Irish debut date draws near for €599 PS3

The wait is almost over for those whose idea of fun is spending time immersed in the gigabyte-driven virtual reality of the PlayStation — the third-generation consol will be in the shops on March 23.

So, you have until then to get your hands on €599 for the 60-gigabyte version which is destined for Irish shops.

The less powerful 20GB model may follow later in the year depending on demand.

Manufacturing problems, which forced Sony to push back the PS3’s European debut by four months, have all been overcome.

About one million units of the console will go on sale in March across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia, the technology giant said.

The PS3 was launched in Japan last November and then in the US later that same month.

Shootings, attempted robberies and stampedes were reported in the US when just 400,000 of the consoles initially went on sale.

The PS3’s European launch will be accompanied by about 30 new games.

David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), said: “To be able to launch with over 30 titles across every genre shows that this is our strongest launch line-up in the history of PlayStation, and is what PlayStation fans in Europe have been crying out for.”

Sony blamed delays in the production of a component for the PS3’s new blu-ray disc technology for its postponed European debut. The delay meant Sony lost out to Nintendo’s new Wii console in the lucrative pre-Christmas market.

The PS3 will only be available in the 60GB model for its European launch.

Sony has already won positive reviews for the new station, but analysts and gamers questioned a price tag that will make it at least €100 more costly than its main rival from Microsoft.

Microsoft has already stolen a march in the console wars with its Xbox-360, which has sold 3.2 million units since its launch last November, although Microsoft has been unable to keep up with recent demand.