Shack PSA: Buy PS3, Get $100 Wal-Mart Gift Card

June 11, 2008 11:42 AM

Monolithic retailer Wal-Mart is offering a $100 gift card with the purchase of any Blu-ray player, which includes all PlayStation 3 systems, even the $499 80GB PS3 and Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle that arrives tomorrow.

"Any Blu-ray player. Blu-ray. All of them," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien told Joystiq. The promotion appeared in the retailer's weekly flyer, but it is not clear when the deal is set to end.

The deal applies to both in-store and online purchases, and is likely to prove quite a draw for those gamers who have held out on purchasing a PlayStation 3 until tomorrow's release of Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3).

Other currently available varieties include the $399 40GB version, and the $499 80GB version which has been largely phased out to make way for the new MGS4 bundle. For a comprehensive rundown on Sony's complicated family of PlayStation 3 models, check out our buyer's guide.

Aaron Linde

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Boxelder

 reply
June 11, 2008 11:23 AM

I really think you'd be a fool not the get the 40GB version if you want a Blu-Ray player and play games, assuming you have a little extra cash. $299 is an amazing deal given all the functionality of the PS3, and with the HD so easy and cheap to upgrade the only thing you're missing out on is BC (how often do you REALLY play old games?) and 2 USB ports (can't imagine needing more than two at once very often, and it's easy to fix if you do - I haven't yet on my 60GB)
- dpgagnon
  
   reply
  June 11, 2008 11:27 AM
  
  How often do I play old games? All the time. You should see my collection of PS2 games! :D
  
  Needing more than 2 USB ports? Rock Band.
  
  Don't forget the missing memory card reader as well. I can't in good conscience recommend the 40GB version. If I didn't already have a PS3 I would so buy the MGS4 bundle without any hesitation.
  - Boxelder
    
     reply
    June 11, 2008 11:30 AM
    
    I would gladly trade my PS2 BC for a better color :P. PS2s are so easy to get for next to nothing. I didn't know about the card reader thing. Again, I haven't used mine yet. Don't play rock band either. But these are good points for a lot of people I'm sure.
    - dpgagnon
      
       reply
      June 11, 2008 11:33 AM
      
      True that PS2s are cheap to get (I still have mine around for the few games that don't work with BC, mainly Guitar Hero), but it's a pain in the butt to have so many systems hooked up, especially the non-wireless stuff (we're so spoiled now).
  - mojorisen1117
    
     reply
    June 11, 2008 11:31 AM
    
    The MGS bundle is the way to go. Its $100 more, but the DS3 controller and MGS4 cost $115 combined plus you get a larger HD (you will be glad you did after a few years of game installs, demos, etc), 4 usb ports (only good for Rockband) and some backwards compatibility.
  - jazz_uc
    
     reply
    June 11, 2008 11:41 AM
    
    Is there an advantage of PS3 BC v/s playing PS2 games on a PS2? i.e. does the PS3 improve the image in any way? I have been trying to figure this out online for a few days now but got nothing conclusive.
    - Boxelder
      
       reply
      June 11, 2008 11:42 AM
      
      Actually yeah, there is. It upscales and smooths. It's pretty noticable, but no amount of smoothing is going to make a PS2 game look really good once you've played PS3 games.
      - jazz_uc
        
         reply
        June 11, 2008 1:00 PM
        
        Thanks! I'm just looking to play MGS3 and the god of war games since I missed out on those on account of being a 100% PC gamer until I bought a 360 in '05. Could borrow my friends PS2 or get the MGS4 bundle rather than the 40GB version so wanted to know if the 80GB is worth it in terms of upscaling AA etc.
  - Sailor of Fortune
    
     reply
    June 11, 2008 12:35 PM
    
    Rock Band comes with a USB Hub
    - Prozium
      
       reply
      June 11, 2008 12:40 PM
      
      Did they add it to the PS3 version? Initially it was only the 360 version that came with a hub.
    - dpgagnon
      
       reply
      June 11, 2008 1:03 PM
      
      It doesn't on the PS3.
      - Sailor of Fortune
        
         reply
        June 11, 2008 1:44 PM
        
        Really? That's odd, maybe they designed it using the inital spec sheet of like 6 USB ports. =D
        
        Prozium
        
         reply
        June 11, 2008 2:00 PM
        
        Rock Band was released like within a month of the debut of the 40gb model. When they started manufacturing and bundling the packages they probably had no idea of the 40gb model with 2 less USB ports.
  - phinn
    
     reply
    June 11, 2008 1:54 PM
    
    Getting more than 2 USB ports is as easy as buying a $10 USB hub.
- jazz_uc
  
   reply
  June 11, 2008 11:29 AM
  
  I second this opinion. However considering it includes the MGS4 game, if you plan to buy the game anyway then this is a great deal since you pay $40 more for backward compatibility and a larger hard drive (swapping out your HD for a larger one will cost more than $40 in the future)
  - Prozium
    
     reply
    June 11, 2008 11:55 AM
    
    and you get a dualshock3 instead of a sixaxis.