More PlayStation 3 Predictions

GreyGusMan writes "On the heels of last week's report that the PlayStation 3 would be released by the end of the year, CNN/Money is now reporting that Sony will not release its next console until 2006 - a year later than most of the industry has been predicting up until now. The column points out that PlayStation 2 sales have remained stong for much longer than the PlayStation and the technology Sony has planned will take a long time to create. Meanwhile, the same column mentions that the expected May price cut may be less than expected. Most people were expecting the PS2 to drop to $149, but $179 is now also a possibility."

Comments

PS2 Prices

[Marx_Mrvelous]

It's strange though, since you can find a PS2 for $150 "refurbished" just about anywhere. I imagine a price drop to $180 wouldn't significantly increase sales, but would lower their profits. Of course, maybe they've dropped the manufacturing costs by $20, so they'll just break even.

Now, if FF X-2 is PS/2 only, I might have to pick one up :)

Re:PS2 Prices

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think FF X-2 is a good reason to pick one up.
Have been reading nothing but negative feelings on the whole concept. From what has been divulged, the game is a pretty blatant attempt at 'fan service'. If you get off on skimpy clothes and J-pop with only one new character to the three you get for the whole game, more power to you. Supposed to only have about 12 hours of play, give or take a few hours, so the game is VERY short compared to FFX.
It is sad to see Square slipping so far down the mountain which they once stood at the top of.

Re:Why would they want to?

[larien]

If they try to milk it too long, they'll fall behind the technology ladder. Fall too far, you risk losing market share and people will just buy Xbox(2) instead. Game makers will follow and soon PS3 is a dead duck before it's launched.

As it is, they're already behind Xbox technologically and the only thing keeping PS2 winning is the game selection. If MS buys up enough games companies for Xbox only titles, PS2 will start losing market share heavily.

*shrug* time will tell, as ever; 3 years is a long time for MS to make Sony an also ran.

Re:Competiton

[binaryDigit]

As other people have said the PS2 unit itself might start making money for sony as production costs fall

Repeat after me, Sony sells PS2 hardware for a profit already. Have for a while now.

I look forward to the day I can play a photorealistic games rendered in real time.

As long as the games don't suck. I look forward to the day when focus comes back to gameplay and not pretty pictures.

Good news for everybody

[vandenh]

This is very good news. It gives the current consoles time to build some quality titles and gives consumers some breathing space. Sony has a good installed base and MS will be happy with this as well. They can continue to build Live and develop some good franchises. Nintendo might not be so happy but maybe the cUbe will pick up in the future.
Sony also needs to think about their real online network that they will probably launch with PS3. PS2 hardware was a big mistake so Sony better make sure they have a good platform with good development support and libraries this time.

they have to wait

[NixterAg]

Sony won't pump out the Playstation 3 until they get a better idea of how many people will adopt HDTV, which technology will succeed DVD in the home, and when Microsoft will release a competing product. They can't afford to release a piece of hardware that isn't compatible with what people want. You can't believe how many people use their PS2 (or X-Box) as their primary (if only) DVD player. This is a huge selling point for the consoles and has been a huge boon to the DVD industry. It has, in essence, single handedly killed VHS, as many major retail outlets have already announced plans to phase out VHS sales.

It's not just about games anymore. Gaming consoles will become the media hub of the future home, not PCs (yes you can argue that gaming machines are specialized PCs but that's not completely accurate), and it's critical that Sony continue with that concept, but it's risky at the same time.

Re:Ingest with a single crystal of Sodium Chloride

[garcia]

but it is definitly not 2006. I didn't get my PS2 until 12/2001 and I was already quite a bit behind...

2006 will put the PS2 *WAY* behind 2006 graphics and CPU capabilities... While I agree that the games might actually improve (as they did w/the PS1 as the programmers I guess got smarter with what they were able to do w/the machine) they might also degrade as people become uninterested.

A computer lasts about 2 years... Why would a console last 6?

Just my worthless .02

Re:to the victors goes the spoils..

[larien]

Nintendo is dying off in the UK; Dixons (major high street retailer; part of the same group as PC World) have effectively stopped selling it, clearing existing stock only. Argos are heavily discounting and are likely to stop selling RSN.

They're not out of the game yet, but without a turnaround, they're going to become irrelevant soon.

PS2 is already media center

[specialized_sworks]

I agree completely.

With a $50 piece of software (Broadq Qcast), and my network adapter, I am able to watch video and listen to mp3s streamed off my desktop. Now I can watch all those movies and tv shows on my big screen tv instead of the computer monitor.

In fact, I use the PS2 more often with Qcast than with playing games. My TV time is probably now spent 50% watching live tv (mostly sports) and 50% movies or tv shows (no commercials) downloaded using emule.

Qcast highly recommended for anyone with a PS2.

-Dubya

Re:5 years?

[Daetrin]

As has been discussed before, Nintendo is trying to get their next console out by 2005.

If Sony actually delays till 2006 and Nintendo actually does make it out by 2005 (when piling hardware release predictions on top of rumors about hardware release predictions, nothing is certain) then it might give Nintendo the chance to gain the same lead Sony has gained in the last two generations. Along with the dinky mini-DVDs and the lack of a second "Z" button on the controllers, their constant lateness has been one of my biggest criticisms about Nintendo.