Early PS3 console and controller prototypes?

If you thought, Sony's boomerang controller for the PS3 was a wild idea, you may be in for a surprise. Two years ago, some early Wii controller prototypes were made public. Now, PS3center has released images of early PS3 console and controller designs, only some of which have been published before.

The ball controller is a fan-made sketch. It is unknown whether the others are meant to be internal concept designs by Sony or whether they are mock-ups. While they all appear more professional than average mock-ups, the site offers no explanation other than the following description.

Here's a short compilation of whacky PlayStation 3 concepts that never made it.

In my mind, the images could very well be authentic. The website publishing them may not be expected to land such a scoop. But there are some good reasons to believe they are real nonetheless.

The Blu-ray disc inside a cartridge shown in the first image fits with the format's professional equivalent Sony uses in XDCAM cameras. As it is a professional broadcast format, only few people are aware of Blu-ray discs housed in cartridges or that Sony planned to bring the consumer version to market in a cartridge as well. Also, all images appear to be photos or high quality renders. And all prototypes bear the same early PS3 logo.

Either way, it should come as no surprise that Sony put a lot of effort into designing its third home console. If authentic, some of the above ideas are very interesting and offer an insight into which way the console may have headed. I very much hope we get some early Xbox360 prototypes soon.

Source: PS3center
Thanks to: N4G