Beginner's Guide to the PS3 and PSN

[Harry94]

This guide was written by Harry94 and Fletchar2 and is the property of us and
PS3trophies.org. If you find this posted anywhere but here then please let us and the staff know so we may take action against the offender(s).

Introduction

Welcome to the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation Network (PSN) Beginner's Guide! The Number one place for information on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Network. The PS3 and PSN can prove to be a complicated piece of technology for people who aren't familiar with the system, so in this comprehensive guide you will find out how to use the PS3's features, how PSN works and many other helpful pieces of information. If you have any suggestions or notice any mistakes, please post in this thread or follow the links below to send us a VM and we'll respond as quick as we can.

Harry94
fletchar2

If this guide has helped you, why not join the forums? We boast over 100,000 members and have one of the friendliest communities on the internet. As if that wasn't enough, the forums is also extremely quick in reacting to any news that the world of gaming, and more specifically the PlayStation 3, has to offer, and all of the members will go out of their way to answer and help with any questions or queries you may have. Follow this link to sign up:

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Useful Links

• PS3T's Official Locked Saved Games Thread
• The PlayStation Plus Thread
• Multiple Region Games with Stacking Trophies
• Games That Require An Online Pass To Platinum
• PS3 Exclusives
• Trophy Points Guide
• Fixing Issues + Maintenance + Sending your PS3 to Sony
• PS3 Optimal Network Settings Guide
• PS3 Errors And Solutions

Index

1.0 - Getting Started

• 1.1 - What's in the box
• 1.2 - Connecting the PS3 up to a TV
• 1.3 - Turning the PS3 on for the first time
• 1.4 - Syncing Controllers
• 1.5 - PS3 Controller Interface
• 1.6 - Creating a user profile
• 1.7 - Connecting the PS3 to the Internet
• 1.8 - Updating the System
• 1.9 - Understanding Game Data and Game Saves

2.0 - Playstation Network

• 2.1 - Creating a PSN Account
• 2.2 - Changing your avatar
• 2.3 - Changing your profile colour
• 2.4 - Changing your comment
• 2.5 - Friends List and Blocking Users
• 2.6 - Messages
• 2.7 - PlayStation Home
• 2.8 - Text Chat & Video Chat
• 2.9 - Trophies
• 2.10 - Web Browser
• 2.11 - Playstation Plus
• 2.12 - TV/Video Services

3.0 - PlayStation Store

• 3.1 - Getting Money on to the PlayStation Store
• 3.2 - Redeeming Codes
• 3.3 - Categories
• 3.4 - Purchasing a Product(s)
• 3.5 - PlayStation Store Updates
• 3.6 - PlayStation Store Regions

4.0 - PS3 Accessories

• 4.1 - HDMI vs AVI
• 4.2 - Playstation Move
• 4.3 - Headset
• 4.4 - Playstation Eye
• 4.5 - Dualshock Controllers
• 4.6 - Film Remote Control
• 4.7 - Keyboard

5.0 - Other Features on the PS3

• 5.1 - Photos
• 5.2 - Videos
• 5.3 - Music
• 5.4 - Adding media via USB stick
• 5.5 - Themes
• 5.6 - Media Servers

6.0 - Buying and Renting Games Online

• 6.1 - Buying Games in the UK
• 6.2 - Renting Games in the UK
• 6.3 - Buying Games in the US
• 6.4 - Renting games in the US
  

7.0 - General FAQ

Credits

Ub4of - Excellent work on making the renders forum friendly
GlennThomas - Controller graphics
TheFlyingToaster - Awesome banner

[fletchar2]

1.0 Getting Started

• 1.1 - What's in the box

The only brand new PS3's you can buy are the Slim versions. The PHAT style is available in certain stores but it's usually pre-owned; all main retailers sell the Slim. It comes in a range of different storage capacities: 120GB, 160GB, 250GB and 320GB. If you're a casual gamer that doesn't play an awful lot of games and doesn't usually download digital games then the 120GB is advised. If however you're a hardcore gamer, the 320GB is for you. You can update the hard drive in the future though so it doesn't really matter what you choose as they are all the same performance wise. It's also still quite unlikely that you'll use all of the storage available.

In the UK a brand new PS3 slim will have the following contents in the box:

• PS3 Console
• 1x Dualshock 3 Sixaxis Controller
• 1x USB lead to charge controller
• Power Cable
• Scart/AVI cable for use with SD
• Instruction manual
• Other Manuals and Offers

A HDMI cable does not come with the PS3 and you have to buy one of those separately (in the UK they are around £5-£10, the US about $15). For a guide on how to set the PS3 up continue to 1.2.

• 1.2 - Connecting the PS3 up to a TV

Connecting with the AVI Cable.

The first thing to do is to get the Scart/AVI cable (this is the standard cable you get with the PS3), and plug the red, white and yellow plugs into the black extension box. This black plug will then go into the back of your TV, although it varies for some TVs. Once that's plugged in you can then plug the cable's other end into the back of the PS3. That's all it requires, now just turn the PS3 and the TV on and switch over the input on the TV to the plug you plugged the black box into. It's most likely 'EXT1' or 'EXT2', to change the input on most TVs you just press the input button on the remote or the button could say EXT.

Another way to connect the AVI cable to the TV is to directly plug the red, white and yellow cables into the TV itself. The jacks are usually located on the side of the TV. Not all TVs have this method of input though so it's best to stick to the method above when using the AVI cable.


Connecting with a HDMI cable.

This method is a lot simpler, you just plug the cable into the back of both the PS3 and TV and you're done. To access the HDMI input just press input on the remote and go over to HDMI1 or whatever you plugged it into. If you've already set the PS3 up when you first bought it with an AVI cable you will have to reset the video settings for it to work. You do this by turning the PS3 off and leaving it on standby mode, then hold your finger on the power button. It will beep once which signals it has been turned on, keep your finger pressed down and don't take it off. You will eventually hear another beep and that means you can take your finger off the power button, your video settings have now been reset.

It should now say on the PS3 screen "HDMI Cable connected, would you like to continue using a HDMI cable?" or something similar, press yes. It will then ask if you can see the picture clearly and details your current resolution, if the picture is good quality press yes. You're now set to use a HD connection.

• 1.3 - Turning the PS3 on for the first time

The first time you turn it on, you have to set it up. This just includes giving the console a "Name" (unimportant) and setting the language etc. It doesn't take long and is fairly simple so you shouldn't have any trouble here. You will then need to create a user account, for info on that see step 1.5.

• 1.4 - Syncing Controllers

The first time you ever get a new Sony PS3 controller you have to sync it to the PS3. This makes it only able for use on that PS3 (unless you pair it with another one). Get the PS3 controller and the USB cable you got with it, plug the USB into the ports on the front of the PS3 and then plug the little part of the cable into the top of the controller and press the button in the middle. The lights on the top of the controller will flash and it will eventually stop and only the light next to the no. 1 will be lit.

The controller is now synced with the PS3. You can take the cable out of the controller and use it without the wire if you want (bear in mind the controller has to have charge for this). If you ever want to use a controller on another PS3 then just do the same thing on that PS3.

• 1.5 - PS3 Controller interface

• 1.6 - Creating a user profile

The first time you turn the PS3 on you have to create a "User". The user is basically your part of the PS3. It stores save data, PSN details, trophies, messages and everything else relating to you. The chances are you will be the only one playing the PS3 so you don't need to worry about this too much. If you're the only one playing the PS3 and you're fed up of having to click your user every time you turn the PS3 on, you can always go over to your profile (far left on XMB), then press on your user name. Then put "Auto sign in" on and from now on that user will be signing in automatically when turning the PS3 on. If you share the PS3 with somebody else, it is likely you will want to have two users on the system. To do that just press 'Create New User', and somebody else can have their own PSN account, game saves etc without getting mixed up. To delete an account just press over the account you want to delete and press delete. Warning: All that user's saves disappear and if they have purchased anything from the PS Store, that will be un playable. Their PSN account will not deleted but the sign in details will be.

• 1.7 - Connecting the PS3 to the Internet

To connect the PS3 to the internet, you have to look for "Network Settings" under "Settings" across the XMB. Then press "Internet Connection Settings" which is the third option down. You will have the option of choosing between an easy or custom setting method, I would recommend custom. If you have an Ethernet cable, you will be using a wired connection, but if not, wireless. You will have to enter the SSID, WEP Key, IP address, DNS, MTU, Proxy preference (not recommended) and UPnP. Confirm on the overview that the settings are correct and it should be set up. You can test the connection to check it.

• 1.8 - Updating the System

The PS3 has occasional mandatory system updates that you have to download if you want to sign into PSN. The updates are around 100MB and you download them by going to the "Settings" part of the XMB and pressing the "System Update" option. It will then say "Check for System update?", you need to press yes. It'll say "Update X is available do you want to download it?" Agree to all the terms and decide if you want to automatically turn the PS3 off after the update. Let it update and install, it takes about 10 minutes. You can also update the system via USB. You download the update from the following page: System Software Updates

Note: Don't turn the PS3 off during the update, this can have terrible consequences on the system and may even corrupt the system.

• 1.9 - Understanding Game Data and Game Saves

The two may sound similar but they are very different, here I will explain the differences between the two and how important they are:


Game Data

Game data is data that the game installs onto the PS3 so the disc drive can run easier, therefore the PS3 doesn't have to work as hard. You may have noticed from games that you've played that it will say "Installing Game Data don't turn off the system", this is just adding part of the game to your PS3. When you start up a PS3 game while connected to the internet it will most likely say that an update is available for this game and you have to download it if you want to play the game online, this is another form of game data and these updates/patches are just updates for the game. They can fix bugs, add DLC trophies etc. Most of them aren't very large in size and don't take very long to download.

If you sell a game that you don't intend on playing again, you can go into the "Game Data Utility" folder and delete it to save space as some games add about 5GB of data to your hard drive. If a trophy ever glitches on you, the chances are the game data is faulty and you will need to delete and re-install it for the trophies to work properly, known games with this problem are RAGE and Assassins Creed: Brotherhood (it's rare however).


Game Saves

These are small files which have the data you have done in video games saved there, such as how many missions you have completed. Don't delete this ever if you want to play the game again as you will have to start the game again. The only time it's okay to delete the data is if you never want to play the game again or want to start again. You can always back-up non-copyright game data to a USB stick or cloud storage (PS+ only) in case you ever do accidentally delete the save or it corrupts. Deleting saves does not affect your trophy list or games that have online ranks as that's usually saved on the game developer's servers.

[Harry94]

2.0 - Playstation Network

• 2.1 - Creating a PlayStation Network (PSN) Account
  
  As learnt in section 1.5, you are required to have a user profile to be able to create a PlayStation Network account. To create an account, simply scroll across to the header "PlayStation Network", which is the second furthest to the right in the XMB (Xross Media Bar), and press "Sign Up". You will be taken to the following screen in which you'll have two options to decide from, to create a new account or sign in with an existing account:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  If you do not yet have a PlayStation Network account, you will be required to create a new one. You will have to enter a fair few fields of information before you can continue, these being country/region of residence, language, D.O.B, e-mail address, password, a security question and answer, your online ID, first name, surname, gender, address, whether you want to receive information from PlayStation and third-party companies, as well as the terms and conditions. Once you are satisfied with your details being correct in the overview that you are redirected towards, click confirm.

• 2.2 - Changing your avatar
  
  An avatar is an image that is displayed next to your PlayStation Network profile which is viewable to yourself, anybody that is currently on your friends list, and also to anybody that interacts with you in any way. This includes sending or receiving a message to/from you, playing an online game and seeing your profile in the "Players Met" feature.
  
  To change your avatar, you need to be signed into PlayStation Network. You must also be on the XMB, which is the initial start-up screen when turning the PS3 on, as you cannot perform the operation whilst playing a game or accessing other features. Scroll across to the heading "PlayStation Network", which is the second furthest heading on the right. Below, you will see a list of 5 options. You will want to press the first option, "Account Management". When you have done so, you will once again want to follow the first option upon the next list that you encounter, which will be titled "Account Information". After doing so, the next thing you will want to look for is "Avatar", which is the 6th option down. You will be redirected to a list of default avatars to choose from, simply press the avatar of your pleasing and then press "Confirm" to make the selection.
  
  
  
  
  You can also buy and download a selection of avatars from the PlayStation Store, of which will also be placed in the same directory as the default avatars. You can not, however, make your own avatar to use.

• 2.3 - Changing your profile colour
  
  Changing your profile colour is very simple to perform, and you can edit it very quickly. To do so, you must be signed into PlayStation Network. Unlike changing your avatar, you can still perform this function whilst playing a game. Scroll to the very right, under the heading "Friends". Regardless of whether the list is in alphabetical order, your profile will always remain at the top, just below the "Message Box". Click on your profile and you will be redirected to a box that lists all trophies you have earned, along with other details if you press and to scroll between the options. On either of the three pages, press or and you will notice a multi-coloured box on the far left pop out. Press and another box will open, indicated with the image below, with all of the available colours to choose from.
  
  
  
  
  Please note, that there are additional colours available to PlayStation Vita users that aren't accessible to PlayStation 3 users. You may notice friends wielding them, even whilst playing on the PlayStation 3. They have simply changed the colour on the Vita and continued playing on the PS3.

• 2.4 - Changing your comment
  
  To change your comment, you must be signed into PlayStation Network. Similarly to changing your profile colour, your comment can be changed whilst on or off a game. Simply scroll to the far right of the XMB, under the category "Friends". Head to your profile and press . On the list of options given, you will want to press "Comment". When you have entered the comment you desire, press to confirm the choice. Alternatively, you can view your profile by pressing and once viewing, you can press and the white comment box will begin to glow. Simply press and it will redirect you to the same position.
  
  
  
  
  You may have also noticed that some users on your friends list have big lettering and/or symbols that aren't available on the default keyboard when inputting the comment. This isn't a hack or anything of the kind, these users have simply made use of other languages to create these patterns or effects. To gain access to these additions, simply scroll to the "Settings" heading and in "System Settings", change "System Language" to the language just below "Svenska", but before you do, just be aware that you must ensure you are able to navigate the PlayStation 3 without the use of English headings.
  
  Once changed, go back to your comment. Towards the bottom left of the keyboard, you'll see a box indicated with the symbols "@#:". Open the box, find the ° symbol (degrees) and press it. All will be visible in the predictive search box. For bigger/wider font, find the box titled "abc". Press on that and then press :L2: to get a bigger/wider font appear on the keyboard.
  
  Please note that the comment box only holds a maximum of 22 characters. You will be unable to continue adding characters when this limit has been met.

• 2.5 - Friends List and Blocking Users
  
  Friends List:
  
  Your friends list is a compiled list of all the people that you have added or have added you on PlayStation Network. There is a maximum of 100 friends that you can have on your list at any given time, so you will have to delete users and make space should you either want to add somebody or somebody wants to add you.
  
  There are a few methods of going about adding users. If you know their username, you can use the "Add a Friend" feature and manually type their name in the box. You'll find this option is second from the top on the "Friends" heading across the XMB. Another option is when viewing "Players Met", you can press on somebody that you have recently played online with and add them that way. It is also possible to add people through PlayStation Home and a certain other games.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Block List:
  
  If you find users are spamming you with messages, giving you grief, causing mischief or just generally annoying you in some way, you can add them to your "Block List" which prevents any messages being received from the user in question. To add a user to the block list, simply press on their profile and press "Add to Block List".

• 2.6 - Messages
  
  Although seemingly obvious, messages are for communicating with fellow PlayStation Network users quickly and easily. You can send and receive a message. To send a message, either go to "Message Box" and press "Create Message" (you will have to enter the user yourself), or when hovering over somebody's profile, press and the option "Create Message" will be the third option down if including "Sort By".
  
  All messages are automatically archived into the relevant sent and received folders, which are both accessible through the "Message Box". Although not compulsory, it is advisable to delete messages from both folders regularly to avoid having to spend a excessive amount of time deleting say, 5,000 messages. It is important to note, however, that the sent folder will only store 200 messages. If you go over this limit, the oldest messages will be overwritten with the newer messages.
  
  It is possible to protect important messages in the received folder but not in the sent folder. Whilst in the folder and viewing the message that you want to be protected, press and the option "Protect" will be the second option listed.
  
  You can send the same message to 16 different people if you don't want to repeat yourself several times. To do so, on the message box you will need to press "Create Message" and then "Select from Friends".
  
  It is also possible to send images through messages, called attachments. These images need to be stored on your PlayStation 3. You will need to hover over and press the paper clip image below the message field, which is located on every sent message.

• 2.7 - PlayStation Home
  
  PlayStation Home is a free service that allows you to interact and socialise with friends or complete strangers from all over the globe. You can play mini-games, explore new places, express yourself through clothing items and so much more.

[fletchar2]

• 2.8 - Text Chat & Video Chat
  
  Whilst messages are easy to use, it comes with it's disadvantages. Text chat and video chat was a feature that Sony implemented to add more variety in communicating with users. You are required to be signed into PSN to use these features.
  
  To start a new text chat or video chat, you will notice the option "Start New Chat", which is present under the heading "Friends" across the XMB. It is the third option down from this heading. Once you have pressed this, you will notice two options have been given, "Text Chat" and "Voice/Video Chat". Choose the option that you desire to use.
  
  
  
  
  For video chat, you are not required to have a headset or camera, but it is advisable as this is the only method of communicating. To find more info about these accessories, look at section 4.3 and 4.4, which can be found in this post. Video chat can only hold a maximum of 4 users.
  
  
  
  
  Text chat is exactly like messaging, you merely type to communicate. It is advantageous over messaging, however, as you can view your conversation in a somewhat similar way to threads. Text chats also hold 16 users at maximum, so this allows you to contact more than one person at a time and have a group conversation.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 2.9 - Trophies
  
  
  
  Trophies are rewards for completing certain criteria within the confinements of a game. They became a requirement of any retail or PSN game released after January 2009, but were optional beforehand. There are four types of trophies (in order of difficulty): bronze (), silver (), gold () and platinum (). Bronze trophies are the easiest to earn whilst platinum trophies are the hardest. Platinum trophies require you to earn every single other trophy on the game's trophy list, including all bronze, silver and gold.
  
  To view all of the trophies you have earned, and all those you need, you can view "Trophy Collection" which is located under the main heading "Game" on the XMB. This will list every game you have played that contains trophies, and this feature is available to anybody who owns a PS3; you do not need a PSN account.
  
  
  
  
  What you do need a PSN account for, is when you synchronise the trophies you have earned to the server, thus making them safe even if your PS3 malfunctions. To do so, when signed into PSN, scroll to the furthest right heading, "Friends". Simply click on your profile and then all earned trophies will synchronise and friends will be able to see the updated list. You may have to sit for a few minutes as the percentage increases to 100%. Alternatively, you can also synchronise them from viewing your "Trophy Collection" under the heading "Game". Without going into the folder, press and an option to "Sync with Server" will open on the right hand side of the screen. Press this and they will be synced.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 2.10 - Web Browser
  
  It is no secret that the PlayStation 3's web browser (called NetFront and created by Access Co.) isn't the best on the market, and it is advisable that when possible, to stick to your PC/Mac or any other device that sufficiently browses the net. The reason for this is because it is outdated and as a result it is slow to load pages, doesn't support things such as the Java scripts, and often or not will freeze your PS3 altogether.
  
  If you decide to utilise the browser, you will find it below the heading "Network" which is located third from the right on the XMB. You can use either "Internet Browser" or "Internet Search", both are exactly the same and work the same way except the browser option will automatically redirect you to the official PlayStation 3 site.
  
  
  
  
  Controls:
  • - Moving the analogue stick around will manoeuvre the arrow/pointer on the browser. Pressing the button down will zoom out from the singular tab and give access to all available tabs. To make a new tab, press triangle and see the list of options.
  • - Moving the analogue stick does nothing. Pressing the button will allow you to zoom in on the web page you are currently viewing.
  • - Pressing any of these buttons will move the pointer to the next available hyper-link on the page, which will be influenced by the direction in which you select.
  • When hovering over any hyper-links, pressing this button will redirect you to the page linked.
  • - Pressing this button at any time will give you the option to leave web browsing and return to the XMB. You will have to confirm this choice by pressing "Yes" or "No".
  • - Button has no function.
  • - Opens a menu of choices that you can interact with. Choose, view or change the options at your own will.
  • - These buttons will shift you between tabs without the need of zooming out.
  • - This will automatically redirect you to the "Address" field, where you will be allowed to quickly change the page or site you are viewing without the need for going through the menu.
  • - This will take you to your bookmarks. You can add a bookmark to the page you are currently viewing or you can redirect yourself to one previously saved. This is a good place for saving web sites that contain important information to you.
  
  
  
• 2.11 - Playstation Plus
  
  
  
  PlayStation Plus is a subscription service that you can purchase on the PS Store. In return, you will gain exclusive PSN games, premium themes and avatars, exclusive trials and/or betas, and general price reductions around the majority of the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation Plus package is updated every month with new content.
  
  Pricing:
  • UK - £11.99 for 3 months (90 days), £39.99 for 12 months/one year.
  • EU - €14.99 for 3 months (90 days), €49.99 for 12 months/one year.
  • US - $17.99 for 3 months (90 days), $49.99 for 12 months/one year.
  
  For more information about PlayStation Plus, please use this thread: The PlayStation Plus Thread
  
  
  
• 2.12 - TV/Video Services
  
  
  
  
  Under the heading "TV/Video Services" across the PlayStation 3's XMB, there are several applications that you may want to try out from time to time. They cover the majority of films that have been released and the major TV channels that allow you to catch up on programmes you have missed for whatever reason.
  
  BBC iPlayer:
  • BBC iPlayer is an application contracted on the PlayStation 3 between Sony and the BBC. It allows you to catch up on programs that you may have missed for it's television channels. These channels include BBC one, BBC TWO, BBC three, BBC FOUR, BBC NEWS, BBC PARLIAMENT, BBC ALBA, cbeebies, cbbc and BBC HD.
  • All programmes are available to watch for free and are usually available for a week after the show has aired.
  
  4oD:
  • 4oD is an application contracted on the PlayStation 3 between Sony and the Channel 4. It allows you to catch up on programs that you may have missed for it's television channels. These channels include Channel 4, Film4, More 4, E4 and 4Music.
  • All programmes are available to watch for free
  
  MUBI:
  • MUBI is designed for not only watching films, but for reviewing them, discussing them and sharing your thoughts about an actor, director or film with friends. You can organise your favourite films into lists and track everything you have previously watched. You can also track recent film news such as award winners.
  • You can stream a single film for £2.39, or you can sign up for a monthly subscription which will cost you £6.29 to watch unlimited films.
  
  VidZone:
  • VidZone is an application that allows you to listen to music videos for free on your PlayStation 3 console.
  • Every song is separated into a category for easy navigation and for the possibility of mass genre viewing. This doesn't restrict or make finding artists or songs hard, however, as you can use the search feature to narrow down certain criteria.
  • You can make play-lists and save favourite songs to such play-lists as a way of easily accessing songs that you can't stop listening to.
  
  Netflix:
  • Netflix is a service that allows you to stream as many films and TV shows as you desire for a monthly fee.
  • You have the ability to utilise a free month trial, although you will have to input details such as first name, surname, email and password. You will also have to input card details. If you do not cancel your trial, after the month you will be charged.
  • UK price - £5.99 per month.
  • US price - $7.99 per month.
  
  LoveFilm:
  • LoveFilm is a service that allows you to stream as many films and TV shows as you desire for a monthly fee.
  • You have the ability to utilise a free month trial, although you will have to input details such as first name, surname, email and password. You will also have to input card details. If you do not cancel your trial, after the month you will be charged.
  • UK price - starts at £4.99 per month, caps towards the higher end at £13.27 for unlimited DVDs & Blu-rays, 3 discs at a time.

[Harry94]

3.0 - PlayStation Store

The PlayStation Store is the centrepiece of everything that you buy from and for the PlayStation 3. This covers games, demos/trials/betas, themes, avatars, videos, downloadable content and so on. You must be signed into PlayStation Network to access it.

• 3.1 - Getting Money on to the PlayStation Store
  
  Credit/Debit Card:
  
  The first way of going about putting money into your PSN wallet is by using a credit/debit card. You can use any of the major cards and you can either choose to attach and save the card details to the PSN account or simply type the details in each time. Many people opt for the latter of those two options nowadays ever since the hacking scandal last year. The minimum amount you can enter using a card is £5.00 in the UK or $5.00 in the US.
  
  
  
  
  PlayStation Network Card:
  
  The second option available to you if you either don't have a credit/debit card or simply don't wish to use one, is by purchasing a physical PlayStation Network Card from a local shop, much like the picture below:
  
  
  
  
  
  There are a few differently valued card types available to you, which are:
  
  • UK - £5 (only at GAME/Gamestation), £10, £25, £50.
  • US - $10, $20, $50.
  • EU - €20, €50.
  The cards have codes on the back of them, which you need to "redeem" for the value to transfer into your wallet. To do so, please see the next point below.

• 3.2 - Redeeming Codes
  
  Redeeming codes is very useful to you and you may get codes for many different things. You can get codes for avatars, themes, games, betas, PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Network Cards and so on.
  
  To redeem a code, there are two methods. The first method is available to you in the PlayStation Store. You will notice across the top in any directory within the Store that there are four icons. The second is labelled "Redeem Codes" when you hover over it and is accompanied by an icon that looks like a pencil writing "12". Press on this. You will notice three boxes, all separated by hyphens. The maximum character limit is 4, and you will only receive alphanumerical characters to input. Simply input the code given and it will take you to another screen. Hit "Download" and if possible, "Download in Background" which basically means the download will continue as you carry out any other activity. Once downloaded, you will need to install what you are wishing to use.
  
  The second method, and probably the slightly quicker one of the two, is under "Account Management", located below the main heading "PlayStation Network across the XMB. When you press that, you should follow "Redeem Codes" and you will be directed to the same place as the first method.
  
  
  

• 3.3 - Categories
  
  When you enter the store, there are several categories that you will find. These are listed below and explained:
  
  • PlayStation Plus (EU and US) - The PlayStation Plus section on the Store for each region is where all offers related to the service are kept. These offers are updated each month. This category allows you to purchase Plus, download full games, avatars, themes and PSN titles for a reduced price or completely free. For a more extensive read on PlayStation Plus, please read section 2.10.
  • Latest (EU)/New Releases (US) - This category on the Store for both regions will store all of the latest products that have been added. The US region updates every Tuesday and the EU region updates every Wednesday, so be sure to check these categories on these days.
  • Top Sellers (EU)/Top Downloads (US) - Arguably similar to the "Popular Titles", this category lists all of the most downloaded items across all of the Store. The only difference is this includes avatars, themes etc whereas "Popular Titles" lists by games titles only.
  • All Games (EU)/All Titles (US) - This is an index of every game purchasable from the PS Store. When navigating through it, you will notice games are listed into genre types.
  • Popular Titles (EU) - This category is a comprehensive list of fan favourite titles that you can access for any related purchases.
  • PS3 Games (US) - This category narrows down and separates all PlayStation 3 games from PSN titles, PS1 Classics and so on, which is handy if you want to quickly find a product.
  • PS Vita Games (US) - Similarly to the above category, the PS Vita section segregates all titles for the PlayStation Vita in one easy to access area.
  • PSP Games (US) - This category lists all titles that are available for and compatible with the PlayStation Portable. Handy if you wish to narrow the search down or generally just browse titles for this specific console.
  • Demos (EU and US) - Demo is a term given to a small section of a game that is available for free as a way of testing the game and advertising it to consumers. This category lists all demos on the PS Store, so you can try games out before purchasing it (which may come to be a mistake should you not enjoy it).
  • Add-Ons (US) - Add-Ons, or otherwise known as Downloadable Content (DLC), are game packs that add to an already existing game. They may include extra costumes, levels, characters etc and you must have the original game to make use of these. This category lists all games alphabetically that have some form of add-on.
  • Themes and Avatars (UK and US) - This category holds all available themes and avatars that you can download to spice up your XMB or profile to others. Themes are the backgrounds, sounds, icons and text styles that your XMB has, and differ from each other quite a lot. Avatars are small images that can be used to express yourself when you select your single serving avatar for others to see.
  • Media & Apps (UK and US) - This category holds all media and applications that you can download on to your PlayStation 3. These include game trailers, PS Home content, events, music and game soundtracks, short film series and other third-party company items.

• 3.4 - Purchasing a Product(s)
  
  When you have found a product on the PlayStation Store that you wish to purchase and have pressed on it, you will notice a few options down the left hand side, just below the relevant image of the said product. You can either press the orange button, "Buy Now", or you can add it to your cart if you are buying several items. If you are indeed purchasing several items and place them into your cart, you may wish to view your cart and all of the products within it. From any location within the PlayStation Store, there are 4 buttons along the top. You want to find the option tha has an icon of a shopping trolley (it is the furthest option to the right). You will be redirected to a new screen that lists all items and their individual price, as well as the total price. Proceed to checkout when you are satisfied with your selection. Your items will now start downloading. If and when possible, press "Download in Background" as it will allow you to use another feature of the PlayStation 3 whilst you wait.

• 3.5 - PlayStation Store Updates
  
  The PlayStation Store updates weekly, which changes dependent upon region. It is updated every Tuesday in the NA region and every Wednesday in the EU region. Be sure to check out the thread relevant to your location for updates on the PlayStation Store:
  
  EU Playstation Store (PSN) Update Thread
  US Playstation Store (PSN) Update Thread

• 3.6 - Playstation Store Regions
  
  The PS Store has many different regions, depending on what account your region is set to the content etc will be different slightly. The JP store has more anime avatars and japenese games, whereas the UK store doesnt have those. To access that content you need to create a new user and when setting the details up set the location to whatever one you want (e.g. Japan to access JP Store etc).
  
  You will now have access to the desired store from that account ONLY, other accounts won't be affected. Heres the annoying thing, if you want to add funds to your wallet you have to do so with that regions form of payment, e.g. If i'm on the JP store and want to buy something I will have to use a JP PSN card, credit/debit cards can't be used. You can buy these cards from eBay though or other online retailers.

[fletchar2]

4.0 - PS3 Accessories

• 4.1 - HDMI vs AVI

• 
  
  The difference between AVI and HD is simple, one is SD and one is HD. There's a lot of noticeable differences on the output when using the two different ones, here I will explain the difference.
  
  HDMI
  
  A HDMI connection is the best option as the image is HD and the quality is a lot better (Depends on TV). A HDMI cable can only be used on a HD ready TV and not the old huge SD TVs. You can tell if a TV is HD ready as it will say on the box or description. All TVs you can by nowadays are HD ready so don't worry too much about that. The differences to the SD version are:
  
  • Everything is clear and crisp
  • Trophy list green % bar is longer and thinner
  • The XMB options are smaller
  • The by you PSN ID is a lot bigger
  • Trophy notifications are a lot smaller and clearer
  • Message notifications are a lot smaller and clearer
  • Picture quality on games significantly better
  
  If you want to get the most out of your PS3 you should be using a HD connection. The cables are very cheap and can be bought from most electrical high street retailers or online through amazon etc.
  
  AVI
  
  An cable AVI is the red, white and yellow cable you got with the PS3. It can be used on either a SD or HD TV but the quality is a lot worse than using a HDMI. The graphics are still good but it's no way near as good as HD. The differences to HD are:
  
  • Picture is clear, but it's not brilliant
  • Trophy list green % bar fat and short
  • The XMB options are in large text
  • The by you PSN ID is a lot smaller
  • Trophy notifications are huge and are bulky
  • Message notifications are a huge and are bulky
  • Picture quality on games is reduced, text is larger
  
  This is the connection you should use if you don't have a HD TV as there's no other option for you. The PS3 is still playable as the first year I had a PS3 I used the standard cable, I'm using HD now and I could never go back to this.

• 4.2 - Playstation Move

• 
  
  Playstation move was released in 2011, it is very similar concept to the Wii. You have a controller which is called a 'Move controller' and it's basically a sensor, so say you were playing a tennis game, you would have to swing the remote to hit the ball. There are many games that have PS Move features and it will say on the game case if it does. For a list of games that support PS Move see this thread:
  
  PlayStation Move Games
  
  To turn the controller on, simply press the button. Like the DualShock 3 controller, the PlayStation Move controller will begin to flash when you are connecting it to the system. Once it has connected, it will change to a full red light and will not blink. If the controller needs charging, you will notice the USB port is on the very bottom.
  
  The controls differ from game to game, but for the XMB the button commands do the following:
  
  • - Pressing it will turn the controller on. Holding it will bring up the same menu when you press the button on a DualShock 3 controller.
  • - The same function as on the DualShock 3 controller.
  • - The same function as on the DualShock 3 controller.
  • - The same function as on the DualShock 3 controller.
  • - No function.
  • - No function.
  • - Shares the same function as
  • - Pressing the button down will have no function. Holding it down however, will allow you to use the controller for navigation across the XMB. Try holding the button down, and then move the controller in any direction.
  
  Note:The PlayStation Move requires a PlayStation Eye or Eye-Toy for use on the PlayStation 3.

• 4.3 - Headset

• 
  
  Note: You don't get a headset with the PS3 like you do with the xbox 360. You have to buy one separately.
  
  A headset is used in online gaming to talk to other gamers around the world. Nearly every online game will allow you to use headsets nowadays and having one allows better communication with your friends and other people around the world. There's two different types of headset you can get, they are wireless and wired ones.
  
  Wireless
  
  The wireless ones are usually just an earpiece, but some of them are proper ones. The advantages of having a wireless one means you don't have wires getting in the way of you and you are free to move out of the room while still wearing the headset. The disadvantage though is you have to charge them, but they have very good battery in them and last many hours before dieing. Some of them are very cheap and I don't advise you get one of those as you want one to be comfortable, the cheap ones aren't and can cause discomfort around your ear with prolonged use. I use the official Sony headset and I have had never had any trouble with it. It may be expensive for what it is but it's one of the best wireless headsets you can get.
  
  Wired
  
  These use the USB ports on your PS3 to work, the wire is fairly long on most of them but it can still be a pain and get in the way. Most of the high end headsets are wired because of the power they consume, some of them have speakers inside them so you can hear the game through the headsets (Turtlebeach is an example that does this). A lot of the wired ones are the full on headphones, so they are very comfortable to wear and these types of headsets are the preferred type.
  
  Whatever one you buy, they will be different to set up. But its basically the same way as you set up controllers, you sync it to the PS3 by plugging it in and then it is synced to that PS3 only, unless you plug it in to a different one.

• 4.4 - Playstation Eye

• 
  
  The PlayStation eye is much like a web cam or a camera, it records video and takes pictures. There isn't many uses for it apart from a few games like burnout paradise and littlebigplanet where you can take photos during the game, of yourself and put them as profile pictures etc. The really handy feature of the PlayStation eye is video chats, video chat is great if you don't have skype or something similar. If you have somebody on your friends list you can also has a PlayStation eye then you can have a video chat with each other. There is a microphone on the PS eye so you can speak to each other through it, the chat can also go on for a long as you like and best of all it is free, you just need a broadband connection to do it.
  
  There's two compatible PS eyes that the PS3 will recognize, those are the one on the PS2 which is called an eye toy and the one on the PS3 which is called a PS eye. The one on PS2 is a lot cheaper but it doesn't have a built in microphone, only can take pictures etc. Some digital cameras are compatible but hardly any are, to check just plug your camera in a it will say if its compatible or not.
  
  To sync the eye to the PS3 just plug it in to the USB ports and your done, it syncs to that.

• 4.5 - Dualshock Controllers

• 
  
  The official PS3 dualshock controllers are the best money can buy. They have built in bluetooth technology to you can use it wirelessly and there's also a built in battery, so you just have to plug it in to charge it and not buy batteries for it like other consoles. The official controllers have built in motion sensors called sixaxis and this is basically like PS move, but simpler. Not many games use the sixaxis feature. You need to be wary of un official controllers as they have a terrible feel to them, they also don't have sixaxis functions and most use AA batteries. The DS3 controllers may be a tad expensive but they are completely worth it as they last a long time.
  
  For info on how to sync controllers to the PS3, see 1.3.

• 4.6 - Remote Control

• 
  
  The official Sony remote control is just a remote control that you use for when watching films. It is similar to the controller in terms of syncing to the PS3. It has main features on it such as play/pause, fast forward, rewind, power on etc. It makes watching films a lot easier, as if you don't have one of these then you have to press :select; and manually press the buttons which can get frustrating after a while. On the PS3 controller you can also press and stuff to pause and play, but it's confusing remembering which buttons do what, so I recommend you buying a remote like this if you will be watching films regularly. They are fairly cheap so it shouldn't take too bigger dent in the wallet.

• 4.7 - Keyboard

• 
  
  The keyboard feature is designed for those people that aren't contempt with the digital keyboard present when typing a message. It is used for speeding up the time it takes to write and send messages to other users and some models, like the one pictured above, are as easily used as attaching it to the dualshock controller. Other models differ, however, so it depends on the user's preference.

[Harry94]

5.0 - Other Features on the PS3

• 5.1 - Photos
  
  The photo section on the XMB is uses for viewing photos, you don't need to download the program listed under it as that's just a picture viewing thing which isn't worth the bother in downloading. If you have any photos on the PS3 then they will be listed along here, press over an image to bring the image up to full screen. Now if you press you will see options like rotate, set as wallpaper etc, most of these buttons can be assessed by pressing specific buttons on the controller. For details on how to add files to the PS3 see 5.4.
  
  
  

• 5.2 - Videos
  
  Much the same as pictures, but this time you have videos here instead.The PS3 has a built in video player, if you have ever watched a film it's the same concept as that, is play/pause, and is skip scene etc. For more info see remote in accessories heading.
  
  The PS3 also has a video uploader option which you can use to upload and edit videos, it's a free service and to start downloading it just hit press the "Video editor and uplaoder" option under videos.
  
  Only certain file formats are supported, so make sure you use popular file extensions when adding videos to the PS3 as it will just say 'corrupted data' or the file won't be there at all. You won't be using this feature much as you might not have many downloaded videos on your PC. When you watch a film via a disk, it will appear under this option.
  
  
  

• 5.3 - Music
  
  This is a cool little feature on the PS3. Much like windows media player you have the ability to play music from CDs or rip the music on the CDs to the PS3. Downloaded music will also work but if you have any that came from iTunes, they won't work as iTunes has a specific format. I advise you just use MP3 files when adding downloaded music to the PS3. There is also another musics program you can download on the PS3 and you access that by pressing it under the "Music" catergory.
  
  The music player also has a nice selection of visual players too, much like windows media player. Abstract images will change colour, dissolve etc in the screen as the music is playing. You can change the visual player by going into the settings while on a music file is playing and clicking in 'visual player', there's about 5 different ones to choose from. For info on adding sings to the PS4 from a USB stick see section 5.4.
  
  
  

• 5.4 - Adding media via USB stick
  
  Adding media via a USB stick is simple, say I have some photos and videos on my laptop which I'd like to use on my PS3, I can transfer them over with a USB stick. The simplest way to do this is create a folder on the USB stick called 'PS3', then inside this folder will be where all the PS3 related stuff you want on the PS3 will go. For photos you will want to create a folder called 'Photos' and you put all the photos in there (not all file extensions supported). If you want to add videos then you create a folder called 'videos' and put all the videos in there (not all file extensions supported). Sometimes if you plug a memory stick into the PS3, the PS3 will automatically look for media files and list them all so you don't have to go through this lengthy process.
  
  Once you have found the media on the USB stick, press on it and then copy to put it on the PS3. Now, if you want to add music to your PS3 you just do the above method or you put a music CD in and it will rip all the contents onto the OS3 much like a PC.

• 5.5 - Themes
  
  Themes are the colour schemes, styles, and backgrounds that your PS3 can wield which will alter it's appearance. Some themes even come with sound effects for navigation around the XMB from outside a game, and there are also a lot of dynamic themes (moving themes) around nowadays. To change the theme you are using, simply navigate to the "Settings" heading on the XMB and locate "Theme Settings" (it is the 7th option down). Now press "Theme" to change it completely. You can also edit the other options to your choosing, "Colour, Background" and "Font". You may have noticed that there aren't many (if any at all) themes stored here. Here are two methods of going about getting more themes added to your folder:
  
  • Visiting the PlayStation Store and either downloading free themes (there are minimal available) or by purchasing the themes with monetary value. For more information on how to access the PlayStation Store, locate themes and purchase an item, please see section 3.
  • Another way of finding themes is by using an external website. There are many out there on the internet, so it's a matter of preference. One website I would recommend highly is: PS3 Themes » #1 Resource for PS3 Themes
    There are endless themes available on this site, even with the recent edition of dynamic themes, and you can even go as far as making your own custom theme.
  You can download themes straight from your PS3 and they will be automatically placed within the themes folder, or you can use a USB stick, download them on to your computer and then proceed to transfer them to the console. Again, this is a matter of preference and how friendly you are with the PS3's internet browser.
  
  
  

• 5.5 - Media Servers
  
  A media server is a connection (or DNLA as its reffered to as) enables digital devices such as PCs and TVs to be connected to a network and to share data such as images, videos music etc, that is on another connected device. So say I had a film on my PC, I could stream it to my PS3 and watch it from there, it's a very useful feature on the PS3. To set this up refer to your computers manual, if however you are using windows media player 11 to stream the data you simply go to the 'library' menu, then click 'media sharing', then tick the box 'share media', if your PS3 is turned on with media player enabled it will be on the list, select it then allow the media server connection.
  
  However, this only works over wifi and you have to have a DNLA compatible device for it to work on the PS3, most new laptops and PCs are DNLA compatible, windows media player 11 is also compatible.
  
  If you however would not like to use the media server you can disable it by going to Settings -> Network Settings -> Media Server Connection -> Disable

[fletchar2]

6.0 - Buying and Renting Games Online

• 6.1 - Buying Games in the UK

Here is a list of all the well known online game retailers in the UK, each one uses credit/debit cards for the transaction or gift cards, paypal etc. If there's any more you think we should add then just post in the thread, giving the link to the website alongside a description of what the company is like for customer service and any other variables that may persuade you into purchasing a product from them or not.

Amazon.co.uk
I'm sure you've all heard of Amazon before, it's one if the biggest online retailers worldwide. They sell all sorts of video games, but some of the older ones Amazon aren't selling, they still have the game listed but it will come from a different site. I've bought many games from Amazon over the years and I've never had a problem with them. They have a "super safe free delivery" option on most items (if it's coming from Amazon directly) which will give you free postage to anywhere in UK mainland. Amazon aren't always the cheapest, but they have good deals at times and are known for a high level of customer service.


Zavvi.com
I have only used Zavvi once, the transaction went smoothly and quickly and I had no trouble with them. I received the game within the estimated delivery time and all was well. Another good thing about Zavvi is they offer free shipping to the UK and international countries. Some bad things though is if you look at review sites people say the customer service is appalling and that it took forever for them to dispatch. I don't know if that's true or not due to a lack of personal experience with the company, but I never had any trouble with my order. I recommend Zavvi if you want UK games but don't live in the UK.


GAMEGEARS.CO.UK
Gamegears aren't really popular, but I'm sure some of you have heard of them. I have only ordered from them once and that was Call of Duty: Black ops. I pre ordered the game about 2 weeks before the game released and I got the game on the Monday and the game officially came out on a Tuesday so I got the game early which I was happy with. I got a T-Shirt with it too! I'd recommend gamegears if you're somebody that likes getting pre orders early.


TheHut.com
The hut is owned by the same people who own Zavvi, it's basically the same thing and service as Zavvi. I have ordered twice off the hut, once was with Dead Rising 2 in 2010 and I got the game within 24hrs of placing my order which was great! The delivery was free and it said estimated delivery 3 - 5 days but I got it next day. The second time I ordered from them I got it within the estimated delivery time. Also, once your registered you occasionally get 10% off codes to use on anything on the hut, it's the same for Zavvi.


ASDA Direct
Everybody in the UK has heard of ASDA, the direct part of the site just specialises in technology based products (such as video games). I have never ordered anything from them so I have no personal experiences about the service, but a quick google search says their fairly average and provide a good service. ASDA is a trustworthy retailer too so if you have trouble I'm sure it won't be difficult to sort out.


Play.com
Play is one of the biggest online video game stores in the UK, I have ordered plenty of games off of them and I've never had trouble with them. I've always received the game within the dispatch date. However I have heard from members on here that the delivery isn't great and it takes forever for the item to reach you but that may have just been an unlucky situation, I have never had a problem with them. The prices are good too and if your looking for an old game, chances are it will be a good price. Just be wary that should there be a problem, Play.com aren't renowned for their customer service, so you may have to fight more so to get a refund or replacement than other companies.


GAME
Gamestation.co.uk
I've listed these together as they are both owned by game group and the prices are similar to each other, but I'd say gamestation is the best choice out of the two. I have never ordered from them before and have only bought from the stores, but I've read the customer service is excellent and they get problems sorted quickly enough. I've also heard that the customer service can also be not very helpful at times, so I guess it depends on your problem. As you know game group went into administration in early 2012, but all that's been sorted now and there up running as usual.


Games - Tesco Entertainment
The same as ASDA basically, this is the entertainment side of Tesco which sells all sorts of tech etc. The games I would say are fairly average on price, I have never ordered from them before but I'm sure they will be no problem as they are a respectable company and the biggest retailing company across the whole of the UK.


ShopTo.Net
Shopto is an e-commerce site that offers free delivery to residents of the UK. They are a well established, reliable company and are recommended.

• 6.2 - Renting Games in the UK

Here is a list of online retailers that offer renting services for games in the UK. Please post in the thread if any are missed and you feel should be added.

Bommerang Rentals
Boomerang rentals is an easy to use site that allows for quick rentals. All you have to do is choose between the 11 different membership packages (starting from only £3.49 a month), select your games, receive and play the game, then either decide to send it back or keep it. A free trial is possible.

Blockbuster.co.uk
Blockbuster are a well known, trusted company that offer rental services for both the UK and US. This is the UK version. There is a free trial available.

LoveFilm.com
LoveFilm is a respectable company that not only offers purchases online, but rentals too. There is a free 30 day trial available to test the service and see if you are happy with it.

• 6.3 - Buying Games in the US

Here is a list of all the well known online game retailers in the US, each one uses credit/debit cards for the transaction or gift cards, paypal etc. If there's any more you think we should add then just post in the thread, giving the link to the website alongside a description of what the company is like for customer service and any other variables that may persuade you into purchasing a product from them or not.

Amazon.com
The home of Amazon itself, this is the US version of the site. The company offer a free delivery option to anyone living in the US residence. Such free offers may vary upon location and are limited to residents of the United States. Amazon is an extremely established brand and is known for a high level of customer service. Very recommendable.


eBay
eBay is an online auctioning website that allows users to buy and sell products from other users for (usually) a discounted price. Most products are second-hand, so this needs to be taken into consideration when purchasing a game that requires an online pass (more than likely the initial user has used the code that came in the box).


Cheap Ass Gamer
Cheap Ass Gamer is a site that has low prices on video games, perfect for if you want a bargain to keep you going. Not as well known as the other e-commerce sites, but still recommendable.


GameStop
GameStop is a very reliable and well known company situated in the US. They offer rewards for membership cards and the general consensus is that they have a good customer service. Not a bad site to check out if you are comparing prices and looking for some of the best deals in the US.

• 6.4 - Renting Games in the US

Here is a list of online retailers that offer renting services for games in the UK. Please post in the thread if any are missed and you feel should be added.

GameFly
GameFly is an American e-commerce site that offers renting services. All you have to do is pick your games online, have them sent to you, play the games for as long as you desire, then either decide to return them or keep them. A free trial is available. The service costs $15.95 or $22.95, dependent on the package you decide.

Blockbuster.com
Blockbuster are a well known, trusted company that offer rental services for both the UK and US. This is the US version. There is a free trial available.

[Harry94]

7.0 - General FAQ

Q. Can I check how much memory that I have left on the PS3?

A. Yes you can, just go to the 'Settings' part of the XMB and then go to 'System settings, scroll to the very bottom and click on 'System Info'. This will tell you how much memory you have used and how much memory you have left.

Q. I have some game data that is taking forever to delete, why is this?

A. This isn't a rare thing. As some game data is very big, it can take a while to delete from the PS3. Wait until it has deleted, DO NOT turn the PS3 off while it's deleting as this can corrupt your hard drive. If a game data is faulty, it will take a lot longer to delete, but having faulty game data is very rare.

Q. How do I back up save data to a USB?

A. Good question. Firstly, you need a USB flash drive. 95% of them are compatible with the PS3, so don't worry too much about that. You need to plug the USB stick into the PS3 and then go to 'Save Data' under game, there should be an option in there called 'USB Flash Drive' or something similar, that's a good sign as you know the USB stick is compatible with the PS3. Now go to the save data you want to back up, press on it and then press 'Copy' (not all saves will have that option if it's copyright protected), then click the USB on the next part. The save will then copy over to the USB stick.

Q. How do I do it on cloud storage?

A. It's the same as the above method, but you click on cloud storage instead. You can only put stuff in cloud if you have PS+, for more info on that please see 2.10 of the guide. The good thing about this way is it lets you put the saves in there even if they are copyrighted and you can access them from any PS3 if you sign in using your account. There's a 300MB limit to this storage though, so only add important saves to it.

Q. I accidentally deleted the wrong PS3 user, is there any way to get it back?

A. Sadly, no. Once it has been deleted, it's gone forever. There is no way to get it back. This will cause your game saves and sign in details that are saved to get deleted. You can always create a new user though and put your PSN details back in again to continue as normal, however any saves that haven't been backed up or trophies that haven't been synced will be gone for good.

Q. Every time I enter an email address, it says not valid.

A. There's Lot's of reasons this can happen, the main reason is the email address is already in use on another account or the email address doe's not exist. Make sure you are using a proper valid email address so you can check the emails Sony send you etc. It's important if you ever need to reset your password.

Q. I bought an avatar but I cannot find it, where is it?

A. The avatars you have bought will be in the premium avatar section of the drop down list. Click the drop down list the go to 'Premium Avatars', in there is all the PSN avatars you have bought of of PSN. They cost 20p each. One thing to take into consideration is avatars don't share over multiple users on the PS3, it will only be visible and can only be used on the account that purchased it.

Q. Is there anyway to change my PSN name?

A. No, at the moment there isn't. In the future it might be a feature for PS+ users but that hasn't been confirmed. The only way to change your PSN name is to create a completely new account and restart everything from scratch, only do this if you really hate your name as you will lose trophies and everything, game saves from your old account will also not work on the new account.

Q. What is 'Gamesharing'?

A. This is something you should not do, it is against Sony's Terms of service, do it and you can risk a ban. Gamesharing is basically sharing one persons downloaded content with another person so they have access to the content for free. Sony can see what Ps3/ your signing in on so don't even attempt to do it.

Q. I forgot my password

A. If this happens you need to click the forgot password section on the PSN sign in screen, this will send an email to the email address linked with that account which will explain how to reset the password.

Q. Where should I buy the Accessories from?

A. Anywhere that sells them, there is no 'right' place to buy them so don't worry about it. You should look online for the cheapest places to buy them from, then make a decision based on that.

Q. My controller keeps resetting itself and being out of sync

A. An easy way to fix something like this is to use the rest button on the controller, there's a little button on the back of the controllers which you need to use a pin to access. This will restart the controller and you will have to re sync it to your PS3 again. This will most likely fix your problems with the controller.

Q. The same thing is happening with my headset, why?

A. This can be due to many reasons, but as all headsets are different they will each have different restarting methods. Refer to the headset makers website and there should be bit on the site that says how to reset it. If none of that works then just try plugging in the headset directly to the PS3 to allow it to re sync.

Q. Should I buy any un official accessories?

A. Of course you should, some of them are ok. But I don't recommend buying any un-official controllers as they feel so cheap and horrible. Buying un-official headsets is fine, most of the non Sony ones are actually better than the Sony ones themselves.

Q. No picture is showing on my screen after switching to HDMI

A. This will happen if you have been using a AVI connection beforehand, you just need to reset the video settings on the PS3. You do this by holding the power button down (when it's on standby) on the PS3 until you hear two beeps, it should now work fine. If not then your cable is faulty or your on the wrong input setting on your TV.

Q. The PS Store keeps kicking me out

A. This happens alot, and its caused by maintenance or some other error with the system. If it ever says cannot connect to server just leave the PS Store and come back to it later, or if it says it's down for maintenance then it will not work at all for at least a good few hours. Sony usually let people know if there is going to be maintenance, so you know beforehand, Either check new posts on PS3T a lot or look at the official Sony website for info on maintenance.

Q. I can't add money to my wallet?

A. See the explanation above, that is the most likely reason you cannot do it. If the problem persists try using a different debit/credit card or call Sony customer services. it should only be temporary so if you come back later you might be able to add funds without it failing.

Q. I live in a country that doesn't support the PS Store, how can I access it?

A. Not many countries don't have the PS Store, but if your in the unclucky few then there is a way to go about getting it. When creating a PSN account make sure to put your country to one that has a PS Store (UK or US will do), then that's it. You can now access the PS Store.

Q. I can hear the sound of the PS3, but there is no picture?

A. rest the video settings, should fix things up for you. You do this by turning the PS3 off then holding the power button down until it beeps twice. It will take you to the video settings screen then hopefully.

[GlennThomas]

Great work with the thread guys. Very detailed. I'm sure it will help a lot of people out, with everything and anything PlayStation-related. Looking forward to seeing the finished project.