Sony’s shiny black behemoth launched in Europe five years ago today. It had been out in Japan since November 10th and the US since November 17th but March 23rd was the date that retailers from most EU countries, Australia and New Zealand finally got the chance to throw open their doors to the expectant masses, clutching their savings and dreaming of a brave new world of Sony console gaming.
It launched with a hefty price tag of £425/€566-€659 for the 60GB model, with a 40GB version offering a cheaper alternative in many countries. Europe didn’t get the budget 20GB model at launch so it really was quite a major investment. At the time, it was also the cheapest way to buy a top quality Blu-ray player for those of you lucky enough to be an HDTV early adopter too.
The launch line up was perhaps a little weaker than we’d like to remember, with Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm the most attractive. In Europe, the PS3 counted Call of Duty 3 as a launch title too, and Activision also brought Tony Hawk’s Project 8 to the console. Ridge Racer 7, an updated version of The Godfather and Enchanted Arms offered plenty of variation in starting options for new PS3 owners while A healthy collection of sports titles including Virtua Tennis 3, FIFA 07, NBA 2K7, NHL 2K7, Fight Night Round 3 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 gave the launch line up some energy.
The early advertising was probably some of the weirdest, with the launch campaign in Europe focussed on their “This is Living” slogan, rather than the US’s slightly more coherent “Play B3yond” campaign which had the PS3 facing off against creepy dolls and Rubik’s Cubes.
Here’s the full cut of the North Europe advertising campaign, be warned that there is a NSFW moment at 2:30. And again at around 3:20. And little bits of marginally NSFW from then until the end, really. Did I mention that it’s bonkers?
My earliest memory of the PlayStation 3 is being insanely jealous when my brother-in-law got one just after launch and I couldn’t afford one. This means that I had the odd go on Call of Duty 3 and MotorStorm in those early days but I missed out on a lot of the launch excitement. Of course, my launch day PlayStation 2 was still going strong, beside my CRT TV but the marvel of controllers without wires, Six Axis motion controls and those amazing graphics were beyond my reach.
Of course, since then the PlayStation 3 has literally changed my life. It went from being an object of desire, outside of my budget to something that is now central to my working life. Thanks to the PlayStation 3, I found this website, returned to some of the skills I’d left behind and formed some genuine lifelong friendships that are more valuable than any expensive launch-day price tag could have indicated.
Help us celebrate the occasion by sharing your PS3 launch stories in the comments!
Eldave0
Still haven’t recovered from the £425 price tag, plus £40 for Resistance and another £40 for Motorstorm … Good ol Uni days! :|
Bilbo_bobbins
what would you do without that Student loan eh?
Eldave0
;) fortunatey my parents lived less than 10minutes away from the Uni so I didn’t need to get a loan to pay for student accomidation, etc.
MICKY17
I remember going to pick up my 60gigger from GAME at the midnight launch five years ago. Sold my Wii for a profit to help fund it and was unbelievably happy when I got home, only to go straight to bed as I had college early next morning. Picked up Motostorm and an extra SIXAXIS at the same time. Played it all day when I got home, being amazed at the graphics of the mud and slow-mo crashesin Motorstorm. Remember the shockingly awful, web based PS store and the lack of any features we take for granted now (in game XMB, trophies etc). Got Resistance a week later for my birthday and that was my first experience of online gaming, and have never looked back. Good times….
Tanzil
I got mine about a month after mgs4 came out methinks. got mgs4 as my first game. Lovely memories. hard to believe it’s older than my youngest sister.
jontheking
Preordered it well before it came out and then having to delay my house moving day so that I could get my ps3 delivered on launch day as they wouldn’t let you change your delivery address once it was preordered lol fun times
Bilbo_bobbins
ha ha, brilliant story.
Grey_Ghost13
I remember getting mine and the shop tried to conceal it in a big black bin liner to try and hide what I had just bought! I also remember hearing the horror stories of muggings for the consoles during launch. There was such a frenzy for the PS3 at launch. Here’s to the next five years with it!
Bilbo_bobbins
my mate said he had a ps3 and was playing COD 4, said I should join him. I think he must of been the devil in disguise as I havne’t looked back.
blackredyellow
Still the most addictive and best CoD game there is.
blackredyellow
My younger brother couldn’t afford to buy one, so my seemingly kind Dad lent him the £425 to get a 60GB beauty. HOWEVER! After some time, and numerous opportunities, my brother hadn’t paid him back so my Dad then took the PS3 away until he had paid him back!
I’m sure he had it in his bedroom playing Resistance and watching movies!
Zephyre
Pre-ordered from gamestation and Amazon, and it was a race to see who delivered first on release day – as it turns out Gamestation won so I got the console with a free copy of X-men 3 on blu-ray for (I think) £399. Then had a worrying wait to make sure the one from Amazon I’d refused delivery on wouldn’t be charged.
Picked up Motorstorm and RFOM as launch titles (as did most people it seems). Couldn’t really get on with Resistance as it was pretty much the first shooter I’d played on a console, but Motorstorm was in a different league. Just the loading trailer was enough to wow people as they walked past. Also used the PS3 as an excuse to pick up a 32″ HD telly which is still going strong.
Doesn’t seem like 5 years ago though!
seravok
Hmm, did not realise it was the birthday of the EU PS3 today. My 40Gig died 2 days ago. :(
So many great gaming moments I have with my PS3. Awesome killstreaks in BF3, Co-op with friend in Resident Evil 5, Infamous, LBP. List goes on and on!
Have already orderd a new one thou. Gonna go and get it at the post office sometime next week. :)
Origami Killer
Bought my lovely PS3 from BlockBuster for £460 with Fight Night Round 3, an extra controller, and a Blu Ray (Casino Royale). later got Motorstorm and Resistance the day after. Can remember the first days playing it, long time ago!
Now I boast two PS3’s, 2 YLODs, and a gaming collection of well over 60 + games.