Download PS3 Games Through Your PC

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.

This may look intimidating, but it's easy and hardly takes any time

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).

Note down the IPv4 address

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.

It won't work until you click "Start"