Strategy Guide
Videos
Review
# Cheat mode
Pause the game, then access the cell phone. Select "Dial", then enter one of the following numbers, including the # symbol, and choose "Call". If you entered the code correctly, a message will appear. Then, go to "Cheats", and select the now unlocked option.
Result Phone number
Player Ability
Full Health #1
Car Mass (increased mass for harder collisions) #2
Milk Bones (increased melee attack damage) #3
Add Police Notoriety (+1 star to police wanted meter) #4
Player Pratfalls (press L1 or R1 to fall) #5
Infinite Sprint #6
Unlimited Clip (never reload, except for RPGs) #9
Infinite Ammo #11
Heaven Bound (killed bodies float upward) #12
Add Gang Notoriety (+1 gang attack level) #35
Never Die #36
No Cop Notoriety #50
No Gang Notoriety #51
I Am Giant (become very tall) #200
Itty Bitty (become very short) #201
Give Cash (gain $1,000) #2274666399
Vehicles
Repair Car (fixes car, boat, and helicopter damage) #1056
Ambulance #1040
Anchor #1041
Atlasbreaker #1042
Attrazione #1043
Backdraft #1044
Backhoe #1045
Bag Boy #1046
Baron #1047
Bear #1048
Bootlegger #1049
Bulldog #1050
Bulldozer #1051
Compton #1052
Eiswolf #1053
FBI #1054
Five0 #1055
Hollywood #1057
Justice #1058
Kent #1059
Mag #1060
Mixmaster #1061
Mongoose #1062
Oring #1063
Phoenix #1064
Quasar #1065
Quota #1066
Rampage #1067
Raycaster #1068
Reaper #1069
Septic Avenger #1070
Shaft #1071
Stilwater Municipal #1072
Superiore #1073
Taxi #1074
The Job #1075
Titan #1076
Toad #1077
Varsity #1078
Venom Classic #1079
Vortex #1080
Zenith #1081
Horizon (commerical helicopter) #711
Snipes57 (executive private jet) #712
Tornado (police helicopter with minigun and anti-tank missiles; can lock onto other vehicles or be manually aimed) #713
Wolverine (P-51 Mustang-style airplane with machine gun) #714
Kaneda (custom street racing motorcycle) #801
Kenshin (street racing motorcycle) #802
Melbourne (Harley-style motorcycle) #803
Sabretooth (custom Harley-style motorcycle) #804
Sandstorm (dirtbike) #805
Widowmaker (moped) #806
Hurricane (speedboat) #825
Miami #826
Python #827
Shark (personal watercraft) #828
Skipper (yacht) #829
Retailer Promotion Vehicles
Gyro Daddy helicopter (two person mini-helicopter) #4976
D-Stroy UFO (two person flying saucer) #728237
Peewee mini-bike (very small mini-bike) #7266837
Weapons
12 Gauge #920
44 Shepherd #921
AR200 (SAW-type machine gun) #922
AR50 (X8-type assault rifle) #923
AR50 Launcher (X8-type assualt rifle with grenade launcher) #924
AS14 (fully automatic shotgun) #925
Baseball Bat #926
Chainsaw #927
Fire Extinguisher #928
Flamethrower #929
Flashbang #930
GAL43 (Uzi-like sub-machine gun) #931
GDHC #932
Grenade #933
Holt 55 (fully automatic pistol) #934
K6 Krukov #935
Knife #936
Machete #937
McManus2010 #938
Minigun #939
Molotov #940
Nightstick #941
NR4 #942
Pepper Spray #943
Pimp Cane (shotgun) #944
Pipe Bomb #945
RPG #946
RPG Annihilator (manual or lock-on guided RPG) #947
Samurai Sword #948
Satchel #949
Shock Paddles (bring dead people back to life) #950
SKR-9 #951
Sledgehammer #952
Stungun (semi-automatic Taser-style weapon; can kill if used repeatedly) #953
T3K Urban #954
Tire Iron #955
Tombstone #956
Vice 9 #957
XS-2 (fully automatic shotgun) #958
Pimp Slap (big foam middle finger) #969
Weather
Wrath of God (thunderstorm with random lightning strikes) #666
Overcast #78665
Heavy Rain #78666
Light Rain #78668
Clear Skies #78669
Normal Weather #78670
World
Super Explosions #7
Super Saints (almost invincibile Homies and Saints with better weapons) #8
Drunk Pedestrians #15
Evil Cars (drivers try to run you down) #16
Low Gravity (cannot be used with helicopters; use in Insurance Fraud mode to glide) #18
Pedestrian War (pedestrians and drivers fight each other) #19
Raining Pedestrians (people spawn and fall from sky but die on the ground) #20
Everybody Must Get Shrunk (everyone is very short) #202
Time Set Noon (hour set to 12 p.m. with minutes unchanged) #1200
Time Set Midnight (hour set to 12 a.m. with minutes unchanged) #2400
# Service phone numbers
Pause the game, then access the cell phone. Select "Dial", then enter one of the following numbers, and choose "Call" to call the corresponding service:
Service Phone number
Airport 5553597
Big Willy's Cab 8198415
Bling Bling 5554233
Brown Baggers 5553765
Cocks 5552626
Company of Gyros 5554976
Cycles 5552453
EagleLine Yellow 0180174
Emergency 911
Eye for an Eye (Zombie Carlos) 5555966
Foreign Power 5552046
Forgive and Forget 5554448
Freckle Bitch's 5556328
Friendly Fire 5554867
Fire Department 5553473
Giftshop 5557577
HazMat 5556677
Image as Designed 5558459
Impression 5553248
Leather and Lace 5552662
Legal Lee's 5559467
On The Rag 5555926
On Thin Ice 5552564
Police 5557973
Pimps 'R Us 5557467
Rim Jobs 5553493
Rusty's Needle 5558287
Ship It 5557447
Spelunkers 5552283
Suicide Hotline 4876837
Tee'N'Ay 5559866
TNA Taxis 4558008
Ultor Security 411
# Infinite respect
Successfully complete enough activities to raise your respect over level 99.
# Infinite rockets (Corporate Warfare DLC)
Successfully complete Ultor Family Fun Day to get unlimited rockets.
# Unlockables
Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding reward:
Abilities
Brotherhood notoriety reduced (5%): Successfully complete Trail Blazing, Level 3 in Apartments.
Brotherhood notoriety reduced (15%): Successfully complete Trail Blazing, Level 6 in Apartments.
Health regeneration 2x: Successfully complete Snatch, Level 3 in Chinatown.
Health regeneration 3x: Successfully complete Snatch, Level 6 in Chinatown.
Improved weapon accuracy (5%): Successfully complete Septic Avenger, Level 3 in Suburbs.
Improved weapon accuracy (15%): Successfully complete Septic Avenger, Level 6 in Suburbs.
No fall damage: Land a perfect base jump.
Police notoriety reduced (5%): Successfully complete Fuzz, Level 3 in Suburbs.
Police notoriety reduced (15%): Successfully complete Fuzz, Level 6 in Suburbs.
Pumped up (increased melee damage): Successfully complete Fight Club, Level 3 in Arena.
Pumped up (more increased melee damage): Successfully complete Fight Club, Level 6 in Arena.
Reduced bullet damage (5%): Successfully complete Heli Assault, Level 3 in Bario.
Reduced bullet damage (15%): Successfully complete Heli Assault, Level 6 in Bario.
Reduced explosion damage (5%): Successfully complete Trail Blazing, Level 3 in Downtown.
Reduced explosion damage (15%): Successfully complete Trail Blazing, Level 6 in Downtown.
Reduced vehicle damage (5%): Successfully complete Insurance Fraud, Level 3 in Museum.
Reduced vehicle damage (15%): Successfully complete Insurance Fraud, Level 6 in Museum.
Ronin notoriety reduced (5%): Successfully complete Drug Trafficking, Level 3 in Hotel and Marina.
Ronin notoriety reduced (15%): Successfully complete Drug Trafficking, Level 6 in Hotel and Marina.
Sons Of Samedi notoriety reduced (5%): Successfully complete Snatch, Level 3 in University.
Sons Of Samedi notoriety reduced (15%): Successfully complete Snatch, Level 6 in University.
Sprint increased: Successfully complete Insurance Fraud, Level 3 in Factories.
Sprint increased (unlimited): Successfully complete Insurance Fraud, Level 6 in Factories.
Customization Items
Avenger jacket: Get a "3 Gold Star" rank in Gang Kills.
Bodyguards gang style: Progress through the game.
Brotherhood personality: Successfully complete Brotherhood, Mission 11.
Chop shop: Successfully complete one Chop Shop list.
Cowboy Hat: Successfully complete all races in Stilwater.
Fireman outfit: Successfully complete the Firefighter missions.
Free Music track: Collect 10 CDs.
Free Music track: Collect 20 CDs.
Free Music track: Collect 30 CDs.
Free Music track: Collect 40 CDs.
Free Music track: Collect all 50 CDs.
Ninjas gang style: Progress through the game.
Paintball mask: Perform 30 muggings.
Pimp suit: Successfully complete Ho-ing, Level 10 in Red Light District.
Red Light apartment crib: Successfully complete Prologue, Mission 2.
Ronin personality: Successfully complete Ronin, Mission 11.
Saints hideout: Successfully complete Prologue, Mission 3.
Samedi personality: Successfully complete Sons Of Samedi, Mission 11.
Traffic cone hat: Get a "3 Gold Star" rank in Vehicle Surfing.
Zombie mask: Successfully complete Zombie Uprising.
Fighting Styles
Brotherhood melee: Successfully complete Brotherhood, Mission 6.
Ronin melee: Successfully complete Ronin, Mission 6.
Samedi melee: Successfully complete Sons Of Samedi, Mission 6.
Homies
One follower: Successfully complete Prologue, Mission 4.
Two followers: Reach 25% hoods conquered.
Three followers: Reach 50% hoods conquered.
Jane Valderama: Perform 50 muggings.
Johnny Gat: Successfully complete Ronin, Mission 11.
Legal Lee: Successfully complete Fight Club, Level 3 in Prison.
Pierce: Successfully complete Brotherhood, Mission 11.
Shaundi: Successfully complete Sons Of Samedi, Mission 11.
Tobias: Successfully complete Sons Of Samedi, Mission 3.
Troy: Successfully complete Fight Club, Level 6 in Prison.
Vehicle delivery for $1,000: Successfully complete Escort, Level 3 in Red Light District.
Vehicle delivery for free: Successfully complete Escort, Level 6 in Red Light District.
Zombie Carlos: Successfully complete all Brotherhood missions, then call Eye For An Eye.
Store Discounts
Clothing store (5%): Successfully complete Crowd Control, Level 3 in Suburbs.
Clothing store (15%): Successfully complete Crowd Control, Level 6 in Suburbs.
Crib customization (5%): Successfully complete Mayhem, Level 3 in Red Light District.
Crib customization (15%): Successfully complete Mayhem, Level 6 in Red Light District.
Food and Liquor store (5%): Successfully complete Septic Avenger, Level 3 in Red Light District.
Food and Liquor store (15%): Successfully complete Septic Avenger, Level 6 in Red Light District.
Food and Liquor store (100%): Perform 20 store hold-ups.
Mechanic (5%): Successfully complete Demo Derby, Level 3.
Mechanic (15%): Successfully complete Demo Derby, Level 6.
Mechanic (75%): Successfully complete all five Chop Shop lists.
Scratch That music store (free): Collect all 50 CDs.
Weapon store (5%): Successfully complete Heli Assault, Level 3 in Trailer Park.
Weapon store (15%): Successfully complete Heli Assault, Level 6 in Trailer Park.
Vehicles
Note: The vehicles will be delivered to their corresponding garages when they are unlocked. You cannot modify any special or pre-customized vehicles. There is also a storage limit for garages that may prevent unlocked vehicles from appearing there.
Akuji's prototype bike: Successfully complete Ronin, Mission 11.
Attack helicopter: Successfully complete Epilogue, Mission 4.
Bandit: Successfully complete 15 stunt jumps.
Brotherhood vehicles: Successfully complete Brotherhood, Mission 11.
Buggy: Successfully complete one Chop Shop list.
Demolition derby vehicles: Successfully complete Demolition Derby, Level 6 in University.
Donnie's vehicle: Successfully complete Brotherhood, Mission 2.
Escort vehicles: Successfully complete both Escort instances.
Gang customization cars: Reach 15% hoods conquered.
Gang customization cars (more): Reach 45% hoods conquered.
Gang customization cars (even more): Reach 65% hoods conquered.
Julius' car: Successfully complete Bonus Mission 1.
Maero's Monster Truck: Successfully complete Brotherhood, Mission 11.
Medical helicopter: Successfully complete Ronin, Mission 7.
News helicopter: Successfully complete Sons Of Samedi, Mission 3.
Race bike: Successfully complete all bike races in Stilwater.
Race boat: Successfully complete all boat races in Stilwater.
Race car: Successfully complete all car races in Stilwater.
Race helicopter: Successfully complete all helicopter races in Stilwater.
Race plane: Successfully complete all plane races in Stilwater.
Ronin vehicles: Successfully complete Ronin, Mission 11.
Saints ambulance: Successfully complete all Ambulance missions.
Saints fire truck: Successfully complete all Firefighter missions.
Saints plane: Successfully complete all plane events.
Saints Toad ATV: Successfully complete ten hostage missions.
Saints tow truck: Successfully complete all Tow Truck missions.
Saints yacht: Successfully complete all boat events.
Septic truck: Successfully complete both Septic Avenger instances.
Sons Of Samedi vehicles: Successfully complete Sons of Samedi, Mission 11.
Special Bezier: Successfully complete all bike, boat, car, helicopter, and plane races in Stilwater.
Special Combine: Successfully complete two Chop Shop lists.
Super Taxi: Successfully complete all taxi missions.
The Duke's Bootlegger: Successfully complete all 80 stunt jumps.
The General's Bulldog (Hummer with infinite chaingun ammo): Successfully complete Sons of Samedi, Mission 11.
Tornado attack helicopter: Successfully complete the final mission of the Ultor epilogue.
Ultor APC: Successfully complete Epilogue, Mission 2.
Weapons
Note: The weapons will appear in your weapons cache. To get infinite ammunition, pick up, unlock, or buy a weapon once. The weapon must be in the cache to get unlimited ammunition. Toggle to it when entering the cache.
Annihilator RPG: Successfully complete Mayhem, Level 6 in Nuclear Power Plant.
AR-50 XMAC Special (with grenade launcher): Successfully complete all Combat Tricks.
Chainsaw: Successfully complete Crowd Control, Level 6 in Hotel and Marina.
Defibrillator: Successfully complete all Ambulance missions.
Flamethrower: Successfully complete Mayhem, Level 3 in Nuclear Power Plant.
GAL 43: Successfully complete Snatch, Level 3 in Downtown.
Grenades at crib: Successfully complete one Hitman list.
Kobra pistol: Successfully complete Fuzz, Level 3 in Projects.
Minigun: Successfully complete Brotherhood, Mission 10.
Pepper spray: Successfully complete Crowd Control, Level 3 in Hotel and Marina.
Pimpcane: Successfully complete Epilogue, Mission 2.
Satchel Charges at crib: Successfully complete three Hitman lists.
X2 Ultimax shotgun: Successfully complete Drug Trafficking, Level 3 in Airport.
Infinite pistol ammo: Successfully complete Fuzz, Level 6 in Projects.
Infinite rifle ammo: Successfully complete all Hitman lists.
Infinite shotgun ammo: Successfully complete Drug Trafficking, Level 6 in Airport.
Infinite SMG ammo: Successfully complete Snatch, Level 6 in Downtown.
# Secret islands
Fly far off the west coast of the prison to find five secret islands. Their names are "Bone", "Lookout", "Ruins", "Ship Wreck", and "Super Secret".
# Hidden Easter Bunny
Follow the arrows that start on Ruins Island. Ruins Island is close to Super Secret Island, with the Volution Easter Egg on it. Ruins Island has an arrow that points to Lookout Island, then to a small unnamed island, then to another small island with an "X" on it. Get on it, and you will be teleported to a ring of arrows pointing to a floating Easter Bunny.
# Easy money
Find and store a few armored trucks in your garage. When they are destroyed, they will respawn in your garage again. Blow a truck up, and you should get a decent amount of money. After collecting the money, go back to your garage, and get the truck again. It may cost $600 for repairs, but you should get at least $1,000 for destroying one.
# Easy Snatch activities
Use a Bear (the Police APC) to easily complete Snatch activities. It is virtually impossible to stop once moving because it is nearly invulnerable. It can drive over smaller cars and pickups, the chaingun has infinite ammunition. It holds three passengers.
# Easy kills in Zombie Uprising
Use the flaming zombies as a weapon. When they come after you, let them follow you. Run into big crowds of zombies so the flaming zombies set the other zombies on fire, which will then count as kills for you. Also, use headshots for the small zombies.
# Entering vehicles faster
Stand on top of a vehicle and press Triangle. You will instantly be in the car.
# Drive on walls
Use any motorcycle (Prototype recommended), and drive at a wall. At the correct moment, do a wheelie, and when both of the tires are on the wall, hold Up and hit the gas.
# Taser execution
When you take a human shield, switch to your Taser and press L2. This will save some ammunition.
# Blow-up doll
Go north from the lighthouse on the prison island. You will reach a large sewer pipe that has graffiti on the sides. Go into the pipe to find a blow-up doll on a very dirty mattress. Note: It will disappear after awhile.
# Fishing
While on a dock, allow your character to remain idle for a short amount of time. He should walk up to the edge, take out a fishing rod, and begin to fish. He will continue to do so until you move him again.
# Working out
While in the prison yard, allow your character to remain idle for a short amount of time. He should walk over to a location and start curling a pair of dumbbells. He will continue to do so until you move him again.
# Have homies follow you in a different car
Get three homies, then find a car that only holds two people. Get in the car, and one of the homies will get in with you. If you wait, your other two homies will find a car and follow you. Note: This also works with motorcycles.
# Defeating Akuji
To kill Akuji in the teahouse, use L2 to counter his attacks. It does damage and knocks him down. When he is down, stab him twice quickly before he gets up. Repeat this until he has been killed.
# Defeating Maero
To defeat Maero the first time on top of his hideout, hit him once with an RPG. When scoring a direct hit, he will go on one knee and stay down. You can then shoot him until he is defeated. If he gets up, just shoot him again. To finish off Maero in the arena, use some of the rockets to blow up all the trucks except for his. Use extra rifle ammunition to shoot his Monster Truck.
# Defeating Mr. Sunshine
To kill Mr. Sunshine in the factory, use a rocket on his voodoo doll to knock him down and cause damage. Hit the doll once to break his shield. You can then shoot him until he reaches the bottom floor. Note: If he completes his ritual with the voodoo doll, it will send you flying and inflict lots of damage.
# Defeating The General
To kill The General in the mall, use the saved rockets to blow up his armored Bulldog, then shoot him with any gun until he dies. Note: Do this quickly before he runs away.
# Defeating Veteran Child
To kill Veteran Child in his club, bring lots of ammunition. Use the stun grenades located around the pillars to separate him and Shaundi, then just run up and shoot him. Repeat this until he is dead.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"PS3" redirects here. For other uses, see PS3 (disambiguation).
  | |
|---|---|
 (Counter-clockwise from top) Original logo, new logo, original model, controller, newer slim model design. | |
| Manufacturer | Sony EMCS, Foxconn, ASUSTeK for SCEI[1] |
| Product family | PlayStation |
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Seventh generation era |
| Retail availability | November 11, 2006 |
| Units sold | 24.6 million (as of August 5, 2009)[2] (see below) |
| Media | Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD (all models) Super Audio CD (1st & 2nd generations only), Digital distribution |
| Operating system | XrossMediaBar system software version 3.01[3] |
| CPU | 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine with 1 PPE & 7 SPEs |
| Storage capacity | 2.5" SATA hard drive (20 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB, 120 GB, 160 GB, or 250 GB included) (upgradeable) |
| Graphics | 550 MHz NVIDIA/SCEI RSX 'Reality Synthesizer' |
| Controller input | Sixaxis, DualShock 3 |
| Connectivity | |
| Online services | PlayStation Network |
| Backward compatibility | PlayStation (all models) PlayStation 2 (20 GB, 60 GB, and CECHExx 80 GB models) |
| Predecessor | PlayStation 2 |
The PlayStation 3 (officially abbreviated as PS3[4]) is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.
A major feature that distinguishes the PlayStation 3 from its predecessors is its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network,[5] which contrasts with Sony's former policy of relying on video game developers for online play.[6] Other major features of the console include its robust multimedia capabilities,[7] connectivity with the PlayStation Portable,[8] and its use of a high-definition optical disc format, Blu-ray Disc, as its primary storage medium.[9] The PS3 was also the first Blu-ray 2.0-compliant Blu-ray player on the market.[10]
The PlayStation 3 was first released on November 11, 2006 in Japan,[11] November 17, 2006 in North America and South America,[12] and March 23, 2007 in Europe and Oceania.[13][14] Two SKUs were available at launch: a basic model with a 20 GB hard drive (HDD), and a premium model with a 60 GB hard drive and several additional features[15] (the 20 GB model was not released in Europe or Oceania).[16] Since then, several revisions have been made to the console's available models, most notably with the release of a new slim model in September 2009.[17][18]
Contents[hide] |
History
Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation 3 (then marketed as PLAYSTATION 3[19])to the public on May 16, 2005, during the E3 2005 conference.[20] A functional version of the system was not present there,[21] nor at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005,[22] although demonstrations (such as Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[21]) were held at both events on devkits and comparable PC hardware.[21][22] Video footage based on the predicted PlayStation 3 specifications was also shown (notably a Final Fantasy VII tech demo).[23] The initial prototype shown in May 2005 featured two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and six USB ports;[24] however, when the system was shown again a year later at E3 2006, these were reduced to one HDMI port, one ethernet port and four USB ports, presumably to cut costs.[15][25] Two hardware configurations were also announced for the console: a 20 GB model and a 60 GB model, priced at $499 (€499) and $599 (€599), respectively.[15] The 60 GB model would be the only configuration to feature an HDMI port, Wi-Fi internet, flash card readers and a chrome trim with the logo in silver.[15] Both models were announced for a simultaneous worldwide release: November 11 for Japan, and November 17 for North America and Europe.[26]
On September 6, 2006, Sony announced that the PAL region (Europe and Oceania) PlayStation 3 launch would be delayed until March 2007, due to a shortage of materials used in the Blu-ray Disc drive.[27]
At the Tokyo Game Show on September 22, 2006, Sony announced that it would include an HDMI port on the 20 GB system, but a chrome trim, flash card readers, silver logo, and Wi-Fi would not be included.[28] Also, the launch price of the Japanese 20 GB model was reduced by over 20%,[29] and the 60 GB model was announced for an open pricing scheme in Japan.[29] During the event, Sony showed 27 playable PS3 games running on final hardware.[30]
Launch
Main article: PlayStation 3 launch
The PlayStation 3 was first released in Japan on November 11, 2006 at 07:00.[11] According to Media Create, 81,639 PS3 systems were sold within 24 hours of its introduction in Japan.[31]
Soon after its release in Japan, the PS3 was released in North America on November 17, 2006.[12] Reports of violence surrounding the release of the PS3 include a customer shot,[32] campers robbed at gunpoint,[33] customers shot in a drive-by shooting with BB guns,[34] and 60 campers fighting over 10 systems.[35]
The console was originally planned for a global release through November, but the European and rest-of-the-world's release was delayed "until March" at the start of September.[36] With it being a somewhat last-minute delay, some companies had taken deposit-based pre-orders, to which Sony informed customers that they were eligible for full refunds or could continue the pre-order.[37] On January 24, 2007, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 would go on sale on March 23, 2007 in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand.[13][14] The system sold about 600,000 units in its first two days.[38] On March 7, 2007, the 60 GB PlayStation 3 launched in Singapore with a price of S$799.[39] The console was launched in South Korea on June 16, 2007 in a single version equipped with an 80 GB hard drive and IPTV.[40]
Reception
Early PlayStation 3 reviews soon after launch were critical of its high price and lack of quality launch games, but commended the system's hardware capabilities and potential.[41][42] However, after a series of price revisions, Blu-ray's victory over HD DVD,[43] and the release of several well received titles, the system received better reviews. IGN judged the PlayStation 3 to have the best game line-up of 2008, based on their review scores in comparison to those of the Wii and Xbox 360.[44]
The PS3 was given the number-eight spot on PC World magazine’s list of "The Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006," where it was criticized for being "Late, Expensive, and Incompatible".[45] GamesRadar ranked the PS3 as the top item in a feature on game-related PR disasters, asking how Sony managed to "take one of the most anticipated game systems of all time and — within the space of a year — turn it into a hate object reviled by the entire internet", but added that despite its problems the system has "untapped potential".[46] Business Week summed up the general opinion by stating that it was "more impressed with what [the PlayStation 3] could do than with what it currently does".[47]
Developers have also found the machine difficult to program for. In 2007, Gabe Newell of Valve said "The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think it's really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted". He continued "I'd say, even at this late date, they should just cancel it and do a do over. Just say, 'This was a horrible disaster and we're sorry and we're going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it'".[48] Doug Lombardi VP of Marketing for Valve has since stated that they are interested in developing for the console and are looking to hire talented PS3 programmers for future projects.[49] However he stated, "Until we have the ability to get a PS3 team together, until we find the people who want to come to Valve or who are at Valve who want to work on that, I don't really see us moving to that platform".[50]
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has criticised the PS3’s high development costs and inferior attach rate and return to that of the Xbox 360 and Wii. He believes these factors are pushing developers away from working on the console. In an interview with The Times[51] Kotick stated "I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform". He continued, "It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation". Kotick also claimed that Activision Blizzard may stop supporting the system if the situation is not addressed. “[Sony has] to cut the [PS3’s retail] price, because if they don't, the attach rates are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony.”[52] However, this has gotten Kotick some heavy criticism about the validity of the statement and whether such a statement, or such a move, would even be appropriate, with Bioware even calling the statement "silly".[53]
Despite the initial negative press, several websites have given the system very good reviews. CNET United Kingdom praised the system saying, "the PS3 is a versatile and impressive piece of home-entertainment equipment that lives up to the hype [...] the PS3 is well worth its hefty price tag".[54] CNET awarded it a score of 8.8 out of 10 and voted it as its number one "must-have" gadget,[55] praising its robust graphical capabilities and stylish exterior design while criticizing its limited selection of available games.[56]
In addition, both Home Theater Magazine and Ultimate AV have given the system's Blu-ray playback very favorable reviews, stating that the quality of playback exceeds that of many current standalone Blu-ray players.[57][58]
Hexus Gaming reviewed the PAL version and summed the review up by saying, "as the PlayStation 3 matures and developers start really pushing it, we’ll see the PlayStation 3 emerge as the console of choice for gaming".[59] At GDC 2007, Shiny Entertainment founder Dave Perry stated, "I think that Sony has made the best machine. It's the best piece of hardware, without question".[60] A second review of the PS3 by Ars Technica in June 2008 gave the console an overall mark of 9/10, while the original launch review marked only 6/10.[61]
Slim model and rebrand
The PlayStation 3 Slim has received extremely positive reviews as well as a boost in sales, less than 24 hours after its announcement the PS3 Slim took the number-one bestseller spot on Amazon.com in the video games section for fifteen consecutive days before regaining the position again one day later.[62] The PS3 Slim also received praise from PC World giving it a 90 out of a 100 praising its new repackaging and the new value it brings at a lower price as well as praising its quietness and the reduction in its power consumption. This is in stark contrast to the original PS3's launch in which it was given position number-eight on their "The Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006" list.[63] CNET awarded the PS3 Slim four out of five stars praising its Blu-Ray capabilities, 120GB hard drive, free online gaming service and more affordable pricing point, but complained about the lack of backwards compatibility for PlayStation 2 games.[64] TechRadar gave the PS3 Slim four and a half star out of five praising its new smaller size and summed up its review stating, "Over all, the PS3 Slim is a phenomenal piece of kit. It's amazing that something so small can do so much", however they criticized the exterior design of the PS3 Slim as being "ugly", however it wasn't criticized as ugly to the same degree as the original system's design.[65]
As part of the release for the slim model, the logo was changed from the "Spider-Man font" PLAYSTATION 3 to the more traditional PlayStation 3 with "PS3" on the console [66]. Along with the console and logo redesign, the boot screen of all consoles changed from saying "Sony Computer Entertainment" to "PS3 PlayStation 3", with a new chime and the game start splashscreen being dropped [67]. The packaging of games has also been changed to reflect the new consoles logos and image. The Eyepet boxart shown to the right has been made with the old design, and the PES2010 with the new design.
Hardware
System Unit
Main article: PlayStation 3 hardware
The PlayStation 3 is convex on its left side, with the PlayStation logo upright, when vertical (the top side is convex when horizontal), and has a glossy black finish.[68] PlayStation designer Teiyu Goto stated that the Spider-Man font-inspired logo "was one of the first elements SCEI president Ken Kutaragi decided on and the logo may have been the motivating force behind the shape of PS3".[69]
The PlayStation 3 features a slot-loading 2x speed Blu-ray Disc drive for games, Blu-ray movies, DVDs, CDs, and other optical media.[70] It was originally available with hard drives of 20 and 60 GB (only the 60 GB model was available in PAL regions).[16][71] An 80 GB model has since been introduced in NTSC regions,[72] and a 40 GB model has been introduced in all regions.[73][74] All PS3 models have user-upgradeable 2.5" SATA hard drives.[75]
The PlayStation 3 uses the Sony, Toshiba, IBM-designed Cell microprocessor as its CPU, which is made up of one 3.2 GHz PowerPC-based "Power Processing Element" (PPE) and eight Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs).[76] The eighth SPE is disabled to improve chip yields.[77][78] Only six of the seven SPEs are accessible to developers as the seventh SPE is reserved by the console's operating system.[78] Graphics processing is handled by the NVIDIA RSX 'Reality Synthesizer', which can output resolutions from 480i/576i SD up to 1080p HD.[70] The PlayStation 3 has 256 MB of XDR main memory and 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory for the RSX.[79]
The system has Bluetooth 2.0, gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 and HDMI 1.3a built in on all currently shipping models.[70] Wi-Fi networking is also built-in on the 40, 60 and 80 GB models while a flash card reader (compatible with Memory Stick, SD/MMC, and CompactFlash/Microdrive media) is built-in on 60 GB and CECHExx 80 GB models.[70][79] The system supports up to 7 controllers that are connected via Bluetooth 2.0 technology.[80]
The PS3's hardware has also been used to build supercomputers for high-performance computing.[81] Terra Soft Solutions has a version of Yellow Dog Linux for the PlayStation 3,[82] and sells PS3s with Linux pre-installed,[83] in single units, and 6 and 32 node clusters.[84] In addition, RapidMind is pushing their stream programming package for the PS3.[85] Also, on January 3, 2007, Dr. Frank Mueller, Associate Professor of Computer science at NCSU, clustered 8 PS3s. Mueller commented that the 256 MB of system RAM is a limitation for this particular application, and is considering attempting to retrofit more RAM. Software includes: Fedora Core 5 Linux ppc64, MPICH2, OpenMP v 2.5, GNU Compiler Collection and CellSDK 1.1.[86][87][88]
On March 22, 2007, SCE and Stanford University released the Folding@home project for the PlayStation 3.[89] This program allows PS3 owners to lend the computing power of their consoles to help study the physical process of protein folding.
Original model
There are five PlayStation 3 hardware models, which are commonly referred to by the size of their included hard disk drive: "20", "40", "60", "80" and "160" GB.[15][90] The only difference in the appearance of the first five models was the color of the trim and number of USB ports. All retail packages include one or two Sixaxis controllers and/or a DualShock 3 controller (beginning June 12, 2008[91][92]), one miniUSB to USB cable (for connecting the controller to the system), one composite video/stereo audio output cable, one ethernet cable (20, 60, and CECHExx 80 GB only) and one power cable.[90][93][94] All models support software emulation of the original PlayStation,[95][96] but support for PlayStation 2 backwards compatibility has continually diminished with later models.[97] Compatibility issues with games for both systems are detailed in a public database hosted by the manufacturer.[98] All models, excluding the 20GB model, include 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi. In addition to all of the features of the 20 GB model, the 60 GB model has internal IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, multiple flash card readers (SD/MultiMedia Card, CompactFlash Type I/Type II, Microdrive,[99] Memory Stick/PRO/Duo), and a chrome colored trim.[100] In terms of hardware, the 80 GB model released in South Korea is identical to the 60 GB model released in the PAL regions, except for the difference in hard drive size.[101]
Like the South Korean and European models, the North American 80 GB (2007) model also excludes the PlayStation 2 "Emotion Engine" CPU chip.[97] However, it still keeps the "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU.[102] Due to the elimination of the "Emotion Engine", the level of compatibility was reduced.[97] The 40 GB, 80 GB (2008), and 160 GB models have two USB ports instead of the four USB ports on other models, and do not include multiple flash card readers, SACD support [103], or any backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 games.[17][97] This was due to the removal of "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU, which stripped the units of all PlayStation 2 based hardware.[104][105]
No official Wi-Fi or flash memory card readers have yet been released by Sony for the 20 GB system, although plans for such add-ons are in place.[106] As of September 2009 Sony have placed no further emphasis on these proposed add-ons.[citation needed] Nevertheless, as the model features four USB 2.0 ports, wireless networking and flash memory card support can already be obtained through the use of widely available external USB adapters.[97]
It was rumored that the Cell processors in the third-generation PS3s (40 GB) would move from a 90 nm process to the newer 65 nm process,[107] which SCEI CEO Kaz Hirai later confirmed,[108] and later to 45 nm. This change lowers the power consumption of the console and makes it less expensive to produce.[109]
Slim model
Following speculation that a 'slim' model was in the pipeline Sony officially announced the PS3 CECH-2000 on August 18, 2009 at the Sony Gamescom press conference.[18][110] The PS3 slim (officially called the PS3 CECH-2000) features an upgradeable 120GB hard drive and is 33% smaller, 36% lighter, and consumes 34% less power than previous models.[18][111][112] The cooling system has been redesigned and Cell processor has moved to a 45nm manufacturing process.[113] It sold in excess of a million units in its first 3 weeks on sale.[114]
The PS3 slim also includes support for CEC (more commonly referred to by its manufacturer brandings of BraviaSync, VIERA Link, EasyLink and others) which allows control of the console over HDMI. The PS3 slim also runs quieter and cooler than previous models due to its 45 nm Cell. The PS3 Slim no longer has the ability to install third party operating systems such as Linux.[18][111] The PS3 slim was officially released on September 1, 2009 in North America and Europe and on September 3, 2009 in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.[18][111][115][116] However, some retailers such as Amazon.com, Best Buy, and GameStop started to sell the PS3 slim on August 25, 2009.[117][118] A 250GB Final Fantasy XIII-themed PS3 Slim which was white in color with pink designs, was officially announced on September 24, 2009 at the Tokyo Game Show as part of a bundle in Japan for Final Fantasy XIII, it was initially revealed in FCC filings as the PS3 CECH-2000B.[119][120] Sony Computer Entertainment Australia also announced later that day that it would be bringing the 250GB PS3 slim to Australia which would be bundled with other games and will not feature the Final Fantasy XIII theme. However, no American bundles has been announced for the 250GB PS3 slim, though it will be sold as a stand-alone console.[121]
Model comparison
For more details on this topic, see Timeline of PlayStation 3 SKUs.
Generation  | Model | Available colors | First available | In production | Other features/information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 4 USB ports, Hardware-based PS2 emulation, SACD playback, Third-party OS install | 20 GB CECHBxx NTSC[100] |
| November 2006 | No [122] |
|
| 60 GB CECHAxx NTSC[100] |
| November 2006 | No |
| |
| 2nd 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Flash memory readers, 4 USB ports, Partially software-based PS2 emulation,[123] SACD playback, Third-party OS install, DualShock 3 controller (80GB MGS4 bundles only) | 60 GB CECHCxx PAL[100] |
| March 2007 | No | |
| 80 GB CECHExx NTSC[100] |
| August 2007 | No |
| |
| 3rd 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports, No PS2 emulation, no SACD support, Third-party OS install | 40 GB CECHGxx, CECHHxx, CECHJxx PAL, NTSC[104] | (all have satin silver trim) | October 2007 EU AU November 2007 NA JP | No [126] | |
| 80 GB CECHKxx, CECHLxx PAL, NTSC[105][126] |
(all have satin silver trim) | August 2008 NA EU AU October 2008 JP | No |
| |
| 160 GB CECHPxx PAL, NTSC[127][128] |
| October 2008 EU November 2008 NA | No |
| |
| 4th 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports, No PS2 emulation, no SACD support, Bravia Sync XMB control, slim form factor | 120 GB slim CECH-20xxA PAL, NTSC |
| 1 September 2009 NA EU | Yes | |
| 250 GB slim CECH-20xxB PAL,[130] NTSC |
| October 2009EU[130] | Yes |
|
All models excluding Satin Silver, Gunmetal Gray and Slim have a glossy finish[136]
All models include: Blu-ray/DVD/CD drive, HDMI 1.3a,[137] Bluetooth 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), PlayStation One backward compatibility through software emulation,[95][96]
All models include: Blu-ray/DVD/CD drive, HDMI 1.3a,[137] Bluetooth 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), PlayStation One backward compatibility through software emulation,[95][96]
^ a Model numbers differ by region. See PlayStation 3 hardware – model numbers for details.
^ b Ceramic white model available in Asia and Japan only.
^ c Satin silver model available in Asia and Japan only.
^ d Gun-Metal Gray model is only available as part of the MGS4 bundle.
^ e White and Pink model is only available as part of the FF13 bundle in Japan and come with a pink design of Final Fantasy XIII character, "Lightning", on its cover in Japan
Accessories
See also: PlayStation 3 accessories and DualShock
Numerous accessories for the console have been developed including the wireless Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers, the BD Remote, the PlayStation Eye camera and the PlayTV DVB-T tuner/digital video recorder accessory.[138][139]
At its press conference at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced the DualShock 3 (trademarked DUALSHOCK 3), a PlayStation 3 controller with the same function and design as the Sixaxis, but with vibration capability included.[140] Hands-on accounts describe the controller as being noticeably heavier than the standard Sixaxis controller, and capable of vibration forces comparable to the DualShock 2.[141] It was released in Japan on November 11, 2007,[142] in North America on April 15, 2008,[143] in Australia on April 24, 2008, in New Zealand on May 9, 2008, in Europe on July 2, 2008,[144] and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on July 4, 2008. During E3 2009, Sony unveiled plans to release a motion controller in 2010.
Technical issues
On September 17, 2009, the BBC television programme Watchdog aired a report investigating the purported "yellow light of death" issue, which affects about 0.5% of PlayStation 3s. The yellow light indicates a non-specific hardware failure.
The program also noted that the PlayStation 3 has a one-year warranty (typical of most consumer electronics products). Out-of-warranty PlayStation 3 owners can pay Sony a set fee for a refurbished console.[145]
In response to the tone of the program, senior vice president and managing director, Ray Maguire issued a document criticizing the program and citing potencial attempt to harm Sony and Playstation brand, and stating that the numbers of faulty PlayStation 3s the program mentioned are not evidence of a manufacturing defect.[146]
According to Ars Technica, the number of PlayStation 3s that have experienced the issue is well within the normal failure rates in the consumer electronics industry.[147]
Operating system
System Software
Main article: PlayStation 3 system software
Sony has included the ability for the operating system, referred to as System Software, to be updated.[148] The updates can be acquired in several ways:
- If the PlayStation 3 has an active Internet connection, updates may be downloaded directly from the PlayStation Network to the PS3 and subsequently installed. Systems with active Internet will automatically check online for software updates each time the console is started.
- Using an external PC, a user may download the update from the official PlayStation website, transfer it to portable storage media, and install it on the System.
- Some game discs come with system software updates on the disc. This may be due to the game requiring the update in order to run. If so, the software may be installed from the disc.[148]
The PlayStation 3 also includes the ability to install other operating systems,[149] such as Linux.[150] This ability has been removed with the introduction of the new slim model and will not be available in any future hardware revisions.
Graphical user interface
Main article: XrossMediaBar — PlayStation 3 XMB
The standard PlayStation 3 version of the XrossMediaBar (pronounced Cross Media Bar, or abbreviated XMB) includes nine categories of options. These are: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, PlayStation Network, and Friends (similar to the PlayStation Portable media bar). A tenth TV category is displayed between Music and Video if PlayTV is installed or if the console meets certain criteria to access select catch-up television services. By default, the What's New section of PlayStation Network is displayed when the system starts up. The PS3 includes the ability to store various master and secondary user profiles, manage and explore photos with or without a musical slide show, play music and copy audio CD tracks to an attached data storage device, play movies and video files from the hard disk drive, an optional USB mass storage or Flash card, or an optical disc (Blu-ray Disc or DVD-Video), compatibility for a USB keyboard and mouse, and the web browser supporting in/compatible file download function.[151] Additionally, UPnP media will appear in the respective audio/video/photo categories if a compatible media server or DLNA server is detected on the local network. The Friends menu allows mail with emoticon and attached picture features and video chat which requires an optional PlayStation Eye or EyeToy webcam.[152] The Network menu allows online shopping through the PlayStation Store and connectivity to the PlayStation Portable via Remote Play.[152]
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery is an optional application to view, create and group photos from the PS3, which is installed separately from the system software at 105MB. It was introduced in system software version 2.60 and provides a range of tools for sorting through and displaying the system's pictures. The key feature of this application is that it can organize photos into groups according to various criteria. Notable categorizations are colors, ages, or facial expressions of the people in the photos. Slideshows can be viewed with the application, along with music and playlists.
VidZone
Main article: VidZone
VidZone is an online music video download service, accessible from the Music category on the XMB, which allows for free streaming of music videos from the VidZone.tv website. The VidZone catalogue encompasses over 1.5 million tracks, 25,000 music videos and 15,000 realtones,[153] including full access to catalogues from Sony BMG[154] and EMI.[155]
On June 11, 2009, VidZone’s service was extended to the PlayStation 3 video game system in Europe and Australia, allowing users to watch music videos for on their PS3 or streamed to their PSP via Remote Play.[156]
PlayStation Network
Main articles: PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store
PlayStation Network is the unified online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service provided by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, announced during the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo. The service is always connected,[157] free,[158] and includes multiplayer support.[159] The network enables online gaming, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home and other services. PlayStation Network uses real currency and PlayStation Network Cards as seen with the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home.
What's New
What's New was announced at Gamescom 2009 and was released on September 1, 2009, with PlayStation 3 system software 3.0. The feature was to replace the existing [Information Board], which displayed news from the PlayStation website associated with the user's region. The concept was developed further into a major PlayStation Network feature, which interacts with the [Status Indicator] to display a ticker of all content, excluding recently played content (currently in North America and Japan only).
The system displays the What's New screen by default instead of the [Games] menu (or [Video] menu, if a movie was inserted) when starting up. What's New has four sections: "Our Pick", "Recently Played", latest information, and new content available in PlayStation Store. There are four kinds of content the What's New screen displays and links to, on the sections. "Recently Played" displays the user's recently played games and online services only, whereas, the other sections can contain website links, links to play videos, and access to selected sections of the PlayStation Store.
The PlayStation Store icons in the [Game] and [Video] section act similarly to the What's New screen, except that they only display and link to games and videos in the PlayStation Store, respectively.
PlayStation Home
Main article: PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home is a virtual community-based service for the PlayStation Network, announced during the 2007 Game Developers Conference.[160] Home allows users to create a custom avatar, which can be made to suit the user's liking.[161][162] Users can decorate their avatar's personal apartment ("HomeSpace") with default, bought, or won items.[161] Users can shop for new items to express themselves more through their avatars or HomeSpace.[162] Users interact and connect with friends and customise content in a virtual world.[163] Home also acts as a meeting place for users that want to play multiplayer games with others.[163]
A closed beta began in Europe from May 2007 and expanded to other territories soon after.[164] Home was delayed and expanded[165] several times before initially releasing.[166][167] The Open Beta test was started on December 11, 2008. Home is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar. Membership is free, and only requires a PSN account.[162][163]
Home is the host to avatars, a virtual economy, personal spaces and clubs. It features places to meet and interact, dedicated game spaces, developer spaces, company spaces, and events. The service undergoes a weekly maintenance and frequent updates. Xi, a once notable feature in Home, is the world's first console-based Alternate Reality Game. Adventures, puzzles and spaces were set up to continuously puzzle those who participated in finding clues. The meaning of Xi and the mysterious character "Jess" were the objects of study in this game. At TGS 2009, Kazuo Hirai announced that Home has been downloaded by 8 million users.[168]
PlayStation Portable connectivity
Main articles: Remote Play and PlayStation Store (PC) for PSP
The PlayStation Portable can connect with the PlayStation 3 in many ways, including in-game connectivity. For example, Formula One Championship Edition, a racing game, was shown at E3 2006 using a PSP as a real-time rear-view mirror.[169] In addition, it is possible to download original PlayStation format games to the PlayStation 3 from the PlayStation Store. These games were not originally playable on the PS3. They could only be sent to a PSP, and played using the PSP's PlayStation Emulator. Sony added support for playing original PlayStation format titles on PS3 on April 18, 2007, with the update to firmware revision 1.70.[170][171]
Sony has also demonstrated the PSP playing back video content from the PlayStation 3 hard disk across an ad-hoc wireless network. This feature is referred to as Remote Play located under the browser icon on both the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable. Remote play has since expanded to allow remote access to the PS3 via PSP from any wireless access point in the world.[172]
Life with PlayStation
On 18 September, 2008[173] the PlayStation 3's Folding@home application became Life with PlayStation. Life with PlayStation shows Earth's light at night in locations where it is night time and shows cloud patterns to reflect recent weather patterns (if zoomed out far enough). Along with the existing Folding@home functionality, the application also provides the user with access to three other information "channels", the first of which being the Live Channel which offers news headlines and weather through a 3D globe. The user can rotate and zoom in to any part of the world to access information provided by Google News, The Weather Channel, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison Space Science and Engineering Center, among other sources.[174] The second channel is the World Heritage channel which offers historical information about historical sites. The third channel is the United Village channel. United Village is a project designed to share information about communities and cultures worldwide.[175]
Games
Main article: PlayStation 3 games
The PlayStation 3 launched in North America with 14 titles, with another three being released before the end of 2006.[176] After the first week of sales it was confirmed that Resistance: Fall of Man from Insomniac Games was the top-selling launch game in North America.[177][178] The game was heavily praised by numerous video game websites, including GameSpot and IGN, both of whom awarded it their PlayStation 3 Game of the Year award for 2006.[179][180] Some titles missed the launch window and were delayed until early 2007, such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, F.E.A.R. and Sonic the Hedgehog. During the Japanese launch, Ridge Racer 7 was the top-selling game, while Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire also fared well in sales,[181] both of which were offerings from Namco Bandai. The PlayStation 3 launched in Europe with 24 titles, including ones that were not offered in the North American and Japanese launches, such as Formula One Championship Edition, MotorStorm and Virtua Fighter 5. Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm were the most successful titles of 2007,[182][183] and both games subsequently received sequels in the form of Resistance 2 and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.[184][185]
At E3 2007, Sony was able to show a number of their upcoming video games for the PlayStation 3, including Heavenly Sword, Lair, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Warhawk and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune; all of which were released in the third and fourth quarters of 2007. They also showed off a number of titles that were set for release in 2008 and 2009; most notably Killzone 2, Infamous, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, LittleBigPlanet and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation.[186] A number of third-party exclusives were also shown, including the highly-anticipated Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots,[187] alongside other high-profile third-party titles such as Grand Theft Auto 4, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed, Devil May Cry 4 and Resident Evil 5. Two other important titles for the PlayStation 3, Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII, were shown at TGS 2007 in order to appease the Japanese market.[188][189]
Sony have since launched their budget range of PlayStation 3 titles, known as the Greatest Hits range in North America,[190] the Platinum range in Europe[191] and The Best range in Japan.[192] Among the titles available in the budget range include Resistance: Fall of Man, MotorStorm, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Rainbow Six: Vegas, Call Of Duty 3, Assassin's Creed and Ninja Gaiden Sigma. As of October 2009 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Devil May Cry 4, Army of Two, Battlefield: Bad Company, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles have also joined the list. When they are put on the "Greatest Hits" list the new unused copies retail for $30 USD and are re-shipped in a new red case.
As of March 31, 2009, there have been 174.9 million games sold for the PlayStation 3.[193]
Stereoscopic 3D
In December 2008 the CTO of Blitz Games announced that they would bring stereoscopic 3D gaming and movie viewing to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 with their own technology.[194] According to Blitz Games, SCE confirmed that they intend to support stereoscopic 3D games and Blu-ray movies and that the functionality will be introduced to the PlayStation 3 via a firmware update in 2009.[195] This technology was first demonstrated publicly on the PS3 in January 2009 at the Consumer Electronics Show. Journalists were shown Wipeout HD and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in 3D as a demonstration of how the technology might work if it is implemented in the future.[196]
Sales and production costs
| Region | Units sold | First available |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 520,000 as of August 1, 2008[197] | November 17, 2006 |
| Europe | 10 million+ as of August 18, 2009[198] | March 23, 2007 |
| Japan | 3.4 million as of September 6, 2009[199] | November 11, 2006 |
| United Kingdom | 2.5 million as of September 17, 2009[200] | March 23, 2007 |
| United States | 9 million+ as of August 18, 2009[201] | November 17, 2006 |
| Worldwide | 24.6 million as of August 5, 2009[2] | November 11, 2006 |
The PlayStation 3's initial production cost is estimated to have been US$805.85 for the 20 GB model and US$840.35 for the 60 GB model.[202] However, they were priced at US$499 and US$599 respectively,[203] meaning that every unit was sold at an estimated loss of $250,[202] contributing to Sony's games division posting an operating loss of ¥232.3 billion (US$1.97 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2007.[204] In April 2007, soon after these results were published, Ken Kutaragi, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, announced plans to retire. Various news agencies, including The Times[205] and The Wall Street Journal[206] reported that this was due to poor sales, whilst SCEI maintains that Kutaragi had been planning his retirement for six months prior to the announcement.[206]
In January 2008, Kaz Hirai, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, suggested that the console may start making a profit by early 2009, stating that, "the next fiscal year starts in April and if we can try to achieve that in the next fiscal year that would be a great thing" and that "[profitability] is not a definite commitment, but that is what I would like to try to shoot for".[207] However, market analysts Nikko Citigroup have predicted that the PlayStation 3 could be profitable by August 2008.[208] In a July 2008 interview, Hirai stated that his objective is for the PlayStation 3 to sell 150 million units by its ninth year, surpassing the PlayStation 2's sales of 140 million in its nine years on the market.[209] In January 2009 Sony announced that their gaming division was profitable in Q3 2008.[210]
Since the system's launch, production costs have been reduced significantly as a result of phasing out the Emotion Engine chip and falling hardware costs.[211][212] The cost of manufacturing Cell microprocessors has fallen dramatically as a result of moving to the 65 nm production process,[212][213] and Blu-ray diodes have become cheaper to manufacture.[211][214] As of January 2008, each unit cost around $400 to manufacture;[215][216] by August 2009, Sony had reduced costs by a total of 70%, yielding about $250 per unit.[217][218][219]
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