A new PlayStation generation -- for $499
Los Angeles -- The highly anticipated PlayStation 3 video game console will be available for $499 in the United States starting Nov. 17, Sony executives said Monday.
In a news conference one day before the start of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Sony officials sought to build momentum for the fall launch by providing hard information about their next-generation platform and displaying new games that showcased the visual and audio breakthroughs made possible by PlayStation 3 technology.
Kaz Hirai, president of Sony Computer Entertainment America, and Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, hoped gamers would be impressed by the pricing of the new unit and its next-generation controller, which will feature "six-degree" sensing capability to enhance gameplay.
The pair also showed off an array of games from their studios and third party developers that are part of Sony's response to Microsoft's Xbox 360, which launched last fall.
"We have said the next generation doesn't start until we say it does," Hirai said. "Today the PlayStation 3 is real. The future is today."
Hirai concluded the Sony news conference by announcing pricing information, which many considered the most pressing detail. At $499, Sony's 20-GB PlayStation 3 is $100 more than a fully equipped Xbox 360. Hirai said a 60-GB version will be available for $599 at the Nov. 17 launch.
During the news conference, Harrison showed off the new PS3 controller, which, while looking like the PS2 controller, has a built-in sensor that follows the movement of the controller and translates that into gameplay.
When used in a game like WarHawk, which was demonstrated at the event, the user pulls up and down on the controller and controls the pitch and rolls of a fighter jet in a manner reminiscent of the new gyroscope-equipped controller for Nintendo's Wii platform.
"This controller allows me to unlock the most fluid movement in games," Harrison said. "It feels very intuitive. I'm very excited what it means not only for developers, but what it means for consumers."
Earlier in the news conference, Hirai touted the networking capability of the PlayStation 3, which will allow players to connect online with other users for free and buy additional levels and enhancements. With a built-in hard drive, the PlayStation 3 will support broader downloadable games, said Hirai.
Hirai said the Blu-ray DVD format will not only allow users to play next-generation high-definition movies but also will create more capacity for game developers to pack on to game discs.
Ankarino Lara, vice president for video game Web site GameSpot, said Sony failed to hit one out of the park with its announcements. He said the game demonstrations, while impressive, did not seem markedly different from what is available on the Xbox 360. And he said the price of the PlayStation, with a second controller and its first game, will be out of reach for all but early adopters.
Sony has enjoyed a strong historical lead over its console rivals, commanding more than 50 percent of platform sales. But Microsoft gained an edge last year by releasing its Xbox 360 a full year ahead of the PlayStation 3. Analysts believe Microsoft will have sold 8 million to 10 million Xbox 360s by the time the PlayStation 3 hits the shelves.
But that lead isn't insurmountable. With the Blu-ray DVD player included, Sony could get a big bump in sales. Much as it helped jump-start the DVD revolution with its PlayStation 2, the new PlayStation could lead movie fans into the high-definition DVD era with the relatively low price of its Blu-ray DVD player. Some standalone Blu-ray players are due to sell later this year for $1,000.
In a news conference one day before the start of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Sony officials sought to build momentum for the fall launch by providing hard information about their next-generation platform and displaying new games that showcased the visual and audio breakthroughs made possible by PlayStation 3 technology.
Kaz Hirai, president of Sony Computer Entertainment America, and Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, hoped gamers would be impressed by the pricing of the new unit and its next-generation controller, which will feature "six-degree" sensing capability to enhance gameplay.
The pair also showed off an array of games from their studios and third party developers that are part of Sony's response to Microsoft's Xbox 360, which launched last fall.
"We have said the next generation doesn't start until we say it does," Hirai said. "Today the PlayStation 3 is real. The future is today."
Hirai concluded the Sony news conference by announcing pricing information, which many considered the most pressing detail. At $499, Sony's 20-GB PlayStation 3 is $100 more than a fully equipped Xbox 360. Hirai said a 60-GB version will be available for $599 at the Nov. 17 launch.
During the news conference, Harrison showed off the new PS3 controller, which, while looking like the PS2 controller, has a built-in sensor that follows the movement of the controller and translates that into gameplay.
When used in a game like WarHawk, which was demonstrated at the event, the user pulls up and down on the controller and controls the pitch and rolls of a fighter jet in a manner reminiscent of the new gyroscope-equipped controller for Nintendo's Wii platform.
"This controller allows me to unlock the most fluid movement in games," Harrison said. "It feels very intuitive. I'm very excited what it means not only for developers, but what it means for consumers."
Earlier in the news conference, Hirai touted the networking capability of the PlayStation 3, which will allow players to connect online with other users for free and buy additional levels and enhancements. With a built-in hard drive, the PlayStation 3 will support broader downloadable games, said Hirai.
Hirai said the Blu-ray DVD format will not only allow users to play next-generation high-definition movies but also will create more capacity for game developers to pack on to game discs.
Ankarino Lara, vice president for video game Web site GameSpot, said Sony failed to hit one out of the park with its announcements. He said the game demonstrations, while impressive, did not seem markedly different from what is available on the Xbox 360. And he said the price of the PlayStation, with a second controller and its first game, will be out of reach for all but early adopters.
Sony has enjoyed a strong historical lead over its console rivals, commanding more than 50 percent of platform sales. But Microsoft gained an edge last year by releasing its Xbox 360 a full year ahead of the PlayStation 3. Analysts believe Microsoft will have sold 8 million to 10 million Xbox 360s by the time the PlayStation 3 hits the shelves.
But that lead isn't insurmountable. With the Blu-ray DVD player included, Sony could get a big bump in sales. Much as it helped jump-start the DVD revolution with its PlayStation 2, the new PlayStation could lead movie fans into the high-definition DVD era with the relatively low price of its Blu-ray DVD player. Some standalone Blu-ray players are due to sell later this year for $1,000.
