PS3 Details

Sony have had their Pre-E3 conference last night and have given more details and demos of their upcoming Playstation3 console.

In my opinion, Sony are going to wipe the Xbox360 and Nintendo Wii off the floor with their new console but probably only based on the established user base they already have. Also, Sony and the Playstation have always seemed to appeal to younger gamers more than the Xbox so they will immediately have the upcoming generation to rely on buying their console.

They have also stolen copied used the same motion detection techniques that Nintendo are planning to include in their new Wii console which leaves Microsoft as the only “next gen” console maker not to have this capability - yet.  Microsoft are due to launch details of their external USB HD DVD player at the E3 conference too though - whoppee!… not.

The “Sony Hub” will take on the might of XBox live too but contrary to early information, it will not all be free and will probably follow the same pricing structure of free access to somethings, but pay-to-play access to multiplayer gaming.

The real kick in the nuts for this console is going to be the price which has been announced at the conference too.  The console will be launched worldwide in early November and will come in 2 flavours, one with a 20gb hard disk and one with a 60gb hard disk.  Pricing will be set at $499 and $599.  Expect that to translate to £499 and £599 here in the UK.

Would you want to pay nearly £600 for a console?  And as we have found out with the Xbox360, the games are’nt cheap either with some of the recent flagship titles like Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter retailling for nearly £50!  How much are the Blu-Ray based games going to be on the new PS3?  £70?  Reports on the capabilities of the PS3 versus the Xbox360 are also revealing that they will be more similar than first revealed and it may become difficult to tell the consoles graphics apart.

Sony will win.  I have no doubt about that.  But if Microsoft drop their console price then things may be different come christmas 2006.  And if Microsoft can realease Halo3 at the same time, things will get really nasty and all sorts of name calling and hair pulling will ensue.