Playstation 3 Now $299, Slim Coming September 1st, Firmware 3.0 Overhaul Detailed

You now have no ♥♥♥♥ing excuse.

Summary via NeoGAF:

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS
-Firmware 3.0 announced. "animated themes, a What's New section and some other great interface changes." Coming September 1st, "PSN is getting a new look!"
-CONFIRMED: The battery overlay on the clock has been fixed with 3.0. Seriously.
-PSN Cards confirmed for Europe. 20/50 denominations, coming September.
-VidZone being expanded in Europe this year
-Video Download Service announced for Europe, coming to the UK, France, Germany and Spain in November. More markets coming 2010.
-"Digital Reader" announced: buy virtual comics on PSN! Graphic Novels, Indie comics and local comics too -- hundreds at launch. "Biggest names in the comics world (including Marvel, Spider Man, X-Men, Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Thor...)"
-New service announced: Minis for PSP. "These will be exclusive to the PSN Store and will have a 100MB size limit. 15 new games available at launch on 1st October. 50 titles coming in 2009. Tetris and Fieldrunners, are two examples."


GAME ANNOUNCEMENTS
-Eye of Judgement PSP
-Loco Roco Midnight Carnival PSP
-Minis for PSP (a new game download service, see above)


MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-Motion Controller will debut at TGS. A trailer was shown with some of the uses of the controller.
-The PS3 will be rebranded. No more Spider-Man font. There's not much more info outside of this, and if game art will still have the old logo.
-Home update coming September: new build for devs, plus more content for users like a shrinking potion, plus more Home spaces like Audi and Singstar.
-PSP 3000 is getting some new colours -- Turquoise Green, Lilac Purple (bundled with Hannah Montana!) and Blossom Pink.
-Get Gran Turismo PSP for free if you preorder the PSPGO October 1st through 10th. Euro is the only market confirmed right now for this offer.
-Disappointment: no mention of Gran Turismo 5 at all during conference. Phooey.
-A few games were showcased, like Uncharted 2 and Heavy Rain.

PS Blog's Information on Firmware 3.0. I highly recommend watching the video!!

Hi everyone, PlayStation 3 (PS3) firmware update (v3.00) adds a number of great new features that we’re excited to share with you. The latest update incorporates changes that improve navigation on your PS3. First, you’ll notice some cosmetic changes to the design of the XMB (Xross Media Bar). We’ve enhanced the look and feel of the XMB so that it’s easier and even more intuitive to use. We’ve also added network improvements and personalization options to help enhance your PS3 experience.

Additional highlights from update 3.00 include:
-“What’s New” – The “Information Board” will be replaced with a “What’s New” section, which allows you to enjoy interactive PlayStation news every time you start the PS3 system. Located under the PlayStation Network icon, “What’s New” displays the latest and greatest game, video, PlayStation Network and PlayStation news and releases, as well as your recently played games, in a sleek, new animated format.

-Status Indicator – In the top right corner we’ve added an indicator bar, which displays your user icon, friend icon, the number of friends you have online and a small message icon to let you know if you have any new messages. The indicator also includes a scrolling ticker that features the latest news from PlayStation Network. In addition, when you press the PS button, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock.
-Friends List – Now your PlayStation Network friends will appear in a slightly redesigned format on your Friends List. Also, messages will now be viewable from each of your friends’ respective profiles.
-PlayStation Store Shortcuts – We’ve added a handy shortcut icon to the PlayStation Store under both the Game and Video categories so you can access the latest content quickly and easily.
-Personalization – Personalize your PS3 with new dynamic custom themes and avatars. Dynamic themes as well as free and premium avatars will be available through PlayStation Store. A dynamic theme takes your screen to a whole new level as it incorporates animated objects into the background.
-Trophies – Showcasing your hard earned trophies just got better. Update 3.00 gives game developers the ability to modify how they display trophies for add-on content. Base and add-on game trophies will continue to be combined into a single list so you can see where you stand in a game as a whole. Within that list, trophies will be broken out into subcategories—base trophies and add-on trophies—that way, you can easily view the percentage of your base game trophy collection, and separately track your trophy progress in add-on packs. Look for this enhancement to be included in upcoming games.

Official Pictures:














Fantastic! I can't wait for Firmware 3.0. The PS3 to me hands down has the best exclusives and features, and now it has an unbeatable price, unless Microsoft drops their price tomorrow, haha. If I didn't have a PS3 already, I would be there DAY ONE.

I'll stick with my 360 thanks.

^Same.

But I find it funny how something like this can make the original console look like such a hulking piece of junk. I'm not saying the PS3 is bad, but just look at it compared side-by-side with the PS3 slim. It makes me laugh a little.

Not a big fan of the Slim design, but I'm glad to hear about the price cut. It's about time. Now we just have to wait and see if all the "I'll buy it when it's cheaper" people actually live up to their word.

Somehow I doubt it. = \

Jeez. I wish i didn't fork over 299 last year for my 40 gig.... The slim looks very nice. I'm more looking foreward to the firmware update though, since it will actually effect me.

Slim looks pretty, though the power and eject buttons should be switched.

-The PS3 will be rebranded. No more Spider-Man font. There's not much more info outside of this, and if game art will still have the old logo.

Comic Sans

im def gonna get a ps3, thing is if they used the same font on the slim and in silver and had a little bit of chrome stuff on it it would look MUCH better imo!

What compels you people to buy a Playstation 3?

Originally Posted by Raex

What compels you people to buy a Playstation 3?

The games.

Is it just me or does it seem like the 3.0 firmware update has a bit of an NXE flavour to it? I don't really care for Sony complicating the XMB. I don't need Sony pushing their products on me. I simply don't want to see any advertisements/video links unless I choose to go into the playstation store and look at them myself. I don't like how they cluttered all the tabs with a playstation store shortcuts either. Personally I hate the NXE, so this is a step back for the PSN imo.

I alread have a ps3, so YAY FIRMWARE v3!!

What compels you people to buy a Playstation 3?

Reliability.

~ Adhamh.

Originally Posted by Raex

What compels you people to buy a Playstation 3?

Originally Posted by 8bit

The games.

Originally Posted by Adhamh

Reliability.

~ Adhamh.

Yeah, that's pretty much it right there. Two exellent points.

Originally Posted by Slime

Now we just have to wait and see if all the "I'll buy it when it's cheaper" people actually live up to their word. Somehow I doubt it. = \

If there was any doubt left between this and a 360, it's ♥♥♥♥ing gone now, but I still won't be able to afford one for the next few forevers. Besides, I want a PSP more right now.

Finally! I am definitely getting a PS3 this Christmas.

Hm, I'm a hardcore Nintendo fan for life, and this actually really interests me. I'm excited to see more.

Just becuase your a Nintendo fan doesn't mean you can enjoy anything else...

I said I would get a ps3 if the price dropped, but I'm still unsure. I don't have a hi-def TV yet (I asumed by this time my parents would have caved) so it seems like it's not worth it for me. I actually have 300 bucks, but I'm considering either getting a netbook, or saving to go towards my first car (I have my heart set on a vintage VW bus, but that's not likely *sigh* ). I don't know what to do. This is really tempting though...

I wonder if the power supply will still be internal? Like, how the 360 has that HUGE-ass brick attached to the power cord. I hope it's still internal, other wise it'll be a pain in the arse :/

Originally Posted by Caelum

Hm, I'm a hardcore Nintendo fan for life, and this actually really interests me.

Congratulations, that statement has just cost you all of your credibility.

Originally Posted by zeldask8r

I said I would get a ps3 if the price dropped, but I'm still unsure. I don't have a hi-def TV yet (I asumed by this time my parents would have caved) so it seems like it's not worth it for me.

Oh crap, I didn't think of this. This might sound like a stupid question, but these don't have any issues with plain ol' TVs, right? As in, an old tube TV? Both my living room TV and the one in my room are tubes-- would I be alright? Not that I'm planning on buying one of these soon, but still.

Originally Posted by zeldask8r

I said I would get a ps3 if the price dropped, but I'm still unsure. I don't have a hi-def TV yet (I asumed by this time my parents would have caved) so it seems like it's not worth it for me. I actually have 300 bucks, but I'm considering either getting a netbook, or saving to go towards my first car (I have my heart set on a vintage VW bus, but that's not likely *sigh* ). I don't know what to do. This is really tempting though...

I wonder if the power supply will still be internal? Like, how the 360 has that HUGE-ass brick attached to the power cord. I hope it's still internal, other wise it'll be a pain in the arse :/

It still looks very good without an HD TV.

And I really hope it doesn't have a massive power cord aswell.