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PS3 Launch Details Announced

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the that's-a-lot-of-quarters dept.

Sony's conference offered up reassurance that a number of their titles will be playable at this year's E3. The controller will sense movement, allowing the player to move an onscreen avatar 'naturally'. They also released the system's launch details. The North American PS3 launch will occur on Nov. 17th, 2006. The 20GB HDD version will retail for $499, and the 60GB HDD version will go for $599. They promise 4 million launch units by December 31st. Update: 05/09 03:57 GMT by Z : Apparently, not only does the $499 system have a smaller harddrive, but it has fewer features as well. My two cents:

1.) I'm honestly surprised they're this far along with these titles. They may actually make the November launch.
2.) Even through an internet feed, it was obvious the only truly next-gen title there was Heavenly Sword (from the great folks at Ninja Theory). The EyeToy stuff looked cool, but isn't something I'm likely to try out any time soon. Most of the games could have been 360 or even late-lifetime Xbox titles.
3.) I won't be able to review games for this system at the launch price. There's no way I'm dropping $599 for a game console.
4.) The controller orientation thing is ... I don't have the words. Awkward? Cash-in? Cynical? Whatever their intent, it just seems like a bad idea.

4 of 796 comments (clear)

  1. No rumble in PS3 Controller by grumbel · · Score: 5, Informative

    The new PS3 controller not only rips of features from Wii, they droped the rumble support, PS3 gets less and less impressive:

    "Pursuant to the introduction of this new six-axis sensing system, the vibration feature that is currently available on DUALSHOCK® and DUALSHOCK®2 controllers for PlayStation and PlayStation®2, will be removed from the new PS3 controller as vibration itself interferes with information detected by the sensor."

    See: http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509 be.pdf

  2. WiFi / HDMI / Flash Cards by Kenshin · · Score: 5, Informative

    I just found something they didn't bring up in the keynote:

    The cheaper version will NOT have WiFi, flash card slots, or HDMI output.

    http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509 ae.pdf

    --

    Does it make you happy you're so strange?

  3. Other details... by HAKdragon · · Score: 5, Informative

    There are other differences between the $500 and $600 versions of the systems. According to Sony, the $500 version lacks HDMI output, which means that once DRM gets implemented, you don't get the full HD resolution that Blu-Ray is capable of. Also, the cheaper system lacks a slots for Memory Sticks, SD cards, and Compact Flash cards. The cheaper one also lacks wifi connectivity. Funny how Sony left all of that out of their presentation.

    --
    "Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs. We have a protractor."
  4. Re:As Microsoft Proved, People Will Pay That Price by cabra771 · · Score: 5, Informative

    You better check those specs again. The base PS3 isn't "Feature complete"

    The $499 base unit does not have HDMI out, does not have memory stick ports, and does not have 802.11b/g wireless.
    See:
    http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509 ae.pdf

    --

    -my other sig is your mom