More Delay Talk 2/27

[dukmahsik]

Sony Admits PS3 Delay 'Possible'

Sony has told the media that the launch of the console will be delayed due to difficulties in finalizing the Blu-ray drive's specs. An unnamed spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan admitted that PlayStation 3 launch could be delayed.

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2352&Itemid=2

 

[Titanio]

It looks like a rehashing of reports to date. The only thing new to me in that is the Famitsu prez comments.

 

[nintenho]

Sony Admits PS3 Delay 'Possible'

Sony has told the media that the launch of the console will be delayed due to difficulties in finalizing the Blu-ray drive's specs. An unnamed spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan admitted that PlayStation 3 launch could be delayed.

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2352&Itemid=2

Is there any benefit at all in releasing a system in the spring? I mean, usually game releases slow down around the summer because people go outside and to the movies more. Also, any extra time would be good for launch games since the ps3 is probably the most complex to code for next-gen system.

 

[dukmahsik]

Is there any benefit at all in releasing a system in the spring? I mean, usually game releases slow down around the summer because people go outside and to the movies more. Also, any extra time would be good for launch games since the ps3 is probably the most complex to code for next-gen system.

I guess launching the system sooner would slow 360's advance in the market, depends on the maturity of the games though. MS showed games well over 5 months before releasing the system and even then most games barely took advantage of the hardware. ps3 will do well in japan even without mature sw though.

 

[nintenho]

I guess launching the system sooner would slow 360's advance in the market, depends on the maturity of the games though. MS showed games well over 5 months before releasing the system and even then most games barely took advantage of the hardware. ps3 will do well in japan even without mature sw though.

....and how many launch games used more than one core? What I'm getting at is that the biggest problem with the ps3 is the comfort factor to the consumer.

I mean, just look at the controller...

 

[pipo]

I guess launching the system sooner would slow 360's advance in the market, depends on the maturity of the games though.

It will slow down anyway. Well, obviously not in Japan at this time...

I think the main reason they haven't announced anything is because they simply dont know when they're going to ship.

Sony probably don't want to break their spring date, because they've made a big deal of it, so they're pushing it as long as they can I guess.

/IMHO

 

[dodo3]

Feb 27, 2006 - Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Targets May Launch

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced that they are targeting May 23 to deliver the first wave of Blu-ray Disc (BD) titles at retail. Delivery will coincide with the launch that day of the first commercially available BD player from Samsung, which will be followed shortly by BD players from Pioneer and Sony along with a BD compatible VAIO PC from Sony. The first Blu-ray Disc titles from SPHE and MGM will include: 50 First Dates, The Fifth Element, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight's Tale, The Last Waltz, Resident Evil Apocalypse and xXx. BD titles streeting June 13 include: Kung Fu Hustle, Legends of the Fall, Robocop, Stealth, Species, SWAT and Terminator. Underworld Evolution will debut in early Summer day-and-date with the DVD.

Read more: Sony Pictures
Feb 27, 2006 - Lionsgate Announces Titles for Blu-ray Launch

Lionsgate, the leading independent filmed entertainment company, today announced plans to release 10 titles on the next-generation high-definition Blu-ray Disc (BD) to coincide with the arrival of the first commercially offered BD players in stores. The first wave, available at retail on May 23, will include Crash and Lord of War, priced at a $39.99 SRP, and The Punisher, Saw and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, marked at a $29.99 SRP. The second wave with five additional titles will follow shortly thereafter with a June/July date still to be determined. These BD titles include Reservoir Dogs, Total Recall, Stargate and Frank Herbert's Dune priced at $29.99, while The Devil's Rejects will be available at a $39.99 SRP.

Read more: Lionsgate

If I'm not mistaken then May is spring and they wouldn't release BD movies without there being BD players on the market to actually show them. Another thing is that May fits wery well whith nVidia's comment about not earning RSX royalties this fiscal year which stops in April( you know, the month before May) and let's not forget that the BD group has already claimed the PS3 to be the first mass produced BD player on the market.

 

[pipo]

If I'm not mistaken then May is spring and they wouldn't release BD movies without there being BD players on the market to actually show them.

That's what it says...

Delivery will coincide with the launch that day of the first commercially available BD player from Samsung, which will be followed shortly by BD players from Pioneer and Sony along with a BD compatible VAIO PC from Sony.

 

[Guden Oden]

What I'm getting at is that the biggest problem with the ps3 is the comfort factor to the consumer.

I mean, just look at the controller...

Um, biggest problem?

LOOK at the controller?

So without even touching it, you've decided that the controller is not only a 'comfort factor' problem, but actually the BIGGEST problem? That's pretty silly, come back with your concerns once you've had some actual hands-on experience with the final controller.

 

[hey69]

he probably didnt see yet the nintendo magic stick

 

[Griffith]

he probably didnt see yet the nintendo magic stick

I wonder if controller is one cause of delay (after blu ray and devs tools), maybe sony is cloning the nintendo solution

free controller + cam on the ps3, sounds good

 

[ROG27]

Um, biggest problem?

LOOK at the controller?

So without even touching it, you've decided that the controller is not only a 'comfort factor' problem, but actually the BIGGEST problem? That's pretty silly, come back with your concerns once you've had some actual hands-on experience with the final controller.

Well, he is a, ahem, Ninten-HO.

I agree with you, though. While, at first, the controller doesn't seem to be the most aesthetically pleasing, there must have been a reason for its development...I assume it will be as comfortable or more comfortable than anything presently out there.

 

[expletive]

It will slow down anyway. Well, obviously not in Japan at this time...

I think the main reason they haven't announced anything is because they simply dont know when they're going to ship.

Sony probably don't want to break their spring date, because they've made a big deal of it, so they're pushing it as long as they can I guess.

/IMHO

They dont want to break the Spring date publicly until they have to because the perceived proximity of the PS3 release may impact 360 sales one way or the other. (ATM its not because there still isnt supply of 360s anyway) However, once supply catches up with demand i think the imminence, or lack of, could impact on whether or not the fence-sitters buy a 360 or not.

 

[Joe DeFuria]

They dont want to break the Spring date publicly until they have to because the perceived proximity of the PS3 release may impact 360 sales one way or the other.

Exactly...it's called "string the consumers along". As long as consumers believe it's coming "soon", that's all Sony needs to do. Sony will wait until it's basically obvious to everyone that they will miss "spring", and then announce that it will be "early summer". Basically, they will try to convince everyone that it is "a month or two away" for as long as they can.

That will work as long as PS3 is not delayed for too long. "Too long" is a subjective length of time where people just stop believing them.

Here's my prediction: At E3, Sony will announce "Summer launch" For Japan. At which point, all the fans will assert that Sony means "early summer" (only a couple months away)...and then when early summer passes, all the fans will say "Sony didn't say early summer...only a month or two away now...

 

[Tap In]

Exactly...it's called "string the consumers along". As long as consumers believe it's coming "soon", that's all Sony needs to do. Sony will wait until it's basically obvious to everyone that they will miss "spring", and then announce that it will be "early summer". Basically, they will try to convince everyone that it is "a month or two away" for as long as they can.

That will work as long as PS3 is not delayed for too long. "Too long" is a subjective length of time where people just stop believing them.

Here's my prediction: At E3, Sony will announce "Summer launch" For Japan. At which point, all the fans will assert that Sony means "early summer" (only a couple months away)...and then when early summer passes, all the fans will say "Sony didn't say early summer...only a month or two away now...

which I believed was obvious from day 1 when they announced Spring 06.

It was pretty obvious that they did not want this gen to start so soon (PS2 is a cash cow) and MS caught them a little flat footed. They are going to need more time and they knew it all along. They just need to suspend the possible X360 purchases based on "anytime now". Just as with the Dreamcast/PS2 launch.

 

[expletive]

Exactly...it's called "string the consumers along". As long as consumers believe it's coming "soon", that's all Sony needs to do. Sony will wait until it's basically obvious to everyone that they will miss "spring", and then announce that it will be "early summer". Basically, they will try to convince everyone that it is "a month or two away" for as long as they can.

That will work as long as PS3 is not delayed for too long. "Too long" is a subjective length of time where people just stop believing them.

Here's my prediction: At E3, Sony will announce "Summer launch" For Japan. At which point, all the fans will assert that Sony means "early summer" (only a couple months away)...and then when early summer passes, all the fans will say "Sony didn't say early summer...only a month or two away now...

And it probably will work for its targeted userbase. The only thing MS can do is release compelling software before then. I know people who are buying 360s for oblivion, GRAW, FN3, etc. It will be interesting to see if MS can keep their 'rolling thunder' of announcements and game releases consistent enough to drive demand throughout all of Sony's posturing. 10-12 million by 2007 is a LOT of machines.

 

[Carl B]

Exactly...it's called "string the consumers along". As long as consumers believe it's coming "soon", that's all Sony needs to do. Sony will wait until it's basically obvious to everyone that they will miss "spring", and then announce that it will be "early summer". Basically, they will try to convince everyone that it is "a month or two away" for as long as they can.

That will work as long as PS3 is not delayed for too long. "Too long" is a subjective length of time where people just stop believing them.

Here's my prediction: At E3, Sony will announce "Summer launch" For Japan. At which point, all the fans will assert that Sony means "early summer" (only a couple months away)...and then when early summer passes, all the fans will say "Sony didn't say early summer...only a month or two away now...

Joe I think you've got a morbid fixation with Sony's toolbox of deception.

Anyway I don't have strong feeling on it either way, but I'm still willing to give them the benefit of the doubt with 'Spring.' I recently read a good analogy to the pre-PSP launch period and indeed if things played out similarly, well we're in no red zone as yet. BUT, granted if things are stopped up on the Blu-ray/standards side of things, there's really not going to be anything Sony can do about that.

I'd agree with the rest of what you say as well - the instinctive 'defense' reactions on the parts of Sony fans, and the 'rolling' release date Sony may keep - except that in the larger scheme of things, the populace that represents that Internet hardcore is a small percentage of the overall, so it's doubtful whether this is an active goal of Sony's. But, I readily grant that intended or not, that's the effect on many.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Anyway I don't have strong feeling on it either way, but I'm still willing to give them the benefit of the doubt with 'Spring.' I recently read a good analogy to the pre-PSP launch period and indeed if things played out similarly, well we're in no red zone as yet. BUT, granted if things are stopped up on the Blu-ray/standards side of things, there's really not going to be anything Sony can do about that.

Are the standards really all that's holding PS3 back?

We were told to expect a February 'event' for PS3. Rumours that it was cancelled were even officially rebuked a couple of times. Now unless something happens in the next 12-18 hours depending on where in the world you live, there's no way PS3 is showing a little leg before the end of February. If it's only standards holding up PS3, why not go ahead with this showcase? Lack of AACS and BRD playback isn't going to stop some playable demos.

 

[Tap In]

Joe I think you've got a morbid fixation with Sony's toolbox of deception.

Anyway I don't have strong feeling on it either way, but I'm still willing to give them the benefit of the doubt with 'Spring.' I recently read a good analogy to the pre-PSP launch period and indeed if things played out similarly, well we're in no red zone as yet. BUT, granted if things are stopped up on the Blu-ray/standards side of things, there's really not going to be anything Sony can do about that.

I'd agree with the rest of what you say as well - the instinctive 'defense' reactions on the parts of Sony fans, and the 'rolling' release date Sony may keep - except that in the larger scheme of things, the populace that represents that Internet hardcore is a small percentage of the overall, so it's doubtful whether this is an active goal of Sony's. But, I readily grant that intended or not, that's the effect on many.

as usual XB you can see both sides of an issue. :smile:

I doubt that what they are doing is beyond what any company would need to do in their situation.

that is... try like hell to release ASAP to not allow MS to get a foothold but seeing as they were not quite expecting to start so soon, it may take longer than hoped. So while keeping people "on the hook" for an impending release sounds deceptive, it's what they MUST do as a company. They have no choice. If they find a way to make it happen before Summer, then more power to them. I think it's in their best interest to appear to have an impending release but to not actually release until they absolutely are ready on all fronts, hardware, software, manufacturing, distribution.

 

[Carl B]

Are the standards really all that's holding PS3 back?

We were told to expect a February 'event' for PS3. Rumours that it was cancelled were even officially rebuked a couple of times. Now unless something happens in the next 12-18 hours depending on where in the world you live, there's no way PS3 is showing a little leg before the end of February. If it's only standards holding up PS3, why not go ahead with this showcase? Lack of AACS and BRD playback isn't going to stop some playable demos.

I have no idea if it's only the standards or not - for the moment that seems to be the indication. But the indication for 360 production bottlenecks was assumed to be the CPU and it seemingly ended up being RAM, so by no means am I shut off from RSX yields, lagging game production, or any number of other issues.

But these people *must* have playable demos by now, one way or the other. So they're not showing them seems to be a matter of choice rather than inability. Or at least, that would be my guess. I wouldn't be surprised if E3 saw a storm of playable demos, but at the same time certainly it's the case that whatever was supposed to be happening in Februrary, hasn't happened - for one reason or another, likely none of them positive.