As if this year wasn't looking big enough for ESPN HD, it seems that the network will be dedicating even more resources to high-definition programming than in years past. 2008 already marked / marks the channel's first Winter and Summer X-Games in high-def and the looming launch of ESPNews HD / ESPNU HD, and now vice president of strategic business planning and development Bryan Burns has claimed that sports addicts everywhere will be able to catch "around 1,000 games" in HD during the rest of 2008 on ESPN HD / ESPN2 HD, while "over 100 more" will be shown on ESPNU HD. For more on ESPN's future plans in regard to HD, hit up the read link below.

[Image courtesy of TVTechnology]

Research analysts at The Diffusion Group have released an interesting study into the habits and knowledge levels of gamers in relationship to playing back videos, DVDs, and other video content on their consoles. Only 30% of console owners surveyed knew their game boxes were capable of playing back movies or other content, and only 13% were actually using it for that purpose. Read on for more.

That's what a few French websites are reporting, apparently stated by Sony Europe boss George Fornay in a radio interview. That would convert to roughly $613 American dollars and make the PS3 the most expensive videogame console out by quite a bit. He apparently confirmed that the Playstation was delayed to work out Blu-ray copy protection issues (that we still haven't seen a final design for the controller, system or a finished game does not appear to have been a contributing factor), and that it should launch in the range of 499 to 599 euros. He justified the high price by saying it was cheap for a platform capable of reading Blu-ray discs.

With no confirmation or official announcement from Sony U.S. or Japan this is still in rumor territory, but its a little late for an April Fools. Their main competitor, the Xbox 360 Premium system, launched at 399 euros. Well, I guess we'll ask you again, is around $600 your price for PS3 Blu-ray? Personally, I'm not buying one until they announce a Bob Ross videogame.

Previous Playstation 3 price news:

• Playstation 3: Coming to North America (and the world) in 2006
• Playstation 3 price rumors: $599 for Blu-ray movies?

Check out Joystiq's continuing updates of Sony's Playstation Conference for more information, but lets get down the key facts:

• Worldwide (Asia, Europe, North America) launch in early November
• 1 million units shipped every month, total of 6 million shipped by the end of 2006
• 100% backwards compatible with existing PS1 & PS2 titles, will upconvert to HD resolutions
• Latest HDMI connectors (1.3?)
• 60GB HDD "required", supports Linux, acts as a media server
• All PS3 games will ship on Blu-ray discs to prevent piracy
  
• PS3 online service will feature matchmaking, downloads; free "basic" service
• Developers will get final kits in June
• PS3 is "4D"
• The conference is over, no games, no price announced

Well there we have it, more hardware details, and still so many questions. But at least it is launching in 2006, I don't know if we could survive another Christmas without "true" high definition. One thing is for sure, just when it looked like Sony might be slipping, they have come back with a big plan for continued worldwide dominance. Anyone want to place odds on if they can pull it off?

It's official. I'm boycotting all things not high def. E3 was the start, and last weekend's Tokyo Game Show sealed it. The high definition gaming era is upon us, and I'm not squinting at low resolution photos and postage-stamp sized movie trailers anymore. I'm going to play it in high definition, why would I try to judge a preview of it in anything less? Microsoft and Sony have taken the right steps in person, displaying their wares on glistening high definition displays at each tradeshow, but finding proper quality trailers and screens is still much like panning for gold, a few shiny nuggets every now and then, but mostly just mud.

Bus passes for the revolution after the jump, along with links to the best sources for HD resolution trailers and pictures I've found.