News from the Leipzig Games Convention: New PS3; New PSP; PS3 keyboard; "VidZones"...

[fanpages]

Exciting news from the Sony presentation at the Leipzig Games Convention today (so far):

1)
A new 160GB PS3 model will launch in Europe on 31 October 2008 for EUR 449.00.
The price will either include a bundled game title, pre-installed downloadable content, or a PlayStation Store voucher worth EUR 70.00.

(PS2 backward compatibility will not be included; just the same specification, excluding the hard drive capacity, as the 80Gb PS3 model available this week).


2)
A new PSP model, the "PSP-3000", will launch in Europe, the Middle East, Australia & New Zealand on 15 October 2008 for EUR 199.

This will be a "slimmer & lighter model" (presumably compared to the "Phat & Heavy" rather than the current "Slim & Lite" "PSP-2000" model) with an “enhanced LCD screen” offering “crisper colours with more intensity when outside in the natural light”.

A microphone (for use with services such as “Skype” or "Go! Messenger") will be on-board too.

A new button marked "PS" (like the button on the PS3 SIXAXIS/DUALSHOCK 3 controller) will also be on the device, and it will be available in Piano Black (PSP-30000 PB), Pearl White (PSP-3000 PW), and Mystic Silver (PSP-3000 MS) initially.

Retail bundle packs will be sold such as a "Go!" communications bundle, & games packs including one of the following title: "Buzz!(tm) Master Quiz", "FIFA 09", and/or the latest Harry Potter title ("...and the Half-Blood Prince"); even though the next movie's release date has now been put back from 21 November 2008 to 17 July 2009.

The new model Will weigh approximately 189g (6.7oz) including the battery pack, and will have dimensions of around 169.4 x 18.6 x 71.4 mm (width × height × depth).


3)
A wireless keypad attachment (like the Xbox 360's 'chatpad') will be made available as an add-on device for the PS3 wireless controllers (SIXAXIS/DUALSHOCK 3) to plug into the controller's mini-USB port. A "touchpad mode for mouse input" will also be supported, and the keyboard will ship in eight different configurations to support many languages across Europe.


4)
Early next year, a new FREE service, called "VidZones", will be enabled in 23 European countries that will allow unlimited downloading (streaming) of popular music videos to the PS3 then onto a PSP console via "Remote Play" if desired. Transfer of the videos &/or ringtones directly to mobile telephones will be at a nominal charge.


5)
Originally reported as being a new feature to be made available via a PS3 Firmware Update that would support the transfer of PS2 "SingStar" disc based tracks to the PS3, it would seem that the PS3 versions (volumes) of "SingStar" will now (only) allow (by way of a free downloadable patch, and subsequent inclusion with any new PS3 volumes) the swapping of PS2 "SingStar" title discs within a PS3 gaming session. This means that any PS2-based tracks you already own (or have access to) can be played directly in the PS3 version (without having to exit the game to insert new discs). The tracks themselves will remain off the PS3 hard drive. Pity. But I suppose the decision was retracted due to issues with individuals gaining access to PS2 tracks that they may not actually have owned (such as renting a PS2 disc title, or borrowing one from a friend).

A new PS3 title, "SingStar Vol.3 Party Edition", however, will be available very soon to complement themed artist download packs, such as for Queen. The PS2 is not being left out either, "SingStar Singalong with Disney" is also scheduled to be released this coming Autumn featuring tracks performed by on-screen characters singing (in local languages) from Disney animated movies such as "Aladdin", "The Little Mermaid", "Cinderella", "Peter Pan", "Pinocchio", "The Jungle Book", & "Toy Story".


6)
A new peripheral, the "EyePet", will be available in the PAL region towards the end of 2009. This will be a 'responsive virtual pet' that "follows your every movement and command" designed for kids of all ages (young & not-so-young). Using 'Augmented Reality', the EyePet will be fully aware of people in the room it resides in & will interact with the environment.


7)
The "LittleBigPlanet" title is confirmed to have a release date in Europe of 29 October 2008.


BFN,

fp.

[fanpages]

UPDATE:

The 160Gb PS3 console will be available to the North America, but not until an as yet unconfirmed date in November.

The bundle for the NTSC region will include the "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" Blu-ray disc game title, a voucher for the PlayStation Network title "PAIN", and a "DUALSHOCK 3" wireless controller.


The new PSP console will also be available in North America from 14 October 2008.

A "Ratchet & Clank" Entertainment Pack bundle will be available priced at USD 199 that will include the "Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters" Universal Media Disc (UMD) title, a download code for the "echochrome" PSP game title, the "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets" film (again on UMD), & a 1GB Memory Stick.

[Cegaiga]

I might buy that PSP Since it can be good for my holidays, and to play final fantasy 7 :P

160Gb PS3? Too much memory.

[fanpages]

Originally Posted by Cegaiga

I might buy that PSP Since it can be good for my holidays, and to play final fantasy 7 :P

160Gb PS3? Too much memory.

I disagree about the on-board hard drive capacity; my 60Gb PS3 model is regularly full & I need to move videos to an external USB-mounted hard drive, or delete demo versions of games I have previously downloaded, before I can download or install other items I wish to play.

However, the internal hard drive of any PS3 console is designed to be swapped by the owner for another (higher capacity) drive. Instructions on how to do this are in the original console's instruction booklet and the XrossMediaBar offers the ability to backup & restore the entire hard drive contents to an externally mounted drive to make the transition to a newer internal drive seamless.


The trouble with the PSP at present, is that very few new (good quality) game titles are being released (certainly in Europe), and in the UK it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the Universal Media Disc-based titles for sale anywhere other than the typical, larger, video game store outlets.

That said, please see the attachments I have added below to compare the new "PSP3000" model to the existing "PSP2000" (Slim & Lite) model.

BFN,

fp.

[fanpages]

Originally Posted by fanpages

Exciting news from the Sony presentation at the Leipzig Games Convention today (so far):

...

4)
Early next year, a new FREE service, called "VidZones", will be enabled in 23 European countries that will allow unlimited downloading (streaming) of popular music videos to the PS3 then onto a PSP console via "Remote Play" if desired. Transfer of the videos &/or ringtones directly to mobile telephones will be at a nominal charge.

The (now singular) "VidZone" service will be available this coming Summer in Europe (initially the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, & Spain) & Australia.

It will be completely free to use (apart from usual Internet Service Provider fees) due to the inclusion of advertisements in the video stream channels.

Playlists can be created either from a PS3 console, or from a PlayStation Portable via "Remote Play", drawing upon the "thousands of music videos and live concert videos, as well as behind the scenes, interviews and making of footage".

There are currently no plans for the service to be available in any other territories.

BFN,

fp.

[1x1]

So the PSP is getting smaller and slimmer o.o
And I thought the last release was already pretty small.
I don't think I'll be getting the PSP-3000, but I do hope they will be small, yet large enough for users to hold it comfortably when playing.

[Deviance]

An even smaller PSP, lol. And I still got my good ol' ''phat'' PSP