Sony has launched its next-generation PlayStation 3 (PS3) games console in Europe, four month's later than originally planned.
Thousands of avid European gamers queued outside shops as the console went on sale at midnight on Friday.
According to Sony, about one million PS3s consoles were made available for the Euro launch.
The PS3, which costs 599 euros (£425), goes head-to-head with Microsoft's Xbox 360, which was released in Europe in November 2005, and Nintendo's Wii, which went on sale in the continent last December.
Tokyo-based Sony had originally planned to launch its new console in Europe last November.
But problems in mass producing a key component for the machines Blu-ray high-definition DVD player caused Sony to postpone the launch.
Sony, the world's second-largest consumer electronics maker, has already launched the PS3 in the US and Japan.
The European version of the PS3 will have an IBM Cell 3.2 GHz processor, 256 megabytes of memory, a 60 gigabyte hard drive and a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller.
It is compatible with a variety of TV sets currently out in the market - including standard-definition and high-definition models.
Users can also connect the PS3 to the online PlayStation Network where they can meet and take on other gamers.
The PlayStation Network is Sony's answer to Microsoft's Xbox Live online gaming service.
Sony expects about 30 games to be available at launch - including Fall of Man, Tekken: Dark Resurrection, Call of Duty 3, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007, Need for Speed Carbon and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
But in order to play existing PS1 and PS2 games, European owners of the new console will have to be running the latest version of the PS3 software, which is available as a free downloadable update.
Sony, which has sold more than 90 million PS2s and over 100 million PS1s, has declared the European launch of the machine a success.
comments
What do you think? Give us your opinion on the comments page.