14 DAY TRIAL // They're finally shipping the 80GB PS3 in the US and Canada. Naturally, the 80GB SKU will set hardcore gamers back some USD 600, while CND 659 is what Canadians will pay for the bundle containing the almost intangible 80GB PS3 and a copy of Sony's online racer, MotorStorm. Here's what the official report reads:
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) today announced the availability of a new 80GB PLAYSTATION3 (PS3) at online and brick-and-mortar retailers in the United States and Canada. The system, available immediately for a suggested retailer price of $599US/$659 CND, comes with the hit online-enabled off-road racing game MotorStorm packed in the box.
As far as PS3 owners are concerned, MotorStorm isn't exactly the bomb anymore, although it is a fairly popular title and will be for quite some time, I reckon. The real news is "80GB PS3 in America", period.
"The 80GB PS3 offers expanded options in the PS3 family of products for those who want to enjoy more downloadable content," said Peter Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing, SCEA. "The new model will provide ample storage space to meet the appetites of those who wish to download content today, and for many more years to come. With the expanded disk capacity and dynamic system upgrades, we have effectively created a system that is 'future-proof', providing consumers an exceptional entertainment value that will stand the test of time."
...and that doesn't feature any backwards compatibility whatsoever - you forgot to mention that Mr. Dille, but that's alright, it's not like the world didn't know it, or anything like that. Anyway, hardcore gamers and PlayStation brand fans should keep in mind that Sony has stopped manufacturing the 60GB model of the PS3 console, meaning that the last remaining PS3 (predicted) sometime this Fall, will be the one in question today: the 80GB model. Now eh, 60 gigs ($499)... 80 gigs ($599)..., not that I'm passing any hints but really now...