Official PS3 discussion!

[deadman28]

NEWS FROM GAMESPOT!

 

 

Hardware

 

Hardware specifications and tech demos dominated the show last year, but Sony revealed the last remaining details about the new PlayStation at this year's press conference, including final launch information. Sony originally planned a spring 2006 release for the console, but Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi announced in March that the console will not ship until November due to delays in finalizing the Blu-ray copy-protection technology specifications.

 

Sony is now planning to give the PlayStation 3 a simultaneous worldwide launch. The new system will be available with two different hard-drive options in Japan, the United States, Europe, and Australia in November. The console will hit Japan first on November 11. The 20GB model will sell for 59,800 yen, but Sony will let Japanese retailers name their own price for the 60GB version. The PlayStation 3 will launch in the United States, Europe, and Australia on November 17. The 20GB version will retail for $499 and the 60GB version will retail for $599 in the US, and 499 and 599 euros in Europe, respectively.

 

In an attempt to make inroads with the general consumer, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have all given much more attention to cosmetic considerations in this console generation. The new PlayStation 3 console has a simple design, resembling a minimalist stereo component. Early prototypes indicate that the new case will be available in three different colors--white, black, and silver--but initial US models will be black. Like the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 will be able to stand vertically or sit horizontally on an AV rack. The curved console-top suggests that the PS3 will need to sit at the very top of your equipment stack if placed horizontally. The console will weigh in at a solid 11 pounds. In comparison, the relatively chunky Xbox weighs 8.5 pounds and the Xbox 360 weighs 7.7 pounds. The PS3 measures 12.8"(W) x 3.8"(H) x 10.8"(L), which is in line with the other consoles.

 

Wireless Bluetooth Controllers

 

The PlayStation 3 controller Sony introduced at E3 last year resembled what can very easily be described as a "batarang," in reference to Batman's bat-shaped throwing weapon. At E3 2006, Sony revealed the new controller, which heavily resembles the traditional DualShock design. The L2 and R2 shoulder buttons located on the top of the controller have also been enlarged, with increased depth in stroke for more subtle game control. Sony has also enlarged the tilting angle of the analog joysticks to enable more delicate manipulation and a wider range of motion. Whereas the analog sticks on the DualShock controller for the PlayStation 2 had 8-bit sensitivity, the new controller will have 10-bit motion detection.

 

The new controller has two analog sticks, the usual four-button complement on the right side, and four top-side trigger buttons. However, in Nintendo Wii fashion, the new PlayStation 3 controller will also have motion-sensing capabilities. Sony's Phil Harrison stated that the controller is capable of sensing motion in six degrees: up, down, left, right, forward, and backward. Even with the added functionality, the controller will weigh no more than the wired DualShock controller, according to Harrison. Dylan Jobe of Incognito Studios proceeded to demonstrate the controller's motion sensitivity in Warhawk, a jet-based fighter game. He tilted the controller to control the orientation of his aircraft. Tilting the controller upward caused the aircraft to point its nose in the air and shifting the sides of the controller up and down caused the aircraft to tilt in a similar manner. Additionally, the controller will no longer feature force-feedback vibration. Sony claims that the feedback vibration would interfere with games that use the motion sensor.

 

Like the Xbox 360 controller, the new PlayStation 3 controller will be wireless, but it will function via Bluetooth 2.0 EDR instead of 2.4GHz RF. Devices operating with Bluetooth generally have a range of 30 feet. Sony reports that the controller will have a 24-hour battery life, a figure that seems to be in line with other Bluetooth devices but far short of the 300-hour 2.4GHz models available for current consoles. Despite the decreased battery life, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR offers numerous features. Bluetooth 2.0 EDR can transmit data at rates of up to 3.0Mbps. Furthermore, by using Bluetooth, the PlayStation 3 may be capable of supporting other Bluetooth devices on the market, such as headsets, mice, and keyboards.

 

Also, you will be able to recharge the controller by connecting it to the PlayStation 3 with a USB cable. The controller will be functional while tethered to the system and will also be hot pluggable, which means you can plug and unplug controllers while the system is on.

 

The PlayStation Portable will be able to work with the new console. The PSP will be able to function as a remote control or as a sort of controller for the PlayStation 3. To demonstrate the possibilities of PSP-to-PS3 connectivity, Harrison showed off Formula 1, a PS3 racing game, which could output a video stream to the PSP that lets the player use the portable as a rearview mirror while playing the game on the PS3.

 

Media Mogul

 

The 2.5" portable hard drives supply the system with much-needed storage space for network downloads, applications, and home-server capabilities. Additionally, games will use the hard drive for game saves, and it will cache game files for decreased load times. During the Gran Turismo HD E3 2006 demonstration, Sony mentioned that load times would be reduced to two to three seconds. The game took around six to seven seconds to load during the E3 demo, but loading times will likely drop once developers have more time to optimize.

 

The 60GB PlayStation 3 has an enormous number of inputs and outputs, some wired, some not. The console features a front-slot-loading Blu-ray optical-disc drive, four USB ports, and a memory stick, as well as compact flash and SD readers to provide for an absurd level of media connectivity. The 20GB PlayStation 3, in comparison, has a much more limited feature set. It won't have memory stick, compact flash, or SD card ports. Upon closer inspection, Sony has cut specs for both systems since first announcing the console.

 

The PlayStation 3 will come in a handsome-looking Clear Black color.

The original PlayStation 3 specs showed the system with dual HDMI ports. At E3 '06, Sony revealed that the 60GB console will only have one HDMI port, and the 20GB version will not have any HDMI ports. At last year's E3, Sony claimed that the system would be able to output dual 1080p video, but the HDMI cuts have effectively eliminated that possibility. The 20GB version also might have trouble outputting 1080p for content-protected Blu-ray movies, and whether the system can output 1080p for games remains to be seen.

 

Sony will equip each PlayStation 3 system with a Blu-ray optical-disc drive that can play games and movie discs. Each Blu-ray disc can hold up to 54GB worth of data, which should virtually guarantee that games won't be left wanting for extra media space. During his Game Developers Conference 2006 keynote address, Sony's Phil Harrison boasted that the storage capacity of a Blu-ray disc is large enough to hold localized content for all versions of a game, letting publishers ship one global disc instead of stamping out a new version for each language region. Games will be region-free, but movies will still have region locks preventing multiregion playback. However, according to Japanese IT Media, the Blu-ray spec now has North America, South America, and Asia (except for China) in region 1. If the spec doesn't change, that means your US PlayStation 3 should be able to play those Blu-ray Godzilla movies imported from Japan. The PlayStation 3 also comes with support for many of the older disc formats, including CR-ROM, CDR+W, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, and DVD+R. The system will also be backward compatible with PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games.

 

Sony's original specifications stated that the PlayStation 3 would come with three Ethernet ports, but the newly revealed specifications from E3 06 show that the system will arrive with only one Ethernet port. The 60GB version of the PlayStation 3 will also come with Wi-Fi built-in, but the 20GB version will only have the Ethernet port. We can't ignore the fact that the PS3 has all the tools to function as a personal video recorder and home-media server. The larger 60GB drive will likely prove much more useful than the 20GB drive if you wish to take advantage of the additional media functionality.

 

PlayStation Network Platform

 

Sony only touched briefly on its online service for the PS3 at last year's E3, namely, that they're working on it, and that it will have "content, community, communication, and commerce." In March, Ken Kutaragi detailed more information about the service during Sony's PlayStation Business Briefing in Japan. Sony is working with its Sony Online Entertainment arm on the project. SOE currently manages Sony's EverQuest, Star Wars Galaxies, and PlanetSide MMO game franchises. The service doesn't have a marketing-approved name yet, but it's being called the PlayStation Network platform internally.

 

The network will be similar to Microsoft's Xbox Live service and will provide community features such as personal login accounts, friends lists, avatars, matchmaking, and communication options, including instant messaging, as well as voice and video chat. The free basic service will include community features and online multiplayer gameplay. Xbox Live Silver, Microsoft's free basic service, provides community options, too, but Silver-level subscribers can only play massively multiplayer games online. Players must upgrade to a paid Xbox Live Gold service subscription to access online multiplayer gameplay for non-MMO games.

 

Sony's service will also offer Xbox Marketplace-like download functionality, and developers will be able to integrate shops directly into games, letting players buy items from within the game experience. Sony hasn't confirmed whether or not games will be available for download, but there won't be any hardware hurdles, as the PS3 will be able to play games directly from the system's hard-disk drive. In addition to microtransactions, Sony has suggested that the commerce service can also handle subscriptions. Sony plans to let game developers connect and run their own game servers on the network. Letting game companies charge subscription fees could help defray the cost of maintaining servers.

 

Networking Capabilities

 

So what can you do online with the PlayStation 3? Let's start with the available hardware specifications that pertain directly or peripherally to the system's online features.

 

1x Gigabit Ethernet

Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity for up to seven controllers

Wi-Fi wireless built-in (802.11b/g) 60GB version only

1x HDMI video output 60GB version only

Optional high-def IP camera

 

At E3 2005, SCE CTO Masa Chatani talked about the availability of an HD IP camera peripheral, which would presumably be plugged into one of the gigabit Ethernet ports. The camera will let you broadcast an HD-quality video stream for video messaging, conferencing, and more. With only one gigabit Ethernet port, the camera will likely connect via a USB port.

 

The PS3 also has Wi-Fi connectivity. The connection can and definitely will be used to connect locally with your PSP, which can serve as a controller, a remote control, and a remote screen. Since your PS3 is meant to always stay on and always connected, it follows that any media stored on your PS3, such as music and movies, could be accessed remotely through your PSP. Imagine you're on vacation and have burned through your entire MP3 playlist on your 512MB memory stick. Wouldn't it be nice to walk into a café with free Wi-Fi access, dump those songs, and get a fresh playlist or a few videos off your PS3 at home?

 

Summary of the 20GB and 60Gb PS3 consoles!

 

Games

 

Every new system release comes with its share of whispers about how the new hardware is finicky or difficult to program for, but there's always a learning curve for each new platform release--it is new hardware after all. Developers will take a year or two to get up to speed while Sony releases and refines its development tools. Game developers grumbled about the PlayStation 2 when it was first released, too. Judging by the PlayStation 3's ever-growing game list, Sony isn't having a difficult time getting developers and publishers to sign on to produce games for the new system.

 

Games comfirmed:

 

Vision Gran Turismo: The legendary racing series goes next generation.

 

 

Metal Gear Solid 4: The series that just gets better and better sneaks onto Sony's next generation hardware.

 

 

Killzone 2: The war of the future will be frighteningly real thanks to the power of PS3.

 

 

Resident Evil 5: Capcom continues the Resident Evil franchise on the next-generation platforms.

 

 

Fight Night 3: Fight Night Round 3 brings the same solid gameplay the series is known for, which is more than enough to make it worth another trip to the ring for boxing fans.

 

 

Unreal Tournament 2007: Unreal Tournament 2007 is the next installment in Epic Games' popular sci-fi shooter series.

 

 

Devil May Cry 4: Devil May Cry 4 is the fourth installment in Capcom's series starring Dante, the gun-slinging demon hunter.

 

 

Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway: Ubisoft brings the third installment of their historic shooter series, Brothers in Arms, to the the PS3.

 

 

More games are also confirmed such as Smackdown vs Raw 2007, Warhawk, My Singstar, MotorStorm, Sonic the Hedgehog, Resistance:Fall of man Final Fantasy XIII and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent

 

Hope you enjoyed reading this! There will be more updates on the PS3 in the near future!

Edited May 30, 2006 by deadman28

[Torcidas]

Holy, I'm excited about Unreal Tournament..

[Kippers]

So which site did you copy and paste this from? Judging by all your other 30 posts, I somehow doubt you took the time to type all that

[Rayo Puño]

Well I'm just glad they went back to the DualShock instead of the boomerang controller. Best controller ever made right there, and finally wireless.

[Jonny_Tightlips]

@kippers, was thinking the same exact thing. You really should credit your sources, deadman, or ripping will haunt you.

[Knife]

It's all from gamespot.

 

I am looking foward to PS3 but will not purchase untill there is a good ol'd pricedrop.

[deadman28]

yup its from gamespot i just want to let everyone know in da forums more about da PS3 Btw plz share your views about the PS3!

Edited May 29, 2006 by deadman28

[SmellyJelly]

Looks alright, but a $500 console with $80 games is just too much. I'll stick with PC gaming thankyou. Also that's a Killzone 1 screenshot you posted, not Killzone 2.

[.Victom]

2005 news buddo...

[deadman28]

oops lol now i've changed it btw any wrestling fans out there might be interested in Smackdown vs Raw 2007

 

somethin which might also interest plenty of people is Unreal Tournament 2007 on da ps3!

 

 

 

I just can't wait for Grand Theft Auto 4 for da PS3! Too bad its coming out October 2007

Edited May 30, 2006 by deadman28

[TenaciousD.]

Tony Hawks Project 8

 

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/...08055318809.jpg

Edited May 30, 2006 by GTA3Freak-2001

[Hunter¥]

Well I'm just glad they went back to the DualShock instead of the boomerang controller. Best controller ever made right there, and finally wireless.

Sony took out the rumble feature.

[GTA3Freak-2001]

It would be nice if we had "real" screenshots and not just promotional renders and concept images that don't represent any real gameplay. Not to mention that a few of these games aren't PS3 exclusives anyway.

 

And please for the sake of stretching the page can you put thumbnails of the screenshots up please?

[Saggy]

It would be nice if we had "real" screenshots and not just promotional renders and concept images that don't represent any real gameplay. Not to mention that a few of these games aren't PS3 exclusives anyway.

 

And please for the sake of stretching the page can you put thumbnails of the screenshots up please?

Umm, couldn't you have edited it for him?

 

Anyway, I had no idea that there were two models of the PS3 to be available. Just makes me question how people are so retarded to complain about the PS3's price when one model is the same as an Xbox360s.

 

Although, if the games are $80, I'm not even going to bother. I've not played a game with $80 worth of replay value.

[GTA3Freak-2001]

Well the standard PS3 doesn't have HDMI so its actually worse then the Core 360 package which does allow for HDMI although the PS3 has a 40GB HDD which is double that of the Premium 360 pack's 20GB.

 

@Sag - Well yes I could of edited the images into links but I was suggesting re-hosting the images at imageshack which has images in thumbnail format.(which I could do also but was hoping the topic starter would)

[Saggy]

Well the standard PS3 doesn't have HDMI so its actually worse then the Core 360 package which does allow for HDMI although the PS3 has a 40GB HDD which is double that of the Premium 360 pack's 20GB.

 

@Sag - Well yes I could of edited the images into links but I was suggesting re-hosting the images at imageshack which has images in thumbnail format.(which I could do also but was hoping the topic starter would)

Ahh, I understand.

 

I really don't see the HDMI output making the 360 any better than the PS3. I mean, personally, I don't give a crap about HDTV, and will not buy one any time soon. And then comparing hardware specs, the PS3 seems to come out on top.

 

 

[GTA3Freak-2001]

 

Well the standard PS3 doesn't have HDMI so its actually worse then the Core 360 package which does allow for HDMI although the PS3 has a 40GB HDD which is double that of the Premium 360 pack's 20GB.

 

@Sag - Well yes I could of edited the images into links but I was suggesting re-hosting the images at imageshack which has images in thumbnail format.(which I could do also but was hoping the topic starter would)

Ahh, I understand.

 

I really don't see the HDMI output making the 360 any better than the PS3. I mean, personally, I don't give a crap about HDTV, and will not buy one any time soon. And then comparing hardware specs, the PS3 seems to come out on top.

Yeah I don't own any HDMI capable displays so as far as HDMI goes I don't really care but its nice to know its there if I did get HDMI(that is if I buy a 360). And yeah the specs on paper do look better then 360 but I honestly don't think it will be noticable when comparing screenshots in the end.

[deadman28]

 

It would be nice if we had "real" screenshots and not just promotional renders and concept images that don't represent any real gameplay. Not to mention that a few of these games aren't PS3 exclusives anyway.

 

And please for the sake of stretching the page can you put thumbnails of the screenshots up please?

Umm, couldn't you have edited it for him?

 

Anyway, I had no idea that there were two models of the PS3 to be available. Just makes me question how people are so retarded to complain about the PS3's price when one model is the same as an Xbox360s.

 

Although, if the games are $80, I'm not even going to bother. I've not played a game with $80 worth of replay value.

Actually there's three different models of the PS3

 

 

By the way I'm not sure if its worth it to get a 60GB hard drive or a 20GB.

Either way its too expensive and Sony is ripping us off! I'm just going to wait for PS3's price to drop then I will buy it. By the way I'm sorry about the stretched topic, its all changed now!

[The-end]

There arn't 3 model's of the PS3, there's 2, One with a 20 gig Hdd, no card readers, no HDMI and no WI-FI, and one with 60 gig hdd wi-fi and all that stuff.

 

The picture you shown are all the same model, just differnt colors.

[grovestreet123]

You might want to add videos of the games up there, I know were Quite a few videos are if you want to put them up there

[Black-hawk]

Am I the only one in here who hasn't owned a console for ~10 years?

 

But really, on the other side of the arguement with people saying that the PS3's price = 360's price. It actually equals the 360's premium package price, with the PS3 core one. Basically same price but more fancy thingies in the 360 (and having 2 HDTV's makes me feel a wee better). Which currently, makes the 360 a better choice for cheapo's like me, plus the announcement of GTA4 for the Xbox made the choice way easier.

 

But on-topic, Sony always tries something new, and the PS3 is no exception. Deciding to go with Blu-ray is a really big risk for Sony. But if it works out, than woo. And I must admit UT2k7 looks stunning, assuming those are in-game screenshots ad not just renders using the game models.

[The-end]

You should also add this

 

[deadman28]

 

There arn't 3 model's of the PS3, there's 2, One with a 20 gig Hdd, no card readers, no HDMI and no WI-FI, and one with 60 gig hdd wi-fi and all that stuff.

 

The picture you shown are all the same model, just differnt colors.

Sorry I meant there are three different colours to the PS3 but there might be a 3rd model of the PS3 and that might be 40GB. It hasn't been confirmed but it has been floating around Gamespot.

 

20GB PS3 vs 60GB PS3

So the PlayStation 3 as we just learned, is launching as two different SKUs. If you buy the 20GB Playstation 3:

You lose 40GB (20GB base vs. 60GB)

You lose HDMI output

You lose MemoryStick / SD / CompactFlash slots

You lose 802.11 b/g wireless

You save $100

I'm not sure how upgradeable the base model is going to be. It's kind of strange how Sony did an about-face on the multiple SKU model, but I guess it has something to do with that $599 price tag.

 

 

@The-end By the way thank you for the picture!

Edited May 30, 2006 by deadman28