E3 2006: PlayStation 3 US Launch Date, Prices, Controller

Post by trog @ 12:05pm 09/05/06 | 33 Comments

Sony have officially announced the launch date of the PlayStation 3: November 17, 2006 (in North America), with two different configurations available with the following estimated prices (US dollars):

Equipped With Blu-ray and Pre-Installed HDD United States:

. US $499 (20GB HDD)
. US $599 (60GB HDD)

There is a stack more information on the press release page, including more technical specifications.

Also just announced is the following about the controller:

The controller for PS3 has been created by refining and improving the world's most popular PlayStation(R) controller that has shipped more than several hundred million units worldwide, while inheriting its basic concept and design. The controller for PS3 employs breakthrough technology of high-precision, highly sensitive six-axis sensing system that does not require any devices other than the controller itself for seamless interactive operation, thus eliminating additional settings to TVs. With this technology, ways to enjoy PS3 will be further enhanced by accessing PS3 through the network, while retaining the six-axis sensing capability.

In addition to the "3-posture-axis" of roll, pitch and yaw, "3-dimension acceleration information (X, Y, and Z)" can be detected in high-precision and in real-time. In addition to standard key input available in existing controllers, more natural and more intuitive play will become possible as if the controller has become part of your body.

More information on the controller is in the press release. Sounds a little like the Nintendo controller to me! There are no photos of it just yet (at least, none that I've got).

playstation 3

Latest Comments

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tspec
Posted 12:35pm 09/5/06

The PS3 controller looks almost identical to the PS2 contorller.

last edited by Nailbomb at 12:35:42 09/May/06

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ravn0s
Posted 12:46pm 09/5/06

more conversions

Yen 59,800 (20GB) = AUS$698.04

USA $499 (20GB) = AUS$648.60

USA $599 (60GB) = AUS$778.58

Euro $499 (20GB) = AUS$824.01

Euro $599 (60GB) = AUS$989.15

they should have kept the boomerang controller. there was nothing wrong with it imo

last edited by ravn0s at 12:38:48 09/May/06

last edited by ravn0s at 12:46:07 09/May/06

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Resonate
Posted 12:35pm 09/5/06

Europe and Australia also have the November 17 release date

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dais
Posted 12:51pm 09/5/06

The controller sounds more like the old Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle Pro. I'm glad they went with the traditional design as that concept one looked retarded.

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Resonate
Posted 01:08pm 09/5/06

Even though i am a huge playstation fan and this is not an attempt to flame sony since i love them, but i thought this was amusing:

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Hashy
Posted 01:20pm 09/5/06

^^^ Haha

I've always predicted Sony would come through with a third dual-shock iteration since they announced the baterang wasn't the final controller, but I love the hell out of the dual shock, so I'm cool with it.

The PS3/Wii releases couldn't come sooner for me.

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partyhat
Posted 01:51pm 09/5/06

lol that tagline rocks..

although, if you've read up, you'll realise that the ps3 tilt functionality is just that, an accelerometer, just like in the nunchuk part of the wii control.

the wiimote so to speak, has precise 3d movement..

more here: http://revolution.ign.com/articles/705/705870p1.html

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ravn0s
Posted 02:01pm 09/5/06

We've known for over a year now that the Wii's input device is what makes it special. The Wiimote (as we've come accustomed to calling it), has the ability to point at any television with pixel-perfect control. In addition, it also can move in three dimensional space, meaning that if a player wants to punch an enemy in the face, they can by simply moving the controller forward. To add to the control, the nunchuck unit can team along with the Wiimote, giving tilt functionality to any game, as well as an analog joystick.

Luckily, Sony's technology isn't quite the same. Here's why:

The technology inside Sony's controller is a basic tilting accelerometer device. In a sense, that's the same style of control as the left hand of the Wii combination. Think of the technology as true 3D movement vs. basic tilt. The Wiimote will sense all pointing, motion and a new dimension of control, while the PS3 controller will expand only on the specific tilt functions. To make this a bit simpler to wrap your heads around, we've put it all in FAQ form below.

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fraxyl
Posted 04:18pm 09/5/06

Y'know, I thought the nunchu being gyro-fitted was just a rumour. It actually has tilt-sensitivity now?

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partyhat
Posted 04:56pm 09/5/06

yeah it was confirmed last week.

madden 07 will make use of it for hiking the ball, or something. meh not that i care about that game.

but yeah its a basic tilt functionality

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Tanaka Khan
Posted 03:01pm 12/5/06

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Hashy
Posted 04:27pm 12/5/06

I will personally crush your world if you ever link godamned ctrl+alt+del again. It sucks the funny out of all other webcomics.

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Tanaka Khan
Posted 04:34pm 12/5/06

ctrl+alt+del rocks, followed by penny-arcade, all other web comics fail.

Edit - Order of the Stick is good.

last edited by Tanaka Khan at 16:34:40 12/May/06

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BillyHardball
Posted 04:41pm 12/5/06

ISWTDT

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Chakas
Posted 04:44pm 12/5/06

OMGWTFBBQ

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0z
Posted 10:34pm 12/5/06

ps3 will be must buy cristmass time allready got a xbox 360 why not be console junke and have both system's, the wii dosent impress me much to kiddie ihmo.

last edited by 0z at 22:34:20 12/May/06

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GoLocoWithaHeata9mm
Posted 11:12pm 12/5/06

smash brothers brawl multiplayer will rock me for many sleepless nights

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fpot
Posted 07:40am 13/5/06

the wii dosent impress me much to kiddie ihmo.

It can't be kiddy because it has a gritty cyberpunk shooter.

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fraxyl
Posted 12:09pm 13/5/06

Yep, Metroid Prime 3, HAMMER, ExciteTruck, Sadness, Resident Evil, Red Steel and Day of Disaster surely is a kiddie line-up!

Mario Galaxy and Bros Brawl look pretty impressive.

I was disappointed that there were no mentions of Battalion Wars or Pikmin though.

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scuzzy
Posted 12:23pm 13/5/06

The PS3 controller looks almost identical to the PS2 contorller.

I think this is a good thing, I quite like the playstation controler.

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GoLocoWithaHeata9mm
Posted 12:29pm 13/5/06

I never liked the trigger buttons on top. 4 for me is 2 too many. 2 for me is 2 too perfect.

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trog
Posted 12:36pm 13/5/06

MS win this year's E3, I reckon.

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ravn0s
Posted 01:21pm 13/5/06

imo no one won.

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Hashy
Posted 02:33pm 13/5/06

It can't be kiddy because it has a gritty cyberpunk shooter.

You can stop quoting that now. It's obvious I was more referring to Nintendo's willingness to tote a game where you wield the f*****g gun and point it at s*** as a majorly publicised, almost 2nd party title and the how it shows Nintendo's intention to move away from nothing but family games for a bit.

Though if you can play a first party multiplayer nintendo title with a few friends and have nothing to describe it but "kiddy", then I don't know why you bother with the hobby at all.

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partyhat
Posted 03:41pm 13/5/06

why the f*** do people care so much?

if a game is fun play it ffs.

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DrFrag
Posted 10:03pm 20/5/06

Bring back the Nintendo PowerGlove. Same functionality, but you can play Obscene Gesture and Obscene Gesture 2 : Swivel.

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Alize`
Posted 10:39pm 20/5/06

Does the incorporation of blu- ray mean that ps3s have DRM? homo if they do.

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ravn0s
Posted 11:02pm 20/5/06

no DRM i believe

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DM
Posted 08:35am 21/5/06

i wanna know if they implemented that gay copy protection in the ps3 that will only allow games to run on that exact console.

i found this a pretty interesting read... stolen from megagames . com

"Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO David Reeves says many key PS3 titles will miss the November 17 launch window and will now release in 2007 but he adds that PS3 would sell 5 million units, at its current price, even if it had no games available for it.

The question of which games will be available for the console in November for its launch has been troubling journalists and gamers alike and Sony has been pretty vague on that subject. Talking to computer and video games during E3, Reeves mentioned that key titles such as Heavenly Sword, Formula One and Motosport will miss the PS3 launch but he stressed that Sony will have launch titles for all tastes and will focus on social gaming. As a result a PS3 SingStar will be available before Christmas 2006 and EyeToy games will begin surfacing around March 2007.

So Sony plans to target non-hardcore gamers as well while Nintendo Nintendo promises it won't be all kid's staff this time around; what's this world coming to?

So which launch titles can gamers expect to get on November 17? Reeves confirmed that Resistance: Fall of Man, Insomniac's shooter, will be a launch title but he refused to confirm any other games. Kaz Hirai, we assume he knew about the delayed games at E3 2006, mentioned 15 launch titles, so we have 14 unconfirmed games.

According the SCEE CEO, Sony believes that the next-gen battle will be decided six months following the PS3's release when ...all those hardcore gamers have bought PS3, they have also bought Xbox 360 and they have probably bought Nintendo Wii as well. I'm not sure which gamers he is thinking about but we doubt that many will opt for all three consoles just in order to decide which one they like best.

The final comment made by Mr. Reeves is the one which stands out and raises some doubts over Sony's state of mind when they were devising their next-gen strategy. We have built up a certain brand equity over time since the launch of PlayStation in 1995 and PS2 in 2000 that the first five million are going to buy it, whatever it is, even it didn't have games. We certainly hope that Sony has got its facts wrong as it wouldn't say much about gamers if that proved to be the case."

so sony are expecting people to buy the insanly overpriced PS3 even if it didnt have any games at launch? you gotta be s***ting me

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ravn0s
Posted 11:46am 21/5/06

i wanna know if they implemented that gay copy protection in the ps3 that will only allow games to run on that exact console.

i answered that question above ur post.

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Greazy
Posted 12:58pm 21/5/06

I hope sony stops making consoles and just joins powers with Nintendo to tackle the prime evil... Microsoft.

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TufNuT
Posted 01:00pm 21/5/06

i hate to say this but out of the 2 evils..sony is the bigger evil.

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DM
Posted 02:06pm 21/5/06

ahh ok. i didnt know what drm ment. thanks rav

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