Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced this week that they will now be offering extended warranties for the PS3 and PSP. The catch? You must still be in the one year manufacturer warranty period to purchase an extended protection plan. This is great news and exciting for new Sony gaming console owners but a bit disappointing for early adapters like myself.  I personally camped out for two nights back in 2006 to pre-order my 60GB Playstation 3, and although I can’t get this protection plan,  it’s been three and a half years later and my system still works like new. *Knock on wood*

For owners of the PS3, here are the two options for an extension plan.  For the price of a new game, you can protect your PS3 system for a few years.  I think it’s a very reasonable price.

• PS3 warranty extension for 1 year (49.99)
• PS3 warranty extension for 2 years (59.99)

For PSP owners the following options are available, and respectively, they are less expensive than the PS3 plans.

• PSP 1 year extension plan (29.99)
• PSP 2 year extension plan (39.99)
• PSP extension + accidental damage coverage for 1 and 2 years are 39.99 or 49.99

Having my system for over 3 years with no issues shows me how reliable these black beauties are. I am very glad to hear that Sony is confident in their products and how reliable they are to now offer the protection plans for Playstation.  Now I’m going to do just that: play.

If you are eligible to purchase the extended protection plan, call Sony at 1-866-716-7669.