The launch is set to trigger a three-way battle in the $30bn gaming market with Sony's Playstation 3 (PS3) and Microsoft's Xbox 360.

PS3 delay

Sony plans to offer a version of its PS3 console with a 20-gigabyte hard disk drive in Japan on 11 November and a week later in the US.

The console will be priced at 62,790 yen in Japan and $499 in the US.

But European gamers will have to wait until 2007 to get their hands on the PS3. Sony has delayed the launch in Europe until March following supply shortages of a key component for the machine.

While Microsoft has already launched its Xbox 360, it will be keeping up the pressure by launching a raft of new games.

Nintendo hopes the Wii will have across-the-board appeal, as it claims its new-style remote control - a wireless wand-like device that can be used like a baton - should offer an easy playing style.