kornfrk272
I have the base model of MacBook Pro mid 2012. Idk if I'm liking it that well. I love the mouse and built quality. I bought it at bestbuy. Could someone help pointing me to some laptops that are under 1200 at bestbuy or a store. Don't wanna buy online. I would like similar built quality. Reason why I don't like pc laptops cuz there almost always made cheap. Thanks in advance.
Answer
Sony VAIO SVS13A1 Series Magnesium Alloy shell.
This custom build this spec is close to what your willing to spend.
Third Gen Ivy Bridge Intel®Core(TM)i7-3520M Quad Core, 2.9GHz - 3.6 Ghz boost.
320 GIG Hard drive
6 GB 1333 MHz DDR3-SDRAM Upto 12 GIG
Blu-ray Disc(TM) player
CD-DVD-RW
13.3 inch LCD, 1600x900+webcam
Hybrid Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000/NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 640M 2GB (Physical switch)
Wireless WAN Download 14.4 Mbps / Upload 5.76 Mbps (HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS)
Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11abgn)
1 x USB2.0 + 2 x USB3.0
HDMI(TM) output:
Bluetooth® 4.0
Fingerprint scanner
Sony MagicGate technology
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vaio-s-series
https://shop.sony.co.uk/shop/ipc/displayLayout/%28rdb=0&cScrollCharGroupName=%24BASE_GROUP&citemarea=4D5E49A6338A0106E10080002BC29BE1&cInstId=1&layout=27_185_74_75_77_78_79_80_82_91_92_152&cCharName=C1000000009_S1313&next=config&carea=%24ROOT&order=&citem=4D5E49A6338A0106E10080002BC29BE150C84AAD496311A0E10080002BC29B73&xcm=PCM_b2ccrmstandard&Z_OMNI_CSINT=14300314&cCharGroupName=%24BASE_GROUP&isHideActive=%29/.do
Sony VAIO SVS13A1 Series Magnesium Alloy shell.
This custom build this spec is close to what your willing to spend.
Third Gen Ivy Bridge Intel®Core(TM)i7-3520M Quad Core, 2.9GHz - 3.6 Ghz boost.
320 GIG Hard drive
6 GB 1333 MHz DDR3-SDRAM Upto 12 GIG
Blu-ray Disc(TM) player
CD-DVD-RW
13.3 inch LCD, 1600x900+webcam
Hybrid Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000/NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 640M 2GB (Physical switch)
Wireless WAN Download 14.4 Mbps / Upload 5.76 Mbps (HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS)
Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11abgn)
1 x USB2.0 + 2 x USB3.0
HDMI(TM) output:
Bluetooth® 4.0
Fingerprint scanner
Sony MagicGate technology
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vaio-s-series
https://shop.sony.co.uk/shop/ipc/displayLayout/%28rdb=0&cScrollCharGroupName=%24BASE_GROUP&citemarea=4D5E49A6338A0106E10080002BC29BE1&cInstId=1&layout=27_185_74_75_77_78_79_80_82_91_92_152&cCharName=C1000000009_S1313&next=config&carea=%24ROOT&order=&citem=4D5E49A6338A0106E10080002BC29BE150C84AAD496311A0E10080002BC29B73&xcm=PCM_b2ccrmstandard&Z_OMNI_CSINT=14300314&cCharGroupName=%24BASE_GROUP&isHideActive=%29/.do
PS3 anyone!?
Q. tell me everything you know about this ps3! i want the game kingdom hearts 3 on it! i want to know everything about that game too! if u know anything about those two things tell me at once! plz and thankz
Answer
Here is everything that I know about the PS3 as of date.
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (Japanese: ãã¬ã¤ã¹ãã¼ã·ã§ã³ 3,, PureisutÄshon SurÄ«?, trademarked PLAYSTATION 3,[2] abbreviated PS3) is Sony's seventh generation era video game console, third in the PlayStation series. It is the successor to the PlayStation 2 and will compete against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. The PS3 is scheduled for release on November 11, 2006 in Japan and November 17, 2006 worldwide, and will ship in two initial configurations.
Sony officially unveiled the PS3 to the public on May 16, 2005 during an E3 conference. A functional version of the console was not at E3 2005 or the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005, although at both events, demonstrations were held on devkits (e.g. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) and comparable PC hardware, and video footage based on the predicted PS3 specifications was produced (e.g. Mobile Suit Gundam).[3] It wasn't until E3 2006 that games were shown on actual PlayStation 3 systems. In preparation for launch, Sony has announced that there will be 27 playable PS3 titles on show at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2006 on final hardware.[4]
Thus far, public reception of the console has been mixed with the Sony stock market price declining partially due to worries about the future of the PlayStation brand and its profitability.[5] However, Sony's chief has cited its widespread developer support and advanced "future-proofed" technologies such as Blu-ray and the Cell microprocessor, as ensuring the continued success of the PlayStation platform.[6]
Overview
System configuration
Sony's initial retail strategy for the PlayStation 3 will involve two different configurations that are detailed in a Sony press release.[7] The "premium" version of the PlayStation 3 will come with an internal 60 GB hard drive, Wi-Fi connectivity, HDMI output, and multiple flash memory card readers, and features a brighter cosmetic silver-colored logo and trim. The second and alternate configuration of the console will have a 20 GB internal hard drive but will not feature Wi-Fi, HDMI, or a memory card reader. The hard drive is upgradeable, and memory card and Wi-Fi support can be added through adaptors, but the HDMI support is not upgradeable.[8]
The lack of HDMI output in the 20 GB model (as with the Xbox 360 or player lacking HDCP) could potentially cause problems with restricted output resolution on Blu-ray video. An ICT flag can be set by content producers, which forces non-HDCP video down to a pixel resolution of 960Ã540 (50% greater than DVD-Video at NTSC resolution, and 25% greater than PAL resolution). SCEA president Kaz Hirai stated that it is "too early to speculate at this point" whether movie producers will activate the ICT feature.[9] According to German publisher Spiegel, a behind-the-scenes agreement was made to not enforce the ICT flag on next-generation optical formats until at least 2010, or possibly even 2012.[10]
Release data and pricing
Release date and suggested retail price by region* Region Expected pricing at release Release
date
Basic Premium
Japan[7] JPÂ¥59,800($516) Open price 11-11-06
United States[11] $499* US$599* 11-17-06
Canada[11] C$549($489) C$659($587)
Eurozone[12] â¬499($640) â¬599($768)
United Kingdom[13] - GB£425â ($801)
Switzerland[14]
CHF 749($608)
CHF 899($729)
Norway[15] - 5000 NOKâ ($873)
Denmark[16] 4495 DKK($770) 5495 DKK ($950)
Sweden[17] - 5999 SEKâ ($837)
Finland[18] â¬550($705) â¬650($834)
Australia[19] A$829($630) A$999($759)
New Zealand NZ$999â ($639)
NZ$1199.95[20]â ($767) 11-23-06
Mexico Mex$7000â ($499)
Mex$9000â ($599)
Q1 07[21]
David Wilson, Head of Public Relations at Sony Computer Entertainment UK, stated that both models will likely be sold in the UK market, but both may not be available at launch.[13] There, Sony has said that the black color is to be the first on sale, followed by the silver and white color in March 2007.[citation needed] Previously, Sony Computer Entertainment UK Marketing Director Ray Maguire had stated that only the 60 GB version would be available at launch.[22]
In Japan, Sony has opted to go with an open pricing scheme for the 60 GB model, allowing retailers to set a price point themselves. Rakuten, one of the biggest Japanese online retailers, has set their price point at ¥71,800, or ¥75,390 with taxes added (about 675 USD).[23]
The PS3 has received mixed reviews for its price. It is significantly higher than its same-generation competition in all world markets.[24] Sony has publicly defended its pricing model, citing the PS3's higher performance and inclusion of a Blu-ray drive, of which stand-alone players cost an average of US$1,000.[9]
Game pricing
There have also been statements by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) President and CEO Kaz Hirai suggesting games may cost somewhere between $60 and $100 USD[25], more than the US$60 standard for higher-priced games.[26] Futureshop, a Canadian electronics store, has priced each game at C$69.99 (~US$62[
Software
Games
0-9
100 Bullets - D3 Productions[1] (O) (L)
2 Days to Vegas - Steel Monkeys[2] (O)
211 - Gaia Industries[3] (O)
6GUN II - BattleBorne[4] (O)
A
ActiveDogs (working title) - MTO[5]
Afrika - Sony Computer Entertainment/Rhino Studios[6] (N)
Untitled Airtight Project - Airtight Games[7]
Akari Project (working title) - Takuyo[8]
Alone in the Dark - Atari/Eden Studios[9] (O) (L)
Angel Rings - SCEI
Ape Escape PS3 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Japan
Aquanaut no Kyujitsu: Inner Mind Adventure - Artdink
Armored Core 4 - FromSoftware
Army of Two - Electronic Arts/EA Montreal
Assassin's Creed - Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal
Avalon - Climax Studios
B
BB (working title) - Arc System Works
Battle Angel Alita - To be announced
Big (Working Title) - Naughty Dog/Sony Computer Entertainment
Black Blade (working title) - From Software
Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War - KOEI/Omega Force
Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII - Ubisoft[10]
Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 - SCEI
Bomberman - Hudson
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway - Ubisoft/Gearbox Software
C
Call of Duty 3 - Activision/Treyarch
Casino Royale - Activision
Castlevania PS3 - Konami
Cipher Complex - Edge of Reality
Clive Barker's Jericho - Codemasters
The Club - SEGA/Bizarre Creations
Coded Arms: Assault - Konami
Condemned: Criminal Originis - Sega/Monolith
Crysis-Crytek/Electronic Arts [EA]
D
Dark RPG (Working title) - From Software
Dark Sector - D3 Publisher/Digital Extremes
The Darkness - 2K Games/Starbreeze AB
Data-Fly - ORiGO Gaming Entertainment
Def Jam 3: Back to the Streets (working title) - Electronic Arts/EA Chicago
Derby Stallion - Enterbrain
Devil May Cry 4 - Capcom/Capcom Production Studio 1
DIRT: Colin McRae Off-Road - Codemasters
Dirty Harry - Warner Bros. Interactive/The Collective
Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 - Atari/Bandai Namco[11]
Driver (working title) - Atari
Dynasty Warriors 6 (working title) - KOEI
Dynasty Warriors: Way of the Swords
E
Eight Days - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios London
Elveon - 10Tacle Studios
Empire (working title) - Chair Entertainment
Orson Scott Card's Empire - Chair Entertainment
Extreme - Taito Corporation
Eyedentify - Sony Computer Entertainment
Eye of Judgement - SCEI/SCEA
F
F.E.A.R. - Warner Bros. Interactive/Monolith Productions [12]
F.E.A.R. 2 (working title) - Warner Bros. Interactive/Monolith Productions
Fatal Inertia - KOEI/KOEI Canada
FIFA Soccer 07 -(cancelled) Electronic Arts/EA Sports
Fight Night Round 3 - Electronic Arts/EA Chicago
Final Fantasy Versus XIII - Square Enix
Final Fantasy XIII - Square Enix
Fith Phantom Saga - Sega
Formula One 06 - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Liverpool
Frontlines: Fuel of War - THQ/Kaos Studios
Full Auto 2: Battlelines - SEGA/Pseudo Interactive
Future GPX Cyber Formula PS3 - Sunrise Interactive (Japan)
G
Genji 2 - Sony Computer Entertainment/Game Republic
The Getaway 3 - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Soho/SCE Studios London
Golden Axe - SEGA/Secret Level
Gradius - Konami
Grand Raid Offroad - Asobo Studios
Grand Theft Auto IV - Rockstar Games/Rockstar North
Gran Turismo HD - Polyphony Digital
H
Half-Life 2 - Valve
Haze - Ubisoft/Free Radical Design
Heavenly Sword - Sony Computer Entertainment/Ninja Theory
Heavy Rain - Quantic Dream
Hellboy - Konami/Krome Studios
Heat - Gearbox Software
Hot Shots Golf (Working title) - SCEI
I
Indiana Jones 2007 - LucasArts
Interstellar Marines - Zero Point Software
J
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu - Konami
K
Killing Day - Ubisoft
Killzone PS3 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/Guerilla Games/SCEE
Kingdom Hearts 3 - Square Enix - Buena Vista Games
Kurayami - Grasshopper Manufacture
L
L.A. Noire - Team Bondi
Lair - Sony Computer Entertainment/Factor 5
The Lord of the Rings: The White Council - Electronic Arts/EA Redwood Shores
Lost - Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal
M
Madagascar 2 - Activision
Madden NFL 07 - Electronic Arts/Tiburon
Mahjong Oh - Warashi
Makai Wars - Nippon Ichi Software
Martial Art - D3 Publisher
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance- Activision/Raven Software
Master Project (working title) - Takuyo
Medal of Honor: Airborne - Electronic Arts/EA Los Angeles
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames - Pandemic Studios
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Konami/Kojima Productions
Metro 2033: The Last Refuge - 4A Games [13]
Minna no Golf5 - SCEI
Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire - Bandai/BEC
Monster Kingdom -Sony Computer Entertainment/Gaia
Monster Hunter 3- Capcom
Monster Madness - SouthPeak Interactive/Artificial Studios/IMMERSION Software & Graphics
MotorStorm - Sony Computer Entertainment/Evolution Studios
MotoGP 06 - THQ
N
Naruto RPG(working title)
Naxat Plan - Digital Gain
NBA 2K7 - 2K Sports/Visual Concepts
NBA 07 The Life Vol. 2 - S.C.E.A.
NBA Live 07 - Electronic Arts/EA Canada
Need For Speed: Carbon - Electronic Arts/EA Black Box
NHL 07
Ni-Oh - KOEI
O
Omikron 2 (working title) - Quantic Dream
The Outsider - Frontier Developments
P
Pachinko Jikki - Hack Berry
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie - Ubisoft
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - Buena Vista Games/Eurocom
Possession - Volatile Games/Blitz Games
Project Delta - Playlogic International
Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 - Konami
Pro Mahjong Goku Final - Athena
Project D - MichaelSoft
Project Force - From Software
Project IM (working title) - Zero Point Software
Project Psychic (working title) - Taito
Q
R
Rain - Artoon
Ratchet & Clank 5 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/Insomniac Games
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Redwood Falls - Kuju Entertainment
Rengoku: The End of the Century - Neverland
Resident Evil 5 - Capcom
Resistance: Fall of Man - Sony Computer Entertainment/Insomniac Games
Ridge Racer 7 - Namco
Romance of the Three Kingdoms PS3 - KOEI
S
Saikyou Ginsei Shougi 7 - Magnolia
Sam Suede: Undercover Exposure - iBase Entertainment
Way of the Samurai 3 (working title) - Aquire
Scarface: The World is Yours - VU Games/Radical Entertainment
Schwarzenberg - Radon Labs
Secret Service - Tigon
Sega Rally Revo - Sega
Seikan - Astroll
ShadowClan - Tiger Hill Entertainment
Shin Megami Tensei (working title) - Atlus Co.
Shin Ten Makai - Idea Factory
Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula (working title) - Sunrise Interactive
Shougi World Champion Gekisashi (working title) - Mainichi
Singstar - SCEE
Slotter Mania - Dorasu
Sonic the Hedgehog - SEGA/Sonic Team
Soul Calibur IV - Namco
Spawn 2: The Official Game - TBA
Spider-Man 3 - Activision
Untitled Square Enix next-gen MMORPG - Square Enix[14]
Star Wars 2007 - LucasArts
John Woo Presents Stranglehold - Midway/Midway Amusement Games
Stuntman 2 - THQ/Paradigm Entertainment
Sunrise Eiyuutan (working title) - Sunrise Intereactive
Super Robot PS3 (working title) - Banpresto
T
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (working title) - Ubisoft
Tekken 6 - Namco
Thesis - Track 7 Games
The Wall - Play Ten Interactive (PTI)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 - Electronic Arts/EA Redwood Shores
TNA iMPACT! - Midway Games/Midway Studios (Los Angeles)
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas - Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent - Ubisoft
Tony Hawk's Project 8 - Activision/Neversoft Entertainment
Transformers (working title) - Activision
Turok - Buena Vista Games/Propaganda Games
U
Unreal Tournament 2007 - Midway Games/Epic Games
Untitled DC Comics MMO - Sony Online Entertainment
Untitled John McTiernan Game - Ubisoft
[[Untitled Marvel MMORPG*]]
Untitled Naughty Dog Project - SCEA/Naughty Dog [15]
Untitled RPG - Obsidian/Sega
Untitled Western Shooter (working title) - Rockstar Games
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - Sony Online Entertainment
V
Value 2000 Igo - Magnolia
Value 2000 Shougi - Magnolia
Vampire's Rain - Artoon
Virtua Fighter 5 - SEGA/Sega-AM2
Virtua Tennis 3 - SEGA
Vision Gran Turismo - Sony Computer Entertainment/Polyphony Digital
W
The Wall - Burut Software
WarDevil (Enigma) (working title) - Digi Guy's [16]
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning - Electronic Arts/Mythic Entertainment
Warhawk - Sony Computer Entertainment/Incog Inc. Entertainment
The Wheelman - Midway
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 - Konami
WipEout PS3 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Liverpool
World Pool Championship 2007 - Sega
World Snooker Championship 2007 - Sega
World Tour Soccer PS3 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios London
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008 PS3 - TBA
X
X Quest - Spectrum MediaWorks
Y
Yamasa Digi World DX (working title) - Yamasa
Backward compatibility
Sony has stated that the PlayStation 3 will have backward compatibility with the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, and that every PS1 and PS2 game that observes its respective system's TRC (Technical Requirements Checklist) will be playable on PS3 at launch.[1]SCE president Ken Kutaragi asked developers to adhere to the TRC to facilitate compatibility with future PlayStations, stating that the company was having some difficulty getting backward compatibility with games that had not followed the TRCs. "Either it's accidental or on purpose; there's actually a lot of games that don't follow the TRC."[28]. It has been reported that initial PS3 units will include the CPU/rasterizer combination chip used in slim PS2 (EE+GS) to achieve backward compatibility.[29]
The PlayStation 3 does not include interfaces for legacy PlayStation devices, but there will be an adapter for the memory cards[5] so users can save their PS1/PS2 data on to a virtual memory card in the hard drive. USB devices for PlayStation 2 may be compatible with PlayStation 3. PlayStation 3 can use Memory Sticks to store save data for PlayStation and PlayStation 2 software.
Software development
The PlayStation 3, unlike the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 systems[citation needed], is based on open and publicly available application programming interfaces. The PlayStation 3 development kit was recently praised by IGN as having "distinct lack of noise and heat coming from the system". Despite earlier rumours of programming being difficult,[31] IGN reports that they were told that the dev kit "seemed extremely adaptive and easy to program for".[32]
Open standards
COLLADA, an open, XML-based file format for 3D models.[33]
PSGL, a modified version of OpenGL ES 1.0 (OpenGL ES 2.0 compliant except for the use of Cg instead of GLSL), with extensions specifically aimed at the PS3[34]
OpenMAX, a collection of fast, cross-platform tools for general "media acceleration," such as matrix calculations.[citation needed]
OpenVG, for hardware-accelerated 2D vector graphics.[citation needed]
Sublicensed
AGEIA's PhysX SDK, NovodeX.[citation needed]
Epic's Unreal engine 3.0 framework.[citation needed]
Havok's physics and animation engines.[35]
Pixelux's Game Asset Synthesis Technology[citation needed], a toolkit for advanced procedural synthesis and the Digital Molecular Matter engine plug in for Maya and 3d Studio Max
Cg 1.5, Nvidia's C-like shading language.[citation needed]
SpeedTree RT, a programming package produced by Interactive Data Visualization, Inc. that aims to produce high-quality virtual foliage in real time.
Kynogon's Kynapse 4.0 "large scale A.I."[36]
Considered standards
The list of standards they are reported to be considering includes:
IPv6, the next generation of the Internet Protocol. [37]
Sony has selected several technologies and arranged several sublicensing agreements to create an advanced software development kit for developers. In addition, in 2005 Sony purchased SN Systems, a former provider of Microsoft Windows-based development tools for a variety of console platforms; including PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP and Nintendo DS to create additional GNU development tools. Sony is providing all developers with GNU toolchains[citation needed] where SN Systems will provide customer-oriented wrappers for GNU tools at an additional cost.
Interface and operating system
The PlayStation 3 version of the Cross Media Bar demonstrated at E3 2006 (video) included options for different user profiles, the ability to explore photos, play music and movies from the hard drive, compatibility for a USB Keyboard and Mouse, a full Internet browser and a Friends menu. In a separate demo Sony presented the "Marketplace" where users can buy and download music.
Linux will be pre-installed on the PS3 hard drive. Currently it is unknown if Linux will be the operating system used to run everything, including the Cross Media Bar, or if the system will operate as a dual boot environment, where Linux would be loaded from the Cross Media Bar menu.
Because we have plans for having Linux on board [the PS3], we also recognize Linux programming activities⦠Other than game studios tied to official developer licenses, we'd like to see various individuals participate in content creation for the PS3.
âIzumi Kawanishi on the presence of the Linux in the PS3.
PlayStation Network Platform
In response to Microsoft's successful Xbox Live network, Sony announced a unified online service for the Playstation 3's console at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo; tentatively titled "PlayStation Network Platform". Sony has confirmed that the service will be always connected[39], free and include multiplayer support. However developers are permitted to charge a subscription fee, as is common with MMO games.
PlayStation Network Platform (PNP or PSNP) is the online service to be provided for use with the Sony PlayStation 3 video game console.[1]
It's currently in development by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) Europe with the Sony Online Entertainment. Parts of PNP will incorporate the Central Station (already working in Europe) and a possible integration with Connect.com marketplace.
Services
On March 15, 2006 at the PlayStation Business Briefing, Sony confirmed that they are preparing for an Xbox Live-like online service tentatively named PlayStation Network Platform with free online play and better network adapter sequencing.
The full list of planned services for the PlayStation Network Platform is as follows.[1]
Communication/Community:
Account created through user registration
Lobbies/Matchmaking
Scores/Ranking
Game data upload/download
Presence/Friend List/Avatar
Voice/Video Chat
Messaging
Commerce
Shops (can be accessed from inside games)
Content Download
Game boot from HDD
Subscription
Selling item by item
Micropayment
Entitlement Management
Account
User Registration
Login ID/Handlename issue
Comparison to Xbox Live
Unlike Xbox Live (a service provided for the Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles, which has proved to be the most successful so far), Sony will offer a PNP "basic" service comparable to the Xbox Live Silver service, except that it will additionally allow users to play games online for free. However, the downloading of extra content is likely to require a fee.
Also, Xbox Live is a more unified service, with a central server and global ranking and lobby system. With PNP, developers can devise their own system and use their own servers to a way beneficial to the game.
Hardware specifications
Unless otherwise noted, the following specifications are based on a press release by Sony at the 2005 E3 Conference,[40] and slides from a Sony presentation at the 2006 Game Developer's Conference.[41]
The floating point performance of the whole system (CPU + GPU) is reported to be 2.18 TFLOPS[40]. PlayStation 3's Cell CPU achieves 218 GFLOPS single precision float and is reported at around 26 GFLOPS double precision.
Central processing unit
3.2 GHz Cell processor: one PowerPC-based "Power Processing Element" and seven active 3.2 GHz Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs). The PPE has a 512 KB L2 cache and one VMX (AltiVec) vector unit. Each of the SPEs is a RISC processor with 128 128-bit SIMD GPRs and superscalar functions. Each SPE has 256 KB of L1 cache/software-addressable 4.8 GHz SRAM, called the "Local Store".
Only seven of eight SPEs are active to improve yield. If one of the eight has a manufacturing defect, it is disabled without rendering the entire unit defective or affecting performance. If more than one of eight is defective, the Cell may be used in IBM BladeCenters for other applications. The current version of the PlayStation's operating system requires dedicated use of one of the seven active SPEs, leaving six SPEs directly available to applications.
Graphics processing unit
Based on a downgraded NVIDIA G70 (previously known as NV47) architecture
Clocked at 550 MHz
128-bit DDR memory interface
211.2 GFLOPS programmable (384 FLOPS per clock), 1.8 TFLOPS total
Multi-way programmable parallel floating point shader pipelines
136 shader operations per clock ( * 550 MHz = 74.8 billion / second, 100 billion with CPU)
24 2D texture lookups per clock ( * 550 MHz = 13.2 billion / second)
33 billion dot products per second (51 billion dot products with CPU)
128-bit pixel precision
S3TC 5 to 1 texture compression site
Memory
Total 512 MiB, split into:
256 MiB Rambus XDR DRAM clocked at CPU die speed (3.2 GHz)
256 MiB GDDR3 VRAM clocked at 700 MHz
System bandwidth
204.8 GB/s Cell Element Interconnect Bus (Theoretical peak performance)[42]
Cell FlexIO Bus: 35 GB/s outbound, 25 GB/s inbound (7 outbound and 5 inbound 1Byte wide channels operating at 5 GHz) (effective bandwidth typically 50-80% of total)[43]
51.2 GB/s SPE to local store
Experimental Sustained bandwidth for some SPE-to-SPE DMA transfers - 78 to 197 GB/s.[43]
25.6 GB/s to Main Ram XDR DRAM: 64 bits à 3.2 GHz / 8 bits to a byte
22.4 GB/s to GDDR3 VRAM: 128 bits à 700 MHz à 2 accesses per clock cycle (one per edge) / 8 bits to a byte
RSX 20 GB/s (write), 15 GB/s (read)
System Bus (separate from XIO controller) 2.5 GB/s write and 2.5 GB/s read
Interfaces
Video
Composite
S-Video
Component video (output up to and including 1080p)
HDMI 1.3[44] port (Digital video output; 60 GB model only)
Supported resolutions
Sound
S/PDIF optical output for digital audio up to 7.1 sound
Dolby TrueHD[45] (compatible sound equipment required[citation needed])
DTS-HD
LPCM (DSP functionality handled by the Cell processor)
Communications
One Gigabit Ethernet Port
USB 2.0 (x4)
Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
Wi-Fi (60 GB model only), IEEE 802.11b/g
Power supply
The power supply will be built into the console. A standard 3-pin IEC connector is present at the base of the console.
Storage
Optical
Blu-ray Disc (2x = 9.0 MB/s) PlayStation 3 BD-ROM, BD-Video, BD-R/RE (Region free for gaming)[46]
DVD (8x = 11.0 MB/s Max) PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD ± R/RW
CD (24x = 3.5 MB/s) PlayStation CD-ROM, PlayStation 2 CD-ROM, CD-DA, CD-DA (ROM), CD-R, CD-RW
SACD (2x) SACD Hybrid (CD layer) SACD HD
Hard disk drive: Pre-Installed 20 GB / 60 GB (depending on package), 2.5" SATA150, detachable/upgradeable, with Linux pre-installed.[47]
Flash memory interfaces (60 GB model only) - Memory Stick, CompactFlash, SD/MMC
E3 2005 showcased Sony's "boomerang" design, which was abandoned after poor public reaction and replaced with an upgraded wireless version of the DualShock 2 at E3 2006. The new controller features finer analogue sensitivity[48], more trigger-like R2 and L2 buttons, Home button like the PSP and Xbox 360, and a USB mini-B port for charging the internal battery and use for wired play. There are four numbered LED indicators, to identify and distinguish multiple wireless controllers. The major feature revealed was the ability to sense both rotational orientation and translational acceleration,[48] similar to the previously announced capabilities of the Nintendo Wii controller. Games that use this feature will come with an option to turn it off. Sony has stated that because of these sensors, the rumble feature of the previous controllers has been removed, reasoning that the vibration interferes with motion-sensing.[48] Haptics developer Immersion Corporation (who successfully sued Sony)[49] expressed skepticism of Sony's rationale,[50] and has since introduced tilt and motion-sensing which filters out vibration in software.
Other information
Sony revealed PS3 would use heat pipes and claims the system will be as quiet as a slim PS2[7] ~29dB (A). The PlayStation 3 is approximately 5 kg (11 lbs), 9.8 cm à 32.5 cm à 27.4 cm (3.9 in. à 12.8 in. à 10.8 in.)
Here is everything that I know about the PS3 as of date.
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (Japanese: ãã¬ã¤ã¹ãã¼ã·ã§ã³ 3,, PureisutÄshon SurÄ«?, trademarked PLAYSTATION 3,[2] abbreviated PS3) is Sony's seventh generation era video game console, third in the PlayStation series. It is the successor to the PlayStation 2 and will compete against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. The PS3 is scheduled for release on November 11, 2006 in Japan and November 17, 2006 worldwide, and will ship in two initial configurations.
Sony officially unveiled the PS3 to the public on May 16, 2005 during an E3 conference. A functional version of the console was not at E3 2005 or the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005, although at both events, demonstrations were held on devkits (e.g. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) and comparable PC hardware, and video footage based on the predicted PS3 specifications was produced (e.g. Mobile Suit Gundam).[3] It wasn't until E3 2006 that games were shown on actual PlayStation 3 systems. In preparation for launch, Sony has announced that there will be 27 playable PS3 titles on show at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2006 on final hardware.[4]
Thus far, public reception of the console has been mixed with the Sony stock market price declining partially due to worries about the future of the PlayStation brand and its profitability.[5] However, Sony's chief has cited its widespread developer support and advanced "future-proofed" technologies such as Blu-ray and the Cell microprocessor, as ensuring the continued success of the PlayStation platform.[6]
Overview
System configuration
Sony's initial retail strategy for the PlayStation 3 will involve two different configurations that are detailed in a Sony press release.[7] The "premium" version of the PlayStation 3 will come with an internal 60 GB hard drive, Wi-Fi connectivity, HDMI output, and multiple flash memory card readers, and features a brighter cosmetic silver-colored logo and trim. The second and alternate configuration of the console will have a 20 GB internal hard drive but will not feature Wi-Fi, HDMI, or a memory card reader. The hard drive is upgradeable, and memory card and Wi-Fi support can be added through adaptors, but the HDMI support is not upgradeable.[8]
The lack of HDMI output in the 20 GB model (as with the Xbox 360 or player lacking HDCP) could potentially cause problems with restricted output resolution on Blu-ray video. An ICT flag can be set by content producers, which forces non-HDCP video down to a pixel resolution of 960Ã540 (50% greater than DVD-Video at NTSC resolution, and 25% greater than PAL resolution). SCEA president Kaz Hirai stated that it is "too early to speculate at this point" whether movie producers will activate the ICT feature.[9] According to German publisher Spiegel, a behind-the-scenes agreement was made to not enforce the ICT flag on next-generation optical formats until at least 2010, or possibly even 2012.[10]
Release data and pricing
Release date and suggested retail price by region* Region Expected pricing at release Release
date
Basic Premium
Japan[7] JPÂ¥59,800($516) Open price 11-11-06
United States[11] $499* US$599* 11-17-06
Canada[11] C$549($489) C$659($587)
Eurozone[12] â¬499($640) â¬599($768)
United Kingdom[13] - GB£425â ($801)
Switzerland[14]
CHF 749($608)
CHF 899($729)
Norway[15] - 5000 NOKâ ($873)
Denmark[16] 4495 DKK($770) 5495 DKK ($950)
Sweden[17] - 5999 SEKâ ($837)
Finland[18] â¬550($705) â¬650($834)
Australia[19] A$829($630) A$999($759)
New Zealand NZ$999â ($639)
NZ$1199.95[20]â ($767) 11-23-06
Mexico Mex$7000â ($499)
Mex$9000â ($599)
Q1 07[21]
David Wilson, Head of Public Relations at Sony Computer Entertainment UK, stated that both models will likely be sold in the UK market, but both may not be available at launch.[13] There, Sony has said that the black color is to be the first on sale, followed by the silver and white color in March 2007.[citation needed] Previously, Sony Computer Entertainment UK Marketing Director Ray Maguire had stated that only the 60 GB version would be available at launch.[22]
In Japan, Sony has opted to go with an open pricing scheme for the 60 GB model, allowing retailers to set a price point themselves. Rakuten, one of the biggest Japanese online retailers, has set their price point at ¥71,800, or ¥75,390 with taxes added (about 675 USD).[23]
The PS3 has received mixed reviews for its price. It is significantly higher than its same-generation competition in all world markets.[24] Sony has publicly defended its pricing model, citing the PS3's higher performance and inclusion of a Blu-ray drive, of which stand-alone players cost an average of US$1,000.[9]
Game pricing
There have also been statements by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) President and CEO Kaz Hirai suggesting games may cost somewhere between $60 and $100 USD[25], more than the US$60 standard for higher-priced games.[26] Futureshop, a Canadian electronics store, has priced each game at C$69.99 (~US$62[
Software
Games
0-9
100 Bullets - D3 Productions[1] (O) (L)
2 Days to Vegas - Steel Monkeys[2] (O)
211 - Gaia Industries[3] (O)
6GUN II - BattleBorne[4] (O)
A
ActiveDogs (working title) - MTO[5]
Afrika - Sony Computer Entertainment/Rhino Studios[6] (N)
Untitled Airtight Project - Airtight Games[7]
Akari Project (working title) - Takuyo[8]
Alone in the Dark - Atari/Eden Studios[9] (O) (L)
Angel Rings - SCEI
Ape Escape PS3 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Japan
Aquanaut no Kyujitsu: Inner Mind Adventure - Artdink
Armored Core 4 - FromSoftware
Army of Two - Electronic Arts/EA Montreal
Assassin's Creed - Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal
Avalon - Climax Studios
B
BB (working title) - Arc System Works
Battle Angel Alita - To be announced
Big (Working Title) - Naughty Dog/Sony Computer Entertainment
Black Blade (working title) - From Software
Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War - KOEI/Omega Force
Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII - Ubisoft[10]
Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 - SCEI
Bomberman - Hudson
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway - Ubisoft/Gearbox Software
C
Call of Duty 3 - Activision/Treyarch
Casino Royale - Activision
Castlevania PS3 - Konami
Cipher Complex - Edge of Reality
Clive Barker's Jericho - Codemasters
The Club - SEGA/Bizarre Creations
Coded Arms: Assault - Konami
Condemned: Criminal Originis - Sega/Monolith
Crysis-Crytek/Electronic Arts [EA]
D
Dark RPG (Working title) - From Software
Dark Sector - D3 Publisher/Digital Extremes
The Darkness - 2K Games/Starbreeze AB
Data-Fly - ORiGO Gaming Entertainment
Def Jam 3: Back to the Streets (working title) - Electronic Arts/EA Chicago
Derby Stallion - Enterbrain
Devil May Cry 4 - Capcom/Capcom Production Studio 1
DIRT: Colin McRae Off-Road - Codemasters
Dirty Harry - Warner Bros. Interactive/The Collective
Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 - Atari/Bandai Namco[11]
Driver (working title) - Atari
Dynasty Warriors 6 (working title) - KOEI
Dynasty Warriors: Way of the Swords
E
Eight Days - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios London
Elveon - 10Tacle Studios
Empire (working title) - Chair Entertainment
Orson Scott Card's Empire - Chair Entertainment
Extreme - Taito Corporation
Eyedentify - Sony Computer Entertainment
Eye of Judgement - SCEI/SCEA
F
F.E.A.R. - Warner Bros. Interactive/Monolith Productions [12]
F.E.A.R. 2 (working title) - Warner Bros. Interactive/Monolith Productions
Fatal Inertia - KOEI/KOEI Canada
FIFA Soccer 07 -(cancelled) Electronic Arts/EA Sports
Fight Night Round 3 - Electronic Arts/EA Chicago
Final Fantasy Versus XIII - Square Enix
Final Fantasy XIII - Square Enix
Fith Phantom Saga - Sega
Formula One 06 - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Liverpool
Frontlines: Fuel of War - THQ/Kaos Studios
Full Auto 2: Battlelines - SEGA/Pseudo Interactive
Future GPX Cyber Formula PS3 - Sunrise Interactive (Japan)
G
Genji 2 - Sony Computer Entertainment/Game Republic
The Getaway 3 - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Soho/SCE Studios London
Golden Axe - SEGA/Secret Level
Gradius - Konami
Grand Raid Offroad - Asobo Studios
Grand Theft Auto IV - Rockstar Games/Rockstar North
Gran Turismo HD - Polyphony Digital
H
Half-Life 2 - Valve
Haze - Ubisoft/Free Radical Design
Heavenly Sword - Sony Computer Entertainment/Ninja Theory
Heavy Rain - Quantic Dream
Hellboy - Konami/Krome Studios
Heat - Gearbox Software
Hot Shots Golf (Working title) - SCEI
I
Indiana Jones 2007 - LucasArts
Interstellar Marines - Zero Point Software
J
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu - Konami
K
Killing Day - Ubisoft
Killzone PS3 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/Guerilla Games/SCEE
Kingdom Hearts 3 - Square Enix - Buena Vista Games
Kurayami - Grasshopper Manufacture
L
L.A. Noire - Team Bondi
Lair - Sony Computer Entertainment/Factor 5
The Lord of the Rings: The White Council - Electronic Arts/EA Redwood Shores
Lost - Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal
M
Madagascar 2 - Activision
Madden NFL 07 - Electronic Arts/Tiburon
Mahjong Oh - Warashi
Makai Wars - Nippon Ichi Software
Martial Art - D3 Publisher
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance- Activision/Raven Software
Master Project (working title) - Takuyo
Medal of Honor: Airborne - Electronic Arts/EA Los Angeles
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames - Pandemic Studios
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Konami/Kojima Productions
Metro 2033: The Last Refuge - 4A Games [13]
Minna no Golf5 - SCEI
Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire - Bandai/BEC
Monster Kingdom -Sony Computer Entertainment/Gaia
Monster Hunter 3- Capcom
Monster Madness - SouthPeak Interactive/Artificial Studios/IMMERSION Software & Graphics
MotorStorm - Sony Computer Entertainment/Evolution Studios
MotoGP 06 - THQ
N
Naruto RPG(working title)
Naxat Plan - Digital Gain
NBA 2K7 - 2K Sports/Visual Concepts
NBA 07 The Life Vol. 2 - S.C.E.A.
NBA Live 07 - Electronic Arts/EA Canada
Need For Speed: Carbon - Electronic Arts/EA Black Box
NHL 07
Ni-Oh - KOEI
O
Omikron 2 (working title) - Quantic Dream
The Outsider - Frontier Developments
P
Pachinko Jikki - Hack Berry
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie - Ubisoft
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - Buena Vista Games/Eurocom
Possession - Volatile Games/Blitz Games
Project Delta - Playlogic International
Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 - Konami
Pro Mahjong Goku Final - Athena
Project D - MichaelSoft
Project Force - From Software
Project IM (working title) - Zero Point Software
Project Psychic (working title) - Taito
Q
R
Rain - Artoon
Ratchet & Clank 5 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/Insomniac Games
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Redwood Falls - Kuju Entertainment
Rengoku: The End of the Century - Neverland
Resident Evil 5 - Capcom
Resistance: Fall of Man - Sony Computer Entertainment/Insomniac Games
Ridge Racer 7 - Namco
Romance of the Three Kingdoms PS3 - KOEI
S
Saikyou Ginsei Shougi 7 - Magnolia
Sam Suede: Undercover Exposure - iBase Entertainment
Way of the Samurai 3 (working title) - Aquire
Scarface: The World is Yours - VU Games/Radical Entertainment
Schwarzenberg - Radon Labs
Secret Service - Tigon
Sega Rally Revo - Sega
Seikan - Astroll
ShadowClan - Tiger Hill Entertainment
Shin Megami Tensei (working title) - Atlus Co.
Shin Ten Makai - Idea Factory
Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula (working title) - Sunrise Interactive
Shougi World Champion Gekisashi (working title) - Mainichi
Singstar - SCEE
Slotter Mania - Dorasu
Sonic the Hedgehog - SEGA/Sonic Team
Soul Calibur IV - Namco
Spawn 2: The Official Game - TBA
Spider-Man 3 - Activision
Untitled Square Enix next-gen MMORPG - Square Enix[14]
Star Wars 2007 - LucasArts
John Woo Presents Stranglehold - Midway/Midway Amusement Games
Stuntman 2 - THQ/Paradigm Entertainment
Sunrise Eiyuutan (working title) - Sunrise Intereactive
Super Robot PS3 (working title) - Banpresto
T
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (working title) - Ubisoft
Tekken 6 - Namco
Thesis - Track 7 Games
The Wall - Play Ten Interactive (PTI)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 - Electronic Arts/EA Redwood Shores
TNA iMPACT! - Midway Games/Midway Studios (Los Angeles)
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas - Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent - Ubisoft
Tony Hawk's Project 8 - Activision/Neversoft Entertainment
Transformers (working title) - Activision
Turok - Buena Vista Games/Propaganda Games
U
Unreal Tournament 2007 - Midway Games/Epic Games
Untitled DC Comics MMO - Sony Online Entertainment
Untitled John McTiernan Game - Ubisoft
[[Untitled Marvel MMORPG*]]
Untitled Naughty Dog Project - SCEA/Naughty Dog [15]
Untitled RPG - Obsidian/Sega
Untitled Western Shooter (working title) - Rockstar Games
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - Sony Online Entertainment
V
Value 2000 Igo - Magnolia
Value 2000 Shougi - Magnolia
Vampire's Rain - Artoon
Virtua Fighter 5 - SEGA/Sega-AM2
Virtua Tennis 3 - SEGA
Vision Gran Turismo - Sony Computer Entertainment/Polyphony Digital
W
The Wall - Burut Software
WarDevil (Enigma) (working title) - Digi Guy's [16]
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning - Electronic Arts/Mythic Entertainment
Warhawk - Sony Computer Entertainment/Incog Inc. Entertainment
The Wheelman - Midway
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 - Konami
WipEout PS3 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Liverpool
World Pool Championship 2007 - Sega
World Snooker Championship 2007 - Sega
World Tour Soccer PS3 (working title) - Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios London
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008 PS3 - TBA
X
X Quest - Spectrum MediaWorks
Y
Yamasa Digi World DX (working title) - Yamasa
Backward compatibility
Sony has stated that the PlayStation 3 will have backward compatibility with the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, and that every PS1 and PS2 game that observes its respective system's TRC (Technical Requirements Checklist) will be playable on PS3 at launch.[1]SCE president Ken Kutaragi asked developers to adhere to the TRC to facilitate compatibility with future PlayStations, stating that the company was having some difficulty getting backward compatibility with games that had not followed the TRCs. "Either it's accidental or on purpose; there's actually a lot of games that don't follow the TRC."[28]. It has been reported that initial PS3 units will include the CPU/rasterizer combination chip used in slim PS2 (EE+GS) to achieve backward compatibility.[29]
The PlayStation 3 does not include interfaces for legacy PlayStation devices, but there will be an adapter for the memory cards[5] so users can save their PS1/PS2 data on to a virtual memory card in the hard drive. USB devices for PlayStation 2 may be compatible with PlayStation 3. PlayStation 3 can use Memory Sticks to store save data for PlayStation and PlayStation 2 software.
Software development
The PlayStation 3, unlike the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 systems[citation needed], is based on open and publicly available application programming interfaces. The PlayStation 3 development kit was recently praised by IGN as having "distinct lack of noise and heat coming from the system". Despite earlier rumours of programming being difficult,[31] IGN reports that they were told that the dev kit "seemed extremely adaptive and easy to program for".[32]
Open standards
COLLADA, an open, XML-based file format for 3D models.[33]
PSGL, a modified version of OpenGL ES 1.0 (OpenGL ES 2.0 compliant except for the use of Cg instead of GLSL), with extensions specifically aimed at the PS3[34]
OpenMAX, a collection of fast, cross-platform tools for general "media acceleration," such as matrix calculations.[citation needed]
OpenVG, for hardware-accelerated 2D vector graphics.[citation needed]
Sublicensed
AGEIA's PhysX SDK, NovodeX.[citation needed]
Epic's Unreal engine 3.0 framework.[citation needed]
Havok's physics and animation engines.[35]
Pixelux's Game Asset Synthesis Technology[citation needed], a toolkit for advanced procedural synthesis and the Digital Molecular Matter engine plug in for Maya and 3d Studio Max
Cg 1.5, Nvidia's C-like shading language.[citation needed]
SpeedTree RT, a programming package produced by Interactive Data Visualization, Inc. that aims to produce high-quality virtual foliage in real time.
Kynogon's Kynapse 4.0 "large scale A.I."[36]
Considered standards
The list of standards they are reported to be considering includes:
IPv6, the next generation of the Internet Protocol. [37]
Sony has selected several technologies and arranged several sublicensing agreements to create an advanced software development kit for developers. In addition, in 2005 Sony purchased SN Systems, a former provider of Microsoft Windows-based development tools for a variety of console platforms; including PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP and Nintendo DS to create additional GNU development tools. Sony is providing all developers with GNU toolchains[citation needed] where SN Systems will provide customer-oriented wrappers for GNU tools at an additional cost.
Interface and operating system
The PlayStation 3 version of the Cross Media Bar demonstrated at E3 2006 (video) included options for different user profiles, the ability to explore photos, play music and movies from the hard drive, compatibility for a USB Keyboard and Mouse, a full Internet browser and a Friends menu. In a separate demo Sony presented the "Marketplace" where users can buy and download music.
Linux will be pre-installed on the PS3 hard drive. Currently it is unknown if Linux will be the operating system used to run everything, including the Cross Media Bar, or if the system will operate as a dual boot environment, where Linux would be loaded from the Cross Media Bar menu.
Because we have plans for having Linux on board [the PS3], we also recognize Linux programming activities⦠Other than game studios tied to official developer licenses, we'd like to see various individuals participate in content creation for the PS3.
âIzumi Kawanishi on the presence of the Linux in the PS3.
PlayStation Network Platform
In response to Microsoft's successful Xbox Live network, Sony announced a unified online service for the Playstation 3's console at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo; tentatively titled "PlayStation Network Platform". Sony has confirmed that the service will be always connected[39], free and include multiplayer support. However developers are permitted to charge a subscription fee, as is common with MMO games.
PlayStation Network Platform (PNP or PSNP) is the online service to be provided for use with the Sony PlayStation 3 video game console.[1]
It's currently in development by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) Europe with the Sony Online Entertainment. Parts of PNP will incorporate the Central Station (already working in Europe) and a possible integration with Connect.com marketplace.
Services
On March 15, 2006 at the PlayStation Business Briefing, Sony confirmed that they are preparing for an Xbox Live-like online service tentatively named PlayStation Network Platform with free online play and better network adapter sequencing.
The full list of planned services for the PlayStation Network Platform is as follows.[1]
Communication/Community:
Account created through user registration
Lobbies/Matchmaking
Scores/Ranking
Game data upload/download
Presence/Friend List/Avatar
Voice/Video Chat
Messaging
Commerce
Shops (can be accessed from inside games)
Content Download
Game boot from HDD
Subscription
Selling item by item
Micropayment
Entitlement Management
Account
User Registration
Login ID/Handlename issue
Comparison to Xbox Live
Unlike Xbox Live (a service provided for the Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles, which has proved to be the most successful so far), Sony will offer a PNP "basic" service comparable to the Xbox Live Silver service, except that it will additionally allow users to play games online for free. However, the downloading of extra content is likely to require a fee.
Also, Xbox Live is a more unified service, with a central server and global ranking and lobby system. With PNP, developers can devise their own system and use their own servers to a way beneficial to the game.
Hardware specifications
Unless otherwise noted, the following specifications are based on a press release by Sony at the 2005 E3 Conference,[40] and slides from a Sony presentation at the 2006 Game Developer's Conference.[41]
The floating point performance of the whole system (CPU + GPU) is reported to be 2.18 TFLOPS[40]. PlayStation 3's Cell CPU achieves 218 GFLOPS single precision float and is reported at around 26 GFLOPS double precision.
Central processing unit
3.2 GHz Cell processor: one PowerPC-based "Power Processing Element" and seven active 3.2 GHz Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs). The PPE has a 512 KB L2 cache and one VMX (AltiVec) vector unit. Each of the SPEs is a RISC processor with 128 128-bit SIMD GPRs and superscalar functions. Each SPE has 256 KB of L1 cache/software-addressable 4.8 GHz SRAM, called the "Local Store".
Only seven of eight SPEs are active to improve yield. If one of the eight has a manufacturing defect, it is disabled without rendering the entire unit defective or affecting performance. If more than one of eight is defective, the Cell may be used in IBM BladeCenters for other applications. The current version of the PlayStation's operating system requires dedicated use of one of the seven active SPEs, leaving six SPEs directly available to applications.
Graphics processing unit
Based on a downgraded NVIDIA G70 (previously known as NV47) architecture
Clocked at 550 MHz
128-bit DDR memory interface
211.2 GFLOPS programmable (384 FLOPS per clock), 1.8 TFLOPS total
Multi-way programmable parallel floating point shader pipelines
136 shader operations per clock ( * 550 MHz = 74.8 billion / second, 100 billion with CPU)
24 2D texture lookups per clock ( * 550 MHz = 13.2 billion / second)
33 billion dot products per second (51 billion dot products with CPU)
128-bit pixel precision
S3TC 5 to 1 texture compression site
Memory
Total 512 MiB, split into:
256 MiB Rambus XDR DRAM clocked at CPU die speed (3.2 GHz)
256 MiB GDDR3 VRAM clocked at 700 MHz
System bandwidth
204.8 GB/s Cell Element Interconnect Bus (Theoretical peak performance)[42]
Cell FlexIO Bus: 35 GB/s outbound, 25 GB/s inbound (7 outbound and 5 inbound 1Byte wide channels operating at 5 GHz) (effective bandwidth typically 50-80% of total)[43]
51.2 GB/s SPE to local store
Experimental Sustained bandwidth for some SPE-to-SPE DMA transfers - 78 to 197 GB/s.[43]
25.6 GB/s to Main Ram XDR DRAM: 64 bits à 3.2 GHz / 8 bits to a byte
22.4 GB/s to GDDR3 VRAM: 128 bits à 700 MHz à 2 accesses per clock cycle (one per edge) / 8 bits to a byte
RSX 20 GB/s (write), 15 GB/s (read)
System Bus (separate from XIO controller) 2.5 GB/s write and 2.5 GB/s read
Interfaces
Video
Composite
S-Video
Component video (output up to and including 1080p)
HDMI 1.3[44] port (Digital video output; 60 GB model only)
Supported resolutions
Sound
S/PDIF optical output for digital audio up to 7.1 sound
Dolby TrueHD[45] (compatible sound equipment required[citation needed])
DTS-HD
LPCM (DSP functionality handled by the Cell processor)
Communications
One Gigabit Ethernet Port
USB 2.0 (x4)
Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
Wi-Fi (60 GB model only), IEEE 802.11b/g
Power supply
The power supply will be built into the console. A standard 3-pin IEC connector is present at the base of the console.
Storage
Optical
Blu-ray Disc (2x = 9.0 MB/s) PlayStation 3 BD-ROM, BD-Video, BD-R/RE (Region free for gaming)[46]
DVD (8x = 11.0 MB/s Max) PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD ± R/RW
CD (24x = 3.5 MB/s) PlayStation CD-ROM, PlayStation 2 CD-ROM, CD-DA, CD-DA (ROM), CD-R, CD-RW
SACD (2x) SACD Hybrid (CD layer) SACD HD
Hard disk drive: Pre-Installed 20 GB / 60 GB (depending on package), 2.5" SATA150, detachable/upgradeable, with Linux pre-installed.[47]
Flash memory interfaces (60 GB model only) - Memory Stick, CompactFlash, SD/MMC
E3 2005 showcased Sony's "boomerang" design, which was abandoned after poor public reaction and replaced with an upgraded wireless version of the DualShock 2 at E3 2006. The new controller features finer analogue sensitivity[48], more trigger-like R2 and L2 buttons, Home button like the PSP and Xbox 360, and a USB mini-B port for charging the internal battery and use for wired play. There are four numbered LED indicators, to identify and distinguish multiple wireless controllers. The major feature revealed was the ability to sense both rotational orientation and translational acceleration,[48] similar to the previously announced capabilities of the Nintendo Wii controller. Games that use this feature will come with an option to turn it off. Sony has stated that because of these sensors, the rumble feature of the previous controllers has been removed, reasoning that the vibration interferes with motion-sensing.[48] Haptics developer Immersion Corporation (who successfully sued Sony)[49] expressed skepticism of Sony's rationale,[50] and has since introduced tilt and motion-sensing which filters out vibration in software.
Other information
Sony revealed PS3 would use heat pipes and claims the system will be as quiet as a slim PS2[7] ~29dB (A). The PlayStation 3 is approximately 5 kg (11 lbs), 9.8 cm à 32.5 cm à 27.4 cm (3.9 in. à 12.8 in. à 10.8 in.)
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