Quoted in Interactive Investor today, Evan Wilson of Pacific Crest Securities, said that PS3 will "most likely" be released in November with 1 million units, followed by a European launch in March 2007. He said the Japanese launch would also be backed by about a million units this summer.

Despite speculation of high launch prices - some quoting a ludicrously high $700 mark - these numbers will certainly lead to severe shortages. Sony will struggle to meet retail demand with a million units at launch, and will face the same kind of criticism leveled at Microsoft if it fails to back the launch up with regular pre-Holiday shipments.

Digital Playground co-founder and director Joone said the fact the PS3 will support Blu-ray was the deciding factor in his company's choice, as it will give the format a huge installed base. "What I don't understand is why Microsoft didn't put HD-DVD players in the Xbox," Joone told AVN. "If they really wanted to get a jump on the market, that would have been a good move. As popular as the Xbox is, they could have had tons of consumers already using the format."