We knew native 1080p gaming wouldn't necessarily be the standard this console generation, but especially in light of Sony's "HD era doesn't start until we're on the market" comments, things are getting a bit ridiculous. PS3-exclusive Haze is the latest to slide in underneath the 720p bar, with sharp eyed pixel counters finding a mere 1024x576 resolution in the demo on PSN, anumber confirmed by the game's creative lead after it was originally denied on the U.S. Playstation blog. Haze is hardly the first game to do this, with GTA IV on the PS3, Call of Duty 4 on Xbox 360 and PS3 and Halo 3 on Xbox 360 all using upscaling to deliver extra effects over pixels, but someday we'd like to have our cake and eat it too. Of course, judging by early reviews, how many pixels are present might not have saved lackluster gameplay.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Voom's GameplayHD channel has a new 3D animated action series on the way, Sacred Road. As if we weren't already getting enough HD gaming in (CoD4 anyone?), the new series is being created entirely within a videogame engine, taking Red vs. Blue's concept to a whole new level. With graphical assets courtesy of Gearbox Software's Brothers in Arms game, Sacred Road is about a group of WWII soldiers caught up fighting Nazi's with an army of undead World War I fighters at their command. Check it out this fall, either on GameplayHD or via the website.

[Via GameIndustry.com]

Finally, someone who gets it. While some (Nintendo) seem to believe HD comes at the expense of gameplay, Tetsuya Mizuguchi believes that the increased resolution can give games even more emotional impact. He remarks on a feeling that many of us have had, when watching a movie we've seen over and over, watching it again in HD can give an entirely new feeling. Sure playing Mike Tyson's Punch-Out on NES was (and is) fun, but this is 2006. High definition allows you to appreciate lumping up opponents faces in Fight Night Round 3 in ways the SNES never could. Even simple games like Geometry Wars are even more inpressive on HDTVs, there's nothing like having millions of multicolored geometrical shapes chasing you on an enormous screen with no blurring whatsoever. In the interview with Games Industry Mizuguchi goes on to add that he thinks other elements like 5.1 surround sound and particularly online connectivity combine with high-def as a new frontier for gaming.

This is the man who created such classics as Sega Rally, Lumines, Rez, Manx TT and others. He understands the importance of good gameplay, but instead of shrugging off HD as a niche product with little value, he's willing to acknowledge the possibilities and look for ways to enhance gamers experience, rather than limit it.

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?

This is a game I've been waiting for since the impressive demo Sony used to advertise their PS3 at E3 last year, and EA's Fight Night Round 3 has not failed to impress. Every bone cracking punch, every drop of sweat and blood, almost every boxer you could ever want to fight is ready in glistening 720p. If you were waiting for the "next generation" feeling to hit you, put your gloves on and find your mouthguard because it is here.

No price, no release date, no playable demos = no problem. The hype machine is officially rolling as more details leak from the latest PSM article detailing how the PS3 will change the world upon it's launch later this year. Why should your credit card be running in fear of a pre-order? Let's run down the list:

• DVR
• Online service that will surpass Xbox Live
• an iTunes Music store-style service for downloading high definition movies music and more
• Better media center functionality than the 360
• Stream DVR'd content or disc-based movies to your PSP over the Internet via LocationFree
• Fall release

That's not even mentioning the dual 1080p output and Blu-ray disc playback we already know about. We're excited, but we also remember when Ken Kutaragi told us the PS2 would be like jacking into "The Matrix", 5 years later and there are no plugs in our bodies. We'll keep a space open in the entertainment center, but we're not shaving our heads in preparation (again). What features are you most anticipating when the Playstation touches down by an HDTV near you?

Apparently we're not the only ones feeling befuddled at the PS3's relative absence from CES. after Sony had previously indicated a possible spring launch, analysts now believe that the Blu-ray/dual 1080p powerhouse from Japan will launch as late as November in the US. Couple that with rumors of hardware problems, the possibility that what we have seen so far is only a concept design, and you've got some very anxious gamers.

Delays or no delays, we are definitely looking forward to the PS3 launch, it will probably be the cheapest source of 1080p content for anyone with a TV that supports it, probably the cheapest Blu-ray player available and almost certainly a monster of a games machine.

Heres to hoping Sony brings something better to show and tell at E3.