The fifth entry in Sega’s advanced, realistic fighting game series. Once again, the realtime level of visual detail and character animation has been upped to the most advanced levels, with next-generation lighting and detail on the fighters and environments.

Virtua Fighter 5 is the latest game in Sega’s Virtua Fighter series. It was released on July 12, 2006 into Japanese arcades. Virtua Fighter 5 is due for release on PlayStation 3 on February 20, 2007, and will be a launch title for the European release in March. The Xbox 360 version is due in the summer of 2007 (sooner than August), as confirmed by Sega on December 21, 2006. It’s mean that PS3 fans will stil be able to thumb their noses at the 360-only crowd for a good six months.

Virtua Fighter 5 features beautifully detailed stages from around the world where players face off in fast-moving martial arts battles against one of 17 characters. Two lively new characters join the elite group of fighters, adding two new unique fighting styles for players to try and master. With more skill and strategy than ever before, players are also given the opportunity to learn and employ the new “Offensive Move” technique to take down their opponents from different angles, adding a new dimension to the game and something for both new and old fans to master. Virtua Fighter 5 also includes the ability to customise characters by selecting from four base costumes and a wide range of unlockable accessories and earnable items. As players win more tournaments they will not only earn costumes and accessories, but also prizes and in-game money that will allow them to buy items from the in-game shop.

Playable characters

Akira Yuki : Akira strives for perfection and will drive himself relentlessly to master his techniques. He seeks worthy opponents to fight in order to find flaws in his skills to further attain mastery. Akira is the Assistant teacher of his father’s dojo. This dojo is his stage in Virtua Fighter 4.

Pai Chan : She is a martial arts action movie star in her hometown, and her fighting style is Ensei-Ken.

Lau Chan : In Virtua Fighter 4, Lau entered the tournament looking for a successor. He didn’t consider his daughter Pai, because he didn’t think she was strong enough to continue his legacy.

Jacky Bryant : Jacky fights using the incredibly versatile Jeet Kune Do style, allowing him a wide range of kicks and punches. The most important aspect of Jacky’s game is his combos, which can be utilized to repeatedly strike and inflict massive damage. He also seems to have a brash and confident attitude.

Sarah Bryant : Sarah is the sister of Jacky Bryant, and an avid practitioner of Jeet Kune Do. Sometime in her dealings with J6 corporation, she lost her memory. She enters the 3rd tournament to find and defeat her brother.

Jeffry McWild : Jeffry is an Australian that practices Pancratium, as well as having an intense liking for the sport of fishing. His bigest ambition is to catch the infamous “Satan Shark”.

Shun Di : Drinking during a fight will increase Shun Di’s fighting ability by making new and more powerful combos available.

Lion Rafale : The Rafale family is a very prominent family in France, who were known first for their lucrative success in the aircraft industry.

Kage-Maru : Kage took part in the 3rd tournament to defeat Dural and obtain new parts to help save his mother. Sadly, his mother’s condition worsened and she became Dural completely. On infiltrating the organization he found a new Dural which contained the secret to saving his mother.

Wolf Hawkfield : His VF5 story is currently unknown. However, it has been revealed that lucha libre wrestler El Blaze has some sort of connection with him.

Aoi Umenokouji : Aoi’s mastery of countering and defensive holds is clearly shown in Virtua Fighter 4, being the character with the most available in the entire game.

Lei-Fei : Lei is a monk who practices Shaolin kung-fu. He is part of an elite group of monks meant to get rid of martial art styles deemed too dangerous. Secretly he wishes to be trained by Lau Chan, the man he was sent to kill in the fourth tournament, in his unique style, Koen-Ken.

Vanessa Lewis : As an orphan, Vanessa was adopted by a special forces officer named Lewis, but Lewis died during a terrorist attack.

Brad Burns : In the kickboxing world, a new style is being created. Because of his good looks,Brad Burns has many female fans. What’s more, he likes to go out with such girls at night after his battles and present a charming personality.

Goh Hinogami : His father was a judo expert chosen to go to the Olympics, but, a jealous friend whose career aspirations were unsuccessful murdered him, and Goh became an orphan. Soon after, the Organization found him, and trained him in assassination arts.

Dural : Dural was previously a human woman. Her name was Tsukikage and she was both Kage-Maru’s mother and a Kunoichi.

New Comers : Two new characters were shown at the end of the Virtua Fighter 5 preview, immediately after the logo. The first character was a young girl who uses Monkey Kung Fu named Eileen. The second character that was shown along with the girl has been confirmed as El Blaze. He is a lucha libre wrestler and wears a mask. Blaze is a quicker fighter who uses acrobatic and gymnastic moves to fight and throw opponents; he seems to have some sort of rivalry with the existing character Wolf Hawkfield.

Feature

Players will be able to customize their characters by selecting from four uniquely patterned costumes and a wide range of attachable items that can be placed onto each fighter’s various body parts. Players will not only achieve victory by defeating highly-skilled opponents, but will also compete for prizes and earn in-game money through the match to buy many items at an in-game shop.

One thing that’s interesting is that the PS3 is undoubtedly going to be big in Japan, but in North America and Europe the Xbox 360 has a pretty sizeable head start, not to mention an installed-base advantage. Have you considered the financial benefits to bringing the game to the system (the 360) with the bigger installed-base in North America? I’ve heard that Lindbergh is closer in design to 360 due to the PC-style architecture of the systems. I don’t know if this is true or not, but I’m interested in knowing your opinion on this.

Developher : Sega
Publisher : Sega
Genre : Fighting
Platform : Arcade, PS3, Xbox360
ESRB : Teen
Release date :

Arcade
JPN July 12, 2006

PlayStation 3
JPN February 8, 2007
NA February 20, 2007
EUR March, 2007

Xbox 360
NA August, 2007
EUR August, 2007

On another note, this game was nicknamed “Goddess of War” by various game critics at E3 due to its similarities to the game “God of War“.

Graphics

Heavenly Sword employs state-of-the-art technology and gameplay to take players through a roller coaster of emotion and action that truly exploits the potential of gaming as the new artistic entertainment medium.”

Emotionally charged, stunningly beautiful and delivering unprecedented dramatic character performance, Heavenly Sword showcases the power of PLAYSTATION 3. A dramatic tale of revenge sees Nariko.

Andy Serkis, the world’s leading CG actor, famous for his roles as Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” and Kong in “King Kong”, was heavily involved in the creative process. As well as starring in Heavenly Sword as the villain, King Botan, Andy was a major contributor to the character development, writing, casting, directing and performance capture for the PLAYSTATION 3 game.

Storyline

The story builds around the ancient Heavenly Sword which once belonged to a powerful deity. It can never be wielded by a mortal without it draining their life-force, killing them within hours.

A girl named Nariko with a fiery red-haired heroine, who only have a few days left to live who embarks on one final act of redemption against a king and his invading army.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Heavenly Sword seems to resemble a martial arts game focusing on both melee and ranged weapons. The main character has one weapon that can transform into various weapons. Revealed so far are a chainlike weapon, 2 separate swords, and one big sword. Wide Range of Objects and Weaponry – Including multi-skewering spears and devastatingly explosive bazookas.

The Heavenly Sword itself can Transform into Three Distinct Stances – Players can switch between on the fly allowing players to create their own fighting styles.

The Combat Engine can Scale Up – From sophisticated one-on-one encounters to one-on-many, where enemies employ intelligent squad-based dynamics, right up to combat against battalions pushing real-time gameplay and AI to unprecedented new levels.

Physics-based Combat – Players can sweep debris against opponents, kick tables to halt an oncoming surge of fighters, smash the enemy into the scenery or throw bodies into other enemies using aftertouch controls.

The game will have reaction commands; wherein the symbol for a certain button will appear on screen, and when pushed the game will enter a controllable-cutscene where the player must push the different combination of buttons on the screen. From the demo seen, it appears to have a rotational camera angle. While using a throwing attack on an enemy, players can rotate the PS3 SIXAXIS controller to different angles: making the camera point in the direction the user wishes, though the angles will be static when entering a Q.T.E. Another notable element is that it will be possible to pick up and throw objects in the environment; the player can use the main character to pick up and throw enemies with her chain. In the demo Nariko picked up a small shield and threw it, at which point the game went into first person. From this, it appears that the player will have some control over the object in that mode.

Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Action/adventure
Rating ESRB: Rating Pending (RP)
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release date: March 6, 2007 (US), March 15, 2007 (AU), December 2007 (EU)

Devil May Cry 4 has quickly become one of the most anticipated titles for the PlayStation 3. After recovering from the revelation that a new character named Nero is replacing fan-favorite hero Dante in the starring role, gamers began speculating about what other new directions the beloved action series may take. Unfortunately, those answers aren’t coming quite yet. But from what we’ve seen of the game thus far, it is clear that “Devil May Cry 4″ will carry on the traditions of it predecessors.

A teaser trailer was shown at E³ 2005, depicting Dante traveling through snow, and then quickly performing some fast, stylish moves. The second trailer was shown at the Tokyo Game Show 2005 where it showed a more rugged and older Dante in a city-like setting performing more stylish moves at the camera while using more of the PlayStation 3’s graphical power. While both were just teasers, showing very little detail of the game itself, the Tokyo Game Show 2006 trailer, shown on September 20, 2006, displayed a more accurate reflection of what is expected to be present with the release of the final product. On September 22, 2006, the Tokyo Game Show trailer was posted on the official Devil May Cry 4 website. Until then, only off-screen, low quality versions of the trailer were available.

Devil May Cry 4 Rumours
In no particular order, here’s a compiled list of some of the more frequent rumours and gossip that have been circling around various gaming message boards:

1. Dante will return with a much more serious and darker attitude, similar to Devil May Cry2.
2. Nelo Angelo with be making an appearance.
3. Devil May Cry 4’s timeline will be set directly after the events of Devil May Cry 2.
4. There is talk of a second playable character being introduced (possibly Trish), complete with his/her own story and skills.
5. Most of the team behind Devil May Cry 2 and 3 will be developing Devil May Cry 4, along with Hiroyuki Kobayashi returning to lend a hand (co-producer behind the original Devil May Cry).

The main character.(possible to be Vergil,because when he loose the fight against mundus and appears as Nelo Angero, “Nero Angelo” meaning “Black Angel” in Italian. When he loose against Dante (dmc1) he desappear, and may be reappear as a Dante´s Original Clone but with his demon trigger exposed.The sword has to much appeareance to Nero angelo´s sword)) He is part of the Kyodan Kishi (Order of Knights) and has psychokinetic powers (described by a developer as the “Devil Bringer”) which are just awakening in the game. While Nero does resemble Dante greatly, his attire consists of blue jeans, a long blue coat, and a red vest (the TGS trailer shows Nero in a red coat like Dante’s). He also wields a revolver, named Blue Rose, (which has a distinctive under-and-over double barrel, and somewhat resembles the Demon Gun revolver that Dan Smith acquires in the Capcom game Killer 7) as opposed to pistols, and he wields a slightly more decorated, single-edged sword called the Red Queen. Nero’s right arm also seems to resemble a demon’s and glows supernaturally, and this is where his Devil Bringer power comes from. He apparently was not born with his arm like that, as evidenced by a quote used in the trailers, and on the game’s official Web site, “From that day forth … my arm changed … and a voice echoed … ‘Power … Give me more power!’” Dante’s brother Vergil was also obsessed with acquiring more power during the events of “Devil May Cry 3″. Nero hates Dante, as he killed the leader of the Order.

Devil May Cry 4 will feature more weapons, maneuvers, enemies, locations, music, and cutscenes than all the previous releases combined. DMC4 also looks to continue the series’ tradition of huge bosses, as the demo features a battle between Nero and a gigantic fire demon called Variel. The game is billed as being the longest release yet.

Also joining the cast is a new female character, Kyrie, who will seemingly serve as a love interest for Nero.

However, Nero will not be the only playable character. The Japanese magazine Famitsu Capcom Vol. 2 revealed that Dante will be playable, that he would be older in this release, and be sporting a more rugged look, indicating that the continuity likely occurs chronologically after Devil May Cry. On the official website, Dante is shown in screenshots swinging his sword and firing his twin pistols. He looks slightly older, and has stubble, in contrast to Nero who looks boyish. However, the official Web site had renders of Dante and Vergil as portrayed in Devil May Cry 3 on the main page when it first launched, implying the character Vergil may be involved in the story. Also, Dante asks for something back from Nero in the trailer, only to receive a boot in the face from Nero. One possibility is that Dante is after his keepsake amulet — which served as a MacGuffin in the third game — as he is not seen wearing it in the trailer.

Itsuno also shared some details on how the game is tapping the power of the PS3. He has said that the visuals attempt to deliver a satisfying feel of being in the air, and that Nero’s right arm actions are something that could not be done on current machines and only on the PS3. Gameplay visuals, shown at TGS 2006, demonstrate this game mechanic in action.

Given that the series has focused on Dante and Vergil up to this point, it is strange that the significance of the two brothers in “DMC 4″ is still up in the air. Thankfully, we don’t need to know exactly how Sparda’s offspring figure in to predict that “Devil May Cry” will provide its trademark mix of stylish flair and overblown action when it finally hits.

Developer : Capcom
Publisher : Capcom
Genre : Action/Adventure
Platform : PS3
Release date : 2nd Semester 2007

Metal Gear Solid 4 is officially titled Guns of the Patriots. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (commonly abbreviated to MGS4) is a stealth-based game directed by Hideo Kojima and Shuyo Murata. Guns of the Patriots is currently being developed by Kojima Productions for the PlayStation 3 video game console. The game uses the motto “no place to hide” with the theme of “senses”.

Story

The player once again takes on the form of Solid Snake and undertakes new missions, entering new chaotic situation. Buildings lie burnt and shattered. Streets are twisted and mangled. Some war ruined this place. Some war ruins it still.

Set in the year 2015, six years after the Manhattan incident (the events of Metal Gear Solid 2), MGS4 portrays a world where the restriction of military intervention on foreign soil has eased, leading to demands on mercenaries to fight proxy battles for business purposes, fueling the need for private military contractors (PMCs) and automated weapons.

However, the five largest PMCs are revealed to be owned by a single mother company, Outer Heaven (the name of Big Boss’ mercenary company and fortified nation in the original Metal Gear), operated by Liquid Ocelot. It is revealed that Outer Heaven has amassed a military equivalent in manpower to the United States’ own, and is now preparing to launch an armed insurrection. With the world once again in crisis, Solid Snake is deployed to the Middle East.

Graphic

That, however, is reality from an external perspective and does not necessarily take into account the inner aspect. In the past, buildings in games were similar to those found on movie or stage sets and were merely pictures or photographs of wall-material pasted on the surface of a polygon model.

That, however, is reality from an external perspective and does not necessarily take into account the inner aspect. In the past, buildings in games were similar to those found on movie or stage sets and were merely pictures or photographs of wall-material pasted on the surface of a polygon model. The characters created on infinitesimally thin boards were also devoid of any signs of inner flesh, blood, or heThe inner aspect is unseen and establishes its presence only through time and the will of the player. This will pave the way toward a revolutionary change that will lead us away from the past concept based on “reality” towards the “natural.”

Gameplay

Kojima has stated the main new concept for Metal Gear Solid 4 will be “No Place To Hide!”, but has also assured fans that this theme does not imply that the trademark stealth gameplay has been removed. However, Kojima has stated in Weekly Famitsu magazine that the game is no longer based around predetermined “sneaking missions”, permitting the player to choose the best method in order to traverse the environment and carry out their objectives, be it combatively or stealthily.

The defensive and stealth maneuvers Snake has at his disposal in MGS 4 also smoothly transition into offensive moves. While face-down on the ground, his chameleon ability is triggered, as shown when he takes on a shadowy hue in an alley, allowing two soldiers to pass him by. Just as they march past, he flips over onto his back, and with pistol right up against his belly, takes out both soldiers from behind. Snake also made use of a new shooting perspective reminiscent of that in Resident Evil 4, with rifle butt against his shoulder, and the camera view hovering above his shoulder. He was dressed as a local soldier with a cloak low over his head here, so we can presume he’ll don different outfits as befits the situation.

Sense

Kojima has stated that with the PlayStation 3, he will be able to focus on the things we can’t see, and to explore the senses that video games rarely tap into. For example, if a building is severely damaged, the resulting sound from a nearby explosion could cause the building to crumble and fall. Furthermore, he is planning to consult psychiatrists on how to emphasize a “mental battle” between Snake and his enemies, so that “who controls the fear can decide the outcome”. The game’s trailer hints that the tactical Metal Gears featured in the game are designed to play with Snake’s emotions: one unit paws the ground and growls like a bull while hunting for Snake, while another makes cicada noises to create a false sense of security.

Continuing with this theme, the soldiers Snake will encounter are not specifically friends or enemies at first – rather, the player’s actions towards them will influence how they respond to Snake. In an interview in Edge, Kojima stated that he plans to allow players to have a greater effect on the enemy than just fighting them, allowing alliances and aggressions to form and change between Snake and the other parties on the battlefield.

Returning elements

The game is planned to utilize a new 360-degree third-person camera system in addition to the top-down camera used in the previous three Metal Gear Solid games. An experimental version of this camera system is included in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence. The altered third-person camera also allows for a more precise first-person aiming system. The CQC system will also be reprised, allowing players to interrogate guards for information and supplies as before. Another feature that debuted in Subsistence, an online battle mode, will also be featured in Metal Gear Solid 4.

In a first for the series, the graphics will emphasize natural movement in actions such as an enemy’s discovery of Snake, thus eliminating the need of exclamation marks or question marks as indicators. However, recent interviews suggest that they may be reinstated for nostalgic reasons.

Although no Metal Gear models have been revealed as of yet, a similar concept mecha called GEKKO makes a prominent appearance. Kojima has described the machine as being equivalent to a jeep, whereas a traditional Metal Gear, with its greater lethality, would be a tank in comparison.

Developer : Kojima Production
Publisher : Konami
Genre : Espionage, Stealth
Platform : PS3
ESRB : RP (Rating Pending)
Release Date : TBA 2007

At E3 in 2006, Sony rolled with a lengthy series of brief game trailers demonstrating some of the titles currently in development for the system. One of the more highly anticipated of these was Tekken 6, first revealed for the PlayStation 3 at Sony’s press conference a year ago. The game was shown very briefly in the form of a trailer during the press conference, which was cut from a longer version shown by Namco Bandai.

The trailer seemed to blow by in less than a minute and consisted mostly of a one-on-one fight between demonically possessed karate expert Jin Kazama and Lili, a new character who’ll first be playable in Tekken: Dark Resurrection for the PSP. It was difficult to tell what was so special about the female fighter’s moves since, early on in the fight, Jin delivers a crushing punch to her abdomen. Jin’s skin showed different scars and shades, giving it a sense of realism. Sweat could be seen evaporating from Jin’s body and going down his face. At one point, when he touches his flesh, it moves along with the movement of some sweat droplets. The video portrayed a similar dynamic look that Tekken has followed over the years.

The Tekken 6 logo appears, with a PlayStation 3 logo underneath. The entire trailer is close to five minutes long, though a lot of the time is sucked up by this lengthy outro and the establishing shot. It’s an odd trailer for a fighting game, since there isn’t a whole lot of fighting in it. Though what’s there of the fighting is good stuff. We’re eagerly looking forward to seeing more of Tekken 6 in action.

Tekken 6 is the upcoming installment of Namco’s Tekken series, expected to come out sometime in 2007. While there is no official source confirmation, it is assumed this will be a sequel and not simply an upgrade as Tekken Dark Resurrection was.

Developer : Namco
Publisher : Namco
Genre : 3D Fighting
Platform : PS 3
ESRB : Mature
Releas date : TBA 2007

Gran Turismo HD

Polyphony Digital head Kazunori Yamauchi spoke about the next Gran Turismo title in the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu. There were two points of interest in the article. First, the parenthetical “working title” has been dropped from the name, implying that Gran Turismo HD is indeed the final title. Second, while Yamauchi lavished praise on the game’s high-definition graphics, he stated that the game was not the true next-gen heir to the popular racing series’ crown.

Features

It has been confirmed that Ferrari will be making their debut in the GT series. This marks the first of the “big three” (the other two being Porsche (which could replace RUF, although it can be driven with the PS2 memory card), and Lamborghini) to debut in a GT game. All have been on many fans wishlists for addition to the series. Forza Motorsport took Ferrari and Porsche. However, RUF replaced Porsche in Project Gotham Racing 3, but Lamborghini was added.

GTHD would have support free online multiplayer and a large number of online features such as online garage, head to head racing, friends list, lobby, bulletin board, spectator mode, team builder, club builder, race builder tool, photo album, etc.

Another addition to the Gran Turismo series will be included in a 2007 update for GTHD to provide car damage. This is a first in the series and is expected to be featured in GT5 by the time it launches in 2008. GTHD will also feature dynamic weather and day/night cycle.

Loading times can take advantage of PS3’s standard preinstalled HDD, effectively reducing them to about 4 or 5 seconds.

It was set to feature returning vehicles, such as, the Mazda 787B, the Toyota GT-One Race car, Audi R8, classic muscle cars from Gran Turismo 4, tuner cars, and so forth. It will feature new vehicles, such as the new Shelby cars, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, the Chevrolet Corvette C6, the Dodge Charger (LX), the Pagani Zonda Roadster, Pagani Zonda F and many, many more.

This game has been cancelled as a full game. However, it is still going to be a download concept demo. There will no longer be any online content, that will only happen in GT5. There will be 10 cars, 1 track and 2 layouts. However, it is possible that further concept demos will be released before the release of GT5 in 2008.

It will be avaliable for download from the Japanese PlayStation Store on December 24, 2006.

GTHD Premium mode

GTHD Premium is a de facto GT5 Prologue. This mode will support full HD 1080p60 graphics as well.

So far, a new track in the series has been revealed for this mode: The Eiger Nordwand. GTHD Premium will feature around 30 cars and two tracks that have been built up from scratch which will make use of PS3’s next generation gaming capabilities.

Title : Gran Turismo HD
Developer : Polyphony Digital Inc.
Publisher : SCE
Console : Playstation3
Genre : Racing
ESRB : E

PLAYSTATION 3 Computer entertainment system unleashes a brilliant, high-definition entertainment experience.

As its digital soul, the Cell Broadband Engine represents a tour de force in parallel processing, which means a gaming experience that is beyond what you know today. Its built-in Blu-ray Disc drive delivers a whole new generation in high-definition gaming and unmatched digital media storage. Whether it’s gaming, Blu-ray movies, music or online services, PLAYSTATION3 invites you to Play Beyond.

High-Definition Capabilities

Enjoy high-definition entertainment, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) means you can use your PLAYSTATION3 with High-Definition displays as well as conventional or standard TVs.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

The PLAYSTATION 3 comes with either a 20GB or 60GB removable hard disk drive (HDD).

System Interoperability

PLAYSTATION 3 and PSP (PlayStation Portable) play nice together. Easily exchange media like photos, videos and music from your PLAYSTATION3 system to your PSP system. And get ready to witness an explosion in creativity as developers take on the challenge of integrating the PSP system into PLAYSTATION3 games.

Backwards Compatibility

Sony stated every PlayStation and PlayStation 2 game that observes its respective system’s TRC (Technical Requirements Checklist) will be playable on PS3 at launch. SCE president Ken Kutaragi asked developers to adhere to the TRC to facilitate compatibility with future PlayStations, stating that the company was having some difficulty getting backward compatibility with games that had not followed the TRCs. It has been confirmed that initial PS3 units include the CPU/rasterizer combination chip used in slim PS2 (EE+GS) to achieve backward compatibility.

The PlayStation 3 does not include interfaces for legacy PlayStation devices, though IGN.com tested a legacy controller using a PS2-to-USB adapter, finding that it is compatible, though most other devices (such as the Guitar Hero controller) may not be compatible. USB devices for PlayStation 2 may be compatible with PlayStation 3. The PS3 supports both the USB Eye Toy camera/webcam and SOCOM Headset for video and voice chat. A memory card adapter is available so users can save their PS/PS2 data on to a virtual memory card in the hard drive. The PlayStation 3 can also use Memory Sticks to store save data for PlayStation and PlayStation 2 software.

At least 3% of the games from the previous generations of the PlayStation had problems at launch such as dropped audio, freezes or controller malfunction. Popular games reported to have this glitch include Final Fantasy, Tekken 5, and Gran Turismo. As of 2006-11-16, a firmware upgrade has been posted online by Sony that is intended to address some of these issues.

Cell Broadband Engine

The PLAYSTATION 3 system’s Cell Broadband Engine is the very thing that game developers have always dreamt about. Its unique multi-processing unit design represents a tour de force in parallel processing. The ability to do more of everything at the same time means more enemies, more AI, more explosions, and more realistic game play. Game play that takes into account ragdoll physics and keyframe animation, enemy AI behaving unpredictably, glass cracking based on the size of the object that impacted it, and individual flecks of dust in a beam of sunlight to create a more believable experience. The Cell Broadband Engine has the muscle and horsepower to move beyond artificial intelligence. This is the power that is the digital soul of PLAYSTATION 3.

Blu-ray Disc

Next-generation entertainment needs a next-generation format. Blu-ray Disc (BD) is that format. Just as the DVD offered a technological leap from CDs, Blu-ray Disc is the next leap forward in the advancement of data storage technology and digital entertainment.

With Blu-ray, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system offers game developers unprecedented power to express their creativity and a larger canvas to produce a level of interaction, sophistication and reality that has never existed in gaming. More than an evolution, Blu-ray is a revolution that frees developers from the constraints of storage space and allows them to dream in Blu-ray.

Playstation Network

In response to Microsoft’s successful Xbox Live network, Sony announced a unified online service for the PlayStation 3 console at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo. Sony has confirmed that the service will be always connected, free and include multiplayer support. However, developers are permitted to charge a subscription fee, as is common with MMO games.

The Xfire client can be integrated into games to provide various match-making facilities, at a cost to the publisher.

At the Tokyo Game Show on September 21, 2006 it was revealed that users will be able to download some of the thousands of PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 titles from the PlayStation Network Platform for a fee, starting with those with the smallest game data. The reason to allow this kind of functionality is that Sony wants to allow the users to choose the games of their preference. Ken Kutaragi also announced functionality with other consoles, similar to Nintendo’s upcoming Virtual Console, including confirmed Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx 16 functionality. However, Sega has replied that Sony has been too hasty with calling it a fact. Sega is currently reviewing the possibilities, but have not yet made a decision on it.

PLAYSTATION Store

Enrich your entertainment experience with free and premium exclusive content from the PLAYSTATION Store. Enjoy a rich and unique selection of downloadable games, from classics to never before seen titles designed specifically for the PLAYSTATION3 system. You can also enhance your disc-based games with game add-ons, such as new levels, maps or weapons. PS one games can be downloaded directly to your PLAYSTATION3 system and then transferred to be played on your PSP (PlayStation Portable) system.

Friends & Messaging

Use your unique Online ID to stay connected with your PLAYSTATION Network friends. Talk with others during game play, say hello anytime you’re online, or have a video chat with an Eye Toy; USB Camera and headset (each sold separately).

SIXAXIS wireless controller

The PS3 SIXAXIS is a controller that is nearly identical to that of the predecessor’s DualShock. The SIXAXIS features finer analogue sensitivity, more trigger-like R2 and L2 buttons, a PS button, and a USB mini-B port for charging the internal battery and use for wired play. The PlayStation 3 supports up to 7 simultaneous controllers over Bluetooth. The SIXAXIS is named for its ability to detect motion in the full six degrees. However, unlike the previous DualShock, the new controller has no vibration feature. The controller will retail for US$50.

The PlayStation 3 Memory Card Adaptor is a device that allows data to be transferred to and from PlayStation and PlayStation 2 memory cards and to the PlayStation 3’s hard disk. The device is a cable that connects to the PS3’s USB port on one end, and features a legacy PlayStation 2 memory card port on the other end. The adaptor will be available for purchase simultaneously with the console’s launch, at a price of JP¥1500 (including tax) in Japan, and US$14.99 in the United States.

Using Bluetooth, the PlayStation 3 BD Remote allows users to easily control videos and music on Blu-ray Disc and DVD. In Japan, the device will be available starting December 7, 2006, and will cost JP¥3,800. The device will be available in North America in December for US$24.99. However, the PS3 will accept signals only via its Bluetooth Remote and not through the standard IR spectrum, disallowing the use of universal remotes with the system. The Blu-ray Disc movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was to be included with the initial 400,000 release copies of the PS3 in North America.

Official PS3 HDMI cables will retail for US$50. No HDMI cable is included with the PS3 system.

Games

Experience high-definition gaming with PLAYSTATION 3 games!

Multimedia: Music, Photos, Internet,Videos & Movies

PLAYSTATION 3 provides an endless array of multimedia activities, all without even inserting a game.

• CPU Cell Broadband Engine GPU RSX Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM 256MB GDDR3 VRAM HDD 2.5′ Serial ATA (60GB) I/O USB 2.0 X 4
• Memory Stick/SD/CompactFlash Slots Communication Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi*
• Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
• Wireless Controller Bluetooth (up to 7) AV Output Screen size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
• HDMI**: HDMI out – (x1 / HDMI)
• Analog: AV MULTI OUT x 1
• Digital audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x 1
• Blu-ray/DVD/CD DRIVE “read only”
• Dimensions Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
• Weight Approximately 5 kg

• CPU Cell Broadband Engine™ GPU RSX Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM 256MB GDDR3 VRAM HDD 2.5′ Serial ATA (20GB) I/O USB 2.0 X 4
• Communication Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T
• Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
• Wireless Controller Bluetooth (up to 7) AV Output Screen size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
• HDMI**: HDMI out – (x1 / HDMI)
• Analog: AV MULTI OUT x 1
• Digital audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x 1
• Blu-ray/DVD/CD DRIVE “read only”
• Dimensions Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
• Weight Approximately 5 kg