Shuhei Yoshida, the President of Sony Computer Entertainment, just unveiled at GDC the official name for the PlayStation motion controller, the PlayStation Move. The Move is Sony's latest PlayStation 3 add-on that will introduce motion-controlled gaming to the "next-gen" system using a design very similar to the Nintendo Wii. The new system is broken down into three parts: the camera, wand and subcontroller.

You will have to purchase at least two of the products to get the motion-controlling experience, both of which will be bundled in a starter pack along with an unannounced game that will retail for under $100. You will also be able to purchase a PS3 system with the starter pack bundled together in the future (Price TBD.) The other part of the system, the wireless "subcontroller", will allow for more precise control and movement of on-screen characters by introducing an analog stick and a few more face buttons. However, this subcontroller will not come bundled in the starter pack, is not motion-sensitive.

Today Sony released their Q3 Financial Report for the 2009 Fiscal Year which described an increase in PS3 sales and a decrease in other gaming systems when compared to with last year’s 3rd quarter.

According to the report, Sony sold approximately 6.5 million Playstation 3 systems, 4.2 million Playstation Portable systems and 2.1 million PS2 systems. The PS3 was the only system to see an increase in sales, boosting a remarkable 2 million more sales than the previous year. The PSP and PS2 both saw a decline in sales.

However, Sony reports that because of “improvmenet in the cost of PS3 hardware” the profitability of their game business remains relatively unchanged from last year. You can read the full financial report via the source link below (warning: PDF)

Sony Q3 2009 Financial Report [Sony]

Heads up, PS3 owners. Sony has rolled out firmware 3.01 on Network Update. Being classified as optional, it’s a rather uneventful update, but promises to “improves system stability” during use of certain software titles, particularly Uncharted. Whether or not you’ve been experiencing any issues, you might as well update — can’t hurt.

Download PS3 Firmware 3.01

PS3 Firmware 3.01 Fixes Stability Issues - [eXophase.com]

PS3 firmware 3.0 is shaping to be quite the update. In fact, it’s so massive that PSN director Eric Lempel says it’ll be the last significant round of additions to hit the PS3 for the remainder of 2009.

You know, I wouldn’t say that or sure just yet because we are working on some things,” said PlayStation Network operations director Eric Lempel in a phone interview following Sony’s GamesCom announcements. “But this is a big and significant update, so you would be correct to assume that [it's the last major update for 2009].

Now, it’s very plausible that we’ll see other minor system software updates after and even before 3.0 drops, but as far as experience-changing enhancements go, 3.0 is it. For this year, at least. With the feature set it boasts, we certainly aren’t complaining. The inclusion of software-based backwards compatibility would make it extra special, but only time (TGS?) will tell us if that happens.

PS3 Firmware 3.0 Marks Last Major Update for 2009 - [eXophase.com]

The 80GB PS3 model may be on its way out in Japan, a move which would leave only the premium-tiered 160GB unit left. According to a snapshot of an internal memo from retailer 7-Eleven, orders for all variations of the 80GB PS3 configuration are being ceased on August 9 at 10am.

Whether other Japanese retailers have received similar instructions from Sony or not is unknown at this point.

Curiously, the memo also mentions that in-store displays referencing the 80GB unit must be taken down by the aforementioned date. Making way for the inevitable yet still rumored PS3 Slim model? It certainly seems likely. With TGS right around the corner, perhaps an official announcement is not far off.

ダミーパッケージも撤去指示、セブンイレブンに届いたPS3出荷停止の通知書の内容とは [Blog via Kotaku]

Sony May Be Phasing Out 80GB PS3 In Japan - [eXophase.com]

It’s no secret that the lack of PS2 emulation on newer PS3 units is a bit of a put-off to prospective purchasers. Especially when considering that majority of would-be PS3 owners are those that own a large library of PS2 titles. Granted, not being able to play those games isn’t a deal breaker for most, but it certainly makes laying down $400 on new hardware a tougher decision.

However, it looks like Sony may be bringing to PS2 emulation to non-backwards compatible PS3 units after all, if a recently unearthed patent is any indication. The patent references a software-based technology that would allow the PS3’s Cell CPU to translate or emulate code written specifically for the PS2’s Emotion Engine chip.

We can only think of one reason why Sony would be experimenting with such a technology and that is backwards compatibility. That leads us to questions over implementation. Will Sony allow folks to emulate any PS2 game of their choosing or sell digital downloads of PS2 titles over the PlayStation Store? We can only hope that Sony will side towards both options. Doing so would benefit consumers across the board, those that own an expansive library of PS2 oldies as well as the younger ones that missed out on last generation’s hits.

Sony Patents Software Based PS2 Emulation Technology - [eXophase.com]

Update #2: And the firmware is live! Check Network Update to download, or this direct link.

Update: In a PS Blog post, PlayStation Network director Eric Lempel has confirmed that firmware 2.80 for PS3 is indeed on its way. Changelog? Nothing to get excited about, this one simply improves the “playback quality of some PLAYSTATION 3 format software.”

We’ve just been informed by a well-placed source that PS3 firmware 2.80 is due out “soon.”

For what it’s worth, a debug version of said firmware appeared on the Sony press site earlier this afternoon. However, the supplied download link is not working as of writing, meaning it was likely made public inadvertently.

No word yet on what new features or functionality the update will introduce, if any. It’ll be a relatively minor version bump from 2.76, so we’re not expecting much, honestly. Stay tuned.

PS3 Firmware 2.80 Out Now - [eXophase.com]

In his latest industry note, Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia is forecasting that Sony will cut the price of PS3 down to $299 on its standard tier model, a $100 reduction. The move, Bhatia expects, will be made prior to the launch of Madden 10 in mid-August.

Although NPD data will not be released until later this week, fueling talk of a price cut is the fact that industry sales have been said to incur a 17 percent drop-off in May. Clearly a reduction in price would help spur momentum in these lull months. When you add to the fact that Sony is heavily rumored to introduce a slimmed-down version of its PS3 hardware later this summer or early fall at the latest, a price cut does sound plausible.

But of course, these are only predictions based on the evidence at hand. Only time will tell if said expectations actually pan out.

Analysts Expecting Double Digit Sales Decline for May, Price Cuts for Fall [Industry Gamers]

Update: Firmware has been released. Grab it via Network Update or use this direct download link.

PS3 owners: it’ll soon be time to fire up Network Update, as Sony has announced that a firmware update is due for release soon. According to PSN director Eric Lempel, firmware 2.76 will simply improve “the playback quality of some PS3 format software.”

No other changes beyond that were noted, making this update rather uneventful, but still essential. As always, we’ll post an update once it goes live, likely by tonight or tomorrow morning.

A Spanish site has uncovered product box shots for what appears to be two new PS3 hardware bundles, offering up inFamous and Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty as pack-ins.

Both of the 80GB variant, these bundles are expected to hit European shelves for €399 later this year. Included in the Quest for Booty pack is an additional Dual Shock 3 controller to compensate for the game’s budget price. While an official announcement has yet to be made, SCEE is infatuated with hardware bundles and the shots depicted here certainly look legit, so we wouldn’t be surprised at all if this “rumor” pans out.