Sony fills in a few details about PlayStation 3 launch

Aight everybody, we've got US prices to all those accessories, some more details on what's being bundled with your PlayStation 3, and a wee bit on the PlayStation Network. First up, the prices: Sony's reaffirmed it's $500 / $600 price points today in the US, and released info on some of their accessories. The SIXAXIS will set you back $50 in the US, the PS / PS2 memory card adapter will hit you for $15, and the Blu-ray remote will be $25. Also, the first half a million PS3 units will come bundled with "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," which won't be available independently of the console until December 12th. Finally, Sony is touting its usual bit about the PlayStation Network, which, as has been stated before, supports voice and video chat, allows for web browsing, game and media downloads, and media playback. Aight everybody, carry on then.

[Cruzader @ Oct 19th 2006 9:16PM]

Why are people bashing on the free movie...Talladega Nights? It had very good ratings despite it being a comedy. Anyways, it's free. The whole point of the movie is not that everyone will like it, it's to show off the Blu-ray player.

[Lord Ludicrous @ Oct 20th 2006 7:01AM]

Before you start calling others stupid perhaps you should get your facts straight first.
Nintendo NEVER loses money on their hardware. All their hardware is designed ground up to turn a profit. Why do you think that in the last generation, even though the Gamecube was a commercial failure, and the games sales did not compare to the PS2, that Nintendo turned the biggest profit?
The DS and DS Lite turn a profit. The Wii is going to turn a profit. All on the hardware.

[snakies @ Oct 20th 2006 1:51PM]

So they say their online service will be free. They will say anything to get more fanboys on their side. Im sure they havent the slightest idea how expensive it will be for them to maintain an online network on par with xboxlive. I figure they will allow access to their service for free for a few months, long enough to use it as a selling point, and then wham! require a fee. Also, the quality of their non-existant services is yet to be seen. You get what you pay for.

[Matt W. @ Oct 19th 2006 5:38PM]

Sony should have followed MSFT's lead, and included a limited release remote in the launch package. While I rarely use my 360 remote, a lot of folks are going to use their PS3s as Blu-Ray movie players. Of course, Sony will lose money hand over fist with the PS3, and unlike MSFT, probably can't afford the lost $25. I'm honestly surprised that they aren't charging more for the remote. At any rate, I'm sure the online bundles will include the remote.

[JinKazama @ Oct 19th 2006 5:56PM]

Matt,

I like the included movie more than I like the remote idea. Remember they are pushing a proprietary format MS wasn't. A remote isn't going to prompt me to buy more Blu-Ray movies. But a included movie that looks amazing on my HDTV may get me to.

Unlike most things recently I think Sony is doing a lot right with the PS3 launch (besides the launch numbers). Like I have said before, regardless of the price, if the PS3 lives up to all Sony says it is...it will have PS2 levels of success.

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 19th 2006 6:53PM]

There you go with all that "proprietory format" crap again. It's not JUST Sony on this one.

[michael @ Oct 19th 2006 5:57PM]

most disconcerting about the SIXAXIS is that allegedly (at least according to what I have read, including wikipedia, so take that with a grain of salt) is that the internal battery can *not* be removed, meaning the only charging option is the usb cable, tethering it to the PS3.

Whether you use a rechargeable battery pack with the 360 controller (either charging with the quick charge unit, or the play and charge cable) or just AA batteries, the ability to swap batteries mid-game on the 360 and stay wireless is a killer feature.

Yes, the various battery/charging options do increase cost on the 360, but the convenience of (essentially) always having a charge available outweighs that, imho, and i question the wisdom of Sony in omitting this - especially since they come second (in terms of time) to the race.

and don't get me started about bluetooth and not ir remotes.

[Sean T. @ Oct 20th 2006 2:36PM]

But what you don't mention is that the USB charge functionality isn't restricted to the PS3's ports. The controllers can be charged from any USB port. The simple solution:

When you aren't using the control, plug it in so it can charge. Like the PS2, I suspect that the PS3 will spend most of its time with the power on but in standby mode.

[Count Chocula @ Oct 19th 2006 6:27PM]

Could they (Sony) have picked a worse movie to show the Blu Ray benefits?

Flush this right down the toilet with the Psp and Beaner MP3 player.

[Microsoft Mike @ Oct 19th 2006 6:31PM]

I own a premium 360 from launch and use the included remote all the time. Then again I also use the 360 for dvd playback besides gaming. I have it hooked up to a HDTV which can take advantage of the upscaler.

Blu-Ray, Sony Playstation 3 and Wii do not interest me so far. Looking forward to Gears of War!

[Dan @ Oct 19th 2006 6:40PM]

Motorstorm isn't a launch title anymore? :(

[Gill Bates @ Oct 19th 2006 6:44PM]

Between exploding laptop batteries ($400 Mil estimated)
and dismal Psp sales and failed Umd format. Sony is facing serious financial days ahead. The PS3 could be the final nail in the coffin.

[Dp462090 @ Oct 19th 2006 6:59PM]

"dismal Psp sales"

Bill, err Gill ... The PSP has shipped 20.02 million, that's probably something like ~19 million sold. That's not bad, when compared to the DS' 22 million.

[FlyLikeAMouse @ Oct 19th 2006 7:06PM]

As much as i dislike Sony these days (since the launch of the first xbox I have been a convert) I very much doubt that it will be "the final nail in the coffin" if the PS3 fails. Sony is a HUGE multinational company with its fat little fingers in many, many pies. They could quite happily burn all of the first shipment of PS3's and still at least break even for the fiscal year. The truth is that the PS3 will not flop, despite what many people would like - myself included (although I understand why people are excited by idea a new playstation, I could never justify �425 for a console [which, incidentally, is the best part of $800])

[riggs @ Oct 19th 2006 6:44PM]

"Blu-Ray, Sony Playstation 3 and Wii do not interest me so far."

well seeing as how your user name is Microsoft mike, i dont think they would have.

[nVidiot @ Oct 19th 2006 6:51PM]

That's one expensive peice of... equipment ;)

I'm really curious to see this thing in action though. Probably be a good year before I even think about investing in one though.

[Ali @ Oct 20th 2006 12:30PM]

I put a pre-order on it Fady!

[Mikhail Wright @ Oct 19th 2006 6:53PM]

Motorstorm is a launch title and will be available in demo form on launch day

[tenin2wenty10 @ Oct 19th 2006 6:53PM]

This is the first time I've heard you need an adaptor to use your PS/PS2 memory cards. And they dont include it with the package?

Hey guys! This will solve our financial crisis charge an extra 15BUX so the poor saps can use their old memory cards!

[Chris Chance @ Oct 19th 2006 9:51PM]

hate to tell you this flylikeamouse but its not just the random observer that thinks the ps3/bluray if it fails could easily result in sony's longterm demise many analysts have said it they've poored too much cash into the 2 projects and they are already running razor thin... look at their now revised financials they dropped there expected numbers from 1.x billion profit to somewhere around 300million thats not a good sign..

[tapper @ Oct 19th 2006 7:15PM]

Dp462090, here is a pretty interesting thread regarding the numbers of sold PSPs:

http://forums.e-mpire.com/showthread.php?t=59623

[Zorque @ Oct 19th 2006 7:16PM]

I'm really looking forward to the launch, just to see how it plays out. I personally won't be getting a PS3 (at least until the price drops significantly and Sony makes some changes) but it will be really interesting nonetheless.

[DustoMan @ Oct 19th 2006 7:33PM]

Talladega Nights? Are you f**king kidding me? It's a far cry from Spiderman 2 that came with the PSP. Are there no killer Blue-Ray titles that Sony is forced to inlude a mediocure movie?

[BSW @ Oct 19th 2006 7:33PM]

Dp462090 @ Oct 19th 2006 6:59PM

"dismal Psp sales"

"""Bill, err Gill ... The PSP has shipped 20.02 million, that's probably something like ~19 million sold. That's not bad, when compared to the DS' 22 million. """


ummm... except Sony loses money on each PSP sale - that loss was to be made up in software sales. With the exception of a couple-month spans, the PSP has been trivial to hack such that no software need be purchased.

Given that scenario, the more hw units sold, the worse for Sony's financials...

[Dp462090 @ Oct 19th 2006 8:02PM]

I never said they weren't losing money, just that the PSP wasn't selling dismally.

Tapper:

It is interesting, although I haven't seen the report. He could very well be right, but also his source could be wrong, I really don't know.

[Corsair @ Oct 19th 2006 7:54PM]

I have money and think the PS3 games look great (from what I saw at E3), but even I can't justify:
$600/PS3
$100/2 SIXAXIS
$25/Blu-ray remote(which you'll need)
------
$725/Without any GAMES!

I thought the price break on the 360 was about right. I spent about
$400/Xbox360
$100/2 Wireless Controllers
$120/2 Games
$60/Xbox Live
------
$680/Lock, Stock, & Barrel!

Also, Sony is banking a LOT on the PS3, from Blu-ray to price point, it won't be "the final nail in the coffin" if they fail, but it will HURT A LOT.

[Brian @ Oct 19th 2006 8:23PM]

Corsair:

The PS3 comes with one wireless controller. So, shave $50 off your price. Also, you don't "need" the remote. The controller (which is wireless), should navigate you around your movies just as the PS2 controller did. Also you need to remember that your Xbox Live needs to be renewed each year, so that's another $60 per year. Yikes! That allows you one extra game per year.

Add to the fact that your 360 will not play high definition content without the addition of an extra drive, and you are starting to see that the prices are fairly in-line with one another.

[Mike C @ Oct 19th 2006 8:00PM]

This is to hilarious to not repost.

Joystiq
Eurogamer recently spoke with Sony president Phil Harrison about the PS3's controversial Blu-Ray adoption. While responding to criticisms of the storage technology being used primarily to push Sony's movie format war, Harrison defended: "It's got nothing to do with movies ... we need Blu-Ray to supply the kind of data that PS3 games use."

Oh really. So why is a Beta-ray movie BUNDLED with YOUR console? WTH???

[stevo @ Oct 19th 2006 8:17PM]

Xbox Live > Sony Network

[Claude @ Oct 19th 2006 8:18PM]

That launch line up (games) is as bad as the 360 had...

[James Freeland @ Oct 19th 2006 8:21PM]

for me, the games look horrible for launch. they have hardly any exclusives, and the exclusives they have look terrible. the PS3 will be a great console, but its gonna take AT LEAST a year, when the price drop and good games come along, combined with available systems.

[bobby @ Oct 19th 2006 8:49PM]

BURN!!!!

[Jon @ Oct 19th 2006 8:53PM]

Its funny peope complain about the "FREE" Blu Ray movie included .. Its Free ! Until now i believe this is the first time they ever talked about giving away a movie, and a month before it even is released on reg dvd ..

[Paul @ Oct 19th 2006 9:03PM]

Why does everyone hate Talladega Nights so much? I wouldn't buy a PS3 to get it but I will get it when its released, I thought that it was pretty funny (maybe a little biased b/c Will Ferrel is one of my fav comedian actors).

[Tony Rayo @ Oct 19th 2006 10:50PM]

I got Spiderman 2 with my PSP but never watched it... however I'd LOVE Talladega Nights and I was considering buying it just to test out the blu-ray playback functionality, so if I manage to find a launch system in time (I already missed my first chance at pre-ordering in person via Gamestop... I'm not sleeping until they open up their online channels then I should be able to get one of those few babies). Worse comes to worse I won't get a PS3 until later in the year and I can buy Talladega Nights seperately. The one movie I REALLY want to see in HD is my favourite anime movie of all time, Akira. However I don't see any plans on it being released on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. I'd honestly buy a 360 + HD addon if Akira was to come out in HD-DVD only... hopefully we'll all get a quality Blu-ray release as well though.

- Tony R.

[michael @ Oct 19th 2006 11:29PM]

i dont see the problem with havingto plug it in to use the remote i mean how far do u need to be from the tv? I mean not everyone has a 50 inch plasma or lcd so you are going to have to be kind of close and second for years we have had to stay plugged in whats the difference if you have to do it once in a while?

[Ricky Bobby @ Oct 19th 2006 11:35PM]

First and foremost, I'd like to address both, Count Chocula, and DustoMan by saying Talladega Nights was like, one of the best movies ever, WOO!..WOO!..................WOO! Second, Shake, and bake baby.........WOO!

[nodnetni @ Oct 19th 2006 11:54PM]

"Also, the first half a million PS3 units will come bundled with "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,"" So more then the first batch will be bundled with Talladega Nights...? I am guessing its jut going to be the first batch which is 400,000 units, quit with the lies Sony.....

[Finished Law School @ Oct 20th 2006 12:15AM]

As we've seen before, when Sony is the source of information, any information no matter what it relates to, it is likely incorrect information or a lie.
With that being said, none of the information posted here regarding the release will actually happen.

[Dan @ Oct 20th 2006 1:16AM]

The fact that it comes with Talledaga Nights should actually make it cost LESS, as it was a painfully stupid movie (apologies to all the sheep who think Will Ferril is "super funny" and think Robin Williams is an idiot).

[Rodney L. @ Oct 20th 2006 3:42AM]

Well, i give them an A for movie pack in, but I still won't buy one until March or until the 1st gen bugs get worked out, which ever comes first.

[Kris @ Oct 20th 2006 8:57AM]

Uh yeh, post an ACTUAL source, then i will comment on this.
So far this is BS to me.

[Kris @ Oct 20th 2006 8:59AM]

oops, wrong page
Disregard that comment

[BSW @ Oct 20th 2006 7:12PM]

"Um either you dont understand a thing or your stupid."

I'm not sure if you're referring to me or not, but I'll bite anyway. Oh, yeah, there's an apostrophe in "don't", stupid... Your handle commands much respect as well.

Typically I prefer Sony hardware to MS. However, a (simply) modded Xbox makes a (tricky) modded PS2 look about as useful as a boat anchor. I happily admit that I picked up a used $75 Xbox after seeing XBMC demo'd. I would pay $400-500 for this unit now if I had to (it's that good).

"Japan STILL controls this market. If a system fails there, it FAILS!"

I'm sure you've never heard of Xbox since it failed so miserably in Japan. I have to assume by your logic that such a failure resulted in the bankruptcy of it's manufacturer....

Stupid? Pot, meet kettle!

[BSW @ Oct 20th 2006 8:51PM]

I don't mean to pile on RxRitalin... WTF am I saying??? Of course I do!

"Um either you dont understand a thing or your stupid."
-There's an apostrophe in "don't", stupid. It's spelled "you're", stupid. Damn, twice in the first sentence!

"EVERY hardware maker looses money on the hardware, Even Nintendo"
-It's spelled "loses", stupid. You're supposed to capitalize the first word after a period, not a comma, stupid. Second sentence, fourth spelling/grammatical error - going for a record?

"The cost are madeup in software sales. "
- It should either be "The costs are..." or "The cost is...", stupid. "Made up" is actually two words, stupid. Yes, that's the sixth error by the third sentence!

"Sony has a great deal in its contracts; Once a game sells so many copies(sorry dont remember the number) it becomes a Sony Classic. "
-Christ! That's the fourth sentence, but it should have also been the fifth and sixth, stupid. Also, the semicolon should be a colon and "once" wouldn't be capitalized either way. I just lost count after that train-wreck...

"Sony does have its problems right now, but the PS3 is NOT one of them. "
-We had to wait for *your* fifth sentence to find proper grammar. Congratulations, stupid.

"The Devs are going to need the extra room for the lager textures (lager textures equal cleaner detail)"
-This gem is from your next post. WTF is a "lager texture"? I'm assuming you didn't misspell "larger" twice in the same sentence - that would be stupid! If there is such a thing as a "lager texture", my apologies (hell, there probably is such an animal in the 3D rendering world, but you'll never convince me that you knew that based on your score so far).

"You just wait, after the first run of games where there is not to much diffrence in quality..."
-It's spelled "too", stupid. It's spelled "difference", stupid.

"...I dont want to fiddle around with 5dvds in the middle of some FPS im playing. "
-There's an apostrophe in "don't", stupid. Shouldn't there be a space, another apostrophe, and a few capital letters for the acronym in "5 DVD's", stupid? It's "I'm", stupid. For anyone keeping score, notice that's two errors in A TWO LETTER WORD (capital 'I' and an apostrophe)! My new hero!

I am SOOOOO looking forward to your next post. Please oh please - put those pills to use! It's not even a school-night - gotta give us more...

I take it back, you aren't stupid. "Stupid" is too kind of a word. That being said, thank you for the funniest 20 minutes I've had in a very, very long time!!!!!

[TLD @ Oct 21st 2006 8:49AM]

pwnt.

[nobodyspecial @ Oct 23rd 2006 10:44AM]

I don't mean to pile on RxRitalin... WTF am I saying??? Of course I do!
question marks should be a comma, of course i do is not a sentence
You're supposed to capitalize the first word after a period, not a comma, stupid.
after the word period there should be no comma
Second sentence, fourth spelling/grammatical error - going for a record? hyphens do not work in that way. You should have used a semicolon. The first part is also a fragment.
Christ! That's the fourth sentence, but it should have also been the fifth and sixth, stupid. Also, the semicolon should be a colon and "once" wouldn't be capitalized either way. I just lost count after that train-wreck...
He used a semicolon properly, so apparantly you are stupid. A colon denotes a following list. EX: I picked up some things today: water, bread and milk.
misspell "larger" twice in the same sentence - that would be stupid
again, that is improper use of a hyphen, a semicolon should have sufficed.
For anyone keeping score, notice that's two errors in A TWO LETTER WORD (capital 'I' and an apostrophe)!
You started your sentence with a preposition, use apostrophe's instead of quote's, and there should be a comma after notice(or a "that").
In your previous posting:
I'm not sure if you're referring to me or not
The word you're does not connotate "you were" as should have been written.
Oh, yeah, there's an apostrophe in "don't", stupid... Your handle commands much respect as well.
"Oh yeah" does not need a comma separating it. Your pause after stupid leads into a capitalized word as well.
Plus, it was a misjudgement to pick up a discontinued product to mod it into a skin-laden I-tunes enabled media center that took three years to make, leaving many people with language support problems, technical difficulties, and broken units. What, doesn't your computer do all of these things and much, mcuh more? So much for the Xbox only being a downgraded PC, right? Right?
I'm sure you've never heard of Xbox since it failed so miserably in Japan. I have to assume by your logic that such a failure resulted in the bankruptcy of it's manufacturer....
There should be a comma after Xbox, if you intended it to be used sarcastically. There should be a comma before by and after logic.
And for the record Xbox did fail. It came out a year after ps2 and died a year before ps3. Also, only 20% of Xbox units shipped to Japan actually sold. On a side note, Xbox sold 80 million units less than Playstation 2, out of a possible 100 million units. Xbox Live took 10% of all Xbox users; what a pathetic number. The DS has sold more units than the Xbox has.

In retrospect, I think that maybe the next time you decide to redirect focus off of what someone says and onto their grammar, maybe you should think about checking your own grammar. You should also think about what that kind of argument looks like to someone reading the material. Someone had some concrete stuff to say and all you can possibly retort with is, "you talk funny". It's people like you that make this world a wholly insubstantial and ignorant place. Focus on the facts next time.

[Green Frog @ Oct 24th 2006 5:19PM]

For those of you who talk about not buying a console until the price comes down
have youlooked at how much it would cost to set up a gaming pc with comparable performance? I think I would buy a ps3 if I was starting out from scratch. Of course that depends on the games that are available on the ps3.