PlayStation 3

[g-smooth2k]

May 8, 2006
PLAYSTATION®3 LAUNCHES ON NOVEMBER 17, 2006 IN NORTH AMERICA
Equipped with Blu-ray and Pre-Installed HDD
United States: US $499 (20GB HDD) and US $599 (60GB HDD)
Canada: CAN $549 (20GB HDD) and CAN $659 (60GB HDD)
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509c.pdf

PLAYSTATION®3 LAUNCHESON NOVEMBER 11, 2006 IN JAPAN
Equipped with Blu-ray and Pre-Installed HDD
Available at JPY59,800 (20GB HDD) and Open Price (60GB HDD)
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/rele...f/060509ae.pdf

PLAYSTATION®3 LAUNCHESON NOVEMBER 17, 2006 ACROSS MAINLAND EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA
Equipped with Blu-ray and Pre-Installed HDD
Available at €499 (20GB HDD) and €599 (60GB HDD)
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509d.pdf

Sony to definitely launch the PS3 this year, says company official

source: DigiTimes

Sony will definitely launch its new PlayStation 3 (PS3) game console this year, though the company still has not decided on a launch date nor pricing for the console, said Tetsuhiko Yasuda, managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment Asia, on February 16 at the Taipei Game Show.

While stressing that the earlier launch of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 did not add pressure on Sony, Yasuda told reporters that the company wants to be completely prepared when it begins marketing the PS3.

Accumulated global shipments for the PS3 are expected to exceed 100 million units, a record that was set by Sony’s earlier games consoles, the PS and PS2, despite the fact that the PS3 will be priced higher than the PS2, Yasuda said.

To the disappointment of attendees at the show, Sony only displayed three mock-up versions of the PS3 and demonstrated some functions of the new console through a video. This raised doubts if Sony can really bring the PS3 to the market in the spring of this year as expected, according to market sources.

The PS3 will lag the Xbox 360 more in market share if Sony delays launch of the PS3 to the end of 2006, the sources said, noting that Microsoft predicted global shipments of its Xbox 360 will reach 4.5-5.5 million units by the end of June.

Yasuda also told reporters that Sony is expected to follow its previous experience in the production of the PS and PS2 by outsourcing production of the PS3 to contract makers a few months after its launch, according to a February report in the Chinese-language Commercial Times.

Taiwan makers are expected to benefit from Sony’s outsourcing policy and win orders for the PS3 in 2007 since local makers have been producing the PS2 and PSP (PlayStation Portable) for the Japanese vendor, the paper said.



Sony PS3 Spring Launch for Japan?

source: PS3.net

Could the Sony PS3 launch be slated for Spring in Japan? A few days ago, GameSHOUT spoke with Sony and they stand firm on Spring 2006 for the Sony PlayStation 3. Now, there are some conflicts if this is true.

While Sony says Spring 2006, Sony also mentions that the Sony PS3 will be unveiled at the annual video game conference E3 in Los Angeles. Well, E3 doesn't happen until later Spring, in the month of May.

Just yesterday at CES, Sony said that they will have a Blu-ray disc player in "Summer 2006". But, if the Sony PlayStation 3 already has Blu-ray, we can only guess that the new one will have nothing to do with the PS3.

We also learned that Sony just released the PlayStation 3 development kits. If this is true, meaning, that no game company had the PS3 development kits until now, can game companies port their games within 4 1/2 months?

The launch itself is a mystery. We've heard everything from "Japan and North America will share the same launch" to, "Japan launches first, then North America, then Europe." Now we hear nothing. Sony will nolonger confirm what regions will receive the PlayStation 3, or if any regions will share.

And that's not all. As of yesterday, Sony will nolonger confirm a launch date. However, Microsoft was very late launching the Xbox 360, and didn't announce one until the last minute. Maybe Sony just wants to remain hush-hush because of the competition, and perhaps, they are doing the same thing by waiting until the last minute to announce the "Sony PlayStation 3".

[g-smooth2k]

Source: PS3 Portal

Rest assured everyone because despite what the Merrill Lynch reports says, Sony backs up their word by saying that the PlayStation 3 is still on target for a Spring 2006 launch in Japan. A PR Rep from Sony had this comment to say "We cannot comment on analyst reports. At the present, we're aiming for a Spring 2006 launch, just as planned." A SCE PR agent also adds "If we cannot finalize the specifications, we cannot release the PS3," also "We're currently waiting until the last minute for the specifications to be finalized." When he was asked what would Sony do if they did decide to delay the PS3 due to specifications finalizations he had this to say "We'd end up selecting the best time and releasing it. However, we cannot comment yet."

So the Merrill Lynch reports did prove to be false and Sony at this time has no plans of delaying the PlayStation 3. Currently the PS3 is still on target to be released in Japan in Spring of this year.

Taipei Games Show dissapoints

source: PS3 Portal

The Taipei Games Show was rumored to be filled with all sorts of new PlayStation 3 information. When the twenty booths Sony exclusively dedicated to the console showed only older tech demos, fans were greeted with a familiar sense of dissapointment, similar to events such as CES 2006 and TGS 2005, both of which yielded little or no information that was highly anticipated by fan and web site alike.

The question has rapidly become how long can Sony pull off their high risk game of "cat and mouse" before they begin to feel negative consequences. The company has recently been hit with a barrage of setbacks including sliding stock prices, growing support for Microsoft's 360, and constant rumors questioning Sony's assertion of a spring launch.

Needless to say, Sony has done a good job of keeping quiet, even if it is hurting them in the short term. Numerous events are still scheduled to come, but E3 now seems to be a much more reasonable date for a release of information should Sony fail to meet a spring launch.

[boogiedan]

nice post
i actually think it will be released Xmas06

by then MS will have taken more off the market

[CrashPeer44]

I am never buying a Sony Product ever since the entire Rootkit Fiasco.
I loved my PS1 and enjoyed my PS2 but I hbave a feeling this thing will be DRM forced update hell.
Sorta like the PSP!

[kyle_ali11]

didn't you hear it is coming out nov 2006 world wide it is offical

[Signa]

I am never buying a Sony Product ever since the entire Rootkit Fiasco.
I loved my PS1 and enjoyed my PS2 but I hbave a feeling this thing will be DRM forced update hell.
Sorta like the PSP!

i totally agree, but ultimately there are going to be some irristible games on the PS3 and im going to have to break down ang get it when that happens.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I call bullshit.

While stressing that the earlier launch of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 did not add pressure on Sony

Thats big time bullshit, of course it adds pressure. Anytime you are losing market shares and the competition has such a huge jump, its pressure. Since the games Ive seen are scheduled for a 2007 release, I'm betting the console won't launch without games unless Sony is nuts. Plus its well known of the hardware troubles they are having. If people thought the 360 had a few bugs at launch then wait and see what happens if Sony rushes this piece of hardware to market. It won't be pretty as they are well known for releasing pieces of shit at launch. Sony is clearly trying to stall gamers from buying a 360 because they are concerned. MS will be the next leader in the home console market. Bam

[meyou123]

I call bullshit.



Thats big time bullshit, of course it adds pressure. Anytime you are losing market shares and the competition has such a huge jump, its pressure. Since the games Ive seen are scheduled for a 2007 release, I'm betting the console won't launch without games unless Sony is nuts. Plus its well known of the hardware troubles they are having. If people thought the 360 had a few bugs at launch then wait and see what happens if Sony rushes this piece of hardware to market. It won't be pretty as they are well known for releasing pieces of shit at launch. Sony is clearly trying to stall gamers from buying a 360 because they are concerned. MS will be the next leader in the home console market. Bam

Well if they keep on jacking up the price...that could kill it as well. I don't mind paying $300.00 or $400.00 for a new gamming system, but there is no way in HELL I would pay $800.00 for a console! It is just not worth it to me. I would rather wait and buy a used one....even IF it has all the bells and whistles it has!

Bells and whistles do not mean much if you have overheating problems with the processors and have to return it...or if you have blue ray problems and it cannot read the disk correctly and you have to return it. Plus it will be DRM'ed so bad that modding will be difficult. So I would much rather wait a few months and let everything be worked out as far as bugs and then get it at a reasonable price.

[Jim Morrison]

Well, as long as Sony as its Exclusive titles its gonna sell. I'm more worried about them only having 1 million for launch. I think that may hurt Sony the most, because people are gonna go to the store and ask for ps3, then they are gonna be told that there not gonna be able to get one for months, They will just buy the 360.

[Excrement_Cranium]

Huge technology jumps have only translated into moderate, if any, success for console gaming in the past. Even bundled with functions other than gaming, high technology coupled with a high price just doesn't work as a mass consumer selling point.

Cases in point:

The Neo Geo

Real 3DO

The Atari Jaguar

and recently, the Sony PS-X.

Another honorable mention would be the Panasonic Gamecube which was adapted to play DVD movies, as well as Gamecube games.

We all want to have the "top of the line" shit, but families living on a 2 McDonald's working parent budget, it isn't feasable to crack down $500 every three years for the new shit.

[shawners]

I call bullshit.



Thats big time bullshit, of course it adds pressure. Anytime you are losing market shares and the competition has such a huge jump, its pressure. Since the games Ive seen are scheduled for a 2007 release, I'm betting the console won't launch without games unless Sony is nuts. Plus its well known of the hardware troubles they are having. If people thought the 360 had a few bugs at launch then wait and see what happens if Sony rushes this piece of hardware to market. It won't be pretty as they are well known for releasing pieces of shit at launch. Sony is clearly trying to stall gamers from buying a 360 because they are concerned. MS will be the next leader in the home console market. Bam

Actually, not having a high demand on XBOX 360, and running out.. It is stopping people from buying it where they can buy games, get 3rd party controllers, xbox live, hardware accessories. So if the xbox 360 could met more demands or do it monthly and ease it out to the masses of people. It be more pressure.. But also xbox 360 came with OVER Heating problems, playback problems. In which more people will wait til a new version of the console comes out, by then. PS3 may be headed out. And the fanboy theory hasnt even stated. PS3 will sale so high in japan and the UK, and since america loves japanese innovation. You got a shit load of people in the USA that is just waiting for it, and playing their PSP til it comes out.

[Ultima-X97]

PS3 will be a sucess, but ranging from 500-900$ some of us are a little sceptical about it. Xbox 360 currently has the gaming market but PS3 is to be said to be 3x as powerful as Xbox 360, including alot of incredible features such as the Blu-Ray system.

[pimpinaman]

I for one want to see what all the cell processor hype is about up close and personal...

[mountain_rage]

developers have been put on record saying that the ps3 games look identical to xbox 360 games, microsoft is also releasing a hd-dvd version or drive for the xbox 360

[Mels_Smileys45]

I was doing some reading on the PS3 when I came across some info I had not really thought much about. Game developers are saying that games that take advantage of the Blu Ray Discs will pay double what games currently cost! Thats just getting out of hand. If true this will be one of the worst moves in video game history.

The costs of increasingly sophisticated consoles and games will partly be passed on to customers. UK pricing for the PlayStation 3 console is expected to start at £341, significantly more than Microsoft's new Xbox 360, which is on the market at £279. And gamers can also expect to pay double the price for games titles compared with previous consoles.