A Salute to PlayStation: Part IV: PlayStation 3

The trademarks of PlayStation, Sony, Tokyo Game Show, E3, belong to their subsidiary rights... aw, let's skip this crud and get on with it.

Welcome to the almost final installment of the "A Salute to PlayStation" series. Now, I was using some info from Wikipedia, but this time, it's mostly my own words, but I have done lots of research. Let's begin.

Sony revealed the PlayStation 3 at E3 2005. A functional version was not there, although demonstrations of games (such as Metal Gear Solid 4) were held at the event. Video footage based on the predicted PlayStation 3 was also shown. Two versions were also announced for the console: a 20 GB model and a 60 GB model. The 60 GB version would be the only configuration to feature Wi-Fi internet. Both models were announced for a simultaneous worldwide release: November 11 for Japan and November 17 for North America and Europe.
In 2006, Sony announced that the Europe and Oceania version of the PlayStation 3 launch would be delayed until March 2007, due to a shortage of materials used in the Blu-ray drive.

At the Tokyo Game Show, it was revealed that the launch price of the Japanese 20 GB model was reduced by over 20%. During the event, Sony showed some playable PS3 titles running. So when you want to know about a console that's coming out in 2 years, go on to E3 or the Tokyo Game Show.

The PlayStation 3 was first released in Japan on November 11, 2006. Soon after its release in Japan, the PS3 was released in North America on November 17, 2006. Reports of violence surrounding the release of the PS3 include a customer shot, campers robbed, customers hurt in a drive-by shooting with BB guns, and 60 campers fighting over 10 systems, and I mean fighting.

The PlayStation 3 has a Blu-ray Disc drive for games, Blu-ray movies, DVDs, CDs, and other discy-stuff. It was originally available with hard drives of 20 and 60 GB, and only the 60 GB model was available in certain regions. An 80 GB model has been introduced, and a 40 GB model has been introduced in all regions. Make up your mind! And Sony might release a 160 GB hard drive this Christmas! Oh my gosh! What next?

The PlayStation 3 version of the XrossMediaBar (pronounced Cross Media Bar for you non-PlayStation People) includes nine options. These are: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, PlayStation Network, and Friends (similar to the PlayStation Portable media bar). The PS3 can store various user profiles, manage and explore photos with or without a slide show, play music and copy CD tracks to a storage device, play movies and video files from the hard drive, an optional USB storage or Flash card, or an optical disc (Blu-ray Disc or DVD), compatibility for a USB keyboard and mouse, and a web browser. The Friends menu lets mail with emoticon and attached picture features and video chat which requires a PlayStation Eye or Eyetoy webcam. The Network menu features online shopping through the PlayStation Store.

Speaking of the PlayStation Store, here's how Sony got this idea:

Because of Microsoft's success with their Xbox Live network, Sony announced an online service for the PlayStation 3 at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting. Sony also confirmed that the service will always be connected free, and have multiplayer support. Also, the registration interface can only be accessed through the PS3 system interface.
At the Tokyo Game Show (what's the deal with these shows!?) in 2006, it was revealed that users will be able to download some of the many PlayStation and PlayStation 2 titles from the PlayStation Network for about $5–$15, starting with those with the smallest game data.
In May 2007 Sony announced PlayStation Network Cards, a form of electronic money that can be used with the Store. PlayStation Network Tickets can be purchased at convenience stores throughout Japan. Each ticket contains a code which can be put in to the PlayStation Network to place credits in the virtual wallet. The tickets are available through electronic kiosks at convenience stores. They are also available at post office ATMs, although registration is required first at a special website.

The PSP can connect with the PlayStation 3 in many ways, including in-game connectivity. It is possible to download PlayStation 1 games to the PlayStation 3 from the PlayStation Store. These games were not originally playable on the PS3. They could only be sent to a PSP, and played using the PSP's PlayStation Emulator. Sony has also demonstrated the PSP playing back video content, including content from the PlayStation 3 hard drive across a wireless network. This feature is referred to as Remote Play, located under the browser icon on both the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable. Remote play has since expanded to allow remote access to the PS3 through the PSP from any wireless access point in the world.

And there are lots of awesome games like the Simpsons, Ratchet and Clank, and Sonic the Hedghehog, and many more. It was launched in North America with twelve games. Some of the launch titles were delayed, like Sonic the Hedgehog.

Maybe next time, I will meet some of you other PlayStation fans, In a Salute to PlayStation: Part V:Other Miscellaneous PlayStations that Sony never bothered to tell anyone about!

Sources of info:

-Wikipedia

-GameSpot

-Google images, web

A Salute to PlayStation: Part I: PlayStation Portable

Usually portable games were thought of being for families and children to gamers, rather than an actual console of your favorite video games, rated M by those jerks, the ESRB. :-) But Sony Computer Entertainment did something about it! They made the PlayStation Portable, for gamers rather than families. It takes discs, unlike the Game Boy and DS, and doesn't only play games. It plays special movies made for it, music, and stores your pictures! That's a lot better than a DS, that only plays games! The PSP also has a web browser. Man, what doesn't this thing do?
This thingy also has a lot of awesome games, like Secret Agent Clank, The Simpsons Game, Sonic Rivals, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and many more! Off of the PlayStation 3's PlayStation Store, you can buy additional games from the original PlayStation! It's kinda like an iPod, Portable DVD player, SD card, and 2 game systems in one! For all you PSP owners out there, here's a hot tip: The PSP is capable of playing back movies from a memory stick. However, if you want to do this you need to make sure that the movie is either in MPEG-4 or AVC format as other file types will not be recognized. Movies downloaded onto the PSP via the memory stick can be watched on a TV screen by connecting the PSP via a playStation 3 or Xbox 360 and streaming it over a USB cable.
Did you know that for advertising once, Sony hired graffiti artist to spray paint PSP promotional material in seven U.S. cities, including New York and San Francisco. The images are children playing with PSPs without the words Sony, PSP, or PlayStation. But this encouraged vandalism and most of the PSP advertisements were covered with regular vandalism. Also, it made graffiti artists feel like the ads were cheapening their underground culture. The campaign was eventually stopped.
Coming tomorrow: A salute to PlayStation: Part II: PlayStation 1!

The Simpsons Game

Well, well, well, a show that's been running for 21 years and only has one Wii game? The Wii is pretty new, but why couldn't they have another game in development at least? These are the 16 levels, in the order they are played:

The Land Of Chocolate

Bartman Begins

Around the World in 80 Bites

Lisa the Tree Hugger

Mob Rules

Enter the Cheatrix

The Day of the Dolphin

Shadow of the Colossal Donut

Invasion of the Yokel-Snatchers

Bargain Bin

NeverQuest

Medal of Homer

Grand Theft Scratchy

Big Super Happy Fun Fun Game

Five Characters in Search of an Author

Game Over

Now, we see why the game is rated T for Teen:

Alcohol and Tobacco Reference

Animated Blood

Cartoon Violence

Crude Humor

Language

Suggestive Themes

Can you believe my parents let me play that!? If there's another guy at your house who wants to play, no problemo! 2 player mode is awesome! This game is for the Wii, DS, PSP, PS2, PS3, and Xbox 360, so if you have one of those, it's a good way to spend money. :-)