No European PS3 launch until March

[Arwin]

Crap. I really don't want to import from Japan like I did with the PSP - that's really just too expensive. I'm just going to have to wait. Of course, the good thing is that the longer I manage to wait with buying a PS3, the less I'm going to have to shell out for a decent HDTV.

*Sigh* - When I saw the website, I almost started to believe that we were really going to get the PS3 at the time everyone else did. Now though ... ouch. Well, we did buy a house and we're likely to get the key end of December, so I guess it makes sense to save up some more money.

My biggest fear though is that it won't be just March ... Why couldn't they just delay Japan? That's really the only safe market they have, after all ...

But then again, we seem to have the best hackers, so you really don't want to give us your first system (not that it matters much).

In short: damn. I'm not happy. It's really good that I have some more time to save up money, but still, not happy. I would have liked to see it here in the shops regardless.

 

[rabidrabbit]

There goes my Christmas present for this year
I can understand the joy some here are feeling, but I feel kinda cheated now,
I was that close to preordering the console last weekend, as it would have required just €20 deposit, but fortunately I didn't.
I just don't get it why they bother to announce release dates without having a clue if they can meet them, it's the same as it was with PSP, they made a big deal about a simultaneous launch but Europe was delayed to March next year, and after that delayed to June, July, August... finally it released September, almost a year late!!

I wouldn't be surprised if the PAL PS3 eventually launches September 2007. Actually I'm sure it'll launch September 2007.

No High Definition movies and games for me then on my shiny new HD projector that I bought because I wanted to be ready for High Definition the day I get my PS3 (ok, it's nice for SD too).
Another year to wait, that's painful!!!!

 

[Shifty Geezer]

this is really a last minute decision i think.

It must be super last minute, as they've started their 'This Is Living' campaign intending it for TV and movie theatres, and it's set to run "up 'til November at least." Well, looks like they started the campaign 5 months too early. Seems to me they were ready to roll out to Europe and suddenly changed their mind after starting that process. Maybe that explains why the Storage story hasn't found it's way onto the TIL website?

 

[MrWibble]

MrWibble, the OFFICIAL Sony pre-order sheet even indicated the date of the two shipments: November 17, 2006 and December 2006 (IIRC it was December 1, 2006).

I haven't seen one (don't think they do it over here?) but I'll take your word for it... But regardless of how contractual something like that looks, logically a pre-order is always going to run the risk of arriving late. I suppose you can take it at face value and complain, but what would you realistically want them to do about it now? Obviously the best thing would've been if they'd done things differently, but it does seem to have been a decision that's been made rather abruptly from high-up, rather than some master plan they've had for a while. So now that it's done, what can you do?

At best, if you're not happy, you could probably get a refund. I doubt you'd see any compensation from them having had your money for a while though.

I guess if enough people kick up a fuss, perhaps they'll add a sweetner for those with pre-orders... some free game or peripheral, or maybe some kind of small discount. I suggest you all make a fuss and see what happens

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I just don't get it why they bother to announce release dates without having a clue if they can meet them

Sony seem to be overly optimistic with their production expectations. They don't seem to factor in the 'damn, somethings gone wrong like it always does' element.

As for HD movies, the first HDDVD players are here in November. They'll have an uncontested market for a few months too.

 

[rabidrabbit]

As for HD movies, the first HDDVD players are here in November. They'll have an uncontested market for a few months too.

F*ck those HDDVD players. I WANT MY PS3!!!!!!!

 

[Rys]

Oh noes

Well, I was going to get PS3 first and then HDTV for it and my 360 in 2007, so I can stop using my PC displays. I'll just swap PS3 and HDTV purchases around, no real biggie, and try not to read any threads on B3D from US and Jap-living folks that have them until I get mine

Gears of War should do nicely as a gap filler, too!

 

[London Geezer]

No High Definition movies and games for me then on my shiny new HD projector that I bought because I wanted to be ready for High Definition the day I get my PS3 (ok, it's nice for SD too).
Another year to wait, that's painful!!!!

Well that will teach you something next time. Think about it, if you held off buying a projector until you did have your PS3 - this time it's March - you'd be able to buy a 1080p projector with much better specs at probably the same price you paid for your projector this year.
I don't suppose you're actually using your projector for HD now as you don't have a 360 or SkyHD, so your current shiny piece of kit will sit in your living room largely unused (well... you use it for DVDs YAY! err...) for another 6 months while it loses value. And by the time PS3 comes out, new 1080p ones will be out for around the same price...


This is bad for Sony. I was actually THIS close to preorder, seen how the November release date seemed set in stone. This is just taking the piss though.

What happened to the "4-6 million PS3 released before March" claim?

What happened to the "region free" claim? If games don't have region coding, then i expect PS3 to be sold here anyway, the way PSP was sold. Only to ignite Sony's wrath for "illegally importing", just because they know that we'd pay a lower price if we actually import, than if we paid for Euro PS3s.

Exact same scenario as PSP only on a much bigger scale.

I'm not happy, i was wondering whether to boicott this generation as i don't have time, i'm studying again, and simply because i'm sick and tired of being taken the piss of, and to be honest i think that is what will happen... Better for everyone, the money i'll save will be used for nice holidays and clothes, which at the moment is much more important for me than silly videogames.

 

[London Geezer]

As for HD movies, the first HDDVD players are here in November. They'll have an uncontested market for a few months too.

You can already get one quite easily. I'm not sure what the region coding situation for HDDVDs is, but if it means you can only play US movies on it, then lots of people don't care as it's cheaper most of the time anyway.

 

[Rangers]

What happened to the "4-6 million PS3 released before March" claim?

The funny thing is if you read the delay press release it specifically states there is no change to the 6m by March shipment forecast and I quote

"The previously announced PLAYSTATION 3 shipment forecast of 6 million units globally within the fiscal year ending 2007 is not changed."

Which if true, would mean about 3 million for USA and Japan each, which is a pretty hefty supply.
________
Medical marijuana card

 

[London Geezer]

At best, if you're not happy, you could probably get a refund. I doubt you'd see any compensation from them having had your money for a while though.

Ding ding ding!!
How long till we see articles about how much pure profit Sony made out of those phone calls and especially, out of the interest gained during the time they had your money... How long has it been now? more than a year for some... That can be very good easy money if you think about it!

 

[Phil]

*thumbs up*

I was already having some headache about how to finance a PS3 in November - but now, I'm quite happy. Final Fantasy XIII is coming out in December (or January) I think here in Europe, so that will keep me more than happy until I can afford that hefty PS3 price-tag sometime in March.

It's a big blow to those who were looking forward to the launch in November. Given the late launch, the high price sure is beginning to leave a very bitter taste. Anyway, a trailer from MGS4 will make that go away very quickly anyway...

 

[hey69]

to be honest, why not fiscal year ends in the spring , so if they offload 2 million consoles in november or march isnt going to change a lot i think .

 

[Titanio]

New Details

Kutaragi dropped the news in a conference. Would it surprise anyone if that was the first SCEE heard of it?

Also, more details, some quite crazy ones:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/06/business/AS_FIN_COM_Japan_Sony_PlayStation.php

"We decided to focus on the Japanese and U.S. markets," he said at the gaming unit's Tokyo headquarters. "I am so sorry not to be able to answer to all the expectations."

The company is still sticking to its initial global target of shipping 6 million PlayStation 3 machines by March 2007

They expect just over 2m shipped by the end of the year between the US and Japan. However..

They expect only 100k in Japan on Nov 11 and 400k in the US on Nov 17.

Commercial production will start late Sept.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/06/business/AS_FIN_COM_Japan_Sony_PlayStation.php

 

[London Geezer]

Oh noes

Well, I was going to get PS3 first and then HDTV for it and my 360 in 2007, so I can stop using my PC displays. I'll just swap PS3 and HDTV purchases around, no real biggie, and try not to read any threads on B3D from US and Jap-living folks that have them until I get mine

Gears of War should do nicely as a gap filler, too!

I'll hold off any new HDTV purchase until the PS3 is out. I wouldn't use the HDTV for HD stuff anyway, so getting one now (like i did before, but i sold mine... twice) would be purely a style purchase.

I will only get a HDTV when i can use it for HD stuff, which won't happen IF and until i get a PS3 - probably next christmas now... IF... - and by then i'll be able to get a 1080p panel with much better specs (LCD tech innovations will make the panels better, and resolution is the least of LCDs problems to fix at the moment) than i can get now, for probably a similar price.

 

[Nesh]

What happened to the "region free" claim? If games don't have region coding, then i expect PS3 to be sold here anyway, the way PSP was sold. Only to ignite Sony's wrath for "illegally importing", just because they know that we'd pay a lower price if we actually import, than if we paid for Euro PS3s.
.

What happened? Nothing. Games are region free. BR movies arent and they never were

 

[London Geezer]

What happened? Nothing. Games are region free. BR movies arent and they never were

Then people will start importing like hell, the same way PSP was imported when Sony decided to make Europeans wait a whole year. Unless there are no PS3s around obviously, but if they have 6M units around before March (YEAH RIGHT.. but anyway) then there will be thousands flying over here.

And they won't like it cause they'll lose on exchange rate.

 

[rabidrabbit]

Well that will teach you something next time. Think about it, if you held off buying a projector until you did have your PS3 - this time it's March - you'd be able to buy a 1080p projector with much better specs at probably the same price you paid for your projector this year.
I don't suppose you're actually using your projector for HD now as you don't have a 360 or SkyHD, so your current shiny piece of kit will sit in your living room largely unused (well... you use it for DVDs YAY! err...) for another 6 months while it loses value. And by the time PS3 comes out, new 1080p ones will be out for around the same price...

Thanks for rubbing it in l-b
However I don't think the 1080p projectors will be quite the €2000 I paid for my 720p dlp as they'll start at €4000+ when they come to market. Not very likely thy'll be half the price the PS3 arrives (though if it's September 2007 they might be €3000 already). I'm sure I would have saved €500 or so had I waited, but to be honest, I don't think I'd waited anyway had I known of the delay.
The DVD's do look amazing on it, even so that I'm a bit sceptical HD would look that much better.
Yep, no HD for me as Sky HD is not available here, nor anything equivalent, and I've yet found the xbox360 to be a worthwhile purchase just to sample some two or three HD games that interest me in the current and future lineup. Besides, I'd have no way of connecting the xbox360 for HD, as the HD accepting ports on my PJ are already occupied and there won't be a HDMI for xb360.

I could connect my PC to it and watch some downloaded HD clips, but I rather keep the clumsy PC out of my livingroom.

 

[pipo]

They expect just over 2m shipped by the end of the year between the US and Japan.

Now where did I hear that before?

Edit - yeah I know, I'm back...

 

[DuckThor Evil]

They expect only 100k in Japan on Nov 11 and 400k in the US on Nov 17.

Those are some pathetic numbers!
It remains to be seen if Sony is able to sort that blue diode thing fast, in order to get some decent production numbers. Good luck getting a machine on launch day in those two countries LOL!