PS3 Strategy/Confidence Retrospective

[dubyateeeff]

I think their mistake was in the hardware. It was quite apparent that the delays were due their unique hardware, most likely the BR-diods.

But the first mistake is Cell. I think it is extremely unnecessary for a company like Sony to invest so much money in a CPU where the positives doesn't outweigh the negatives significantly. Different hardware architecture, different programming methodologies. I don't think Cell2 for PS4 will happen, and so we waisted a lot of time churning out new tools and learning new methodologies. And this will also result in a BC-problem for PS4.

I've would've stuck a 'standard' AMD/Intel/IBM processor inside it and be done with it. It is not in the hardware but in the software and services where Sony's expertise is.

Hopefully they will stick with innovating hardware that will add value like the Wii mote, DS, BR (although it was to early for PS3) and not waist their time developing with things they can't compete with (CPU, GPU).

 

[scooby_dooby]

For some, it's hindsight.

To be fair, I had no idea Sony would be this light on the SW front by this point. I did however caution that ps3 would have significant issues trying to sell a $600 system with xb360 sitting next to it.

Well those views were echoed pretty loudly throughout the industry the day Sony unvieled it's pricepoint. Until then it was widely anticipated they would launch at somewhere between $400-500. When they announced the $600 price, alot of people were shocked.

 

[TheChefO]

I think their mistake was in the hardware. It was quite apparent that the delays were due their unique hardware, most likely the BR-diods.

But the first mistake is Cell. I think it is extremely unnecessary for a company like Sony to invest so much money in a CPU where the positives doesn't outweigh the negatives significantly. Different hardware architecture, different programming methodologies. I don't think Cell2 for PS4 will happen, and so we waisted a lot of time churning out new tools and learning new methodologies. And this will also result in a BC-problem for PS4.

I've would've stuck a 'standard' AMD/Intel/IBM processor inside it and be done with it. It is not in the hardware but in the software and services where Sony's expertise is.

Hopefully they will stick with innovating hardware that will add value like the Wii mote, DS, BR (although it was to early for PS3) and not waist their time developing with things they can't compete with (CPU, GPU).

I'm not sure, but I think this might be the most disagreeable post I've ever seen here.

I think cell is THE strength of ps3 and will be the heart of ps4. In fact, by that gen, the cell should really start to establish itself over the competition. Sony did a great job with Cell and the architecture is very easy to scale for generations to come. The only thing they screwed up with HW wise is BR.

 

[TheChefO]

Well those views were echoed pretty loudly throughout the industry the day Sony unvieled it's pricepoint...

Indeed, but the thought that ps3 would have issues selling at $600 wasn't taken too kindly around some places.

 

[TheChefO]

I am hoping these few threads get surfaced to Sony internal folks. Not sure what kind of effect it will have...

I think Sony has already got the massage loud n' clear. Hopefully, they don't repeat the same mistakes twice.

 

[patsu]

Not that ! I am refering to sneak peeks

 

[JNewt427]

Unlike some others hear, Great thread. This really needs to be talked about.

I will post the following with great humility to all major grand puba posters hear and for what it's worth being the general biased gamer I feel I am.

I think we all knew from the get go, something was amiss, I know I felt it, everything from "Why is SONY shoving BluRay down our throats" to the initial sticker shock, which till this day haunt the PS3. I posted my own thread I while back here on why BluRay?, why such the drastic technology that makes the unit cost so much which also in turn makes the system harder for the devs to write for? My reasoning for these questions was my belief of to why not just bring the PC gaming advancements to the console, PC's don't have bluray, and most certainly not Cell, yet PC's are looked at as the upper echelons of gaming, one that can provide the best gaming experience by far to any console, and is easy to develop for, at least in comparison. The responses to my thread where "to give the system legs, i.e longevity", and that console's are "not upgradeable", at least in it's main hardware. ok fine, but that was like 6 months ago. How many years does SONY plan on running the console for now?, it's been almost a year already, and we all know where it stands in the console market.

Arrogance on SONY's part, I would say yes, Brutally obvious is what they brought to the table is not needed for a gaming console to be great, it leans hard towards only benefiting them, and more away from the end consumer, It is a gaming console after all.

 

[Nesh]

BR makes the system harder to write for??

 

[one]

Arrogance on SONY's part, I would say yes, Brutally obvious is what they brought to the table is not needed for a gaming console to be great, it leans hard towards only benefiting them, and more away from the end consumer, It is a gaming console after all.

Yeah only benefiting them, making huge losses to sell PS3 at $600, and now it's available for $399...oh wait this is a retrospective thread. BTW are you gaming god or something who can define what a game is?

 

[JNewt427]

BR makes the system harder to write for??

I was referring to drastic technology as "Cell", sorry to mislead you.

 

[Crayon]

Tangent....

Does anyone else get the feeling "Arrogant" in this context is a manufactured buzzword?

Take a step back and look at how intensely some are trying to peg this particular word on this particular company. Considering it doesn't make much sense to personify a corporation in rational argument, I find it interesting that so many would insist on one particular word. A word that doesn't even fit. I'm convinced it's artificial. I'm not saying we have viral marketers here or anything, but perhaps some posters are unknowingly giving pushes to a great viral snowball.

What I think I'm seeing here is called an "echo chamber". The simple sentiment "Sony is arrogant" is repeated so many times, that it dominates the dialogue. Regardless of any arguments to the contrary.

Watch for any rolleyes or strawman or triangulatory replies here to my post here... watch closely....

 

[one]

Does anyone else get the feeling "Arrogant" in this context is a manufactured buzzword?

"Crytek is arrogant producing a game that is fully enjoyed only with uber PC!!"

 

[Johnny Awesome]

It's also 'ok' for all of MS's exclsuive titles, such as GOTY candidates GOW, Bioshock, Mass Effect etc.

The only reason you think DVD is 'not enough' is because Sony tells you it's not enough.

Think about it.

Indeed. Since I'm into my 3rd holiday playing next-generation games I haven't missed an HD optical format at all. By the time it matters the NeXtbox will be around the corner.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

I want to comment on this. Back then, *no one* thought that the move from 90nm-->65nm, and from there 65nm-->45nm would take the time that it has. Those articles are from February 2004 for God's sake! Yes, the original PS3 was premised on 65nm being available, but by the time the console was formally unveiled, the expectation had already shifted to a 90nm launch - there's even some Kutaragi interview on it out there somewhere. So, Sony and Toshiba claiming an aggressive 45nm ramp is neither here nor there... they were hardly alone at the time (and they meant for CMOS also rather than SOI).

I really do believe that ultimately it was simply the BD inclusion that led to the jacked initial price. That, and obviously they had hoped to be on GS-only by that point rather than EE+GS+32MB RDRAM on the B/C.

A lot of us, well myself at least, were thinking that the PS3 would be around ~$450 at launch with a single SKU. A year later, Sony's more or less there, but it's a trail of tears Sony has marched to get here.

I wouldn't say that no one hear predicted that. Many of us did. I remember the huge arguments some of us had with Vince about Sony's ability to get their processes down. It's not as much of a surprise as you think.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

I would say that statements like Xbox 1.5, games in 4d, 120fps, 2 1080p outputs simulataneously, and the hd era doesnt start till we say it does and 720p is not real hd, comes across as quite arrogant.

The list of arrogant comments is enormous really. There's over a dozen.

 

[patsu]

I haven't missed an HD optical format at all.

Yes, it would depend on individual preferences. A friend bought into Blu-ray and has also bought 2 HD-TV to replace his old ones (Crazy !). For those who have Blu-ray (or HD-DVD for that matter), don't miss "Planet Earth". It's worth the money.

My friends and I are actually more amazed by the real-life six-plumed bird in Planet Earth than any nextgen game title so far.

 

[Acert93]

Yeah only benefiting them, making huge losses to sell PS3 at $600, and now it's available for $399...oh wait this is a retrospective thread.

And what are you implying by the $600/$399 comment?

BTW are you gaming god or something who can define what a game is?

 

[Acert93]

The list of arrogant comments is enormous really. There's over a dozen.

A list of all the PR crap from all 3 companies would be funny 1 billion people don't care about graphics in 4D!

 

[Archgamer]

This topic needs to close down. I don't know why it's still around. It's childish. Been discuss notoriously in every other forums I go to.

 

[Geo]

Don't read it then. The purpose of threads is to provide a structure for people to discuss subjects that interest them and for other people who have no interest in the subject to avoid them.

That may seem pedantic, but apparently necessary.