Sony reveals PSX pricing details

Consumer electronics giant Sony has announced further details of its hybrid games console and home multimedia centre, the PSX - with the entry level model set to go on sale in Japan this year at 79,800 Yen (â'¬620),

The PSX offers a TV tuner, DVD recorder, hard disc drive video recorder (similar to the TiVo and Sky+ systems) and music centre as well as PlayStation 2 and PSone game playback - effectively making it into a perfect "all in one" box for the living room.

Sony plans to sell two different versions of the device, with the entry level 160Gb version - capable of recording over 200 hours of television on its hard disc - retailing at 79,800 Yen (â'¬620) and the high end 250Gb version selling for 99,800 Yen (â'¬770).

The price may seem expensive by comparison with games consoles - but in fact, it's significantly cheaper than other products with a similar range of functionality. Sony itself offers a standalone DVD recorder with a 160Gb hard drive for around 100,000 Yen (â'¬772), while rival electronics firm is set to introduce a similar device for around 140,000 Yen (â'¬1,080). Neither of these devices will offer videogame playback.

The PSX is part of Sony's plan to revive flagging sales of consumer electronics by integrating the hugely successful PlayStation brand with them - hoping, perhaps, that some of the shine of Sony Computer Entertainment's success will rub off on the rest of the company.

The low price of the PSX is likely to make the device appealing to anyone considering the purchase of a digital video recording system. The system also serves as a "stealth console" for Sony - an attractive slot-loading device which is likely to make its way into living rooms which would never have seen a PlayStation 2 or Xbox under the television.

European and US launches for the system are expected to come early in the New Year, with the Japanese launch scheduled in time for Christmas this year, although no firm date has been set as yet.