Engadget & Joystiq's live coverage of Sony's PlayStation 3 launch
posted May 16th 2005 6:14PM
Hey everyone, we're at Sony's press event in Culver City to cover their unveiling of the PlayStation 3 this afternoon. Things are just getting started, to stay tuned for our comprehensive live coverage on Engadget and Joystiq!
Update: the parking lot ordeal was harrowing — they almost didn't let us in! It was a mob scene out there. Some journos were so desparate to get in that they went through all sorts of contortions for the gatekeepers. Check this lady out. That's a pushup with one foot above her head.
Ouch.
The presentation started with a little game history. "PlayStation 2 defined digital entertainment.... PlayStation
Portable, the next revolution!" The chest thumping was accompanied by thumping speakers.
First up: Kaz Hirai. "Are you guys excited about E3?" The audience barely cheered, so he had to try again. C'mon, show us the goods, then we'll be excited... maybe.
He does the numbers: 190 million units of hardware, 2 billion units of software. He does the backwards compatibility thing. These are the Sony strengths, so he reminds the audience that these are the goods that Microsoft can't match. No surprises here, but a specific response to the Xbox team, who weren't so sure last week whether they'll be able to make the Xbox 360 play Xbox games. [Update: Xbox 360 will be backwards compatible.]
Queue pointless interlude of flashy CGI graphics (not sure what that was for).
Ken Kutaragi introduced, and he proceeds to give the audience another lesson on the history of the PlayStation consoles. From "Real-time 3D-CG" to "Emotion Engine." He confirms backwards compatibility of the PlayStation 3, eliciting the first audience applause since he took the stage.
Cut to a video of an IBM dude woodenly reading from a teleprompter (his eyes dart quickly left-to-right) about the cell processor system. "Even though at times it seemed like an impossible journey, the entire team overcame impossible challenges to meet the goals.... We are very excited to look forward to see all the entertainment this chip will help create." All that's missing from this mess of trite mumbo-jumbo the word "synergy."
Highly technical performance overview given, including the following slides:
Sony's let go of the final specs and shots of the PlayStation 3. Here you go!
- It will support Blu-ray (obviously), DVD±R/W, CD-R/RW
- Backwards compatible with the PlayStation 2 and original Playstation
- One 3.2GHz Cell processor—total system performance rated at 2.18 teraflops (uh, that's actually about twice what Microsoft is claiming the Xbox 360 will do); it will have 256MB system RAM 3.2GHz, and 256MB GDDR VRAM at 700MHz
- The nVidia graphics will be called the RSX ("Reality Synthesizer"), and will trump the Xbox 360 with 1080p (yes, that's a p) graphics support.
- There will be a 2.5-inch hard drive (i.e. laptop hard drive) attachment—a first for a Sony launch (no, we don't
count the PSX and/or the FF add-on)
- Memory Stick Duo slot, and very surprisingly, an SD and CF slots
- Bluetooth support with up to seven wireless controllers
- Six USB system ports
The Technology Demos
So the specs are beginning to wear on the audience and people around us are shifting in their seats. Show us the graphics already!
Sony is only too happy to oblige. In one of the earliest demos they show a gas station blowing up, repeatedly. Lots of bits and pieces flying through the air to prove that the processer can handle the detritus of an explosion with ease. Another demo showcased a flyover of luscious and detailed landscapes that had been generated through procedural software routines only. That's like fractals, right? Well, it looked good.
This was followed by a demo showcasing the PS3's new LOD technology, or "Lots of Ducks" as the executive showcasing the technology referred to it. It was a reference to the little rubber duckling that was shown during the PS2 "Emotion Engine" demo. Hey — it's been 6 years since the PS2 launched and still nobody can explain to us what the hell the "Emotion Engine" is, other than great marketing.
So back to the LOD technology. The old PS2 demo was shown and morphed into the PS3 rendering of the same scene. Ok... better graphics, same damned duck. Then they popped in a couple of pirate battleships, each with impressively animated sails getting shot through with cannonballs.
So what's better than a bathtub with one rubber ducky and a couple of toy ships? Well, there's probably as much plastic in an E3 booth babe as in one of those ducks, but unfortunately Sony filled the tub with about a thousand more ducks. They all bobbed happily on top of each other, each individually rendered and beautifully colliding.
Sony also demoed a new and improved EyeToy interacting with the water in the bathtub. Holding a cup in each hand, the demonstrator dipped them into the water and filled them up, and poured them out. He filled one cup and poured it into the other. This was very cool and one of the wow moments of the presentation. Ripples of excitement bounced through the audience. Sony clearly wants everyone to know that the PS3 makes bath time lots of fun.
(Photo: this is one of those "architecture" slides. Does it actually tell us anything? Someone sic Tufte on the Sony people, quick.)
Games, games, games.
The game demos were divided into two groups: established franchises and new stuff. The demos of established franchises were arguably the more impressive and more polished of the two batches.
New: Motor Storm (Sony). This demo included about 60 seconds of truly chaotic game footage. It's a racing game, but a wonderfully muddy, violent and georgeously rendered-one from the looks of this footage, which definitely jazzed the audience. On reaction alone this was a crowd favorite. In the footage, motor vehicles of all types (dirtbikes, ATVs, dune buggies, rally cars) crashed into each other as they raced through muddy gulches and over high embankments. Motorcycles rode over the tops of slower vehicles and sometimes got crushed by larger vehicles. The violence was crunching and visceral and the entire experience immersive as a result of the realistic way in which mud, people, and parts of vehicles flew absolutely everywhere. Screenshot shows a motorcycle rider about to get creamed by an exploding rally car that's flying through the air at him.
Established title: Killzone (Sony) This game about interplanetary strife appears to be Sony's answer to Halo. All of the elements are here: explosions, guns, high-tech vehicles that drop marines into hostile territory at great risk of bodily harm, blah blah. The demo footage looked extraordinary, and maybe this time developer Guerilla will nail Sony's answer to Halo. One of the reviewers of Killzone for the PS2 said:
The potential for Guerrilla to develop a truly impressive FPS title on the PS2 is obviously there, but it's a learning curve that players won't be scaling anytime soon. The PS2's answer to "Halo"? Don't make us laugh.
Here's to hoping that the game lives up to the impressive footage we saw during the PS3 unveiling.
i like it. PS3 is one of those things that doesn't look extremely sexy in pictures, but will definitely kick ass when its sitting in front of you.
xbox630 looks great in pictures, but im not sure if i would want something looking like that in my home entertainment center.
try to imagine what the thing would look like in person, not in photos. theres a big difference. (especially if the photo is just at one angle, such as this)
the PS2 didn't look all that great, but after i got it i grew to really like the design. sony hasn't failed in the looks dept.
Gamespot has some info:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/05/16/news_6124681.html
According to gamespot..PS3 will have HDMI outputs, CompactFlash and memory stick slots, 2.2 Tflops of performance..basically kicks x360 out of the playing field w.r.t perf. Hope the design doesn't suck
its official specs..
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/05/16/news_6124681.html
what do you guys think?
I don't know what you are talking about HentaiDesi, gamespot hasn't given us any more information than we have known for months:
1. Bluray
2. Mid-2006
3. Official name is Playstation 3
There was no mention of any of the details you just said. Me smells a rabid fanboy. Take your pills now you don't want to go off the deep end.
e3insider.com being updated? new pics u reck'? AMAZING specs from sony, beats the ass of any xbox fanboy!
THIS PS3 CONSOLE IS AWESOME BUT EVEN IF ITS NOT THE RIGHT ONE THE REAL ONE WILL BE AWESOME TOO XBOX AND NINTENDO SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
if u could read ud see taht what he said is in the article.. fanboy...
2 teraflops off of 3.2 ghz? not happening guys...
Very tasty specs. I'm looking forward to finding out the price... :[
no look again, gamespot does have that info
More PS3 launch info here:
http://www.firstadopter.com/fa/archives/000988.html
"Sony also laid out the technical specs of the device. The PlayStation 3 will feature the much-vaunted Cell processor, which will run at 3.2 Ghz, giving the whole system 2.18 teraflops of overall performance. It will sport 256mb XDR main RAM at 3.2 Ghz, and have 256MB of GDDR VRAM at 700mhz.
Sony also unveiled the PS3's graphics chip, the RSX "Reality Synthesizer based on Nvidia technology. The GPU will be capable of 128bit pixel precision, 1080p resolution, some of the highest HD resolution around. It also has over 300 million transistors, larger than any processor available commercially today. It was manufactured using the 90nm process with 8 layers of metal. The RSX is more powerful than two GeForce 6800 ultras, which would cost rough $1000 if bought today."
This an update from gamespot.
The PlayStation 3 will feature the much-vaunted Cell processor, which will run at 3.2 Ghz, giving the whole system 2.18 teraflops of overall performance. It will sport 256mb XDR main RAM at 3.2 Ghz, and have 256MB of GDDR VRAM at 700mhz.
Sony also unveiled the PS3's graphics chip, the RSX "Reality Synthesizer based on Nvidia technology. The GPU will be capable of 128bit pixel precision, 1080p resolution, some of the highest HD resolution around. It also has over 300 million transistors, larger than any processor available commercially today. It was manufactured using the 90nm process with 8 layers of metal. The RSX is more powerful than two GeForce 6800 ultras, which would cost rough $1000 if bought today.
Sound expensive
I think Gamespot is full of crap. Anyway, who really cares how powerful the system is, that says nothing about the quality of the games. How bout some new gameplay possibilities, isn't anyone sick of the same rehashed games offered by current systems and input controls? I R.
You guys gotta keep in mind that even if the performance comparisons that Sony is citing here are accurate, only a very small percentage of games actually use a significant amount of that power in actual games.
And I by no means assume that these are accurate. Remember what Sony said about how the Playstation 2's Emotion Engine was going to revolutionize gaming, and how it would be able to render Toy Story. Sony execs have a habit of exaggeration and, dare I say it, bald-faced lies (they certainly aren't alone in that affliction)
"Sony Computer Entertainment head Ken Kutaragi introduced it as a "Super computer for computer entertainment."
If I wanted a computer, I would buy a computer. I want a video game console.
Sony also confirmed the PlayStation 3, will use Blu-Ray discs as its media format. The discs can hold up to six times as much data as current-generation DVDs. It will also support CR-ROM, CDR+W, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats. It also confirmed the machine would be backward-compatible all the way to the original PlayStation. It will also have slots for Memory Stick Duo, a SD slot, and a compact flash memory slot. It will also sport a slot for a detachable 2.5 inch HDD somewhat similar the Xbox 360's.
Out of the box, the PS3 will have the capability to support seven Bluetooth controllers. It will also have six USB slots for peripherals--four up front and two in the back.
Sony also laid out the technical specs of the device. The PlayStation 3 will feature the much-vaunted Cell processor, which will run at 3.2 Ghz, giving the whole system 2.18 teraflops of overall performance. It will sport 256mb XDR main RAM at 3.2 Ghz, and have 256MB of GDDR VRAM at 700mhz.
Sony also unveiled the PS3's graphics chip, the RSX "Reality Synthesizer based on Nvidia technology. The GPU will be capable of 128bit pixel precision, 1080p resolution, some of the highest HD resolution around. It also has over 300 million transistors, larger than any processor available commercially today. It was manufactured using the 90nm process with 8 layers of metal. The RSX is more powerful than two GeForce 6800 ultras, which would cost rough $1000 if bought today.
The PlayStation 3 will also sport some hefty multimedia features, such as video chat, internet access, digital photo viewing, digital audio and video. Sony Computer Entertainment head Ken Kutaragi introduced it as a "Super computer for computer entertainment."
If no cameras were allowed, how did they come up with the photo of the chat?
U G L Y
Really. I prefer the 360's design over that. I'd have PREFERRED the PSX look.
Controller will still suck too.
no look again, gamespot does have that info
It's not going to be more than $700, shut up. A price that high would be corporate suicide.
Sony also confirmed the PlayStation 3, will use Blu-Ray discs as its media format. The discs can hold up to six times as much data as current-generation DVDs. It will also support CR-ROM, CDR+W, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats. It also confirmed the machine would be backward-compatible all the way to the original PlayStation. It will also have slots for Memory Stick Duo, a SD slot, and a compact flash memory slot. It will also sport a slot for a detachable 2.5 inch HDD somewhat similar the Xbox 360's.
Out of the box, the PS3 will have the capability to support seven Bluetooth controllers. It will also have six USB slots for peripherals--four up front and two in the back.
Sony also laid out the technical specs of the device. The PlayStation 3 will feature the much-vaunted Cell processor, which will run at 3.2 Ghz, giving the whole system 2.18 teraflops of overall performance. It will sport 256mb XDR main RAM at 3.2 Ghz, and have 256MB of GDDR VRAM at 700mhz.
Sony also unveiled the PS3's graphics chip, the RSX "Reality Synthesizer based on Nvidia technology. The GPU will be capable of 128bit pixel precision, 1080p resolution, some of the highest HD resolution around. It also has over 300 million transistors, larger than any processor available commercially today. It was manufactured using the 90nm process with 8 layers of metal. The RSX is more powerful than two GeForce 6800 ultras, which would cost rough $1000 if bought today.
The PlayStation 3 will also sport some hefty multimedia features, such as video chat, internet access, digital photo viewing, digital audio and video. Sony Computer Entertainment head Ken Kutaragi introduced it as a "Super computer for computer entertainment."
WTF is with that performance graph? Xbox 360 runs 1,000,000,000 floating point ops per sec. PS3 does 256,000,000.....PS3 blows...
3.2ghz
256mb ram
Sounds to me like an xbox 360 with 256mb less ram. But i shouldn't forget that the cell processor is god... just like the emotion engine.
Matt,
i could not agree more.
yeah i love how everyone was giving microsoft a hard time for their 1 terraflop performance, saying it was untrue, but oh look sony has 2.18 terraflops, but its sony so it must be true....im not saying that the xbox 360 will be more powerful, i just think that sony is outright lying about the ps3 performance. it will be more powerful the 360, but not twice as powerful.
http://www.scee.presscentre.com/imagelibrary/detail.asp?MediaDetailsID=26315
You're welcome.
(P.S. Site is SLOW, pic mirror here:
http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=e3&message.id=8296
)
PICS RIGHT HERE
http://img239.echo.cx/img239/9127/39ry.jpg
the new ps3
http://www.jaygoland.com/anothercastle/ps3.jpg
http://www.jaygoland.com/anothercastle/ps3-2.jpg
Official PS3 pictures here:
http://www.scee.presscentre.com/imagelibrary/detail.asp?MediaDetailsID=26315
come on up date
Hey instead of arguing, POST MORE PICS!!!
The X Box 360 looks much better - much more power, funcionnalities and a slicker design - so what is all the PS funk about, people ?
is it just me or did they use the same font for the PLAYSTATION 3 label as they used to title spiderman? :)
what do you guys think of the design? maybe too clean? i cant see anything on that box except for a strange looking little arrow...
Patrick, are you stupid?
That graph means that the PS3 has 2,180,000,000 FLOPS. Meanwhile, the 360 only has 1,150,000,000. Well, it's NOT the PS3 thats blows.
If those are the real pics, what is up with them using the Spider-man font?
i'm willing to bet while it won't be more than $700 it will be in the range of $399 - $499. using full out blu-ray would pretty much close the option of any sort of collaboration with hd-dvd, would it not? also do you guys think that there online service will continue to be free or will they go the microsoft route?
john, you're the stupid one. you said 2.18 gigaflops when it's actually 218.
to #51 "3.2ghz
256mb ram"
if you rea the article it says PS3 will have
256mb XDR main RAM at 3.2 Ghz and and have 256MB of GDDR VRAM at 700mhz i think that totals 512megs of ram
Dear god, I hope that is not it.
This is a little off topic here but... Sony is just player the number game here and we want to see some games. Sorry PS fanboys, it was just announced that finaly fantasy will be coming to the xbox platform.
I think that is typical Sony BS that the graphics chip will be as powerful as two 6800 ultras, and isn't it kind of funny that they decided to support sd on the much-vaunted ps3 and not on their psp which surely could have needed it.
Well overall, I think the two next gen consoles seem very similar in power, with the ps3 possibly having the edge in the gpu. But remember boys and girls that power does not a console winner make. The ps2 came out with a similar lead on the xbox like the xbox360 will have on the ps3 but the two next gen consoles will be much closer in power. And this time the two juggernauts are much closer in raw power than before.
Did anybody notice that there has been no announcement of Sony's version of xbox live for the ps3 yet. Wonder what that means.
Isn't a TFLOP defined as 10^12 flops? I don't understand thier graph. It looks like they are messuring in GFLOPS which makes me wonder where they got the number 115 from...
Looks like Sony cut everyones wireless access, that's why we aren't seeing more details right now:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2005/05/16/playstation_conference.html
sooo... is this the "exhale" to the xbox 360's "inhale"?
LOL Kiel. I think it is the Spiderman font. Thats pretty funny.
The power of the cell chip is floating point. It is totally wrong to say that the PS3 will be twice as powerful as the 360. It is also totally wrong to think games on the Sony are going to be twice as good as games on the 360. Although, Sony definitely deserves credit for hands down beating 360 in the floating point area. How exactly that translates to games, I don't know.
*drools* SO SEXY!
*drools* SO SEXY!
i like the looks