PS3 delayed until November.

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » March 15, 2006, 8:04 am

Apparently because Sony needs to finalise some shit with it's Blu-Ray format.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11824259/

Zeep · Post by **Zeep** » March 15, 2006, 12:01 pm

Not totally unexpected... I think they bit off a little more than they could chew with that thing. Should be cool when we finally see it though.

More info from the big Sony press conference, including some really cool stuff for the PSP. I'm really looking forward to a bunch of this stuff.. flash player, psone emu, downloadable games... very cool.

http://pspupdates.qj.net/#

On today's PlayStation Business Briefing 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment has announced an upcoming revolution for the PlayStation Portable. There will be tons of new features to be added to this divine object of glory in the upcoming months. A delay to the PS3 release has also been announced officially.

The users will be able to add new exciting functions, such as the Macromedia Flash Player, and will be expanding the current RSS channel function to support streaming and saving internet radio and videos, by updating the System Software of the PSP (the firmware) to the latest version.

New official accessories will also be released this autumn, such as the PSP camera "PSP-300" and the GPS receiver "PSP-290". The users will be able to experience the motion tracing function of the EyeToy, which was originally available on the PS2 by using the PSP camera. With the help of the GPS receiver, you will be able to make use of navigation software to guide your way all over the world.

Sony will be starting a new e-Distribution system for the PSP. You may start to wonder what it is, huh? Well, simply saying - to buy and download games into your memory stick, and run them directly from it!! Bye-bye, loading times... But wait, that is not all the fun you can get from the new service. There will also be an OFFICIAL PlayStation Emulator by Sony itself (PacManFan, don't cry)! Sony will be distributing modified PlayStation/PlayStation 2 games through this system.

Also, the "Ceramic White" PSP will be sold in a normal pack (PSP, 1 battery, power adapter) from April in Japan, at a price for 19,800 JPY (167.8 USD). North American and European users will be able to buy a "Base Model" pack (PSP, 1 battery, power adapter) of the PSP at $199USD/199 Euro. The actually dates are: Europe from March 22, North American from the end of March.

So much for the PSP side, now here is a bad news for the PS3 fans. Sony has officially announced that the release of the PS3 is postponed from this spring to early November of 2006. However, the release of the PS3 will be global - Asia, North America and Europe will be getting the release in the mean time. Sony will be able to offer 1 million consoles per month after the release, to meet the need of the users around the world.

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » March 15, 2006, 12:06 pm

Blu-Ray is a smokescreen.

Fucking things crash more often than blind drunk-drivers due to the cell chip being so complex even the manufacturers can't put a decent compiler together for it.

Google - it's like links for the lazy. In case anyone wants to find out about my claims

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 15, 2006, 1:01 pm

This is all well covered on the mega thread!

A lot is also covered on an Apple thread that Voro got me sidetracked on!

PS3 is in bad shape atm. Microsoft is doing what they always do and taking over the competition after a generation or two. (it's in progress, don't give me current numbers!)

Go Bill! Microsoft has Vista, Office 12, Xbox 360 and games...looking good for 2006.

Syenye · Post by **Syenye** » March 15, 2006, 2:32 pm

Winnow wrote:Go Bill! Microsoft has Vista, Office 12, Xbox 360 and games...looking good for 2006.

and project origami! it comes in a girly color!

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » March 15, 2006, 3:37 pm

Microsoft is doing what they always do and taking over the competition after a generation or two. (it's in progress, don't give me current numbers!)

When do you want to stop ignoring the current numbers? When the 360 magically starts outselling the ORIGINAL XBOX IN JAPAN? (360 sold half the units the XBOx did on week 1 of their respective releases). They've pinned a lot of hopes on DOA which I'm reliable informed isn't that popular over there anyway. Sure they're doing ok in the US and EU but even the secret official MS dev conferences are admitting the 360 isn't powerful enough to compete in the long term (quote: "Its weak CPU means it will look old in about 18 months time").
Believe me Sony are not sweating this delay in the slightest. They view the Nintendo Revolution as something people buy as well as a PS3 so its' no contest and MS are coming out of the blocks so slowly they could delay the PS3 a year and still kick the markets arse on release day.
The next hardware cycle, not this one, is when MS needs to strike hard and fast cos that's when the opening will present itself.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » March 16, 2006, 4:03 am

Tanc wrote:The next hardware cycle, not this one, is when MS needs to strike hard and fast cos that's when the opening will present itself.

What makes you say that?

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » March 16, 2006, 6:29 am

Sony's brand recognition and loyalty with the man in the street is too strong. Us Gamers might like the 360 and be able to weight the pros and cons but little johnny's mom is happy to use the "perfectly acceptable" PS2 for another year or two before buying the "new playstation".

However I'm seeing the signs in Sony's behaviour that match the hubris that broght Nintendo down. They're getting overconfident of their position and making developers and publishers jump through every more numerous, expensive and irritating hoops to get their games out on the PS platforms. It's fine up to a point but combine that with the cost and complexity of developing for the PS3 and I think a lot of industry people will just say "Aah fuck it" and develop for the cheaper platforms. Like I say the same thing happened when Nintendo started insisting everyone pay up front for 100k SNES ROMs before they would even consider looking at your game - they load up the developers with unnecessary costs and add risk to an all ready stupidly risky part of the industry and the non-EAs of this world simply can't sustain it. The hangover from this crap is what torpedoed the N64 and even though working with them now is frankly great (developing for the Cube is easy in all respects and its a great little machine) they're still paying the price in the home sector.
Sony are looking to do the same way. I've worked on PS1, PS2 and PSP and the hurdles and costs get higher all the time. Breaking point isn't far away especially if the PS3 is gonna turn out to be the dog to develop for that its shaping up to be.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 16, 2006, 10:21 am

vn_Tanc wrote: However I'm seeing the signs in Sony's behaviour that match the hubris that broght Nintendo down. They're getting overconfident of their position and making developers and publishers jump through every more numerous, expensive and irritating hoops to get their games out on the PS platforms. It's fine up to a point but combine that with the cost and complexity of developing for the PS3 and I think a lot of industry people will just say "Aah fuck it" and develop for the cheaper platforms.

That's the best use of the word hubris I've seen in quite some time vn_Tanc. Sony has been dominant but, besides Microsoft, no company is safe from taking a nosedive. IBM? Xerox? They once appeared untouchable as well.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » March 16, 2006, 2:30 pm

Winnow wrote:
vn_Tanc wrote: However I'm seeing the signs in Sony's behaviour that match the hubris that broght Nintendo down. They're getting overconfident of their position and making developers and publishers jump through every more numerous, expensive and irritating hoops to get their games out on the PS platforms. It's fine up to a point but combine that with the cost and complexity of developing for the PS3 and I think a lot of industry people will just say "Aah fuck it" and develop for the cheaper platforms.
That's the best use of the word hubris I've seen in quite some time vn_Tanc. Sony has been dominant but, besides Microsoft, no company is safe from taking a nosedive. IBM? Xerox? They once appeared untouchable as well.

Yeah, "hubris" was my favorite part, too.

Hubris.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » March 16, 2006, 2:32 pm

The ISP I used to work for was called Hubris Communications. The owner's cat was named Hubris, and we were required to pay attention to it whenever it wandered through the office.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 17, 2006, 4:01 pm

Some interesting info on the PS3. Not all bad but vaporware at this point.

PS3 WorldWide Launch in November, 60GB HD and more...

Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi finally gave some official details about the PS3 at the PlayStation Business Briefing 2006 in Japan.

He confirmed that the PlayStation3 is delayed because the copy protection isn't ready with Blu-ray, but we'll get a worldwide launch in North America, Asia and Europe early (atleast for Japan within first 10 days of) November 2006.

They will produce the PS3 at a rate of 1 million units per month and should have 6 million units released by the end of march 2007.

The final PS3 development kits will be shipping to developers in June 2006.

To prevent piracy all PS3 games will come out on Blu-Ray discs only, not on CD/DVD. The console will of course be able to read PS1 CDs, PS2 DVDs and DVD movies.

Sony also announced that the PlayStation 3 will be 100% backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 games, and all titles played on the system will be displayed at high-definition resolutions.

The PS3 will require a, completely upgradeable, hard drive. Publishers have been told to develop titles with the assumption that the console will have a HD. Kutaragi also said the 60GB HD will support Linux OS and will act as a home server where users can store their media on.

The PS3 will include a built-in Wi-Fi connection that can serve as a wireless access point for the PSP.

Sony also unveiled some details of their online plans ('PlayStation Network Platform'). At launch the console will get community tools (lobby matching and voice chat) and commerce features (like in-game shopping and game downloads to the hard drive). The "basic" service will be free of charge.

No new software announcements or pricing details were made, maybe something for the GDC next week?

Syenye · Post by **Syenye** » March 17, 2006, 4:20 pm

i assume we won't be seeing anything solid pricewise until june when the hardware is finalized... hopefully they'll have something worth showing by e3 though.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 17, 2006, 4:28 pm

Even if it does launch in Nov, 2006, which I have my doubts, I wouldn't expect to get one until a few months into 2007. They've yet to account for unexpected manufacturing issues and one million units is nothing for supply.

There will be no PS3 in under your holiday tree this year! ...and you can quote me on that!

archeiron · Post by **archeiron** » March 17, 2006, 4:35 pm

Winnow wrote:Even if it does launch in Nov, 2006, which I have my doubts, I wouldn't expect to get one until a few months into 2007. They've yet to account for unexpected manufacturing issues and one million units is nothing for supply.

There will be no PS3 in under your holiday tree this year! ...and you can quote me on that!

I just did!

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » March 17, 2006, 5:06 pm

Did Winnow actually admit that PS3 didn't look all "that bad"?

Holy crap. If it can make Winn say that I might have to reconsider, and line up at my local shop to pick one up

Gonzoie - Luclin · Post by **Gonzoie - Luclin** » March 17, 2006, 5:14 pm

Since i work at a Game/Video hybrid store, i have found through interviewing customers and co-workers, and myself of course, that the PS3 will dominate the gaming industry over the next few years.

Sony has the smarts to play this right. If the price of the system is between 400-500 dollars, I and everyone i know, will own one. However, this will most likely cause a short term monetary loss for Sony, since the costs of distribution and the system creation are equal to or more than the marketing price in the 400 range. Sony is planning on a long term financial bang with the release of the PS3, and they want to prove that their system will be a dominant system. So, with all this, i have faith that the PS3 will without a doubt own the Xbox360.

They are even launching in Japan first to touch base on the home field. Which is a smart move on their part, however USA will most likely not see it until 6 months after a Japan launch, which should put it the 2nd quarter of 2007. So my guess is we will not be able to purchase a PS3 until April or May of 2007. But, when it comes out, you can bet your ass there will be a shitload of incredible launch titles.

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » March 17, 2006, 5:28 pm

Actually, the press release said worldwide simultaneous release, Nov 2006

*edit*
Just to prove that I'm not talking out of my ass.

Kutaragi told the crowd at the event that the PS3 would now launch in November 2006 worldwide. That dispelled fears that the console would make it to Japan by the fall but would miss the all-important holiday shopping season in the US and Europe. In fact, Kutaragi explicitly told the crowd of game retailers and journalists present that the PS3 would arrive before Thanksgiving in all territories.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145972.html

Another interesting tidbit of other information.

Kutaragi also made it clear that the hard drive will be necessary to play games--Sony is telling developers to make games assuming every PS3 has a hard drive installed. "We view the hard drive to be mandatory for the PS3," he said. "Rather than have developers create games for the PS3 with or without the HDD, we will be asking them to develop games as though all PS3s have the HDD installed."

However, Kutaragi revealed that Sony had not decided whether or not the PlayStation 3 would come with the hard-drive preinstalled. "We might end up installing it in all PS3s, though that depends on the market," he said. This raises the possibility that the PS3 could be sold without a piece of hardware needed to play PS3 games--in effect forcing consumers to buy a peripheral for basic functionality.