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The PlayStation 3 (officially marketed PLAYSTATION 3,[5] commonly abbreviated PS3) is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game systems.
A major feature that distinguishes the PlayStation 3 from its predecessors is its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network,[6] which contrasts with Sony's former policy of relying on games' developers for online play.[7] Other major features of the console include its robust multimedia capabilities,[8] connectivity with the PlayStation Portable,[9] and its use of a next-gen optical media, Blu-ray Disc, as its primary storage medium.[10]
The PlayStation 3 was first released on November 11, 2006, in Japan,[11] November 17, 2006 in North America,[12] and March 23, 2007 in Europe and Oceania,[13][14] with two stock keeping units (SKUs): a basic version with a 20 GB hard disk drive (HDD), and a premium version with a 60 GB HDD and several additional features.[15] (The 20 GB version was not released in Europe or Oceania.)[16] Since then, the console has had several revisions made to its available SKUs and has faced stiff competition from the other seventh generation consoles.[17] As of December 20, 2007, the PS3 is in third place in home console sales for its generation.[18]
Contents[hide] |
History
Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation 3 to the public on May 16, 2005, during the E3 2005 conference.[19] A functional version of the system was not present there[20] nor at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005,[21] although demonstrations (such as Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[20]) were held at both events on devkits and comparable PC hardware.[20][21] Video footage based on the predicted PlayStation 3 specifications was also shown (e.g. Mobile Suit Gundam).[22]
The system was initially planned to have two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and six USB ports,[23] though, as shown at E3 2006, this was later reduced to one HDMI port, one ethernet port and four USB ports, presumably to cut costs.[15][24] Also announced were two configurations of the console, a "60 GB" and "20 GB", for $599/€599 and $499/€499 respectively.[15] The 60 GB would be the only configuration to feature a HDMI port, Wi-Fi internet, flash card readers, and a chrome trim with the logo in silver.[15] It was announced for a global release date, November 11 for Japan and November 17 for North America and Europe.[25]
On September 6, 2006, Sony announced that the PAL region (Europe and Oceania) PlayStation 3 launch would be delayed until March 2007 due to a shortage of diodes used in the Blu-ray Disc drive.[26]
At the Tokyo Game Show on September 22, 2006, Sony announced that it would be including HDMI on the 20 GB system with a silver logo, but not the chrome trim, flash card readers, or Wi-Fi.[27] Also, the launch price of the Japanese 20 GB model was reduced by over 20%[28] and the 60 GB model was announced for an open pricing scheme in Japan.[28] During the show, Sony demonstrated 27 playable PS3 titles running on final hardware.[29]
Launch
The PlayStation 3 was first released in Japan on November 11, 2006, at 07:00.[11] There were reports that many of the systems were obtained by businessmen who paid mainly Chinese nationals to buy the systems to resell them on eBay.[30] According to Media Create, 81,639 PS3 systems were sold within 24 hours of its introduction in Japan.[31]
Soon after its release in Japan, the PS3 was released in North America on November 17, 2006.[12] Reports of violence surrounding the release of the PS3 include a customer shot,[32] campers robbed at gunpoint,[33] customers shot in a drive-by shooting with BB guns,[34] and 60 campers fighting over 10 systems.[35]
On January 24, 2007, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 would go on sale on March 23, 2007 in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand.[13][36] On March 7, 2007, the 60 GB PlayStation 3 launched in Singapore with a price of S$799.[37]
The PS3 was launched in the PAL regions on March 23, 2007.[13] The system sold about 600,000 units in its first two days.[38]
The console was launched in South Korea on June 16, 2007 in a single version equipped with an 80 GB hard drive and IPTV.[39]
Retail configurations
- For more details on this topic, see Timeline of PlayStation 3 SKUs.
There are four PlayStation 3 hardware models that are commonly referred to by the size of their included hard disk drive: "20", "40", "60", and "80" GB models.[15][40]
All retail packages include one or two Sixaxis controllers and or a DualShock 3 controller (beginning June 12, 2008,[41][42]), one USB cable, one composite video/stereo audio output cable, one ethernet cable (20, 60, and 80 GB only) and one power cable.[40][43]
| Feature: | 20 GB (NTSC)[44] | 40 GB (PAL, NTSC)[45] | 60 GB (NTSC)[44] | 60 GB (PAL)[44] | 80 GB (NTSC)[44] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colors | Piano Black | Piano Black, Ceramic White (U.S., Asia and Japan only),[46] | Piano Black | Piano Black | Piano Black |
| USB 2.0 ports | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flash card readers | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chrome trim | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SACD support[48] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PS2 compatibility | Yes — Hardware (Emotion Engine) | No | Yes — Hardware (Emotion Engine) | Yes — Software emulation | Yes — Software emulation |
| First availability | November 2006 | October 2007 | November 2006 | March 2007 | August 2007 |
| In production | No[49] | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| All models include: Blu-ray/DVD/CD drive, HDMI 1.3a,[50] Bluetooth 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, PlayStation backward compatibility[51] through software emulation[52] and a glossy finish[53] | |||||
In addition to all of the features of the 20 GB model, the 60 GB model has internal IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, multiple flash card readers (SD/MultiMedia Card, CompactFlash Type I/Type II, Microdrive,[54] Memory Stick/PRO/Duo), and a chrome coloured trim.[44] In terms of hardware, the 80 GB model released in South Korea is identical to the 60 GB model released in the PAL regions, except for the difference in hard drive size.[55] Like the South Korean and European models, the North American 80 GB model also excludes the PlayStation 2 "Emotion Engine" CPU chip.[56] However, it still keeps the "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU.[57] Due to emulation of the "Emotion Engine", the level of compatibility was reduced[56] (see PlayStation 3 games - Removal of hardware support for more details). The 40 GB model has two USB ports instead of the four USB ports on other models, and does not include a multi memory card port, SACD support, or any backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles.[56][17] This was due to the removal of "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU, which stripped the unit of all PlayStation 2 based hardware.[45]
No official Wi-Fi or flash memory card readers have yet been released by Sony for the 20 GB system, although plans for such add-ons are in place.[58] Nevertheless, as the model features four USB 2.0 ports, wireless networking and flash memory card support can already be obtained through the use of widely available external USB adapters.[56]
It was rumored that third-generation PS3s (40 GB) would be using Cell CPUs of 65 nm,[59] which SCEI CEO Kaz Hirai later confirmed.[60]
Sales and production costs
| Region | Units sold | First available |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1,673,063 as of January 1, 2008[61][62] | November 11, 2006 |
| United States | 3,250,000 as of January 1, 2008[63][64][65] | November 17, 2006 |
| Europe | 2,800,000 as of January 1, 2008[66][67] | March 23, 2007 |
| Worldwide | 10.49 million as of January 1, 2008[2][3] | (more...) |
The PlayStation 3's initial production cost is estimated to have been US$805.85 for the 20 GB model and US$840.35 for the 60 GB model;[68] however, they were priced at US$499 and US$599, respectively.[69] The high manufacturing costs meant that every unit was sold at a loss of approximately $250,[68] contributing to Sony's games division posting an operating loss of ¥232.3 billion (US$1.97 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2007.[70] In April 2007, soon after these results were published, Ken Kutaragi, the head of gaming at Sony, announced plans to retire. Various news agencies, including The Times[71] and The Wall Street Journal[72] reported that this was due to poor sales, whilst SCEI maintains that Kutaragi had been planning his retirement for six months prior to the announcement.[72]
Since the system's launch, production costs have been reduced significantly as a result of phasing out the EE chip and falling hardware costs.[73][74] The cost of manufacturing Cell microprocessors has fallen dramatically as a result of moving to the 65 nm production process.[75][74] Blu-ray diodes being cheaper to manufacture.[73][76] As of January 2008, each unit costs around $400 to manufacture.[77][78]
On January 7, 2007, Sony met its goal of shipping 1 million units to North America.[79] Just over a week later, on January 16, 2007, Sony confirmed they had shipped 1 million units in Japan, bringing the worldwide total to over 2 million shipped.[80] As of April 1, 2007, approximately 5.5 million units had been shipped worldwide.[70]
In the worldwide marketplace, the PlayStation 3 is currently behind its competitor systems, the Xbox 360 and the Wii, in overall sales. In Japan during 2007, the Wii outsold the PS3 by 4 to 1 in April, 5.6 to 1 in May, 6.5 to 1 in June, 4 to 1 in July, and 3 to 1 in August.[81][82][83] In Japan as of January 1, 2008, 4,618,479 Wiis have been sold in total, compared with 1,673,063 PS3s; however, the Xbox 360, which was released almost a year earlier than its competitors, has sold only 548,308 units, according to Enterbrain.[61][62]
In North America, the PS3 was outsold 4.4 to 1 by the Wii and 2.2 to 1 by the Xbox 360 in June 2007, and it sold the fewest units of any seventh generation console in the period January through April.[84][85] Additionally, the PS3 saw the largest drop in sales of the three systems, selling 37% less in April than the previous month.[86][85] Sony has attributed the poor sales in April to a lack of new software for the console.[87] In many cases, the system has been outsold by its predecessor, the PlayStation 2.[84][86]
From October 2007 to November 2007, sales of the PlayStation 3 went up by 285% in the United States.[88] Sony CEO Howard Stringer attributed the growth to a price cut and Nintendo's inability to manufacture the Wii system at a rate high enough to meet public demand.[89]
As of January 1, 2008, the PlayStation 3 has sold 3.25 million units in the United States according to the NPD Group,[63][64][65] 1,673,063 in Japan according to Enterbrain,[61][62] over 180,000 in Australia according to GameSpot,[90] and an estimated 2.8 million in Europe according to Electronic Arts.[66][67] Total worldwide sales as of January 1, 2008 are 10.49 million according to Sony.[2][3]
In the United States, the PlayStation 3 outsold the Xbox 360 for the first time in January 2008 according to the NPD Group;[91][92][93] however, a day prior to the NPD sales figures being released, Microsoft predicted that the Xbox 360 sales figure would be impacted by the shortage of their console that month in the US.[94][95][96] Prior to this, the PS3 has been a consistent third behind the Wii and the Xbox 360 in US sales in most months since the Wii and PS3 were released, according to data by the NPD Group.[95]
Hardware
The PlayStation 3 is convex on its left side when vertical, (the top side is convex when horizontal) and has a sleek black finish with the Playstation logo on the left side.[97] Playstation designer Teiyu Goto stated that the Spider-Man-font-inspired logo "was one of the first elements [SCEI president Ken Kutaragi] decided on and the logo may have been the motivating force behind the shape of PS3."[98]
The PlayStation 3 features a slot-loading 2x speed Blu-ray Disc drive for games, Blu-ray movies, DVDs, CDs, and other optical media.[99] It was originally available with hard drives of 20 and 60 GB[100] (only the 60 GB model was available in PAL regions[16]). An 80 GB model has since been introduced in NTSC regions,[101] and a 40 GB model has been introduced in all regions.[102][103] All PS3 models have user-upgradeable 2.5" SATA hard drives.[104]
The PlayStation 3 uses the IBM-designed Cell microprocessor as its CPU, utilizing seven of the eight "synergistic processing elements" (often shortened to SPE).[105] The eighth SPE is disabled to improve chip yields i.e. chips do not have to be discarded if one of the SPEs is defective.[106][107] Only six of the seven SPEs are accessible to developers as one is reserved by the OS.[107] Graphics processing is handled by the NVIDIA RSX, which can output resolutions from 480i/576i SD up to 1080p HD.[99] The PlayStation 3 has 256 MB of XDR main memory and 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory for the RSX.[108]
The system has Bluetooth 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 and HDMI 1.3a built in on all models.[99] Wi-Fi networking is also built-in on the 40, 60 and 80 GB models while a flash card reader (compatible with MemoryStick, SD/MMC, and CompactFlash/Microdrive media) is built-in on 60 and 80 GB models.[99][108]
Numerous accessories for the console have been developed including the wireless Sixaxis controller, the wireless DualShock 3 controller, the BD Remote, the PlayStation Eye camera and the upcoming PlayTV DVB-T tuner/digital video recorder accessory.[109][110]
At its press conference at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced the DualShock 3 (trademarked DUALSHOCK 3), a PlayStation 3 controller with the same function and design as the Sixaxis, but with vibration capability included.[111] Hands-on accounts describe the controller as being noticeably heavier than the standard Sixaxis controller, and capable of vibration forces comparable to the DualShock 2.[112] It was released in Japan on November 11, 2007,[113] and is scheduled to release on April 15, 2008 in North America[114] and in Spring 2008 in Europe.[115]
The PS3's hardware has also been used to build supercomputers for high-performance computing.[116] Terra Soft Solutions has a version of Yellow Dog Linux for the PlayStation 3,[117] and sells PS3s with Linux pre-installed,[118] in single units, and 6 and 32 node clusters.[119] In addition, RapidMind is pushing their stream programming package for the PS3.[120] Also, on January 3, 2007, Dr. Frank Mueller, Associate Professor of Computer Science at NCSU, clustered 8 PS3s. Mueller commented that the 512 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 v2.5, GNU Compiler Collection and CellSDK 1.1.[121][122][123] (for more information on PS3 clusters, see Playstation 3 cluster)
On March 22, 2007, SCE and Stanford University released the Folding@Home project for the PlayStation 3.[124] This program allows PS3 owners to lend the computing power of their consoles to help study the physical process of protein folding.
Software
Operating system
Sony has added the ability for the operating system, referred to as System Software, to be updated.[125] The updates can be downloaded from the PlayStation Network directly to the PS3 and subsequently installed or downloaded from the official PlayStation website to a computer, transferred to portable storage media, and subsequently installed on the system. Updates can also be installed from game discs that require the update to run the game.[125]
The latest version of the software, version 2.20, was released on March 25, 2008 and is a major update, which made the PS3 compatible with Blu-ray profile 2.0. The prior update, version 2.17, was released on March 13, 2008 and features some minor bug fixes.[126] version 2.10, was released on December 18, 2007.[127] This update made the PS3 compatible with Blu-ray profile 1.1, added a new music visualization, added the ability to change voice pitch in the console’s chat function, and added support for DivX, XviD,[128] and VC-1 (WMV) codecs.[129] Version 2.01 was released on November 19, 2007 and fixed some of the stability issues with the PS3’s network connection and repaired some problems with Remote Start.[130]
Version 2.00, released on November 8, 2007, added the ability to customize the XMB using themes; support for the DualShock 3 controller; the ability to create custom playlists for music and photos; more options for grouping content under XMB tabs, and the ability to remotely turn the PS3 on and off from a PSP using Remote Play.[131]
The PlayStation 3 also includes the ability to install other operating systems[132] such as Linux.[133]
Graphical user interface
The PlayStation 3 version of the XrossMediaBar (pronounced Cross Media Bar, or abbreviated XMB) includes nine categories of options. These include: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, PlayStation Network, and Friends (similar to the PlayStation Portable media bar). The PS3 includes the ability to store various master and secondary user profiles, manage and explore photos with or without a musical slideshow, play music and copy audio CD tracks to an attached storage device, play movies and video files from the hard disk drive, an optional USB mass storage or Flash card, or an optical disc (Blu-ray Disc or DVD-Video), compatibility for a USB keyboard and mouse, and a full web browser supporting in/compatible file download function.[134] The Friends menu allows mail with emoticon and attached picture features and video chat which requires an optional PlayStation Eye or Eyetoy webcam.[135] The Network menu allows online shopping through the PlayStation Store.[135]
PlayStation Network
In response to Microsoft's success with their Xbox Live network, Sony announced a unified online service for the PlayStation 3 system at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo.[136] Sony also confirmed that the service will always be connected,[137] free,[138] and include multiplayer support.[139] In addition, the registration interface can only be accessed through the PS3 system interface.[140]
At the Tokyo Game Show on September 21, 2006, it was revealed that users will be able to download some of the thousands of PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 titles from the PlayStation Network for about US$5–$15, starting with those with the smallest game data.[141] Ken Kutaragi also announced functionality with other systems, similar to Nintendo's Virtual Console, including confirmed Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx 16 functionality;[141] however, Sega replied that Sony had been too hasty with calling it a fact, and that it was still "under examination".[142]
On May 8, 2007 Sony Computer Entertainment announced PlayStation Network Cards,[143] a form of electronic money that can be used with the Store. PlayStation Network Tickets, available in units of 1,000, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen, can be purchased at convenience stores throughout Japan.[144] Each ticket contains a 12 alphanumeric code which can be inputted to the PlayStation Network to place credits in the virtual wallet.[145] The tickets are available through electronic kiosks at 26,000 convenience stores, including Lawsons, Family Mart, Daily Yamazaki, Ministop and Sunkus.[146] They are also available at 26,000 post office ATM machines, although registration is required first at a special mobile website.[146]
A similar PlayStation Network Card system based on actual cards instead of tickets was introduced in South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan in summer 2007[147] and is scheduled for a Spring, 2008 release in North America.[148]
PlayStation Home
-
The PlayStation Home logo
During the 2007 Game Developers Conference, Sony announced PlayStation Home, a new free-to-download community based service for the PlayStation Network, which allows users to create an avatar character for their PlayStation 3 system.[149][150] This avatar will get its own apartment, which can be adorned by items players can receive in several achievements.[149] In the future the service will also expand, allowing players to have more sorts of clothing, as well as hold pets.[150] Home will be a Second Life-like experience and will allow gamers everywhere to interact in a virtual world.[151] Home will also act as a meeting place of sorts for players who want to play multiplayer games on the PlayStation 3.[151] During a video demonstration of Home, Sony said that a Home icon and options will be added to the Xross Media Bar (XMB), so it is expected to be available through a firmware update or separate download from within the PlayStation Store.[150][151] A closed beta was in progress in Europe in May 2007,[152] and an open beta was scheduled to be available in North America in early fall 2007.[151] However, at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced that the final worldwide launch of Home, which had originally been scheduled for fall 2007, will now take place in spring 2008.[153] SCEI President and Group CEO Kaz Hirai later explained that the launch was delayed for further testing and feedback evaluation to provide the best possible experience upon launch.[154]
PlayStation Portable connectivity
- Further information: PlayStation Store (PC) for PSP
The PlayStation Portable can connect with the 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.[155] In addition, it is possible to download PlayStation 1 games to the PlayStation 3 from the PlayStation Store. These games were not originally playable on the PS3; however, they could be sent to a PSP, and played using the PSP's PlayStation Emulator. Sony added support for playing downloaded PS titles on PS3 on April 18, 2007, with the update to firmware revision 1.70.[156][157]
Sony has also demonstrated the PSP playing back video content, including 1080p content from the PlayStation 3 hard disk across an ad-hoc wireless network. This feature is referred to as Remote Play located under the browser icon on both the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable. Remote play has since expanded to allow remote access to the PS3 via PSP from any wireless access point in the world.[158]
Games
- See also: List of PlayStation 3 games, Chronology of PlayStation 3 games, and List of PlayStation Network games
The PlayStation 3 launched in North America on November 17, 2006 with a total of twelve titles and another three were released before the end of the year.[159] After five days of sales it was confirmed that first person shooter Resistance: Fall of Man from Insomniac Games was the top-selling game, and was heavily praised by numerous video game websites, including GameSpot and IGN, both of whom awarded it with their PlayStation 3 Game of the Year award for 2006.[160][161] 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 launch title, while Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire also fared well in sales; both of which were offerings from Namco Bandai. The PlayStation 3 launched in Europe with twenty-four titles, including games that were not offered in the North American and Japanese launch, such as Formula One Championship Edition, MotorStorm and Virtua Fighter 5. Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm have been the most successful titles so far,[162][163] and both games are to receive sequels.[164][165]
At E3 2007, Sony was able to show off a number of their upcoming video games for the PlayStation 3, including Heavenly Sword, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune,[166] all of which have been released in the 4th quarter of 2007.[167][168][169] They also showed off a number of titles set for a 2008 release; most notably Killzone 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2004 first person shooter.[170] LittleBigPlanet was also demonstrated during the event and subsequently won the award for 'Most Original' game of the show.[171]
Reception
The PlayStation 3 received generally unfavorable reviews soon after its launch, with many websites and reviewers criticizing its high price and lack of top-quality games.[172][173] However, after a series of price drops and the release of several quality titles, the system has begun to receive better reviews.
The 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."[174] Also, GamesRadar ranked the PS3 as the top item in a feature about 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 had "untapped potential."[175] 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."[176]
Some journalists judged that the relative ease with which it was possible to buy a PlayStation 3 in stores in the U.S. and Japan soon after its launch, compared with the scarcity of the Wii, was evidence of lukewarm consumer demand for the system.[177] In addition, there were reports that some Japanese retailers discounted the system as early as January 2007 to stimulate demand.[178] In an interview with Electronic Gaming Monthly, SCEA Chief of Operations Jack Tretton scoffed at the assertion that PS3s were not flying off store shelves, telling the interviewers, "If you can find a PS3 anywhere in North America that's been on shelves for more than five minutes, I'll give you 1,200 bucks for it."[179] In response, Penny Arcade's Gabe and Tycho demanded a reward of $13,200 after finding eleven PS3s in stores near their home town.[180]
Despite all the bad press, several websites have given the system very good reviews. CNET United Kingdom praised the PlayStation 3 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."[181] CNET also awarded it a score of 8.8 out of a possible 10 and voted it as its number one "must-have" gadget,[182] praising its robust graphical capabilities and stylish exterior design while criticizing its limited selection of available games.[183]
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 players.[184][185] Also, the Convergence Panel of the European Imaging and Sound Association recognized the PS3 as the best media center product in the 2007/2008 award year.[186]
Hexus Gaming reviewed the PAL version and summed the review up by saying, "...as the PlayStation 3 matures and developers start really pushing it, we’ll see the PlayStation 3 emerge as the console of choice for gaming."[187] At GDC 2007, Shiny Entertainment founder Dave Perry stated, "I think that Sony has made the best machine. It's the best piece of hardware, without question.
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