I own all 3 of the current gen systems, and while I love my PS3, I am really starting to get pissed off with something it does. When I bought my PS3, I got the 40 gb version because it was what I had the money for. When I bought it at the time I had heard that some games, such as Metal Gear Solid 4 and Devil May Cry 4 were starting to require mandatory hdd installs. Now, at the time I thought nothing of it and thought those two were special cases. Now, it seems like anytime I see a game I would like to get on PS3 rather than 360 there seems to be a mandatory install of about 3-5 gb.

When I bought my PS3, I thought it would take me a good 2-3 years before I got it even close to being full. Now, owing games such as MGS 4, Fallout 3, Skate 2 and Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, my hdd is practically full. Its gotten to the point where the hdd installs are becoming a huge factor in whether or not I buy a game on PS3. In fact there's several games, such as Resident Evil 5, HAWX and Wanted: Weapons of Fate that I much rather would have bought on the PS3, but instead bought on my 360 due to an install of 3-5 gb.

And now its starting to get to the point where some games don't even tell you if there is a hdd. I just bought Wheelman the other day because I enjoyed the demo and it was on sale for $40. Before I bought it I took a look at the required hdd space and it said it required 2990 kb. However, I went to put it in and had to delete some items from my hdd drive because it needed an extra 5 gb for an install. Way to fucking let me know that before hand Ubisoft.

Now I know that Sony has no problems with people upgrading their hdd's, but I hate the fact that it seems more like something we the consumers are forced to do just to be able to play games on the system. The hdd installs are starting to become a huge pain in the ass for people (such as myself) who isn't exactly in a rush to upgrade our hdds. The worst part about the installs is that we have no say in them. If a developer wants to force a 5 gb install on us we have no choice but to take it. It'd be great if the games that do force the install could follow the example that Ninja Gaiden Sigma and Unreal Tournament 3 did, offer optional installs.

So, in short, hdd installs suck, are a bane on the PS3, and I hope the people who keep thinking that they're a good idea get eaten by The Great Khali.