Sony Computer Entertainment Australia today launched its holiday games line up today at a showcase event headlined by the local release of its new Playstation 3 console due out next week. The new smaller, lighter and supposedly better value consoles are set to be released on store shelves from Thursday.
According to data provided by NPD Group Australia, the interactive games industry was down in value for the first half of the year. The data also showed that the Playstation 3 console had achieved the number one console sales position for the first half of the calendar yet. The combined Sony Playstation ‘Hardware Family’ including Playstation 3, Playstation Portable and Playstation Vita accounted for a 43% share of the hardware value derived within the Australian retail interactive games industry for the first six months of 2012.
Michael Ephraim | Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Australia
PlayStation sales in Australia are powering on, and that’s before the introduction of the new, more affordable PlayStation 3 this week. When you combine the great new PS3 form factor, our new Essentials value games range, an incredible line-up of blockbuster games content plus new innovation like Wonderbook™, this will further our momentum into this summer holiday season.
At today’s showcase, Playstation also revealed a look at its new peripheral, Wonderbook. While perhaps not the most exciting thing to come out of the companies E3 stage show, I think if they pull off this peripheral well it will have good potential for both education and entertainment. Taking augmented reality to new heights, Wonderbook launches in Australia this November with the title ‘Wonderbook: Book of Spells’, which is set to feature new and original writing from acclaimed author J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter).
It has been announced that Wonderbook: Book of Spells will be released at what they will hope is an attractive price for every family. The new peripheral and Book of Spells game will be priced at AUD $49.95 (RRP) and a bundle including the Playstation Move start-up pack (Move Controller and Playstation Eye camera) for AUD $99.95 (RRP).
In addition, Cros Platform gameplay experiences between the Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita devices were also showcased at the event with the upcoming title ‘Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royale” scheduled for release on the 22nd November 2012.
All information sourced from a SCE Australia Press Release. As always, price points and release dates mentioned above can change between now and the final release.
