The crazy amount of discounts doled out for AAA titles on PlayStation Store makes digital downloads seem irresistible compared to expensive physical copies. I mean, who wouldn't mind purchasing a game like Bayonetta for Rs 900 off PSN (PlayStation Network) when it still sells for Rs 2,499 in brick-and-mortar stores? Unfortunately, like all good things in life, this too comes with a catch.
For starters, downloads on PSN are slow and most of them can't be resumed if your Internet connection conks off. It's not uncommon either for an inopportune power cut to ruin an entire 10GB game download. It's not just the speed or unpredictability that's concerning. I find it hard to accept the idea of downloading dozen-odd gigabytes of data through a console—something that isn't really built for durability and rigours of 24/7 downloading. A console has a limited lifespan and I'd rather spend it playing games than just downloading them.
What if I told you that you could use your laptop or desktop PC to download PSN content, replete with the ability to pause, resume and recover downloads? This witchcraft comes courtesy of CF3B5's PS3.ProxyServer. This nifty little piece of freeware lets you use the PC to download PSN content from the comfort of your favourite download manager. Thereafter, your PS3 can fetch the download off the PC, even as the utility fools the PS3 into believing that it's accessing the download from PSN itself.
The process may be a bit daunting for a beginner, but that's where this simplified, screenshot-rich guide comes in. Just follow the lucid and easy-to-understand steps and you'll be revelling in PC-assisted PSN download nirvana in no time.
What You Need
A PS3 console A laptop or desktop PC A router or switch connecting the PC to the PS3 PS3.ProxyServer utility (click to download) Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 (click to download) Service pack for .NET Framework 1.1 (click to download)
Installing PS3.ProxyServer
You absolutely need Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 and its service pack to install PS3.ProxyServer at all. Unfortunately, this makes it impossible to install the utility on newer OS such as Windows 7, which is incompatible with that particular version of .Net Framework. However, we aren't going to quit just yet. All you need to do is follow these steps to get around the problem.
Now you can install Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 with integrated Service Pack by running "netfx.msi", which has now created in the "DotNet" folder. This makes it possible to install the PS3.ProxyServer utility.
Step 1 – Type "ipconfig" in the command prompt window. Note down the IPv4 address in the "Ethernet adapter" section (for wired connections) or "Wireless adapter" (for wireless connections).
Step 2 – Run PS3.ProxyServer utility. In the "Proxy Setting" tab, enter the IPv4 address in the "IP Address:" field, check the box for "PS3 Mode" and enter 8080 in the Prot: [sic] field. Don't forget to keep the computer switched on.
Step 3 – Fire up your PS3 and follow the instructions within the image captions. Click to enlarge images.
Step 4 – With the PS3 routed to the Internet through the PC, it's time to download something. Either initiate a game update or any PSN download and cancel it after a couple of seconds. Note down the exact time you initiated the download.
Step 5 – Switch to the PC and click on the "Logs" tab in PS3.ProxyServer. This contains the history of the web links accessed by the PS3. If you haven't navigated away from the download page, your download should be the topmost link. At any rate, you can always use the timestamp and file size to determine the right link. Click on the link to initiate the download on your PC. I recommend using a download manager for speed and security. The best part is that, you can now use the PS3 even as your PC does the downloading.
Step 6 – This is where we begin the redirection process.
Step 7 – This brings up two text entry fields and a button.
Step 8 – Downloading the file on to the PS3 is as easy as replicating the download process followed in Step 4. However, this time the PS3 fetches the download from the PC and not the Internet, so the download speed is as good as your internal network allows.
You know this trick has worked if you can see a redirection log entry, where the download link points to the path of the file downloaded on your PC. What's more, you can create multiple redirections to fetch multiple downloads from your PC. Now pat yourself on the back, because you have not only saved yourself from the agony of slow and unreliable PSN downloads, but this also goes a long way in prolonging your PS3's life. -tech2
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