Slashdot Mirror
Playstation 3 In the Works
Kredal writes "The Independent is running a story about Sony's work on a new console, being built around online games, such as Everquest Adventures and Final Fantasy 11. No word on backwards compatability, but expect it to be the X-Box killer if it is."
FF11 already has me lusting.
It darn well better be backwards compatible, or they'll piss off a lot of developers. And the majority of the world that doesn't have broadband . . .
...companies around the world work on new products, and many focused on the same market as previous products. More news on this odd occurance as we get more.
But seriosuly, if noone expected Sony to do anything to move to the PS3 some day, they don't understand buisness much. And online is the future by what everyone is saying, so makes sense.
With more and more gamers playing consoles, expect some expectations of faster upgrades and such to start occuring.
I sure hope that Sony continues to make systems that are backwards compatable. I think that really gave Sony a major edge over the Nintendo Game Cube. Games are really expensive and it's nice to be able to continue playing the games on newer systems. Otherwise you either don't play the older games anymore or you have several systems connected in a giant mess to your TV. It might prevent Sony from using media that has more data on it, but I think they would be more successful keeping with a backwards compatable system.
FoonDog
I hope it works better than the PS/2 Linux kit I just got and have to RMA back to Sony. ;-)
My tongue-in-cheek experiences are available her for your reading enjoyment.
I have been caught completely off guard by similar reports on slashdot in the past. Apparently, Apple is planning a G5 processor (as if the G4 weren't fast enough!), Microsoft is supposedly working on an operating system to replace XP, and the 2.5 branch will not be the last iteration of the Linux kernel.
Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
Also maybe Sony should take their time and develope a quality console that will meet the needs of the gaming public, even if it takes a few extra months to a year. They have already demonstrated their market dominence over the superior (hardware wise) machines of their competition. Points to consider, make it easier to program, anti-aliasing (!!!), ditch the 2 controller model (multi taps suck, four controller ports on board is great), for that matter peripherals on a console suck.
I look forward to the PS3, but please, take you time and give me something remotely worth the ammount money I am going to have to drop on this thing (and the ammount of time I am going to have to spend in line to get the damn thing on launch day)...
Note to self: No more arguing with the faithful.
More interesting is the news today that Sony and Real have announced a tie-up. They'd already announced an alliance to use Real software in the PS2 - this is a further development, with Sony buying a stake in Real with the aim of using its software in other consumer devices.
Real has put out a press release here, which says: "Sony plans to adopt these combined digital distribution solutions in a variety of networked CE products such as Sony's networked audio products and Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation2 computer entertainment system."
The Wall Street Journal notes that the deal brings together two Microsoft rivals - the WSJ story requires $$$+registration, but the basics are:
The companies didn't announce specific product agreements, but said their research and development groups will regularly collaborate on developing new technologies. Sony said it would adopt RealNetworks' media technologies broadly in a variety of consumer electronics devices with network connections to personal computers and the Internet, and RealNetworks will consider using a Sony antipiracy format in its software.
While the financial side of the deal is small and RealNetworks is in no immediate need of cash, the investment gives Sony at least a symbolic stake in the future of RealNetworks. RealNetworks competes fiercely with Microsoft in the market for Internet audio and video software, and it has joined other companies in accusing Microsoft of anticompetitive practices that threaten their businesses. Sony and Microsoft, meanwhile, became archcompetitors in the videogame market with Microsoft's introduction late last year of the Xbox, a heavily promoted rival to Sony's market-leading PlayStation 2.
Dave Fester, a Microsoft general manager, said the alliance with Sony wouldn't affect the appeal of Microsoft's own media software to electronics companies, but adding that it could "drive a wedge between Real and other consumer electronics manufacturers."
Yeah, because heaven knows that stuff like this _never_ happens in the computer biz...
I mean, what if oh, say -- Microsoft announced it was upgrading the 16-bit GUI on top of it's operating system with amazing features and a wonderful new interface... and hyped it so much that people thought they needed to buy it for their toasters... that wouldn't hurt a rival (better) operating system for the year or two it took them to ship something, now would it?
Nah... never happen...
So in other words, make a cheap computer that you can use as a set-top box?? The beauty behind the consoles, is that they work. Developers don't need to worry about system specs. They can design a game, and everybody with the playcubebox, can play it. No questions asked. If Sony puts slots for extra RAM, or whatever, developers are just going to turn the market into the mess that is the PC games market.
I think consoles are so sucessful because they are simple. Users don't need to worry about how much RAM they have, or how big their hard drive is. Plug in the game and it works.
Nintendo is still around because they realized that people buy the games. While Sony was out hyping the graphics power of the PS2, Nintendo was showing off the games. Games are how systems make money. Either by selling tons, and generating licence money, or by being great, and forcing people to buy the system to play it.
I should also add that NO add on for consoles has ever been sucessful. Why should Sony waste resources to cater to a very small percentage of the people that would buy it?(blah blah blah, Linux kit. I know about the linux kit. However, its what? $400?? that brings the cost of a PS2 and the linux kit to $700! that's just silly. For $700 I could have a full PC with a TV card to hook up.)
11 was a racehorse
12 was 12
1111 Race
12112
Easy, pile up her shoes, add the price of them up, show that it's more than a Ps2, PS3, and PS4 combined. ;0
I'm the big fish in the big pond bitch.