Q&A - PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3 was Introduced to the world at E3 2005 by then-SCEA president Kaz Hirai and then-SCEI CEO Ken Kutaragi. It released over 19 months later in Japan, being made available on November 11, 2006. A US launch followed on November 17.
Europe would not see the console for another four months due to a lack of diodes for the machine’s Blu-ray player. The European PS3 launched in March 2007.
Release titles included Insomniac’s Resistance: Fall of Man, Evolution Studios’ Motorstorm, Namco Bandai’s Ridge Racer 7, Activision’s Call of Duty 3 and more.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sony’s current play in the under-the-TV console market.
What is PS3?
PlayStation 3 is Sony’s third home-console hardware release and its fourth overall, if PSP is included. It counts as being among the seventh generation of game consoles alongside Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii.
Who makes it?
Sony Computer Entertainment.
When did it release?
Initial “fat” form factor:
- Japan - November 11, 2006
- North America - November 17, 2006
- Europe - March 23, 2007
“Slim” form factor:
- US and Europe - September 1, 2009
- Japan - September 3, 2009
How many units have been sold?
47.9 million units worldwide (source).
(Correct as of February 3, 2011)
What are its tech specs?
- Blu-ray supportable
- 3.2 Ghz Cell Broadband engine (PowerPC-base core @ 3.2 GHz)
- RSX Reality Synthesizer GPU
- 256 Mb XDR Main Ram @ 3.2 GHz
- 256 Mb GDDR VRAM @ 700 MHz
- Bluetooth 2.0
How much does it cost?
- UK - £249
- Mainland Europe - €299
- US - $299
- Japan - ¥29,980
What are the 10 highest ranking PS3 games according to Metacritic?
- Grand Theft Auto IV - 98
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - 96
- LittleBigPlanet - 95
- Red Dead Redemption - 95
- Mass Effect 2 - 94
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - 94
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - 94
- BioShock - 94
- Street Fighter IV - 94
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - 94
(Correct as of January 31, 2011.)
Motion control aspect?
PlayStation Move, first revealed at E3 2009 with a formal showing at GDC 2010, was released on September 15, 2010 in Europe, September 17 in the US and UK, and on October 19 in Japan. To date, it’s shipped 4.1 million units worldwide.