How do you define entertainment in the 21st century?

Gone are the days when operas, theatrical plays, and circus events were the most popular forms of entertainment. With the evolution and rapid development of technology nowadays, entertainment is now on its interactive form.

Kids and adults alike find themselves enjoying the benefits of technology, especially on the entertainment industry. Animated and digital films as well as high-technology gadgets replaced traditional forms of entertainment. The impact of technology to the entertainment industry is evident such that it produced one of the most popular machinery of all time, especially to the younger generations of our society—the video game console.

Almost every ordinary American household owns at least a video game console. Since the Magnavox Odyssey era, video game consoles proved its worth to be one of the most popular forms of entertainment, especially to the younger generations of our society. The interesting storyline behind every game as well as the animation features are regarded to be one of the contributing factors to the success of video game consoles in the entertainment industry.

Thus, it is not surprising that video game consoles reached its seventh generation, which began in the last quarter of 2005 with the release of Microsoft Corporation's Xbox 360. Thanks to the Big 3 of video gaming industry (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo), video game consoles are evolving fast, resulting to the production of advanced and more powerful video game consoles.

Among the members of the seventh generation of video game consoles is Sony's PlayStation 3, which is scheduled to be released on different dates in major countries around the world. Its initial release was announced to be on November 11, 2006 in Japan, November 17 of the same year in Canada and United States, and March 2007 in Australasia and Europe.

The third member of Sony's PlayStation series, PS3 was officially unveiled to the public during the E3 Conference on May 16, 2005. The release will involve the shipment of two configurations, as detailed in the Sony press release. The premium version of the PS3 contains an internal 60 GB hard drive, multiple flash memory card reader, wireless internet connectivity, and a brighter cosmetic silver-colored trim. On the other hand, the alternative configuration of the console comes with an internal 20 GB hard drive (which is upgradeable), yet without wireless internet connectivity as well as a memory card reader.

According to the information announced on the PS3 press release, the video game console will have a series of title launches for its game, which are as follows:

• Madden NFL 2007;
• Full Auto 2: Battle Lines;
• Genji: Days of the Blade;
• College Hoops 2007;
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire;
• Need for Speed: Carbon;
• Ridge Racer 7;
• Sonic the Hedgehog;
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007; and
• Tony Hawk's Project 8.

There are also title launches for other genres of PS3 games, such as for role playing (Final Fantasy XIII), action (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots), racing (Gran Turismo HD), and fighting (Virtua Fighter 5). All of these games are scheduled to be released within the last quarter of 2006 and the first half of 2007.

If you are interested to know more facts about the PlayStation 3, related information is readily available in Sony's official website as well as video game console reviews. Read such information about this latest offering from Sony and be one of the interactive entertainment aficionados.

< CONTINUE READING >