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PLAYSTATION 3 Computer entertainment system unleashes a brilliant, high-definition entertainment experience.

As its digital soul, the Cell Broadband Engine represents a tour de force in parallel processing, which means a gaming experience that is beyond what you know today. Its built-in Blu-ray Disc drive delivers a whole new generation in high-definition gaming and unmatched digital media storage. Whether it’s gaming, Blu-ray movies, music or online services, PLAYSTATION3 invites you to Play Beyond.

High-Definition Capabilities

Enjoy high-definition entertainment, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) means you can use your PLAYSTATION3 with High-Definition displays as well as conventional or standard TVs.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

The PLAYSTATION 3 comes with either a 20GB or 60GB removable hard disk drive (HDD).

System Interoperability

PLAYSTATION 3 and PSP (PlayStation Portable) play nice together. Easily exchange media like photos, videos and music from your PLAYSTATION3 system to your PSP system. And get ready to witness an explosion in creativity as developers take on the challenge of integrating the PSP system into PLAYSTATION3 games.

Backwards Compatibility

Sony stated every PlayStation and PlayStation 2 game that observes its respective system’s TRC (Technical Requirements Checklist) will be playable on PS3 at launch. SCE president Ken Kutaragi asked developers to adhere to the TRC to facilitate compatibility with future PlayStations, stating that the company was having some difficulty getting backward compatibility with games that had not followed the TRCs. It has been confirmed that initial PS3 units include the CPU/rasterizer combination chip used in slim PS2 (EE+GS) to achieve backward compatibility.

The PlayStation 3 does not include interfaces for legacy PlayStation devices, though IGN.com tested a legacy controller using a PS2-to-USB adapter, finding that it is compatible, though most other devices (such as the Guitar Hero controller) may not be compatible. USB devices for PlayStation 2 may be compatible with PlayStation 3. The PS3 supports both the USB Eye Toy camera/webcam and SOCOM Headset for video and voice chat. A memory card adapter is available so users can save their PS/PS2 data on to a virtual memory card in the hard drive. The PlayStation 3 can also use Memory Sticks to store save data for PlayStation and PlayStation 2 software.

At least 3% of the games from the previous generations of the PlayStation had problems at launch such as dropped audio, freezes or controller malfunction. Popular games reported to have this glitch include Final Fantasy, Tekken 5, and Gran Turismo. As of 2006-11-16, a firmware upgrade has been posted online by Sony that is intended to address some of these issues.

Cell Broadband Engine

The PLAYSTATION 3 system’s Cell Broadband Engine is the very thing that game developers have always dreamt about. Its unique multi-processing unit design represents a tour de force in parallel processing. The ability to do more of everything at the same time means more enemies, more AI, more explosions, and more realistic game play. Game play that takes into account ragdoll physics and keyframe animation, enemy AI behaving unpredictably, glass cracking based on the size of the object that impacted it, and individual flecks of dust in a beam of sunlight to create a more believable experience. The Cell Broadband Engine has the muscle and horsepower to move beyond artificial intelligence. This is the power that is the digital soul of PLAYSTATION 3.

Blu-ray Disc

Next-generation entertainment needs a next-generation format. Blu-ray Disc (BD) is that format. Just as the DVD offered a technological leap from CDs, Blu-ray Disc is the next leap forward in the advancement of data storage technology and digital entertainment.

With Blu-ray, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system offers game developers unprecedented power to express their creativity and a larger canvas to produce a level of interaction, sophistication and reality that has never existed in gaming. More than an evolution, Blu-ray is a revolution that frees developers from the constraints of storage space and allows them to dream in Blu-ray.

Playstation Network

In response to Microsoft’s successful Xbox Live network, Sony announced a unified online service for the PlayStation 3 console at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo. Sony has confirmed that the service will be always connected, free and include multiplayer support. However, developers are permitted to charge a subscription fee, as is common with MMO games.

The Xfire client can be integrated into games to provide various match-making facilities, at a cost to the publisher.

At the Tokyo Game Show on September 21, 2006 it was revealed that users will be able to download some of the thousands of PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 titles from the PlayStation Network Platform for a fee, starting with those with the smallest game data. The reason to allow this kind of functionality is that Sony wants to allow the users to choose the games of their preference. Ken Kutaragi also announced functionality with other consoles, similar to Nintendo’s upcoming Virtual Console, including confirmed Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx 16 functionality. However, Sega has replied that Sony has been too hasty with calling it a fact. Sega is currently reviewing the possibilities, but have not yet made a decision on it.

PLAYSTATION Store

Enrich your entertainment experience with free and premium exclusive content from the PLAYSTATION Store. Enjoy a rich and unique selection of downloadable games, from classics to never before seen titles designed specifically for the PLAYSTATION3 system. You can also enhance your disc-based games with game add-ons, such as new levels, maps or weapons. PS one games can be downloaded directly to your PLAYSTATION3 system and then transferred to be played on your PSP (PlayStation Portable) system.

Friends & Messaging

Use your unique Online ID to stay connected with your PLAYSTATION Network friends. Talk with others during game play, say hello anytime you’re online, or have a video chat with an Eye Toy; USB Camera and headset (each sold separately).

SIXAXIS wireless controller

The PS3 SIXAXIS is a controller that is nearly identical to that of the predecessor’s DualShock. The SIXAXIS features finer analogue sensitivity, more trigger-like R2 and L2 buttons, a PS button, and a USB mini-B port for charging the internal battery and use for wired play. The PlayStation 3 supports up to 7 simultaneous controllers over Bluetooth. The SIXAXIS is named for its ability to detect motion in the full six degrees. However, unlike the previous DualShock, the new controller has no vibration feature. The controller will retail for US$50.

The PlayStation 3 Memory Card Adaptor is a device that allows data to be transferred to and from PlayStation and PlayStation 2 memory cards and to the PlayStation 3′s hard disk. The device is a cable that connects to the PS3′s USB port on one end, and features a legacy PlayStation 2 memory card port on the other end. The adaptor will be available for purchase simultaneously with the console’s launch, at a price of JP¥1500 (including tax) in Japan, and US$14.99 in the United States.

Using Bluetooth, the PlayStation 3 BD Remote allows users to easily control videos and music on Blu-ray Disc and DVD. In Japan, the device will be available starting December 7, 2006, and will cost JP¥3,800. The device will be available in North America in December for US$24.99. However, the PS3 will accept signals only via its Bluetooth Remote and not through the standard IR spectrum, disallowing the use of universal remotes with the system. The Blu-ray Disc movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was to be included with the initial 400,000 release copies of the PS3 in North America.

Official PS3 HDMI cables will retail for US$50. No HDMI cable is included with the PS3 system.

Games

Experience high-definition gaming with PLAYSTATION 3 games!

Multimedia: Music, Photos, Internet,Videos & Movies

PLAYSTATION 3 provides an endless array of multimedia activities, all without even inserting a game.

• CPU Cell Broadband Engine GPU RSX Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM 256MB GDDR3 VRAM HDD 2.5′ Serial ATA (60GB) I/O USB 2.0 X 4
• Memory Stick/SD/CompactFlash Slots Communication Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi*
• Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
• Wireless Controller Bluetooth (up to 7) AV Output Screen size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
• HDMI**: HDMI out – (x1 / HDMI)
• Analog: AV MULTI OUT x 1
• Digital audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x 1
• Blu-ray/DVD/CD DRIVE “read only”
• Dimensions Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
• Weight Approximately 5 kg

• CPU Cell Broadband Engine™ GPU RSX Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM 256MB GDDR3 VRAM HDD 2.5′ Serial ATA (20GB) I/O USB 2.0 X 4
• Communication Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T
• Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
• Wireless Controller Bluetooth (up to 7) AV Output Screen size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
• HDMI**: HDMI out – (x1 / HDMI)
• Analog: AV MULTI OUT x 1
• Digital audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x 1
• Blu-ray/DVD/CD DRIVE “read only”
• Dimensions Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
• Weight Approximately 5 kg