The PlayStation 3 (Japanese: 3,, Pureisutshon Sur?, trademarked PLAYSTATION 3,[2] abbreviated PS3) is Sony's seventh generation era video game console, third in the PlayStation series. It is the successor to the PlayStation 2 and will compete against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. The PS3 is scheduled for release on November 11, 2006 in Japan, November 17, 2006 in North America (excluding Mexico, where the console will be released in Q1 2007), and March, 2007 in Europe and will ship in two initial configurations, the main difference being a 20 GB or a 60 GB hard disk being fitted. Sony officially unveiled the PS3 to the public on May 16, 2005 during an E3 conference. A functional version of the console was not at E3 2005 or the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005, although at both events, demonstrations were held on devkits (e.g. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) and comparable PC hardware, and video footage based on the predicted PS3 specifications was produced (e.g. Mobile Suit Gundam).[3] It wasn't until E3 2006 that games were shown on actual PlayStation 3 systems. In preparation for launch, Sony has announced that there will be 27 playable PS3 titles on show at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2006 on final hardware.[4] On GameFly.com, PS3 games are available for rentals.
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Overview
o 1.1 System configuration
o 1.2 Release data and pricing
o 1.3 Game pricing
* 2 Software
o 2.1 Games
o 2.2 Backward compatibility
o 2.3 Software development
o 2.4 Interface and operating system
o 2.5 PlayStation Network Platform
* 3 Hardware Summary
o 3.1 Controller
* 4 References
* 5 External links
Overview
System configuration
System Features Feature Basic Premium
Upgradable hard drive Yes, 20 GB Yes, 60 GB
Blu-ray drive Yes Yes
Bluetooth controllers Yes Yes
Flash card reader No Yes
Wi-Fi adapter No Yes
HDMI port No Yes
Silver-colored logo and trim No Yes
AV Cables Composite Composite
Sony's initial retail strategy for the PlayStation 3 will involve two different configurations that are detailed in a Sony press release.[5] The "premium" version of the PlayStation 3 will come with an internal 60 GB Serial ATA 2.5" hard drive, Wi-Fi connectivity, and multiple flash memory card readers, and features a brighter cosmetic silver-colored logo and trim.[1] The second, alternate configuration of the console will have a 20 GB internal hard drive, but will not feature Wi-Fi, HDMI, or a memory card reader. The hard drive is upgradeable, and memory card and Wi-Fi support can be added through adaptors, but the HDMI support is not upgradeable.[6] The lack of HDMI output in the 20 GB model (as with any HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player lacking HDCP) could potentially cause problems with restricted output resolution on Blu-ray video. An ICT flag can be set by content producers, which forces non-HDCP video down to a pixel resolution of 960×540 (50% greater than DVD-Video at NTSC resolution, and 25% greater than PAL resolution). SCEA president Kaz Hirai stated that it is "too early to speculate at this point" whether movie producers will activate the ICT feature.[7] According to German publisher Spiegel, a behind-the-scenes agreement was made not to enforce the ICT flag on next-generation optical formats until at least 2010, or possibly even 2012.[8]
Release data and pricing
Release date and suggested retail price by region* Region Expected pricing at release Release
date
Basic Premium
Japan Japan[5] JP¥59,800(US$512) Open price November 11, 2006
United States United States[9] US$499 US$599 November 17, 2006
Canada Canada[9] C$549(US$485) C$659(US$587)
Mexico Mexico
-
-
Q1 2007[10]
Europe Eurozone[11]
(excluding Finland) 499(US$639) 599(US$768) March 2007[12]
United Kingdom United Kingdom[13]
-
GB£425(US$806)
Switzerland Switzerland[14]
CHF 749(US$608)
CHF 899(US$729)
Norway Norway[15]
-
5000 NOK(US$875)
Denmark Denmark[16] 4495 DKK(US$770) 5495 DKK(US$943)
Swe
Slashdot Mirror
The PlayStation 3 (Japanese: 3,, Pureisutshon Sur?, trademarked PLAYSTATION 3,[2] abbreviated PS3) is Sony's seventh generation era video game console, third in the PlayStation series. It is the successor to the PlayStation 2 and will compete against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. The PS3 is scheduled for release on November 11, 2006 in Japan, November 17, 2006 in North America (excluding Mexico, where the console will be released in Q1 2007), and March, 2007 in Europe and will ship in two initial configurations, the main difference being a 20 GB or a 60 GB hard disk being fitted. Sony officially unveiled the PS3 to the public on May 16, 2005 during an E3 conference. A functional version of the console was not at E3 2005 or the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005, although at both events, demonstrations were held on devkits (e.g. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) and comparable PC hardware, and video footage based on the predicted PS3 specifications was produced (e.g. Mobile Suit Gundam).[3] It wasn't until E3 2006 that games were shown on actual PlayStation 3 systems. In preparation for launch, Sony has announced that there will be 27 playable PS3 titles on show at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2006 on final hardware.[4] On GameFly.com, PS3 games are available for rentals. Contents [hide] * 1 Overview o 1.1 System configuration o 1.2 Release data and pricing o 1.3 Game pricing * 2 Software o 2.1 Games o 2.2 Backward compatibility o 2.3 Software development o 2.4 Interface and operating system o 2.5 PlayStation Network Platform * 3 Hardware Summary o 3.1 Controller * 4 References * 5 External links Overview System configuration System Features Feature Basic Premium Upgradable hard drive Yes, 20 GB Yes, 60 GB Blu-ray drive Yes Yes Bluetooth controllers Yes Yes Flash card reader No Yes Wi-Fi adapter No Yes HDMI port No Yes Silver-colored logo and trim No Yes AV Cables Composite Composite Sony's initial retail strategy for the PlayStation 3 will involve two different configurations that are detailed in a Sony press release.[5] The "premium" version of the PlayStation 3 will come with an internal 60 GB Serial ATA 2.5" hard drive, Wi-Fi connectivity, and multiple flash memory card readers, and features a brighter cosmetic silver-colored logo and trim.[1] The second, alternate configuration of the console will have a 20 GB internal hard drive, but will not feature Wi-Fi, HDMI, or a memory card reader. The hard drive is upgradeable, and memory card and Wi-Fi support can be added through adaptors, but the HDMI support is not upgradeable.[6] The lack of HDMI output in the 20 GB model (as with any HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player lacking HDCP) could potentially cause problems with restricted output resolution on Blu-ray video. An ICT flag can be set by content producers, which forces non-HDCP video down to a pixel resolution of 960×540 (50% greater than DVD-Video at NTSC resolution, and 25% greater than PAL resolution). SCEA president Kaz Hirai stated that it is "too early to speculate at this point" whether movie producers will activate the ICT feature.[7] According to German publisher Spiegel, a behind-the-scenes agreement was made not to enforce the ICT flag on next-generation optical formats until at least 2010, or possibly even 2012.[8] Release data and pricing Release date and suggested retail price by region* Region Expected pricing at release Release date Basic Premium Japan Japan[5] JP¥59,800(US$512) Open price November 11, 2006 United States United States[9] US$499 US$599 November 17, 2006 Canada Canada[9] C$549(US$485) C$659(US$587) Mexico Mexico - - Q1 2007[10] Europe Eurozone[11] (excluding Finland) 499(US$639) 599(US$768) March 2007[12] United Kingdom United Kingdom[13] - GB£425(US$806) Switzerland Switzerland[14] CHF 749(US$608) CHF 899(US$729) Norway Norway[15] - 5000 NOK(US$875) Denmark Denmark[16] 4495 DKK(US$770) 5495 DKK(US$943) Swe