2005

February 8: The PS3 'superchip' is unveilled

Details of the PlayStation 3 begin to emerge to a breathless response. Its Cell processor will, we're told, "revolutionise the way people watch television and listen to music." The release is optimistically scheduled for early 2006,

May 17: Sony launches the PS3 project

Even at this early stage, the PlayStation 3 is being described as "long awaited". A delay to the official announcement from Sony has allowed Microsoft to nip ahead with the unveilling of the Xbox 360.

November 23: The Xbox 360 arrives

Microsoft surprises many gamers and analysts with the Xbox 360, which is really very good. In the run-up to its UK launch, Stuart Miles's rave review no-doubt contributes to the backlog of advance orders. All is quiet on the PS3 front.

2006

March 15: Sony delays launch until November

According to the initial schedule, the PS3 should already be revolutionising our lives, but Sony says it's having difficulties with the Blu-ray player. The problems will all be fixed by April 2006, it says, and the console will be released worldwide the following November.

May 9: A sharp intake of breath

Sony announces the PS3 prices. Will doting parents be prepared to shell out £425 on a toy?

March 22:Toshiba puts its HD-DVD player on show

Toshiba reminds its rival what's at stake by launching its HD-DVD format. Sony's Blu-ray disc is being left behind in the high-definition format war.

September 6: PS3 delayed until 2007 in Europe

Things have not been going well for Sony, whose laptop batteries have been exploding all over the world, prompting some airlines to ban them as a security risk. Then the company announces that the "much delayed" PS3 will be delayed a bit more, due to more problems with the Blu-ray player.

September 26: Fans finally get their hands on it

Visitors to the Tokyo Games Show put the PS3 through its paces. The graphics are fantastic, they say, but something is missing: "the wow factor". Sony is force to cut the price of the console in Japan to stimulate interest. A month later, the company announces that it is losing money.

November 5: Is it any good?

The Sunday Times publishes head-to-head reviews of the main contenders in the battle of the consoles: the Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3. But there's a hitch: "Sony failed to supply a fully working unit for this feature because it didn’t want the unit directly compared to other consoles."

November 11: Launch day

The console goes on sale in Japan and the fanboys finally get their fix. As do the black marketeers, who buy up as many as possible to sell on eBay. The long wait doesn't seem to have dampened enthusiasm for the PlayStation brand.

November 20: The Wii goes on sale

... and sells out almost instantly, despite its daft name. The console's sense of fun appeals beyond the traditional gaming audience, leading to huge demand which Nintendo struggles to satisfy. The UK launch a couple of weeks later leads to more rave reviews and more empty shelves. The PS3 is still not out in Europe, leaving Microsoft and Nintendo to divvy up the Christmas market.

2007

February 23: The onset of doubt

In a column for Times Online, Michael Parsons wonders whether he should cancel his PS3 advance order. The many reader comments suggest that he is not alone.

February 23: European specs are cut

Sony announces that the European edition of the console will play far fewer PS2 games than the US version. Readers are not impressed.

February 25: A thorough review

In advance of the UK launch, The Sunday Times subjects the PS3 to a rigorous test. It acquits itself well, but the price remains a cause for concern.

March 19: Maybe it's not such a disaster

Industry analysts give Sony a boost, restating their confidence that the PS3 will prevail over its rivals in the end. The "much delayed" launch has enabled the company to build up a stockpile of 220,000 consoles for the UK launch alone.