Enhance Your Holiday Gaming with the HQ Universal Component/AV/S-Video Cable

MERRY CHRISTMAS GAME TRAIN READERS!!

The Game Train staff members would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas! And if you aren’t one to celebrate Christmas, we’d still like to wish you a Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!

It was tough trying to come up with a product for the Christmas post. But I think I found something that new age console players can enjoy…

The HQ Universal Component/AV/S-Video Cable is the only cable any gamer would ever need to connect all of their console systems to their television sets! If you’re an owner of a PlayStation 2 or 3, Xbox 360, or Wii (both SD and HD models), then you can use the HQ Universal Cable on any CRT television, LCD or Plasma monitor, projection screen, or HDTV system that accepts component, A/V, or S-Video! It’s fully compatible with all audio/video technologies up to, and including, 1080p.


This is one of the highest quality cables you can find on the market that is compatible with all of these consoles. You’ll also appreciate the high transfer speeds that this cable brings, supporting Dolby Prologic, Dolby Digital and Surround Sound, Stereo Sound, and DTS 5.1 Channel System.

So if you’re looking to boost up your gaming, especially if you got a new console or TV for the holidays – then this is your best bet for some high quality gaming! Experience the incredibly breath-taking quality for only £16.95!

The PS3 E-Setter Makes TV Switching Easier!

When I first bought my PlayStation 3, I had three different television sets in my house: 1 CRT tube TV and 2 LCD high definition TVs. Upon setting up my PS3 to be compatible with the CRT TV set in my room, I decided to move it to one of the LCD TVs in the corner of the living room. Transferring consoles may seem easy and brainless, but it is actually a fairly complicated process than that.

See, when you switch your PS3 from one TV to another, you have to worry about the output resolution. If it doesn’t match up, you’ll end up getting a blank screen upon transfer – something that had me a bit confused when I first played around with it.

To bypass this problem, the best solution is to invest in a PlayStation 3 E-Setter – a smart new product that I wish I had two years ago. The PS3 E-Setter plugs up to one of your free USB ports on the console and allows you to select from the following outputs: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, auto HDMI, YPbPr, RGB, and AV. If no image displays on the screen, press down on the handy dandy reset button and wa-lah! You’ve got a video feed!

Now you don’t have to worry about your PS3 to TV compatibility, especially when the PS3 E-Setter supports hardware upgrades and all of the different PS3 models. Make your life easier by grabbing a PS3 E-Setter for £15.49!

Stay Organized and Ready to Play with The PS3 Sixaxis Controller Charging Stand

If you forget to charge your PS3 controller using the USB cable when you’re not playing – you end up with a wired PS3 controller. Gotta keep the battery charged before you can use it the way it was designed to be used! If you happen to be one of those people who, no matter how hard you try, manage to neglect charging your controller when you’re done playing, then I’ve got something for you!



The Game Train has stocked up on PS3 Sixaxis Controller Charging Stands! Now you can keep track of your controllers (instead of them lying around under a stack of clothes and magazines) by holding them on this Sixaxis Controller Stand. Best of all – it fully charges your PS3 controller, so you can play wirelessly whenever you want!

The PS3 Sixaxis Controller Charging Stand charges your PS3 controller using an included USB cable – something else to think about if you happened to misplace yours. Because it’s as easy as plugging it in, it will become one of the most efficient products you’ll ever need to use for your PlayStation 3.

Only the best materials were used to manufacture this product, making it durable and long lasting. It’s also very sleek and attractive; matching your console and entertainment center in a nice and shiny black – one of the few colours that match virtually any other colour out there.

You can grab your own PS3 Sixaxis Controller Charging Stand and USB Cable for only £8.49 – In stock now!

Transfer Saves with the PS3 Memory Card Adapter

Thinking of getting a PlayStation 3 for an avid PlayStation-playing friend or family member during this holiday season? Then make sure you include the PS3 Memory Card Adapter to their gift basket!

The PlayStation 3 memory card adapter is essential to gamers that are upgrading their console from PS1 or PS2 to the latest PS3 model. Trust me – This was the very first thing I bought after I stood in the PS3 line at Best Buy for 2 hours. Right when I got home, I transferred my memory from the memory card to the internal hard drive so I could play Socom: Combined Assault from my PS3!

So here’s how it works. Plug in the PS3 memory card adapter to an available USB port on the console. Insert a PS1 or PS2 memory card into the adapter and turn your console on. From here, you can locate your memory card and transfer the files to your internal hard drive. Repeat the process for the handful of memory cards you have.

That’s it! Now you, your friends, or your family members won’t have to start any game progress over in any of the old school games! Continue right where you guys left off with all of the earned scores, items, and achievements. For only £8.49, you can make your life a whole lot easier! Order today and your purchase will be posted tomorrow!

New Logic 3 PS3 Joypads

Are you a big gamer that plays both the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 simultaneously? Then grab your hands on the most practical and cost efficient set of devices yet for Sony!



Logic 3 – PS3 Wired USB Joypad: This USB joypad is a wired controller for your PS3 gaming. Its ergonomic design allows for super comfortable gaming! The joypad comes with a 1.8 (6m) cable to keep you connected!

Logic 3 Freebird – PS3 Wireless Joypad: This wireless joypad is compatible with both the PS2 and PS3 consoles, so you don’t need to worry about any tangles when playing with all of your friends! This is perfect for those who aren’t used to the new motion sensing feature on the new PS3 controls and want to go back to the comfort of the usual PS2 controls.

Logic 3 Freebird with Motion Sensing – PS3 Wireless Joypad: This wireless joypad is also compatible with PS2 and PS3, but with an added bonus compared to the Logic 3 Freebird: a tilt feature! You can enjoy wireless gaming with motion sensing capabilities like you can with the basic PS3 controller, but without having to drop some big bucks.

The Logic 3 Freebird and Logic 3 Freebird Motion Sensing controllers have a 2-in-1 dongle, which allows you to play on either the PS2 or PS3 on a 2.4 GHz connection!

Similar to the general controller that comes with the PlayStation 3 console, these Joypads feature the PlayStation Home button for easy PS3 navigation. They also have 4 LED indicator lights to notify gamers which player number they are. Lastly, they also have the highly acclaimed dual shock feature – coz hey, who doesn’t like playing with dual shock these days?

Check it out at The Game Train Store:
£6.95 - Logic 3 Wired USB
£13.95 – Logic 3 Freebird
£15.95 – Logic 3 Freebird with Motion Sensing

Get a Grip with GelTabz!

Looking for an item that will let you get more grip on your game? No matter what console you play on, GelTabz will increase your gaming comfort and performance! GelTabz, created by GelTabz, Inc., has been on the receiving end of high praises from video game companies and gamers alike.



GelTabz work for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3. For the Xbox, Xbox 360, and Wii, you just pop the silicone covers on top of your original thumbstick and you’re set to go! For PS2 and PS3 gamers, replace the original thumbstick with the PlayStation GelTabz by removing the original first. Not only can you use the GelTabz for your analog sticks, you can use them for wireless headsets, Bluetooth ear pieces, and anything else you can think of!

This simple invention has improved control and accuracy for many gamers and will definitely work for you! Even if you break out into a nervous sweat when you’re zooming into that high scope on your sniper rifle, your grip will never falter and you can keep control of your game! It even eliminates the potential of developing those nasty game blisters. And if you decide to game at your friend’s house or travel out of town, you can easily take the GelTabz with you.

We’ve got two of the most appealing colours that will match all the compatible consoles: BLUE or BLACK! Give the GelTabz a try by adding them to your cart for only £4.95!

The Talismoon Starvox Universal Microphone Lets You Be The Star!

Do you consider yourself passionate about singing? Because if you are, you’ll need to try this new product by Talismoon! The Starvox Universal Microphone will have you gleaming with joy as its compatibility is endless!

The Talismoon Starvox Universal Microphone is compatible across five different platforms: Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony’s Playstation 2 and Playstation 3, and on your PC. It is USB 2.0 compliant and has a noise canceling circuit.

As if that wasn’t enough, you can sing along to your tunes on Rock Band, Singstar, American Idol, HSM: Sing It, and much more! You can also use this as your Skype microphone, so you can chat away or sing to your family back home! If you want, you can record your singing on the PC and edit it to make your own demo CD or mp3 as a sample for classes, friends, and potential artist managers!

The Starvox Universal Microphone is lightweight, compact, and very portable. It features a 4.5m (15 feet) long cord so you can dance away while you harmonize to your favorite tunes! Unlike some microphones, this specific product features an On/Off switch, so you don’t have to unplug it or cover the mic.

Give this a chance by ordering it from The Game Train marketplace, available soon!

Save Money – Buy a PS2 to PS3 Controller Adapter

Don’t feel like spending any extra cash on the Dual Shock 3 controller for the vibrate function on your Playstation 3 games? There’s a much more convenient and cost-efficient solution out there for you! Invest your dollars and save the excess by order the PS2 to PS3 controller adapter for only £4.49 at The Game Train!

This plug and play adapter will allow you to connect your old PSone or PS2 controllers to your PS3. But if you’re new to Playstation gaming, you can get a used controller at your local game store. This is a much cheaper solution than breaking your wallet for a pricey new Dual Shock 3 controller. An added bonus for this PS2 to PS3 adapter is the ability to play games on the PC using this adapter, allowing you to play almost any PC games with a cheaper and easy-to-use controller with the built-in vibration function.

If you have a gaming party with friends at home, you can connect up to four Dual Shock or Dual Shock 2 controllers at once. This will save you even more money and is an added convenience for multiplayer gaming. All of this can be yours for the low price of £4.49!

Hit the Dance Floor With The 5-in-1 Deluxe Ignition Dance Mat Pad

Calling all dancers! Step on up and show off your fancy footwork with the 5-in-1 Deluxe Ignition Dance Mat Pad. This is the perfect peripheral for those killer dance competitions with your friends over your favorite console! This product is made with a state-of-the art design that improves your dancing experience and makes you want to bump the music so you can dance for hours on end.

If you are tired from slipping all over the floor with those cheap dance mats like I am, then invest in this study dance pad to keep your energy up without spending your time worrying about watching your step because of the fear of sliding across the room. The 5-in-1 Deluxe Ignition Dance Mat Pad has non-slip grip tight foam that keeps your pad stable – staying just the way you set it up. This grip tight foam is an inch thick, making it feel great under your feet and protects you from slipping and falling. Now you’re ready for a more enhanced video game dancing experience.

The 5-in-1 Deluxe Ignition Dance Mat Pad has received much acclaim and highly rated reviews from critics and players alike. There are eight arrows on this dance mat, which will make it more fun to perform dance moves, and if you’re up for the challenge, you can even use your hands! The raised and reinforced sensors are much more accurate than the generic dance mats, which make it feel like you’re really at the arcade! The only difference is that you can play whenever you want – even when you’re in your jammies – without the frequent interruptions from people waiting for their turn to dance next.

This product comes with a 3-in-1 controller adapter and supports the Dance Dance Revolution series, Dancing Stage, Stepmania, and other dancing games. The 5-in-1 Deluxe Ignition Dance Mat Pad is compatible with the Xbox, PSone, PS2, PS3, and the PC via a USB connection. So dance the night away with the 5-in-1 Deluxe Ignition Dance Mat Pad for £34.99!

LCD Topgun II Vs LCD Topgun I

If you’ve been craving for a light-gun for your highly sophisticated entertainment setup, TheGameTrain has the solution for you! We are offering the LCD TopGun II – the latest improvement in light-gun technology for your high-definition entertainment systems!

Similar to its predecessor, the LCD TopGun I, the LCD TopGun II features a sleek Beretta 92F appearance for those who appreciate a more realistic look – instead of the usual brightly colored play toy design! Both accessories include a mounted laser pointer for accuracy, an auto-fire mode, and an auto-reload mode to give you an added sense of realism. Both the LCD TopGun I and LCD TopGun II connected to your PC or console via an 8.5 foot wire connection. For larger screen sizes, an extension cable may be required to play.

Although both the LCD TopGun I and the LCD TopGun II support the Xbox, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, and the PC (for over 100 MAME games), the new-and-improved LCD TopGun II is now compatible with Vista, and all the old features are maintained like compatibility with tons of flash games for the PC! The only console restriction is that they will only work with PS2 and PS3 games that are compatible with GunCon2. If you plan on playing with your PC, the LCD TopGun II will work with Windows Vista (32 bit), Windows XP (32 bit), Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows 98/98SE. The LCD TopGun I is compatible with the same operating systems except Windows Vista. The upgrade also makes it easier to calibrate, improves accuracy on all screen sizes, and it offers debug compatibility.

The LCD TopGun I and the LCD TopGun II can be used on any of the following televisions: CRT, DLP, LCD, Plasma, and Projector. The recommended screen size for the LCD TopGun II is anywhere between 14 to 120 inches. However, it is advised to purchase the LCD TopGun Blaze LED Stand for maximum performance and accuracy on larger projection screens from 60 inches up to 275 inches. For sizes 60 to 80 inches, players can use the LCD TopGun Blaze Stand outside of the screen. But, if the light-gun is to be used with projection screens over 100 inches, the sensor bars would need to be mounted inside the actual picture area for use.

Buy the LCD Topgun II for £34.95 or the LCD Topgun I for £29.95

How to Setup the LCD Topgun

The LCD Topgun is a great light gun which is designed to work with all recent game systems and all displays. With one attractive baretta shaped light gun you can play light gun games on the PS2, Xbox and PS3. It comes with a USB connection so that when light gun games start coming out for the Xbox 360 it will probably be compatible with that as well, and you can even use the LCD Topgun to play light gun games on the PC when you emulate old arcade gun games with MAME. Compatibility is the top reason to use the LCD Topgun, with the light gun being compatible with 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolutions for LCD TVs, plasma TVs, DLP TVs – even projectors!

To set up the LCD Topgun, you simply attach the sensor bars to the top/bottom or both sides of your screen. In the case of a particularly large screen (of sixty inches or more), you will need the special Blaze stand. This sensor bar works essentially the same way that the sensor bar on the Wii does – technically the bar is not the sensor: while TV light gun sensors in the past were devices which sat on top of the TV and tried to locate a light gun beam, the Wii style bar emits a row of positioning lights which are picked up by the LCD Topgun and used to triangulate the gun’s position – all of which happens seamlessly and automatically.

So simply set up the LCD Topgun’s sensor bar stand on top of your TV screen, plug in the LCD Topgun and calibrate, and there you go - you are now ready to play any of your favorite light gun games from a wide variety of systems on any kind of display that you have!

Use Your Own Pictures as Backgrounds on the PS3

You can use any picture that you want for your background image on the Playstation 3, and setting up a custom background is very easy to do. First, download the image that you want to your PS3. There are a couple ways to do this – you can download a picture from the Internet Browser, get a picture sent to you from a friend using the Playstation 3’s messaging feature, or you can upload the image direct from a digital camera or a memory card.

Next, you should go to the Main Menu of the Playstation 3, find the image that you want to use as your Playstation 3 background, and select it by pressing the triangle button. A menu will come up with options – choose “View” to see the image in full screen mode. Press the triangle button again for a list of controls. By scrolling to the right you will find the “Set As Wallpaper” option.

Press X and choose “Set As Wallpaper”. From there you will be able to calibrate the image so that it is set on the screen the way that you want it. With the right joystick on the PS3 gamepad you can resize the image. Try to fit it in the box which appears on the screen (this represents the full screen of the PS3). Once the size is right press X again to confirm. You may be prompted if you want to overwrite your current wallpaper – just say yes and replace it.

That’s all that it takes! With the “Theme Settings” menu on your Playstation 3 you can turn your custom wallpaper on and off, and you can change the background of your Playstation 3’s menus as many times as you want with any image from the internet, your digital camera or your computer for a personalized PS3 experience.

Use a Huge PC Hard Drive on the PS3

With 2.5” SATA hard drives being as expensive as they are, getting a truly huge PC hard drive into your PS3 can be hard on the wallet. One way that you can save time and money while getting the most storage space for your PS3, however, is to use the Playstation 3 Hard Drive Xtender.

The Playstation 3 Hard Drive Xtender gives you a lot of flexibility – it’s essentially a caddy style frame which you use in replacement of the 2.5” SATA drive in your PS3. The connection on the front of the Hard Drive Xtender can then be linked up with any kind of IDE or SATA hard drive. Whatever hard drive you have, you can use it for your PS3 with the Hard Drive Xtender sitting in the 2.5” SATA slot and acting as an interface.

An included face plate gives the Playstation 3 Hard Drive Xtender a smooth look in keeping with the rest of the PS3’s appearance. The combination of a simple design, easy installation in the 2.5” SATA slot, and a reasonable price point at £15, makes the Playstation 3 Hard Drive Xtender one of the more useful modifications on the market for PS3 owners today.

What Do I Need to Use PS2 Saved Games on the PS3?

Playing old favorites from the PS2 on the PS3 is much better if you can bring your old save files along – fortunately there are several memory card readers and adaptors that can be used to transfer your old saves onto the PS3’s hard drive.

A memory card reader will generally have a number of slots for plugging in Playstation 2 (or even original Playstation) memory cards, as well as a USB connection to hook it up to the PS3. The cost for a Playstation 1 / 2 to Playstation 3 memory card reader is less than the price of a new game (or even some used games), which is a small price to pay to have all of your old saves available on your new system.

The best part is that it’s so simple – just download the files onto the PS3’s internal hard drive with your adapter, and your backward compatible games will be able to pick up right where you left off!

One of these devices saved your gaming experience? Leave a comment and let us know!

Fighting With the Mayflash Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad

When it come to playing an arcade style fighting game keyboards and console game pads just don’t cut it. Those of us who grew up in the nineties playing our fighting games on arcade machines know that the combination of joystick and big buttons laid across a flat surface are the best way to control a fighter. The Street Fighter series and all of the one on one fighting games which came after it from Tekken and Virtua Fighter to King of Fighters and Guilty Gear will always be more exciting when played with an arcade style joystick.

The Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad from Mayflash provides that old arcade feeling with any fighting game on the PS2, PS3 or the PC. Not only is it great with all of the recent fighters on the Playstation 2 and 3, the Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad provides old school verisimilitude to classic games when played in the MAME emulator. It even goes above and beyond the call of duty with turbo and macro buttons that let you perform amazing feats and program combos, and the weight of the Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad at around 2 kilograms keeps it from sliding around when your mind is focused on the action on the screen.

Unleashing all of those moves and combos stored in your muscle memory takes you back to the first time that you played your favorite fighting games. The Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad makes it easy for you to enjoy classic 2D fighters the way that you used to, get the genuine arcade experience out of newer 3D brawlers, and get the best fun out of your MAME arcade games short of buying an old fashioned arcade cabinet. To breathe new life into classic fighters, the Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad is what any hardcore player needs!

Fan of fighting games? Love the stick? Leave a comment and let us know!

Playing First Person Shooters the Right Way on the PS3

While control schemes for first person shooters have come a long way on console systems, the original keyboard and mouse scheme is still the easiest way to achieve fine control. For many players of first person shooters, it’s the way that they grew up playing, and the degree of accuracy that one can achieve using a mouse instead of a thumb stick, or circle strafing with the keyboard while aiming, is better than anything that can be achieved with even the most advanced game pad.

The Playstation 3 XFPS Rate Up Keyboard / Mouse Adapter is the answer. It makes it so that you can connect any keyboard and mouse combination that you want into the Playstation 3’s controller port. The functions of the Dual Shock 3 / Six Axis controller can be remapped onto whichever keys you want for a configuration that matches your favorite familiar PC first person shooters.

Setting up the Playstation 3 XFS Rate Up Keyboard / Mouse Adapter is easy, as all that you have to do is plug and play. After deciding which keys should correspond to which controller buttons, you’re ready to go! The Playstation 3 XFPS Rate Up Keyboard / Mouse Adapter also lets you set up to eight independent buttons for auto-fire, and you can even set the mouse sensitivity along the X and Y axes independently – more freedom to customize your own gameplay options than you may even be used to on the PC!

As the Playstation 3 XFPS Rate Up Keyboard / Mouse Adapter is compatible with all PS3 games and with practically all (95%) of keyboards and mice, it gives you the best control and makes it a lot easier, as a PC gamer, to get the kind of precision and smoothness that one is used to when playing a new first person shooter on the Playstation 3!

Have you used the XFPS Rate Up? Leave a comment and let us know what you think of it!

Next HDFury Gamer Shipment Due 19/05/08

Our next batch of the ever-popular HDFury Gamer VGA cable has shipped to us and is due in on 19/05/08 . We have enough stock for all the back orders to be fulfilled with some left over. If you're still looking to get a hold of one of these top notch HDMI-VGA cables, get your order in quick!

PS2 - PS3 Guitar Controller Converter Now in Stock: Use PS2 Guitars on PS3

Rocking out on the Playstation 2 on the Guitar Hero series is pretty...well, rocking. But don't you wish you could use your older PS2 guitars on the PS3? Unfortunately, the PS2 guitars aren't natively supported by the PS3 and all the current PS2-PS3 controller adapters on the market are incompatible with PS2 guitars. Well, until now at least. But you probably guessed that from the title of this post.

Blast out your favourite songs and stick it to The Man who tries to make you buy a new guitar for each console with this guitar-specific PS2-PS3 controller converter (£6.99) that lets you plug in your PS2 Guitars into your PS3. It works on PS2 Guitar Hero 1 , 2 and 3 (in their PS3 upscaled loveliness) and the PS version of Guitar Hero 3.

The guitar adapter works on all PS2 wired guitars, and with four separate adapters, you can plug four guitars into the PS3 . We know you're probably wondering which guitar game supports four players? The answer's none...yet! Guitar Hero 4 is on the horizon though and until then, it certainly makes for an interesting game of Pro Evo...

What do you think of the Guitar adapter? Let us know by leaving a comment!

How to fix a blank/black screen on the PS3

If you've been tinkering with the PS3's video settings and inadvertently set it to a mode that your TV doesn't support, it will give you a black screen. Even when you turn it off, the screen will remain black, though you should still be able to hear sound. Hear that horrible churning noiseracing through your stomach? That's the feeling you get when you've just made a £300 paperweight.

As the Playstation 3 supports loads of video inputs - component, Scart, HDMI (but not native VGA), it's very easy to select a resolution or type of cable that your screen doesn't support, which results in the PS3 giving a black screen.


Fortunately there's a very easy, though not widely known fix: Turn the Playstation 3 off. Hold the power button down for 5 seconds until the PS3 beeps twice. This will reset the PS3's video settings to its default settings and your screen should now appear.

One useful device if you're moving screens a lot is the E-Setter (£14.99), an external USB device that lets you pre-select the video cable and resolutions to use.

Did this work for you? Leave a comment and let us know.

Playing High Def Playstation 3 on a VGA PC Monitor - The Definitive Guide

Have you ever wanted to play your Playstation 3 on your PC Monitor? Most monitors support HD resolutions of at least 1024 x 768, which gives the equivalent 720p picture of an expensive HDTV. Heck, a lot of monitors support 1080p these days (1920 x 1080). So why can't you just buy a Playstation 3 VGA cable and plug it right into the back of a monitor? Well, because Sony being Sony, things are never as simple as they should be and there are various 'protection' measures to get around first.

Unlike the more user-friendly Xbox 360, there has never been an official Playstation 3 VGA cable released, and it's extremely unlikely that Sony will ever release one.

Without getting overly technical, the root of the problem lies in the PS3's insistence on HDCP or 'High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection', which is designed to protect audio/video content as it travels over HDMI or DVI connections. Think of it as Macrovision for High-Def content. In short, the PS3 won't allow a picture from a HDMI cable unless your screen supports HDCP. While most modern HDTVs (think post 2004) do support HDCP, there's loads that won't, and virtually no standard PC monitors will support it.

PS3: HDMI Vs. Component

So where does that leave us? There are two ways to get High-Def from a Playstation 3 - through a component connection which looks like this:


Or through the HDMI connection which looks like this:

If you have a 1080p screen, you'll be able to get full 720p/1080p from either type of cable. There are though, several crucial differences between the two:

- The component connection is analog; signal information can be lost over the cable, especially with longer leads.
- The HDMI connection is digital, no signal information is lost so there is no loss in image quality.
- The Playstation 3 encodes a HDMI signal with HDCP, meaning you must have a screen that supports HDCP (unlikely on a PC monitor).

PS3 on VGA Monitor

Of course, at the moment, neither of these solutions help us to get our PS3 to display on our PC monitor which uses a VGA connection, but it's important to know the background on the connections before you make a decision on which cable is best for you.

As there is no native PS3 VGA connection, all the available solutions involve converting either a component or HDMI signal into a VGA input.

Option 1: The Component to VGA Converter

The way this works is by linking a PS3 Component Cable from the Playstation 3 to a box of tricks in the middle, with a VGA cable coming out and linking to your monitor.

There are two models available, the Mayflash YPbPr to RGBHV Transcoder at £39.99 which comes with a mains adapter and jack to jack connection for transferring sound.

There is also the more recent XCM VGA Box at £44.99. This is powered by USB (either PC or console ports) and includes free Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 component cables:

Both boxes include a 'VGA passthrough', which means you can have your PC plugged in at the same time and just flick the switch whenever you want to choose between your PC/console, saving you from the constant hassle of unplugging/replugging the cables in.

Option 1a: The PS3 VGA Cable

Now hang on, I thought I said there wasn't a native VGA cable for the PS3? Well there isn't. The Mayflash PS3/Wii VGA cable at £29.99 is actually an all in one Component to VGA cable with PS3/Wii inputs on the one end and a VGA output on the other. You can tell it's converting the component signal as you need to set your PS3 up in component mode (rather than HDMI or AV) in order to get a HD picture.

Power is drawn directly from the console. While it gives a similar picture quality to the other component to VGA converters, it lacks some of the flexibility as you can only use it on the PS3 or Wii. And of course, it lacks the VGA passthrough (though you could use a VGA switch).

Option 2: The HDMI to VGA Converter

Because the PS3 forces HDCP onto the HDMI connections (meaning your screen must support HDCP), you need a device that does more than convert the HDMI connection to a VGA connection. The HDFury is a unique device that effectively 'adds' HDCP support onto your unsupported VGA screen. This means you can use your PS3 on any monitor and have support HDTV resolutions. As the signal is digital HDMI, there is less quality degradation so the picture quality extremely high, superior to the component to VGA converters.

There are two types of HDFury available, the HDFury Gamer at £49.99 which is an all-in-one HDMI to VGA cable, that adds HDCP support to your monitor:


Then there is the standalone HDFury at £74.99, which is a VGA to DVI adapter (which adds HDCP) that needs to be used in conjunction with a HDMI - DVI cable at £7.99 on a Playstation 3. So, the setup goes PS3 to HDMI-DVI cable to HDFury to VGA input on your PS3 :


There you have it! A comprehensive guide on how to play your PS3 games in full high def on your PC VGA monitor. Check out our sequel post soon which include screenshots from each device!

PS3 on the Mayflash 1080p RGBHV to YPbPr Transcoder (Component to VGA Converter)

In the follow up to our guide on how to setup the popular Mayflash 1080p YPbPr to RGBHV Component to VGA Converter with the Nintendo Wii, we now present a step by step guide to getting the Playstation 3 to work with the Mayflash VGA Transcoder. If you're having problems setting it up, just follow our simple ten step guide. This tutorial works with all types of monitors - LCD, TFT, CRT etc.

Please note: not all monitors support 480\ progressive/interlaced so you may find that PS2 games/DVDs won't run on your monitor, as they display in 480p/i. It will play all your PS3 games perfectly in 720p/1080p High Definition though..

The advantage of using this type of component to VGA transcoder over a HDMI to DVI cable
is that your monitor doesn't need to be HDCP (High Defintion Content Protection) compliant, as the PS3 only enforces this when played through HDMI cables.


Anyway, on with the tutorial:


1. Connect your PS3 to a conventional TV using either a SCART, Svideo or composite cable.

2. Turn on your PS3. In the main menu, scroll across to 'Settings' and then select 'Display Settings' and 'Video Output Settings'.

3. You're offered various choices of connections. Select 'Component / D-Terminal'. The screen will go blank for a few seconds while it recalibrates and you'll be asked whether you want to keep these settings. Select 'Yes.'

4. The next screen will ask you what resolutions you want to select. Working within the parameters of your individual monitor, check each box.

5. Press right on your controller's D-Pad. You will hear a 'click' sound and the screen will go blank. You won't be able to see the screen, but press left on the D-pad and then press X.

6. With your PS3 still turned on, unplug the video cable from the back of the PS3 and plug in your PS3 Component Cable where the AV cable was before.

7. Plug the red/green/blue ends of the component cable into the approprioate sockets of the Mayflash VGA box.

8. Plug your monitor's VGA cable into the 'VGA output' socket on the Mayflash VGA box and plug in the AC power adapter. A yellow LED should come on to indicate it's receiving power.

9. Make sure the switch on the VGA box is set to "YPbPr".

10. The PS3 will now be displayed on your monitor in glorious High Definition. You should be at the 'save settings' screen, which will then lead you onto the audio output options. The spare red/white phonos on the component lead will provide your speakers with analog audio.

How to Install a PS3 Battery Tutorial

The conventional battery in the Playstation 3 Sixaxis joypads lasts for approximately 20 hours of gametime from a 2-3 hour charge. With the Playstation 3 finally getting some decent games (Call of Duty 4, Eye of Judgment, Pro Evo 2007, Assassin's Creed...), you might find you want to squeeze a little more juice from your controller before you have to wire it back to the console to charge.

The 1200 mAh battery lasts twice as long as the original battery that comes with the PS3 - a massive 40 hours! It's also an ideal replacement if your pad has died and you don't want to fork out a lot of money on a brand new controller, or if you're finding the battery isn't lasting as long as it used to.

But how do you install the battery into a PS3 Sixaxis controller? It's actually a very easy three stage process:


1.Using a crosshead screwdriver, unscrew the 5 deep screws on the back of the PS3 controller:
2. Push the back of the casing forward to remove the back of the pad. This will reveal the battery. Unclip the wire that connects the battery to the controller Remove the battery from the pad:
3. Clip the wire from the 1200 mAh into the clip where it was previously disconnected. Slot the battery into place. Place the back of the pad onto the controller and screw back the 5 screws.