The power supply on my fat PS3 recently quit on me. It feels like the old YLOD but happens the moment the power supply kicks in instead of taking 10 seconds or so. Fingers crossed I can find a doner supply, it'll be a while before I get to it though.

Unfortunately not all the fats could run PS2 games, only the CECHAxx and CECHBxx (NTSC) had the hardware to run PS2 games. The early PAL models (CECHCxx and CECHExx) had software emulation apparently, dunno if it was any good. I hunted down a fat model specifically because I wanted the backwards compatibility, can't remember which model I ended up buying, but it was not a backwards compatible one. Very disappointed at the time, but I was still sad when it died.

Also the possiblity to dualboot Linux was patched out pretty quickly if I remember correctly, people were pretty peeved about it.

I’d like to think the Steam Deck is a PC that is changing the rules as to what form factor a “personal computer” can take - of course with a heavy focus on gaming and so it takes a lot of design inspiration from what console gaming got right.

Console used to mean “specialized hardware to be able to push pixels needed for an incredible gaming experience” but now it means “locked down PC with walled garden ecosystem and advertising built in, including tracking”

I do have to give Sony credit for trying to improve audio in games with the PS5’s audio system - but has it worked? Have any games blown anyone away with their immersive sound design?

The only other “killer” feature of the PS5 was direct texture loading onto VRAM (bypassing CPU), and I think PCs can do that now with DirectStorage. So what is the point of a console anymore?

Sony knows this and they’re out of ideas. This is why they are locking down their ecosystem. I mean, it probably won’t work well for them, least not in the long term.

I got a slim

Cool, thank you satisfying my curiosity! Wouldn't have thought of mineral surveying crossed with tech, though not surprising eh, not something I come across personally I guess.

Yeah, I suspect most game developers felt the same way about it.

Most PS3 ports were rubbish compared to the Xbox 360 versions, despite the PS3 theoretically being better hardware.

Only the fancier PS3 exclusives really made the most of it.