Peter Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing for SCEA, told Gamasutra today that movie download service for PSP and PS3 will be coming very soon, and that the company is actively working on the service. Sony is working hard on the service to ensure that it makes a good impression on consumers when it is launched.

“I think what might convince [people who haven’t picked up a PSP] would be the advent of a service that allows them to put content onto the PSP in an easier fashion,” said Dille. “There’s been a lot of speculation about when we’ll offer our video download service on PSP or PS3, and I think that could be more of a killer application to get people off the fence.”

Dille also said: “We didn’t have any announcements about that at the show, but what I can tell you is we’re working on it, we see that it’s critical, not just for PSP but also for PS3, and it’s something we know is super important to get right. We won’t have a second chance to make a first impression. If we launch it and it’s not right, we’re going to get creamed. So we want to make sure we get the consumer experience right, get the right content, and we’re working really hard on it. And I don’t think we’re talking about years, I think this is something we could get behind really soon.”

[Via: Gamasutra]

Sony has confirmed that they will not be cutting the price of the PlayStation 3 in Europe or releasing a 80GB model – instead it will be offering a Starter Pack containing the console, two games and an extra controller for GBP 425 / EUR 599. The announcement will also affect Australia. SCEE has chosen to bundle first-party titles and a second SIXAXIS controller with a combined RRP of GBP 115, rather than lower the price.

The bundle pack is due on sale in the UK on July 18 and in Europe August 1, the Starter Pack will offer two Sixaxis controllers and a choice of two first-party titles from a list of Resistance: Fall of Man, Motorstorm, Genji: Days of the Blade, Formula One Championship Edition and Ridge Racer 7.

“With sell through of over 1.2 million units in the SCEE territories to date, PlayStation 3 has proved to be an instant and huge success,”
said David Reeves, president of SCEE.

UPDATE (13th July 2007 at 13:55):

With the introduction of the Starer Pack, the PS3 price in the UK will return to £425. Most UK retailers dropped the price of the PS3 to £399 a while back to increase sales, but since the new unit will cost more, it is likely that retailers will increase the price to the original RRP.

SCEE president David Reeves has told GamesIndustry.biz that the 60GB PlayStation 3 will no longer be available in the US after stock sells out – which he predicts will occur by the end of the month. Reeves was speaking at an E3 event to announce the introduction of a new PS3 bundle in Europe. When asked about possible criticisms over whether SCEE should have given consumers the option to pay a lower price, as SCEA has done, he replied, “Well, they’re not really are they, because what the US are offering from the 1st of August is a USD 599 version with one game.

“All they’re doing is taking their stock in trade that they’ve got at the moment of the 60GB model, marking the price down and it will all be gone by the end of July.”

When asked to clarify if this will mean the end of the 60GB model, Reeves answered, “In America, yes.” This blow comes only a few days after the 60GB PS3 was lowered in price, effectively making the price cut void. After stock runs out, the only available model will be the 80GB version retailing at $599, since the 20GB version has already been discontinued.

Sony is confident about meeting its goal of selling 11 million PlayStation 3 units this fiscal year as the recent price cut and a slate of new games draw in consumers. “We’re very well-poised to get to that number on a worldwide basis,” Kaz Hirai, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, told Reuters in an interview. Sony’s fiscal year runs through the end of March.

A high price and relative lack of blockbuster games has dampened sales of the PlayStation 3, and Sony has tried hard to rectify both issues this week at E3, the $30 billion video game industry’s most important trade show. On Monday, Sony cut the PS3’s price in the United States by $100, or 17 percent, to $499, narrowing the gap with Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360, which comes in three versions priced between $300 and $480.

Since it went on sale last November, the PS3 has sold 1.4 million units in the United States through May, compared to 2.8 million units for Nintendo Wii console, according to market research firm NPD. The Xbox 360, which debuted in November 2005, has sold 5.6 million units.

[Via: Reuters UK]

Santa Monica, 12th July 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced the availability of a high value Starter Pack for PLAYSTATION 3, comprising a PS3, two first party games and two SIXAXIS wireless controllers, at €599.

Rolling out across the SCEE territories from 13th July, and in all territories by 1st August, the new Starter Pack represents exceptional value for money as an entry point into the exciting world of High Definition interactive entertainment with PLAYSTATION 3.

The choice of first party games available in the Starter Pack will vary to suit the interests of entertainment enthusiasts in each country, but will include million sellers such as Resistance Fall of Man and MotorStorm; titles specifically chosen to demonstrate the stunning graphics and enhanced gameplay of High Definition games on Blu-ray disc.

With an additional wireless SIXAXIS, motion sensitive controller provided for head to head and multi player gaming, the Starter Pack is sure to appeal to those seeking to enhance their entertainment experience with the best of 21st century technology.

“With sell through of over 1.2 million units in the SCEE territories to date, PLAYSTATION 3 has proved to be an instant and huge success”, said David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

“The exceptional value of the new Starter Pack will bring the excitement of PlayStation gaming to a much wider audience. Add to this a stellar lineup of software titles for the second half of the year and we are confident that this amazing value Starter Pack will encourage many more keen gamers to join the PLAYSTATION 3 community”.

Sony has stated many times that the PS3 may not receive a price cut in Europe, but will instead get better value packs. The official announcement isn’t until later today at E3, but we have heard that the European market will be getting a new bundle pack .The ‘PS3 Starter Pack’, retailing for EUR 600 (GBP 410), will come complete with a 60GB PS3, Resistance: Fall of Man and Motorstorm, plus as two SIXAXIS controllers.

The official announcement will be on July 13th 2007, at 5:00 AM BST. We will bring you an update on this story tomorrow.

Sony’s Press Conference yesterday finally revealed details of the new PSP model, however not all the improvements were covered. Kaz Hirai, SCE President, announced that the new PSP will be 33 percent lighter and 19 percent slimmer. He also mentioned that the battery will be more efficient, game loading has improved and also the ability to output video to a TV. What he failed to mention was some of the other improvements, such as removal of the Infra-Red port.

Since the Infra-Red port has been removed, the Wi-Fi switch has been relocated to the top of the PSP, near the USB port. The UMD drive no longer has an eject button, instead, you need to pull open the drive. The old PSP has a lock in the drive allowing the UMD to be locked into place once inserted, the new model however does not have this. This is one of the reasons why the new model is much slimmer.

Game loading has improved by allowing data to be temporarily from UMD, reducing load time during game play much like the PS3. You can now also charge the PSP using the bulit-in USB port, so the console can charge while you transfers files to and from your PSP (only available in USB Connection mode).

Naturally, the new model PSP will come with the latest firmware version pre-installed. The firmware will include options to change the TV display settings much like the PS3 display settings. We also speculate that tougher security measures have been placed on the motherboard, preventing firmware downgrading. While most of the features are great additions, we were disappointed to hear that no onboard storage has been added making the Memory Stick Duo an essential requirement for any portable gamer.

Product Codes

• Piano Black PSP (PSP-2000 PB)
• Ceramic White PSP (PSP-2000 CW)
• Ice Silver PSP (PSP-2000 IS)
• Battery Pack, for PSP-2000 model only (PSP-S110 / PSP-S110 U / PSP-S110 E / PSP-S110 G)
• Headphones with Remote Control (PSP-S140 / PSP-S140 U / PSP-S140 G)
• AV Cable, 2.5m length (PSP-S150 / PSP-S150 U / PSP-S150 E)
• S-Video Cable, 2.5m length (PSP-S160 / PSP-S160 U)
• D Terminal AV Cable, available in Japan only (PSP-S170)
• Component AV Cable (PSP-S180 / PSP-S180 U / PSP-S180 E)

During Sony’s Press Conference yesterday, Phil Harrison demonstrated a feature that is new to Home. PS3 games will be able to be launched directly from inside Home, from both a Blu-Ray disc and from the hard drive. Harrison stepped into a room with eleven other people in the virtual world. He then proceeded to invite them all into a game of Motorstorm, which booted straight from Home’s PSP menu system into the multiplayer lobby, with all the people he invited ready to start.

After a few minutes of playing, Harrison decided that he’d played enough Motorstorm for now and quit the game straight back into Home. This is a feature we’re very excited about and we cannot wait to take full advantage of it once the open beta hits next month. Harrison also mentioned that the Home client is now running on mobile phones, however, it will not support 3D avatars.

Check out the clip from the Sony Press Conference below:

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CULVER CITY, Calif., July 11, 2007 – Today, at their annual press conference during the E3 Media and Business Summit, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) announced new games and services for its PLAYSTATION Network, an emergent entertainment network aimed at delivering innovative content and community to a worldwide audience. SCEA unveiled new features for the highly-anticipated PlayStation Home, a 3D community-based service set to revolutionize the broadband entertainment world, and announced new content for its PLAYSTATION Network.

In addition, SCEA introduced several new downloadable games designed specifically for PLAYSTATION Network, including a crafty puzzle game called echochrome that takes full advantage of the PLAYSTATION 3 system’s (PS3) SIXAXIS wireless controller; an achingly funny action game named PAIN; and the next chapter in the popular WipeOut racing series, WipeOut HD. Also demonstrated was a pair of games available through download from PLAYSTATION Store and on Blu-ray Disc (BD) : SOCOM US Navy SEALs: Confrontation, the next title in line of one of the most popular franchises in PlayStation history; and Warhawk, a ground-breaking online multi-player air and land combat game. These much-anticipated titles are central to the 2007 PLAYSTATION Network roadmap and are part of the more than 40 innovative games and game packs in development from SCEA for download via PLAYSTATION Network this fiscal year in North America .

“Our goal is to deliver the most compelling entertainment experience to our PlayStation fans through PLAYSTATION Network,” said Jack Tretton, President and CEO, SCEA. “The interactive content sharing features of PlayStation Home, combined with the library of innovative downloadable games and entertainment, truly push the boundaries of our customer’s imaginations and deliver on the promise of an integrated content and community service.”

During the press conference, company spokespeople presented both in person and as their own personalized avatars within the PlayStation Home 3D community service, transitioning from their virtual-world avatars to reappear live on stage. Phil Harrison, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, unveiled key new components of PlayStation Home. The newly introduced features, all available when the free 3D community makes its public debut this fall, include:

• Launch Games Within PlayStation Home: Users will have the ability to launch Blu-ray Disc (BD) or PLAYSTATION Network games from inside PlayStation Home. Since PlayStation Home is designed to be a virtual meeting place for a worldwide community, users who want to play a game together can meet in one location to set options and start the multi-player online game.
• New Home Square: The newly designed Home Square replaces the PlayStation Home lobby concept first introduced at the Game Developers Conference in March. The new open-air space provides internal developers with more flexibility to build upon the community experience.
• New Personal Spaces: Four new apartments including a Beach House, Norwegian Cabin, Manhattan Penthouse and a traditional Japanese House, were introduced today to allow for additional user choice and personalization.

“After more than three years in development, we’re preparing for a landmark global roll out of PlayStation Home in the fall,” said Phil Harrison, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, “As an integrated service of PLAYSTATION Network , PlayStation Home will enable people to build connected communities around all of the entertainment experiences that PS3 has to offer.”

[Via: PlayStation NA]

CULVER CITY , Calif. , July 11, 2007 – In conjunction with a global announcement by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) today announced the availability of a new PSP (PlayStation Portable) that has a more streamlined form factor and a video-out port, offered for the first time in this territory in two exciting new PSP Entertainment Packs. PSP “Ice Silver” will be included in the limited-edition Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack, available in September. Also, a collector’s edition PSP “Ceramic White,” including a Darth Vader silk-screen on the unit, as well as the PSP exclusive title, Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron, will be featured in Star Wars Battlefront PSP Entertainment Pack, launching in October. PSP Entertainment Packs with the new colors, revealed at the E3 Media and Business Summit today, will be available for $199.99 (SRP).

“We are very pleased to be taking part in the global roll out of the newly designed PSP, while providing something unique for users in North America,” said Jack Tretton, President and CEO, SCEA. “In response to consumer interest, we’re offering additional colors as part of this enhanced design to match users’ personal styles and interests. The Star Wars Battlefront bundle in particular is a great opportunity for consumers to get on board with a collector’s edition ?Ceramic White’ PSP. Also, the new video-out port, which gives consumers the option to enjoy PSP content on the big screen, brings a whole new dimension to the PSP experience.”

The first newly designed PSP that will be released in North America is the limited-edition Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack, which will be available on September 10 and provide users with everything they need to enjoy the ultimate in portable entertainment, right out of the box. This package will feature a PSP in “Ice Silver” along with the award-winning, action-packed game, Daxter ; the hit TV comedy from 20th Century Fox, “Family Guy – The Freakin’ Sweet Collection” on UMD (Universal Media Disc) ; and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, for storing photos, music, video clips and more.

The limited-release Star Wars Battlefront PSP Entertainment Pack, available on October 9, will allow owners to experience their favorite Star Wars battles any way – and anywhere – they want with a special “Ceramic White” PSP featuring a silk-screened image of Darth Vader on the back of the unit. Also included is Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron, the next chapter of the best-selling Star Wars Battlefront series from LucasArts. Set during the Original Trilogy era, the game is the previously untold story of a ragtag ensemble of battle-hardened rogues and scoundrels assembled by Han Solo. Now for the first time ever in Star Wars Battlefront, you can customize your character, select your weapons, choose your abilities and create a different experience every time you play. A stand-alone version of Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron will also be available on October 9.

“We’re really excited about the next chapter in the most successful Star Wars video game franchise ever, and since we created Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron specifically with PSP in mind, it’s the perfect companion to the newly designed PSP hardware,” said Jim Ward, President, LucasArts. “And the Darth Vader image silk-screened on the back of the unit adds to the mix to make a great package that should be high on the holiday gift list of both gamers and Star Wars fans alike.”

In addition to the new PSP Entertainment Packs, the current PSP Core Pack will continue to be available at $169.99 (SRP), with an enhanced-design PSP in “Piano Black,” an AC adaptor, and battery pack slated for September.

Driven by the recent $30 price reduction, the buzz from the “Dude Get Your Own” marketing campaign, and the breadth and depth of its software, the PSP platform has seen a significant lift in sales at retail in North America.

More than 140 games will be released for PSP this fiscal year, including more than 20 third-party titles currently slated as exclusives. First-party studios will be responsible for eight exclusive games, including several key titles that are playable at E3 this year: God of War : Chains of Olympus, Jeanne D’Arc, NBA ’08, Parappa the Rapper, Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice, SOCOM US Navy SEALs: Tactical Strike, and Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow.

[Via: PlayStation NA]