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The PlayStation 3 is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainmentand the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles. It was first released on November 11, 2006 in Japan,[6] with international markets following shortly thereafter.[7][8][9]
Major features of the console include its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network,[10] its robust multimedia capabilities,[11] connectivity with the PlayStation Portable,[12] and its use of the Blu-ray Disc as its primary storage medium.[13]
History
Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation 3 (then marketed as PLAYSTATION 3[14]) to the public along with its original boomerang style controller[15] on May 16, 2005, during the E3 2005 conference.[16] A functional version of the system was not present there,[17] nor at theTokyo Game Show in September 2005,[18] although demonstrations (such as Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[17]) were held at both events on software development kits and comparable personal computer hardware.[17][18] Video footage based on the predicted PlayStation 3 specifications was also shown (notably a Final Fantasy VII tech demo).[19] The initial prototype shown in May 2005 featured two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and sixUSB ports;[20] however, when the system was shown again a year later at E3 2006, these were reduced to one HDMI port, one Ethernet port and four USB ports, presumably to cut costs.[21][22] Two hardware configurations were also announced for the console: a 20 GB model and a 60 GB model, priced at US$499 (€499) and US$599 (€599), respectively.[21] The 60 GB model was to be the only configuration to feature an HDMI port, Wi-Fi internet, flash card readers and a chrome trim with the logo in silver.[21] Both models were announced for a simultaneous worldwide release: November 11 for Japan and November 17 for North America and Europe.[23]
On September 6, 2006, Sony announced that the PAL region PlayStation 3 launch would be delayed until March 2007, due to a shortage of materials used in the Blu-ray drive.[24]
At the Tokyo Game Show on September 22, 2006, Sony announced that it would include an HDMI port on the 20 GB system, but a chrome trim, flash card readers, silver logo and Wi-Fi would not be included.[25] Also, the launch price of the Japanese 20 GB model was reduced by over 20%,[26] and the 60 GB model was announced for an open pricing scheme in Japan.[26] During the event, Sony showed 27 playable PS3 games running on final hardware.[27]
Launch
Main article: PlayStation 3 launch
The PlayStation 3 was first released in Japan on November 11, 2006 at 07:00.[6] According toMedia Create, 81,639 PS3 systems were sold within 24 hours of its introduction in Japan.[28]
Soon after its release in Japan, the PS3 was released in North America on November 17, 2006.[7]Reports of violence surrounding the release of the PS3 include a customer shot,[29] campers robbed at gunpoint,[30] customers shot in a drive-by shooting with BB guns,[31] and 60 campers fighting over 10 systems.[32]
The console was originally planned for a global release through November, but the European and rest-of-the-world's release was delayed "until March" at the start of September.[33] With it being a somewhat last-minute delay, some companies had taken deposit-based pre-orders, to which Sony informed customers that they were eligible for full refunds or could continue the pre-order.[34] On January 24, 2007, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 would go on sale on March 23, 2007 in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand.[8][9] The system sold about 600,000 units in its first two days.[35] On March 7, 2007, the 60 GB PlayStation 3 launched in Singapore with a price of S$799.[36] The console was launched in South Korea on June 16, 2007 in a single version equipped with an 80 GB hard drive and IPTV.[37]
PS3 Slim and console rebranding
Following speculation that a 'slim' model was in the pipeline Sony officially announced the PS3 CECH-2000 model on August 18, 2009 at the Sony Gamescom press conference.[38][39] Among its features are a slimmer form factor and quieter noise when powered on. It was released in major territories by September 2009. As part of the release for the slim model, the logo was changed from the "Spider-Man font" and capitalized PLAYSTATION 3 to a more traditional PlayStation and PlayStation 2 like 'PlayStation 3' logo with "PS3" imprinted on the console.[40] Along with the console and logo redesign, the boot screen of all consoles changed from "Sony Computer Entertainment" to "PS3 PlayStation 3", with a new chime and the game start splashscreen being dropped.[41] The cover art and packaging of games has also been changed to reflect the redesign.
Console configurations
System unit
Main article: PlayStation 3 hardware
The PlayStation 3 is convex on its left side, with the PlayStation logo upright, when vertical (the top side is convex when horizontal) and has a glossy black finish. PlayStation designer Teiyu Goto stated that the Spider-Man-font-inspired logo "was one of the first elements SCEIpresident Ken Kutaragi decided on and the logo may have been the motivating force behind the shape of PS3".[42]
The PlayStation 3 features a slot-loading 2x speed Blu-ray Disc drive for games, Blu-ray movies, DVDs, CDs and other optical media.[43] It was originally available with hard drives of 20 and 60 GB (20 GB model was not available in PAL regions)[44][45] but various sizes up to 320 GB[46][47] have been made available since then (see: model comparison). All PS3 models have user-upgradeable 2.5" SATA hard drives.[48]
The PlayStation 3 uses the Sony, Toshiba, IBM-designed Cell microprocessor as its CPU, which is made up of one 3.2 GHz PowerPC-based "Power Processing Element" (PPE) and eight Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs).[49] The eighth SPE is disabled to improve chip yields.[50][51] Only six of the seven SPEs are accessible to developers as the seventh SPE is reserved by the console's operating system.[51]Graphics processing is handled by the NVIDIA RSX 'Reality Synthesizer', which can output resolutions from 480i/576i SD up to 1080p HD.[43]The PlayStation 3 has 256 MB of XDR DRAM main memory and 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory for the RSX.[52]
The system has Bluetooth 2.0 (with support for up to 7 bluetooth devices[53]), gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 and HDMI 1.4[cn 1] built in on all currently shipping models. Wi-Fi networking is also built-in on all but the 20 GB models, while a flash card reader (compatible with Memory Stick, SD/MMC and CompactFlash/Microdrive media) is built-in on 60 GB and CECHExx 80 GB models.[43][52]
The PS3's hardware has also been used to build supercomputers for high-performance computing.[54] Fixstars Solutions sell a version ofYellow Dog Linux for the PlayStation 3 (originally sold by Terra Soft Solutions).[55] RapidMind produced a stream programming package for the PS3,[56] but were acquired by Intel in 2009. Also, on January 3, 2007, Dr. Frank Mueller, Associate Professor of Computer science atNCSU, clustered 8 PS3s. Mueller commented that the 256 MB of system RAM is a limitation for this particular application and is considering attempting to retrofit more RAM. Software includes: Fedora Core 5 Linux ppc64, MPICH2, OpenMP v 2.5, GNU Compiler Collection and CellSDK 1.1.[57][58][59] As a more cost-effective alternative to conventional supercomputers, the U.S. military has purchased clusters of PS3 units for research purposes.[60] Retail PS3 Slim units cannot be used for supercomputing, because the PS3 Slim lacks the ability to boot into a third-party OS.
On March 22, 2007, SCE and Stanford University released the Folding@home project for the PlayStation 3.[61] This program allows PS3 owners to lend the computing power of their consoles to help study the physical process of protein folding.
In December 2008, a group of hackers used a cluster of 200 PlayStation 3's to hack the security protocol SSL.[62]
Original model
There are several original PlayStation 3 hardware models, which are commonly referred to by the size of their included hard disk drive: 20, 40, 60, 80 or 160 GB.[21][63] Although referred to by their HDD size, the capabilities of the consoles vary by region and release date. The only difference in the appearance of the first five models was the color of the trim, number of USB ports, the presence or absence of a door (which covers the flash card readers on equipped models) and some minor changes to the air vents. All retail packages include one or two Sixaxis controllers and/or a DualShock 3controller (beginning June 12, 2008[64][65]), one miniUSB to USB cable (for connecting the controller and PlayStation Portable to the system), one composite video/stereo audio output cable, one Ethernet cable (20, 60 and CECHExx 80 GB only) and one power cable.[63][66][67] All models support software emulation of the original PlayStation,[68][69] but support for PlayStation 2 backward compatibility has continually diminished with later models and the last model to advertise integrated backward compatibility was the 80GB Metal Gear Solid 4 Bundle.[70] Compatibility issues with games for both systems are detailed in a public database hosted by the manufacturer.[71] All models, excluding the 20 GB model, include 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi. In addition to all of the features of the 20 GB model, the 60 GB model has internal IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, multiple flash card readers (SD/MultiMedia Card, CompactFlash Type I/Type II, Microdrive,[72] Memory Stick/PRO/Duo) and a chrome colored trim.[73] In terms of hardware, the 80 GB model released in South Korea is identical to the 60 GB model released in the PAL regions, except for the difference in hard drive size.[74]
Like the South Korean and European models, the North American 80 GB (2007) model also excludes the PlayStation 2 "Emotion Engine" CPU chip.[70] However, it retains the "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU.[75] Due to the elimination of the "Emotion Engine", the level of compatibility was reduced.[70]The 40 GB, 80 GB (2008) and 160 GB models have two USB ports instead of the four USB ports on other models and do not include multiple flash card readers, SACD support,[76] or any backward compatibility with PlayStation 2 games.[70][77] This was due to the removal of "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU, which stripped the units of all PlayStation 2 based hardware.[78][79]
No official Wi-Fi or flash memory card readers were ever released by Sony for the 20 GB system, although Sony had plans to do so.[80] As of September 2009, Sony have placed no further emphasis on these proposed add-ons.[citation needed] Nevertheless, as the model features four USB 2.0 ports, wireless networking and flash memory card support can already be obtained through the use of widely available external USB adapters and third-party PS3-specific media hubs.[70]
It was rumored that the Cell processors in the third-generation PS3s (40 GB, 2008 80 GB and 160 GB) would move from a 90 nm process to the newer 65 nm process,[81] which SCEI CEO Kaz Hirai later confirmed,[82] and later to 45 nm. This change lowers the power consumptionof the console and makes it less expensive to produce.[83]
Slim model
The redesigned, slimmer version of the PlayStation 3 (commonly referred to as the "PS3 Slim" and officially branded "PS3") is currently the only model in production. It features an upgradeable 120 GB, 160 GB,[46][47] 250 GB or 320 GB[46][47] hard drive and is 33% smaller, 36% lighter and consumes 34% (CECH-20xx) or 45% (CECH-21xx) less power than the previous model,[38][84][85] or one third of the original PS3 model. The Cell microprocessor has moved to a 45 nm manufacturing process, which lets it run cooler and quieter than previous models, and the cooling system has been redesigned.[86]The RSX moved to a 40 nm process [87] in the latest revision. The PS3 slim also includes support forCEC (more commonly referred to by its manufacturer brandings of BraviaSync, VIERA Link, EasyLink etc.) which allows control of the console over HDMI by using the TV's remote control. The PS3 Slim no longer has the "main power" switch like the previous PS3 models, similar to redesignedPlayStation 2 slim. Support for emulation to play PS2 titles is not present in the Slim version.[38][84]
The PS3 slim was officially released on September 1, 2009 in North America and Europe and on September 3, 2009 in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.[38][84][88][89] However, some retailers such as Amazon.com, Best Buy and GameStop started to sell the PS3 slim on August 25, 2009.[90][91]The PS3 Slim sold in excess of a million units in its first 3 weeks on sale.[92] A 250 GB Final Fantasy XIII-themed PS3 Slim, which was white in color with pink designs, was officially announced on September 24, 2009 at the Tokyo Game Show as part of a bundle in Japan for Final Fantasy XIII, it was initially revealed in U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings as the PS3 CECH-2000B.[93][94] Sony Computer Entertainment Australia also announced later that day that it would be bringing the 250 GB PS3 slim to Australia which would be bundled with other games and will not feature the Final Fantasy XIII theme. Although no North American bundles have been announced for the 250 GB PS3 slim, it is sold as a stand-alone console in North America.[95]
In July 2010, Sony announced two new sizes of Slim PS3, 160 GB and 320 GB, with the 120 GB model being discontinued in Japan.[47]These were launched on July 29, 2010 in Japan, with the 160 GB version available in "Classic White" as well as the standard "Charcoal Black".[47] The black 160 GB version was also made available as a bundle with the Japan-only DVR accessory torne.[46] It was later announced that the new sizes were to be launched in other regions, with the 160 GB model available from August 2010 in North America[96]and October 2010 in Europe.[97] The 320 GB model is to be available in North America only as part of a bundle with PlayStation Move, aPlayStation Eye and a copy of Sports Champions,[96] and in Europe with PlayStation Move, a PlayStation Eye and a demo disc.[97] The bundles were released on September 19, 2010 and September 15, 2010 respectively, to coincide with the launch of PlayStation Move.[96][97]
Controllers and accessories
Main article: PlayStation 3 accessories
Numerous accessories for the console have been developed. These accessories include the wireless Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers, the Logitech Driving Force GT, the Logitech Cordless Precision Controller, the BD Remote, the PlayStation Eye camera, and the PlayTV DVB-T tuner/digital video recorder accessory.[143][144]
At Sony's 2006 E3 press conference, the (then) standard wireless Sixaxis controller was announced. The controller was based on the same basic design as the PlayStation 2's DualShock 2 controller but was wireless, lacked vibration capabilities, had a built-in accelerometer (that could detect motion in three directional and three rotational axes; six in total, hence the name Sixaxis) and had a few cosmetic tweaks.
At its press conference at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced the DualShock 3(trademarked DUALSHOCK 3), a PlayStation 3 controller with the same function and design as the Sixaxis, but with vibration capability included.[145] Hands-on accounts describe the controller as being noticeably heavier than the standard Sixaxis controller and capable of vibration forces comparable to the DualShock 2.[146] It was released in Japan on November 11, 2007;[147] North America on April 5, 2008;[148]Australia on April 24, 2008; New Zealand on May 9, 2008; mainland Europe on July 2, 2008;[149] the United Kingdom and Ireland on July 4, 2008; and the Seychelles on March 2010.
During E3 2009, Sony unveiled plans to release a motion controller later to be named PlayStation Move at GDC 2010. It was released on September 15, 2010 in Europe; September 19, 2010 in North America and October 21, 2010 in Japan.[150]
On October 13, 2010, Sony announced an official surround sound system for the PS3 through the official PlayStation YouTube channel.[151]
Reliability
A 2009 study by SquareTrade, a warranty provider, found a two-year failure rate of 10% for PlayStation 3s.[152] According to Ars Technica, the number of PlayStation 3 consoles that have experienced failure is well within the normal failure rates in the consumer electronics industry.[153]
However, in September 2009, the BBC television programme Watchdog aired a report investigating the purported "yellow light of death" issue, which affects fewer than 0.5% of PlayStation 3s sold in the UK.[154] The yellow light indicates a non-specific hardware failure which renders the system unusable.
The program also noted that the PlayStation 3 has a one-year warranty (typical of most consumer electronics products), which does not exclude more extensive consumer rights under Sale of Goods legislation. Out-of-warranty PlayStation 3 owners can pay Sony a set fee for a refurbished console.[155]
In response to the tone of the program Sony UK managing director Ray Maguire issued a document criticizing the program and citing potential attempts to harm Sony and PlayStation brand and stating that the three PlayStation 3 systems the program tested were not evidence of a manufacturing defect.[156][157]
Leap year bug
On March 1, 2010 (UTC), many of the original (non-Slim) PlayStation 3 models worldwide were experiencing errors related to their internal system clock. The error had a multitude of symptoms. Initially, the main problem seemed to be the inability to connect to the PlayStation Network. However, the root cause of the problem was unrelated to the PlayStation Network, since even users who had never been online also had problems playing installed offline games (which queried the system timer as part of startup) and using system themes. At the same time many users noted that the console's clock had gone back to December 31, 1999. The event was nicknamed the ApocalyPS3, a play on the word apocalypse.[158]
The error code displayed was typically 8001050F and affected users were unable to sign in, play games, use dynamic themes and view/sync trophies.[159] The problem only resided within the 1st through to the 3rd generation original PS3 units while the newer "Slim" models were unaffected due to different internal hardware for the clock.
Sony confirmed that there was an error and stated that they were narrowing down the issue and were continuing to work to restore service.[160] By March 2 (UTC), 2010, owners of original PS3 models could connect to PSN successfully and the clock no longer showed December 31, 1999.[161] Sony stated that the affected models incorrectly identified 2010 as a leap year, due to a bug in the BCD method of storing the date.[162][163] However, for some users, the hardware's operating system clock (mainly updated from the internet and not associated with the internal clock) needed to be updated manually or by re-syncing it via the internet.
On June 29, 2010, Sony released PS3 system software update 3.40, which improved the functionality of the internal clock to properly account for leap years.[164]
PlayStation Network outage
Main article: PlayStation Network outage
On April 20, 2011, Sony shut down the PlayStation Network and Qriocity for a prolonged interval, revealing on April 23 that this was due to "an external intrusion on our system". Sony later revealed that the personal information of 77 million users might have been taken, including: names; addresses; countries; email addresses; birthdates; PSN/Qriocity logins, passwords and handles/PSN online IDs.[165] They also stated that it was possible that users' profile data, including purchase history and billing address, and PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained.[165] There was no evidence that any credit card data had been taken, but the possibility could not be ruled out, and Sony advised customers that their credit card data may have been obtained.[165][166] Additionally, the credit card numbers were encrypted and Sony never collected the three digit CVC or CSC number from the back of the credit cards which is required for authenticating some transactions.[167] In response to the incident, Sony announced a "Welcome Back" program, 30 days free membership of PlayStation Plus for all PSN members, two free downloadable PS3 games, and a free one-year enrollment in an identity theft protection program.[168][169]
Operating system
System software
Main article: PlayStation 3 system software
Sony has included the ability for the operating system, referred to as System Software, to be updated.[170] The updates can be acquired in several ways:
- If the PlayStation 3 has an active Internet connection, updates may be downloaded directly from the PlayStation Network to the PS3 and subsequently installed. Systems with active Internet will automatically check online for software updates each time the console is started.
- Using an external PC, a user may download the update from the official PlayStation website, transfer it to portable storage media and install it on the System.
- Some game discs come with system software updates on the disc. This may be due to the game requiring the update in order to run. If so, the software may be installed from the disc.[170]
The original PlayStation 3 also included the ability to install other operating systems,[171] such as Linux.[172] This was not included in the newer slim models and was removed from all older PlayStation 3 consoles with the release of firmware update 3.21 in April 2010. The functionality is now only available to users of original consoles who choose not to update their system software beyond version 3.15.[173]
Graphical user interface
Main article: XrossMediaBar – PlayStation 3 XMB
The standard PlayStation 3 version of the XrossMediaBar (pronounced Cross Media Bar, or abbreviated XMB) includes nine categories of options. These are: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, PlayStation Network and Friends (similar to the PlayStation Portable media bar). A tenth TV category is displayed between Music and Video if PlayTV or torne is installed or if the console meets certain criteria to access select catch-up television services. By default, the What's New section of PlayStation Network is displayed when the system starts up. The PS3 includes the ability to store various master and secondary user profiles, manage and explore photos with or without a musical slide show, play music and copy audio CD tracks to an attached data storage device, play movies and video files from the hard disk drive, an optical disc (Blu-ray Disc or DVD-Video) or an optional USB mass storage or Flash card, compatibility for a USB keyboard and mouse and a web browser supporting in/compatible file download function.[174] Additionally, UPnP media will appear in the respective audio/video/photo categories if a compatible media server or DLNA server is detected on the local network. The Friends menu allows mail with emoticon and attached picture features and video chat which requires an optional PlayStation Eye or EyeToy webcam.[175] The Network menu allows online shopping through the PlayStation Store and connectivity to the PlayStation Portable via Remote Play.[175]
Digital rights management
The PlayStation 3 console protects certain types of data and uses digital rights management to limit the data's use. Purchased games and content from the PlayStation Network store are governed by PlayStation's Network Digital Rights Management (NDRM). The NDRM allows users to access the data from up to 5 different PlayStation 3's that have been activated using a users PlayStation Network ID.[176]PlayStation 3 also limits the transfer of copy protected videos downloaded from its store to other machines and states that copy protected video "may not restore correctly" following certain actions after making a backup such as downloading a new copy protected movie.[177]
Photo management
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery is an optional application to view, create and group photos from the PS3, which is installed separately from the system software at 105 MB. It was introduced in system software version 2.60 and provides a range of tools for sorting through and displaying the system's pictures. The key feature of this application is that it can organize photos into groups according to various criteria. Notable categorizations are colors, ages, or facial expressions of the people in the photos. Slideshows can be viewed with the application, along with music and playlists. The software was updated with the release of system software version 3.40 allowing users to upload and browse photos on Facebook and Picasa.[178]
PlayMemories
PlayMemories is an optional stereoscopic 3D (and also standard) photo viewing application,[179] which is installed from the PlayStation Store at 182 MB. The application is dedicated specifically to 3D photos and features the ability to zoom into 3D environments and change the angle and perspective of panoramas.[180] It requires system software 3.40 or higher; 3D photos; a 3D HDTV, and an HDMI cable for the 3D images to be viewed properly.
Video services
Video editor and uploader
A new application was released as part of system software version 3.40 which allows users to edit videos on the PlayStation 3 and upload them to the Internet. The software features basic video editing tools including the ability to cut videos and add music and captions. Videos can then be rendered and uploaded to video sharing websites such as Facebook and YouTube.[178]
VidZone
Main article: VidZone
VidZone is an online music video download service, accessible from the Music category on the XMB, which allows for free streaming of music videos. The VidZone catalogue encompasses over 1.5 million tracks, 25,000 music videos and 15,000 realtones,[181] including full access to catalogues from Sony BMG[182] and EMI.[183] This service is only available for customers in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal and New Zealand.
On June 11, 2009, VidZone’s service was extended to the PlayStation 3 video game system in Europe and Australia, allowing users to watch music videos for on their PS3 or streamed to their PSP via Remote Play.[184]
Catch Up TV
See also: Internet Television
Catch up TV services are IPTV streams of free to air broadcast programs specially formatted for display on the PS3. Where available select channels are accessible under a separate TV category on the XMB.
Mubi
Main article: Mubi (website)
A Mubi application for the PlayStation 3 was announced in May 2010. The service integrates elements of social networking with video streaming, allowing users to watch and discuss films with other users.[185] This service is only available for customers in Europe.
Netflix
Main article: Netflix
In October 2009, Sony Computer Entertainment and Netflix announced that Netflix would also be available on the PlayStation 3 from November 2009. Users had to use a disc to access Netflix for streaming, but on October 19, 2010, a downloadable application was made available through the PlayStation Network, so users could stream Netflix content without the use of a disc. Users do not have to pay for use of the service other than the initial Netflix subscription. This service is only available for customers in the United States and Canada.
VUDU
Main article: VUDU
On 23 November 2010, Walmart's video streaming service VUDU launched on the PlayStation 3. VUDU offers more than 4000 movies for rental and purchase, in 1080p HD resolution and 5.1 surround sound on supported titles. The PlayStation 3's VUDU interface offers also support to browse the VUDU catalog with the PlayStation Move controller and mice. This service is only available for customers in the United States.
PlayStation Portable connectivity
Main articles: Remote Play and PlayStation Store (PC) for PSP
The PlayStation Portable can connect with the PlayStation 3 in many ways, including in-game connectivity. For example, Formula One Championship Edition, a racing game, was shown at E3 2006 using a PSP as a real-time rear-view mirror.[186] In addition, users are able to download original PlayStation format games from the PlayStation Store, transfer and play them on the PSP as well as the PS3 itself.[187][188] It is also possible to use the Remote Play feature to play these and some PlayStation Network games, remotely on the PSP over a network or internet connection.
Sony has also demonstrated the PSP playing back video content from the PlayStation 3 hard disk across an ad-hoc 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 via PSP from any wireless access point in the world.[189]
Removal of "OtherOS" support
Among the changes made to the slim model was the removal of the OtherOS feature; the ability to install another operating system alongside the main system software. This was claimed to have been removed to focus on games and other content (new drivers etc. would have had to be written for the new hardware for use in the alternative OS), although it is possible that Sony discovered a vulnerability in the feature that would enable hacking of the console. Such a vulnerability was later found on the original (non-slim) versions by George Hotz, who created a hack that uses a combination of hardware modding and the OtherOS feature to take control of the hypervisor.[190]
As of firmware version 3.21, installation of other OSs is not supported on any model and the option has been removed from the XMB.[191] The reason given by Sony was 'disabling the “OtherOS” feature will help ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system.'[192] Sony's main Linux developer has been reassigned, so any PS3 Linux development would have to be on his own time.[193] This has caused some controversy as in effect Sony is removing officially advertised features and support from already sold products.[194] This controversy has also sparked several class action lawsuits aimed at making Sony return the feature and/or to get some sort of compensation.[195][196][197]
Firmware update 3.21 is mandatory for access to the PlayStation Network and as such many features such as online gaming and access to the PlayStation Store are unavailable to those who choose not to update.
PlayStation Network
Main article: PlayStation Network
PlayStation Network is the unified online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service provided by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, announced during the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo. The service is always connected,[198] free,[199] and includes multiplayer support.[10] The network enables online gaming, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home and other services. PlayStation Network uses real currency and PlayStation Network Cards as seen with the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home.
PlayStation Plus
Main article: PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus (commonly abbreviated PS+ and occasionally referred to as PSN Plus) is a premium PlayStation Network subscription service that was officially unveiled at E3 2010 by Jack Tretton, President and CEO of SCEA. Rumors of such service had been in speculation since Kaz Hirai's announcement at TGS 2009 of a possible paid service for PSN but with the current PSN service still available. Launched alongside PS3 firmware 3.40 and PSP firmware 6.30 on June 29, 2010, the paid-for subscription service provides users with enhanced services on the PlayStation Network, on top of the current PSN service which is still available with all of its features. These enhancements include the ability to have demos, game and system software updates download automatically to the PlayStation 3. Subscribers also get early or exclusive access to some betas, game demos, premium downloadable content and other PlayStation Store items. North American users also get a free subscription to Qore. Users may choose to purchase either a one-year or a three-month subscription to PlayStation Plus.
PlayStation Store
Main article: PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation Portable (PSP) game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games, add-on content, playable demos, themes and game and movie trailers. The service is accessible through an icon on the XMB on the PS3 and PSP. The PS3 store can also be accessed on the PSP via a Remote Play connection to the PS3. The PSP store is also available via the PC application, Media Go. As of September 24, 2009, there have been over 600 million downloads from the PlayStation Store worldwide.[200]
The PlayStation Store is updated with new content each Tuesday in North America, and each Wednesday in PAL regions.[201] In May 2010 this was changed from Thursdays to allow PSP games to be released digitally, closer to the time they are released on UMD.[202]
What's New
What's New was announced at Gamescom 2009 and was released on September 1, 2009, with PlayStation 3 system software 3.0.[203] The feature was to replace the existing [Information Board], which displayed news from the PlayStation website associated with the user's region. The concept was developed further into a major PlayStation Network feature, which interacts with the [Status Indicator] to display a ticker of all content, excluding recently played content (currently in North America and Japan only).
The system displays the What's New screen by default instead of the [Games] menu (or [Video] menu, if a movie was inserted) when starting up. What's New has four sections: "Our Pick", "Recently Played", latest information and new content available in PlayStation Store. There are four kinds of content the What's New screen displays and links to, on the sections. "Recently Played" displays the user's recently played games and online services only, whereas, the other sections can contain website links, links to play videos and access to selected sections of the PlayStation Store.
The PlayStation Store icons in the [Game] and [Video] section act similarly to the What's New screen, except that they only display and link to games and videos in the PlayStation Store, respectively.
PlayStation Home
Main article: PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home is a virtual 3D social networking service for the PlayStation Network.[204] Home allows users to create a custom avatar, which can be groomed realistically.[205][206] Users can edit and decorate their personal apartments, avatars or club houses with free, premium or won content.[205] Users can shop for new items or win prizes from PS3 games, or Home activities.[206] Users interact and connect with friends and customise content in a virtual world.[207] Home also acts as a meeting place for users that want to play multiplayer games with others.[207]
A closed beta began in Europe from May 2007 and expanded to other territories soon after.[208] Home was delayed and expanded[209] several times before initially releasing.[210][211] The Open Beta test was started on December 11, 2008. Home is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar. Membership is free and requires a PSN account.[206][207]
Home features places to meet and interact, dedicated game spaces, developer spaces, company spaces and events. The service undergoes a weekly maintenance and frequent updates. At TGS 2009, Kazuo Hirai announced that Home has been downloaded by 8 million users.[212]
Life with PlayStation
Main article: Life with PlayStation
Life with PlayStation, released on September 18, 2008[213] to succeed Folding@home. Life with PlayStation uses virtual globe data to display news and information by city. Along with Folding@home functionality, the application also provides the user with access to three other information "channels", the first of which being the Live Channel which offers news headlines and weather. Information is provided by Google News, The Weather Channel, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Space Science and Engineering Center, among other sources.[214] The second channel is the World Heritage channel which offers historical information about historical sites. The third channel is the United Village channel. United Village is a project designed to share information about communities and cultures worldwide.[215] A recent update has allowed video and photo viewing in the application.[213] The fourth channel is the USA exclusive PlayStation Network Game Trailers Channel for direct streaming of game trailers.
Games
Main article: List of PlayStation 3 games
The PlayStation 3 launched in North America with 14 titles, with another three being released before the end of 2006.[216] After the first week of sales it was confirmed that Resistance: Fall of Man from Insomniac Games was the top-selling launch game in North America.[217][218] The game was heavily praised by numerous video game websites, including GameSpot and IGN, both of whom awarded it their PlayStation 3Game of the Year award for 2006.[219][220] Some titles missed the launch window and were delayed until early 2007, such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, F.E.A.R. and Sonic the Hedgehog. During the Japanese launch, Ridge Racer 7 was the top-selling game, while Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire also fared well in sales,[221] both of which were offerings from Namco Bandai Games. The PlayStation 3 launched in Europe with 24 titles, including ones that were not offered in the North American and Japanese launches, such as Formula One Championship Edition, MotorStorm and Virtua Fighter 5. Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm were the most successful titles of 2007,[222][223] and both games subsequently received sequels in the form of Resistance 2 and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.[224][225]
At E3 2007, Sony was able to show a number of their upcoming video games for the PlayStation 3, including Heavenly Sword, Lair, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Warhawk and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune; all of which were released in the third and fourth quarters of 2007. They also showed off a number of titles that were set for release in 2008 and 2009; most notably Killzone 2, Infamous, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, LittleBigPlanet and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation.[226] A number of third-party exclusives were also shown, including the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots,[227] alongside other high-profile third-party titles such as Grand Theft Auto 4,Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed, Devil May Cry 4 and Resident Evil 5. Two other important titles for the PlayStation 3, Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII, were shown at TGS 2007 in order to appease the Japanese market.[228][229]
Sony have since launched their budget range of PlayStation 3 titles, known as the Greatest Hits range in North America,[230] the Platinum range in Europe and Australia[231] and The Best range in Japan.[232] Among the titles available in the budget range include Resistance: Fall of Man, MotorStorm, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Rainbow Six: Vegas, Call Of Duty 3, Assassin's Creed and Ninja Gaiden Sigma. As of October 2009 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Devil May Cry 4, Army of Two,Battlefield: Bad Company and Midnight Club: Los Angeles have also joined the list. When they are put on the "Greatest Hits" list the new unused copies retail for $30 USD and are re-shipped in a new red case.
As of September 30, 2010, there have been 350.6 million games sold for the PlayStation 3.[233]
Stereoscopic 3D
Main article: List of 3D PlayStation 3 games
In December 2008, the CTO of Blitz Games announced that it would bring stereoscopic 3D gaming and movie viewing to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 with its own technology.[234] This technology was first demonstrated publicly on the PS3 in January 2009 at the Consumer Electronics Show. Journalists were shown Wipeout HD and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in 3D as a demonstration of how the technology might work if it is implemented in the future.[235] System software update 3.30 has prepared the PS3 for stereoscopic 3D gaming, while 3.50 prepared it for 3D films.[236] Firmware update 3.30 officially allows PS3 titles to be played in 3D, requiring a compatible display for use.[237]While the game itself must be programmed to take advantage of the 3D technology, titles may be patched to add in the functionality retroactively. Titles with such patches include Wipeout HD, Pain, and Super Stardust HD.[238]
Homebrew
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PlayStation Jailbreak
In August 2010, PlayStation Jailbreak, a USB device that allows execution of unsigned code (such as backup games and homebrew) on the PlayStation 3, was released.[239] The device included a piece of software called Backup Manager, which allows users to copy original games from the Blu-ray Disc to either the internal hard disk drive (HDD) or an external HDD (FAT32 formatted).
The original device was soon reverse engineered and many clones, such as PS3 Key and PS3 Break, have since been released.[240] An open source implementation known as PS Groove was also released, which allows the same functionality to be achieved using various external devices, such as calculators and portable media players, via a USB connection.[241] An open source clone of Backup Manager, known asOpen Manager, which mimics and expands upon the original's features has also been released.[242]
Private key compromised
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At the 2010 Chaos Communication Congress (CCC) in Berlin, a group calling itself fail0verflow announced it had succeeded in bypassing a number of the PlayStation 3's security measures, allowing unsigned code to run without a dongle. They also announced that it was possible to recover the private key used by Sony to sign software, due to an improper implementation of the Elliptic Curve DSA (ECDSA), but chose not to publish this key because it was not necessary to run homebrew software on the device.[243] The release of this key would allow anyone to sign their code and therefore be able to run it on any PlayStation 3 console. This would also mean that no countermeasures could be taken by Sony without rendering old software useless, as there is no distinction between official and homebrew software.[244] On January 3, 2011, geohot published the aforementioned private key, as well as a Hello world program for the PS3.[245][246] On January 12, 2011, Sony Computer Entertainment America filed a lawsuits against both fail0verflow and geohot for violations of the DMCA and CFAA.[247][248]
Custom firmware (CFW)
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To allow for homebrew using the newly[when?] discovered encryption keys, several modified versions of system update 3.55 have been released by Geohot and others. The most common feature is the addition of an "App Loader" that allows for the installation of homebrew apps as signed DLC-like packages. Although Backup Managers could run at that time, they could not load games at first even though some success had been made by making backups look like DLC games and then signing them. An LV2 patch was later released to allow Backup Managers to load game backups and was later integrated into the Managers themselves so that it doesn't have to be run whenever the PS3 is restarted. This CFW jailbreak method is now the trend in jailbreaking the PS3 because it doesn't need any special hardware and can be permanently installed onto any PS3.
PS3 System Software updates v3.56 and v3.60 added security measures to prevent creation of custom firmwares, building on previous updates which blocked the PS Jailbreak exploit. However, users may choose not to update and games requiring a firmware version above 3.55 can be patched to run on v3.55 or lower. Soon after v3.60 was released, updates to the Playstation Network were conducted to block any methods known that allowed PSN access on firmwares older than the latest official firmware (v3.60 currently), thereby blocking users who chose not to update.
A custom firmware known as "Rebug",[249] released on March 31, gave retail PS3s most of the options and functionality of debug/developer PS3 units. One week later, tutorials became available allowing users to download PSN content for free, using fake (rather than stolen) credit card numbers.[250][251] One April 12 report described hackers using the jailbroken firmware to access the dev-PSN to get back on games likeCall of Duty, with widespread reports of cheating.[252] While some sources blamed Rebug for the subsequent intrusion to Sony's private developer network, Time's "Techland" described such theories as "highly--as in looking down at the clouds from the tip-top of Mount Everest highly--speculative".[253]
Sales and production costs
| Region | Units sold | First available |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | "about 1.5 million" as of October 6, 2010[254] | November 17, 2006 |
| Europe (May include UK & other PAL regions) | 16 million as of August 17, 2010[255] | March 23, 2007 |
| Japan | 6,341,950 as of April 1, 2011[256] | November 11, 2006 |
| United Kingdom | 3 million as of January 26, 2010[257] | March 23, 2007 |
| United States | 13.5 million as of November 11, 2010[258] | November 17, 2006 |
| Worldwide | 50 million as of March 29, 2011[2] | November 11, 2006 |
The PlayStation 3's initial production cost is estimated to have been US$805.85 for the 20 GB model and US$840.35 for the 60 GB model.[259] However, they were priced at US$499 and US$599 respectively,[260]meaning that every unit was sold at an estimated loss of $250,[259] contributing to Sony's games division posting an operating loss of ¥232.3 billion (US$1.97 billion) in thefiscal year ending March 2007.[261] In April 2007, soon after these results were published, Ken Kutaragi, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, announced plans to retire. Various news agencies, including The Times[262] and The Wall Street Journal[263]reported that this was due to poor sales, while SCEI maintains that Kutaragi had been planning his retirement for six months prior to the announcement.[263]
In January 2008, Kaz Hirai, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, suggested that the console may start making a profit by early 2009, stating that, "the next fiscal year starts in April and if we can try to achieve that in the next fiscal year that would be a great thing" and that "[profitability] is not a definite commitment, but that is what I would like to try to shoot for".[264] However, market analysts Nikko Citigroup have predicted that the PlayStation 3 could be profitable by August 2008.[265] In a July 2008 interview, Hirai stated that his objective is for the PlayStation 3 to sell 150 million units by its ninth year, surpassing the PlayStation 2's sales of 140 million in its nine years on the market.[266] In January 2009 Sony announced that their gaming division was profitable in Q3 2008.[267]
Since the system's launch, production costs have been reduced significantly as a result of phasing out the Emotion Engine chip and falling hardware costs.[268][269] The cost of manufacturing Cell microprocessors has fallen dramatically as a result of moving to the 65 nm production process,[269][270] and Blu-ray Disc diodes have become cheaper to manufacture.[268][271] As of January 2008, each unit cost around $400 to manufacture;[272][273] by August 2009, Sony had reduced costs by a total of 70%, meaning it only costs Sony around $240 per unit.[274][275][276]
Reception
Original model
Early PlayStation 3 reviews soon after launch were critical of its high price and lack of quality launch games, but commended the system's hardware capabilities and potential.[277][278] However, after a series of price revisions, Blu-ray's victory over HD DVD,[279] and the release of several well received titles, the system received better reviews. IGN judged the PlayStation 3 to have the best game line-up of 2008, based on their review scores in comparison to those of the Wii and Xbox 360.[280]
The PS3 was given the number-eight spot on PC World magazine’s list of "The Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006", where it was criticized for being "Late, Expensive and Incompatible".[281] GamesRadar ranked the PS3 as the top item in a feature on game-related PR disasters, asking how Sony managed to "take one of the most anticipated game systems of all time and — within the space of a year — turn it into a hate object reviled by the entire internet", but added that despite its problems the system has "untapped potential".[282] Business Weeksummed up the general opinion by stating that it was "more impressed with what [the PlayStation 3] could do than with what it currently does".[283]
Developers have also found the machine difficult to program for. In 2007, Gabe Newell of Valve said "The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think it's really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted". He continued "I'd say, even at this late date, they should just cancel it and do a do over. Just say, 'This was a horrible disaster and we're sorry and we're going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it'".[284] Doug Lombardi VP of Marketing for Valve has since stated that they are interested in developing for the console and are looking to hire talented PS3 programmers for future projects.[285] He later restated Valve's position, "Until we have the ability to get a PS3 team together, until we find the people who want to come to Valve or who are at Valve who want to work on that, I don't really see us moving to that platform".[286] At Sony's E3 2010 press conference, Newell made a live appearance to recant his previous statements, citing Sony's move to make the system more developer friendly, and to announce that Valve would be developing Portal 2 for the system. He also claimed that the inclusion of Steamworks (Valve's system to automatically update their software independently) would help to make the PS3 version of Portal 2 the best console version on the market.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has criticized the PS3’s high development costs and inferior attach rate and return to that of the Xbox 360 and Wii. He believes these factors are pushing developers away from working on the console. In an interview with The Times Kotick stated "I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform."[287] He continued, "It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital (ROIC) on the Xbox than on the PlayStation." Kotick also claimed that Activision Blizzard may stop supporting the system if the situation is not addressed. “[Sony has] to cut the [PS3’s retail] price, because if they don't, the attach rates are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony.”[288] Kotick received heavy criticism for the statement, notably from developer Bioware who questioned the wisdom of the threatened move, and referred to the statement as "silly."[289]
In an interview, Kazuo Hirai, chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment argued for the choice of a complex architecture.[290]
Despite the initial negative press, several websites have given the system very good reviews. CNET United Kingdom praised the system saying, "the PS3 is a versatile and impressive piece of home-entertainment equipment that lives up to the hype [...] the PS3 is well worth its hefty price tag."[291] CNET awarded it a score of 8.8 out of 10 and voted it as its number one "must-have" gadget,[292] praising its robust graphical capabilities and stylish exterior design while criticizing its limited selection of available games.[293]
In addition, both Home Theater Magazine and Ultimate AV have given the system's Blu-ray playback very favorable reviews, stating that the quality of playback exceeds that of many current standalone Blu-ray Disc players.[294][295]
Hexus Gaming reviewed the PAL version and summed the review up by saying, "as the PlayStation 3 matures and developers start really pushing it, we’ll see the PlayStation 3 emerge as the console of choice for gaming."[296] At GDC 2007, Shiny Entertainment founder Dave Perry stated, "I think that Sony has made the best machine. It's the best piece of hardware, without question".[297] A second review of the PS3 by Ars Technica in June 2008 gave the console an overall mark of 9/10, while the original launch review marked only 6/10.[298] In September 2009, IGN named the PlayStation 3 the 15th best gaming console of all time, behind both of its competitors: the Wii (10th) and Xbox 360 (6th).[299]
Slim model and rebranding
The PlayStation 3 Slim received extremely positive reviews as well as a boost in sales; less than 24 hours after its announcement the PS3 Slim took the number-one bestseller spot on Amazon.com in the video games section for fifteen consecutive days. It regained the number-one position again one day later.[300] The PS3 Slim also received praise from PC World giving it a 90 out of 100 praising its new repackaging and the new value it brings at a lower price as well as praising its quietness and the reduction in its power consumption. This is in stark contrast to the original PS3's launch in which it was given position number-eight on their "The Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006" list.[301]
CNET awarded the PS3 Slim four out of five stars praising its Blu-ray capabilities, 120 GB hard drive, free online gaming service and more affordable pricing point, but complained about the lack of backward compatibility for PlayStation 2 games.[302] TechRadar gave the PS3 Slim four and a half stars out of five praising its new smaller size and summed up its review stating "Over all, the PS3 Slim is a phenomenal piece of kit. It's amazing that something so small can do so much". They criticized the exterior design of the PS3 Slim, calling it "ugly" and described the build quality as "cheap" compared to the original PS3.[303]
PlayStation 3 supercomputer
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) created a powerful supercomputer by connecting together 1,760 Sony PS3s which include 168 separate graphical processing units and 84 coordinating servers in an parallel array capable of performing 500 trillion floating-point operations per second (500 TFLOPS).[304] The Condor Cluster is the 33rd largest supercomputer in the world and will enable scientists to better identify objects flying in space.[305]