March 12, 2008 at 11:58AM EST
There's been a surge of interest in the Japanese 60GB PS3 recently but please note that we'd advise holding off on purchasing since Japanese suppliers have hiked prices and the dollar/yen exchange rate is very unfavorable at the moment. Based on the inventory information we're privy to, there is still adequate supplies of new 60GB units available from our partners in Japan. We'll post another update if we see a sudden drop in inventory but we don't expect that to happen in the near term. March 10, 2008 at 3:08PM EST
Due to the continued erosion in the dollar's value against the Japanese yen, costs for "big-ticket" items such as PS3 consoles have risen. Distributors in Japan have also increased their prices for the 60GB consoles over this past weekend as supplies continue to dwindle. Shipping costs to import heavy items from Japan to the USA have also risen. Due to the conspiracy of inflationary pressures against the Japanese PS3, the price per console has been increased to US$769.70. Jan 10, 2007 12:55PM EST
All PS3 consoles currently ship pre-loaded with firmware v1.31 from the factory. Dec 06, 2006 12:11PM EST
The Playstation 3 firmware has been updated today with v1.30. Linky #1: http://www.jp.playstation.com/ps3/update/index.html
Linky #2: http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Network/Updates/default.html Please note the new update prioritizes 1080i over 720p. Earlier firmware revisions gave 720p priority over 1080i. The other upgrades in v1.30 are: » Blu-Ray remote control support.
» Selectable (RGB, Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr) video output via HDMI.
» Backup utility to move data to/from Compact Flash, Memory Stick Duo, and SD Memory Card to/from the PS3 hard drive.
» Hard drive reformat option.
» PS2 USB controllers and peripherals are now usable with PS2 games as follows: * Logitech Driving Force USB Steering Wheel
* Logitech Driving Force Pro USB Steering Wheel
* Logitech Driving Force EX USB Steering Wheel
* HORI Flightstick2 USB Flight Stick
* Logitech Flight Force USB Flight Stick
Nov 26, 2006 01:19PM EST
NCS expects restock of the PS3 60GB consoles on November 28-29. All backorders and new orders will ship upon arrival of the upcoming shipments. If you have a backorder with NCS, an email will be sent to you when your order is shipping in these next couple of days. Unfortunately, supplies of the 60GB model are still difficult to locate in bulk and NCS has to resort to purchasing them in small quantities from different suppliers in Japan. Thank you for reading.
Nov 21, 2006 11:50AM EST
Every PS3 (20GB and 60GB) order submitted over the weekend up until this morning will be shipped today. Email notifications and tracking information have been mailed out to our customers as of yesterday morning. Please note that tracking numbers are generally activated after 7PM EST. If you did not receive the confirmation and you rely on Hotmail or Yahoo as your primary email account, please check your "Trash" folder since our email may have been forwarded to that folder. Stock Situation: 20GB PS3 consoles are currently available for immediate shipment this afternoon but 60GB models are sold out as of the time stamp above. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday this week, please note that NCS will suspend new PS3 import shipments until next week. It doesn't appear that our vendors have inventory on hand in any case until the upcoming weekend when new shipments are expected to be released to the market. If things go according to plan, NCS will restock 60GBs by Nov 27-28. Nov 17, 2006 at 4:45PM EST
NCS confirms that Electronic Arts' Madden 07 [USA] works on the Japanese PS3. Many customers wrote in over the past few days asking about this particular game since EA's Xbox 360 games are invariably region-protected. We received Madden NFL 07 a little while ago and the game boots and plays perfectly on a Japanese PS3 console. If you're loading Madden 07 on a fresh Japanese PS3 console, you'll be prompted to update the firmware to v1.02 from the USA disc. NCS allowed the update to proceed and clicked "Yes" on the user agreement. After a couple of minutes, the firmware was updated, and we went on our merry way. This appears to show that USA and Japanese consoles are identical in terms of usability and compatibility and that firmware updates are interchangeable. NCS has now tested every USA launch game so far on the Japanese PS3 and every game boots and plays. Hopefully this puts to rest any lingering concerns about PS3 game compatibility and all future USA/JPN games should be compatible with USA/JPN consoles. Please also note that USA Blu-Ray movies boot up and play fine on a Japanese PS3 console. We were watching the North American release of "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" for a few minutes before switching it off in favor of "House of Flying Daggers."
Nov 16, 2006 at 12:02PM EST
Please read carefully. Current updates supercede previous news concerning shipments. As of the time stamp above, we are sold out of the PS3 consoles expected on Friday of this week. We will restock by November 20-21 and all new orders submitted after the time stamp above will ship upon restock. Thank you for reading. Please also note that next Thursday is Thanksgiving in the States. UPS will not be delivering on that day. If we're shipping the next batch on Tuesday and you wish to receive your order before the weekend, please select at least UPS 2nd Day Air to receive your order on Friday. Please note that UPS Ground packages will not be delivered on Friday. Based on past experience, we don't recommend shipping with USPS Express Mail during holiday weeks. They tend to botch things up and are unapologetic about it.
Nov 15, 2006 at 2:00PM EST
Please note our complete allocation of PS3 console restock expected tomorrow is now pre-sold out. If you place a new order today after the time stamp listed above, please note that your console will ship on Friday of this week (November 17, 2006). Thank you for your attention.
Nov 13, 2006: Playstation 3 - Big in Japan Part II Continued
NCS Monday Update: 11:58AM EST
NCS Receives Partial Shipment
The first batch of confirmed PS3 preorders will ship out today but the remainder will ship tomorrow when the bulk of our stock arrives. As long as you confirmed or placed your preorder with us before Sunday at 11:33AM EST, your order will ship tomorrow. If your order is shipping today, you will receive an email before 1:00PM EST with tracking details. NCS is currently accepting new orders for both 20GB and 60GB models to ship on Thursday or Friday of this week. (Note: our new shop processes transactions automatically and you will be billed at checkout). No credit card information is kept on our server which is why transactions are submitted for approval upon checkout. NCS First Impressions
Heavy and sturdy. Use both hands to lift the PS3 from its cardboard box and gingerly place it on your table/stand/gaming platform. The power button is located on the back of the unit near the power cord and is of the toggle-switch variety. Once the connections are plugged in and the switch is flicked, push down on the membrane power button in front and the unit goes live. Please note that you will have to attach the SixAxis pad to the PS3 with a USB cable at the outset and press the "Playstation" button on the controller to proceed. Inside the box: 1 x Playstation 3 console
1 x Composite AV cable
1 x Thick and sinewy power cord
1 x SixAxis joypad
1 x USB cable
1 x User manual and printed material packet After plugging in the controller and pressing the PS button, the system prompts you to select a language as follows: English
German
Spanish
French
Italian
Nederlands
Portuguese
Chinese
Korean
Japanese
Cyrillic After setting the language, you'll be prompted to select your time zone, enter the current time and date, and then select a user name. The first thing you hear after completing the set up process is orchestral music... Super Shiny Shiny˛
Sony's stock photos of the PS3 don't convey how shiny the console is when it catches the light. Remember Padmé's glittering golden starship in Star Wars Episode 2? It's like that. Position the PS3 on a well lit table and be blinded by the bling. We're waiting for Flavor Flav to tie a chain around the PS3 and hang it from his neck while wearing a Viking helmet because that's what time it is. The membrane buttons on the console are also slick. Region-Free Confirmation
NCS was able to test the USA versions of Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Tony Hawk's Project 8 on the Japanese PS3 and we confirm that both games boot and play perfectly. Kudos to Sony for doing away with region locks. With only five Japanese PS3 games available at launch, the availability of incoming USA PS3 games in the next few days will be a welcome addition to the fledgling software library. Please note however that PS1 and PS2 games are region-coded - USA PS1 and USA PS2 games are not recognized by a Japanese PS3 and will not boot. PS3 Supply Situation
Sony plans on shipping 100,000 PS3 consoles in Japan every week after the launch. That should reassure buyers of ready availability for Japanese PS3 consoles up until the big holiday. NCS will update our website if there are any price changes in the next couple of weeks. No Exploding PS3s Reported
Of the 58 Japanese customers who wrote in to NCS over the weekend, none reported glitches or errors with their new consoles. This is in stark contrast to the PS2 launch where we started receiving emails and reports of problems within hours of the launch in Japan. Many also remarked on the polished interface and the smooth sliding disc ejection. A cursory check with a few of our suppliers in Japan who sold a few hundred units locally was also satisfactory - no defects or returns yet. Firmware Update
NCS customers: Please update your Japanese PS3 firmware with v1.10 upon receiving the console. The download is linked below and is a little under 100MB: http://djp01.ps3.update.playstation....b/PS3UPDAT.PUP Playstation Network Online
The PS3 network lit up and went live over the weekend and gamers may chat with fellow Playstation devotees, check out rankings for games, view demos, and download Playstation games. That's right, a total of ten PS1 games are available for download at JPY2000 each. The titles "in stock" at the moment are: » Arc the Lad
» Biohazard: Director's Cut Edition
» Bishi Bashi Special
» Jumping Flash!
» Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 1
» Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 2
» Hot Shots Golf 2
» Mr. Driller
» Silent Bomber (in our opinion, the best game of the lot)
» Tekken 2 Closing Comments
The launch line-up of Japanese PS3 software was meager but that proved to be no deterrent to buyers. The Playstation brand continues to be a strong selling point for Japanese consumers and we suspect USA consumers as well when the console launches here later in the week. That loyalty may assure Sony of a third term as the reigning industry juggernaut as a new generation transitions into place. Every new hardware launch carries a mix of excitement, trepidation, and fears of shortages. We've witnessed them all since the days of the Super Famicom and watched a few botched launches. That said, the PS3 debut has been one of the smoothest in our experience despite the onerous price hikes from suppliers. We've had fast deliveries and only a smidgeon of hemming and hawing from overseas distributors concerning inventory allotments. We're looking forward to a similarly smooth Wii launch in Japan on December 2. More Links of Interest
Watch Impress swapped a HDD, You can too (Must be ATA 2.5" form factor)
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2006/1111/ps3.htm NNN News Report on the PS3 (May be traumatic for some viewers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjx6MlWZ2LE
Nov 11, 2006: Playstation 3 - Big in Japan Part II
NCS Saturday Update: 12:05PM EST
«©NCSX» On Saturday, anxious Japanese citizens braved the November chill and the throngs of fellow citizens as queues formed in front of shops such as Bic Camera, Seibu, Gamers, and Softmap. A few of our customers in Japan wrote to NCS over the weekend to report their success (or lack thereof) in obtaining a PS3 console. Prospective customers who waited in front of well known stores with very long queues were largely turned away while wily buyers who waited in front of lesser known shops with smaller crowds were able to buy the PS3. Some stores implemented a lottery system with lucky winners allowed the chance to pay up for a PS3. Repeat: allowed. Lines in Japan
Akiba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gkS3lRXtRA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9pL1qGhO6A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzc1QaxssYo Kawasaki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBEXkKqudZk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc1s7xLXmcw Shinjuku
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsmtfg9uWtY Osaka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a2ruHzlSFM Press Coverage in Yurakucho
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20061111/bic.htm
http://ascii24.com/news/i/topi/article/2006/11/11/665779-000.html
http://akiba.ascii24.com/akiba/news/2006/11/11/665780-000.html Firmware Update
NCS Customers: Please update your Japanese PS3 firmware with v1.10 upon arrival of the console. The download is linked below and is a little under 100MB:
http://djp01.ps3.update.playstation....b/PS3UPDAT.PUP Links of Interest
Watch Impress dissected a PS3 console
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2006/1111/ps3.htm Early adopters may check out the USA PS3 manual in English
http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/index.html New orders are welcome to ship on Friday of this week for both the 20GB PS3 and 60GB PS3 Japanese consoles. Edit on Nov. 12, 2006 Due to demand over the weekend, please note that new orders that have been placed today (Sunday) may not ship until Friday of this week or Monday of next week depending on our shipment schedules. NCS will contact our customers with an email update on Monday morning. Please be advised our new shop processes transactions automatically upon checkout since no credit cards are kept on our server for security purposes.
Nov 10, 2006: Playstation 3 - Big in Japan Part I
NCS Friday Update: 11:58AM EST
«©NCSX» Japanese suppliers took delivery of their PS3 consoles about 6 hours ago in preparation of tomorrow's official launch in Japan. Quantities are scarce and prices are high. Much higher than their lofty projections from a couple of months ago. NCS will re-confirm preorders with our customers by email today but note that launch pricing is as follows: 20GB Playstation 3 Unit: US$879 + shipping
60GB Playstation 3 Unit: US$989 + shipping (Limited stock) Please be aware that even if you confirm at the higher prices, stock may not be available for the first shipment that is scheduled to arrive on November 13 (Monday) or November 14. Suppliers are essentially allocating their inventory to whomever will pay their asking price. If a competitor bumps their offer price up tonight and we're unwilling to match the higher bid, we'll receive reduced quantities on Monday-Tuesday. Volatile Pricing
The current PS3 prices are unstable. Despite the demand for the PS3 at the moment, prices can drop by as much as US$100+ within the following 2 weeks. If you confirm your order at the higher price, we cannot accept a cancellation since we will be locking in and paying the higher prices tonight for the launch inventory. NCS Recommendation
If the first batch of PS3 games aren't that compelling to your hardcore gaming sensibilities, NCS advises that you wait 2 weeks after the Japanese launch to see where prices settle. We expect them to be lower, especially with the imminent launch of the USA Playstation 3 on November 17. Jan Code: 4948872411295 This document is ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc. Please note external links on this page are the property of their respective copyright holders.
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