First Microsoft released the black 360 Elite. Then there was the Spartan Green Halo edition. Sony felt the need to keep up and released the Ceramic White PS3 in Japan and patented it in America. Sony Entertainment Japan is following up, very quickly, with another new color. To celebrate the premature release of PS3’s “The Best” games comes the Satin Silver PS3.

It was announced last week that SEJ would be releasing the PS3’s version of a greatest hits discount line. The first launch of games will include Resistance: Fall of Man, FolkSoul, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Gundam: Target in Sight and Ridge Racer 7. The releases will launch in mid-March at ¥3,800 each. It is predicted that the same offers will reach Europe soon and shortly followed by North American releases. Of course with Blu-ray, region-free discs, local availability won’t matter all that much for games that support more than just one language like Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

In conjunction with the new budget line of games SEJ will also release a new PS3 model. The 40GB Satin Silver PS3 will cost ¥39,980 upon release. It will come in the same deal as the Ceramic White release and be bundled with a Satin Silver Dualshock 3 controller that will also be released for individual purchase at ¥5,500.

In slightly unrelated news, Sony is releasing a bright red PSTwo in Japan as well. This really goes to show that they are releasing all the colors of the rainbow for their systems. What it also means is that they are literally slapping paint on something and calling it new. It is nice to have your choice of color though. I’m slightly torn on the issue of systems and multiple color choices. Having multiple choices assures that if you’re a feng shui fanatic there won’t be problems. On the other hand it removes that iconic feel gamers get foisted upon them by their favorite systems.

Japanese gamers can look forward to the new system by March 6, 2008. The new Dualshock 3 color, and presumably Satin Silver Six-Axis controllers can be expected on the same day. The game re-release line, entitled “The Best”, will be for sale starting March 19, 2008. There have been no confirmations that Sony plans to release these in any other region. What that means in Sony’s track record is that either the rest of world will see them within the following month, or the following year.