Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Short Conference, Epic Re-Launch of PS3




All I can say is wow, I couldn't watch the conference live, no one could unless you were there but I took my notes(thanks Kotaku's live blog) and have some info drops and a video from the store. First the major things.

The PS3 gets a new price effective tomorrow for $299, as far as I know that is the 80GB model. There was no mention of what they are doing with the 160, I would venture a guess and say it will be $399, and there's a possibility that it could be $299 to clear out stock if they are only going to sell the new PS3 Slim's 120GB model only. That is purely SPECULATION on my part, not a fact. If it does shake out that way then they will sell the remaining stock out extremely fast. I imagine the PS3 is already selling gangbusters through online retailers. I will definitely be picking up a slim next month, sorry fat, we have fond memories but I want a skinnier model. Jack Tretton explains below with pics!



The next firmware update to 3.00 is freaking incredible! They say it's not going to launch for another couple of weeks, but once Sony announces a firmware update it is usually up pretty quick, so hopefully it makes it here sooner. I will let the video explain the rest below, followed by the list from the PSBlog.




“What’s New” – The “Information Board” will be replaced with a “What’s New” section, which allows you to enjoy interactive PlayStation news every time you start the PS3 system. Located under the PlayStation Network icon, “What’s New” displays the latest and greatest game, video, PlayStation Network and PlayStation news and releases, as well as your recently played games, in a sleek, new animated format.

Status Indicator – In the top right corner we’ve added an indicator bar, which displays your user icon, friend icon, the number of friends you have online and a small message icon to let you know if you have any new messages. The indicator also includes a scrolling ticker that features the latest news from PlayStation Network. In addition, when you press the PS button, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock.

Friends List – Now your PlayStation Network friends will appear in a slightly redesigned format on your Friends List. Also, messages will now be viewable from each of your friends’ respective profiles.
PlayStation Store Shortcuts – We’ve added a handy shortcut icon to the PlayStation Store under both the Game and Video categories so you can access the latest content quickly and easily.

Personalization – Personalize your PS3 with new dynamic custom themes and avatars. Dynamic themes as well as free and premium avatars will be available through PlayStation Store. A dynamic theme takes your screen to a whole new level as it incorporates animated objects into the background.

Trophies – Showcasing your hard earned trophies just got better. Update 3.00 gives game developers the ability to modify how they display trophies for add-on content. Base and add-on game trophies will continue to be combined into a single list so you can see where you stand in a game as a whole. Within that list, trophies will be broken out into subcategories—base trophies and add-on trophies—that way, you can easily view the percentage of your base game trophy collection, and separately track your trophy progress in add-on packs. Look for this enhancement to be included in upcoming games.


That's all for this post, I am trying to make them in shorter easier to handle bites. Up next is Heavy Rain, then the PSP. I want comments!

Thanks Kotaku, Playstation Blog

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