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 III: PlayStation 2

Now we're talking! Now, what's the deal with this thing! In addition to PS2 software, the PS2 can read both CDs and DVDs and is backward compatible with PlayStation games. The ability to play DVD movies was an added incentive for consumers to be able to justify purchasing the PS2 (the price was US$300 in October 2000). The PS2 also supports PlayStation memory cards (for PlayStation game saves only) and controllers, although the memory cards only work with PS1 games and the controllers may not support all functions for PS2 games. Now, you might be asking why the PS2 is different than an Xbox or GameCube. One of the major things was the backward compatibility with PS1 games. If they thought that thing had a wide library of games, check this thing out! It can play almost all PlayStation games and with over 9000 games and new games still coming, it has one of the widest libraries of games of any console. The PS2's DualShock 2 controller is essentially an upgraded PlayStation DualShock; analog face, shoulder and D-pad buttons replaced the digital buttons of the original. Like its predecessor, the DualShock 2 controller has the "vibration" function. The standard PlayStation 2 memory card has an 8MB capacity and uses Sony's MagicGate encryption. This requirement prevented the production of memory cards by third parties who did not purchase a license for the MagicGate encryption. The memory card can store PlayStation game saves, but PlayStation games cannot read from or write to the card - it can only be used as a backup.

Three of the original PS2 launch models were only sold in Japan, and lacked the expansion bay of current PS2 models. These models included a PCMCIA slot instead of the Dev9 port of newer models. A PCMCIA-to-Dev9 adapter was later made available for these models. Two models did not have a built-in DVD movie playback and instead relied on encrypted playback software that was copied to a memory card from an included CD-ROM (normally, the PS2 will only execute encrypted software from its memory card.) V3 had a substantially different internal structure from the subsequent revisions, featuring several interconnected printed circuit boards. As of V4 everything was unified into one board, except the power supply. V5 introduced minor internal changes, and the only difference between V6 (sometimes called V5.1) and V5 is the orientation of the Power/Reset switch board connector, which was reversed to prevent the use of no-solder modchips. V7 and V8 included only minor revisions to V6. Assembly of the PS2 moved to the People's Republic of China during the development of V9 (model numbers SCPH-50000 and SCPH-50001). The upgraded console added an infrared port for the optional DVD remote control, removed the IEEE 1394 port, added the capability to read DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs, added progressive-scan output of DVD movies, and added a quieter fan. V10 and V11 were only minor revisions to V9.
The PS2 standard color is matte black. Several different variations in color have been produced in different quantities and regions, including ceramic white, light yellow, metallic blue, metallic silver, navy, opaque blue, opaque black, pearl white, Sakura purple, satin gold, satin silver, snow white, super red, and transparent blue.
The small PlayStation logo on the front of the disc tray could be rotated ninety degrees, in order for the logo to be the right way up in both vertical and horizontal console orientations.

In September 2004, Sony unveiled its third major hardware revision,V12. Available in November 2004, it is smaller, thinner, and quieter than the older versions and includes a built-in Ethernet port (in some markets it also has an integrated modem). Due to its thinner profile, it does not contain the 3.5" expansion bay and therefore does not support the internal hard disk drive. It also lacks an internal power supply, similar to the GameCube, and has a modified Multitap expansion. The removal of the expansion bay has been criticized as a limitation due to the existence of titles such as Final Fantasy XI, which require the use of the HDD. The official PS2 Linux also requires an expansion bay to function. Currently only the modified MultiTap is sold in stores, meaning that owners of older PS2s must find a used or non-Sony MultiTap in order to have 4 or 8 players during a single game. Third-party connectors can be soldered into the unit giving hard drive support, however IDE connections were completely removed in the V14 revision, thereby eliminating this option.

There are some disputes on the numbering for this PS2 version, since there are actually two sub-versions of the SCPH-70000. One of them includes the old EE and GS chips, and the other contains the newer unified EE+GS chip, but otherwise they are identical. Since the V12 version had already been established for this model, there were some disputes regarding these sub-versions. Two propositions were to name the old model (with separate EE and GS chips) V11.5 and the newer model V12, and to name the old model V12 and the newer model V13. Currently, most people use V12 for both models, or V12 for the old model and V13 for the newer one. The slimline version was discontinued on July 1, 2008. The V12 model was first released in black, but a silver edition is available in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, United Arab Emirates and other GCC Countries, France, Italy, South Africa, and most recently, North America. It is unknown whether or not this will follow the color schemes of the older model, although a limited edition Pink PS2 has become available since March 2007.
V12 (or V13) was succeeded by V14 (SCPH-75001 and SCPH-75002), which contains integrated EE and GS chips, and different ASICs compared to previous revisions, with some

chips having a copyright date of 2005, compared to 2000 or 2001 for earlier models. It also has a different lens and some compatibility issues with a different number of PlayStation games and even some PS2 games.
In the beginning of 2005 it was found that some black slimline console power transformers bought between November and December 2004 were faulty and could overheat. The units were recalled by Sony, with the company supplying a replacement model made in 2005.
Later hardware revisions had better compatibility with PlayStation games

(Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions operates on most silver models); however, the new Japanese slim models have more issues with playing PlayStation games than the first PS2 revisions.

In 2006, Sony released the latest hardware revisions (V15, model numbers SCPH-77001a and SCPH-77001b). It was first released in Japan on September 15, 2006, including the Silver limited edition. After its release in Japan, it was then released in North America, Europe, and other parts of the world. The new revision uses an integrated, unified EE+GS chip, a redesigned ASIC, a different laser lens, an updated BIOS, and updated drivers.
In July 2007, Sony started shipping a revision of the slimline PlayStation 2 (SCPH-79000) featuring a reduced weight of 600 grams compared to 900 grams of the SCPH-77001, achieved through a reduction in parts. The unit also uses a smaller motherboard as well as a custom ASIC which houses the Emotion Engine, Graphics Synthesizer, and the RDRAM. The AC adaptor's weight was also reduced to 250 grams from the 350 grams in the previous revision.[24]
Another refinement of the slimline PlayStation 2 (SCPH-90000) was released in Japan on November 22, 2007, with an overhauled internal design that incorporates the power supply into the console itself, with a further reduced total weight of 720 grams.

The PlayStation 2's DualShock 2 controller is largely identical to the PlayStation's DualShock, with the same basic functionality; however, it includes analog pressure sensitivity on the face, shoulder and D-pad buttons, is lighter and includes two more levels of vibration. The L2 and R2 buttons are also significantly larger. The fact that the design did not change pleased some consumers who were already used to the DualShock controller.

Optional hardware includes DualShock or DualShock 2 controllers, a PS2 DVD remote control, an internal or external HDD, a network adapter, horizontal and vertical stands, PlayStation or PS2 memory cards, light guns, fishing rod and reel controllers. Also available are various cables and interconnects, including the Multitap for PlayStation or PS2, S-Video, RGB, SCART, VGA (for progressive scan games and PS2 Linux only), component and composite video cables, an RF modulator, a USB camera (the EyeToy), dance pads for Dance Dance Revolution, In the Groove, and Pump It Up titles, Konami microphones for use with the Karaoke Revolution games, dual microphones (sold with and used exclusively for SingStar games), various "guitar" controllers (for the Guitar Freaks series and Guitar Hero series), the drum set controller (sold in a box set (or by itself) with a "guitar" controller and a USB microphone for use with Rock Band), Onimusha 3 katana controller, Resident Evil 4 chainsaw controller, a USB keyboard and mouse, and a headset. Unlike the PlayStation, which required the use of an official Sony PlayStation mouse to play mouse-compatible games, the few PS2 games with mouse support work with standard PC-compatible USB mice. Early versions of the PS2 could be networked via an iLink port, though this had little game support and was dropped. The original PS2 multitap cannot be plugged into the newer slim models (as the multitap connects to the memory card slot as well as the controller slot and the memory card slot on the slimline is shallower). New slim-design multitaps are manufactured for these models, however third-party adapters also exist to permit original multitaps to be used.

No doubt about it, the PlayStation 2 is deftinitely one of the best PlayStations made. Although... later we may find out about a new system:

PLAYSTATION 3!

*Thanks to Wikipedia for some of the info!

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!