Playstation 3

PlayStation 3 120 GB
$299.99
Plenty of reviews here talk about the technological prowess of the PS3 and how it's better than its competitors' systems but few reviews focus on the frustrations that accompany purchase. So this 40+ year old, long-time gamer will with laser-like accuracy illuminate the bad.

* The physical design of the PS3 slim is only partially desirable. While smaller footprints are good, who at Sony thinks a convex (surface rounds out)
case top is a good idea? It isn't. Most of us put these machines in our audio visual cabinet with all our other components (including
my old PS2 which I had to keep thanks to the PS3's lack of backwards compatibility) and this unit has to be on top of any stack. Also, you
can't rest anything on top of it (like controllers) after it's turned off because they slide right off. Mo' headaches.

* The PS3 comes with an A/V composite cable!? Yes, this technological wonder of a system comes with a cable to connect to TV's from the 1980's. That's
a yellow/red/white pin cable in case I'm not clear. That will get you a 480i signal. Which means you have to buy either a Component cable (5 pins) or an
HDMI cable yourself in order to get an HD signal. Mo' money.

* The PS3 is touted as a wonderful blu-ray player and should be the consumers' choice for getting the best that a BD can offer. That might be the case but it would help if there was a remote control included. Mo' money.

* The PS3 tries to be a bit of a green machine and it's controller is rechargable. But the USB/USB-mini cable that connects the wireless, rechargable controller to the system is about 4.5 feet long. How many people sit 4.5 feet from their TV?! Not many, I'll tell you. That means you'll need to go out and buy yet another (longer) replacement cable in order to play games while the controller is recharging. Mo' money.

* The PS3 software library is so-so as most people are aware of. The PS3 game prices aren't so-so. They are so-expensive. Most people thought PC games were expensive in comparison to game system software but the PS3 broke down that barrier. Most new titles are $10-20 more expensive on the PS3 as compared to the same title for a PC. Mo' money.

* The PS3 (like all current game systems) tout multiplayer and yet they provide you with one controller which isn't family friendly. Mo' money

* And 2 USB ports really aren't enough but mo' money won't solve that problem unless a USB hub is workable (and I haven't tried that).

So in conclusion, buy your PS3 slim and make sure you put aside mo' money.

God of War III
$59.99
God of War��� III finds Kratos raining carnage and destruction upon the Gods who have betrayed him and the entire Ancient Greek world. Armed with his deadly double-chained blades, Kratos will take on mythology��s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles on his merciless quest to destroy Olympus and the mighty Zeus himself.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
$59.99
Played games on the beloved C64, and Amiga. Moved up to PC's, and finally after all these years, a console. I used to think games on consoles were inferior to PC gaming, but after Uncharted 2, that assessment has changed. Uncharted 2 is one of the highlights in my gaming experience. Probably one of the best games I've ever played. It was like being in a movie. The graphics, storyline, cut scenes, out takes, scenes and sets were just out of this world. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had on a gaming platform. After some let downs with over hyped titles on the PS3 like Killzone, I am happy to say I'm a very happy owner of the PS3.

Uncharted 2's only downside was it had an ending.

Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
$24.99
Have a PS3? Watch Movies? Then you need this.

One of my most-used accessories since the PS3 launch has been this remote control. As a big movie watcher, this is an absolute necessity.

The layout is very nice, easy to use and feels very solid. If you've ever used the PS2 remote control, this is a big improvement.

Every button you'd need is available via the remote, and none of them feel awkwardly placed like the previous remote control. In addition to the standard controls you'd expect, the remote includes blu-ray specific buttons (Red/Green/Blue/Yellow), an Eject button and a PS button (which, if held, allows you to turn the PS3 off).

One of the big benefits with this remote is the bluetooth support - unlike other appliances which require a direct line of sight between the remote and the system, this control allows you to be in another room and still have full control over the PS3. Sounds useless, but it actually comes in handy if you have anything blocking your PS3's line of sight (or if you want to turn on/off the PS3 from another room).

The remote control has a very nice feel to it, and makes for a much more enjoyable movie-watching experience.

You'll probably find, like myself, that you use this PS3 remote for general navigation for the PSN Store, XMB and even web-browsing. For such a low-price, you just can't go wrong with it.