PS3 details revealed

A myriad of revelations

A number of 'secrets' pertaining to the design of the forthcoming Playstation 3 console have apparently been leaked from a Sony insider, to the Playstation Magazine stateside. The details emerged in PSM's September issue, with the first revelation being that the PS3 will not use PS1 or PS2 cartridges, instead relying Memory Stick Duo sticks to save data, a la the PSP handheld. Whilst it is expected that older Playstation games will be playable on the PS3, this move suggests old saved-games won't be, unless saved onto the memory stick through re-play on the console.

Older PS2 gamepads and other peripherals such as dancemats, will also not work with the PS3 - meaning that several older Playstation titles will lose the use of their bespoke peripherals if played on the new machine. A TiVo style peripheral will enable TV programmes to be saved on to the optional mini hard-disk, whilst the PSP will act as a WiFi remote control for such functionality, managing multimedia useage, and even allowing saved files to be transferred to the handheld for playback.

The afore-mentioned micro hard-drive will apparently be available in an 80gb flavour initially, and will in the main be used for saving media files, rather than game files. With regard to the system's HDTV output, most titles will offer 720p support, with occasional support for 1080i and 1080p output where it is called for as HDTV resolutions increase. The video output will also scale-down to resolutions of 480p or 480i for lower quality TVs.

The system is out officially next spring in Japan, and is expected out everywhere by the end of 2006. The PS3 will be previewed at the Tokyo Game Show next month.

By Luke Guttridge