[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by iZed

In-game advertising may be a nessecary evil, i just hope they dont overblow it like the Wipeout Pure Puma-type levels, those were shockers and all but unplayable from the advertising assault on ones senses!

I agree, whilst it is something that is definitely on its way we can only hope they don't go overboard on this. It'd be nice ifthis advertising made games cheaper, however I can't see that personally...

[jedi-jae]

Hmm, leaves me a bit up in the air about the blu-ray playback, given the importance of the format and PS3's ability to play it I would have thought the playback would be second to none. E3 should show us for sure.

Final thing Tejstar, what was the meeting for? No specifics needed, but do you work for a games mag?

[bishman]

He's already answered that Jae:

Originally Posted by Tejstar

No, I’m not a journo. I work in the city and have quite a few contacts in the games industry after work we have done in this area.

[MDPE]

Thanks for that Tejstar, some great information there. It’s fantastic that the games will be region free but I’m still concerned about buying the PAL version of the console.

Since the SNES I’ve always imported my consoles and games from the US because the PAL versions were like a joke with big borders at the top and bottom of the screen and slow gameplay. It was Street Fighter II that started me importing because the PAL version was nothing like the speed of the arcade machine. There have been other benefits, such as US version of the Xbox featuring component output while I believe the PAL version did not.

I don’t get to see many PAL games since I’d never buy them but I’m told the situation has improved a bit, with Tekken featuring a 60Hz mode since Tekken 4, which is good since the earlier PAL versions of Tekken looked like they were in slow motion. I’m told that a lot of games still don’t have a 60Hz mode so there are still a lot of shoddy PAL conversions.

Did he happen to say anything about differences between the NTSC and PAL versions of the console? For example will the UK version run at 1080p/50 while the US version runs at 1080p/60. Are there going to still be different PAL and NTSC versions of games or will there just be one build and it will be up to the console to output in PAL or NTSC?

Actually, that’s probably a stupid question as I doubt he’d have just slipped in a comment on the subject and SCEE do like to play down how their versions of the products are completely substandard compared to the US NTSC versions.

Think I’ll play it safe and even if the PS3 launches in the UK on the same day as the US I’m still going to get US version. If the games really are region free I’ll at least be able to pick up a PAL game and see if they’re still as shoddy as ever. I’d rather buy the games in the UK because ordering from the US is a hassle but it’s worth it to play the games at the speed the developers intended them to run at.

[Battlestar]

So, no coment on a UK launch date or any idear of price

I dont think we will be seeing official UK versions of the PS3 for quite some time then

[eternaldark]

Its been confirmed on more than one occasion that it is a worldwide launch in November, so we will be getting the PS3 then (i did hear the 10th or 11th)

wether there is enough stock allocated to get one is another story!

[BenchyUK]

I heard whispers of 10th November for the PS3 and 17th November for the Revolution. Probably likely to change though

[Daddy k]

good titbits there

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by MDPE

Did he happen to say anything about differences between the NTSC and PAL versions of the console? For example will the UK version run at 1080p/50 while the US version runs at 1080p/60. Are there going to still be different PAL and NTSC versions of games or will there just be one build and it will be up to the console to output in PAL or NTSC?

Phil did actually mention this, he said that the increased storage space of Blu-Ray allows PAL/NTSC versions to be on the same disk. However, I don't know whether this is mandatory or whether publishers will be able to produce region specific versions if they are lazy.

[MDPE]

Wow, that's fantastic news. Looks like I'll be buying my first UK console release in many years. As long as the games are region free if they don't include an NTSC or PAL60 version on the disk at least I'll still be able to get the games from America.

Sony really seem to have pulled out all the stops to give the customer what they want and I'm really looking forward to the release.

[bishman]

Originally Posted by MDPE

Wow, that's fantastic news. Looks like I'll be buying my first UK console release in many years. As long as the games are region free if they don't include an NTSC or PAL60 version on the disk at least I'll still be able to get the games from America.

Sony really seem to have pulled out all the stops to give the customer what they want and I'm really looking forward to the release.

All my Xbox games play at 60hz and all my 360 games do too, the TV frequency isn't the issue it used to be. The biggest issue with PAL versions these days is the different languages needed for the region as it convers Europe too. Sure there's the potential to include all the options on one disc but that doesn't mean that developers will do it straight out.

The biggest advantage of importing recently has been to get things earlier than over here and MS completely eliminated the need to do that with the 360 launch in terms of the hardware. There's still a few games that come out there earlier but we don't seem to be waiting too long for titles on the whole.

[pez]

the TV frequency isn't the issue it used to be.

I thought that too, but then i read in last weeks MCV that several high street chains are looking at boycotting sales of any XBox360 release that doesnt support PAL-50 (3 titles dont). Too many people playing on old TVs and taking the games back claiming they are faulty, and the retailers arent happy.

pez

[bishman]

Originally Posted by pez

I thought that too, but then i read in last weeks MCV that several high street chains are looking at boycotting sales of any XBox360 release that doesnt support PAL-50 (3 titles dont). Too many people playing on old TVs and taking the games back claiming they are faulty, and the retailers arent happy.

pez

Sorry, I meant it isn't the issue it used to be in regard to games offering 60hz mode. The other poster was stating lack of 60hz as a reason to import and I was just saying that, that alone is not a reason to avoid buying uk product anymore.

As far as 60hz only games go, I can't believe that there's anyone really buying a 360 that hasn't got a 60hz capable TV. Obviously there are people out there that have done it but what sort of poor TV are they attaching their 360 to? I'm not suggesting that everyone should have HD sets but surely if you are serious enough about games the have brought a 360 already, then you should least be serious enough to have a decent CRT to play it on.

[criggy]

Here is the press q&a session after phil harrisons GDC keynote speech.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...06+gdc&pl=true

Some interesting tidbits.

[MDPE]

Originally Posted by bishman

All my Xbox games play at 60hz and all my 360 games do too

Thanks I didn't realise that. As I said it's rare I ever see a PAL game and have just been going for the NTSC version without thinking for years.

I still would have gone for the US Xbox becuase of the lack of component out on the PAL version. I'm not in any rush to get an Xbox 360 but it's good to know there's no reason not to get the PAL version if/when I get one.

How does it work on the Xbox 360, do you select 50Hz/60Hz when you start each game or do you just set it once in the dash board?

Not wanting to go completely off topic but are Nintendo supporing 60Hz in Gamecube games?

[Paul_T]

A query on the amount of RAM in the PS3. The original tech specs said the PS3 would have 512MB but it was stated late last year that this figure had been increased after feedback from some developers (it was never stated what the new amount was to be).

So has it now been dropped back down to 512mb after all or have have Sony committed the same "fundamental flaw" as Microsoft?

[markmitt]

Originally Posted by Paul_T

A query on the amount of RAM in the PS3. The original tech specs said the PS3 would have 512MB but it was stated late last year that this figure had been increased after feedback from some developers (it was never stated what the new amount was to be).

So has it now been dropped back down to 512mb after all or have have Sony committed the same "fundamental flaw" as Microsoft?

I thought the original quotes were 256 Mb for PS3, then upped to 512Mb. Could be wrong of course, but just what I thought was mentioned...

[bishman]

Originally Posted by MDPE

How does it work on the Xbox 360, do you select 50Hz/60Hz when you start each game or do you just set it once in the dash board?

For standard def I believe you can set it. When setting for 720p or 1080i for hi def, I think it's just 60hz.

Originally Posted by MDPE

Not wanting to go completely off topic but are Nintendo supporing 60Hz in Gamecube games?

No idea, I imported my Cube .

[criggy]

AFAIK,the ps3 was only ever going to have 512MB ram.

There have been rumors of possible upgrades due to the delay to november...

I believe the 360 was going to have 256MB at one point.

[Tejstar]

Well according to the presentation slide I saw it definitely has 512MB.