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maximum entertainment

The launch of PLAYSTATION® 3 marks the beginning of a new era in interactive entertainment.

WHAT DOES BLU-RAY

MEAN FOR PLAYSTATION®3?

Blu-ray is the next-generation storage and video format developed by Sony in partnership with a range of other electronic, computer and media manufacturers.

Where PS2 games were produced on traditional red-laser DVDs, PLAYSTATION®3 titles will be authored on Blu-ray discs. Currently, a Blu-ray disc holds up to ﬁve times what a traditional DVD can – or about 10 PlayStation® 2 games. What this simply means is more can be ﬁ tted onto each PLAYSTATION®3 game disc: more game content, more graphic detail, more sound… more of anything and everything. The result? A richer, more interactive playing environment.

Blu-ray also supports high deﬁ nition content, whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster like The Da Vinci Code or something you’ve shot yourself on a HD Handycam.

The highly anticipated next-generation PLAYSTATION®3 from Sony takes its popular gaming console to a whole new

level – new superior levels of graphics, colour, detail and gameplay. All thanks to an onboard advanced computer system, featuring the powerful CELL processor, high deﬁnition (HD) capability and the adoption of the next-generation storage and movie playback format, Blu-ray disc.

“With PLAYSTATION® 3, you get a full on experience, full high deﬁnition, full surround sound and truly immersive gameplay,” says Sony Computer Entertainment Australia’s (SCE Aust.) Hardware Product Manager, Scott Saxton. “Expect sharper, more brilliant pictures than ever before within a slicker, more responsive and realistic gaming environment.” But vitally, PLAYSTATION®3 builds on the rich, interactive 3D gaming environment already established by its hugely popular predecessor, PlayStation®2 (PS2). It pushes the notion of interactive play further.

Where PS2 started out as a more traditional games console, PLAYSTATION®3 has evolved into something that’s very much an entertainment hub. It’s a next-generation video player, incorporating the new Blu-ray video format, which lets you play HD movies in all the glory of Full-On HD (1080p resolution), as well as traditional DVDs. It’s both a digital jukebox and CD player for your music collection. It’s a digital photo album. As well, with its internet browser capability, it’s a window onto online communities of gamers and friends.

“With games such as Buzz, EyeToy and SingStar, we began to see people embrace the true meaning of interactive entertainment,” says Saxton. “A PlayStation experience was emerging as more than a gaming experience. It was about being entertained. And it shifted the PS2 from the bedroom to the family living room. PLAYSTATION® 3 builds on that.”

Gaming, though, remains the cornerstone of the PLAYSTATION® 3. Sony Computer Entertainment has, to date, announced a list of launch period titles. These include: Eye of Judgement, Formula One™ Championship Edition, Heavenly Sword, MotorStorm, Resistance: Fall of Man, SingStar and Warhawk. A very strong mix of sport, slash and social game titles.

To control the PLAYSTATION® 3 the iconic PlayStation controller is back in the same form, but this time boasting revolutionary technology. Bluetooth allows up to seven controllers to connect to the system wirelessly, freeing the controller from the system.

Saxton explains what’s most different about the wireless controller, “The added freedom is useful because the controller is also motion-sensitive, detecting movement through six axes. For example, you’ll be able to steer an aeroplane by simply tilting your hands to the left or right. We often use the word ‘intuitive’ to describe features of technology; in this case, the word could not be more relevant.”

Central to PLAYSTATION® 3 is the revolutionary new chip that powers the system – CELL. Co-developed with IBM and Toshiba, CELL is incredibly powerful, bringing supercomputer-like processing power to the home for the ﬁrst time. Saxton says. “It’s incredible to think that one of the most powerful processors ever developed, a chip the size of a ﬁngernail, will be key to driving such a massive shift in our entertainment experiences.”

The other great feature of the PLAYSTATION® 3 console is its backward compatibility. You won’t have to toss your PS2 or PSOne® games out. You will still be able to play them, as well as CDs, DVDs and super audio CDs (SACDs).

Connectivity is a key strength of the PLAYSTATION® 3. The 60GB model features all sorts of common ‘connection’ options including: Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g), USB, a Gigabit Ethernet Port, HDMI, Flash Memory readers