Over at the Games Convention in Leipzig, the European E3, some new hardware has been announced from SCEE, well, it’s heading to North America as well.
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune PS3 Bundle with 160GB PS3 System
First off, a new PS3 Hardware Bundle has been announced and will be offered as a Limited Edition. It will come with a PS3 (but this PS3 has 160GB and does not have Backwards Compatibility), Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, a DUALSHOCK 3 and a voucher to download PAIN fromt he Playstation Store.
So pretty much you’re getting an 80GB PS3 with double the space and Uncharted. Not only that, but there’s a press release that shows some more of it. It will launch in November for $499.99 MSRP!
New PSP Entertainment Packs with updated PSP (PSP-3000)
We also unveiled at Leipzig an updated PSP system (PSP-3000), which we’ll be offering here initially through the previously announced Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack and a new PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack. I’m personally excited about the 4GB Memory bundle because we’re including a – you guessed it – 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, which is the biggest Memory Stick we’ve ever bundled with a PSP. Similar to the new PS3 model, this PSP bundle is the result of the current consumer usage model – where more and more of you are finding that extra memory space is crucial.
Not only does the PSP-3000 keep the same size of the PSP-2000, it also comes with two new great features, that sadly does not include a second analog nub:
– A new LCD screen that adds to the player’s experience by giving you more vibrant colours and a higher contrast ratio. Not only that, but some “new anti-reflection” technology has been added as well! That way you can play with your PSP in the sun when you’re on your way to Grandma’s on that long ride.
– And those articles were right, a new PS Button replacing the Home Button and a Built-in Mic! Allows easy Skype use and in-game communication.
So it’s not really a major change like a second analog nub, but it’s good enough right? Well the pricing is the same, $199.99 MSRP for the Entertainment Packs, and later this year there will be a standalone version of the PSP-3000 for 169.99 MSRP.
PS3 Wireless Keypad
You’ll like this last new piece of hardware! It’s a Bluetooth Keypad, which means it not only will work with your PS3, but with Bluetooth-enabled phones, and I mean, if you wanted to use it for your laptop, I guess you could. But it’s already portable . . . .
The cool thing about this is that it not only snaps on to your SIXAXIS or DUALSHOCK 3, it can also be charged and paired with a USB cable without having to go through a process.
Not only that though! It even has two cool features:
– You can turn the main key area into a Touch Pad similar to those on laptops and use it for a cursor. This will eventually be used in future games as well, MMO’s anyone?
– Two shortbut buttons that will bring up the Message Box and Friend tabs automatically upon touch during a game for fast typing!
No pricing as of yet.
FOSTER CITY, Calif., August 20, 2008 – 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.â€
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.
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.
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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.
“PlayStationâ€, “PLAYSTATIONâ€, “PSPâ€, “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
