Unfortunately, these mean that the Sony Playstation 3 is also the most expensive gaming console in the market today. Hence, the prospect of scoring a free PS3 becomes even more attractive.

How can you get a free PS3? Here are 4 methods you can try.

1. Join online contests. Many websites sponsor contests that give away free PS3 units, among other prizes. Most of these websites secure their PS3 prizes from Sony itself. Every quarter, Sony releases review copies of the console to highly visited gaming-related websites. Some of these websites use these review copies to generate more visitors for their pages, i.e. sponsoring contests that promise the free PS3 as the main prize. Finding such contests is quite easy with the help of a search engine

2. Join offline contests. Sony also provides review copies of the console to print publications. Gaming magazines, for instance, hold monthly contests that reward the winner with a free PS3, among other possible prizes. You may find some luck in joining any of these offline contests.

3. Try affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing requires you to promote the products of a particular merchant using a specially generated affiliate link that will track referrals and credit them to your account. Every time a person you referred purchases something from the merchant, you will earn a stated commission. This commission can be in the form of cash, or in the form of store credits. Regardless of what form the commission will take, you can use the same to get a free PS3. Affiliate marketing doesn't require a lot of work, just the proper implementation of correct internet marketing strategies.

4. Try to secure a review copy. Earlier, we have discussed how online and offline publications manage to secure review copies of the console by virtue of the large volume of traffic they generate or the huge readership they can boast of. You can secure your own free PS3 if you have your own gaming-related website or if you publish your own newspaper or magazine. The challenge, for a website, is to garner at least 10,000 unique visitors per day. The challenge, for print publications, is to garner an average of 10,000 readers per published issue. You will need to break through these numbers to win Sony's attention so that the company can send over a free PS3 which you can use for "review purposes."

However, in the fickle world of video game entertainment, there are no permanent alliances. Look at Nintendo and Square. Look at Nintendo and Sony. Look at Microsoft and Rare. Look at Microsoft and Bungie Soft.

They may be Xbox 360 exclusives today, but it's only a matter of time before these 5 titles will appear on the Sony Play Station 3:

1. Dead Rising. Capcom's "other" zombie hit was one of the first titles for Microsoft's then fledgling video game machine. Reviews about the game were mixed. Some called it innovative, while others called it repetitive. Some described it as a technological marvel, while others claimed that it was all icing. Some applauded the game for being fun, while others are complaining that they didn't get the "scares" that they expected. Regardless of the reception about Dead Rising, the fact is, it's not an exclusive "exclusive." It has since been ported to the Nintendo Wii, and industry experts are predicting that it's just a matter of time before Dead Rising rises on the Play Station 3. Also, Capcom is currently keeping mum on the question of what system the announced Dead Rising 2 will be appearing on, something which many people believe is a clear sign that the franchise is headed to the Play Station 3.

2. Mass Effect. People are of the mistaken impression that Microsoft owns the rights to the Mass Effect franchise. The intellectual property belongs to Bioware, which currently has an exclusive developer's contract with Microsoft. When this contract expires, Bioware can bring its property wherever it pleases - and the Play Station 3 may be the new home of this controversial space-faring, lesbian-loving, sci-fi RPG.

3. Star Ocean: The Last Hope. It is not common for seemingly exclusive RPGs to jump shift to another console. Most Japanese developers only agree to a "timed exclusive" clause, anyway. Such is the case with Eternal Sonata and Tales of Vesperia which were first released on the Xbox 360 but eventually found their way to the Play Station 3, with added content to boot. Tri-Ace's newest masterpiece, as published by Square-Enix, may follow suit, as Sony's line of consoles are the traditional homes of jRPGs (Japanese Role Playing Games).

4. Blue Dragon. The dream team that comprises Mistwalker are said to be disappointed with the performance of their very first game for the Xbox 360, and the very first jRPG for the said system. Microsoft's console only has a limited base in Japan, and this contributed to the poor sales experienced by Blue Dragon. One the timed exclusive agreement with Microsoft expires, people predict that Mistwalker will bring their franchise to the Sony Play Station 3. But first, they must publish one game under such an agreement - Blue Dragon 2.

5. Ninja Gaiden II. This is a given. One of the highest rated action

Now, there's one question that's stopping you at the gates of video gaming heaven...

What games should you play with your Sony Playstation3?

Here are 10 "must have" games for the console. Any of them will provide many hours of memorable enjoyment.

1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Sons of the Patriot. One of only a handful of games that garnered the perfect score in websites like GameSpot and magazines like the now defunct Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), MGS4 is a masterpiece in storytelling. Boasting of more than 4 hours of cinematic, the title - and the series for that matter - has always been criticized for being more of a movie than an actual game. Sony would rather call it "interactive storytelling," and even if the movies overshadow the game play most of the time, something that cannot b denied is that this title is beautiful.

2. Little Big Planet. Imagine a soup upped version of old school platformers like Super Mario, Sonic, and Klonoa... only this time, you can create your own world and share it with other people from all over the (real) world! Little Big Planet is a revolution in gaming, making it one of the newer flagship titles for the Sony Playstation3.

3. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The Sony Playstation3's first "must have" exclusive is a combination of Gears of War and Tomb Raider. Fans of exploration-adventure games and first person shooters will be in for a treat!

4. Killzone 2. The Sony Playstation3's most hyped game delivered big time, selling more than 2 million copies on its first month of release. This FPS boasts of the best graphics found on the Sony PS3 so far.

5. BioShock. Previously an Xbox 360 exclusive, BioShock has found its way to the Sony Playstation3 with added features to boot. The Game of the Year for 2007 is ready to show PS3 owners why it is hailed as the best FPS with the best storyline in the entire history of video gaming.

6. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Go anywhere, do anything, be the person you want to be. This is the premise for the high fantasy RPG that is Oblivion.

7. Fallout 3. Using the Oblivion engine, the post apocalyptic world of the Fallout series - which many claim included the best games ever made - is brought to life. Your choices in the game will define your character and will lead to one of many possible endings. Fallout 3 is the unanimous choice for Game of the Year, 2008, in many gaming websites.

8. Grand Theft Auto IV. The king of sandbox games, GTAIV is the best in the series. Play the role of Niko Belic as he adjusts to life in the Big Apple (or at least, a replica of New York City) and struggle with his conscience on whether or not to take on criminal assignments to survive life in America.

9. Eternal Sonata. Japanese RPGs on the Sony Playstation3 are rare. Eternal Sonata may be one of those rare titles, but it is a thing of absolute beauty. Every scene of this game will take your breath away. Plus, the storyline is quite unique for a Japanese RPG. It involves a fictional world in the mind of renowned musician Frederic Chopin while he was on his deathbed.

10. Guitar Hero: World Tour/Rockband 2. The most commercially successful games in recent memory are also parts of the Sony Playstation3 library. Take a guitar and strum to the tune of your favorite rock music, or gather 3 other friends and form a band that will conquer all the challenges that these games will throw your way.

And now, Sony has once again promised that 2009 will be the glory year of the PS3.

Its patrons are becoming impatient. Industry experts believe that 2009 is the "make or break" year for the PS3. 2009, they say, is the year that will either mark the PS3 as a worthy entry to Sony's series of console excellence, or brand the PS3 as a market failure despite its clearly superior engineering.

For 2009, the PS3 is banking on 5 key titles that it hopes will finally bring the console to the top of the sales charts. These games are:

1. Killzone 2. Released last February, Killzone 2 - one of the PS3's most hyped games, which the industry has eagerly awaited since 2004 - is well on its way to saving Sony's reputation as a leader in the video game market. The title sold 2 million copies on its first month, a feat that is truly fascinating for a game which is exclusive to a single console.

2. God of War 3. Since its first installment, Kratos has quickly become the poster boy for Sony, and God of War has quickly become the flagship title for the company's gaming division. No matter how bleak things look when it comes to sales, Sony can always be comforted by the fact that the next God of War is just around the corner.

3. Final Fantasy XIII. The PS3 lost big time when Square-Enix decided to publish FFXIII on the Xbox 360 as well, at least in areas outside Japan. The next installment of the blockbuster Final Fantasy series will still be exclusive to the PS3 in its country of origin, and this will most certainly help boost the sales for the console. Outside Japan, FFXIII may still win some console sales, as the Final Fantasy franchise has long been associated with Sony's machines and given the long playtime provided by the game, issues on the Xbox 360's engineering reliability may force buyers to choose the PS3 version.

4. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Its predecessor, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, was the first "must buy" exclusive for the PS3. The sequel, which is said to combine elements of Gears of War, Tomb Raider, and FPS multiplayer mayhem, will be a hundred times better than the original. Gamers are excited about Uncharted 2, and this will reflect on the PS3 console sales.

5. Massive Action Game (MAG). Forget Resistance 2's 64-player team death matches. Prepare for a truly wide scale war with MAG, one that will involve up to 256 players at the same time. Little is known about the game, however. If it lives up to its promises, it can be the PS3 title that will make other FPS multiplayer games obsolete. If it doesn't, it will be the Kane and Lynch of 2009.

Will these games finally catapult the Sony PS3 to the throne it once owned unchallenged?

Only time, and your gaming dollar, will tell.

Both consoles are engineered differently, so it's useless comparing their technical specs. That they both have, more or less, the same processing power and they are both capable of rendering the same level of excellence in graphics is enough to describe the core of these two mammoth gaming units.

What can be the points of contention between the Sony Playstation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 are the important factors that video game enthusiasts (and even casual consumers) are looking for. Let's take a look at these points and determine who wins them, and who will ultimately win the battle of the consoles.

1. Which console has a deeper game library? Given the fact that the Xbox 360 was released almost a year before the Playstation 3 definitely gives it the edge. In that period, the Xbox 360 has amassed a number of published games that never saw the light of day on the PS3, even if there were no exclusivity clauses involved with those titles. Currently, more exclusives are being released on the Xbox 360 than the Playstation 3, and the former continues to widen its lead. WINNER: Xbox 360.

2. Which console has better exclusives? We're not talking about the number of exclusives here (which would make the Xbox 360 the runaway winner once more) rather, we're talking about the quality of the exclusives. Microsoft can boast of the Halo franchise, the Fable series, Project Gotham Racing, the Gears of War franchise (for the time being), Banjo Kazooie together with the former properties of Rare, among others. The Playstation 3 has the God of War franchise, Killzone, Little Big Planet, Metal Gear Solid 4 (and possibly 5), Final Fantasy XIII (at least in Japan), the Tekken series, Warhawk, the Uncharted series and others. The problem that's working against the Xbox 360 is that most of its "exclusives" manage to end up in the PC eventually, whereas Playstation 3 exclusives are never released elsewhere. WINNER: Playstation 3.

3. Which console has better games in the near future? Software makes or breaks hardware: this is the general rule with all software-dependent devices like video game consoles. Existing game libraries are an important factor in determining the winner of the console war. However, tomorrow's games are just as important as people buy video game machines as investments for the games to come. Microsoft has the following lined up for 2009/2010: Alan Wake, Halo 3 ODST, Mass Effect 2 and Forza. Pretty lean compared to 2008. The Playstation 3 is expecting God of war III, DC Universe Online, Gran Turismo 5, Heavy Rain, Infamous, MAG, White Knight Chronicles, Quantum Theory, WarDevil: Unleash The Beast Within, Uncharted 2, Free Realms, and many more. Clearly, there is only one WINNER: Playstation 3.

4. Which console has better multimedia functions? Both consoles are multimedia beasts, capable of playing a variety of video and audio files saved on their hard drives, read from their DVD drives, or taken from their USB hubs. But the Playstation 3 can play Blu-Ray discs, and the Xbox 360 is supporting the long abandoned HD disc format. WINNER: Playstation 3.

5. Which console provides a better online experience? Multiplayer modes courtesy of online connectivity is greatly credited as the most important addition to next gen games that helped them beat piracy. Xbox Live provides a solid online experience backed up by a proven infrastructure. The Playstation Network, as many gamers put it, "sucks." WINNER: Xbox 360.

6. Which console is a more reliable hardware? Three words: three red lights. WINNER: Playstation 3.

From the foregoing, it becomes clear that the important factors that define a console's success favor the Sony Playstation 3. If only the Playstation3 can improve its online play, then it can be the best console for this generation.

This is the label attached to critically acclaimed games that were officially commercial failures for their mother companies. Throughout the years, many consoles have played host to many of these games. They are the software you find in bargain bins that you're forced to buy because you need some change for your $20 bill, but upon playing them, you'd end up pleasantly surprised with the quality of the presentation, the exciting game play and the unforgettable experience. And the Sony Playstation 3 has its share of such games.

Indeed, many PS3 games are considered as sleeper hits.

These PS3 games should merit serious consideration from avid gamers as they deserve your patronage. What are these PS3 games? Here are the 5 best PS3 games that only a few people have played:

1. Valkyria Chronicles. Published by Sega, Valkyria Chronicles is, perhaps, the first ever strategy/first person shooter (FPS) hybrid in the history of PS3 games, and history of video games in general. The game is breathtakingly beautiful! It employs cel-shading technology that renders images as if they were masterfully painted in water color. And the game play is amazing unique and highly addictive. Too bad the marketing for this game messed up, big time. It is one of those rare PS3 games that are simply memorable from beginning to end.

2. Demon's Souls. Of all the PS3 games in this list, Demon's Souls is the only one which hasn't received a US release date, as of yet. It isn't even a big seller in Japan where it originated. However, though Demon's Souls is one of the most difficult PS3 games today, and also the most frustrating, it is likewise the most rewarding. It may take you days to bring down a boss in this game, but when you do succeed, you'll be celebrating for weeks. Just like most of the PS3 games that are considered as sleeper hits, Demon's Souls has the uncanny characteristic of being special in many ways possible.

3. The Darkness. Not really among the exclusive PS3 games, as the Darkness has also appeared on the Xbox 360, but it is definitely one of the most underrated. Based on a Top Cow comic book, which isn't widely distributed in the first place which may explain the lack of hype for this game, the Darkness is an FPS that follows one man's journey from betrayal to death to resurrection into something that is more than human. The presentation is one of the best you'll ever get to experience in PS3 games, and the storyline will have you glued until the very end.

4. Dark Sector. Think of Resident Evil 4 and 5's fantastic control scheme and dark, foreboding and hauntingly beautiful graphics and you'll get an idea of what Dark Sector is all about. You play the part of a character that can transform his hand into a war glaive. That alone should set this title apart from other PS3 games, and that alone should make this a "must buy."

5. Burnout Paradise. The Burnout series used to be one of the better selling franchises among the many PS3 games released so far. However, Burnout Paradise suffered a severe hit in sales, mainly because of consumer burnout (pun intended) as titles in the series were released in quick successions. Nevertheless, Burnout Paradise is hailed as one of the best entries in the series, and it is very much worth trying out.