concept of 3D TV. But it’s never going to achieve critical mass if no one can afford it. This is why I love an idea Sony has come up with for Christmas 2011.

This fall, Sony will be selling a 24 inch 3D LED TV Bundle for Playstation for $499.99 (Amazon lists the release date as December 31 2011 as of this writing , but the actual release date will be around 11/26/11, plenty of time for Christmas if you pre-order). While that’s still pricey, it’s definitely more affordable than larger TVs for people who want a “taste” of 3D gameplay (and television–you’ll be able to watch 3D Blu-Ray movies right from your PS3, as well as any 3D channels your cable package might have).

The package will come with:

  • One pair of 3D glasses (retail value $70)
  • One HDMI cable (retail value $10)
  • A copy of Motorstorm:Apolcalypse (retail value $60).

Originally Sony promised they would bundle the superior Resistance 3, but they have since reversed this (Can anyone say  “OtherOS”? Oh Sony…Sony…Sony…) FLASH! Amazon has just announced that they WILL be bundling Resistance 3 in for customers who pre-order the bundle, following a similar move by GameStop. So place that order today!

But still, this package is a deal and a half. In short, with all the stuff you get in the bundle, your cost for the TV ends up being about $350 and change. And this is no second-rate TV; it features an LED display, with high contrast (5000:1), wide viewing angle (176 degree), high response time (4ms GTG average). And of course, it supports both 2D and 3D viewing. Something unique to the Playstation and this TV will be “SimulView”, where two players playing on the same TV and wearing glasses can view separate (2D) screens (instead of putting up with tiny split screens).

I imagine that Sony’s margins are paper-thin on this one, but that they’re gambling that once you experience 3D, you’ll want to spend money on things like more games, movies, and bigger TVs. It’s sort of the strategy they used by bundling the Blu-Ray disc player into the Playstation–it cost them a lot more, but their prize at the end of the day was Blu-Ray’s victory in the format wars over HD-DVD. While they couldn’t afford to bundle a TV with every PS3, perhaps making 3D affordable to the masses will have an effect on adoption.

As for the size of the TV, I frankly welcome it. I already have my big LCD TV in the living room,which I’m perfectly happy with. But having another TV in a smaller room like the bedroom or even the home gym (in my case these are both the same :P) would not be a bad thing.

I figure this is a cheap way to get into the world of 3D gaming AND TV shows. If I like it, maybe I’ll invest in buying a lot more games and Blu-Ray discs, and eventually a large screen 3D TV. Otherwise, hey, I got a great TV I can use when others in my household want to use the big TV and I want to watch my own show or play a few 3D games from time to time. In either case, I can predict this is going to be a HOT seller during Christmas, so be sure to get on the pre-order list at Amazon. Again, ignore Amazon’s messages that the release date is December 31, 2011. Also, remember that if the price increases (or decreases) between now and then, you’ll be guaranteed the lower price.