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| Countdown to Europe's PS3 launch | Countdown to Europe's PS3 launch |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sony launches its PlayStation 3 (PS3) console in Europe on Friday, attempting to reclaim its title as the powerhouse of video gaming. | Sony launches its PlayStation 3 (PS3) console in Europe on Friday, attempting to reclaim its title as the powerhouse of video gaming. |
| The company trails Microsoft and Nintendo in sales of next generation consoles and the launch has been beset with problems in the last year. | The company trails Microsoft and Nintendo in sales of next generation consoles and the launch has been beset with problems in the last year. |
| But the PlayStation brand remains strong with gamers and one million PS3s will hit shops on day one. | But the PlayStation brand remains strong with gamers and one million PS3s will hit shops on day one. |
| Some gamers have been queuing in London since Wednesday afternoon. | Some gamers have been queuing in London since Wednesday afternoon. |
| Sony has declared its launch of PlayStation 3 to date as a success, saying early sales are faster than those of its predecessor PS2. | Sony has declared its launch of PlayStation 3 to date as a success, saying early sales are faster than those of its predecessor PS2. |
| It believes that the combination of a high-definition Blu-ray DVD player, online capabilities and gaming powered by the Cell processor will convince gamers to spend £425 (599 Euros) on the machine. | It believes that the combination of a high-definition Blu-ray DVD player, online capabilities and gaming powered by the Cell processor will convince gamers to spend £425 (599 Euros) on the machine. |
| "High definition is very important to people," said Ray Maguire, head of Sony Computer Entertainment in the UK. | "High definition is very important to people," said Ray Maguire, head of Sony Computer Entertainment in the UK. |
| "A lot of people have bought flat panel TVs and they want content to go on it and PlayStation 3 is one of the few places they can get that kind of experience." | "A lot of people have bought flat panel TVs and they want content to go on it and PlayStation 3 is one of the few places they can get that kind of experience." |
| Sales figures from the United States, where the console launched last November, suggest that PS3 is being outsold by rivals. Recent figures from sales trackers NPD show that the Nintendo Wii is outselling the PS3 by more than two to one. | Sales figures from the United States, where the console launched last November, suggest that PS3 is being outsold by rivals. Recent figures from sales trackers NPD show that the Nintendo Wii is outselling the PS3 by more than two to one. |
| But the NPD figures also show that the PS3 is selling slightly faster in the US than the Xbox 360 did at the same stage in its release. | But the NPD figures also show that the PS3 is selling slightly faster in the US than the Xbox 360 did at the same stage in its release. |
| PS3 HITS EUROPE Clickable guide to the PS3 A voyage around the hardware The console in action Send us your comments | PS3 HITS EUROPE Clickable guide to the PS3 A voyage around the hardware The console in action Send us your comments |
| More than 200,000 consoles will be available on launch day in the UK, four month's later than originally planned. | |
| Phil Harrison, Sony's head of worldwide studios, said the delay was "regrettable". | |
| "But there are benefits for European consumers - there are more games available, more Blu-ray movies and we've updated the online PlayStation network." | |
| Virgin's flagship store on Oxford Street, London, will open at midnight on Thursday despite concern from police about potential muggings. | Virgin's flagship store on Oxford Street, London, will open at midnight on Thursday despite concern from police about potential muggings. |
| Sony has said it has put several measures in place to ensure people attending the launch get home safely. Other shops in central London have now abandoned plans to hold similar midnight openings. | Sony has said it has put several measures in place to ensure people attending the launch get home safely. Other shops in central London have now abandoned plans to hold similar midnight openings. |
| Gartner principal analyst Paul O'Donovan said: "The Wii is definitely outselling the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at the moment." | Gartner principal analyst Paul O'Donovan said: "The Wii is definitely outselling the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at the moment." |
| But he said he expected Sony's brand will help the PlayStation edge ahead of rivals by the end of 2007. | But he said he expected Sony's brand will help the PlayStation edge ahead of rivals by the end of 2007. |
| "The real issue for Sony is whether they can get back the momentum they had with PS2. The only thing that is going to drive that is the number of titles available." | "The real issue for Sony is whether they can get back the momentum they had with PS2. The only thing that is going to drive that is the number of titles available." |
| Motorstorm is one of the most anticipated launch titles | Motorstorm is one of the most anticipated launch titles |
| John Houlihan, editor of Computer and Videogames.com, said the initial line-up of games for the machine was "fairly decent". | John Houlihan, editor of Computer and Videogames.com, said the initial line-up of games for the machine was "fairly decent". |
| "It lacks a must-buy, stand-out game. Six months down the line we will see Metal Gear Solid 4, Gran Turismo and more PlayStation bankers." | "It lacks a must-buy, stand-out game. Six months down the line we will see Metal Gear Solid 4, Gran Turismo and more PlayStation bankers." |
| He added: "PlayStation is still the world's most successful gaming brand ever. | He added: "PlayStation is still the world's most successful gaming brand ever. |
| "Whilst Sony will be a little disappointed looking back at their launch campaign, for the average gamer in the street PlayStation remains the number one gaming brand." | "Whilst Sony will be a little disappointed looking back at their launch campaign, for the average gamer in the street PlayStation remains the number one gaming brand." |
| Mr Maguire said the risk in investing in PlayStation 3's technology was in proportion to the returns the company expected to make. | |
| "We're confident we have got the right technology," he said. | |
| Microsoft, the current leader in the next-generation console market, is still bullish about the long-term fortunes of the Xbox 360. | Microsoft, the current leader in the next-generation console market, is still bullish about the long-term fortunes of the Xbox 360. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I enjoy the escapism of computer and console games, but the PS3 is something I can well do without Keith Hutchinson, Sunderland Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I enjoy the escapism of computer and console games, but the PS3 is something I can well do without Keith Hutchinson, Sunderland Send us your comments |
| Neil Thompson, head of Xbox in the UK, said: "The Xbox 360 offers a better gaming experience than PS3 for £150 less." | Neil Thompson, head of Xbox in the UK, said: "The Xbox 360 offers a better gaming experience than PS3 for £150 less." |
| He added: "The only debate is if you want to watch Blu-ray movies and pay the extra money for that feature. | He added: "The only debate is if you want to watch Blu-ray movies and pay the extra money for that feature. |
| "We prefer to offer the consumer choice." | "We prefer to offer the consumer choice." |
| Microsoft sells a HD-DVD player add-on for Xbox, which plays high definition movies in a rival format. | Microsoft sells a HD-DVD player add-on for Xbox, which plays high definition movies in a rival format. |
| Mr Thompson said it did not matter which high definition DVD video system wins the format war. | Mr Thompson said it did not matter which high definition DVD video system wins the format war. |
| "Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution," he said. | "Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution," he said. |