PS Business Briefing 2006 March official info

[one]

Another slide says "HDD is required!"
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060315/scei1.htm

 

[Titanio]

Linky? Please?

Sorry, here you go:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145972.html

Actually what he is saying sounds like MS just the opposite but still that same. MS said that developers should develop games as if the HDD will not be there, meaning that the games should function without that HDD. What Ken is saying could be interpreted as "develop the games to take advantage of the HDD" but that does not mean that they should not work without one, a bit like MS wants things to work like...

This is pretty explicit:

"We view the Hard Drive to be mandatory for the PS3," he said. "Rather than have developers create games for the PS3 with or without the HDD, we will be asking them to develop games as though all PS3s have the HDD installed."

They're saying to dev games as though the HDD is there, and explicitly not as though a HDD may or may not be there.

 

[one]

We do have this, but it's strange they've only come up with it: http://www.gamersreports.com/news/1746/

Well I have no idea how they (gamersreports) came up with that thing while other media including Bloomberg, Nikkei and Reuters have nothing to talk about the price indication.

 

[pipo]

Another slide says "HDD is required!"

Looks like it's in then.

 

[StefanS]

Seems like The Aussie get the shaft as with X360

 

[pipo]

Nope. Oz is confirmed.

"We are absolutely delighted that we will be able to bring PS3 to gamers in Europe and Australia before Christmas. This is an exciting first for Europe, and is a huge endorsement and vote of confidence in the strength of the European market and its importance globally"

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/press_release.php?aid=15361

 

[Sindre]

Seems like The Aussie get the shaft as with X360

But what about this then,

Comment from David Reeves, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe on the announcement of PLAYSTATION 3 launch
"We are absolutely delighted that we will be able to bring PS3 to gamers in Europe and Australia before Christmas. This is an exciting first for Europe, and is a huge endorsement and vote of confidence in the strength of the European market and its importance globally”

 

[j^aws]

Another slide says "HDD is required!"

Definitely suggests it's in. Maybe it's me, but they should've used the word "standard", instead of "required". Which may have a hidden meaning!

 

[pipo]

Sorry, here you go:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145972.html

This is pretty explicit:

"We view the Hard Drive to be mandatory for the PS3," he said. "Rather than have developers create games for the PS3 with or without the HDD, we will be asking them to develop games as though all PS3s have the HDD installed."

They're saying to dev games as though the HDD is there, and explicitly not as though a HDD may or may not be there.

Cheers, but this has to be the strangest thing ever...

Kutaragi also made it clear that the hard drive will be necessary to play games--Sony is telling developers to make games assuming every PS3 has a hard drive installed. "We view the Hard Drive to be mandatory for the PS3," he said. "Rather than have developers create games for the PS3 with or without the HDD, we will be asking them to develop games as though all PS3s have the HDD installed."

However, Kutaragi revealed that Sony had not decided whether or not the PlayStation 3 would come with the hard-drive pre-installed. "We might end up installing it in all PS3s, though that depends on the market," he said. This raises the possibility that the PS3 could be sold without a piece of hardware needed to play PS3 games--in effect forcing consumers to buy a peripheral for basic functionality.

 

[Titanio]

Definitely suggests it's in. Maybe it's me, but they should've used the word "standard", instead of "required". Which may have a hidden meaning!

Because it may not come in the box. It's required, but you buy seperately like a memory card (the required peripheral of this generation). Or not. They still haven't decided. Just think of it like a memory card that may or may not be bundled with the system. You'll need it either way, but hopefully it'll come in the box, otherwise, hopefully they'll have plentiful supply of the HDDs (that'd really be my only concern - that you could get one).

All those online developers who were pushing Sony to make the HDD standard are probably quite happy now.

 

[pipo]

+ All games are released on BD-ROM

Now, this is unexpected! It could mean the cost of BD-ROM is very comparative with DVD.

Confirmed to be a piracy related decision.

 

[j^aws]

Because it may not come in the box. It's required, but you buy seperately like a memory card (the required peripheral of this generation). Or not. They still haven't decided. Just think of it like a memory card that may or may not be bundled with the system. You'll need it either way, but hopefully it'll come in the box, otherwise, hopefully they'll have plentiful supply of the HDDs (that'd really be my only concern - that you could get one).

Yeah, there's a subtle difference. Standard suggests out of the box. Required suggests you need it for the bullet points on the slides but not necessarily out of the box. So things that are not listed as bullet points, one would assume the HDD is not "required".

 

[MasaC]

Definitely suggests it's in. Maybe it's me, but they should've used the word "standard", instead of "required". Which may have a hidden meaning!

I'll repeat myself from earlier:

"Regarding if the HDD is standard or not, could it be possible that the PS3 will require one to operate but it will be sold separately? Resons for this could be that you will be able to choose size and preloaded content (such as Linux pre-installed) but Sony is not ready to announce it just yet and that's why info at present time is vague (other than it's required)?"

 

[Titanio]

Yeah, there's a subtle difference. Standard suggests out of the box.

Not necessarily, it depends what perspective your coming from. From a publishers perspective on the platform, standard just means every system will have it, regardless of how they have it (bought seperately or came in the box).

I think MasaC is right, except for choice regarding preloaded content..sounds like Linux will be on all of them at least.

 

[Phil]

Maybe Sony worded it as 'required' instead of 'standard' because they want to enable (or haven't yet decided on) the consumer to have the choice what HD they use for the system? Perhaps they're thinking of selling their own HD with linux installed (perhaps linux will act as the locationFree server for PSP as some are suggesting) at a little premium, while the more cost concious consumer can - if he wishes - get a HD at his own expense from any manufacturer if he wishes to do so?

 

[j^aws]

Not necessarily, it depends what perspective your coming from. From a publishers perspective on the platform, standard just means every system will have it, regardless of how they have it (bought seperately or came in the box).

Standard = every system will have it.

Required = required for the bullet points on the slides. Doesn't mean every system will have it or need it.

That's how I'm reading it.

 

[Nesh]

Another slide says "HDD is required!"
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060315/scei1.htm

Hmmm the way I see it is that the HDD is very very important to get full PS3 experience but probably it will be sold separately.

They probably directed to the importance of it making clear that the consumer will feel that the HDD is required at some point just as the memory card was required.

When they told devs to develop games with HDD in mind probably they ment that extra major features and goodies will be only accessed if you have the HDD installed and it will be needed.(Enhance Gameplay on slide)

edit: Btw Have you noticed?it seems like Sony is trying to get a hit on MS.They seem to be trying to promote Linux a lot and establish it as broadly as possible
The war between MS and Sony involves more than just console wars.Makes us think again why MS tried to enter the console market.Its a battle of the OSs too

 

[Platon]

I just have difficulty understanding, how that something that is absolutely required for your equipment to work would not be standard in the box. The memory stick do not really count, as you can actually play your game but not save them, so your damn thing does actually work. I mean if bying an xbox with or without HDD is confusing, imagine how confusing it can become for the average consumer to understand, that beyond of bying the console, they must buy a peripheral to make it actually work...

 

[Platon]

Hmmm the way I see it is that the HDD is very very important to get full PS3 experience but probably it will be sold separately.

They probably directed to the importance of it making clear that the consumer will feel that the HDD is required at some point just as the memory card was required.

When they told devs to develop games with HDD in mind probably they ment that extra major features and goodies will be only accessed if you have the HDD installed and it will be needed.(Enhance Gameplay on slide)

I agree, if one like to split hairs, on the slide it says, "enhanched gameplay" not plain gameplay...

 

[j^aws]

"Regarding if the HDD is standard or not, could it be possible that the PS3 will require one to operate but it will be sold separately? Resons for this could be that you will be able to choose size and preloaded content (such as Linux pre-installed) but Sony is not ready to announce it just yet and that's why info at present time is vague (other than it's required)?"

I think we're saying the same thing right?

Standard = every system will have it.

Required = required for the bullet points on the slides. Doesn't mean every system will have it or need it.