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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."

37 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. PS2 Prices by Marx_Mrvelous · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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 :)

    --

    Moderation: Put your hand inside the puppet head!
  2. well darn it. by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 2, Funny

    Most people were expecting the PS2 to drop to $149, but $179 is now also a possibility.

    Aww gee, I've mowed lawns for Old Man McGregor for the past year or so to earn my own playstation 2, earning $2 bucks per week, finally saving $150. Shucks, can't we make a deal here?

    --
    "I only speak the truth"
    Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
    1. Re:well darn it. by big_gibbon · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hey! You've cheated Old Man McGregor out of almost $50 somehow!

      Durn theivin' kids . . .

      P

  3. Why would they want to? by krugdm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hell, why not milk the PS2 for as long as they can? I've got to imagine that as the technology in the PS2 gets cheaper, they'll actually start making money per unit instead of losing it, and as long as people are buying, then more profit for Sony.

    Apparantly it's a winning strategy since people are still buying PSOnes...

    1. Re:Why would they want to? by larien · · Score: 5, Interesting
      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.

    2. Re:Why would they want to? by renenoel · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Technical Superiority never had anything to do with the Console Wars.

      At almost every stage, Nintendo had the better platform, but because of bonehead licensing, they never really got developers behind them. Also, they always came out with gimpy media: cartridges, mini-DVDs, instead of CDs and regular DVDs.

      X-Box has also struggled with developers, but they clearly had (and still has) the best engine behind the games: it's twice as fast as the PS2. As Nintendo (and briefly, Sega) have shown us is that it's not the faster box that wins.

      Sony wins with letting anyone and their brother develop games (they even sold ones that let you develop games on your own!), and they won by making it easily hackable. When people realized that after dropping a few dollars to (illegally) modify their PS1 or PS2, they could download all of games off the net or copy their friends' games, it took off and never looked back. At any point, if Sony wanted to close up the ability to modchip their machines, I'm sure they could have, but why would they?

      If Microsoft or Nintendo really want to compete, they should worry less about processing power and more about getting people behind them.

    3. Re:Why would they want to? by Drakin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think what renenoel wastrying to infer was that if Sony was really serious about preventing of mod chipping of thier machines, they'd havedeveloped a way to do it on the hardware level, rather than relying on the courts.

    4. Re:Why would they want to? by MonkeyDluffy · · Score: 2, Informative
      A cache-crippled Celeron

      Actually, it's a cache crippled P3. While the cache is the same size as the celery, the cache access latency is the same as the P3. The celery's cache access latency is two extra clock cycles longer than a P3, slowing it down. So the X-box processor is slower than a P3 (less cache), but faster than the celery (lower cache latency).

      -MDL

      --
      Happy meals fund terrorism
  4. Ingest with a single crystal of Sodium Chloride... by Ab0rtRetryFail · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As always, I think articles like this should be taken with a grain of salt.

    I think the PS3 is likely anywhere from Christmas 2004 to Christmas 2005. The standard for a LONG TIME has been a 5 year system cycle, and there's nothing to suggest that the next generation will be any different. Whatever Sony is planning is likely not past the drawing board stage, and there's certainly a lot of life left in their Playstation 2 system.

    Don't worry people... you can all enjoy your PS2s for a couple of years to come, at least. :)

  5. Re:Holy Switcheroo Batman! by russx2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Didn't "they" say, like 2 weeks ago, that the playstation 3 will be coming out next year?

    No, it was just some rumour circling the net as usual. Sony will not under any circumstances release a new console while their existing box (PS2) is selling well.

    As for not releasing a new console until it's good and finished, hmm, I'm not sure. Sony's only real motivation to release a new console sooner rather than later is competition (XBox, gamecube etc). If one of these catches them off guard then you'll be sure to see a new PS... whether it's good and finished or not. Sony can't afford to lost market share.

  6. In topics about the PS3, some things are certain.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. The Release date will change.

    2. People will complain about said release date change and blame it on either Sony, Microsoft or CowboyNeal.

    3. SOMEONE will post a link to that 'Ghost of Christmas Future' PS5 story on TheOnion.

  7. to the victors goes the spoils.. by merc_sa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sony has won the console war and it's now time to ride the gravy train for the next few years
    off the software. The xbox was out late was never got traction, and the gamecube is still
    mainly targetted at kiddies..

    MS is now in the awkward situation of either being content at number 2 or risk further
    alienating its base by releasing the next console too early. Nintendo being in that same leaky
    boat. So whether we like it or not, Sony's domination over this current generation of
    consoles will push out innovation for the next generation at least by an extra year or two.
    It'll be good for sony's bottomline but gamers will have to be happy with what they got for a
    little while...

    Is it just me, or there seems to be a slowdown in major AAA titles in the last year or so for the
    consoles? I would generally buy at least 3 to 4 AAA titles a year, but this year and last year,
    Vice City is the only title I've picked up.. Either I'm getting pickier.. or the picking's
    gotten a lot thinner..

    --
    -- I have enough stupid gadgets to know that I can do without -- http://www.modestneeds.org
    1. Re:to the victors goes the spoils.. by larien · · Score: 4, Interesting
      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.

    2. Re:to the victors goes the spoils.. by BrerBear · · Score: 2, Informative

      Nintendo hasn't released some of its best titles in the UK yet, so it's suffering there. But in the US, sales in February were up quite a lot (110%) last month. And Zelda has massive preorder numbers: 600,000 already.

  8. Competiton by rf0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Prehaps Sony realises that ATM in terms of installed based and quality of the game library there isn't anything that can touch the PS2. In europe both the X-Box and Gamecube aren't anywhere near as popular. Why should Sony push new hardware onto the market to extend their lead now when there is no need to.

    As other people have said the PS2 unit itself might start making money for sony as production costs fall. Sure I would love to have the PS3 but Sony know the market will wait. Also with any luck the extra time will mean that the new technology will be even more advanced.

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

    Rus

    1. Re:Competiton by binaryDigit · · Score: 5, Interesting

      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.

  9. Why do we need it? by x311 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It might just be me, but I'm completely satisfied with my XBox and PS2. Hell, I still love the Dreamcast. You know why? The games are good and fun. Is releasing a new console going to make the games better? I really can't see the correlation between having a new console out and having better games (except that a new system usually launches with a couple A+ games). I'd be more interested in MS and Sony throwing more money into quality game development instead of working on making a new console that will make the already-pretty-enough graphics a little bit prettier. Graphics and processing power do not make games--innovation does.

  10. Re:would be nice if... by cdrudge · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why mod when you can have official support

  11. Good news for everybody by vandenh · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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.

  12. they have to wait by NixterAg · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

  13. Recap by YE · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Now, if you haven't been following the entire brouhaha, here's a brief recap:

    1. Somebody overhears something about chips sampling and makes the utterly ridiculous assumption that PS3 will launch this year.

    2. Gutter media (like The Inquirer) are all over the story.

    3. Gamer sites don't want to be left behind ("Hey, it may be bullshit, but our readers better read bullshit on our pages than on The Inquirer") and quote each other as authorities.

    4. Everyone with a little insight in the console business and general common sense dismisses the story as crap. General consensus is reached.

    5. Mainstream media picks up the story a week after it's all calmed down, e.g. CNN posts an article of three screenfulls of text which says absolutely nothing.

    6. Slashdot editors decide that any mention of the word "Playstation" on CNN is techno-culture, cyberpunkish, and, most of all, worth posting as news.

    7. Slashdot readers ("commenters") wage a bloody flamefest over "my console is 1337er than yours", mentioning "attention to gameplay", "Microsoft world domination" and "games in ye good olden days" many times without giving a clock cycle to think about what they actually mean. But, hey, that's okay, that's Slashdot!
  14. This is a _huge_ gamble by Sgs-Cruz · · Score: 2, Insightful
    X-box has extremely short development times (and low costs for the power you get, due to using basically commodity hardware). If Sony waits this long, MS has the capability to release two new boxes in that time (they won't... but they could, theoretically.) The problem is, three years is foreeeever in the world of technological devlopment. Can you imagine if something had been announced in March of 2000? Would you still care about it now?

    I guess what I'm saying is, Cell had better be absolutely revolutionary-stunning-fantastic to actually make people care after that long.

    --

    Karma: pi (Mostly due to circular reasoning in posts).

  15. 5 years? by snitty · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This five year gap between consoles may be just what nintendo needs to jump in and take over the next generation console market. Previously Sony has had the edge by coming out a year earlier than the others.

    --
    Modular Redundancy--Because 4 out of 5 Nodes agree
    1. Re:5 years? by Daetrin · · Score: 2, Interesting
      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.

      --
      This Space Intentionally Left Blank
  16. Re:Who cares? by mezelf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The X-box vs. PS2 battle will indeed be a tough one, but I don't think that the X-box will knock the Gamecube off the market. They are targetted at completely different audiences. The Gamecube targets the younger children, with games and characters such as Zelda, Super Mario, ... Pretty friendly games, rather non-violent with more or less cartoon-like characters. OK, they have always had other games as well (Metal Gear springs to mind), but Super Mario and Zelda were and are their flagships.

    While both the X-box ans the Playstation (1 or 2) can compete with the gamecube on the second type of games (for the young adults or the older children) and even might dominate the market in that category, they don't seem to have that impact on the youngest amongst the gamers and they don't seem really willing to put enough effort in it.

    So, I think that there is more than enough room for at least 2 consoles, and I favor Nintendo for being one of them. They have the know-how regarding children, they work with some experienced companies on those games, ... What will happen to the other consoles... Only time will tell.

  17. I predict . . . by frankthechicken · · Score: 4, Funny

    I believe Sony and Trevor Bayliss are understood to be forming a partnership, so I predict the next playstation will be completely portable, with completely wireless controllers. Both the console and the controllers will be entirely powered by the power of wind up. The crank to wind up the controller may also be used as a Fishing/Hammer throw/Cycling/Organ grinder simulator, much like the original Sega Fishing rod.

    The actual reason for the delay for the release date is the need to try to decrease the amount of work needed to keep the console operating. Currently the console needs the equivalent of reeling in forty seven Killer Whales per second, or 47 kW/S to generate even simple gouraud shading. Though Mr. Bayliss believes that this may be overcome through some form of "magic".

  18. Re:Ingest with a single crystal of Sodium Chloride by garcia · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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

  19. Re:The main thing that has kept me away from conso by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I know this may sound like crazy techno-babble but they got these keyboards that run off a so called 'universal serial bus'. The name is exotic but the concept is simple. All in all, you gets a keyboard and a mouse on yer PS2

  20. Re:Ingest with a single crystal of Sodium Chloride by ApharmdB · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    Because the hardware is more focused on a single purpose and because that is a benefit of consoles. Joe Average likes consoles as opposed to computer gaming because it is a single purchase that lasts a much longer time. He is not forced into a constant upgrade cycle to stay current. If Sony, MS, and Nintendo start making new consoles every two years they will alienate a lot of people. Look at what all those "upgrades" did to Sega during the Saturn days.

  21. Re:would be nice if... by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 2, Funny
    ...It could be modded with linux like xbox

    almost... you should have said something like:

    "In other news... Although a prototype PS3 has not even been fully designed much less built, several guys without girlfriends got several linux distros running on it, they then got it to emulate a C64 webserver"
  22. The main thing that has drawn me to consoles by iainl · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "When was the last time you were using a controller for xbox online and were accused of using an aimbot? Never? Hmmm.... wonder why that is."

    err, because the lack of aimbots has meant that you can concentrate on playing games rather than worrying that every person achieving a kill might be cheating? I know I stopped playing CS when it became impossible to have any fun due to all the cheating people; consoles have got me gaming again.

    While I understand your desire to stick with K+M configs for playing first-person games, I also found that I'm got pretty sick of just these, and nothing beats a stick for fighting games, shooting games, platformers, analogue control for driving games etc. Its the right tool for the right job that counts.

    --
    "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
  23. Re:My PS2 aint gonna last till 2006... by tx_mgm · · Score: 2

    at least your ps2 still works...
    mine was NOT in the batch that got recalled (according to the nice sony representative i spoke with not so long ago) which means that ill have to ship my console to them for a new laser, which i will have to pay for...and will come out to cost more than a brand new unit. so until they bring it down to a reasonable cost, i'll just go without one.
    oh and by the way, the thing that irritates me the most about the whole situation is that the laser started to go to shit on me less than a year after purchase...want to know how my original NES (bought in 1985) is doing? well, last night i enjoyed a session of gyromite with R.O.B....yes even the FUCKING ROBOT still works as beautifully as the day i bought it!

    --
    Gentlemen...BEHOLD!
    -Dr. Weird
  24. Re:Ingest with a single crystal of Sodium Chloride by pmz · · Score: 2

    He is not forced into a constant upgrade cycle to stay current.

    It's interesting how a proprietary gaming platform can actually empower the consumer. It seems for PCs, the manufacturers manipulate the consumers so they always have an inferiority complex about their hardware. Console owners don't care too much that their hardware is not bleeding edge any more--they just want more and more games.

  25. Quick rant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    1. Please don't call it the PS/2, that's a device interface

    2. Joe Six-pack doesn't care whether or not you can install Linux, or overclock the processor. That is not the way you are going to sell a games machine.

  26. Re:My PS2 aint gonna last till 2006... by dalamcd · · Score: 2, Informative
    I would strongly suggest you both check out this. I was having huge problems with my PS2 where DVDs and DVD games would work fine, but PS1 and regular CD games (those with a black/purple background are regular CDs) would come up with a Disk Read Error almost every time. Adjusting the voltage (do it with a friend like it says--would have been next to impossible otherwise) solved it and I've never looked back.
    Do try just cleaning the lens before adjusting the voltage, though.

    dalamcd

    --
    moer liek CELtroid prime!!@1!
  27. PS2 is already media center by specialized_sworks · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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

  28. When will the Next Nex Generation come out? by The+Briguy · · Score: 3, Informative
    Let us turn to history to decide.

    First Generation

    1979 Atari 1980 Colceovision 1981 Intellevision

    Second Generation

    1984 Nintendo NES 1986 Sega Master System

    Third Generation

    1989 Sega Genesis 1991 Super Nintendo

    Fourth Generation

    1995 Sega Saturn 1995 Sony Playstation 1996 Nintendo 64

    Fifth Generation

    1999 Sega Dreamcast 2000 Playstation 2 2001 Xbox 2001 Gamecube

    Now, if you take the average year for each Generation, you get a distint pattern -

    First Generation - 1980

    Second Generation - 1985 Third Generation - 1990 Fourth Generation - 1995 Fifth Generation - 2000

    If this pattern continues, then we would expect your average 6th generation console to come out in 2005, with perhaps one console in 2004 and one in 2006. In any case, if a console doesn't come out until 2005, it won't be at all unusual - this generation wouldn't be any longer than previous ones.