PS3 imports in danger!!Sony PlayStation3 News Cheat Codes

Sony says it’s ready to stamp on anyone importing PS3s before their official Euro release.

Sony's got lawyers at the ready, just itching to close down PS3 import operations... [more images]Hoping to import a PS3 and beat that four month delay? Think again. Just as it squashed the hopes of many PSP importers, Sony says anyone importing its precious next-gen powerhouse with face the full wrath of its lawyers.

Asked why it’s being so harsh, Sony told the understandably disappointed gamers at GamesIndustry.biz: “Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards.”

“We don’t care! We’re reckless!” You may cry, but Sony’s not listening. They say the differences in voltage make it unsafe to use a foreign console over here.

They also say an imported PS3 won’t be backwards compatible with your existing PS1 or PS2 games, won’t play European Blu-Ray films or DVDs and won’t be covered by Sony’s Warranty.

So there you have it. Import at your own risk, but Sony’s lawyers will be watching. What’s more, you’ll have to import every game and film thereafter, not to mention fiddling with voltage conversion which, trust us on this one, we wouldn’t recommend!

http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/games/playstation_2/ps3_imports_in_danger

Sony to miss PS3 production mark again?

Sony has reportedly indicated that it may once again have to reduce its PlayStation 3 shipment targets for 2006 and the first quarter of 2007 and once again Blu-ray is the culprit.


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According to a Bloomberg report, a Blu-ray parts shortage may cause Sony to fall short of its targets of 2 million PS3 units shipped by the end of 2006 and 6 million by March 2007.

The US and Japan will see the release of the premium priced PS3 in November and only those markets are scheduled to receive shipments in 2006. Europe and the rest of the world will not see PS3 on store shelves until March 2007.

The Bloomberg report quotes Jack Tretton, co-chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment America,as saying the figures were "more of a target" and admitting that Sony had production issues.

Some analysts are saying that PS3 is going to a hard sell against the much cheaper Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii over the end of year holiday season. However, there are unlikely to be enough PS3 in stores to fill demand in the short term, so it will be difficult to gauge the success of the platform until late 2007.
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http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/6516/53/

EyeToy For PS3 Gone...But Not Really

Despite the naysayers, EyeToy was a pretty solid success for Sony. Even though the U.S. hype has faded since launch, the camera is quite popular in Europe and still gets a nod from a few PS2 games every once in a while. Therefore, Sony is interested to keep things going; they plan to explore the options made available by the little accessory. And so far, it appeared it might be a major facet of the PS3.

However, we've had little to no details regarding the EyeToy and the PS3. First off, it's not packaged with the system Pack-Ins, which instantly takes it away from the mass-audience and turns it into a potentially trivial accessory. Furthermore, SCE has made no announcements on release plans for EyeToy outside Japan, where Eye of Judgment is an expected launch title.

Well, IGN got a few questions answered at yesterday's Gamer's Day after approaching EyeToy mastermind Richard Marks. And those answers aren't exactly what everyone expected...

Firstly, the PS3 camera set to release alongside the console is not necessarily the EyeToy, which only confuses us further, because the EyeToy HD IP camera shown at E3 isn't "necessarily" the EyeToy, either. So what exactly is the official PS3 EyeToy? Will it even exist?

Apparently, according to Marks, no. There isn't one. At the same time, though, the PS3 will have camera integration built right in at launch, and it even sports Video Chat as one of its major features. ...huh? But the PS3 is USB-compatible, which includes the classic EyeToy as well as other PC cameras. So the best conclusion we can reach is as follows: In fact, Sony does have a variety of cameras ready; cameras we can use with the PS3. But none of them are technically named, "EyeToy."

So if you look at it this way, the feature is still something that's coming to the PS3, as games like Eye of Judgment and SingStar essentially prove. "EyeToy" is more of a concept than an actual product, anyway, and Marks did elaborate a bit- "because the PS3 could accept a data flow from a camera completely uncompressed in realtime, it's technically free on the processor to bring that data into the system and perhaps use in a game." (IGN) And lastly, he hinted at the possibility of the camera allowing users to record videos on HDD, which may add a great deal to the accessory's inherent appeal.

So okay, it's not really called "EyeToy," but it's safe to assume that whatever "it" is, it's similar to what we all would've expected the EyeToy to be. ...if that makes any sense.

Sony: PS3 Shipment Numbers Not Definite

Sony has for the first time admitted that it's not entirely sure it will achieve its planned shipment figures of two million by the end of 2006 and six million by the end of next March. SCEA executive vp Jack Tretton (right) has commented that the figures are just targets.


Following yesterday's big Sony media event, Sony Computer Entertainment America senior vice president of marketing Peter Dille told GameDaily BIZ, "We're on track; everything's gone smoothly from a manufacturing perspective... the numbers that were talked about for a while still stand; the two million units by the end of the calendar are still forecast and everything looks to be on track with that number."


However, according to a new report from Bloomberg, Sony isn't quite as confident in that two million figure, let alone the six million shipped by the end of the company's fiscal year next March. Dille's boss, executive vice president Jack Tretton admitted, "The honest answer is it's more of a target [for PS3 shipments]." He then added, "Clearly we've had production issues."


It would seem that the task of manufacturing a complex electronics device such as the PS3 has been a bit more challenging for Sony in the early going than perhaps they anticipated. "While they may have great engineering, producing it actually takes a lot of time and more money than was initially expected,'' commented Pascal Masse, a director at the Japanese unit of Aberdeen Management Asia Ltd.


While Sony is sticking to its 6 million target for next March, a number of analysts have predicted shipment numbers far less than that. Most recently, Enterbrain, publisher of Japanese gaming publication Famitsu, forecast sales of 4.13 units by March 2007. Over the long haul, however, Enterbrain still believes that Sony will control the market. By 2009, the publisher anticipates that Sony will have sold 34 million PS3s versus 28 million Xbox 360s and 25 millions Wiis.


And the long run is all that really matters, ultimately. As Tretton told us in a previous interview, "... we don't expect nor do we need everybody to embrace the [PS3] technology from day one. But I think what we're saying with PS3 is that this is the machine that is going to drive gaming for the next ten years."
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=14174

PS3 Stores Up PSP with PS1 Games

Ever since Sony Computer Entertainment President Kaz Hirai showed the world the original Ridge Racer (make that "Riiiiidge Racer!!!!") from the PS1 running on PSP, handheld gamers have been eagerly awaiting final details of the classic game emulation feature due on PSP. At SCE's Gamers Day, the company finally revealed one big missing piece of the puzzle, which was how those PS1 games would get on PSP's Memory Stick.


The answer to that is surprisingly easy: The PSP can get its games from PlayStation Store debuting on PS3 this November. Instead of building a separate network specifically for PSP or trying to connect PSP up to Sony Corporation's Connect service (both of which were previously assumed prior to SCE's announcement that the PlayStation Store would be ready for the PS3 launch), Sony Computer Entertainment has simplified the process by working inside the PlayStation family. Log onto the PlayStation Store, find your games, buy them, download them, and enjoy them. The PS1 games you buy on the system will be playable both on your PSP and eventually on your PS3 console -- the same compacted file runs on both machines with the right emulation.
For now, this feature seems restricted to PS3, as there is no version of PlayStation Store on PSP. It is possible and highly likely that the PlayStation Store will also be integrated into the PSP in a future PSP firmware update (technically, the store looks to simply be a heavily modified and closed-network website.) That being said, it is unknown exactly when or if that future update is planned -- we assume that if it was ready on PSP, SCE would have done double-announcement duty by telling the press that the PlayStation Store was launching on both PS3 and PSP this November, but the company made no mention of PSP utilizing the feature at the event or prior PlayStation showcases. For now, the console looks to be the means of digital distribution until the PSP gets its hook-up into that same network.

A number of PlayStation 1 games, such as Jet Moto, Twisted Metal, and Syphon Filter were listed on the PlayStation Store already, although the demo store was set up purely for demonstration only and there's no promise that these specific titles will be available for PSP when PS3 launches, if ever. (Frankly, we have no clue how Jet Moto will be brought to PSP ... that game took all 10 fingers and some toes to control, so we don't know how it will cope without some of the needed buttons.) Pricing on the PlayStation Store is expected to not tip over $15 for downloads, so pricing for these game downloads may be in that range (SCE was not clear if it was only referring to PS3 downloadable games in determining that price.)

Update -- 10/20/2006: Speaking to SCE Marketing Vice President Peter Dille, GameDaily BIZ was able to confirm that a "PSP downloads site" was up and running to distribute PSP games without the use of PS3, although this stops short of confirming that the full PlayStation Store will be on PSP as soon as the next PSP update releases.

We plan on taking our PSP shopping as soon as PS3 launches and the PlayStation Store goes up, so we'll give you impressions of PS1 gaming on PSP as soon as the games are available.

Get the Deets on PS3

Finally, Sony's taken the wraps off the eagerly (to say the least) anticipated PlayStation 3 console, and PC Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Jim Louderback has the whole story. He write, "Although there was lots of game play and many demos, the focus of the launch was more on the Internet-based capabilities and what else you could do with the console, like playing movies, music, and photos." Jim said the menus look like those of the PSP, and in addition to gaming, he was most impressed by what the PS3 lets you do with photos.



Sony also talked about 1080p, the online community features, the online PS3 store, and the more than 20 games that'll be available launch; pricing is set at $59.99 for first party-titles. For the full story and a nifty screen-grab slideshow, head over to PCMag.com's story, "Sony Unveils PlayStation 3 and Game Details."

http://gearlog.com/blogs/gearlog/archive/2006/10/20/23628.aspx

PS3 Downloadable Games List

Sony has been the leading contender of the console gaming world, and now they are ready to take over the online community. Even though not much has been said about Sony’s online platform service thus far, they finally thought it was time to announce their games available for download through their online Playstation Network for the PS3. So far we can see at least six games have been announced to be downloadable for your gaming pleasure. And for those of us short on cash, it’s nice to know that downloadable first party games will be less than $15 per download at launch.

Check out the games that will be ready for download through Sony’s Online Service:

flOw
Soothing and seductive, flOw draws you into the evolution of a simple aquatic creature journeying through the surreal abyss. flOw is the first game ever to come from the university to first-party publishing on a major console. Initially an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) thesis, flOw is a game about piloting an aquatic organism through a surreal biosphere where players consume other organisms, evolve, and advance their organisms into the abyss. The stunning graphics and power of PS3 system set the stage for a truly unique gameplay experience. With an embedded design of DDA (dynamic difficulty adjustment), players with differing skill levels can intuitively adjust their game experience and enjoy playing at their own pace. Players can customize the appearance of their organisms based on gameplay. In flOw, you are what you eat.



Lemmings 2
The Lemmings are on the loose in true High Definition (HD) at full 1080p. The processing power of the PS3 system allows Lemmings 2 to better previous Lemmings games in all aspects, from detailed environments, to beautiful effects and richer animation. With its immersive music and sound effects, fiendishly-designed puzzles and a slew of new features, Lemmings 2 truly enriches the experience beyond previous versions.



Criminal Crackdown
Criminal Crackdown is a high-octane, cops n’ robbers multiplayer, action/party game for the PS3 system. Gamers’ will take the role of a bounty hunter careening around a stylish cartoon world on the hunt for criminals on the loose. Gamers will attempt to apprehend criminals and toss them back in the slammer before other bounty hunters can steal them and collect the reward money. With a combination of demolition derby gameplay, crazy weapon pickups, humor and a healthy throwback to classic arcade and sports games, Criminal Crackdown is sure to be a crazy online party experience for the PS3 system.



Go! Swizzleblock2
The classic cube swapping puzzle game has gotten a make-over for the PS3 system. Frenzied fun as you try swizzle to match the colors and remove all your blocks off the grid.



Go! Sudoku
The popular puzzle game of Sudoku is brought to the next generation of consoles. Go! Suduko 2 has evolved from the original game to provide a variety of new features and game modes.



Blast Factor
Dive into a fierce microbial war zone and rid cells of deadly viral swarms. Developed by Bluepoint Games, Blast Factor brings “old school” arcade action to next-generation technology. Supporting true High Definition (HD) at full 1080p and taking advantage of the PS3 system’s advanced processing power; Blast Factor delivers a visually stunning experience as gamers use a combination of techniques to work their way through each specimen, cell by cell, blasting waves of enemies and exploring new worlds.

Bloomburg: Sony May Revise PS3 Shipment Numbers

Less than a month away from launch, Sony has conceded that it may not be able to meet the two million PS3 units it had originally planned to have shipped by the end of the year.

Will the PS3 make its numbers? Bloomberg isn't so sure
The original projection of two million units shipped worldwide by the end of the year may not be possible, reports Bloomberg. Sony is attributing a shortage of parts intended for the Blu-Ray Disc drive as the main culprit behind the diminished quantity of PS3s available by years end.

"The honest answer is, it's more of a target", said Sony Computer Entertainment America co-chairman Jack Tretton concerning the revised PS3 shipments. "Clearly we've had production issues."

An already reduced launch quantity and, now, fewer consoles available until the new year is bad news for Sony, but should certainly provide a boost for Microsoft and Nintendo, giving them more opportunity to push their respective consoles in place of the PS3. But Kaz Hirai, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, is more optimistic. "All the issues have been ironed out, now it's just a matter of being able to replicate the process to as many lines as possible," he told GameSpot.

http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=84263

PS3 Facts and More

Sony released facts about their console and the accessories to boot straight from the horses mouth on Gamers’ Day in Sony’s home town. Finally we get in dept updates of the beloved third installment Playstation, PS3. Below you will find more then enough info to keep you drooling for weeks till its release on November 17th.

Enough hardware to launch its own NASA division, behold the PS3 in all of its glory:

PLAYSTATION 3 SYSTEM
SPECIFICATION:
• High Definition – Video output in HD requires cables and an HD-compatible display, both sold separately. Copy-protected Blu-ray video discs can only output at 1080p using an HDMI cable connected to a device that is compatible with the HDCP standard. HDMI cable not included. Additional equipment may be required to use the HDMI connector.
• Online/Wi-Fi – Requires broadband internet service and a wireless access point or LAN. Certain limitations apply to Wi-Fi connectivity. See the product documentation for details. User is responsible for Internet service fees.
• “Always on” Online Connectivity - Under normal operating circumstances including continuous broadband internet service. Requires broadband internet service and a wireless access point or LAN. Certain limitations apply to Wi-Fi connectivity. User is responsible for Internet service fees. See the product documentation for details.
• HDMI – HDMI cable not included. Additional equipment may be required to use the HDMI connector.
• Full HD – Full HD 1080p requires an HDMI cable and a 1080p native display with an HDMI input supporting HDCP.

PLAYSTATION 3 SYSTEM
KEY FEATURES:
PS3 System (60 GB HDD):
• Dimensions – Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
• CPU – Cell Broadband Engine™
• GPU – RSX
• Main Memory – 256MB XDR Main RAM
• Embedded VRAM – 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
• Hard Drive Disk – 2.5” Serial ATA (60 GB HDD)
• Main Input/Output – USB 2.0 (x4), MemoryStick/SD/CompactFlash
• Ethernet – 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T
• Bluetooth – 2.0 (EDR), Wireless Controller (up to 7)
• Wireless Communication – IEEE 802.11 b/g (w/60 GB HDD PS3)
• Screen Size – 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
• HDMI – HDMI out – (x1/HDMI)
• Analog – AV MUTLI OUT x1
• Digital Audio – DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL x1)
• Disc Drive – Blu-ray/DVD/CD (read-only)

PS3 System (20 GB HDD):
• Dimensions – Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
• CPU – Cell Broadband Engine™
• GPU – RSX
• Main Memory – 256MB XDR Main RAM
• Embedded VRAM – 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
• Hard Drive Disk – 2.5” Serial ATA (20 GB HDD)
• Main Input/Output – USB 2.0 (x4
• Ethernet – 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T
• Bluetooth – 2.0 (EDR), Wireless Controller (up to 7)
• Screen Size – 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
• HDMI – HDMI out – (x1/HDMI)
• Analog – AV MUTLI OUT x1
• Digital Audio – DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL x1)
• Disc Drive – Blu-ray/DVD/CD (read-only)

BLU-RAY DISC
KEY FEATURES:
• Supported by the Blu-ray Association and has broader industry support than any disc format ever launched
• Just like the other PlayStation® consoles have helped establish new media formats such as the CD and DVD, we expect the PS3™ system to help propel the growth of the Blu-ray Disc format
• The format offers large storage capacity that game creators require in today’s high-def world—more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs
• Blu-ray offers pristine picture quality at 1080p the highest-definition resolution available today
• In addition to videogames and movies, Blu-ray Disc recordable formats can store almost anything in your digital world, including photographs, home videos, music libraries and data

CELL BROADBAND ENGINE
KEY FEATURES:
• Performs 208 billion floating point calculations per second
• Breakthrough architectural design features seven synergistic processors and a clock speed of 3.2 GHz
• Each synergistic processing unit (SPU) has its own fast memory for true parallel processing

SIXAXIS WIRELESS CONTROLLER
KEY FEATURES:
• Utilizes breakthrough technology and a highly sensitive motion sensing system so as the user moves the controller the game moves with it
• Features Bluetooth for wireless gameplay; the PS3 system can support up to seven wireless controllers at one time
• Can be swapped seamlessly from wireless to wired and automatically charged using the controller’s USB cable
• The shape of the L2/R2 buttons has been altered, enabling increased depth in stroke for more subtle control in games
• The tilting angle of the analog joy sticks has been slightly broadened to enable more delicate and more dynamic manipulation
• The information detection (L2/R2, analog joy stick) has been increased from 8 bit to 10 bit

http://www.thegamefeed.com/news-de25af281db7000b448a690a4fddb291.html

PS3 SixAxis Tilts Tony Hawk

When Sony first announced that their new PS3 controller would utilize tilt functionality, there was very little news of which games would actually support the feature other than WarHawk. At the 2006 Tokyo Game Show (TGS 06), more titles were announced to support SixAxis. Today, that list just got one game longer from Activision, Tony Hawk Project 8. Acitivsion is already support new way of gameplay with the Nintendo Wii by creating Tony Hawk Downhill Jam from the bottom up.



The controller will be used to balance players as they grind rails, manual, revert, ollie and perform combos. You’ll also be twisting and turning the controller as you play as one of 11 pro skating athletes listed below.

• Bob Burnquist
• Dustin Dollin
• Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins
• Nyjah Huston
• Bam Margera
• Rodney Mullen
• Paul “P-Rod” Rodriguez Jr.
• Ryan Sheckler
• Daewon Song
• Mike Vallely
• Stevie Williams

http://www.thegamefeed.com/news-60aee9bf44aab2cdb39ffd41394bd9ad.html
Tony Hawk Project 8 is currently in development for the Xbox 360 and a planned launch title for the PS3 on November 19th in North America. It’s rated ‘T’ for Teen and will sell for $59.99.

Sony PS3 Packaging Revealed

When gamers dropped everything they were doing last Tuesday morning on October 10th to rush themselves over to GameStop for a PS3 pre-order, they did so blindly not knowing exactly what they were getting. Gamers dropped down a $100 deposit and didn’t even know which system (20GB or 60GB) they were getting. Yesterday, Sony finally lifted the curtain on their PS3 packaging details and letting gamers who were lucky enough to get a pre-order through GameStop know what they were getting.



In the box you’ll get the PS3 console of course, One SixAxis wireless controller, and AC cord, a USB mini-cable, Ethernet cable and composite AV cables. The first 500,000 lucky PS3 owners will also get a copy of the film ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballard of Ricky Bobby’ starring Will Farrell to promote the Blu-Ray movie player aspect of the PS3. This should come to no surprise since Sony also bundled the ‘Spiderman 2’ UMD movie with the PSP when it was released.

"As the industry leader, SCEA has always offered comprehensive entertainment systems that stand the test of time," said Kaz Hirai. "The PS3 system features technologies that are truly next-generation. With so much packed into our system, we're confident that the PS3 will be just as 'future-proof' as our other PlayStation products, allowing consumers to enjoy a myriad of digital entertainment content for many years to come."

When it comes to perriphaels, additional PS3 SixAxis controllers will run your $49.99 and a memory card adapter to transfer data between your PSOne and PS2 data onto the PS3 hard drive will cost $14.99. Coming in December will be the Blu-Ray remote control for $24.99.

Fellow gaming website IGN also reports that the SixAxis wireless controller will have a 20 meter wireless range and a single charge will last up to 30 hours. As for the system’s power supply, it will be packaged internal to the system eliminating that huge power brick we’ve become so found of with the Xbox 360.

What's in the PS3 retail boxes?

FOSTER CITY, Calif., October 19, 2006 - PS3 is an incredible value for the consumer and comes standard with advanced technologies, such as the Cell Broadband Engine, built-in BD player, internal hard disk drive, HDMI output standard, Wireless Controller (SIXAXIS) and network capability -- everything required to start enjoying the PS3 right out of the box.

SCEA offers a 20GB HDD PS3 system for $499 and a 60GB HDD unit for $599, which includes built-in Wi-Fi connectivity (60GB HDD model only). To further highlight the power of PS3's BD player, the company also announced today that packed in with the first half million PS3 systems shipped in North America will be one of this summer's biggest blockbuster hits from Sony Pictures Entertainment, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, starring Will Farrell. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby will be sold separately in stores nationwide beginning December 12, 2006.

"As the industry leader, SCEA has always offered comprehensive entertainment systems that stand the test of time," said Kaz Hirai. "The PS3 system features technologies that are truly next-generation. With so much packed into our system, we're confident that the PS3 will be just as 'future-proof' as our other PlayStation products, allowing consumers to enjoy a myriad of digital entertainment content for many years to come."

Beyond the standard PS3 system package, SCEA also announced today the roster of peripherals that will accompany the arrival of PS3. The peripherals that will be available in North America on day one will include separately sold Wireless Controller (SIXAXIS), available for $49.99, a Memory Card Adaptor for transferring game save information from PlayStation and PlayStation® Memory Cards onto the HDD of PS3 for $14.99, and coming soon, a BD Remote Control for $24.99.

Sony Gamer's Day '06 - PS3 launch details revealed

Sony is currently holding a Sony Gamer's Day event, during which they have promised to reveal everything we could want to know about the PS3's looming November 17 launch.

We don't have anyone at the event this year to live-blog it, like some outlets do. Fortunately for us (and you), Sony released an early press release containing a lot of the information that they plan on talking about.

First thing's first -- the launch games.

First Party titles ($59.99 retail):

Genji: Days of the Blade
NBA 07
Resistance: Fall of Man

Third Party titles:

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII - Ubisoft
Call of Duty 3 - Activision
Fight Night Round 3 - Electronic Arts
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Bethesda Softworks
F.E.A.R. - Vivendi Universal Games
Full Auto 2: Battlelines - Sega
Madden NFL 07 - Electronic Arts
MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE - Activision
Mobile Suit Gundam: CROSSFIRE - NAMCO BANDAI Games
NBA 2K7 - 2K Sports
Need For Speed: Carbon - Electronic Arts
NHL 2K7 - 2K Sports
RIDGE RACER 7 - NAMCO BANDAI Games
Sonic the Hedgehog - Sega
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 - Electronic Arts
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas - Ubisoft
Tony Hawk's Project 8 - Activision
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - Sony Online Entertainment

Accessories:

Wireless Controller (SIXAXIS) - $49.99 - 20 meter range, 30 hours of battery life
Memory Card Adaptor - $14.99 - to transfer game saves from PS1 and PS2 mem. cards to the PS3's HDD
Blu Ray Disc Remote Control - $24.99 (coming soon)

The PS3 system will come bundled with one SIXAXIS wireless controller, an AC cord, a USB mini-cable, an ethernet cable, and composite cables. No component.

More details:

-The first 500,000 PS3 systems sold in the United States will include a Blu-Ray version of the movie "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," almost one month before its release date.

-Basic online service is free from day one.

-Cross Media Bar - the PS3's "navigation system." It's what's used on PSPs.

-Game demos, movies, and "casual games" can be purchased and downloaded from the online PS3 store [much like Xbox Live Marketplace]. "Blast Factor" is an exclusive title that is being developed by Sony Computer Entertainment World Wide Studios. Downloadable first-party games will cost "less than $15" at launch.


Comments
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You should not see me
+0 karma sexualzergling 10.20.2006 at 09:17:22 AM
"$50 for one controller.... no thanks"

That's what friends are for. They don't buy a controller? They don't play.+0 karma jcgamer60 10.20.2006 at 04:17:10 AM
RIIIIDGE RACEEEEER,is what i would be getting if i could afford a ps3.+0 karma bloodix 10.20.2006 at 04:12:56 AM
$50 for one controller.... no thanks+2 karma mechachu 10.20.2006 at 03:36:03 AM
and w00t for - karma for me _,|,, Sony fanboys panties bunching up? i think so :D+1 karma mechachu 10.20.2006 at 02:16:12 AM
I am horribly immature :D its my nature :P 50$ is... too much for these things. PS2 controllers were cheaper, only dif is wireless and the tilt w/e thingy. So (PS3) Wireless + Tilt - Vibration = 50$.... while (PS2) Wired + Vibration = 25$? hmm... something isnt right there. Even the Wavebird for Gamecube was cheaper.+0 karma sugoi 10.20.2006 at 02:10:51 AM
The level of anti-sony vitrol here is astounding. I may not have the hottest desire for the PS3 myself, but I think many of you need to drink a nice soothing beverage and tone it down a notch. Seesh.

Yes, it is expensive. Yes, the controller does not have a replacable battery, which fills me with ire. There are things we don't like. Even with these things being so, it's no reason to wig out and make yourselves sound so horribly immature.+0 karma shin gallon 10.20.2006 at 01:02:20 AM
Hopefully I'll be able to use my PS2 pads with the games. $50 a controller is a bit steep, and I'm not fond of wireless in the first place.+0 karma mechachu 10.20.2006 at 12:48:16 AM
50$ is stupid. From everything I've heard, (as someone mentioned below but I'm too lazy to look back) it feels light and cheap. Also, the lack of rumble is annoying, and the motion w/e the hell it is, is just... annoying aswell. Rumble > Motion thingy. It'd be worth 50$ (well it'd be easier to shell out 50$) if it was rumble instead. 40... should have been the max it cost. I'm sure it'll be successful, and we'll all get over the price just like we did the console price.+2 karma swordsmanus 10.19.2006 at 11:51:12 PM
(old) NEWS FLASH for all the people bitching: the wireless 360 controller also costs 49.99 at bestbuy.com, gamestop.com, ebgames.com, and 49.92 at walmart.com. So unless you have some mystical store where they sell wireless 360 controllers for less, your complaints don't hold water. Or maybe you were referring to the WIRED controller, which is $10 less, but that's not a fair comparison with a wireless controller.

"Wow... I thought it had been released earlier it was going to cost 29.99 or 39.99 not 50 bucks! "

"But wow, $50....that really blows for all of you looking to pick up extra PS3 controllers...."

"I think it's a bit insulting that a sixaxis is going to cost $50 without the rumble, on the grounds of making the controller "affordable" when the Wii 'chuck and Wiimote cost $60 to have rumble, and the 360 blasts them both at a whopping what, $35-40?"+3 karma terpfen 10.19.2006 at 11:38:20 PM
Lineup looks decent to me. There are a lot of ports, but a few games I'm surprised to see in the launch lineup, like Crossfire.

Overall, this is much better than the PS2's launch.-2 karma dizzy don mega 10.19.2006 at 11:34:26 PM
Anyone who buys a ps3 IS PATHETIC.-2 karma dohhyulittle 10.19.2006 at 11:23:18 PM
Ive already got games, FEAR, Oblivion and Resistance preodered. Going to pick up madden and Blazing Angels and a controller at launch.
Ordered a 10ft HDMI cable and 3ft Toslink optical cable, with shipping was 16 dollars. Oh noes HDMI is so expensive, bulls***.

So a free movie is good for me.

If you dont like the system, or sony why bother coming in here to talk s***? Its like hating chick flicks, and then going to a chick flick just to bitch about how bad chick flicks are.+0 karma shigeta 10.19.2006 at 11:06:13 PM
How appropriate that I'm listening to Weird Al's "You're Pitiful" while clicking on this link....-1 karma bounchfx 10.19.2006 at 10:56:14 PM
That's a good point parallax, while movies cost like 5 cents to make if even, they sure do seem to focus a hell of a lot more on movies than games. you think people would want a GAME with their 600$ tax system. not some assed over movie.

so would you like some games with your blu ray movie player, you lucky first 500k-1 karma dohhyulittle 10.19.2006 at 10:41:42 PM
Their including a movie because MS is including King Kong with the HD-DVD drive, and if Sony didnt include a movie, everyone would flipping freak out about it.
i for one like it, because i never saw the movie, i wanted to, i just didnt have the time.+1 karma parallax34 10.19.2006 at 10:35:53 PM
-The first 500,000 PS3 systems sold in the United States will include a Blu-Ray version of the movie "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," almost one month before its release date.

thats lame what's sony's focus movies or games. Giving away spider-man 2 didn't really push psp systems why should it here. halve of these games are old already or available else where. the wii is well over halve the price of this console and comes with a game. I won't be getting either at launch but first chance I get I'll buy a wii.+0 karma thehawk 10.19.2006 at 10:07:02 PM
Now that it seems contoller prices have gone up all around, it makes me hope that the controllers will last a long time and be durable. They're a real investment now. I haven't heard much about the construction of the Wii controller, but I keep hearing from various sources that the PS3 controller feels cheap and light.

I wonder if inexpensive Madcatz/Pelican controllers will be very common now that they have those crazy accelerometers inside the controllers.+0 karma bounchfx 10.19.2006 at 09:51:19 PM
Did I say anything about them not being free? I know and knew they were free. I simply restated that it was the "basic" service. why call it basic? I was just curious to why it was called that.-2 karma dohhyulittle 10.19.2006 at 09:41:29 PM
bouncfx do you not read?
I just said EVERYTHING is free, the only things you pay for is content in the PS store, like movies, music and games.
Everything else, online gaming, voice, text, video chat all free. Geez.+0 karma 60fps 10.19.2006 at 09:21:20 PM
Ok I guess I can't complain about the $60 Wii controllers seeing how this is now the standard price for controllers.

I guess it just feels odd seeing controller prices on the same level of price as the games. I'll adjust.

I guess the only real costly thing about PS3 is the console itself. I don't buy consoles or handhelds until a year later after launch just to see how well they do before I invest so it won't matter to me for now.+0 karma shippoyasha 10.19.2006 at 09:06:31 PM
Holy crap. Everything from PS3 to Wii controllers cost way too much. Halve the prices and I would not be complaining about them.+0 karma pojo 10.19.2006 at 08:56:01 PM
I actually want quite a few of those games. Too bad I can't afford the system, let alone the $60 games. I guess I'll get a Wii this year and just wait for some serious price drops.+1 karma bounchfx 10.19.2006 at 08:51:59 PM
allow me to be a dick and give my first impression analysis of sony's launch lineup.

Genji: Days of the Blade - massive damage. maybe potentially cool
NBA 07 - n/a
Resistance: Fall of Man - potential blockbuster, insomniac rules.

Third Party titles:

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII - Ubisoft - did this not already release and flop almost a year ago on 360?
Call of Duty 3 - Activision - treyarch better not f*** up, otherwise, multiconsole
Fight Night Round 3 - Electronic Arts - didn't we play and beat this on 360 almost a year ago?
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Bethesda Softworks - see FNR3/multiconsole
F.E.A.R. - Vivendi Universal Games - see FNR3/multiconsole
Full Auto 2: Battlelines - Sega - didn't this game suck? sega hasn't exactly been any good lately honestly, I had hope for FA, maybe this one will be better.
Madden NFL 07 - Electronic Arts - multiconsole/been out on 360 already
MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE - Activision - multic
Mobile Suit Gundam: CROSSFIRE - NAMCO BANDAI Games - ?
NBA 2K7 - 2K Sports - sports lol, I dont know, good for ps3!
Need For Speed: Carbon - Electronic Arts - multic
NHL 2K7 - 2K Sports- see nba2k7
RIDGE RACER 7 - NAMCO BANDAI Games - does this not look exactly like rr6? meh.
Sonic the Hedgehog - Sega - hopefully good, demo blew.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 - Electronic Arts - lol i was selling this for 360 today.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas - Ubisoft - m/c out on 360 first
Tony Hawk's Project 8 - Activision - multic, 360 first
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - Sony Online Entertainment - LOL, but seriously I hope it turns out ok so I have a 5$ game to buy when I get a ps3

wow how many ways can I say multiconsole.

well, honestly, I think it's pretty damn disapointing. not that 360s was uber awesome, but it was better than this (IMO, sans resistance), because at least half the games haven't been out already for the competing console. I swear if anyone says they are buying ps3 for madden 07 I will frown.

anyway, you get the idea, it's just what I'm feeling right now-3 karma scarecrow9 10.19.2006 at 08:48:47 PM
Why are you asking for Warhawk

when Halo for 360 hasn't even come out yet?-1 karma bounchfx 10.19.2006 at 08:44:26 PM
What, no warhawk?

what? BASIC online service? Whats the non basic? PSBlingBling?

Gee, that sounds like XBOX LIVE SILVER (with online play of course :P)

game demos can be purchased?+0 karma animetayl 10.19.2006 at 08:36:38 PM
I second proppat's view. The only game I'm looking forward to is Oblivion out of that whole list of launch games. Not much worth the $600 for the console for just one game. Glad I preordered the Wii instead. I wonder how long it will take before the console is worth it for me to buy. The X360 hasn't made it yet, and perhaps it never will, if exclusive titles don't stay that way.+2 karma proppat 10.19.2006 at 08:23:38 PM
The PS3 and the 360's launch have two things in common, they both have rediculous shortages and the only launch title that's worth playing on either system is Oblivion.-2 karma scarecrow9 10.19.2006 at 08:13:42 PM
Kick ass! Can't wait to buy this the first week.

SO MUCH better than the 360's launch which had BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD shortages and nothing more special than Perfect Dark Zero????

Wii and PlayStation3 here I come!+0 karma joesteele 10.19.2006 at 08:05:48 PM
"they can make "recomendations" but by no means is it Sony, Microsoft or Nintedos fault if a game is 80 dollars. "

Don't be so sure. Remember when we heard a while ago that coding for the PS3 was more challenging? In the early part of the system's life (before ppl get used to coding for it), that could mean more man hours to complete game which could drive the price up. Games, unlike consoles, CANNOT be sold at a loss, so if third parties need to charge $80 to recoup losses from game development, then that's what they are going to do.+0 karma thehawk 10.19.2006 at 07:31:14 PM
With the PSP, they used the inclusion of a good movie to increase demand for the handheld. So I guess with the PS3 they included a BAD movie to DECREASE the demand, thanks to the low amount of consoles available.+0 karma dohhyulittle 10.19.2006 at 07:23:12 PM
@ toiletducky, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have aboslutly no control over third party pricing, they can make "recomendations" but by no means is it Sony, Microsoft or Nintedos fault if a game is 80 dollars.
Also Third parties so far are 59.99, I preorded FEAR and Oblivion and both were 60 bucks.

@chibi_kaji Yes, online gaming, text chating, voice and video chating, demos, surfing the internet via the browser, its all free of charge.

Also Yellowdog Linx v5 will be available to install on the PS3, at first for a fee, but one month after launch it will be free to download and install. It will have all the typical components of Linux, Firefox & Thunderbird, Openoffice, etc.+0 karma yaztimbenzo 10.19.2006 at 07:08:35 PM
probably basic as in anything that is free in XBL already.+2 karma chibi_kaji 10.19.2006 at 07:01:37 PM
"Basic online service is free from day one."

So have they ever come out and said what they mean by basic services?+0 karma toiletduckbaby 10.19.2006 at 07:00:18 PM
i guess the 3rd parties haven't announced game prices

if it ends up 69.99, it'll hurt sony pretty bad+4 karma windstar 10.19.2006 at 06:30:42 PM
50 dollars for one extra PS3 remote, or 34.99 for one copy of Final Fantasy 3 DS. Decisions, decisions...+1 karma vespertilio 10.19.2006 at 06:29:21 PM
Honestly, this would be a great launch story if the system and controller prices were cut in half.+0 karma heartless_king 10.19.2006 at 06:25:40 PM
I didn't mean to come off sounding biased but I just think its ridiculous that people bitched and bitched about the Wiimote w/ Nunchuk being so expensive (and it still sorta is), but Sony drops a controller with fewer functions touting that they think it is affordable for the customer and it's only 10 dollars less! Sony's idea of "more affordable" has become highly warped, I'm assuming this has something to do with having a 600 dollar system. Something in my head tells me that this would warp their view of "affordable", but I can't seem to find the right words right now.-3 karma dizzy don mega 10.19.2006 at 06:23:04 PM
LOL @ sony trying to get a download service for games.+0 karma joesteele 10.19.2006 at 06:21:43 PM
didn't I read recently that Sony said all their first party titles at launch would be $49.99?

But wow, $50....that really blows for all of you looking to pick up extra PS3 controllers....of course, looking at this list, except for the sports titles, most of those don't like very compelling non-online multiplayer experiences anyway, so you might as well hold off.+2 karma MegaManX 10.19.2006 at 06:17:32 PM
I didn't know Sonic was going to be a launch title. That's pretty cool.

I'm perfectly happy saving $600 and getting it for my 360, though.

Hopefully the PS3 will be slightly more affordable by the time I actually want one... although I doubt it.-1 karma fillerbunny9 10.19.2006 at 06:13:52 PM
I think it's a bit insulting that a sixaxis is going to cost $50 without the rumble, on the grounds of making the controller "affordable" when the Wii 'chuck and Wiimote cost $60 to have rumble, and the 360 blasts them both at a whopping what, $35-40?

otherwise, bundling a movie with the system isn't a bad idea, and the kids these days all love Will Farrell. throwing in something to add some value to that huge price tag is important. free online is also quite nice, though I am curious to see their service in action once everyone is on it. servers and whatnot for it have to cost someone money, and Sony's already projecting higher losses than expected this year from the video game division missing european launch/console shortages.

regardless of the box contents, every unit is going to sell out on launch day, Sony will say ZOMG WE R0X0R! and business on ebay is going to thrive. hell, if I can manage to get one on launch, I know I'll be selling that bad boy around mid-December. I need a new computer and a few other fun things.+0 karma pixy misao 10.19.2006 at 06:13:46 PM
While I may not be as biased as "heartless" seems to be, he has a point. Sony made big deal about the controller being affordable to the consumer not that long ago, yet it retails for only 10$ cheaper than both the Wiimote w/ nunchaku attachment combined.+0 karma cutriss 10.19.2006 at 06:13:32 PM
I assume that memory card adapter is USB-based. I wonder how long it'll be before we can get that thing working on the PC. Not that I need one since I have a MAX Drive, but it'd be nice for another solution to exist on the market.+5 karma heartless_king 10.19.2006 at 06:08:18 PM
HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

49.99 for the SIXAXIS?!?!!

HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Doesn't make the Wii combo look so bad now. Considering the Wiimote itself is only 39.99 and does MORE then the SIXAXIS.

Wow... I thought it had been released earlier it was going to cost 29.99 or 39.99 not 50 bucks!

Beyond that not bad. A very impressive launch amount wise. Looking at that most of the 3rd party are ports though, it takes away some of that gleam.

Beyond that it's not a bad list of info.
http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=7078

PS3 accessories, Blu-ray bundle revealed

In conjunction with its Gamers' Day event being held in San Francisco today, Sony revealed the first accessories for the PlayStation 3. The initial batch of add-ons for the next-generation console, which launches in the US on November 17, will be relatively modest, consisting of just four devices.

First up is the PS3 HDMI cable, which many high-definition televisions require to display graphics in 1080p resolution. The omission of the cable from the basic PS3 package caused a bit of a stir when it was first revealed in August, and its price probably won't help matters. The PS3 HDMI cable will sell for $49.99, higher than most HDMI cables on eBay (which can go for as low as $9.99), but lower than the "generic" PS3/360 HDMI cable that was listed on GameStop for $99.99. However, since the PS3 has a standard HDMI port, any HDMI cable should work with the console.

Far more affordable is the PS3 Memory Card Adapter, which will retail for $14.99. Though not necessary for saving PS3 games, the adapter is required for loading game saves from old PlayStation 2 and PlayStation memory cards. The PS3 is fully backward compatible with both consoles, and PS2 and PlayStation games will be made available for download Xbox Live Arcade style via the PlayStation Network Platform.

Sony will let gamers purchase extra units of the PS3's Sixaxis controller for $49.99 each. With its built-in Bluetooth wireless connectivity, the PS3 will support up to seven controllers at once, without a next-gen equivalent of a multitap extension.

As it did with the PlayStation 2, Sony is selling the media remote for the PS3 separately. The Blu-ray Disc Remote will go for $29.99 and will provide single-button controls for most of the PS3's media functionality.

Speaking of Blu-ray, Sony is planning to include a single movie on the high-definition format with each PS3 for a limited time, much like it bundled a UMD movie with the PSP in 2005. However, while the UMD film was Spider-Man 2, whose comic-book roots and special effects had undeniable gamer appeal, Sony's choice for the PS3's BD movie--the Will Ferrell NASCAR comedy Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby--will puzzle many.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160120.html

EA Currently Developing 30 PS3 Titles

Paul Lee, President of EA Studios commented on the launch of the PS3, " Each game has been custom designed to leverage the hardware power of the PlayStation 3 and serve as a launch pad for EA's next generation of HD gaming. This is only the beginning. In the months and years to come, developers will take greater advantage of the PlayStation 3's cell processors and blu-ray storage capacity to create games of stunning depth and texture."

Frank Gibeau, EA Executive Vice President of North America Publishing noted, "This is a very exciting time for gamers. EA's games on the PlayStation 3 will help propel HD forward. Over the course of the next 18 months, EA will roll out groundbreaking new original properties and spectacular new versions of perennial hits that will further maximize the power of the PlayStation 3's unique cell processor and outstanding blu-ray disk capacity."

To date, the complete list of EA games for PS3 includes:

ARMY OF TWO

Delivering a groundbreaking 3rd person co-op shooter unparalleled in the action genre, EA Montreal's ARMY OF TWO focuses on gameplay centered around TWO man missions, TWO man strategies, TWO man tactics and a TWO man advantage. Taking advantage of the PS3 cell processor and multi-threading technology, as well as the SIXAXIS wireless controller, the EA Montreal team is creating an entirely new next-gen gameplay experience offering gamers shooting and play mechanics never before possible on the current generation of consoles. ARMY OF TWO will throw gamers into hot spots ripped from current day headlines where they will utilize unique TWO man strategies and tactics while seamlessly transitioning between playing with intelligent Partner AI and a live player.

Burnout 5

Burnout 5 harnesses the power of the PS3 to give players license to wreak havoc in Paradise City, the ultimate seamless racing battleground. Every inch of the world in Burnout 5 is built to deliver heart-stopping Burnout-style crashes and spectacular gameplay

Battlefield: Bad Company

Built from the ground-up using the bleeding-edge Frostbite game engine, Battlefield: Bad Company drops PS3 gamers behind enemy lines with a squad of renegade soldiers who risk it all on a personal quest for gold and revenge. Featuring a deep, cinematic single-player experience loaded with adventure and dark humor, the game delivers the series' trademark sandbox gameplay in a universe where nearly everything is destructible. Battlefield: Bad Company also will feature a full suite of the franchise's trademark multiplayer options with deep gameplay designed to take full advantage of the game's massively destructible environments.

Def Jam: ICON

Infusing hip-hop music, culture and lifestyle into the gameplay, EA Chicago and urban lifestyle powerhouse Def Jam Interactive, continue to push the boundaries of game development bringing unique and innovative content to the next generation of gaming. In Def Jam: ICON, EA Chicago is changing the way fighting games are played. With the power of the PS3 Cell Processor, Def Jam: ICON features the most lifelike characters seen on any platform as well as a living breathing environment that animates and pulsates to the beat of the music. Not only is the environment reaching the next generation of art but each piece of the environment moves individually to the music being played during the fight. As the environment gets destroyed, the characters and the pieces of environment are animated with real world physics driven by the cell processor. The level of interaction with the environment, the smooth and fluid character animations, and the environmental detail and physics are all possible with the power of the PS3.

Fight Night Round 3

EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 3 for the PS3 will be shipping on December 12 to retail stores nationwide. Featuring exclusive content including a comprehensive ESPN Integration package and a new first person mode called Get in the Ring, the PS3 version continues to innovate on the hit franchise. Get in the Ring mode allows gamers to experience the fight through the eyes of the boxer. For the first time ever, gamers will truly experience the sensation of the sport with visual and audio effects like ear ringing, restricted vision, flashes of bright light, color shifts and blur effects that simulate the sense and feeling of getting punched. Imagine trying to recover from Ali's lighting fast jabs when you can barely make out his glove through a blinding barrage of flashes and blur. Furthermore, the boxers are more lifelike than ever with everything from the boxer's sweat and skin to the appearance of their muscles and veins all adding to the realistic gameplay experience. Tapping into the power of the PS3, the EA Canada development team has come up with new ways to make the boxers look more photo realistic than ever before, like seeing the reflection of the venue walls in the sweat sheen.

Madden NFL 07

With unparalleled next-generation power, new gang-tackling physics, and jaw-dropping graphics, Madden NFL 07 for the PS3 delivers a previously unimaginable experience that blurs the line between gaming and reality. The brand new SIXAXIS motion sensor controller puts complete command of your players at your fingertips like never before by allowing you to throw the perfect block or deliver punishing defensive hits.

Medal of Honor Airborne

Medal of Honor Airborne is the newest installment from EA's critically-acclaimed Medal of Honor franchise which was credited with pioneering the First-Person Shooter (FPS) WWII genre when it debuted in 1999. While building on the key tenets of the franchise including historical accuracy and authenticity, Medal of Honor Airborne is set to redefine the series by introducing players to an entirely new way of experiencing a WWII FPS - namely the fully interactive Airborne experience. Players will step into the boots of Boyd Travers, Private First Class of the 82nd Airborne Division and engage in battles throughout Europe. From rocky beginnings in Sicily to war-winning triumphs in Germany, each mission begins with an intense and fully interactive airdrop which leverages the unique SIXAXIS PS3 controller to give players complete and precise control of how, where, and when they land behind enemy lines. In this free roaming FPS environment, the path a player chooses will dramatically change the way each mission plays out. Medal of Honor Airborne will also feature exceptionally photo-realistic characters, adding to the intensity of the cinematic, story-driven game.

NBA STREET

The 4th chapter of the NBA STREET series returns with a brand new game engine only possible with the power of the PS3. The multi-platinum franchise is once again raising the bar with cutting edge graphics and innovative gameplay that puts the ball directly in your hands. With a new animation engine and control system, NBA STREET allows users to create tricks-on-the-fly for the first time in a basketball game. The best of the best in the NBA are rendered with meticulous detail, making true athlete fidelity a reality. NBA Stars will play in new authentic environments that are equally detailed with 360 degrees of view, making it possible to get up close and personal with every move and moment.

Need for Speed Carbon

Need for Speed Carbon and the PS3 introduce the world to a whole new way to play Need for Speed. The battle for Palmont City starts in the streets, but is ultimately won in the canyons as Need for Speed Carbon immerses you in the world's most dangerous and adrenaline-filled forms of street racing. The combination of the classic Need for Speed controls with the new, unique motion sensitive controller of the PS3 takes the gameplay to a level previously not possible. The player will instantly recognize and feel the physics differences between the 50 plus Muscle, Exotic, and Tuner cars, as they use their crew to win Canyon races, customize their cars using Autosculpt, and battle to take control of the streets of Palmont. EA is leveraging the high capacity and throughput of the Blu-ray disk to store and stream our highly complex world; something that was becoming increasingly difficult to do on other forms of media.

SKATE

With innovative controls that take advantage of the PS3 hardware and the dual analog sticks, SKATE offers a unique and authentic next-gen skateboard videogame experience unparalleled in the skate videogame genre. Featuring physics driven animations made only possible by the power of the PS3, gamers will have a unique experience every time they pick up the controller since no two tricks will ever be the same. The amount of information the game is able to take from the unique flickit analog controls and interpret it through the physics engine could never be done on a current generation console system. SKATE on PS3 has the ability to simulate real world physics versus canned animations. From a fully procedural trick engine to the way cloth moves on the skaters, all movement is physically simulated and dynamic offering gamers a skating game that is the closest thing to skateboarding without actually putting their feet on a board.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 allows you to compete for The FedExCup, the new PGA TOUR® championship playoff system, against some of the world's best golfers. New golfers in the game include Michael Campbell, Ian Poulter, and Annika Sorenstam. With the new True Aiming system, survey the course layout and weigh the risks of each shot before swinging away using the refined dual analog stick swing system. Develop your drive, chip shots, and putting skills in the new Practice Facility or take on a friend in new mini games including Capture the Flag, Twenty One or Target-to-Target, before unleashing yourself on the PGA TOUR. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 on PS3 takes full advantage of the new motion-sensor controller for a greater degree of ball spin direction and speed control. Gamers tilt the controller in the direction they wish the ball to spin, the longer the tilt in the direction, the faster the ball will turn for more action on the course and around the green.

PS3 importing declared illegal by Sony

Sony has announced that importing PS3s without their permission is illegal. To enforce this, Sony has the recent victory in a lawsuit against Lik-Sang, who was importing PSPs. In this case, Judge Michael Fysh found that Lik-Sang was in breach of intellectual property rights when it sold Japanese PSPs to European consumers.

"The law is clear; grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCE is illegal. Therefore, we will utilise the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this," a Sony rep said to GamesIndustry.biz.

"Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera; is not - in PS3's case - backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software; will not play European Blu-Ray movies or DVDs; and will not be covered by warranty."

With the PS3 launch still months away for Europe, many people will want to import a PS3 from Japan or North America. So if it is in your plans, it might be a good idea to reconsider.

http://www.ps3land.com/article-868.php

Sony Says It May Not Meet PS3 Shipment Goals on Production Snag

Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Sony Corp., which slashed its profit forecast yesterday, said it may not reach this year's shipment target for the PlayStation 3 game console because of a parts shortage in the Blu-ray high-definition disc drive.

Sony plans to ship two million PlayStation 3 players this year to the U.S. and Japan, and six million worldwide by March. The Tokyo-based company said yesterday annual profit would fall 39 percent to its lowest in five years on price cuts of the console in Japan and a recall of 9.6 million computer batteries.

``The honest answer is it's more of a target'' for PlayStation 3 shipments, Jack Tretton, co-chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment America, said yesterday in an interview. ``Clearly we've had production issues.''

A shortage of the PlayStation 3 would give Microsoft Corp. and Nintendo Co. a bigger head start in the $20 billion console market when they sell their players next month in time for the year's biggest sales season. Sony cut the price of the PS3 in Japan after consumers complained it was too expensive compared with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii.

``It would be a big hill to climb with a console that costs twice as much,'' said John Broady, an analyst for GameSpot.com, a unit of Cnet Networks Entertainment that tracks video-game sales. ``A lot of this is driven by mothers. When they look at their budget, I think the Wii is going to be very attractive.''

Shares of Sony fell 0.2 percent to 4,780 yen as of 12:35 p.m. on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, against a 0.4 percent advance in the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average.

Laser Parts

The PlayStation 3 will retail for at least $500, while a basic Xbox 360 model from Microsoft sells for $300. Nintendo is releasing its Wii console at $250.

Sony said in September that it would cut the 2006 rollout for the PlayStation 3 from four million to two million units and delayed the console's European introduction four months. The company said at the time it still expected to reach its original target of six million units by March.

The company said at the time it couldn't make enough blue diode lasers, the key components of the Blu-ray player. A Blu-ray disc can store at least five times more than the 4.7 gigabyte standard DVD, enabling high-definition game graphics and movies.

Earnings Outlook

Net income for the year ending March 31 will drop 35 percent to 80 billion yen ($675 million) from a year earlier, Sony said. Losses at the game division will be wider than Sony expected because of the PlayStation 3 price cut and slower sales of the PlayStation Portable. About 60 billion yen of operating profit will be erased from the division, the company said.

Tretton spoke in an interview at Sony's ``Gamers Day,'' an event in San Francisco designed to showcase PlayStation 3's capabilities. Sony will release more than 20 game titles for the console during the holiday season. Titles include ``Resistance: Fall of Man'' and ``Genji: Days of the Blade.''

Publishers including Electronic Arts Inc. and Activision Inc., the two largest makers of video games, are developing titles for the PlayStation 3.

Microsoft has shipped 5 million Xbox 360 consoles since it was introduced in November 2005 and expects to sell 10 million by the end of the year, said spokeswoman Molly O'Donnell. Nintendo plans to sell 4 million units of the Wii by year's end, the company said in September.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHLZ6fnYiNoY&refer=home

Updated PS3 MultiMedia Details

We reported on Phil Harrison's brief demonstration of the PS3 Media Cross Bar (XMB) at TGS last month, and now more details have come to light. Thanks to Impress Watch, a recent feature has outlined some juicy new tidbits of info regarding the PS3's MultiMedia.

Getting right down to business: by selecting "Display Settings," you gain access to a menu for closing your display connection. You can also choose from "Component or D Cable," "Composite or S-Video," and "AV Multi or SCART." The menu clearly displays pictures for each plug, so even the most technologically challenged shouldn't have any trouble getting set up.

The PS3 will be able to select resolution settings automatically, but if you want to take care of this manually, you can select 480p, 1080i, 720p, 1080p, and "custom." You'll even have full control over the form of audio chat on the PS3. By going into the Audio Output section, you can select from Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, and AAC, as well as Linear PCM with 2ch, 5.1ch, and 7.1ch available in 44.1kHz, 88.2kHz, 48kHz, and 192kHz. You may set this to automatic if you so desire, and there are three more simple cable options- HDMI, optical, and AV Multi.

To enable Blu-Ray playback, you need to head over to the HD/DVD section of the settings menu. Then you can choose the disk's menu, default audio, and subtitle languages, which should be familiar to PSP owners. And if you're concerned about slow start-up times with next-gen optical disc players, don't fret; the PS3 loads up a Blu-Ray movie very quickly. Impress tried out the U.S. version of Fifth Element, and it took less than 10 seconds to start up the disc after having selected it from the video section of the Media Cross Bar.

One additional footnote to the Blu-Ray playback, though- it appears there is a difference between how the system handles a movie and a game. When you load up a game, the PS3 starts it automatically, but for a Blu-Ray movie, you have to select the disc from the video menu before it starts. The Impress article didn't talk about a menu option that can switch auto-playback for either on or off.

Overall startup does appear to be relatively fast. The feature reports that the time from power-up to the appearance of the Sony logo is about 10 seconds. After that, it's another 2-3 seconds before the XMB appears. They describe the PS3's Blu-Ray playback as "simple," and the site reports no problems with pop-up menus and other Blu-Ray disc features.

Of course, the PS3 is about more than just Blu-Ray. It also has the capability of playing back video directly from the hard drive. Impress was able to play a 1920 x 1080 MPEG2 from hard disk, although we're not certain if users will be able to play back VC-2 and H.264 encoded files. Still, these high-powered codecs are certainly playable via Blu-Ray discs.

Next up, the PS3's music features. The system can rip CDs to MP3, AAC, and ATRAC3 formats, allowing for bit rates of up to 352 kbps. The PS3 can also go online to read into the AMG music database so as to acquire track information. For another bit of good news, the PS3 can actually play back external files. By connecting a PSP to the PS3 via USB, any music, movies, and images on the Memory Stick become accessible from the video, music, and photo menus on the PS3. We don't know if this holds true when the two systems are communicating by Wi-Fi, however.

Unfortunately, Impress wasn't able to get specific details on the shrouded-in-mystery "Remote Play" icon. One theory is that this option will allow you to play your PS3 movies and music on the PSP, but it's hardly official. There is a PSP update scheduled right alongside the PS3 launch, though, so that should help clarify things.

One other virtually unknown icon is the "Other System Install" in the system settings section, and as far as we know, nobody knows exactly what that means.

What's listed above is just a small sampling of all the PS3's features; a good many have yet to be tested or even explained. But as launch day gets closer and closer, expect to see more details from those lucky enough to go hands-on before November 17.

http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/355.html

Sony Throws Wrench at PS3 Imports

Sony caused something of a stink last year when the PSP was delayed, leaving Europeans with little choice but to import if they didn't want to wait any longer. The company put paid to that. Now it looks like things will be similar for the PlayStation 3, which Europeans are again waiting on.




Sony said this week that it would not allow importers to bring the eagerly awaited PlayStation 3 to Europe.

"The law is clear; grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of [Sony Computer Entertainment] is illegal," a spokesperson for the company told GamesIndustry.biz. "Therefore, we will utilise the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this."

The company's confidence on the issue has been bolstered by a recent court victory in which Hong Kong-based Lik-Sang was stopped from importing PSPs to Europe. The repercussions of this were that several importers have stopped supplying PSP games and hardware to Europe.

http://games.kikizo.com/news/200610/082.asp

PS3 media capabilities explored

Details of the PlayStation 3's multimedia capabilities are finally emerging.

The PlayStation 3 is just over three weeks from release in Japan, so unsurprisingly units have begun to find their way into the hands of Japanese press, including Impress Game Watch, which has produced a rather nice report on the media capabilities of the console.

Starting with the basic stuff, the PS3 is able to rip CDs to its hard drive into a number of formats, very much in the same fashion of the Xbox and Xbox 360 - although now almost a given, it is a first for the PlayStation. The PS3 can also access files from a PSP and playback a range of formats including MP3, AAC and ATRAC3 up to bit-rates of 352Kbps. The PS3 will also check an online database to retrieve album and track info, auto updating your collection with the correct information.

Sticking on the subject of audio, the report also reveals set-up options to suit your home theatre or lack of. The Cross Media Bar (XMB) allows users to select the audio output they require. Options include Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, AAC, or Linear PCM with 2ch, 5.1ch and 7.1ch available in 44.1kHz, 88.2kHz, 48kHz and 192kHz. In addition to the audio format, the delivery method can also be set, be it over HDMI, optical or AV Multi. If all this is getting rather confusing then you'll be pleased to hear that there's also an auto option.

Much has been made of the PS3's Blu-Ray player and this will include the ability to pre-select menu language and audio options from within the PS3 system menu, meaning you get straight to a film without having to check the set-up options on each viewing. Movies will start up in less than ten seconds, but wait for user confirmation before loading.

PS3 owners won't be limited to video on Blu-Ray either - the console is capable of playing MPEG2 files from the hard disk up to the full 1080p resolution. There isn't any info on any other supported formats, but the assumption is that the PS3 will be able to handle much the same as the PSP, with the benefit of high definition.

Source: IGN

Exclusive: Phil Harrison on PS3 Graphics, Power Supply, Blu-ray Performance

Phil Harrison: What surprised you? What was the thing that you weren't expecting to see?

Vicious Sid: I think...to see so many games in 1080p, looking as good as they did. I think there's this assumption that in some way the Xbox 360 has more graphical power. It's got 512 MB of dedicated video RAM...and that somehow the PlayStation 3 is a notch below that.

Harrison: That's not true, by the way.

Sid: I'm not sure how that works. I guess it's 256 video RAM, 256 system RAM [on the PS3]?

Harrison: No, the way that Xbox 360 works is that they have 512 MB of memory, same as PlayStation 3. But they have general purpose memory, rather than system-specified memory. But they only have a 10 MB internal frame buffer...

There's no disadvantage [to Blu-ray], there's only advantages in terms of bandwidth, content, and detail."

--Sony corporate executive Phil HarrisonSid: Yes, that's true...

Harrison: ....and so that's why they can't do 1080p full frame. Because the image has to be in the frame buffer and a full 1080p image is 8 megabytes, so you can't double buffer.

Sid: What do you think Microsoft's biggest vulnerability is right now?

Harrison: I'd rather talk about the strengths of PlayStation 3. I think that what we showed today maybe completes the puzzle that we didn't do a good enough job of completing at E3. Partly because the technology wasn't ready in all areas, but partly because we focused on the games...I think people were expecting to see more of the multimedia functionality explained. But that's then, and this is now. The integrated nature of the system is now obvious.

The fact that you've got cross media bar icons, ways of getting content into the system -- physically -- and digitally....

Sid: It comes full circle, with the PSP...

Harrison: Exactly! Did you get a chance to see the PSP [at the demo presentation]? It uses the full cross media bar [from the PS3]!

Sid: Obviously supply is going to be an issue for you guys through the end of the year. Is Sony still holding firm to launch shipment projections and through the end of March 2007.

Harrison: Yeah. I think that every successful game system has had some challenges in matching demand with supply day one. Sadly, we're going to be no different.

But, this seems a very difficult situation now, but in five years we'll be looking back and this will be a tiny little blip on the sales. While it's disappointing for users -- certainly disappointing for users in Europe, where we had to delay the launch -- but we'll catch up. We'll get supply going, we'll get the product out there, and we'll satisfy everybody.

Sid: One thing I find fascinating about the PS3 is that so much is integrated into one package; it's a very "neat" system, with integrated Blu-ray and especially the integrated power supply. Why is that important?

Harrison: Blu-ray functionality is something you get essentially for free. We need it for a game system, we need it as a game developer, and the fact that the disk is the same kind of format that gives us the movie cupcake as well -- that's great. And that was a strategic choice, as well as a tactical, practical, commercial choice.

[an IGN video crew has been rather visibly waiting for Harrison to finish up with me. Harrison turns to an approach crew member and says "I'll be with you in one second." He's clearly engaged when speaking about the PS3's hardware and wants to finish his thought.]

Harrison: Integrating the power supply is not for competitive reasons -- it's because we can....

Sid: [laughs]

Harrison:... It's because we have great hardware designers who can handle the functionality. In fact, because of the CPU power and performance of PlayStation 3, we need to have to have the power supply as close to the chipset as it possibly can be. And so that is the right technical approach. It's exactly what we did with PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2, and then you saw later in the platform's life cycle, when the different silicon process are used, you can go to a small external power supply, which allows you to change the form factor...

Sid: Do you think that's in the cards for PS3? A slim-line PS3?

Harrison: [completely deadpan] I wouldn't even speculate on that.

Sid: There's been some talk about DVD-9 [dual-layer DVD, as in the Wii and Xbox 360], and whether it's actually faster in transfer speeds than Blu-ray. Is Blu-ray faster or slower than DVD-9, practically speaking?

Harrison: There is no practical game design difference between Blu-ray [and DVD-9] in terms of speed. You get the benefits of storage -- more files on the disk, more data on the disk. So once developers are up to speed on the logical geography of the [Blu-ray] disc, loading times will be sorted out.

There's no disadvantage [to Blu-ray], there's only advantages in terms of bandwidth, content, detail, et cetra.

Sid: Looks like you're out of time. Thanks again!
www.gamepro.com

PS3 & PSP Hurt Sony Profits

Sony has had to weather the perfect storm of a Sony PS3 price reduction in Japan, launch delay in Europe, PSP performing poorly, and notebook batteries bursting into flame in the last few months. Accordingly, Sony has announced that they're slashing profit forecasts by 38%.

"A decrease in sales and an increase in operating loss are expected within the Game segment as a result of the reduction of the retail price of PlayStation 3 hardware in Japan and the fact that sales and profitability from the PSP business are expected to be lower than originally forecast," said the company in an official statement as reported by GI.

Sony went on to acknowledge that "decreased operating income is anticipated within the Electronics segment due to a production adjustment of devices for use in PS3, including semiconductors."

"With regard to PS3, although we expect to record a loss for the business during its initial launch phase within the current fiscal year, we look forward to the successful worldwide deployment and expansion of the platform," Sony explained.

PS3 XMB Up Close

During Sony’s Gamer’s Day event, IGN was able to take some time and drill down into the features implemented in the Playstation 3’s version of the XMB menu system. IGN examined the User, Photo, Music, Video, Games, Network, and Friends. Some of the interesting things that Sony has implemented on the Playstation 3 include media streaming; according to IGN, the Playstation 3 will support streaming of various media types. Sony demonstrated live streaming of a movie playing on the Playstation 3 to an online connected PSP. Apparently all media types will support streaming, and eventually users will be able to view media stored on their Playstation 3 from anywhere on the Internet. The Playstation 3 will also support MP4 format videos up to 1080p.

IGN was able to touch on backward-compatibility; no Playstation 1 or 2 games were shown running, but Sony did mention that no upscaling or enhancement would take place. In addition, downloadable Playstation 1 games would not initially be supported on the PS3, but will be playable on the PSP. Overall, it seems like Sony has taken the feature set of the PSP and refined and expanded it for the capabilities of the Playstation 3.

Sony gets ready for PS3 launch, shows off games for the system－PlayStation3 News Cheat Codes

The games at launch will run the genre gamut, from racing and war games to updated, more powerful versions of popular sports titles - "the most robust game lineup" of any new-generation game system, boasted Kaz Hirai, president and chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America.

Sony's own in-house developed titles, such as a first-person shooting game called "Resistance: Fall of Man" will be $59.99.

Other games that will be available for download directly onto the PS3 will be priced at $14.99 or less, Sony officials said.

Prices of certain accessories also were disclosed: $50 for an extra wireless controller; $15 for a memory card adapter; and $25 for a remote control for the system's built-in Blu-ray disc drive player.

The console is already the most expensive among the new generation of game systems with a price tag of $500 or $600, depending on the model, but analysts say Sony's dominance in the video game market still will dictate its success.

Sony has sold 106 million PlayStation systems globally, including 40 million of them in the U.S., while Nintendo Co. has sold roughly 21 million GameCubes, and Microsoft Corp. has sold about 23 million Xbox systems, said P.J. McNealy, an analyst at American Technology Research.

"At the end of the day, Sony still has tremendous brand loyalty here, and they'll sell millions," he said.

Sony officials were equally optimistic.

"We've always had formidable competition," Jack Tretton, executive vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment America, said in an interview.

Introducing a product this time as a market leader seems less daunting than the challenge he faced when helping to launch the first PlayStation against the then-industry kings, Nintendo and Sega, Tretton said.

Sony unveils online plans for PS3

SONY has demonstrated the online service for its upcoming PlayStation 3, which will let players compete and chat online and download games, music and movies.

Gamers have long been clamouring for details about the online system for Sony's much-anticipated PS3 console.
Sony's current PlayStation 2 was released in the mid-1990s and has roughly 60 per cent market share.

But Microsoft has had a hit with its Xbox Live online service for its next-generation Xbox 360, which was released last year. The Xbox 360 is the rival to Sony's PS3, which is set to debut in North America on November 17.

The PlayStation Network, as the service will be called, uses a navigation system already available on Sony's hand held game player, the PlayStation Portable (PSP), Sony Computer Entertainment America said.

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"This is what a lot of people have been waiting for ages for," said John Davison, editorial director for the 1UP Network of video game-focused websites.

Sony said its service would allow PS3 users to compete and chat with other gamers on the network; download game content like weapons or maps; store and view pictures and video; download and listen to music; browse the web; and shop at the online PlayStation Store.

Online play, chat and other features will be free to users, who will have to pay to download some content.

Sony said downloadable games provided by its units would cost less than $US15 at launch.

Both Sony's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox also offered online services. With about 4 million users, however, the Xbox 360 is the first to attract a relatively high percentage of users to its service - roughly 60 per cent.

A Sony executive said there were 3 million online service users for the PS2, which has sold more than 106 million units.

Emphasising the ability of the PS3 to play high-definition videos, Sony also said that the first 500,000 systems shipped in North America would include Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, the Sony Pictures Entertainment comedy starring Will Ferrell.

Some analysts expect movie fans to buy the PS3, priced at $US500 and $US600, as a machine to play high-definition DVDs in the new Blu-ray format. Blu-Ray competes with Toshiba Corp.-championed HD-DVD in a new standards war for next-generation DVDs.

Buy a PS3 Get a Talladega Nights Free

Sony announced today that the first 50,000 PS3s sold will come with a free copy of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in Blu-ray.

The movie won't hit stores in that format until mid December, which is kind of cool. I'm not quite sure why they decided to have this particular movie included with their PS3, but it is neat you'll get a free Blu-ray movie in the box.

Sony PS3 Price Tag Too High?

All eyes are on San Francisco as Sony prepares to launch its newest game console, the PS3. Ahead of Sony's big announcements tomorrow, there are parties galore -- a celebration for Bay Area companies that have been preparing for a new generation of games.

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Electronic Arts is the world's leading video game publisher, based on the Peninsula in Redwood Shores. The company is having a private party tonight to show off its new games for the PS3. The PS3 launches next month, but EA is already showing off four games that display PS3's next generation technology. The PS3 will be cutting edge and a little bit pricey. It's sure to usher in a new battle over video game supremacy.

The PS3 is more than another game console. It's equipped with Blu-ray, a high-definition DVD format that will allow graphics to take advantage of 1,080 lines of video quality. That's twice the resolution of standard TV.

Now take a deep breath. The basic model is expected to cost $499. The premium version is $599. It's twice the cost of rival game consoles made by Microsoft and Nintendo.

Mark Macdonald, Gamevideos.com: "Six hundred dollars for the system, and then you've got, if you want to get two games, that's another $120 bucks, maybe another joystick, whatever, you're talking easily, you can get into the thousand-dollar range."

However, the PS3's Blu-ray technology will allow game developers to create splashier graphics because of greater storage capacity than standard DVDs.

Analysts say the PS3 has 64 times more video memory than the PS2 model it's replacing. Its processor can do 217 billion calculations a second.

Ricardo Torres, Gamespot.com Senior Editor: "The processor can now handle all sorts of complex physics. You can have much more realistic movement and explosions and things like that. At the same time, the graphics processor affords you the ability to have more life-like graphics."

Tom Byron, editor-in-chief of U.S. Playstation magazine, says the best is yet to come.

Tom Byron, Playstation Magazine Editor-In-Chief: "A year or two down the road, we're just going to see things we haven't seen before in terms of the graphic power, and also because of the processing power. So you're just going to be packing more and more into these games than ever before."

It's estimated that Sony will have only 400,000 units for sale when it launches next month.

Gamers have had months to save up for the PS3. It was originally supposed to come out last spring.

Nintendo is also joining in the fray. They're going to come out with their next generation console, the Wii, just a few days after the PS3 comes out next month. It will be priced at just $250 dollars, about half of the price of the PS3.

Both of these video game consoles are going to be in heavy demand for the holidays.

PS3, PSP problems force Sony to slash profit forecasts

38 per cent fall due to Japanese price drop and poor PSP sales

The PlayStation 3 price reduction in Japan and a delay to the hardware launch in Europe have forced Sony Corp to reduce its income forecasts for 2007, along with poor performance of the PSP handheld and the continuing problems encountered from a worldwide recall of notebook batteries.

For the year ending March 2007, Sony expects a 38 per cent drop in net income, adjusting the previous forecast from 130 billion yen (EUR 872 million) to 80 billion yen (EUR 573 million). Operating income has been reduced from 130 billion yen to 50 billion (EUR 336 million).

"A decrease in sales and an increase in operating loss are expected within the Game segment as a result of the reduction of the retail price of PlayStation 3 hardware in Japan and the fact that sales and profitability from the PSP business are expected to be lower than originally forecast," said the company in an official statement.

Sony also admitted a "decreased operating income is anticipated within the Electronics segment due to a production adjustment of devices for use in PS3, including semiconductors."

"With regard to PS3, although we expect to record a loss for the business during its initial launch phase within the current fiscal year, we look forward to the successful worldwide deployment and expansion of the platform," said the manufacturer.

"As a result, we expect that we can realise a significant improvement in profitability during the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2008."

Sony announced at last months' Tokyo Game Show that the price of the Japanese PlayStation 3 was to be reduced from 62,790 yen (EUR 421) to 49,980 yen (EUR 335) for the 20GB unit.

Enterbrain Chief Picks PS3

Enterbrain president Hirokazu Hamamura has spoken, and he's chosen PS3.

Hamamura, who also acts as editor-in-chief of Famitsu, says that he thinks Sony's PLAYSTATION 3 will sell more units in the long run, although he expects Wii to do better in the immediate future. Enterbrain's official predictions expect to see almost 43 million PS3's sold by the end of 2010, compared with just over 30 million Wiis.

However, these same predictions also show that the big winner over the next couple of years will be Nintendo DS, with worldwide hardware sales expected to reach 49.4 million by the end of calendar year 2007.

PS3 to Get Its Own GTA IV Downloads

Report says that Rockstar will be giving Sony similar treatment to Microsoft, with exclusive episodes going to the PS3.


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As an example of the importance of Grand Theft Auto IV to Microsoft, consider Peter Moore's announcement at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, where he revealed, through a temporary tattoo, that the game would ship on the Xbox 360 the same day as the PlayStation 3 version. Even better, the game will come with exclusive downloadable missions. A recent report suggests Rockstar may have something on the side for Sony too.




Eurogamer cites a source close to Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar North who says the team is also working on downloadable content that will only be available on the PlayStation 3.

"Think of the world as a large island - the new downloadable areas will be like smaller islands linking into it," the source told Eurogamer as an analogy.

P L E A S E V I S I T O U R S P O N S O R :


As expected, Rockstar has no official comment on the matter, and considering the company's stone-faced silence when it comes to its games, none is expected.

Free Linux on PS3 this year

Terra Soft's Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 will be released for PlayStation 3 in mid-November, the company announced this week.

Yes, this means you'll be able to use your PlayStation 3 as a computer as well as all the things Sony's already offering - and it's all done with the platform holder's backing too.

What's more, if you wait a little while it won't actually cost anything. Terra Soft's "YDL.net" service users (who pay a fee) will be able to get it first, as a PC distribution that allows for the creation of a PS3 install-disc; then two weeks later you'll be able to order ready-made PS3 install discs for a cost; and another two weeks after that the PS3 distribution will be released onto public mirrors.

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As well as a single-click install mode for Linux newbies, Terra Soft will include an advanced installer. The operating system itself is based on the Fedora Core 5, with an integrated E17 desktop, and bundled FireFox 1.5.0, Thunderbird 1.5.0, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 and other applications.

It's based on kernel 2.6.1.6, gcc 3.4.4 and glibc 2.4, apparently (yes, that means nothing to me - leave it), with Cell SDK 1.1 included and Nautilus 2.1.4. Terra Soft also says we'll find "a suite of Personal Accessories, Development Tools; Sound & Video, Internet, and Networking applications" bundled with the OS.

"From the days of the Commodore 64 to modern overclocked and water cooled home computers, a battle has raged between dedicated game boxes and home computers for highest quality game play," says Terra Soft's Owen Stampflee. "PlayStation 3 provides an industry first exceptional Linux OS experience ... and Terra Soft the first Linux OS. I am proud to have played a part in this development."