PS3 500 GB Grand Theft Auto V Bundle

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $269.99
Sale Price: $269.00
Today's Bonus: $0.99 Off

This will be a lengthy and detailed review written (primarily about the system itself) in the form of a Q&A to help make it easier to find whatever topic or question you might be interested in knowing about this product rather than having to read the whole thing. My purpose of being so detailed is simply to help YOU, the customer, make an informed decision before purchasing this product.

Q. What's in the box?

A. Here is everything that is included inside the box (listed in bullet points for viewing convenience):

1 Playstation 3 (Black) "Super Slim" system with 500 GB of Hard Drive space

1 physical copy of the newly released game "Grand Theft Auto V"

1 Playstation 3 Dualshock Wireless Controller (Black)

1 Playstation 3 USB mini cable charging chord (to recharge the controller)

1 power chord to plug into the Playstation 3 (allowing you to turn on the console)

1 set of composite cables (the red, yellow, and white chords for non HD picture)

1 30 day free trial of the Playstation Plus membership service

**This does not come with an HDMI cable.

**This does not come with an Ethernet chord that some of the original "Fat" models were boxed with.

Q. What inputs come with the system?

A. Here is every input/output/slot/whatever the system utilizes (listed in bullet points for viewing convenience):

1 Ethernet Back

1 HDMI out Back

1 Digital out (optical) Back

1 AV Multi out Back

1 AC in Back

2 Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) Front

Q. I'm into "techno terms." What are some of the specs involved with this system?

A. I'll just cover a summary of some of the essential basics of the hardware involved (if you want to really dissect things, a simple Google search would do you a lot of good). Basically, this system comes with:

500 GB Hard Drive

Cell Broadband Engine CPU

RSX GPU

Bluetooth 2.0 (for use with headsets, wireless keyboards, and other accessories)

Blu-Ray Disc Drive (used to play Blu-Ray movies and can also play DVDs as well)

**The system consumes about 190W of power

**The picture resolution ranges from 480i 1080p

**The system is also capable of being used as a 3D Blu-Ray player. You'll need a 3D TV for this to work.

Q. I've never owned a Playstation 3 before, yet why should I buy this system when the Playstation 4 is coming out November 15?

A. That is a very good question. Yes, this bundle is being released rather late into the Playstation 3's lifespan. Yet that doesn't mean the system doesn't still warrant a purchase. For starters, if you do hold out for a Playstation 4, unfortunately (for now at least), the Playstation 4 will not be backwards compatible. I say "for now at least" because eventually Sony plans on using an extensive cloud-based service to download PS3, PS2, and PS1 titles digitally onto the system. Keeping that in mind, Microsoft announced that they plan to keep the Xbox 360 supported for at least another three years, and while Sony hasn't made any similar announcement, I can't imagine Sony would be too far behind when it comes to continuing support of the Playstation 3.

That being said, if you've never owned a Playstation 3 before, you will have access to a whole library of games out for the system (which continue to decrease in price as the months go by) both via physical copy and digital download through the Playstation Store. Among these are such award winning exclusives such as "The Last Of Us," the "Uncharted" series, the "God of War" series, the "Ratchet and Clank" series, and so much more (let's not forget about the non-exclusive titles). Not to mention there are plenty of excellent games that are still being developed and are to be released for the system (games like Gran Turismo 6, Batman: Arkham Origins (not an exclusive), BEYOND: Two Souls, and Final Fantasy XIII-3 (not an exclusive)). Also there are plenty of "indie" games and "PSN titles" available to download digitally from the Playstation Store (games like "Journey," "Fat Princess," the "PixelJunk" series, and the list goes on).

You can also use the Playstation 3 to access plenty of apps such as Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, and more! Not to mention you can upload pictures, music, and videos onto the Hard Drive. Some games even allow you to play your own uploaded music in the background while playing the game itself (though not all of them do that). With 500GB of space, you will have plenty of room to download a vast array of digital content (whether it be movies or games). You can also backup your files by plugging in an External Hard Drave through the USB slots located on the front of the system.

I know I may sound a bit "preachy," yet I'm simply trying to make a case for those who may have never owned a Playstation 3 before. If you already own the system, then clearly there is no need to purchase this. Unless you're like me of course...my Slim (purchased on release day in 2009) finally got the YLOD (yellow light of death) after years of HEAVY use and so I needed another one. I was already going to get GTAV anyway so for me this bundle made sense. I installed a 500GB Hard Drive into my old system and used up 480GB of it...and it is filled with a lot of games that I still have yet to touch, so for my instance, there is a means to justify rebuying one. I know I know..."cool story, bro."

Q. That's nice and all, but I need more convincing. What else can you say about this bundle?

A. Let's look at some numbers, shall we? This bundle is currently listed on Amazon for $269.99. How does that compare with other bundles/units? Well as far as 500GB consoles go, the only other one that comes close is the one that's just the system itself (which is currently priced at $269.95). As for the other 500 GB bundles? Well they range from $286.58-398.99 (at least at "new" prices). You could always go the "used" route, yet as far as I'm concerned buying a used console comes with risks.

Q. I don't really need 500GB of space on my Hard Drive. Are there any other alternatives?

A. The cheapest unit listed "new" on Amazon right now is the 12GB Playstation 3, which is priced at $199.99. The bad thing about this one though is that it doesn't have an actual Hard Drive. You could also go with some of the 250GB bundles such as the "Uncharted 3" bundle listed at $249.96 or the Sports Champions and Eye Pet Move Bundle priced at $276.94 (not bad if you don't already own a Playstation Move setup and are interested in that sort of motion control thing). I could sit here and talk numbers all day, though it wouldn't matter since prices are sure to fluctuate. By the time you read this these values might be inaccurate.

Q. I've seen the specs, you've listed some reasons for purchase, and you've shown me the numbers. What about GTAV? Can you tell me anything about the game?

A. This section will likely be updated as I go along playing through the game, however I can say that GTAV is the fifth entry in a series of games created by the developers at Rockstar Games. The genre one might consider this game to be is commonly referred to as a "sandbox game" where the player can go around and virtually do whatever they want (though obviously there are some limitations). If it's anything like the last entry (GTAIV), there will be plenty of guns, action, pixelated ladies, trash talk, a great story, and most importantly, lots of fun. This game has earned a reputation for being the most expensive game developed, costing the studio around $265,000,000 to create. It's safe to say that the developers have put a lot of faith, time, and effort into this product.

I might also add that there WILL be a multiplayer mode however it will be released (likely as some sort of patch) for free at a later date (rumored sometime in October). So don't think you have a defective copy without any multiplayer mode, it will be released soon enough.

As stated earlier, as far as the GTA V portion of this review goes, I will be updating it as I continue through my playthrough. However my review focuses mainly on the system and if you are really in an urgent dire need to know more about GTAV, then I'd suggest checking the product page for the game itself.

I do apologize for writing a novel here, yet I hope that this information helps you out in some way. Feel free to leave some questions or comments and I will get back to them as soon as possible.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

This is my 1st and probably only video review I'll ever make. Mainly did it just to show the unboxing so you can see what all you're getting in it.

I didn't mention this in the video, but if you ordered this bundle, the promotional code to get your atomic blimp WILL NOT be inside the game case. You should have already received an email from Amazon and your promotional code should be in that email. Only people who ordered the standalone game get the code inside the game case.

Other than that, this bundle is amazing. I'm not entirely sure how much a regular 500gb super slim PS3 is, but I bet you're saving a lot of money getting this bundle compared to getting the two (PS3 and GTA V) separately. Oh and plus you get a free month of PS Plus so yea. If you're like me and you've had your PS3 for years and it's about time for an upgrade, or if you're new to the PS3, this is where you should start.

Also, this IS worth getting even if you plan on upgrading to next gen consoles. There are still lots of games to play currently on the PS3 plus future titles that will be coming out only on PS3 and not PS4. I plan on playing my PS3 for years to come, even when I get my PS4. I was just pointing this out for the people saying it's not worth getting a PS3/Xbox360 atm since next gen is just around the corner.

But yes, this PS3 is awesome. I had to do a data transfer from my old PS3 (the one in the vid) to this one, and it took a while, but it was worth it. Oh, I haven't even talked about the game itself yet. GTA V is amazing. Although I did want a new PS3, GTA V was easily the deciding factor in why I chose to get this bundle.

I own and have played GTA IV, and I did like it. GTA V is just such a massive upgrade from GTA IV. So much more to do, many places to explore. Three main characters which you can switch to at any time as long as you're not in a mission. Each character has a specific power that only they can use. Also, you get to go open-world pretty quickly into the game which is good. What I mean by that is, usually in a GTA game, there's a certain amount of time at the very beginning where you have to play the story before you're allowed to go wherever you want and do whatever you want.

Graphically it looks better than GTA IV, and it's just so much more vast. GTA V is on a whole nother level than all the previous GTA games. Also they finally fixed the driving mechanics in V compared to IV. That was such a pain. One wrong touch of the analog stick won't make you go spinning out of control anymore. Also, my friend let me try his Pulse GTA V elite headset that is speciically tailored to the PS3 version of GTA V. If only I had an extra $180 to spend. Those headsets makes the gameplay feel so much more immersive.

I'm reviewing more of the bundle itself rather than the game. You should check out one of the other reviews or just look at the reviews in the actual GTA V section on Amazon if you want a review that's more about the game itelf. (just the standalone game reviews and not the reviews for this bundle).

Overall, I give this bundle and the game GTA V both 5/5 stars. Honestly, I think this game deserves all the hype it's been getting. Especially after playing it hands on. Unless you're not into sandbox games or you're turned off by some of the vulgarity that is constant across most GTA games, you should definitely pick this up. Unless you're one of those people waiting for a PC/next-gen version to be released.

Anyways, Can't wait to spend countless hours doing random stuff on GTA V. Don't even get me started on multiplayer. Hope this helps!

Buy PS3 500 GB Grand Theft Auto V Bundle Now

Ok so Ive been a PC gamer all my life.. The though of a console would give me a feeling of being "tied down" to a platform and certain specs that came with it. As a PC gamer you can update your rig, and push the boundaries of graphics on any game. Here is where the problem lies. The greatest game of all times GTA 5 being released and its not being released on PC first instead consoles. So I took the leap of faith and purchased myself this PS3 Console bundle with a copy of GTA-5. To say the latest, I could not be any more happier. PS3 is a great system, ultra fast, instant responses, and for $269 this deal is a steal!!! The game just itself is $59 with tax your well into $65-68 so when you look at it this way your getting a 500 GIGS PS3 with a wireless controller for $199 bucks.. In order for me to max this game out on my PC if/and when it comes out i would probably have to spend $200-300 on a new graphics card itself and here with this bundle I got the game, the system, and everything to have fun right in the box for as much as a standard graphics card cots for PC. Setup was a breeze, and before you know it I was smiling like a kid while jetting down Los Santos... and I got 3 other games on the way (Uncharted2,3 and the Last of Us!) I could not be any more happier!!! I feel I will be spending a lot of my fall/winter months with my new found love... in Summary I LOVE MY PS3! and my GTA5!! This bundle is the shiet! YEEEEHAA!!

Read Best Reviews of PS3 500 GB Grand Theft Auto V Bundle Here

This is by far the best deal on a PS3 EVER. You're getting a very decent 500GB HD along with this year's most anticipated game: GTA5. So I'm basically paying for the 12GB $199 model and getting a 500GB HD upgrade for $10 along with this year's most anticipated game. Awesome

!

Even though the PS4 is around the corner, the PS3 still has a LOT going for it for the next couple of years with at least 5 highly anticipated EXCLUSIVE titles coming before the end of the year (Beyond: Two Souls, Puppeteer, rain, FFX HD and Gran Turismo 6). Swallow that Xbox fanboys!

I have absolute no rush in getting a next gen system for the foreseeable future as I will wait for them to work out the bugs, lower the prices and release slimmer more efficient versions so I'm counting on my buddy PS3 for plenty of good times for the next 2-3 years at least! Plus, my PS+ subscription is good through 2015 and they will keep supporting the PS3 with free excellent games from its already outstanding gaming library. If you ask me, NOW is the best time EVER to get a PS3. See you online!

Want PS3 500 GB Grand Theft Auto V Bundle Discount?

If you're in the market for a PS3 system, as of this writing in September 2013 this 500 GB GTA V bundle is the one to get.

From a value perspective this is a fantastic deal as the current base model PS3 is priced at $199 with a paltry 12 GB of hard drive storage. With this GTA-V bundle system you are paying $70 extra for a 500 GB hard drive, a free copy of GTA-V (priced at $60 and unlikely to be discounted anytime soon) and 1 free month of Playstation Plus. With my free month of PS+ activated I immediately downloaded FREE digital versions of 'Xcom Enemy Unknown,' 'Uncharted 3,' 'Saints Row 3,' and 'Machinarium.' Keep in mind that there were a good variety of other free PS+ games available but for now I was more than content with my initial batch of downloads which provided an added layer of immense value on top of an already generously priced bundle package.

Previously I've owned an 80gb PS3 Phat and after years of dedicated service that system was getting long in the tooth and the fan would screech at unbearably loud levels after gaming or watching blu-rays for 10 minutes so an upgrade was definitely in order as I expect to keep playing my PS3 for at least several years due to the backlog of physical games I have yet to complete as well as the monthly offerings from PS+. If you're upgrading from an OG Phat to these new super-slim models here are some of the major differences you'll notice:

+The new systems run super quiet. There is almost no discernible fan noise even after 6 hour+ gaming sessions.

+You will, however, hear disc access noise. Unlike the old ps3's the super slim uses cheaper manual slide out access panels to insert/remove discs so when the disc spins you will notice the noise. With that said, its not unbearable just noticeable but this tradeoff is completely reasonable in exchange for the near silent fan noise.

+System is compact and light. The old PS3's are heavy with a big footprint. These super-slims live up their billing and are light and much easier to transport or move around.

If you're in the market for a copy of GTA-V and in need of a new PS3 (or considering upgrading from your old version) this system bundle is certainly the way to go.