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The '''PlayStation 3''' (officially marketed '''''PLAYSTATION 3''''', commonly abbreviated '''PS3''') is the third home [[video game console produced by PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with the Microsoft's seventh generation of video game consoles.A major feature that distinguishes the PlayStation 3 from its predecessors is its unified online gaming service, the url=http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/About/PSN| title=PlayStation 3 - Things to Know — PlayStation Network| publisher=SCEA| accessdate=2008-01-14}} which contrasts with Sony's former policy of relying on game developers for online play. Other major features of the console include its robust multimedia capabilities, connectivity with the url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/12/26/playstation-tips-3-remote-playps-store-download-head-start/| title=PlayStation Blog — PS3 Tips — Remote Play and PlayStation Store| date=[[2007-12-26| first=Al| last=De Leon| publisher=SCEA| accessdate=2008-01-14}} and its use of a high-definition optical disc format, url=http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/About/Blu-Ray| title=PlayStation 3 - Things to Know — Blu-ray Disc and movies| publisher=SCEA| accessdate=2008-01-14}} The PS3 was also the first [[Blu-ray Disc#Player profiles|Blu-ray 2.0-compliant Blu-ray player on the market.The PlayStation 3 was first released on November 11, 2006 in url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6135452.stm| title=PS3 sells out at launch| date=2006-11-11| publisher=BBC| accessdate=2008-01-14}} November 17, 2006 in url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-11-17-ps3-debut_x.htm| title=Sony's PS3 makes U.S. debut| date=[[2006-11-17| publisher=USA Today| accessdate=2008-01-14}} and March 23, 2007 in url=http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4317&NewsAreaID=2| title=SCEE official press release| date=[[2007-01-24| publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment Europe| accessdate=2008-01-14}} Two [[Stock-keeping unit|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 (the 20 GB model was not released in Europe or Oceania). Since then, several revisions have been made to the console's available models including the removal of [[Playstation 2 Backward Compatiblity, and it has faced competition from the other seventh generation consoles. As of [[July 17, 2008, the PS3 is in third place in US home console sales for its generation.HistoryE3 2005 conference. A functional version of the system was not present there, nor at the url=http://media.ps3.ign.com/articles/615/615091/vids_1.html| title=Sony E3 2005 press conference video| date=[[2005-05-17| publisher=IGN| accessdate=2008-01-14}} although demonstrations (such as ''devkits and comparable PC hardware. Video footage based on the predicted PlayStation 3 specifications was also shown (e.g. ''last=Shilov|first=Anton|url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20060606094811.html|title=Developers Use Personal Computers to Show PS3 Advantages|publisher=X-bit Labs|date=[[2006-06-06|accessdate=2006-07-24}}The system was initially planned to have two url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/05/16/news_6124681.html| title=PlayStation 3 announced for 2006| publisher=GameSpot| date=[[2005-05-16| accessdate=2008-01-14}} though, as shown at E3 2006, this was later reduced to one HDMI port, one ethernet port and four USB ports, presumably to cut costs. Two hardware configurations were also announced for the console: a 20 [[Gigabyte|GB model and a 60 GB model, priced at $499 (€499) and $599 (€599), respectively. The 60 GB model would be the only configuration to feature an HDMI port, url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060509-6781.html| title=Sony Playstation 3 launch details| date=[[2006-05-09| publisher=Arstechnica| accessdate=2008-01-18}}On September 6, 2006, url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5319190.stm| title=PlayStation 3 Euro launch delayed| date=[[2006-09-06| publisher=BBC| accessdate=2008-01-14}}At the Tokyo Game Show on September 22, 2006, Sony announced that it would include an HDMI port on the 20 GB system, along with a silver logo, but a chrome trim, flash card readers, and Wi-Fi would not be included. Also, the launch price of the Japanese 20 GB model was reduced by over 20%, and the 60 GB model was announced for an open pricing scheme in Japan. During the event, Sony showed 27 playable PS3 titles running on final hardware.LaunchThe PlayStation 3 was first released in Japan on November 11, 2006 at 07:00. According to Media Create, 81,639 PS3 systems were sold within 24 hours of its introduction in Japan.Soon after its release in Japan, the PS3 was released in North America on November 17, 2006. Reports of violence surrounding the release of the PS3 include a customer shot, campers robbed at gunpoint, customers shot in a drive-by shooting with url=http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/4661551.html|title=Four People Shot While Waiting for PlayStation Console, Including 27 NEWSFIRST Reporter|date=[[2006-11-16|publisher=WKYT News|accessdate=2006-11-17}} and 60 campers fighting over 10 systems.On January 24, 2007, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 would go on sale on March 23, 2007 in Europe, title=Sony’s PS3 has record launch in Europe |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4a4dc0ee-dd67-11db-8d42-000b5df10621.html |publisher=Financial Times |date=March 28, 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-01}} On March 7, 2007, the 60 GB PlayStation 3 launched in [[Singapore with a price of S$799. The console was launched in South Korea on June 16, 2007 in a single version equipped with an 80 GB hard drive and [[IPTV.Retail configurationsThere are five PlayStation 3 hardware models that are commonly referred to by the size of their included hard disk drive: "20", "40", "60", "80" and "160" GB models.All retail packages include one or two Sixaxis controllers and/or a DualShock 3 controller (beginning June 12, 2008Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 Bundle Announced | Kotaku AustraliaMetal Gear Solid 4: The PS3 Bundle: The Cardboard Box), one miniUSB to ethernet cable (20, 60, and 2007 80 GB only) and one url=http://www.ps3land.com/article-825.php |title=Contents of PS3 box packaging revealed? |author=Justin Pinter |publisher=PS3land.com |date=[[2006-10-09 |accessdate=2007-07-07}}. {|class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;" ! Feature: !'''20 GB'''(NTSC) !'''40 GB''' (url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/071006e.html |title=New PLAYSTATION®3 Model to Take Holiday Season by Storm |accessdate=2007-10-05 |date=October 5, 2007 |publisher=[[Sony Computer Entertainment |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }} !'''60 GB''' (NTSC) !'''60 GB''' (PAL) !'''80 GB''' (NTSC) !'''80 GB''' (PAL, NTSC) !'''160 GB''' (PAL, NTSC) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In addition to all of the features of the 20 GB model, the 60 GB model has internal b/g flash card readers (SD/CompactFlash Type I/Type II, url=http://www.playstation.com/manual/pdf/PS3-01-1.6_1.pdf| title=PlayStation 3 Safety & Support manual| publisher=SCEI| accessdate=2008-01-15}} [[Memory Stick|Memory Stick/PRO/Duo), and a chrome coloured trim. In terms of hardware, the 80 GB model released in url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=25163| title=South Korean PS3| date=[[2007-05-21| publisher=gamesindustry.biz| accessdate=2008-01-14}} Like the South Korean and European models, the url=http://www.us.playstation.com/ps3/about/faq| title=PS3 FAQs| publisher=Sony| accessdate=2008-01-14}} However, it still keeps the "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU. Due to emulation of the "[[Emotion Engine", the level of compatibility was reduced (see ''PlayStation 3 games - Removal of hardware support'' for more details). 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 a multi memory card port, SACD support, or any backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles. This was due to the removal of "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU, which stripped the units of all PlayStation 2 based hardware.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. 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.It was rumored that the Cell processors in the third-generation PS3s (40 GB) would move from a 90nm process to the newer 65nm process, which SCEI CEO Kaz Hirai later confirmed. This change lowers the power consumption of the console and makes it less expensive to produce. Sales and production costs{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;" ! Region !! Units sold !! First available 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. However, they were priced at US$499 and US$599 respectively, meaning that every unit was sold at an estimated loss of $250, 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. In April 2007, soon after these results were published, [[Ken Kutaragi, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, announced plans to retire. Various news agencies, including '' title=Playstation boss pays the price of weak sales | publisher=[[The Times|Times Online | date= url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article1712432.ece | accessdate=2007-04-27 }} and ''[[The Wall Street Journal'' 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.In January 2008, 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". As of July 20, 2008, Sony continues to incur a loss on every PlayStation 3 unit sold. In a July 2008 interview, Hirai stated that his objective was 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.Since the system's launch, production costs have been reduced significantly as a result of phasing out the url=http://www.psu.com/PS3-costs-cut-in-half-News--a2402-p0.php|title=Sony cuts PS3 production costs in half|accessdate=2008-01-22 |date=2008-01-11 |publisher=psu.com}} The cost of manufacturing [[Cell microprocessors has fallen dramatically as a result of moving to the 65 nm production process, and [[Blu-ray url=http://gameinformer.com/News/Story/200705/N07.0507.1105.54109.htm |title=PlayStation 3 Production Costs Drop |accessdate=2007-07-15 |date=[[2007-05-07 |publisher=gameinformer.com}} As of January 2008, each unit costs around $400 to manufacture.On January 7, 2007, Sony met its goal of shipping 1 million units to North America. Just over a week later, on January 16, 2007, Sony confirmed they had shipped 1 million units in Japan, bringing the worldwide total to over 2 million shipped. As of April 1, 2007, approximately 5.5 million units had been shipped worldwide.The PlayStation 3 is currently behind its competitor systems, the url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article2377818.ece|title=Sony's PS3 closes gap with the Wii |accessdate=2007-09-03 |date=2007-09-03 |publisher=Times Online}} According to url=http://kotaku.com/375495/japanese-people-love-nintendo-software |title=Japanese People Love Nintendo Software |author=Brian Ashcraft |date=2008-04-03 |work=[[Kotaku |publisher=accessdate=2008-04-19}}From October 2007 to November 2007, sales of the PlayStation 3 went up by 285% in the url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=31531 |title=PS3 sales up 285 per cent |accessdate=2007-12-14 |publisher=GamesIndustry.biz}} Sony CEO [[Howard Stringer attributed the growth to a price cut and Nintendo's inability to manufacture the Wii system at a rate high enough to meet public demand.In 2007, the PlayStation 3 had sold 2.56 million units in the US according to the url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-us-video-game-industry-totals-1794-billion-halo-3-tops-all/19119/?biz=1 |title=NPD: U.S. Video Game Industry Totals $17.94 Billion, Halo 3 Tops All |accessdate=2008-01-19 |author=James Brightman |date=2008-01-17 |publisher=GameDaily}} 1,206,347 in Japan according to Enterbrain, and an estimated 2.8 million in Europe according to [[Electronic Arts. In 2007, the Wii had outsold the PlayStation 3 by 3:1 in Japan, while the Xbox 360 had sold 257,841 units in that region that year, according to Enterbrain. As of January 1, 2008, the PlayStation 3 has sold over 180,000 units in Australia according to GameSpot.In the United States, the PlayStation 3 outsold the Xbox 360 for the first time in January 2008 according to the NPD Group. A day prior to the NPD sales figures being released Microsoft said that the Xbox 360 had shortages for that month in the US. but was then outsold by the Xbox 360 in March 2008 according to the NPD Group. In June 2008 PS3 again outsold Xbox 360 by a margin of 405,500 to 219,800.[http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN1747424020080719 U.S. video game sales seen up 53 percent in June | Technology | ReutersAccording to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, the PlayStation 3 had outsold the Xbox 360 from October 2007 onwards in Europe and in May 2008 it surpassed the Xbox 360 (which was released 16 months prior to the PlayStation 3) in total European sales.Europe PS3 sales 'overtake 360'Sony PlayStation 3 Revival Lifts ResultIn the first six months of 2008, the PlayStation 3 has sold 170,500 units in Canada, outselling the Xbox 360 which sold 129,000 units; however, the PlayStation 3 was outsold almost 2:1 by the Wii; the PlayStation 3 has sold a total of 487,600 units in Canada as of July 1, 2008.Hardware and accessoriesHardwarethumb|220px|right|A 60 Gigabyte|GB PlayStation 3 unit with a box and controller. The PlayStation 3 is convex on its left side when vertical (the top side is convex when horizontal), and has a glossy black finish with the Playstation logo on the left side. Playstation designer Teiyu Goto stated that the [[Spider-Man (film)|Spider-Man font-inspired logo "was one of the first elementsAccessoriesNumerous accessories for the console have been developed including the wireless Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers, the BD Remote, the PlayStation Eye camera and the upcoming PlayTV DVB-T tuner/digital video recorder accessory.At its press conference at the 2007 DualShock 3 (trademarked DUALSHOCK 3), a PlayStation 3 controller with the same function and design as the Sixaxis, but with vibration capability included. 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. It was released in Japan on November 11, 2007, and is scheduled to release on April 15, 2008 in North America and in Spring 2008 in Europe.SoftwareOperating systemSony has included the ability for the operating system, referred to as ''System Software'', to be updated. The updates can be downloaded from the PlayStation Network directly to the PS3 and subsequently installed or downloaded from the official PlayStation website to a computer, transferred to portable storage media, and subsequently installed on the system. Updates can also be installed from game discs that require the update to run the game.The latest version of the system software, 2.42, was released on July 29, 2008 and improved playback quality of some PlayStation 3 and PlayStation format software. Version 2.41, released on July 8, 2008, fixed issues that some users were experiencing after installing version 2.40. This update includes all of the features previously included in the 2.40 system update which only a portion of PlayStation 3 users were able to download before its withdrawal.Version 2.40 of the software was released on July 2, 2008, however, it was withdrawn later the same day. Patrick Seybold, Director of Corporate Communications & Social Media for SCE cited "a limited number of calls from consumers experiencing an issue with installing the system software update on their PS3" as the reason for the update's withdrawal.. Among other features, version 2.40 provided the user with the ability to access the XMB from within games, play music stored on their hard drive in-game (although games will require a patch from their developer in order to enable this feature) and the ability to perform a url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/06/29/firmware-v240-walkthrough-part-1-the-xmb/| title=Firmware v2.40 Walkthrough Part 2: The XMB| publisher=Sony| date=2008-06-30| accessdate=2008-06-30}} The update also introduced ''PlayStation Network#PlayStation 3 Trophies|Trophy'' support, similar to the ''Achievements'' system found on the [[Xbox 360, which again will require games to be patched by their developer in order to use.Version 2.36 was released on June 17, 2008, and improved the stability of some PS3 titles. The prior update, version 2.30, released April 15, 2008 featured a new embedded url=http://uk.playstation.com/help-support/ps3/system-software/detail/item100771/Update-features-%28ver-2-30%29/| title=Update features 2.30| publisher=Sony| date=2008-04-15| accessdate=2008-05-23}} Version 2.20 was released on March 13, 2008 and updated the PS3 to [[Blu-ray Disc#Player profiles|Blu-ray profile 2.0 and added several other minor improvements.The PlayStation 3 also includes the ability to install other operating systems, such as Linux.Graphical user interfaceThe 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 url=http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/About/Multifunctionality| title=PlayStation 3 Multimedia| publisher=Sony| accessdate=2008-01-13}} The Friends menu allows mail with emoticon and attached picture features and video chat which requires an optional [[PlayStation Eye or url=http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/About/PSN| title=About the PlayStation Network| publisher=Sony| accessdate=2008-01-13}} The Network menu allows online shopping through the [[PlayStation Store.PlayStation Network150px|thumb|right|Official logo of the PlayStation Network In response to Microsoft's success with their url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2495&Itemid=2| title=PSBB: Kutaragi's 10 PlayStation Points| date=2006-03-15| first=Kris| last=Graft| publisher=Next Gen| accessdate=2008-01-15}} Sony also confirmed that the service will always be connected, free, and include multiplayer support. In addition, the registration interface can only be accessed through the PS3 system interface.At the url=http://www.gamespot.com/events/tgs2006/story.html?sid=6158144&tag=top_stories;title;20| title=Sony TGS 2006 keynote speech| date=[[2006-09-21| first=Brad| last=Shoemaker| publisher=GameSpot| accessdate=2008-01-15}}On May 8, 2007 Sony Computer Entertainment announced last=Huang|first=Eugene|title=Sony introduces prepaid PlayStation Network cards (in Japan)|date=2007-05-08|publisher=GamePro.com|url=http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=111908|accessdate=2007-08-08}} a form of electronic money that can be used with the Store. PlayStation Network Tickets, available in units of 1,000, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 [[yen, can be purchased at convenience stores throughout Japan. Each ticket contains a 12 alphanumeric code which can be inputted to the PlayStation Network to place credits in the virtual wallet. The tickets are available through electronic kiosks at 26,000 convenience stores, including Lawsons, url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/786/786300p1.html| title=Sony Announces PlayStation Network Tickets| date=[[2007-05-08| publisher=IGN| accessdate=2008-01-15}} They are also available at 26,000 post office ATMs, although registration is required first at a special mobile website.A similar PlayStation Network Card system based on actual cards instead of tickets was introduced in South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan in Summer 2007 and in Spring 2008 in North America.PlayStation Homethumb|160px|right|The PlayStation Home logoDuring the 2007 avatar character for their PlayStation 3 system. This avatar will have its own apartment, which can be adorned by items players can receive following various achievements. In the future the service will expand, allowing players to have a wider variety of clothing as well as pets. Home will be a url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/playstation-home-the-free-virtual-world-of-playstation-3/| title=PlayStation Home, the free virtual world of PlayStation 3| date=[[2007-03-07| publisher=JoyStiq| accessdate=2008-01-15}} Home will also act as a meeting place of sorts for players who want to play multiplayer games on the PlayStation 3. During a video demonstration of Home, Sony said that a Home icon and options will be added to the Xross Media Bar (XMB), it is expected to be available through a firmware update or as a separate download from the PlayStation Store. A closed beta was in progress in Europe in May 2007, and an open beta was scheduled to be available in North America in early fall 2007. However, at the 2007 [[Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced that the final worldwide launch of Home, which had originally been scheduled for fall 2007, would take place in Spring 2008. [[Sony Computer Entertainment|SCEI President and Group CEO Kaz Hirai later stated that the launch was delayed for further testing and feedback evaluation to provide the best possible experience upon launch. On April 21, 2008, Sony announced that Home would be delayed further and the closed beta would be extended until fall 2008, delaying the service's availability to the general public by a full year.PlayStation Portable connectivityThe PlayStation 3 received generally unfavorable reviews soon after its launch, with many websites and reviewers criticizing its high price and lack of quality launch games. However, after a series of price revisions, Blu-ray's victory over HD-DVD, and the release of several well received titles, such as ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots'' and ''Uncharted: Drake's Fortune'', the system has begun to receive better reviews.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." GamesRadar ranked the PS3 as the top item in a feature on game-related [[Public relations|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 had "untapped potential." ''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."Some journalists judged that the relative ease with which it was possible to buy a PlayStation 3 in stores in the U.S. and Japan soon after its launch, compared with the scarcity of the url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20070117123243.html |title=Sony PlayStation 3–Widely Available, Nintendo Wii – Out of Stock |accessdate=2007-02-04 |last=Shilov |first=Anton |date=2007-01-17 |publisher=X-bit Labs}} In addition, there were reports that some Japanese retailers discounted the system as early as January 2007 to stimulate demand. In an interview with ''Gaming Monthly'', SCEA Chief of Operations last=Hsu|first=Dan|title=[http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=2&cId=3158106 BattleStation! (page 3)|journal=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=214|year=2007|month=February|pages=108}} In response, Penny Arcade's Gabe and Tycho demanded a reward of $13,200 after finding eleven PS3s in stores near their home town.Despite the initial negative press, several websites have given the system very good reviews. url=http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4370234 |title=PS3 Reviewed |accessdate=2007-04-21 |last=Carnoy |first=Dave |year=2007 |month=March |publisher=CNet.co.uk}} CNET awarded it a score of 8.8 out of 10 and voted it as its number one "must-have" gadget, praising its robust graphical capabilities and stylish exterior design while criticizing its limited selection of available games.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. Also, the Convergence Panel of the European Imaging and Sound Association recognized the PS3 as the best media center product in the 2007/2008 award year.''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." At [[Game Developers Conference|GDC 2007, Dave Perry stated, "I think that Sony has made the best machine. It's the best piece of hardware, without question." 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.ReferencesExternal linksPlayStation 3 zh-yue:PlayStation 3 |