PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3) FAQ:
(Last revision: September 24th, 2006)


OFFICIAL PLAYSTATION®3 SITE



General Information

When will the PS3 be released?

North America Launch on November 17th, 2006 (SCEA)


What is the price of the PS3?
Console with 20GB HDD - $499.99 USD / $549.99 CAN

Console with 60GB HDD - $599.99 USD / $659.99 CAN (SCEA)

What is the difference between the $499/$549 and $599/$649 configurations?
Both solutions include Blu-ray the latest standard in high-definition video, Bluetooth, four USB ports, 1080p video, HDMI, and the world’s most powerful microprocessor, the Cell. Additionally, the $599/$649 solution includes memory stick, secure digital and compact flash readers, Wi-Fi, and a 60GB hard disk drive (HDD), the $499/$549 system comes with a 20GB HDD. (SCEA)


What is included in the North American PS3 bundle?
To Be Announced

What colors will the PS3 available in?
Black (20GB) or Black & Silver (60GB). (SCEA)

Can the unit be displayed horizontally/vertically?
Yes, the console can be positioned vertically or horizontally just like the PlayStation®2 console.

What is the primary format of media utilized by the PS3?
Blu-ray Disc (BD).

What is Blu-ray?
Blu-ray (BD) is a next-generation media format that delivers the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience. Just like the DVD format offered a technological leap over CDs, Blu-ray Disc™ is the next leap forward in the natural advancement of data storage and digital entertainment.

Facts about Blu-ray Disc:

Blu-ray is an industry standard supported by the Blu-ray Association and it has broader industry support than any disc format ever launched; 85% of the CE industry, seven Hollywood studios accounting for over 90% of 2005’s home video sales, the two largest music labels, the world’s top computer brands and the leading gaming console hardware and software companies
Supports five to ten times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs. In other words, one BD can replace five to ten DVDs (using 4-layer, 100GB BD)
Blu-ray can hold 25GB per layer, whereas HD-DVD can only hold 15GB per layer
Pristine picture quality with the capability for full high-definition resolution 1080p
Blu-ray Disc recordable formats offer unsurpassed storage capacity to store your digital world (photographs, home videos, music libraries, and data)
Blu-ray Disc gives consumers a smooth way to transition to high-definition by protecting their DVD investments; Blu-ray Disc players are compatible with DVD so existing DVD collections can be enjoyed on Blu-ray hardware

More information about Blu-ray can be found at the Blu-ray Disc Association’s Website blu-raydisc.com. (SCEA)

Why is Blu-ray important to gaming?
With Blu-ray, PLAYSTATION®3 offers game developers unprecedented power to express their creativity and a larger canvas to create a level of interaction, sophistication, and reality that has never existed in gaming.As a result, consumers can experience high-definition quality gaming for the very first time. (SCEA)

What is the Cell and how does it benefit the consumer?
The Cell processor is the digital soul behind PLAYSTATION®3. Four years and $400 million in the making, engineers from Sony, IBM, and Toshiba have developed a microprocessor unlike any that exists today. The Cell has up to eight Synergistic Processor Units (SPUs) or "nodes" to help balance the processor workload thus making it more powerful and more efficient than traditional "single-node" processors. With this increased power, game developers can create games that shift artificial intelligence to actual intelligence. Breakthroughs in fidelity, believability, and hyper-reality enabled by the raw power of the Cell processor provide limitless experiences. PLAYSTATION®3 is the intelligent gaming system. (SCEA)

What is HDMI?
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI provides an interface between any compatible digital audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, an A/V receiver and a compatible digital audio and/or video monitor such as a digital television. (SCEA)

What is the six axis motion sensing system?
The six-axis motion sensing system found in the new PLAYSTATION®3 controller employs technology that provides for seamless interactive operation, thus eliminating additional settings to TVs. With this system, users are able maneuver the controller in six different axis (pitch up and down, yaw left and right, roll left and right) as a natural extension of their bodies, all in real-time and with high-precision. (SCEA)

Will there be an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) included?
Yes. 20GB and 60GB models will be available. (SCEA)

How can you upgrade the 20GB hard drive?
PLAYSTATION®3 hard disk drive is removable and upgradeable. You can upgrade the drive by removing the hard drive and replacing it with a larger capacity drive. (SCEA)

How do the PSP® System and PLAYSTATION®3 work together?
The PSP can act as a remote control to PLAYSTATION®3. Additionally, you can transfer content from the PSP to PLAYSTATION®3 via memory stick or USB. Ultimately, the developer community has creative license on how they would like the PSP and PLAYSTATION®3 to interact. For example, in Formula One, the developer used the PSP as a rear-view mirror. (SCEA)

Can I still play my PlayStation®2 games, DVD movie, and CD music collection on PLAYSTATION®3?
Yes, you can play thousands of PlayStation® and PlayStation 2 software titles as well as your DVD and CD collection on PLAYSTATION®3. (SCEA)

How do I save my PlayStation®2 Memory Card information to PLAYSTATION®3?
To use saved data on a PlayStation®2 memory card, you must copy the data onto a virtual memory card within the hard disk. This requires a PS2/PSone memory card adaptor to copy the data to your PLAYSTATION®3. A memory card adaptor is designed to edit, up/download game saves to and from EMS flash card or smart media card. (SCEA)

What online capabilities will PLAYSTATION®3 have?
Our goal is to create an environment that is more than just a place to play games, but an environment based on community, communications, commerce, and content. (SCEA)

Will there be a charge for PLAYSTATION®3 online service?
We are sticking with our philosophy of maintaining an open platform; the online basic services will be offered to PLAYSTATION®3 users free of charge. (SCEA)

How much will games cost?
Games are rumored to cost:

$70-$79 US dollars or $83-$94 Canadian dollars. (Game Geek News)
$59.99 US dollars (Gamestop)
What resolutions are available on the PS3?

480i
480p
720p
1080i
1080p


Technical Information:


CPU

Cell Processor
GPU
RSX™
Sound
Dolby 5.1ch, DTS, LPCM, etc. (Cell-based processing)
Memory
256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
HDD
2.5" Serial ATA
20GB
60GB
I/O
USB 2.0 (x4)
MemoryStick/SD/CompactFlash
60GB Only

Communication
Ethernet
(x1 / 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
IEEE 802.11 b/g
60GB Only
Blutooth 2.0 (EDR)
Wireless controller (Bluetooth)
AV Output
Screen size
480i, 480p, 1080i, 1080p
HDMI OUT
(x1 / HDMI NextGen)
AV MULTIOUT (x1)

DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) (x1)
BD/DVD/CD Drive (Read Only)
Maximum Read Speed
BD 2x (BD-ROM)
DVD 8x (DVD-ROM)
CD 24x (CD-ROM)
SACD 2x
Dimensions
Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
Weight
Approximately 5 kg
(SCEA)


Blu-Ray and HDMI Information
Blu-Ray movies and games will play on standard TVs
Maxiumum Resolution for games, with component, HDMI or DVI is 1080p
You cannot get high definition with composite cables (the traditional Red, Yellow, White)
Exception: HDCP, a copy protection security may be used in movies in the future. Movies with this feature will lower the resolution on movies on not viewed on a HDMI connection
HDMI can connect to a DVI connection (via an adaptor [used on LCD and Plasma monitors]) for High-Definition


Games, Blu-ray Movies, etc.

Where can I see a list of all the announced Games, Movies, etc?

Games
Official PLAYSTATION®3 Game site.

Announced PLAYSTATION®3 Games

Blu-ray Movies

Announced Blu-ray Movies


PS3 Media


Official Press Releases:


PLAYSTATION®3 LAUNCHES ON NOVEMBER 17, 2006 IN NORTH AMERICA - May 8th, 2006 - SCEA
SCE ANNOUNCES NEW CONTROLLER FOR PLAYSTATION®3 - May 8th, 2006 - SCE
PLAYSTATION®3 HDD 20GB EQUIPPED WITH HDMI AS STANDARD - September 22nd, 2006 - SCEA



Authors: Dartz, .:SammaN:., Ascalon, Mastervivi
Sources: www.us.playstation.com, CNN Money, Gamespot, Gamestop, Wikipedia.org, Game Geek News, IGN


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Disclaimer: This FAQ is an unofficial collection of information gathered by the PlayStation.com Moderating Team with help from members of the PS3 Forums.

very nice post, it good to see all this information in one place,

personally im going to hope that sony actually decides to make a price drop despite this 10 year plan they have, 600 is alot

thx a lot

I would get one if someone else was willing to pay for it. Good post though. :thumbsup:

600 is not a lot but for a gaming console is i mean if u look at the 360 it is 400 but thn u need 2 buy a hdvd drive and a wifi but the ps3 has all tht included so thts y ps3 is cheaper but some ppl say tht they dont need all tht stuff but thts just my opinion if u buy everything 360 will cost about $750 2 $800 dollars so i rather go 4 the ps3 ;)

You could have posted all that in the Official PS3 thread... :|

Use your words Dartz. Your commas, capital letters and fullstops would be nice too. I'd be getting the PS2 before this thing, and as for it playing Blu ray movies eh it'll probally be crap at it like the PS2 and Xbox are pretty darn average DVD players(more then good enough for most poeple though).