Nov 17... PS3... mmm....

88,000. Not the amount paid by some rich dude for the vehicle number plate of the same digits. Not the number of idiotic drivers living in Penang. 88,000 is the number of Playstation 3 units sold in Japan on the first day of its Nov 11 launch. And apparently the 60GB premium version made up 62% of that amount.

Perhaps I should explain. The PS3 will come in 2 different versions, a "basic" 20GB hard drive version and a "premium" 60GB hard drive version. The 60GB version will also come with flash memory (memory stick, compact flash and SD) slots and built in 802.11b/g WiFi. Both units will have the same Cell processor running at 3.2GHz, the same Nvidia RSX graphics engine with HDMI output up to 1080p, the same 256MB XDR system memory and the same 256MB DDR3 graphics memory. Think of the 60GB as the 20GB with chrome trim, a bigger fuel tank and extra cup holders.

The colaboration between Sony, IBM and Toshiba resulted in the Cell processor, a 3.2GHz PowerPC-based core with 7 additional synergistic processing units, unlike the XBOX360's triple PowerPC dual-cores for a total of 6 logical processors. I don't know much about processor technology, but I guess Sony has always favoured parallel processing while the XBOX360 is more closely related to a normal PC type of processing. If you want to know how advanced it is, I highly recommend that you download the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots HD Trailer from Gametrailers.com.

The new controller on the PS3 looks like the trusty Dual-Shock of the PS2 without an umbilical. Thats right, the new PS3 controller is wireless, connected by Bluetooth to the main unit, just like the Nintento Wii. Up to 4 controllers can be connected to a single main unit. The controller is recharged using a USB cable connected back to the main unit and the controller will remain operational during charging. Battery life is expected to be about 30 hours, which isn't that bad considering I can play through Final Fantasy X with only 2 full charges. As with iPods, the battery is not user replaceable and needs to be sent back to Sony.

The reason why its no longer called Dual-Shock is because... it doesn't vibrate anymore! Sony took out the rumble to make way for the motion sensing capabilities. The controller is capable of sensing motion in 6 different axes: up, down, left, right, forward and backward. So now, the controller is more aptly named the sixaxis controller. Personally I think I'd miss the vibration feature. Who can forget the torture chamber scene in Metal Gear Solid for the PS1 where Naomi gives Snake a massage by asking him to put the Dual-Shock on his shoulder? Classic! But then again, motion sensing will open the floodgates of interesting usage models. Maybe Metal Gear Solid 4 will have the player aiming a sniper rifle by attaching an included scope to the sixaxis and waving it aorund. Or Para-para Sakura with 1 sixaxis on each hand. Hahahah.

Here's something that caught me off guard. The PS3 will no longer use the PS2's memory card. There's no slot for it. If you want to use your old cards, you'll need to get an extra adapter. Strange at first but logical I guess, since it comes with a built-in hard drive now. Plus I've never played any PS1 games on my PS2, so I don't expect to play PS2 games on a PS3 either. I wonder... would PS2 games save on a PS3 go into the hard drive or still need the memory card?

The MSRP of 20GB PS3 is $499 and the 60GB PS3 is $599 which makes it the most expensive out of the next-gen consoles. XBOX360's MSRP is $299 and $399 while the Nintendo Wii will go for $249.

So the next-gen console war will start in earnest on Nov 17, which is the official PS3 international launch date. Adding to that, Nintendo will launch the Wii on Nov 16. These are interesting times for console gamers. I think I'd still go for a PS3 because all my favourite franchises such as Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy and Gran Turismo are all PS only. I doubt the PS3 will be here at an acceptable price point until maybe end next year though. So gamers, choose your console, engage I-have-no-life-mode and game on!