Sony showed off its new "slim" PlayStation 3 system at the Tokyo Games Show, currently in progress out in Tokyo, and along with that exhibition came the announcement of a launch date for the new device in both North America and across the world, complete with some word on pricing.

The device itself is set to be fully 20 percent smaller, and 25 percent lighter in weight, than its earlier version was, and offer up the user's choice of a 250 gigabyte or a 500 gigabyte storage system. European PS3s, meanwhile--as well as their equivalents in other countries that use PAL video rather than NTSC--will get access to a version that boasts a 12 gigabyte flash storage system, giving anyone who replaced their PS3 hard drive with a solid state drive better game performance. Just how noticeable that improvement will be, or whether or not anyone outside of the true connoisseur market will even be interested in such a feat, remains to be seen but it's still an option for those truly hard-core console gamers who want to perk up the system a bit.


Image via www.playstation.com

Early word about pricing also emerged, with the 250 gigabyte version expected to be out first--September 25 in North America--for $269. The 500 gigabyte version won't be in until October 30, and would come with a $299 price tag (News - Alert). Meanwhile, the 12 gigabyte flash memory version would hit markets October 12 for 229 Euros (about $298 US), and the 500 gigabyte console would also be set to hit September 28 for, also, 229 Euros. Japan, meanwhile, will get hands on the 250 gigabyte version for 24,900 Yen (around $317 US), and the 500 gigabyte version for 29,800 Yen (around $381 US) both of its versions October 4.

While the marginal improvements to the PS3 may win over some new gamers, especially from the Xbox 360 camp interested in trying some of Sony's exclusive offerings, of which there are a few--not to mention seeing what the overall Sony experience constitutes--it's still a bit half-hearted of an effort overall. Both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 are aging hardware systems, and more than a few gamers are chomping at the bit to see what the next system has to offer, a system that won't likely be seen before the next E3 launch.

Though considering the larger overall environment, with a down economy still in the offing, maybe Microsoft (News - Alert) and Sony are simply biding their time and hoping for an uptick before unveiling new and expensive gaming hardware. But with holiday shopping season approaching, and neither major console having much new to show against Nintendo, who will be rolling out the Wii U directly, it's looking like this Christmas, as far as video games go, will belong to Nintendo.

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