I think everyone is wrong here, even the reports. We have all seen Sony's own site stating the HDD is optional. So we know it is not a standard component. I would bet my 1st born that what he meant to say is that the HDD is required for the media stuff and for the network gaming. I am sure you wont need it if all you want to do is play games locally.

I'm still sticking with my $299 price point. If they can offer all that technology for $299 then, as Vince Carter said when he won the slam dunk contest, "It's over".

As for not revealing too much info, it's like playing poker. You don't want to reveal your hand too soon so that you can keep your competition guessing. There are probably oodles of games in development for the PS3 but they want to be able to show stuff all at once to blitzkrieg their competition.

Oh and game companies always develop games on non-final HW and then optimize on the final HW. The first batch of games wont be the best but they'll have time to optimize between June and Novbemer (~5 months).

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/696/696056p1.html

Earlier, we mistakenly reported that Sony had confirmed plans to include the hard disk with the PS3 right out of the box. Kutaragi actually stopped short of confirming this, leaving it as an area of speculation for now. He did state that Sony hopes to avoid a situation where some systems have the drive and others don't (Kutaragi didn't mention Xbox 360, but he was probably thinking it).

Sony isn't going to offer hard drives at memory card prices. They'll use their standardized memory card system, just like the PSP.

I used to think the same thing about everyone buying a memory card with a console. Managing a Gamestop for 3 years taught me otherwise. You wouldn't believe the number of people, especially at Christmas time, that feel that a memory card isn't important (even after being explained that it is).

No way in hell it releases at $299. Even if it did, by November MS will be in a position for a price drop (which they most likely will anyways).

There will most likely be tons of games announced at E3. Some devs will say they are aiming for launch at E3 and a confirmed launch lineup will be announced at TGS in October. Considering how rushed typical launch games are and that a lot of stuff will end up delayed, announcing any kind of launch line up now is pointless.

If anyone is able to pre-order, can you please post where and how much down?

Check out the presentation slide:


It's required. I HAVE to assume it'll be shipping with one, right?

Decker, the HDD will be required for all those things, but SOny already published a page on their site saying the HDD would not be included and was an option. If things changed then I can only imagine it would raise the price of the PS3 even more.

The page you're referring to is pretty old and outdated. I'd bet money that the HDD will be packed in with the unit based on what they were saying last night.

Of course, how recently did Sony have pages on their site saying the PS3 would be a spring 06 launch? I know it was still up 2 weeks ago or so. At this point, I'd say it's fairly safe to discard most anything we've heard in the past and assume the only info that's legitimate is what was said today and what we hear directly from Sony in the coming months.

PS3 4D glasses on sale on ebay!

This is why I love console launches. Too funny. The Q&A is classic too. Haha!

Q: By looking through these glasses, will I be able to make anything 'live'? (ie can I raise the dead?)
A: Yes... but it's not recommended.

Frankly with how cheap flash memory is these days, I'm kinda suprised they went with a manditory HD. I have to assume they're planning on pay-for-download content being a large part of their overall profit profile. It makes sense since it's a big part of the 360 and Revolution as well.
I would guess that $499 has to be the launch price at this point...

I don't like the hard drive idea.. too likely to fail. I've heard enough horror stories about the original Xbox to do me in.. not to mention dealing with dead hard drives on PC for years myself. Memory cards aren't broke.. why try to "fix" them? 60GB seems a bit much for anybody who is just planning on playing games.

I just sent him a question.

I'd say 60GB is not enough.

True, hard drives are the most likely parts to fail. I have had some of the crappiest luck with memory cards. When the Xbox came out I only purchased 2 memory cards, the hard drive was perfect in the two Xboxes I owned. With the 360 I will buy a larger drive when they become available and a memory card to backup critical saves.

With the move Multimedia memory card just don't cut it. Demos are 600 MB, some of movie trailers are 50 plus MB. Some of the downloadable games are 20 MB plus. While flash memory is getting cheaper, the cost for a hard drive is at it's lowest(PATA 250GB for $69 versus $69 for 1GB flash stick).

Hardware stuff sounds good to me. Now they just need to start announcing some games that interest me.

Most trailers are close to 100MB. Game trailers can be over 140MB.

Neither of my two Xboxes' hard drives have failed (and one is from launch). None of my friends' Xboxes' hard drives have failed. In the unlikely event your hard drive fails, unlike the Xbox, the 360 and the PS3 have external drives that are easily replaced. Sure, you will lose a few game saves etc., but it is no big loss considering the substantial benefits a hard drive offers in terms of storage space for downloadable content etc.

I like this one:
Q: Will these glasses also allow me to see through time?
A: Most Certainly, Yes. In many cases, you'll be able to turn time from Spring to an ''Early November'' almost instantly!

No. Way. In. Hell.

Sony cannot possibly afford to take that kind of loss on the system they are in dire financial straits without losing hundreds on each console. Even if they did sell it so cheap you'd see $75 games to make up for it.

I'd say this is not one cent under $500 at launch.

I wonder if he'll post my question?

I'm pretty dissapointed in all the announcements today, since my curiosities about the PS3 revolve mostly around the release date and pricing. Pricing was a no show, and the delayed release was something that almost everyone could and already did predict.

$599 is what I read on Digg.

I think $500 is the magic number for the PS3. Anything below that, Sony takes too big of a hit financially, anything above it, and people won't pay for it. 360 and Revolution sales will soar as people realize that the PS3 they were waiting for is going to cost them over $100 over the nearest competitor. People will stomach $500, but not more than that.

As for the HDD, it looks to me like it's going to be included. The 60 GB one will come standard, and then they will sell bigger ones for higher prices.

Personally, I'm very happy with the announcements made. I didn't expect it too far before November, anyway, and the rest of what they've announced is very promising.

may as well just post all the Q&A that guy had, this stuff is too funny.

Q: The stunning quality of the graphics SOny showed in their PS3 videos at E3 last year were already beyond belief - can you give me an idea of how games are going to look on the PS3, complete with the 4D glasses enhancement?
Mar-15-06

A: Remember the Killzone 2 video shown? Imagine yourself being fully immersed in that... with Chuck Norris! Yeah... it's that awsome.


Q: What happens if i get lost in the fourth dimension and can't get out.
Mar-15-06

A: Sony promises to bring you an intense 4D experience Like No Other(tm). Even if you were trapped, you'd probably never want to leave. Ever.


Q: How will the glasses' backwards compatibility work with the Toy Story quality graphics I am enjoying with my PS2? Will it make it look Madagascar quality, or just Toy Story 2 quality?
Mar-15-06

A: Better... Toy Story 3! .. in 4D!!


Q: Do these glasses come in different frame colors to match the PS3? (i.e. silver, white, etc)
Mar-15-06

A: Yes, White (pictured), Silver, Black and Flaming Fuschia Pink to be announced later next year.


Q: Can this glasse be use with the Xbox 360??
Mar-15-06

A: I'm afraid not. The Xbox 360 only supports 3D games, therefore, it is not truly next-gen system. Only with the PS3 will you experience true 4D next-gen gaming. In fact, attempting to use them on any non-Sony product may cause severe bleeding and excessive damage to one’s retinas.


Q: By looking through these glasses, will I be able to make anything 'live'? (ie can I raise the dead?)
Mar-15-06

A: Yes... but it's not recommended.


Q: Are these glasses backwards compatible with 3D and 2D applications?
Mar-15-06

A: Yes, backwards compatibility is activated by covering the yellow and green sections of the glasses with the palm of your hands.


Q: Will these glasses allow me to know discipline?
Mar-15-06

A: Of course@ Nothing less than strict and painful discipline in our children and adults! Everyone will know discipline!


Q: You are hilarious!!
Mar-15-06

A:


Q: Will these glasses also allow me to see through time?
Mar-15-06

A: Most Certainly, Yes. In many cases, you'll be able to turn time from Spring to an ''Early November'' almost instantly!