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Sony May Delay PlayStation 3
Debut may be postponed past Spring if specs aren’t finalized.
February 20, 2006
Sony may postpone the debut of its PlayStation 3 console past the planned spring launch time frame, according to reports Monday.

The Japanese entertainment giant is waiting for industry specifications to be finalized for the PS3 video game console, according to Reuters. The Tokyo-based company wants the completed specs for the Blu-ray high-definition DVD drive as well as for input/output video and sound.

Because the specs need to be approved by industry consortiums, Sony needs to wait until those are completed, although the company is already a driving force in setting Blu-ray standards (see Microsoft, Sony Join DVD Fray).

The PS3 will be one of the first devices to include Blu-ray technology, if it gets out of the gate on time. Sony’s backing of Blu-ray is at odds with Toshiba’s support for the rival high-definition DVD format, HD-DVD (see Hi-Def DVD Formats Duel at CES).

Sony has been vague about the exact timing of its PlayStation 3 launch, which could happen anytime between April and June to fit into the spring time frame. The company also has not set an exact release schedule for which parts of the world will receive shipments of the PS3 at which times.

That’s in contrast to Microsoft, which set launch periods and regions for its Xbox 360 game console last year and has had trouble meeting demand since the unit went on sale (see Xbox 360 Winter Release Set and Xbox Shortage Dogs Microsoft).

Up to a Year’s Wait
Merrill Lynch speculated in a research note last week that the debut of the PS3 could be postponed as much as six to 12 months, with an autumn launch in Japan and a late 2006 or early 2007 launch in the United States, and that the cost to manufacture the game console might be as high as $900 apiece.

Analysts Hitoshi Kurayama, Joe Osha, and others at Merrill believe the Blu-ray drive and the Sony Cell processor will drive up the initial production costs of the console, although they believe it will drop to about $320 three years from the launch date.

“We wrote last November that Sony’s design choices for the PS3 had resulted in an expensive and difficult-to-manufacture product, and we think that we’re seeing the consequences of those choices play out now,” they said.

They also believe the impact would be felt in the gaming software industry, resulting in lower industry revenues and the extension of the gaming cycle for another year.

With Microsoft selling its Xbox 360 console for about $400 apiece, Sony will likely be forced to heavily subsidize the production costs of its PS3 console so as not to lose too much market share to Microsoft once the PS3 is ready.

In the interim, Microsoft will be able to benefit from the PS3 delay, as long as it can solve its own Xbox 360 supply problems.

Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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jwinslow said:
I'll believe a date when I see PS3 hold a news conference... until then a project like this will err on the side of longer rather than shorter.
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:wink:
 
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I have little doubt that the Xbox 360 will trash the PS 3 in the United States and Europe. PS3 should win Japan pretty easily though, unless Nintendo's new system can live up to its hype.

I'd expect the PS3 to be released in Japan at the Very end of the summer and in the United States they'll be doing everything they can to get it out before X-Mas, but it'll be very rushed if it makes it out before then. If it doesn't though that'll be 2 straight X-mas's that the 360 is uncontested.

Also PS3 will cost 599 TOPS. It could cost 900 to make, although Sony has it through thier own production which cuts down on cost a lot, although if they screw up (like PS2's first batch with the Thompson drive) they'll have to bite the cost themselves. But yea, I predict that it'll cost them $720 dollars to make assuming it goes smoothly and is sold for $499 with a hard drive availible for an extra $100.

If Blu-Ray fails, I really think that Sony is dead as a company... Blu-Ray has a lot going for it, but it's not a for-sure thing. It'd be weird for me to see something that I always viewed as a 'top product' to go bankrupt.
 
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BuckWrestler141 said:
I have little doubt that the Xbox 360 will trash the PS 3 in the United States and Europe. PS3 should win Japan pretty easily though, unless Nintendo's new system can live up to its hype.

I'd expect the PS3 to be released in Japan at the Very end of the summer and in the United States they'll be doing everything they can to get it out before X-Mas, but it'll be very rushed if it makes it out before then. If it doesn't though that'll be 2 straight X-mas's that the 360 is uncontested.

Also PS3 will cost 599 TOPS. It could cost 900 to make, although Sony has it through thier own production which cuts down on cost a lot, although if they screw up (like PS2's first batch with the Thompson drive) they'll have to bite the cost themselves. But yea, I predict that it'll cost them $720 dollars to make assuming it goes smoothly and is sold for $499 with a hard drive availible for an extra $100.

If Blu-Ray fails, I really think that Sony is dead as a company... Blu-Ray has a lot going for it, but it's not a for-sure thing. It'd be weird for me to see something that I always viewed as a 'top product' to go bankrupt.
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The PS3 will be well worth the wait so long as Blu-Ray comes through.. and if they fail, thats the 360's only chance in the long run, IMO. By the time technology of the next generations consoles (XBOX 7686869 and PS4) it will be about 6 years down the road. Game designers wont be able to handle all the new technology the PS3 will offer and XBOX will do well, in about 3 years 360 will be outdated as the PS3's technology will be just getting tapped into. XBOX was made for christmas 05. PS3 is being designed to kick some serious ass, by all accounts i've read. Also I've heard the HD might not cost anything extra and could be upwards of 50-80 gigs.

ps3.ign.com
 
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barlow1802 said:
Game designers wont be able to handle all the new technology the PS3 will offer...
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Hmm? Game designerse handle the technology in computers just fine that evolves rapidly... unlike consoles which stay the same for years and allow developers to tweak more performance out of a set system.
...and XBOX will do well, in about 3 years 360 will be outdated as the PS3's technology will be just getting tapped into.
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PS2 just recently stopped dominating the market despite being grossly outmatched in performance (I still don't know how you guys did recruiting on a ps2).
 
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jwinslow said:
(I still don't know how you guys did recruiting on a ps2).
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LOL Amazing the difference between Xbox and PS2 when it comes to pure gaming power, but on to the topic at hand.

Never believe the hype when it comes to next gen consoles now that they are getting close to as good as it gets. I mean how much better can the graphics get? Making a game look like your're watching a movie must be the ultimate goal and they're getting damn close. You're never going to see that huge leap you saw between PS1 and PS2, but you can get better game play and better games.

Sony is good about delaying. They delayed the PS2 what, almost 2 years from it's preliminary launch date. Don't hold your breath on a fall release. I know I'm not.
 
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A few things I’ve read from various sources about PS3 (Disclaimer: Sony is very tight-lipped about releasing news on PS3 so none of this is official):
<O:p</O:p
- The US release date will most likely be Fall/Xmas 2006.
- PS3 is expected to be priced from $500 to $600 (supposedly they cost $900 to make).
- Sony is taking a huge gamble with Blu-Ray (HD-DVD is the other technology which is supported by Toshiba, NEC and Microsoft). If it fails with consumers Sony will take a huge financial hit. We’re in for another BetaMax/VHS war.
<O:p</O:p
I currently own an Xbox 360 and am having a lot of fun with it. I think developers are still learning how to get the most out of the machine and there should be some incredible games coming out later this year. But if the PS3 ends up being a vastly superior machine I wouldn’t hesitate to dump my 360 for a PS3. :biggrin:
 
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jwinslow said:
(I still don't know how you guys did recruiting on a ps2).
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recruiting sucked ass.
jwinslow said:
Game designerse handle the technology in computers just fine that evolves rapidly...
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Computers dont use Blu Ray's. XBOX 360 is using HD-DVD's and Computers are starting to tap into that as well, however 360 and PS3 both have equal if not better graphics if you use a HDTV. Back to the Blu Rays. They arnt going to fail first of all because Sony, MGM, and Disney are backing their production 100%. EA signed with them as well. The HD-DVD's use 15 gigs single and 30 gigs dual layered where as the Blu Rays will use 25 and 50 gigs. I have yet to see a computer game thats 50 Gigs. Imagine not only the graphics, but the AI, Features, Game Play, etc. However, graphics do trump all, and the 360 is using 480i support for HD. The PS3 is using 1080i...I cannot wait. 480i is soon to be outdated technology whereas 1080i is going to be coming into its own here in the next 2 years.

All this talk about Blu Rays made me forget about PS3's far superior raw processing power with IBM's new "Cell" Technology which the 360 is again without. I'll sacrifice some time on the release for a kick ass console.

Ps. PS3 is still saying late spring/early summer 06.
 
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sorry, but you can't compare future technology to what PCs are using now. That just isn't a fair or logical comparison. The PS3 potential sounds incredible, but until it is realized and actually hits the shelves, it is merely potential. I have a hard time imagining that 50 gigs will absolutely blow 30 gigs out of the water.

The PS3 does sound more impressive than the xbox. How long it takes to come out, how prohibitively expensive it is (especially when coupled with what TV you need to fully realize its potential), and how mainstream the xbox360 is by then are all major elements.

BTW, Bluetooth was a stone-cold lock to be the new wave of the future. It was supported by almost everyone and it is only now beginning to catch on. Blu Ray may catch on, or it may crash and burn. M$ is not exactly lightweight competition.
 
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I see where your coming from now, and yes the potential sounds amazing. I hope you reconsider that 50 gigs over the 30 gigs stance though. Thats almost an entirely second 360 game on the same dvd. 20 gigs is alot of spare space to be playing around with in terms of writing code. Almost another dual layered HD-DVD disc.
 
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Twice as much ram (which maybe it has, I don't know the specs) would make a big difference. I just see a larger disc as having more levels, more details, but not necessarily more stuff at any given moment.

It's a battle between two evils: Sony and M$. I hate M$ with a passion, but with Sony and the way they have shoved their stuff down consumers' throats, they aren't much better. Factor in the DRM fiasco* and it's a battle between two questionable companies.

* - first they prevented duplicating their cds without installing moderating software on your computer. The bands under their label had no choice in the matter, and so some provided info on their website for how to circumvent the protection. Then sony went off the deep end. On one of those circumvention links on the band pages, they edited it and redirected users to a site which automatically installed the moderating software on their computer without asking. They are currently being sued bigtime for that stunt.
 
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I heard that Sony fired one of their developers because he put in a blog that the 360 is better than the PS3 will be and part of the delay is because they can't figure out why that is happening. I would have to think the 360 will have an easier time selling if it is $400 and the PS3 is $500-$600.
 
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