There have been some interesting announcements and demos from the TGS this week – here’s a quick summary:
- Both the $499 20GB PS3 model and the $599 60GB model will come with the HDMI interface included, allowing the best possible connection to HD capable screens (previously it was expected that only th 60GB model would include HDMI)
- The 20GB model will ship in Japan only at a reduced price of $429.
- Photo album browsing capabilities were demoed, including the ability to spread photos across the screen as if shuffling photos across your desktop in 3D.
- 1080p games with high refresh rates (eg 60fps) are a reality, plus will be available on launch date with more to come. Sony’s marketing ace up their sleeve to differentiate the console from the XBox360 is not just pure marketing fluff, and the demos this week dismissed rumors and the comments from the competition (Microsoft) that at this resolution games would not be able to render at high refresh rates. Games demoed at 1080p included Gran Turismo HD (as expected, since this has been the main 1080p demo for some time now), Ridge Race 7 and Virtua Tennis 3.