make room in your budget for one of these
Pros:
needed to save memory on the playstation game console
Cons:
huh nope wrong memory card, darn this ain't it either
The Bottom Line:
Sony's version of the floppy disk
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Oh hum I am bored out of my mind so I figure it's time to review one of those little accessories everybody should have. Why not my Playstation memory card. So what is a memory card.
Any new console that's been released in the past 6 to 7 years (with the exception of the N64, even though have it's game require a memory card to.) have been on CD's. All the new generation consoles are also on CD's. Unlike the cartridges, CD's can't save data on themselves. This means you will have to buy a memory card. This is where the Sony memory card comes in.
Do I need it to play.
No you don't need it to play, however games like Final Fantasy will take about 70 hours to play, and keeping your Playstation on for that long of time isnt good for it, or your electric bill either.
What's it look like.
The Sony memory card looks like an old fashion Game boy game cartridge (you know when they where still making them in a size in which you can see), it's a bit thinner and a bit longer though. Now on the Playstation console there are two slots above the controllers with places to put them. All you have to do is slip them into the console and your ready to go.
How much will one save, and how what's a block.
Each memory card contains 15 blocks of memory. So much can you save in a block, well it depends on the game. Now you will at least need one block for each game, however some games give you more save space then other. For instance Mega Man X5 gives you 8 spaces for 1 block. However some games (especially games like RPG's) will take 1 block of space for each save file. Generally the back of the game will tell you how much data it will take.
How do I tell how much memory is used on my card.
If you need to know how much memory is on a card, or change the card's data all you have to do is start your Playstation with the lid up. After the Playstation boots up choose memory card. Now on the memory card will show the blocks, and each game will have it's own symbol for it. My hilighting blocks you'll get to see what the data is contain in the block. In this screen you can also delete and copy data from one memory card to another.
What's with the colors.
Is there a difference in the selection of colors. No Sony is taking after Nintendo and everybody else in the industry by giving people more variety. Besides it helps keep track of cards. This way if you get a lot of games, and an equal amount of memory cards they can at least tell each one apart. I wonder if this has ever happen to someone with a lot of game and an equal amount of memory cards.
I haven't played this game in a while, now to get the memory card with my file on it. They then open up a shelf with about 30 memory cards, picks one and putting them in the Playstation. Nope wrong memory card maybe this one, after about 2 hours of doing this they finally find the right card, but they don't have time enough to play the game.
3rd party cards.
My advice on third party console accessory, only get one if the first party doesnt make that accessory. Example would be a GBA battery charger. Why? While there are a few instances where you might find a 3rd party accessory that works has well, if not better then the 1st party one and is cheaper to. Most of the time though you get burn, and sometimes burn enough to where your console won't work. While I doubt any memory card crash will ruin your Playstation, it is frustrating when you loose memory from all your games. Has far has those mega memory cards I have never used one, however, I have heard a lot of bad things about them. On top of that the fact that Sony hasnt come out with any of there own mega memory cards lead me to believe that it can't be done reliably. Sure go ahead and buy these cards if you want to, but don't come crying to me when your 70 hour Final Fantasy VII game gets deleted.
Final recommendation.
Do I recommend this, definitely, if your planning on buying any new game station (not just the Playstation) find out how much memory cards are and budget the extra money in for one. Not being able to save on a modern day game makes them nearly impossible to beat, and very frustrating to have to sit and beat them in one siting, even if they are just a few hours long. The price for a Sony memory card should be anywhere to 10 to 15 dollars.
