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From the minute you step out of Los Angeles' LAX airport, its clear that Sony wants you to know one thing: Change is coming. Signs plastered all over the city, featuring Sony?s trademark symbols in various stages of change proclaim "Welcome Chang3" -- a message Sony made even clearer at its yearly Pre-E3 Press Conference.
After the traditional PowerPoint presentation touting Sony?s successes, SCEA Head Ken Kutaragi was introduced to present Sony?s next-gen system ? the PlayStation 3, or as he called it, the "super computer for computer entertainment."
PlayStation 3 will use Blu-Ray discs as its media format, which can hold up to six times more information than standard DVDs. The system will also support current CD-based formats, including CD-ROM and DVD. The system will also be backwards compatible with current PlayStation 2 games.
Outlets for additional media like Memory Stick Duo (which is currently used by the PSP as its memory solution) as well as compact flash and SD slots will also be supported. To top it all off, the PS3 will also feature a detachable 2.5 inch HDD similar to the one sported by Microsoft?s Xbox 360.
Out of the box, the PS3 will support Bluetooth-enabled controllers. Other peripherals will be supported through the system?s 6 (4 in front, 2 in back) USB ports. The system will also feature built-in WiFi, allowing the PSP to interface with the system and even become another control device.
Like the system?s main competition, the Xbox 360, the PS3 will also act as a multimedia hub and feature internet access as well as support digital video and audio, photo viewing and video chat via an EyeToy-like device. Dr. Richard Marx, the inventor of the EyeToy was introduced to show off the next-generation of EyeToy, a wireless High-Definition IP camera. Using this camera, Sony hopes that players will be able to launch their own broadcast and deliver it anywhere in the world ? bringing forth what Sony calls the ?Next-Generation Homepage?.
As part of his demo, Marx manipulated two cups in his hands as two digital cups moved in real-time on the screen. By using the new EyeToy, Marx was able to not only move the cups, but pick up water from a bathtub on the screen and pour water from one cup to the other.
The name PlayStation 3 should not come as a surprise to anyone. What will surprise people is the new found power the name carries.
Under the hood, the PS3 will sport some pretty powerful hardware. The core of the entire machine is the Cell processor, which will run at 3.2 Ghz, translating into roughly 2.18 teraflops of performance power. Cell will be supplemented by 256mb of XDR RAM (running at 3.2 Ghz) and an additional 256mb of GDDR VRAM (running at 700mhz).
The system?s graphics chip, produced by Nvidia and dubbed the ?RSX Reality Synthesizer? is capable of 1080p resolution ? the highest HD resolution possible right now. In terms of raw power, the system is about as powerful as 2 GeForce 6800 Ultra cards.
For the non-wire heads, this all translates into incredible graphics.
To demonstrate this, Sony brought out Tim Sweeney, one of the founders of Epic Games to showcase the system?s power. Using a real-time tech demo based on a futuristic shooter, Sweeney exhibited the power behind the company?s Unreal 3 Engine, as well as giving a hint as to the type of visual experience the PlayStation 3 will be capable of. The demo, which rivaled most cut scenes in current generation games was in real time, as shown by Sweeney?s manipulation of the camera. Sweeney also confirmed that the system is easy to develop for, allowing developers to sigh in relief and sweep away painful memories of the PS2?s launch. According to Sweeney, Epic was able to put the demo together in about 2 months.
This demo was only the beginning as developers such as Konami?s Hideo Kojima confirmed that some of the industry?s big franchises were in the works for the system including Devil May Cry 4, Tekken 6, and Metal Gear Solid 4. Perhaps one of the biggest software announcements of the night was that the next-generation of Grand Theft Auto was in the works and on the way exclusively to the PlayStation 3.
And, what would a Sony Press Conference, or really any Pre-E3 conference, be without an appearance of EA. Larry Probst, EA?s chairman and chief executive, and EA Chicago?s Kudo Tsunoda were on hand to show the next-generation of EA?s boxing franchise, Fight Night Round 3. As with it?s current-generation iterations, Round 3 looks to once again push boundaries. According to Tsunoda, the goal in Round 3 is to deliver facial animations that truly reflect what the fighter is experiencing and make the player at home feel the same gut-wrenching impact of each blow.
Square Enix also showed its support for Sony. In addition to a new trailer for Final Fantasy XII, Yoichi Wada showcased a Final Fantasy VII-themed technical demo giving those in attendance yet another look as to what the PS3 is capable of.
Rounding out the system?s third party support, Sony also showed clips of The Getaway; Killzone 2; a new first-person shooter from Insomniac; Gran Turismo 5 and the much awaited sequel to Warhawk from Incognito.
If the signs don?t proclaim it, Sony?s own words did: Change is indeed on the way. |
