Recent Sony PS3 Announcements

[Jaz]

Well Sony had a few announcements this week regarding their PS3 console.

Here is just a brief summary of my reactions to what was said by Sony.

The release of the much awaited PlayStation 3 (PS3) games console has been postponed until November, Japanese electronics group Sony has announced.

Which is a long time, when you consider that the Xbox 360 would of been out almost a year by then. I think Microsoft will get a few extra people jumping the next-gen bandwagon now they've learned about this date slip.

Technical hitches related to the console's Blu-ray disc drive had forced the delay, Sony said.

Hmmm. Not a great start for Blu-Ray. I mean, I wasn't convinced about BR before, and if they're having problems with a medium that they invented themselves, that doesn't bode well.

Sony has said the console will ship with a 60 GB hard drive and will play games created for both the PlayStation 1 and 2 at higher resolutions than the original.

Hard-drive, higher res original titles. Where have we seen this before?

It had originally planned to release its new machine in the spring. But instead it is now talking of a November release in Japan, the US and Europe simultaneously.

So. A worldwide release, huh. Where have we seen this before?

PlayStation Network Platform features:

User registration
Avatar
Login ID
Friends List
Voice and Video Chat
Messaging
Lobby
Matchmaking
Score Ranking
Content download
Data upload-download
Online Shopping
Micro-payment

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but this is exactly the same as Xbox Live. Also correct me if I'm wrong, but Sony previously stated that the reason they wern't going to implement such a service was because they didn't feel it was where the industry was going. So why the change of heart?

In summary, there are a lot of similarities here with the Xbox 360. I don't think Sony anticipated the 360 to do as well as it has up until now, and I think only over the past few months have they actually considered Microsoft to be a real threat.

There are far too many similarities here to be a coincidence.

And just to set the record straight - yes I love my Xbox 360, but I will still be purchasing a PS3 on launch day. Especially if the rumoured $425 price tag ends up being true.

Anyway, discuss away.

Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4807858.stm

http://www.majornelson.com/2006/03/15/ps3-details/

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/10469/PlayStation-Network-Platform-Revealed/

 

[Dysprosium]

Which is a long time, when you consider that the Xbox 360 would of been out almost a year by then. I think Microsoft will get a few extra people jumping the next-gen bandwagon now they've learned about this date slip.

Microsoft, although looked down upon for it's quick start to the next-generation consoles, preformed an act of genius from a business standpoint. Even if the supplies were a bit lack, they're on one hell of a curve compared to Nintendo and Sony.

I wasn't much of a Microsoft fan back before I got an XBox last Feburary, but damn, I'm getting some respect for them. They're really making good decisions as far as I'm concerned.

Hmmm. Not a great start for Blu-Ray. I mean, I wasn't convinced about BR before, and if they're having problems with a medium that they invented themselves, that doesn't bode well.

Blu-Ray doesn't really appeal to me. If anything, I'll simply buy a player which supports both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, since I'd rather not shell out for a Ps3. Even then, I'd only be getting half of the support. ;P

So. A worldwide release, huh. Where have we seen this before?

As much as I'd rather not say any fanboy-esque comments, perhaps Sony can get it right unlike Microsoft. Although they did a decent job, it was horrid for America and Europe; there are still 360s in the stores in this province, 'though.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but this is exactly the same as Xbox Live. Also correct me if I'm wrong, but Sony previously stated that the reason they wern't going to implement such a service was because they didn't feel it was where the industry was going. So why the change of heart?

Sony probably didn't expect both Microsoft and Nintendo to jump ship on the downloadable content. Although I can't see as much coming from Sony's, as those downloads would be a monster on ISPs. I only have a 10GB a month limit, and Ps2 games can get fairly large.

How large are the XBox 360 downloads?

And just to set the record straight - yes I love my Xbox 360, but I will still be purchasing a PS3 on launch day. Especially if the rumoured $425 price tag ends up being true.

$425? Isn't Sony already losing a bundle in every PSP it ships? They'll need one hell of a software base to keep them in the green in terms of their gaming division if they go ahead with that price.

Unless the hardware is cheaper than it's looked upon as.

 

[Doomulation]

Blu-Ray doesn't really appeal to me. If anything, I'll simply buy a player which supports both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, since I'd rather not shell out for a Ps3. Even then, I'd only be getting half of the support. ;P

And what has slowed the release of Blu-ray down, you ask, these "technical difficulties"? Simple. DRM.

As much as I'd rather not say any fanboy-esque comments, perhaps Sony can get it right unlike Microsoft. Although they did a decent job, it was horrid for America and Europe; there are still 360s in the stores in this province, 'though.

Now THAT I doubt. The ps2 launch was a fiasco AFAIK, and the xbox 360 launch was a fiasco, what says the ps3 will not be?

Sony probably didn't expect both Microsoft and Nintendo to jump ship on the downloadable content. Although I can't see as much coming from Sony's, as those downloads would be a monster on ISPs. I only have a 10GB a month limit, and Ps2 games can get fairly large.

How large are the XBox 360 downloads?

I think they didn't want to spend money on online play themselves, because they'll probably lose loads on the actual console itself, expensive as it is (especially because of BR).

 

[WhiteX]

From the Magic Box

PlayStation 3 will have a built-in 60GB 2.5" hard drive, which will be preloaded with Linux operating system. The hard drive can be used as a home server, it will be fully upgradable. Kutaragi told software developers that every PS3 will have a hard drive installed, as it is mandatory. Sony has not decided whether the hard drive will be sold as a separate (mandatory) peripheral or bundled with the console.

If it gets to be a mandatory separate purchase, Sony can kiss this gen goodbye.

Sony announced that the final PS3 development kits will be shipping out to production studios in June; currently more than 15 companies are development middleware and dev-tools for PS3.

For a November release, expect crappy games on launch, or ps2 games ported to ps3.

SCE president Ken Kutagari announced that the PlayStation 3 launch will be delayed to November 2006, due to Blu-Ray spec finalization, mainly for copyright protection. The PS3 will launch in November 2006 worldwide, before Thanksgiving in all territories. Sony plans to produce at least one million units of PS3 each month, and the goal is to ship 6 million units worldwide by the end of March 2007.

DRM, DRM, DRM!

 

[Doomulation]

Oh yes, all games will be produced on bluray discs "to prevent piracy." This means that the games will rise in price because not only is the bluray a new format, but it is also different from both HD and DVD. It is built on new technology, and requires a new laser, yada yada yada, and therefore it is much more expensive to produce. Not to mention the DRM of course...
Yay!

 

[WhiteX]

now that...

According Yahoo News, Sony has confirmed that 60 GB hard drive will be included with every PS3:

We recently spoke with a Sony representative concerning the PS3's hard drive. At that time, the Sony representative's response was "it is our intention to have the HDD installed but we will look at territory conditions before launch."

It seems that situation may have changed. The UK branch of Yahoo News is reporting that a Sony contact "confirmed this morning that PlayStation 3 will come with a 60GB HDD as standard," and that the hard drive can be upgraded. To leave no room for misunderstanding, the Yahoo article refers to the fact that that US websites were describing the hard drive as "optional," but that Yahoo News "can confirm this morning that all PS3 consoles will be sold with the HDD out of the box."

We will confirm this information with our Sony representatives; it's possible it's a case of trans-Atlantic miscommunication. But if this information is true, and every PS3 is shipped with a 60 GB hard drive, it will be interesting to see how this development will impact the final price of the PS3.

Oh! And don´t get me wrong, I hate M$, but hard to see, the future has become.