Five reasons to cash in on the PS3 at $249 (photos)
While it may not have had the best launch in the history of video games, we think the PS3 has ripened into an entertainment and media hub well worth your hard-earned cash.
Jeff Bakalar
Jeff is CNET Editor at Large and a host for CNET video. He's regularly featured on CBS and CBSN. He founded the site's longest-running podcast, The 404 Show, which ran for 10 years. He's currently featured on Giant Bomb's Giant Beastcast podcast and has an unhealthy obsession with ice hockey and pinball.
While we don't think either the PS3 or Xbox 360 has won the "war of exclusives," Sony still has plenty to brag about. This fall will see highly anticipated titles like Uncharted 3 and Resistance 3, with many more games awaiting on the horizon like Twisted Metal, Ratchet & Clank: All For One, and The Last Guardian. Sony is also releasing remastered gems like ICO and Shadow of the Colossus plus both God of War PSP games in HD. Let's also not forget the dozens of quality PSN-only titles in addition to a respectable collection of PS3 Greatest Hits.
2 of 5 AVSForum/BobBlack0909
The Blu-ray player
To this day, the Blu-ray player packed inside every PS3 remains as one of our overall favorites. For who that is looking to buy a standalone Blu-ray player, spending the extra cash to get a fully loaded PS3 is almost a no-brainer.
3 of 5 Engadget
The PS3 as a media hub
We absolutely love the PS3's media compatibility, whether it be through DLNA services or simply playing files off a USB drive. Beyond its out-of-the-box functionality, the PS3 is also a great content portal, providing access to services like Netflix, Vudu, NHL GameCenter, MLB TV, and more.
4 of 5
Free online play
Even though Sony introduced a $50 annual PlayStation Plus service last year, the core online play component is still completely free and provides access to the PlayStation Store where gamers can access loads of PS3 content.
5 of 5 walyou.com
No true successor in sight
Sure, rumors surface from time to time, but there's still very little evidence to support a successor to the PS3 seeing the light of day anytime soon. We probably won't even hear about a "PlayStation 4" until E3 2012, at the earliest, so the window between now and a next Sony console is definitely wide open.
