PS Business Briefing 2006 March official info

[pegisys]

Yeah right. Whatever launches alongside PS3 is going to go unnoticed more likely. Halo3 should launch when it's ready, when there's no PS3 around, and be a fantastic game to drum up interest in XB360 and drive sales before PS3 appears. Nothing is going to stop PS3's launch extravaganza (except an insane pricepoint). The important point is to capture those thinking of getting a PS3 before they hav the chance to. Once PS3 is out you're going head to head and lost the 'only option available' advantage.

I don't agree with that, if Sony is launching world wide it's not going to be enough systems to go around, MS does need some great games(also better looking then Sony's launch titles) so the the people that want a nextgen system around the holiday don't just to wait for the PS3

 

[Shifty Geezer]

An Intel employee at AVSFORUM, who claims to know some people, said the manufacturing of the Cell has been "challenging."

Why would Cell be any more challenging than any other processor? I thought it was the process that mattered and 90nm is very mature. Once you have the dies (or whatever they're called) you should be able ot just run them off, no? With the same amount of defects you'd get on any processor.

Unless the SOI process or other complexity is messing things up.

 

[blakjedi]

-Game Boot from HDD is the most interesting PS3 related news. The other stuff is nearly exactly like X360 launch only that PS3 have alot more time than 360 devs did. The use of the term Live is hilarious if a little curious.

-Location free stations is VERY nice feature so you could put/manage nearly every thing you would like access to from your PSP on the drive - very nice.

-Linux on the HDD is extraordinary meaningless highlight. Unless you are a dev, a comp sci major or a nerd less than 1% of people who buy the system will know or care but its a direct stab at MS coming from Sony and IBM so it warrants a bullet.

-HDD not standard but required like batteries for a vibrator! LOL! Makes sense as Titanio says, if for nothing other than to be able to state a specific price point and not be lying exactly but misleading nonetheless. Hell, brand new cars come with a full tank of gas and fluids topped off! Still its a good deal.

-Cell and RSX specs WONT change even if they could. They are already good enough and err final.

-PSP videophone and flash is awesome! Thus you need an eyetoy/camera device for videophone - duh!

Overall good announcement. Pretty exciting if nothing new.

 

[Gubbi]

Why would Cell be any more challenging than any other processor? I thought it was the process that mattered and 90nm is very mature. Once you have the dies (or whatever they're called) you should be able ot just run them off, no? With the same amount of defects you'd get on any processor.

Unless the SOI process or other complexity is messing things up.

It shoulnd't be a problem to yield fully functional devices. But to get fully functional devices that fits in the power envelope the PS3 design dictate at the desired speed could be troublesome. After all, there's a lot of active silicon (exec units) on the CELL die.

Cheers

 

[Laa-Yosh]

Here is one Analyst

A leading analyst says PlayStation 3's delay could prompt Microsoft to seek to sabotage the launch with the timely release of its key Xbox 360 title Halo 3.

That's stupid. Nothing would be enough to stop Sony from selling all the consoles they can build until late 2007. There's enough demand for 5-10 million consoles even without any big games... MS should release Halo3 in september 2007 to make the biggest impact.

What they should have for the PS3 release is a lot of boxes in every store, so that when someone just walks in to buy a PS3 but finds that they're all sold out in advance, he'll still be able to pick up a nextgen console from the shelf.

 

[dukmahsik]

so is the HDD required to play games?

 

[StefanS]

so is the HDD required to play games?

Well that is ... Lost in Translation

EDIT: The slides are somewhat ambiguous in that regard. However there's a translation of Ken Kutaragi quote that could shed some light: http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showpost.php?p=719225&postcount=198

 

[DuckThor Evil]

so is the HDD required to play games?

I hope and believe so, that equals more options for the developers and better games for us, with faster loading times etc. I don't mind if the system is more expensive because of it, I want it to reguire HD and I'm sure it will, publisher like SQ will appreciate it, because now they can make all those online rpg's that reguire HD and don't have to worry about smaller market, because of split userbase. Todays news were great stuff.

 

[ROG27]

-Cell and RSX specs WONT change even if they could. They are already good enough and err final.
QUOTE]

That's what I've been saying. They are very good specs, and now that they've been locked down...I'm sure Sony has shifted its focus primarily to manufacturing and increasing cost-efficiency in yielding working units.

 

[scooby_dooby]

I knew when I went to bed that 6million on launch day wasn't gonna happen.

So, WW launch with only 1million units? That's just like MS, pretty weak, however if they can stick to 1million/month it shouldn't be a problem for long.

 

[swanlee]

Funny that a delay from Sony is met with so much praise, You guys are pretty brainwashed to think this whole thing is going to go off without a hitch. Only sony could announce a delay and have it met like the second coming with little critisism. Sony is already paying the price with going Blu-Ray only.

 

[Carl B]

Here is one Analyst

A leading analyst says PlayStation 3's delay could prompt Microsoft to seek to sabotage the launch with the timely release of its key Xbox 360 title Halo 3.

Hiroshi Kamide, analyst at KBC Securities in Tokyo said, "The Xbox 360 will now have had a year’s head start. The danger is that they could target very big-hitting titles at the launch of the PS3 just to sabotage it. If they release Halo 3 – Microsoft’s biggest selling game – timed to PS3, that will be quite damaging for Sony."

Ridiculous. What's wrong with these people?

 

[Carl B]

Funny that a delay from Sony is met with so much praise, You guys are pretty brainwashed to think this whole thing is going to go off without a hitch. Only sony could announce a delay and have it met like the second coming with little critisism. Sony is already paying the price with going Blu-Ray only.

It's not the delay that's being met with praise - I wish you and the 'others' would understand that.

*Obviously* Spring would have been preferable from a launch date perspective, btu that said, you're really looking for issues to point out if you can't see that Kutaragi's statements were generally positive. Whether they meet the goals they've set or not really doesn't have anything to do with anything right now; that's a disucssion for 8 months from now.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

publisher like SQ will appreciate it, because now they can make all those online rpg's that reguire HD and don't have to worry about smaller market, because of split userbase.

That's perhaps the main reason for the HDD now you highlight it. MMO's are the Holy Grail for developers. Having millions of people to pay ten bucks a month every month is financial security. A console where every purchaser has an HDD and is capable of playing MMOs is a console that'll attract MMO developers, which is more and more of them. Keeping Square Enix happy is also paramount to securing Japan, seeing as SE totally dominated the 'best ever Japanese games' poll from Famitsu recently, while their games are penetrating ever deeper into western markets too and are definitely big titles to have on your platform.

I think the HDD adds big options for devs, and keeping devs happy is important. Like not suddenly announcing to them a six month delay... (Presumably they knew about this November release. Can NT devs comment now this is common knowledge?)

 

[scooby_dooby]

Seriously though what was so positive? PS3 will now have very little chance of having any signifignant install base for 06, which means very low software sales for publishers. They've announced just 1million units to server all regions which will cause huge launch shortages.

The WW launch means they will have nowhere near the 1 or 2 million available for the US launch that many were predicting, nor will they be able to sell 2-3 million in japan before Nov as many were also predicting. As of right now they're on track to sell 2 million for 06, that's not good news really. It's exactly what I called months ago and people said I was a pessimist. And that's if everything goes perfectly according to plan...

The good news is there is an online network, and true HDD support this time around, but both of these are simply promises right now. The bad news is that the PS3 will be waiting til 07 to start any signifigant install base, but at least they will be doing it with a WW launch which is certainly a silver lining.

 

[Sis]

Wow. Big news day yesterday.

If Sony delivers on all those bullet points, then they have a killer system. But let me splash some cold water around and list the brand new things going into this system (
all on day one?):

* Blu-ray drive
* Cell chip
* new online service
* Full backwards compatibility
* 1.3 HDMI chips
* New graphics chip
* New bluetooth controllers
* Harddrive that may be used for storing games
* Hardrive that likely will act as media server

If they can produce 1 million of these a month and at a compelling price (for all those features anywhere in the $500 range is a steal), then we have one of the most exciting new products in a long time. Add in the PSP interactivity and well, just WOW.

But, the cold water: complexity and cutting edge are bad things in a system in terms of production and cost, and this product has both in large amounts.

It will certainly be a fascinating year for gamers...

 

[Carl B]

Seriously though what was so positive? PS3 will now have very little chance of having any signifignant install base for 06, which means very low software sales for publishers. They've announced just 1million units to server all regions which will cause huge launch shortages.

The WW launch means they will have nowhere near the 1 or 2 million available for the US launch that many were predicting, nor will they be able to sell 2-3 million in japan before Nov as many were also predicting. As of right now they're on track to sell 2 million for 06, that's not good news really. It's exactly what I called months ago and people said I was a pessimist. And that's if everything goes perfectly according to plan...

The good news is there is an online network, and true HDD support this time around, but both of these are simply promises right now. The bad news is that the PS3 will be waiting til 07 to start any signifigant install base, but at least they will be doing it with a WW launch which is certainly a silver lining.

Well, IMO the good news was:

1) a confirmation of Linux on the HDD

2) a hint that HDD may indeed be standard

3) confirmation of a free online service with Live-like functionalities

4) worldwide launch, which is good for Europe - and they are an important market for Sony. For the US, I was expecting November before, so for myself no change. Negative for Japan perhaps though.

5) nice PSP feature set upgrade

6) fully B/C

7) Location-Free confirmation

...I mean perhaps a lot of this was suspected on some level, but certainly a lot more of it wasn't. And it's always nice though when you have features you're looking forward to that exist only in rumor be confirmed.

I can understand that some individuals miht scratch their heads and say, 'what was so great about this?'

Well, there was something great - hard to pin down.

I grant readily though the liklihood of launch shortages and a weaker install base come year end.

 

[sumdumyunguy]

"PSP:
first-gen PS1 official emulator
buy/download games from net"

!!!

Tell me Sun has not stopped shining. Official Homebrew!!!!

 

[Laa-Yosh]

That's perhaps the main reason for the HDD now you highlight it.

No, the main reason is to avoid 1 minute and even longer load times because of the slow BluRay drive IMHO. That is why all developers are encouraged to make use of it.

(Presumably they knew about this November release. Can NT devs comment now this is common knowledge?)

I have two different sources that have been indicating a november release for at least a month now... Although not from NT

 

[Synergy34]

Seriously though what was so positive? PS3 will now have very little chance of having any signifignant install base for 06, which means very low software sales for publishers. They've announced just 1million units to server all regions which will cause huge launch shortages.

The WW launch means they will have nowhere near the 1 or 2 million available for the US launch that many were predicting, nor will they be able to sell 2-3 million in japan before Nov as many were also predicting. As of right now they're on track to sell 2 million for 06, that's not good news really. It's exactly what I called months ago and people said I was a pessimist. And that's if everything goes perfectly according to plan...

The good news is there is an online network, and true HDD support this time around, but both of these are simply promises right now. The bad news is that the PS3 will be waiting til 07 to start any signifigant install base, but at least they will be doing it with a WW launch which is certainly a silver lining.

Where exactly did that number of 1 million at launch come from? I think I missed that somewhere.