PlayStation_3

context: The console was first officially announced at E3 2005, and was released at the end of 2006. It was the first console to use Blu-ray Disc as its primary storage medium. The console was the first PlayStation to integrate social gaming services, included it being the first to introduce Sony's social gaming service, PlayStation Network, and its remote connectivity with PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita, being able to remote control the console from the devices. In September 2009, the Slim model of the PlayStation 3 was released, being lighter and thinner than the original version, which notably featured a redesigned logo and marketing design, as well as a minor start-up change in software. A Super Slim variation was then released in late 2012, further refining and redesigning the console. As of March 2016, PlayStation 3 has sold 85 million units worldwide. Its successor, the PlayStation 4, was released later in November 2013.
qas: answers: 2006
question: What year was the PlayStation 3 released?

answers: PlayStation Network
question: What social gaming service was integrated into the PlayStation 3?

answers: Slim
question: What was the thinner version of the PS3 called?

answers: 2012
question: What year did the Super Slim model hit stores?

answers: 85 million
question: How many PlayStation 3 units had been purchased as of early 2016?

context: Sony officially unveiled PlayStation 3 (then marketed as PLAYSTATION 3) to the public on May 16, 2005, at E3 2005, along with a 'boomerang' shaped prototype design of the Sixaxis controller. A functional version of the system was not present there, nor at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005, although demonstrations (such as Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) were held at both events on software development kits and comparable personal computer hardware. Video footage based on the predicted PlayStation 3 specifications was also shown (notably a Final Fantasy VII tech demo).
qas: answers: boomerang
question: What shape was the Sixaxis prototype in?

answers: E3 2005
question: What event did Sony choose for the PS3 unveiling?

answers: Final Fantasy VII
question: What popular game was demoed in a video at the game shows?

answers: Tokyo Game Show
question: What event did Sony take the PlayStation 3 to four months after E3?

answers: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
question: What was one game Sony debuted on a modified PC so gamers could get a look?

context: The initial prototype shown in May 2005 featured two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and six USB ports; however, when the system was shown again a year later at E3 2006, these were reduced to one HDMI port, one Ethernet port and four USB ports, presumably to cut costs. Two hardware configurations were also announced for the console: a 20 GB model and a 60 GB model, priced at US$499 (€499) and US$599 (€599), respectively. The 60 GB model was to be the only configuration to feature an HDMI port, Wi-Fi internet, flash card readers and a chrome trim with the logo in silver. Both models were announced for a simultaneous worldwide release: November 11, 2006, for Japan and November 17, 2006, for North America and Europe.
qas: answers: six
question: How many USB ports did the original PS3 prototype have?

answers: one
question: By the time the system appeared at E3 2006, how many Ethernet ports was it down to?

answers: to cut costs
question: Why might Sony have reduced the number of ports on the PlayStation 3 before production?

answers: 60 GB
question: In addition to the 20 GB model, what larger model did Sony offer?

answers: silver
question: What color is the logo on the 60 GB PS3?

context: On September 6, 2006, Sony announced that PAL region PlayStation 3 launch would be delayed until March 2007, because of a shortage of materials used in the Blu-ray drive. At the Tokyo Game Show on September 22, 2006, Sony announced that it would include an HDMI port on the 20 GB system, but a chrome trim, flash card readers, silver logo and Wi-Fi would not be included. Also, the launch price of the Japanese 20 GB model was reduced by over 20%, and the 60 GB model was announced for an open pricing scheme in Japan. During the event, Sony showed 27 playable PS3 games running on final hardware.
qas: answers: PAL
question: Which region experience a setback that pushed back the release of the PlayStation 3?

answers: Blu-ray drive
question: What part of the system was Sony having trouble getting supplies for?

answers: 20 GB model
question: Which Japanese PS3 model got a 20%-plus price cut before hitting the market?

answers: Japan
question: Where did Sony offer the 60 GB model with an open pricing scheme?

answers: 27
question: How many playable games did the PlayStation 3 by the time it arrived at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show?

context: The console was originally planned for a global release through November, but at the start of September the release in Europe and the rest of the world was delayed until March. With it being a somewhat last-minute delay, some companies had taken deposits for pre-orders, at which Sony informed customers that they were eligible for full refunds or could continue the pre-order. On January 24, 2007, Sony announced that PlayStation 3 would go on sale on March 23, 2007, in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand. The system sold about 600,000 units in its first two days. On March 7, 2007, the 60 GB PlayStation 3 launched in Singapore with a price of S$799. The console was launched in South Korea on June 16, 2007, as a single version equipped with an 80 GB hard drive and IPTV.
qas: answers: March
question: Instead of November, for what month of the following year was the release rescheduled?

answers: South Korea
question: What country had to wait until June of 2007 for their PS3?

answers: 80 GB
question: How big was the hard drive in the single South Korean version?

answers: S$799
question: What did customers in Singapore pay for the 60 GB PS3?

answers: March 23, 2007
question: On what date did the PlayStation 3 go on sale in Africa?

context: Following speculation that Sony was working on a 'slim' model, Sony officially announced the PS3 CECH-2000 model on August 18, 2009, at the Sony Gamescom press conference. New features included a slimmer form factor, decreased power consumption, and a quieter cooling system. It was released in major territories by September 2009. As part of the release for the slim model, the console logo ceased using the "Spider-Man font" (the same font used for the title of Sony's Spider-Man 3) and the capitalized PLAYSTATION 3. It instead reverted to a more traditional PlayStation- and PlayStation 2-like 'PlayStation 3' logo with "PS3" imprinted on the console. Along with the redesigning of the console and logo, the boot screen of all consoles changed from "Sony Computer Entertainment" to "PS3 PlayStation 3", with a new chime and the game start splash screen being dropped. The cover art and packaging of games was also changed.
qas: answers: CECH-2000
question: What was the model number of the slim version of the PlayStation 3?

answers: Spider-Man font
question: What font was discontinued with the release of the slim model?

answers: quieter
question: What would customers notice about the sound of the new, improved cooling system?

answers: "Sony Computer Entertainment"
question: What did the boot screen on the game consoles read before Sony changed it to "PS3 PlayStation 3"?

answers: cover art
question: What did Sony change about the PS3 games along with the packaging in 2009?

context: In September 2012 at the Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced that a new, slimmer PS3 redesign (CECH-4000) was due for release in late 2012 and that it would be available with either a 250 GB or 500 GB hard drive. Three versions Super Slim model were revealed: one with a 500 GB hard drive, a second with a 250 GB hard drive which is not available in PAL regions, and a third with a 12 GB flash storage that was only available in PAL regions. The storage of 12 GB model is upgradable with an official standalone 250 GB hard drive. A vertical stand was also released for the model. In the United Kingdom, the 500 GB model was released on September 28, 2012; and the 12 GB model was released on October 12, 2012. In the United States, the PS3 Super Slim was first released as a bundled console. The 250 GB was model was bundled with Game of the Year edition of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and released on September 25, 2012; and the 500 GB model was bundled with Assassin's Creed III and released on October 30, 2012. In Japan, the black colored Super Slim model was released on October 4, 2012; and the white colored Super Slim model was released on November 22, 2012. The Super Slim model is 20 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the Slim model and features a manual sliding disc cover instead of a motorized slot-loading disc cover of the Slim model. The white colored Super Slim model was released in the United States on January 27, 2013 as part of the Instant Game Collection Bundle. The Garnet Red and Azurite Blue colored models were launched in Japan on February 28, 2013. The Garnet Red version was released in North America on March 12, 2013 as part of the God of War: Ascension bundle with 500 GB storage and contained God of War: Ascension as well as the God of War Saga. The Azurite Blue model was released as a GameStop exclusive with 250GB storage.
qas: answers: Tokyo Game Show
question: At what event did Sony tell everyone about the CECH-4000?

answers: 500 GB
question: What size was the largest hard drive available on the Super Slim PS3?

answers: Three
question: How many versions of the CECH-4000 were made?

answers: October 12, 2012
question: On what date was the 12 GB version of the Super Slim released in the UK?

answers: Garnet Red
question: What color was the PlayStation 3 that was included in the God of War: Ascension bundle in the States?

context: PlayStation 3 launched in North America with 14 titles, with another three being released before the end of 2006. After the first week of sales it was confirmed that Resistance: Fall of Man from Insomniac Games was the top-selling launch game in North America. The game was heavily praised by numerous video game websites, including GameSpot and IGN, both of whom awarded it their PlayStation 3 Game of the Year award for 2006. Some titles missed the launch window and were delayed until early 2007, such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, F.E.A.R. and Sonic the Hedgehog. During the Japanese launch, Ridge Racer 7 was the top-selling game, while Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire also fared well in sales, both of which were offerings from Namco Bandai Games. PlayStation 3 launched in Europe with 24 titles, including ones that were not offered in North American and Japanese launches, such as Formula One Championship Edition, MotorStorm and Virtua Fighter 5. Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm were the most successful titles of 2007, and both games subsequently received sequels in the form of Resistance 2 and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.
qas: answers: 14
question: How many games could you buy to go with your PS3 when it launched in North America?

answers: Resistance: Fall of Man
question: What game won GameSpot's Game of the Year title for 2006?

answers: Namco Bandai Games
question: What company developed the game Ridge Racer 7?

answers: MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
question: What's the name of the sequel game to MotorStorm?

answers: 24
question: How many titles did the PS3 launch with in Europe?

context: At E3 2007, Sony was able to show a number of their upcoming video games for PlayStation 3, including Heavenly Sword, Lair, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Warhawk and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune; all of which were released in the third and fourth quarters of 2007. They also showed off a number of titles that were set for release in 2008 and 2009; most notably Killzone 2, Infamous, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, LittleBigPlanet and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation. A number of third-party exclusives were also shown, including the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, alongside other high-profile third-party titles such as Grand Theft Auto IV, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed, Devil May Cry 4 and Resident Evil 5. Two other important titles for PlayStation 3, Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII, were shown at TGS 2007 in order to appease the Japanese market.
qas: answers: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
question: Which Ratchet & Clank title debuted at E3 2007?

answers: 2007
question: What year was Warhawk released for the PlayStation 3?

answers: TGS 2007
question: At what event were two new Final Fantasy games for PS3 first shown to the Japanese market?

answers: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
question: What Gran Turismo game was shown in 2007 but not released until after 2007?

answers: Devil May Cry 4
question: Which much anticipated third-party game with the name of a month of the year in it did Sony show at E3 2007?

context: Sony have since launched their budget range of PlayStation 3 titles, known as the Greatest Hits range in North America, the Platinum range in Europe and Australia and The Best range in Japan. Among the titles available in the budget range include Resistance: Fall of Man, MotorStorm, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Rainbow Six: Vegas, Call Of Duty 3, Assassin's Creed and Ninja Gaiden Sigma. As of October 2009 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Devil May Cry 4, Army of Two, Battlefield: Bad Company and Midnight Club: Los Angeles have also joined the list.
qas: answers: The Best
question: What's Sony's budget line of PS3 games called in Japan?

answers: Platinum
question: If you live in Australia and want affordable PlayStation 3 games, what range would you shop for?

answers: Greatest Hits
question: What words would you see in the United States or Canada on a PS3 game that would signify its lower price?

answers: Call Of Duty 3
question: Which Call of Duty title does Sony include in their low-end price range?

answers: 2009
question: In what year was Devil May Cry 4 added to the budget game offerings for PS3?

context: In December 2008, the CTO of Blitz Games announced that it would bring stereoscopic 3D gaming and movie viewing to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 with its own technology. This was first demonstrated publicly on PS3 using Sony's own technology in January 2009 at the Consumer Electronics Show. Journalists were shown Wipeout HD and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in 3D as a demonstration of how the technology might work if it is implemented in the future. Firmware update 3.30 officially allowed PS3 titles to be played in 3D, requiring a compatible display for use. System software update 3.50 prepared it for 3D films. While the game itself must be programmed to take advantage of the 3D technology, titles may be patched to add in the functionality retroactively. Titles with such patches include Wipeout HD, Pain, and Super Stardust HD.
qas: answers: Blitz Games
question: What company said it would bring 3D technology to the PS3?

answers: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
question: Along with Wipeout HD, what game did the press view in 3D in early 2009?

answers: 3.30
question: What version of firmware update gave the PlayStation 3 its 3D capability? 

answers: patched
question: What word describes what happens to a game when is edited to add functions not originally programmed?

answers: 3D films
question: What was the PS3 console able to play after the system software was updated to 3.50?

context: PS3's hardware has also been used to build supercomputers for high-performance computing. Fixstars Solutions sells a version of Yellow Dog Linux for PlayStation 3 (originally sold by Terra Soft Solutions). RapidMind produced a stream programming package for PS3, but were acquired by Intel in 2009. Also, on January 3, 2007, Dr. Frank Mueller, Associate Professor of Computer science at NCSU, clustered 8 PS3s. Mueller commented that the 256 MB of system RAM is a limitation for this particular application and is considering attempting to retrofit more RAM. Software includes: Fedora Core 5 Linux ppc64, MPICH2, OpenMP v 2.5, GNU Compiler Collection and CellSDK 1.1. As a more cost-effective alternative to conventional supercomputers, the U.S. military has purchased clusters of PS3 units for research purposes. Retail PS3 Slim units cannot be used for supercomputing, because PS3 Slim lacks the ability to boot into a third-party OS.
qas: answers: Yellow Dog Linux
question: What operating system does Fixstars Solutions offer for the PlayStation 3?

answers: Terra Soft Solutions
question: What company sold Yellow Dog Linux before Fixstars Solutions?

answers: Intel
question: What company bought RapidMind in 2009?

answers: 8
question: How many PlayStation 3 consoles was Dr. Frank Mueller able to cluster together?

answers: the U.S. military
question: Who is buying PS3 clusters instead of supercomputers in order to save some money?

context: PlayStation 3 uses the Cell microprocessor, designed by Sony, Toshiba and IBM, as its CPU, which is made up of one 3.2 GHz PowerPC-based "Power Processing Element" (PPE) and eight Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs). The eighth SPE is disabled to improve chip yields. Only six of the seven SPEs are accessible to developers as the seventh SPE is reserved by the console's operating system. Graphics processing is handled by the NVIDIA RSX 'Reality Synthesizer', which can produce resolutions from 480i/576i SD up to 1080p HD. PlayStation 3 has 256 MB of XDR DRAM main memory and 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory for the RSX.
qas: answers: Cell
question: What type of microprocessor is in a PS3?

answers: Power Processing Element
question: What does PPE stand for?

answers: Graphics processing
question: What function is the NVIDIA RSX responsible for in a PlayStation 3?

answers: eight
question: How many Synergistic Processing Elements are in a PS3's CPU?

answers: 256 MB
question: How much XDR DRAM is on board a PS3?

context: At its press conference at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced DualShock 3 (trademarked DUALSHOCK 3), a PlayStation 3 controller with the same function and design as Sixaxis, but with vibration capability included. Hands-on accounts describe the controller as being noticeably heavier than the standard Sixaxis controller and capable of vibration forces comparable to DualShock 2. It was released in Japan on November 11, 2007; in North America on April 5, 2008; in Australia on April 24, 2008; in New Zealand on May 9, 2008; in mainland Europe on July 2, 2008, and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on July 4, 2008.
qas: answers: DualShock 3
question: What did Sony name their vibrating PS3 controller?

answers: press conference
question: At what event at the Tokyo Game Show was the DualShock 3 first announced?

answers: heavier
question: What did many people who handled the DualShock 3 say it was compared to the Sixaxis?

answers: Japan
question: What was the first country to be able to buy the new DualShock 3 in stores?

answers: April 24, 2008
question: On what date was the DualShock three released in Australia?

context: The standard PlayStation 3 version of the XrossMediaBar (pronounced Cross Media Bar, or abbreviated XMB) includes nine categories of options. These are: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, TV/Video Services, Game, Network, PlayStation Network and Friends (similar to the PlayStation Portable media bar). TheTV/Video Services category is for services like Netflix and/or if PlayTV or torne is installed; the first category in this section is "My Channels", which lets users download various streaming services, including Sony's own streaming services Crackle and PlayStation Vue. By default, the What's New section of PlayStation Network is displayed when the system starts up. PS3 includes the ability to store various master and secondary user profiles, manage and explore photos with or without a musical slide show, play music and copy audio CD tracks to an attached data storage device, play movies and video files from the hard disk drive, an optical disc (Blu-ray Disc or DVD-Video) or an optional USB mass storage or Flash card, compatibility for a USB keyboard and mouse and a web browser supporting compatible-file download function. Additionally, UPnP media will appear in the respective audio/video/photo categories if a compatible media server or DLNA server is detected on the local network. The Friends menu allows mail with emoticon and attached picture features and video chat which requires an optional PlayStation Eye or EyeToy webcam. The Network menu allows online shopping through the PlayStation Store and connectivity to PlayStation Portable via Remote Play.
qas: answers: XMB
question: How is "XrossMediaBar" abbreviated?

answers: nine
question: How many options categories display in the standard PS3 XrossMediaBar?

answers: Crackle
question: One of Sony's streaming services is the PlayStation Vue; what's the other one called?

answers: What's New
question: When you start up your PS3, what's the first section of the PS Network you see?

answers: Friends
question: What menu would you use to set up a video chat?

context: PlayStation 3 console protects certain types of data and uses digital rights management to limit the data's use. Purchased games and content from the PlayStation Network store are governed by PlayStation's Network Digital Rights Management (NDRM). The NDRM allows users to access the data from up to 2 different PlayStation 3's that have been activated using a user's PlayStation Network ID. PlayStation 3 also limits the transfer of copy protected videos downloaded from its store to other machines and states that copy protected video "may not restore correctly" following certain actions after making a backup such as downloading a new copy protected movie.
qas: answers: Network Digital Rights Management
question: What does the abbreviation "NDRM" represent?

answers: 2
question: How many different PS3s can one user access?

answers: PlayStation Network ID
question: What identifier allows a player to activate a PlayStation 3?

answers: copy protected
question: PlayStation has safeguards in place to prevent illegal use of what type of movies or video?

context: Photo Gallery is an optional application to view, create and group photos from PS3, which is installed separately from the system software at 105 MB. It was introduced in system software version 2.60 and provides a range of tools for sorting through and displaying the system's pictures. The key feature of this application is that it can organize photos into groups according to various criteria. Notable categorizations are colors, ages, or facial expressions of the people in the photos. Slideshows can be viewed with the application, along with music and playlists. The software was updated with the release of system software version 3.40 allowing users to upload and browse photos on Facebook and Picasa.
qas: answers: Photo Gallery
question: What application lets PS3 users view and organize photographs?

answers: 2.60
question: What version of PS3 contained Photo Gallery?

answers: Facebook
question: After version 3.4, Picasa was integrated into Photo Gallery along with what social networking site?

answers: separately
question: Is Photo Gallery automatically or separately installed?

answers: facial expressions
question: Photo Gallery includes the ability to sort by age, color, or what other unusual criteria for photo software?

context: Since June 2009 VidZone has offered a free music video streaming service in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In October 2009, Sony Computer Entertainment and Netflix announced that the Netflix streaming service would also be available on PlayStation 3 in the United States. A paid Netflix subscription was required for the service. The service became available in November 2009. Initially users had to use a free Blu-ray disc to access the service; however, in October 2010 the requirement to use a disc to gain access was removed.
qas: answers: June
question: In what month of 2009 did VidZone start free service to some countries?

answers: paid Netflix subscription
question: What do you have to agree to with Netflix before you can use their service on PlayStation 3?

answers: 2009
question: What year did the announcement come about Netflix becoming available on PS3 in the U.S.?

answers: Blu-ray
question: What type of disc was initially used to connect access to Netflix for PS3?

answers: October 2010
question: When were users able to discard the disc and access Netflix directly through their PS3s?

context: The 'OtherOS' functionality was not present in the updated PS Slim models, and the feature was subsequently removed from previous versions of the PS3 as part of the machine's firmware update version 3.21 which was released on April 1, 2010; Sony cited security concerns as the rationale. The firmware update 3.21 was mandatory for access to the PlayStation Network. The removal caused some controversy; as the update removed officially advertised features from already sold products, and gave rise to several class action lawsuits aimed at making Sony return the feature or provide compensation.
qas: answers: 'OtherOS'
question: What functionality did the PlayStation 3 lose in version 3.21 of its firmware update?

answers: security concerns
question: What reason did Sony give for taking out OtherOS?

answers: mandatory
question: Was firmware update 3.21 optional or mandatory if users wanted to continue accessing the PS Network?

answers: PS Slim
question: Which PS3 model never included OtherOS?

answers: class action lawsuits
question: What legal action did some disgruntled OtherOS users take against Sony?

context: On March 1, 2010 (UTC), many of the original "fat" PlayStation 3 models worldwide were experiencing errors related to their internal system clock. The error had many symptoms. Initially, the main problem seemed to be the inability to connect to the PlayStation Network. However, the root cause of the problem was unrelated to the PlayStation Network, since even users who had never been online also had problems playing installed offline games (which queried the system timer as part of startup) and using system themes. At the same time many users noted that the console's clock had gone back to December 31, 1999. The event was nicknamed the ApocalyPS3, a play on the word apocalypse and PS3, the abbreviation for the PlayStation 3 console.
qas: answers: internal system clock
question: What part of the original model PS3s starting causing problems in March of 2010?

answers: PlayStation Network
question: What essential network were some users unable to connect to because of the error?

answers: December 31, 1999
question: What erroneous date did some users start seeing on their consoles?

answers: ApocalyPS3
question: What humorous nickname was given to the situation with the console system clock errors?

answers: apocalypse
question: The name "ApocalyPS3" combines "PS3" with what other word?

context: Sony confirmed that there was an error and stated that they were narrowing down the issue and were continuing to work to restore service. By March 2 (UTC), 2010, owners of original PS3 models could connect to PSN successfully and the clock no longer showed December 31, 1999. Sony stated that the affected models incorrectly identified 2010 as a leap year, because of a bug in the BCD method of storing the date. However, for some users, the hardware's operating system clock (mainly updated from the internet and not associated with the internal clock) needed to be updated manually or by re-syncing it via the internet.
qas: answers: March 2 (UTC), 2010
question: By what date did Sony correct the issue with the system clock?

answers: a leap year
question: What were the broken models mistakenly classifying 2010 as?

answers: BCD
question: What storage system for dates led to the system clock error?

answers: operating system clock
question: What clock unrelated to the error in the PS3 had to be updated in some cases in order to fix the bug?

context: PlayStation Portable can connect with PlayStation 3 in many ways, including in-game connectivity. For example, Formula One Championship Edition, a racing game, was shown at E3 2006 using a PSP as a real-time rear-view mirror. In addition, users are able to download original PlayStation format games from the PlayStation Store, transfer and play them on PSP as well as PS3 itself. It is also possible to use the Remote Play feature to play these and some PlayStation Network games, remotely on PSP over a network or internet connection.
qas: answers: Formula One Championship Edition
question: What PS3 game can integrate a PlayStation Portable to use as a rear-view mirror?

answers: racing
question: What kind of game is Formula One Championship Edition?

answers: PlayStation Store
question: If users want to download original PlayStation games, where do they go online?

answers: PSP
question: Games in plain PlayStation format can be played both on the PS3 console and what other device?

answers: Remote Play
question: What's the name of the feature that would let you play a game on your PSP without having it with you?

context: PlayStation Network is the unified online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service provided by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, announced during the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo. The service is always connected, free, and includes multiplayer support. The network enables online gaming, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home and other services. PlayStation Network uses real currency and PlayStation Network Cards as seen with the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home.
qas: answers: Tokyo
question: In what city did Sony hold their 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing?

answers: real
question: Does PlayStation Network use artificial or real currency for purchases?

answers: multiplayer support
question: Along with being free and providing constant connectivity, what other feature does PS Network offer users?

answers: PlayStation Portable
question: PlayStation Network is only available for PS3 and what other device?

context: PlayStation Plus (commonly abbreviated PS+ and occasionally referred to as PSN Plus) is a premium PlayStation Network subscription service that was officially unveiled at E3 2010 by Jack Tretton, President and CEO of SCEA. Rumors of such service had been in speculation since Kaz Hirai's announcement at TGS 2009 of a possible paid service for PSN but with the current PSN service still available. Launched alongside PS3 firmware 3.40 and PSP firmware 6.30 on June 29, 2010, the paid-for subscription service provides users with enhanced services on the PlayStation Network, on top of the current PSN service which is still available with all of its features. These enhancements include the ability to have demos, game and system software updates download automatically to PlayStation 3. Subscribers also get early or exclusive access to some betas, game demos, premium downloadable content and other PlayStation Store items. North American users also get a free subscription to Qore. Users may choose to purchase either a one-year or a three-month subscription to PlayStation Plus.
qas: answers: PlayStation Plus
question: What's the name of Sony's exclusive PlayStation Network subscription service?

answers: PS+
question: How is PlayStation Plus often abbreviated?

answers: Jack Tretton
question: Who was the President and CEO of SCEA in the year 2010?

answers: June 29, 2010
question: On what date did the PlayStation Plus service officially launch?

answers: one-year
question: Duration options for subscription to PS+ are either three months or what period of time?

context: The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation Portable (PSP) game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games, add-on content, playable demos, themes and game and movie trailers. The service is accessible through an icon on the XMB on PS3 and PSP. The PS3 store can also be accessed on PSP via a Remote Play connection to PS3. The PSP store is also available via the PC application, Media Go. As of September 24, 2009, there have been over 600 million downloads from the PlayStation Store worldwide.
qas: answers: The PlayStation Store
question: Where can you buy downloadable content for the PSP and PS3?

answers: an icon
question: What do you click on in the PS3 interface to get to the PlayStation Store?

answers: Remote Play
question: What connection would you go through to go to the PS3 store from a PSP?

answers: over 600 million
question: How many unique downloads had there been from the PlayStation Store by late 2009?

answers: Media Go
question: From a PC, what application can you use to visit the PlayStation Store?

context: What's New was announced at Gamescom 2009 and was released on September 1, 2009, with PlayStation 3 system software 3.0. The feature was to replace the existing [Information Board], which displayed news from the PlayStation website associated with the user's region. The concept was developed further into a major PlayStation Network feature, which interacts with the [Status Indicator] to display a ticker of all content, excluding recently played content (currently in North America and Japan only).
qas: answers: What's New
question: What new feature for PS3 was released in September of 2009?

answers: Gamescom
question: At what event did Sony announce What's New?

answers: Information Board
question: What did What's New replace?

answers: news
question: What type of information is disseminated through What's New?

answers: region
question: What's geographical area does What's New tailor information to for each user?

context: The system displays the What's New screen by default instead of the [Games] menu (or [Video] menu, if a movie was inserted) when starting up. What's New has four sections: "Our Pick", "Recently Played", latest information and new content available in PlayStation Store. There are four kinds of content the What's New screen displays and links to, on the sections. "Recently Played" displays the user's recently played games and online services only, whereas, the other sections can contain website links, links to play videos and access to selected sections of the PlayStation Store.
qas: answers: four
question: How many  different sections does What's New have?

answers: "Recently Played"
question: What section of What's New would a user visit to find the games they've played lately?

answers: Video
question: Before What's New existed, what default screen would show when a user put a movie in their PS3?

answers: "Recently Played"
question: What section of What's New can't show links to websites?

answers: Games
question: Other than the Video default screen for movies, what menu would the PS3 default to before What's New?

context: PlayStation Home is a virtual 3D social networking service for the PlayStation Network. Home allows users to create a custom avatar, which can be groomed realistically. Users can edit and decorate their personal apartments, avatars or club houses with free, premium or won content. Users can shop for new items or win prizes from PS3 games, or Home activities. Users interact and connect with friends and customise content in a virtual world. Home also acts as a meeting place for users that want to play multiplayer games with others.
qas: answers: PlayStation Home
question: What does Sony call their social network?

answers: avatar
question: What is the customizable representation of a user in PS Home called?

answers: premium
question: Home has free, won, and what third type of content?

answers: apartments
question: Users employ the content to decorate club houses, their avatars, or what virtual dwelling space?

answers: multiplayer
question: What type of games can users find participants for in Home?

context: Life with PlayStation, released on September 18, 2008 to succeed Folding@home, was retired November 6, 2012. Life with PlayStation used virtual globe data to display news and information by city. Along with Folding@home functionality, the application provided access to three other information "channels", the first being the Live Channel offering news headlines and weather which were provided by Google News, The Weather Channel, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Space Science and Engineering Center, among other sources. The second channel was the World Heritage channel which offered historical information about historical sites. The third channel was the United Village channel. United Village was designed to share information about communities and cultures worldwide. An update allowed video and photo viewing in the application. The fourth channel was the USA exclusive PlayStation Network Game Trailers Channel for direct streaming of game trailers.
qas: answers: city
question: Life was able to personalize information for users by what location division?

answers: November 6, 2012
question: On what date was Life with PlayStation shut down?

answers: World Heritage
question: What's was Life's channel that delivered information about history topics?

answers: Live Channel
question: For weather updates from The Weather Channel, which of Life's channels would you have visited?

context: On April 20, 2011, Sony shut down the PlayStation Network and Qriocity for a prolonged interval, revealing on April 23 that this was due to "an external intrusion on our system". Sony later revealed that the personal information of 77 million users might have been taken, including: names; addresses; countries; email addresses; birthdates; PSN/Qriocity logins, passwords and handles/PSN online IDs. They also stated that it was possible that users' profile data, including purchase history and billing address, and PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained. There was no evidence that any credit card data had been taken, but the possibility could not be ruled out, and Sony advised customers that their credit card data may have been obtained. Additionally, the credit card numbers were encrypted and Sony never collected the three digit CVC or CSC number from the back of the credit cards which is required for authenticating some transactions. In response to the incident, Sony announced a "Welcome Back" program, 30 days free membership of PlayStation Plus for all PSN members, two free downloadable PS3 games, and a free one-year enrollment in an identity theft protection program.
qas: answers: April 20, 2011
question: What was the date Sony shut down the PS Network because of a security breach?

answers: 77 million
question: How many users did Sony say might have been affected by the intrusion?

answers: "Welcome Back"
question: What did Sony call the special offer they handed out to respond to the breach?

answers: 30
question: How many free days of PlayStation Plus were included in the offer?

answers: two
question: How many free game downloads were included in the "Welcome Back" program?

context: Although its PlayStation predecessors had been very dominant against the competition and were hugely profitable for Sony, PlayStation 3 had an inauspicious start, and Sony chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer initially could not convince investors of a turnaround in its fortunes. The PS3 lacked the unique gameplay of the more affordable Wii which became that generation's most successful console in terms of units sold. Furthermore, PS3 had to compete directly with Xbox 360 which had a market head start, and as a result the platform no longer had exclusive titles that the PS2 enjoyed such as the Grand Theft Auto and Final Fantasy series (regarding cross-platform games, Xbox 360 versions were generally considered superior in 2006, although by 2008 the PS3 versions had reached parity or surpassed), and it took longer than expected for PS3 to enjoy strong sales and close the gap with Xbox 360. Sony also continued to lose money on each PS3 sold through 2010, although the redesigned "slim" PS3 has cut these losses since then.
qas: answers: Wii
question: What was PlayStation 3's toughest competitor in the video game market?

answers: unique gameplay
question: What did Wii offer that PS3 couldn't compete with?

answers: Xbox 360 versions
question: In 2006, did most people prefer the Xbox 360 or PS3 versions of cross-platform games?

answers: 2010
question: Until what year was Sony seeing a loss on each PlayStation 3 console it sold?

answers: Wii
question: Which cost less in stores: PS3 or Wii?

context: PlayStation 3's initial production cost is estimated by iSuppli to have been US$805.85 for the 20 GB model and US$840.35 for the 60 GB model. However, they were priced at US$499 and US$599 respectively, meaning that units may have been sold at an estimated loss of $306 or $241 depending on model, if the cost estimates were correct, and thus may have contributed to Sony's games division posting an operating loss of ¥232.3 billion (US$1.97 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2007. In April 2007, soon after these results were published, Ken Kutaragi, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, announced plans to retire. Various news agencies, including The Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that this was due to poor sales, while SCEI maintains that Kutaragi had been planning his retirement for six months prior to the announcement.
qas: answers: US$805.85
question: How much did it cost to make one 20 GB PS3?

answers: US$499
question: In contrast to the production cost, what was the retail price for a 20 GB PlayStation 3?

answers: $306
question: Assuming iSuppli got the numbers right, how much of a loss did Sony take for every 20 GB PS3 sold in the U.S.?

answers: Ken Kutaragi
question: What was the name of Sony's President who announced his retirement amid rumors in April 2007?

answers: US$1.97 billion
question: In U.S. dollars, how much was the enormous loss Sony reported the month before Kutaragi's retirement announcement?

context: In January 2008, Kaz Hirai, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, suggested that the console may start making a profit by early 2009, stating that, "the next fiscal year starts in April and if we can try to achieve that in the next fiscal year that would be a great thing" and that "[profitability] is not a definite commitment, but that is what I would like to try to shoot for". However, market analysts Nikko Citigroup have predicted that PlayStation 3 could be profitable by August 2008. In a July 2008 interview, Hirai stated that his objective is for PlayStation 3 to sell 150 million units by its ninth year, surpassing PlayStation 2's sales of 140 million in its nine years on the market. In January 2009 Sony announced that their gaming division was profitable in Q3 2008.
qas: answers: Kaz Hirai
question: Who was Sony's CEO at the start of 2008?

answers: early 2009
question: When did Hirai think the PS3 might start making the company some money?

answers: Nikko Citigroup
question: What market analyst firm said Sony could make the PlayStation 3 profitable by August 2008?

answers: 150 million
question: How many PS3 did Hirai set a public goal to sell by the time the product was nine?

answers: PlayStation 2
question: What other Sony gaming console was Hirai setting his sales goal to beat?

context: Since the system's launch, production costs have been reduced significantly as a result of phasing out the Emotion Engine chip and falling hardware costs. The cost of manufacturing Cell microprocessors has fallen dramatically as a result of moving to the 65 nm production process, and Blu-ray Disc diodes have become cheaper to manufacture. As of January 2008, each unit cost around $400 to manufacture; by August 2009, Sony had reduced costs by a total of 70%, meaning it only costs Sony around $240 per unit.
qas: answers: Emotion Engine chip
question: Along with a drop in the cost of hardware, PS3 has gotten cheaper to make because what chip was phased out?

answers: Cell
question: What's the name of the microprocessor produced by the 65 nm process?

answers: diodes
question: What specific component of Blu-Ray disc have also gotten less expensive to make?

answers: $240
question: As of Summer 2009, what was the cost to Sony to make a PS3?

answers: 70%
question: The August 2009 cost is a result of what percentage decrease in production cost?

context: Critical and commercial reception to PS3 improved over time, after a series of price revisions, Blu-ray's victory over HD DVD, and the release of several well received titles. Ars Technica's original launch review gave PS3 only a 6/10, but second review of the console in June 2008 rated it a 9/10. In September 2009, IGN named PlayStation 3 the 15th best gaming console of all time, behind both of its competitors: Wii (10th) and Xbox 360 (6th). However, PS3 has won IGN's "Console Showdown"—based on which console offers the best selection of games released during each year—in three of the four years since it began (2008, 2009 and 2011, with Xbox winning in 2010). IGN judged PlayStation 3 to have the best game line-up of 2008, based on their review scores in comparison to those of Wii and Xbox 360. In a comparison piece by PC mag's Will Greenwald in June 2012, PS3 was selected as an overall better console compared to Xbox 360. Pocket-lint said of the console "The PS3 has always been a brilliant games console," and that "For now, this is just about the best media device for the money."
qas: answers: 6/10
question: What rating did Ars Technica initially give PlayStation 3?

answers: Xbox
question: What PS3 competitor won IGN's "Console Showdown" in 2010?

answers: Will Greenwald
question: What PC Mag. staffer picked PS3 over Xbox in June, 2012? 

answers: Pocket-lint
question: Which publication called the PlayStation 3 "a brilliant games console"?

answers: 15th
question: Where did IGN place the PS3 on their 2009 list of the best video game consoles ever?

context: PS3 was given the number-eight spot on PC World magazine's list of "The Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006", where it was criticized for being "Late, Expensive and Incompatible". GamesRadar ranked PS3 as the top item in a feature on game-related PR disasters, asking how Sony managed to "take one of the most anticipated game systems of all time and — within the space of a year — turn it into a hate object reviled by the entire internet", but added that despite its problems the system has "untapped potential". Business Week summed up the general opinion by stating that it was "more impressed with what [the PlayStation 3] could do than with what it currently does".
qas: answers: "The Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006"
question: What list by PC World ranked PlayStation eighth, in a bad way?

answers: GamesRadar
question: What gaming website called PS3 "a hate object reviled by the entire internet"?

answers: "Late, Expensive and Incompatible"
question: What quote sums up PC World's 2006 assessment of PS3?

answers: a year
question: How long did GamesRadar say it took Sony to turn the Internet against the PlayStation 3?

context: Developers also found the machine difficult to program for. In 2007, Gabe Newell of Valve said "The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think it's really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted". He continued "I'd say, even at this late date, they should just cancel it and do a do over. Just say, 'This was a horrible disaster and we're sorry and we're going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it'". Doug Lombardi VP of Marketing for Valve has since stated that they are interested in developing for the console and are looking to hire talented PS3 programmers for future projects. He later restated Valve's position, "Until we have the ability to get a PS3 team together, until we find the people who want to come to Valve or who are at Valve who want to work on that, I don't really see us moving to that platform". At Sony's E3 2010 press conference, Newell made a live appearance to recant his previous statements, citing Sony's move to make the system more developer friendly, and to announce that Valve would be developing Portal 2 for the system. He also claimed that the inclusion of Steamworks (Valve's system to automatically update their software independently) would help to make the PS3 version of Portal 2 the best console version on the market.
qas: answers: 2007
question: In what year did Gabe Newell call the PS3 "a total disaster"?

answers: Doug Lombardi
question: Who is Valve's VP of Marketing who says they want to hire programmers for a PS3 team?

answers: 2010
question: What year did Newell show up at Sony's EC3 press conference to take back what he said about PS3?

answers: Portal 2
question: What game did Valve develop for the PlayStation 3 console?

answers: Steamworks
question: What's the name of Valve's software update system?

context: Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has criticized PS3's high development costs and inferior attach rate and return to that of Xbox 360 and Wii. He believes these factors are pushing developers away from working on the console. In an interview with The Times Kotick stated "I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform." He continued, "It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital (ROIC) on the Xbox than on the PlayStation." Kotick also claimed that Activision Blizzard may stop supporting the system if the situation is not addressed. "[Sony has] to cut the [PS3's retail] price, because if they don't, the attach rates are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony." Kotick received heavy criticism for the statement, notably from developer Bioware who questioned the wisdom of the threatened move, and referred to the statement as "silly."
qas: answers: developers
question: What group does Bobby Kotick think is being discouraged from working on the PS3?

answers: return on invested capital
question: What does "ROIC" stand for?

answers: Activision Blizzard
question: What company is Kotick the CEO of?

answers: The Times
question: What newspaper reported Kotick's concerns and his threat to stop supporting the PlayStation platform?

answers: Bioware
question: What game development company completely disagreed with Kotick's statements in The Times interview?

context: Despite the initial negative press, several websites have given the system very good reviews mostly regarding its hardware. CNET United Kingdom praised the system saying, "the PS3 is a versatile and impressive piece of home-entertainment equipment that lives up to the hype [...] the PS3 is well worth its hefty price tag." CNET awarded it a score of 8.8 out of 10 and voted it as its number one "must-have" gadget, praising its robust graphical capabilities and stylish exterior design while criticizing its limited selection of available games. In addition, both Home Theater Magazine and Ultimate AV have given the system's Blu-ray playback very favorable reviews, stating that the quality of playback exceeds that of many current standalone Blu-ray Disc players.
qas: answers: 8.8
question: What score did CNET give the PS3 out of ten?

answers: Blu-ray playback
question: What PlayStation 3 feature did Home Theater Magazine most like about PS3?

answers: hardware
question: Have reviews praised the PS3's hardware of software more frequently?

answers: Ultimate AV
question: What other reviewer agreed with Home Theater Magazine's assessment of the PS3's Blu-ray player?

answers: CNET United Kingdom
question: What website said the PlayStation 3 "lives up to the hype"? 

context: The PlayStation 3 Slim received extremely positive reviews as well as a boost in sales; less than 24 hours after its announcement, PS3 Slim took the number-one bestseller spot on Amazon.com in the video games section for fifteen consecutive days. It regained the number-one position again one day later. PS3 Slim also received praise from PC World giving it a 90 out of 100 praising its new repackaging and the new value it brings at a lower price as well as praising its quietness and the reduction in its power consumption. This is in stark contrast to the original PS3's launch in which it was given position number-eight on their "The Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006" list.
qas: answers: Amazon.com
question: With a day of its release, on what website did the PS3 Slim become the number-one bestseller?

answers: fifteen
question: For how many consecutive days did the PS3 Slim hold the number-one spot on Amazon.com?

answers: 90 out of 100
question: What score did the PS3 Slim earn from PC World?

answers: PS3
question: PC World's rave review of the PS3 Slim was a complete turnaround from their thoughts on what older model console?

answers: repackaging
question: Along with the PS Slim's value, quietness, and lower power usage, what superficial quality did PC World praise?

context: CNET awarded PS3 Slim four out of five stars praising its Blu-ray capabilities, 120 GB hard drive, free online gaming service and more affordable pricing point, but complained about the lack of backward compatibility for PlayStation 2 games. TechRadar gave PS3 Slim four and a half stars out of five praising its new smaller size and summed up its review stating "Over all, the PS3 Slim is a phenomenal piece of kit. It's amazing that something so small can do so much". However, they criticized the exterior design and the build quality in relation to the original model.
qas: answers: backward compatibility
question: What aspect of the PS3 Slim was CNET unhappy was missing for PS2 games?

answers: four
question: How many of five possible stars did CNET give the PS3 Slim?

answers: four and a half
question: How many of its own five stars did TechRadar award the PS3 Slim?

answers: exterior
question: What area of the console did TechRadar feel was designed poorly compared to the original PS3?

context: The Super Slim model of PS3 has received positive reviews. Gaming website Spong praised the new Super Slim's quietness, stating "The most noticeable noise comes when the drive seeks a new area of the disc, such as when starting to load a game, and this occurs infrequently." They added that the fans are quieter than that of Slim, and went on to praise the new smaller, lighter size. Criticism was placed on the new disc loader, stating: "The cover can be moved by hand if you wish, there's also an eject button to do the work for you, but there is no software eject from the triangle button menus in the Xross Media Bar (XMB) interface. In addition, you have to close the cover by hand, which can be a bit fiddly if it's upright, and the PS3 won't start reading a disc unless you do [close the cover]." They also said there is no real drop in retail price.
qas: answers: quietness
question: What quality of the PS3 Super Slim was the website Spong excited about?

answers: smaller, lighter size
question: In addition to quieter fans and drive, what change from the other models did Spong praise?

answers: disc loader
question: What piece of the PS3 Super Slim's hardware did Spong say was too "fiddly"?

answers: close the cover
question: What did Spong said you have to do to the disc loader before the console will start reading the disc?

context: Tech media website CNET gave new Super Slim 4 out of 5 stars ("Excellent"), saying "The Super Slim PlayStation 3 shrinks a powerful gaming machine into an even tinier package while maintaining the same features as its predecessors: a great gaming library and a strong array of streaming services [...]", whilst also criticising the "cheap" design and disc-loader, stating: "Sometimes [the cover] doesn't catch and you feel like you're using one of those old credit card imprinter machines. In short, it feels cheap. You don't realize how convenient autoloading disc trays are until they're gone. Whether it was to cut costs or save space, this move is ultimately a step back." The criticism also was due to price, stating the cheapest Super Slim model was still more expensive than the cheapest Slim model, and that the smaller size and bigger hard drive shouldn't be considered an upgrade when the hard drive on a Slim model is easily removed and replaced. They did praise that the hard drive of the Super Slim model is "the easiest yet. Simply sliding off the side panel reveals the drive bay, which can quickly be unscrewed." They also stated that whilst the Super Slim model is not in any way an upgrade, it could be an indicator as to what's to come. "It may not be revolutionary, but the Super Slim PS3 is the same impressive machine in a much smaller package. There doesn't seem to be any reason for existing PS3 owners to upgrade, but for the prospective PS3 buyer, the Super Slim is probably the way to go if you can deal with not having a slot-loading disc drive."
qas: answers: CNET
question: What website rated the Super Slim four out of five stars?

answers: "cheap"
question: What adjective did CNET use to describe the PS3 Super Slim's design?

answers: hard drive
question: What component of the Super Slim did CNET call "the easiest yet"?

answers: disc-loader
question: What hardware component did CNET have the biggest problem with, even comparing it to an old credit card reader?

answers: more expensive
question: Was the lowest-priced Super Slim more or less expensive than any of the PS3 Slim models?

context: Technology magazine T3 gave the Super Slim model a positive review, stating the console is almost "nostalgic" in the design similarities to the original "fat" model, "While we don’t know whether it will play PS3 games or Blu-ray discs any differently yet, the look and feel of the new PS3 Slim is an obvious homage to the original PS3, minus the considerable excess weight. Immediately we would be concerned about the durability of the top loading tray that feels like it could be yanked straight out off the console, but ultimately it all feels like Sony's nostalgic way of signing off the current generation console in anticipation for the PS4."
qas: answers: T3
question: What magazine described the Super Slim as "nostalgic"?

answers: the original PS3
question: What PlayStation 3 model did T3 feel the Super Slim's design was paying homage to?

answers: weight
question: According to T3, what was the main differentiator between the "fat" PS3 and the Super Slim?

answers: the top loading tray
question: What hardware element did T3 feel might have issues with durability? 

answers: the PS4
question: T3 felt Sony was saying goodbye to past models in preparation for what next-generation console?