No PS3 unveiling event in March - confirmed by SCE

[one]

http://www.reuters.co.jp/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=8030749
(machine translation)

SCE announced that they don't announce the next-gen PlayStation in March since it can be a burden for game software developers. But it's not decided at the moment that the unveiling event itself is cancelled or not. There's no delay in the development of the next-gen PlayStation.

 

[nAo]

All work and no PS3 unveiling makes Marco a dull boy

 

[fxtech]

work on what ?

 

[kyetech]

but that still doesnt rule out april 1st ;-)

I suspect that we'll get the specs just before E3, early may/ late april perhaps... then, Get the public showing in E3 itself...

*i dunno*

 

[j^aws]

I doubt you'll see any proper specs before MS releases any proper specs...

 

[kyetech]

Well, that makes sense, sony just wanna trump them. like they did the DC... but sony are not gona have the same type of chance for that...

 

[rabidrabbit]

I understand that translation so that they are not planning to launch the PS3 in March, March 2006.
Am I right?
If so are they planning to launch the PS3 at the end of 2006 in Japan, and beginning of 2007 in usa and Europe?

 

[London Geezer]

I understand that translation so that they are not planning to launch the PS3 in March, March 2006.
Am I right?
If so are they planning to launch the PS3 at the end of 2006 in Japan, and beginning of 2007 in usa and Europe?

Geee that's a long time

 

[rabidrabbit]

I understand that translation so that they are not planning to launch the PS3 in March, March 2006.
Am I right?
If so are they planning to launch the PS3 at the end of 2006 in Japan, and beginning of 2007 in usa and Europe?

Geee that's a long time

It's just 2 years... if you think of it as "24 boyfriends" you won't even notice how the time flies

 

[London Geezer]

I understand that translation so that they are not planning to launch the PS3 in March, March 2006.
Am I right?
If so are they planning to launch the PS3 at the end of 2006 in Japan, and beginning of 2007 in usa and Europe?

Geee that's a long time

It's just 2 years... if you think of it as "24 boyfriends" you won't even notice how the time flies

Why have 24 boyfriends when you can have 2400 shags?

 

[one]

I understand that translation so that they are not planning to launch the PS3 in March, March 2006.
Am I right?

No, they only talk about the unveiling event in March 2005, nothing about the launch date. They confirmed again they'd show something at E3, but didn't rule out the possibility of the PS3 unveiling before E3, so it's still possible something happens in April.

 

[rabidrabbit]

But how could the March 2005 unveiling be a "burden to software developers" as it says in the translted article?

 

[one]

But how could the March 2005 unveiling be a "burden to software developers" as it says in the translted article?

It could be about software demos for the event.

 

[mistan]

Sony Delays PS3 Unveiling
System now to be unveiled at an undisclosed date in the future.
by Anoop Gantayat
March 30, 2005 - Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has revealed that it will not unveil the next generation PlayStation game machine this month. Instead, noting that game makers and other insider parties would have a lot of trouble making a March unveiling schedule, the company has decided to hold the unveiling at a later, currently undisclosed date.



It may seem strange for a company to make an announcement about not announcing something, but SCE has previously gone on record stating that it would properly unveil the PS3 prior to the April 1 start of fiscal year 2005.

SCE stresses that development on the PS3 is not running late. The company is still working to show off the system at this year's Electronics Entertainment Expo, set for May in Los Angeles.


SOURCE

So its still going to be unveiled before E3.
Maybe on April 1st?!!
That would be funny.
Cause that way, SONY could make sure that the specs are *UNBELIEVABLE*, hehe.
[/url]

 

[Acert93]

If I understand how console development works, Sony probably has more than one configuration in development (different speed BR drives, RAM configurations, GPU size/speeds, possibly different CELL configurations) and that what options are chosen depend a lot on the price.

If that is the case (I guess Sony could be doing the reverse and only building stuff to their specs, and worrying about the price later hoping that shrinking stuff and time will make pricing easier to swallow), and if the GPU wont be completed until the end of 2005, I would take a guess that the PS3's complete specs wont be announced at E3 or before.

Not that Sony really cares what MS does, but Sony is probably 3-6months behind MS in a HW "lock down" date. The PS3 is impressive enough that if they give the basic info people will be happy. And any fine tuning based on market changes or cost considerations can still be done. e.g. if yields on the GPU or CELL or good/bad they can adjust the frequencies.

And with MS having to show their hand first Sony has no need to let MS have any big surprises. What if MS comes out swining with 384MB of RAM (or more) or Nintendo announces something revolutionary, but a concept Sony can easily incorperate into the PS3? So I would expect E3 to have some good info, but no where complete stats like the X2.

 

[Joe DeFuria]

Cool...an announcment that announces there will be no announcement....

 

[AzBat]

haha, I find somewhat intriguing that Sony hasn't stuck to it's previous timelines. No announcement in March misses previous timelines by at least a month. Probably a variety of factors, but nobody can say they're in the same position last time.

Tommy McClain

 

[one]

Publishing the spec once won't bar them from changing it at later date. For example,

1. Company A shows the full spec
2. Company B shows the spec
3. Company A increases the RAM size to XXX MB

or

1. Company A shows the spec, except for the RAM size
2. Company B shows the spec
3. Company A announces the RAM size

The CPU/GPU spec is pretty much controlled by thermal design so you can't raise it so quickly. So, rather than by the competition, I think the delay of the unveiling event is only caused by the delay of software demos that have to be impressive independently of the difference between 256MB RAM and 512MB RAM, or a more obscure reason such as the management change at Sony Group.

Cool...an announcment that announces there will be no announcement....

Since they promised the March event before investors, they have to assure them to remove any doubt that may drive down the stock price.

 

[Qroach]

on track? yeah right is what I say....

 

[Joe DeFuria]

Since they promised the March event before investors, they have to assure them to remove any doubt that may drive down the stock price.

Any time you don't meet expectations, announcement or not, you risk driving down the stock price.

But to not only "cancel" the unveiling...but provide no expected replacement?

This says to me that Sony is likely "behind schedule" in some way. It might not be final hardware development, but maybe software development tools, maybe the ease of development is not as good as they anticipated, etc.

It may turn out to be completely inconsequential whatever it is.