Sony is boosting the capabilities of their PlayStation3 lineup while maintaining their price points. The $399.99 MSRP price point, formerly 40GB, is now an 80GB unit. Previously announced, this is now shipping to retailers.
And today Sony announced a new unit for the $499.99 price point, with 160GB. But more than just a boost in storage capacity, Sony will launch the 160GB unit in November as part of a bundle. The bundle will include the 160GB PS3, a copy of the game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, a voucher for a couple of the game PAIN via the PlayStation Store, and a DUALSHOCK 3 Wireless Controller. All for $499.99. That sounds like a pretty good deal, especially since I my 60GB PS3 cost me the same amount with no bundle back when I got it.
Of course, the PS3 remains one of the best Blu-ray players on the market. But the additional storage space will make a difference now that Sony is offering video downloads, including HD video, via the PlayStation Store, and as they move toward increasing broadband game distribution.
Their press release:
Aug 20, 2008 12:00 ET
Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Limited-Edition Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune™PLAYSTATION®3 Bundle Featuring New 160GB PS3™ System
PS3 Bundle Includes Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune™, PLAYSTATION®Network Voucher for PAIN and DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller, Offering Tremendous Value to Consumers
FOSTER CITY, Calif., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced plans to introduce a new 160GB PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system in North America as part of the limited-edition Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune™ PS3 system bundle. The increased storage size enables entertainment enthusiasts to store even more movies, television shows, and games downloaded from PLAYSTATION®Network, as well as more videos, music, and photos from their personal collection. Slated to launch in November for $499.99 (MSRP), the 160GB PS3 system will come bundled with the hit game, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune™, a PLAYSTATION Network voucher for PAIN, and a DUALSHOCK®3 wireless controller. The previously announced 80GB PS3 system ($399.99 MSRP) has started shipping to retailers.
“As PLAYSTATION Network continues to evolve with our recently launched video delivery service and more exclusive games, PS3 owners are demanding more storage capacity,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. “Consumers also are utilizing PS3 as an entertainment hub for their digital media, placing content such as their entire music collection on the hard drive. The 160GB PS3 system addresses this growing consumer demand in a compelling bundle that delivers significant value.”
The Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune PS3 bundle includes the following components:
– 160GB PS3 system — The 160GB PS3 is a complete entertainment system comprising a Blu-ray™ Disc player, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, and Cell Broadband Engine™.
– Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune — A 400-year-old clue found in the coffin of Sir Francis Drake sets a modern-day fortune hunter, Nathan Drake, on an exploration for the fabled treasure of El Dorado, leading to the discovery of a forgotten island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The search turns deadly when Drake becomes stranded on the island and hunted by mercenaries. Outnumbered and outgunned, Drake and his companions must fight to survive as they begin to unravel the terrible secrets hidden on the Island.
– PAIN PLAYSTATION Network Voucher* — PAIN boldly tackles a rarely explored area of video-gaming … comedy. The unique mechanic of the game allows the player to load a character into a human-sized, ultra-powerful slingshot, and fire the character into an active, physics-controlled environment, filled with precarious and humorous situations. Download PAIN from PLAYSTATION Store (http://store.playstation.com/) to your PS3 system with the included voucher.
– DUALSHOCK 3 Wireless Controller — DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller provides the most intuitive game play experience with pressure sensors in each action button and the inclusion of the highly sensitive SIXAXIS™ motion sensing technology.
The additional storage space of the 160GB model will benefit consumers, as several highly anticipated PLAYSTATION Network and PS3 games along with add-on content will be available for download soon, including PAIN Amusement Park, Ratchet & Clank®Future: Quest for Booty™, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, and The Last Guy™. The bundle is also a great option for consumers who want to utilize PLAYSTATION Network’s video delivery service, which offers new blockbuster movies and popular TV shows for download on an ongoing basis.
PS3 momentum has soared in 2008, starting with Blu-ray becoming the high-definition standard and following the launches of key franchise titles, including Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, Grand Theft Auto™ IV, and Metal Gear Solid®4: Guns of the Patriots. That momentum will continue into the holidays and beyond, as PS3′s software lineup will offer the most depth and breadth of any platform across the industry, delivering highly anticipated exclusives such as BUZZ!™: Quiz TV, LittleBigPlanet™, Resistance™ 2, MotorStorm™ Pacific Rift, and Killzone™ 2.
PLAYSTATION(R)3 160GB Specification
Product name PLAYSTATION(R)3
CPU Cell Broadband Engine(TM) (Cell/B.E.)
GPU RSX(TM)
Sound Dolby 5.1ch, DTS 5.1ch , LPCM 7.1ch,
AAC, others *1 *2
Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3
VRAM
HDD 2.5" Serial ATA 160GB
I/O USB 2.0 x2
Communication Ethernet X1 (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
IEEE 802.11 b/g Included
Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) Included
Wireless controller (Bluetooth) Included
AV Output Screen size 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
HDMI OUT x1 *3
AV MULTI OUT x1
DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x1
BD/DVD/CD Maximum Read Speed BD 2x (BD-ROM)
Drive DVD 8x (DVD-ROM)
(Read Only) CD 24x (CD-ROM)
Dimensions Approximately 12.75in(W) x 3.86in (H)
x 10.8in (D)
Weight Approximately 11 lbs
*1 A device compatible with Linear PCM 7.1 Ch. is required to output 7.1
Ch. audio, supported by Dolby TrueHD or a similar format, from the
HDMI OUT connector.
*2 This system does not support output from the DTS-HD 7.1 Ch. DTS-HD 7.1
Ch. audio is output from a 5.1 or lower channel.
*3 "Deep Color" and "x.v.Color (xvYCC)" defined by HDMI ver1.3a are
supported.About Sony Computer Entertainment America
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PLAYSTATION®Network and PLAYSTATION®Store.
Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com/
* PLAYSTATION Network registration is required. User responsible for all
applicable Internet fees. Voucher for PAIN expires March 30, 2009.“PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION”, “PSP”, “PS one” and “UMD” are registered trademarks and “PS3″ is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
©2008 Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Source: Sony Computer Entertainment America
CONTACT: Al de Leon, +1-650-655-7348, al_deleon@playstation.sony.com, or
Patrick Seybold, +1-650-655-7549, patrick_seybold@playstation.sony.com, both
of Sony Computer Entertainment America
Web site: http://www.playstation.com/
