All the PLAYSTATION 3 details from Gamer's Day

by: John - posted: 10/20/2006 6:18:00 AM

Sony has sent out the list of titles debuting, online strategy, and peripherals that will be available for the PLAYSTATION 3. For the holiday season, there will be over 20 titles for the PS3 so there's a good amount to choose from. All the games will be $60 or under so that matches with the Xbox 360 pricing. The first 500,000 people to pick up the console will get a free copy of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby on Blu-Ray. Shake and bake! Given that the PS3 uses the Spider-Man font, I think it would've been more appropriate to package in a BD copy of Spider-Man 1 or 2.

Now their network strategy, on paper, I do like. Unlike the other two consoles they are going by monetary amount rather than points for your online purchases. This way you dont' have to do any conversions to get the real dollar amount of the product you want to purchase online. If I'm not mistaken, some cruise ships use a points system so that you can't tell as easily how much you are spending on products. Places like Dave and Busters use the point system for video games which annoy me as I have to sit there and think how many points I need to purchase to play X number of games and it always ends up costing me more than what I need. Downloading games off the online service will cost $15 and under. Playing online is all free of course and you can setup a friends list as well as ban people. While it may not be as extensive as the Xbox 360's service, it does give you the basic options needed so that you can get rid of unwanted folks.

The periphrals are priced a little high but that's normal these days. The SIXAXIS controller, which will last one to two years, will cost you $50. Memory card adapters for PS2 cards are priced at $15 while the BD remote control will be $25. I hope Logitech comes out with something cool to control the PS3 with.

For some strange reason, I find everything pretty reasonable except for the price of the console. I'm still not sold on the thing but I know I'll pick one up later rather than sooner. This will be the first Sony console I won't own on launch day but that's something I can live.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Extensive Line Up of Game Titles for PLAYSTATION(R)3

Online Platform, Downloadable Content and Peripherals Also Revealed

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced its debut game titles and unveiled the online strategy for its highly anticipated PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) system, the company's groundbreaking computer entertainment system which will be available in North America on November 17, 2006.

More than 20 first- and third-party PS3 titles will be available through the holidays, resulting in the most robust software line-up ever offered by a new console at launch. The launch catalog encompasses the most popular game genres, featuring industry leading franchises as well as new intellectual properties to be released exclusively on PS3, with most titles expected to retail under $60.

"Our line-up of PS3 games that will be available through the holidays is unprecedented in terms of volume, variety and innovation, surpassing any previous competitive launch catalog and even our own original offerings for other PlayStation(R) platforms," said Kaz Hirai, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We are pioneering a new era of true next-generation gaming through such titles as Resistance: Fall of Man, a visually arresting game that takes advantage of the large storage capacity and exceptional visual clarity offered by Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD); and NBA 07, running at full 1080p for the highest resolution image possible, creating hyper-realistic characters and gameplay never seen before."

The List of Launch Window Titles Includes:

SCEA Launch Titles
Resistance: Fall of Man(TM)
NBA 07
Genji: Days of the Blade(TM)


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

PLAYSTATION(R) Network Offers Unrestrained Community and Creativity
In addition to a wide array of software titles, SCEA today also unveiled the online and network services provided through PS3, which will offer distinctive benefits to consumers and developers alike. Consumers will be able to enjoy a wide array of PS3 network capabilities, with basic features offered absolutely free from day one. Developers will benefit from the open platform policy of SCEA, which will allow them more freedom and creativity in the development of their games and online/network services. The end result will be more than just a place to play games, but a rich online environment with strong community aspects as distinctive as the titles themselves.

The entry way into PLAYSTATION Network is XMB(TM) (Xross Media Bar), which is the navigation system that enables a complete suite of entertainment experiences in three key areas: gaming; network and web connectivity; and other entertainment contents such as movies and music. The intuitive XMB interface, which is already featured on more than 20 million PSP(R) (PlayStation(R) Portable) shipped worldwide, allows PS3 users to experience multiplayer games across the network; communicate with other players via chat, voice or video; browse the web; download gaming content; store/view pictures and video; download and listen to music; and shop online.

Through the online PLAYSTATION(R) Store, consumers can find such items as game demos, game-related content and downloadable casual games, including titles developed by Sony Computer Entertainment World Wide Studios exclusively for download and play only on PS3, such as Blast Factor. Once users create a unique, secure PlayStation profile, they cannot only communicate with other PS3 users, they can also utilize an electronic wallet to purchase content in the PLAYSTATION Store. Downloadable first party games will cost less than $15 at launch. More content will be added on a regular basis.

Peripherals to Accompany Comprehensive PS3 Package
PS3 is an incredible value for the consumer and comes standard with advanced technologies, such as the Cell Broadband Engine(TM), built-in BD player, internal hard disk drive (HDD), HDMI output standard*, Wireless Controller (SIXAXIS(TM)) 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(R) and PlayStation(R)2 Memory Cards onto the HDD of PS3 for $14.99, and coming soon, a BD Remote Control for $24.99.