Why do people who know nothing about gaming insist on talking about it!

Some of you out there may have seen this article written by Anne Kadet for Yahoo. The article is about what NOT to buy for Christmas. She mentions that the Playstation 3 as an item NOT to buy.

I was, of course, curious as to why she would say something like that.  The reasoning is honestly laughable at best.

Sony PlayStation 3

It’s all fun and games until the battery dies. Unlike its competitors, which use replaceable AA batteries, the PS3’s remote control is glued shut. When the battery goes, Sony customers have to blow $55 on a new controller. Sony says there’s an “environmental benefit” since gamers don’t have to toss their batteries on a regular basis, but Isidor Buchmann, president of battery-equipment maker Cadex Electronics, says captive batteries are becoming common because it’s cheaper for companies to eliminate the battery housing and hatch.

Seriously? This reasoning is majorly flawed.

For those that read this and actually take it to heart (hopefully there aren’t any of you out there), I have a few things to say that may make you realize that this is in no way, even remotely, a reason to not buy a PS3.

Now, let’s at least assume that she knows that the controller is rechargable (since it’s really hard to tell whether she does or not in this article).

1) The controller is not glued shut.  There are 5 screws that are easily removed and as soon as you open up the controller, the battery is right there in front of you, easily removable and replaceable. Sony actually has the process of replacing it in the manual! Also, you can find the batteries online for less than $10!

2) I’ve never had to replace the battery in any of my PS3 controllers after almost 3 years of ownership.   She mentions the “competitor.”  Well lets look at it this way.  If you stick with AA batteries, they will last you around 56 hours.  I usually put that many hours into gaming into about 2 weeks, but lets, for argument, say you go through that in a month. That’s 64 AA batteries over 3 years.  They used Duracells for this test which cost $9 for an 8 pack at Amazon.  You would go through 8 packs of those batteries in the time I have played with the same rechargable battery in my PS3 controller.  That’s $72!  Even if you didn’t’ know you could replace the battery, you are STILL getting a better deal IF you were required to go out and buy another PS3 controller.  And that’s making the assumption that the PS3 controller will not last more than 3 years, which it has already for me.

3) The PS3 uses a LiIon rechargable battery which means it’s going to last you a large number of charges.  To use the “competitor” again as she did.  The competitor sells a rechargable battery separately.  This battery is Nickel based.  Doesn’t take as many charges as the LiIon batteries.  I’ve, actually, had to replace two of these batteries already for my “competitor machine” in about the same amount of time.

Now, I am, in no way, trying to down the competition.  After all, I do own a 360 and play it often.  Just using it as an example in the same way that she did.

So, Ms. Kadet, I’m sure you are very knowledgeable in terms of consumerism and good financial decisions in most cases, but you’re way off on this one.  You would benefit from digging a little deeper in your research or possibly talking to someone that is more knowledgeable in such things, especially since you get paid to do so.

Later people.