Can Sony keep pace at E3?

LOS ANGELES--Question: if everybody already knows what you're going to announce at a press conference, can you still surprise people?

Microsoft proved on Monday that the answer is yes; everyone knew that the company would be releasing some kind of motion-sensitive control system, yet no one was prepared for how polished the product, Project Natal, actually turned out to be.

Now, Sony is getting ready for its own moment in the spotlight at E3 here, and the pressure, as always, is on. Almost certain is a newly redesigned PlayStation Portable, or PSP Go, as it's being called. And there's also been talk of Sony having some kind of new motion-sensitive controller, as well.

For more on what Sony actually does announce, stay tuned to this page. We're live-blogging Sony's press briefing, which started shortly after 11 a.m. Pacific. You can also watch the live stream of the Sony keynote.

The stage is dark as people file into the Shrine Auditorium for Sony's E3 press briefing.

(Credit: Gamespot)

11:14 a.m.: Sony Consumer Electronics of America President and CEO Jack Tretton begins by joking, "given this industry's ability to keep secrets, I was worried there wouldn't be any reason to come to this press conference."

11:16 a.m.: Tretton, in his introduction, touts the strength of the entire PlayStation platform--PS3, PS2, and PlayStation Portable--and said that 30 percent of the industry's sales in 2008 were from Sony's combined platforms.

11:19 a.m.: He adds that with the PS2 selling for $99, it continues to be the Sony standard bearer. There are currently more than 2,000 games for the PS2, and will be an additional 100-plus new games this year.

As for the PS3, there have been 22 million units sold globally so far, and Sony predicts sales of 13 million more in fiscal 2010.

Evan Wells shows off Uncharted 2

(Credit: Gamespot)

11:21 a.m.: One of the biggest games coming to PS3, Tretton says, is Naughty Dog's "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves." Starting tonight, the game will go into open beta. The game is one of 35 titles that will be exclusive for PS3 this year, Tretton added. Another he touted excitedly, and which got a loud reception from the audience, is InFamous. One thing is clear from that audience reception: Sony has its own passionate fans, much like Nintendo does.

Evan Wells from Naughty Dog comes on stage to show a demo of the "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves."

An ear-splitting demo of "Uncharted 2" gets very loud, excited applause.

11:27 a.m.: Next up, Zipper Interactive comes up to show off its forthcoming PS3 game, "MAG," which can support 256 simultaneous players, including people playing remotely.

Jack Tretton introduces Mag

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

11:37 a.m.: Tretton is back on stage, talking about the functionality of the PSP. Last year, he says, Sony sold 15 million PSPs, pushing the device to more than 50 million units sold in its lifetime.

He says there are a series of hot games coming to the PSP, including "City of Final Fantasy," on August 25, and "Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines," on November 10. Sony is also working with Disney to introduce a Hannah Montana bundle, complete with a colored PSP. It will be available this July.

Next up, Kaz Hirai (CEO of Sony's Networked Products and Services Group) came on stage to introduce the much-anticipated the PSP Go, also known, he joked, "as the worst-kept secret" in the video game business.

"The PSP Go is 50 percent smaller" than the existing PSP.

Kaz Hirai introduces PSP Go

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

PSP Go from the back

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

11:41 a.m.: The PSP Go, Hirai says, will feature 16 gigabytes of internal Flash memory; built-in Wi-Fi; integrated Bluetooth and a new system, Media Go, which will be the application used on the PSP Go to access the PlayStation Store.

PSP Go has slideout controls

(Credit: Gamespot)

The PSP Go will be available on October 1, simultaneously in North America and Europe. It will cost $249.99. Hirai says "All PSP titles going forward will be digitally distributed on the PlayStation store, as well as at retail on (the UMD format).

11:42 a.m.: He also says that Sony's video service will be available natively on the PSP Go, making it easier than ever to download video to the device.

11:43 a.m.: Video content will be available from leading providers like Showtime, G4, E, Starz, and others. One big game that will be available on the PSP, will be "Gran Turismo."

11:50 a.m.: Hirai says "Gran Turismo" will be released for PSP on October 1.

Resident Evil comes to PSP with the Go

(Credit: Gamespot)

11:51 a.m.: Next up, Hideo Kojimo from Kojimo Productions comes on-stage to introduce "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker" for the PSP.

11:52 a.m.: Kojimo says the new game takes place 10 years after the events of "Metal Gear Solid 3." So it takes place in the 1970s.

11:59 a.m.: After a rousing video demonstration of the new "Metal Gear Solid" PSP game, Hirai thanks the audience and brings Tretton back on-stage. Tretton then introduces "Resident Evil: Portable," the latest title in a long-standing franchise. It will be available next year, and will be the first time the franchise will be available on PSP. Tretton says "Little Big Planet," "Hannah Montana," "Harry Potter," and a few other franchises will also be coming to PSP for the first time.

12:05 p.m.: Tretton says the PlayStation Network now has more than 24 million users who have collectively downloaded more than 475 million pieces of content. There are more than 200 titles available on the PlayStation store, 90 of which are exclusive.

He also says Sony is bringing almost 50 PlayStation 1 classic games to the PlayStation store this year, including "Final Fantasy VII," which is available as of today.

12:06 p.m.: Next up, Tretton talks about Sony Home, the company's online virtual world. He says Home now has more than 6.5 million users worldwide, and that the service is adding more than 100 virtual items each month.

12:08 p.m.: Now, Tretton rolls a video to show the audience "what's on tap for PlayStation 3 this year." It includes clips from "Uncharted 2," "Infamous," "Madden NFL 10," "Final Fantasy XIII," "MAG," "Overlord II," "Batman: Arkham Asylum," "Brutal Legend," "Ninja Gaiden 2," "Mafia 2," "Karaoke Revolution," "Heavy Rain," "Battlefield 1943," and other games.