PSX Production Stops, Development Issues Rumored?

Thanks to GameScience for translating the news that Sony's PlayStation 2/DVR combination, the PSX, has temporarily ceased production in Japan, apparently "since the start of April." According to Sony representatives, the company is "in the middle of deciding when production will start again, based on the current stock levels, as well as the shift in demand for the unit", but the Japanese article claims "a development problem", suggesting "...both SCE's game unit and Sony's Blu-ray team are involved in the project, and apparently things haven't been running smoothly, resulting in some of PSX's functionality being mismatched" - is this partly referencing the PSX's initial feature downgrade? However, the PSX is "still on track for launch in Europe and North America in the second half of 2004."

Comments

hmmm...who believes Sony?

[Anonymous Coward]

I suspect that the real cause for stopping production is low sales, duh. I was in japan when the PSX launched - for the first week or so, you had to pre-order them, but after that, you could just walk into a store and buy one. Within about a month of launch, stores were giving 500-1,000 yen discounts (less than $10, but still).

With the pace of change in the hardware market, the PSX is steadily losing its feature edge. It's getting stale fast - I wonder if we'll really see it launch here in the U.S.

DEAD!

[chrismcdirty]

Sony must be dying! They have to be, or else why would they stop production on the machine? I mean, when Nintendo stopped production on GCN, everyone and they're mom said they were dying. So it only follows that Sony will go out of business soon after Nintendo.

[/sarcasm]

Add these features and it'll take off!

[felonious]

Since this is another "swiss army" knife device that claims to do it all well then I have one more feature suggestion. Seeing as the N-Gage was such a phenominal hit how about adding phone functionality to the PSX? It's probably easier to use than an N-Gage, phone wise, and although it doesn't resemble a taco you could say it's more akin to a block of cheese in the looks department.

It could be used as a portable device as long as you can strap it to your back and roll around a gas generator on a hand truck to power the thing.

Why did they miss all of these great ideas????? :D

Re:Why PSX, Why?

[Carlos Rodriguez]

PSX was an acronym used mainly by the videogame press. Sony of America's press releases (like this one) use "PlayStation", "PS" and "PS one" to refer to the original Playstation. They've been doing that at least since 2001.

AFAIK, after Nintendo dropped Sony's contract to create a SNES console with CD capabilities (which was referred as the Playstation), Sony decided to create its own console using the Playstation as its base, and this project was baptized as Playstation X. When the console was marketed the 'X' was dropped fron its official name, but the press still used the X in the acronym. Dunno why... maybe because it sounded cool?

I agree that Playstation X may sound unoriginal, but since Sony of Japan never used the name in a released product in that market I don't see much trouble. I think it fits - after all the PSX is more than a PS2, but it is not a new Playstation console. Of course, they might run a bit of a problem when they try to market a PS3 with added functionality... will it be known as PSX2? Or a PS3X, maybe?

The actual problem is the price.

[AzraelKans]

The psx is a great system (hmm yes I still associate that acronym with the ps but lets skip that) just the dvd recorder is enough for anyone to consider the purchase add to that the fact that is also a full ps2 and you have a deal, unfortunately the price is definetily a problem ($700 bucks) with a price like that lets just face it, everybody who was able to buy it, has already bought one.

Besides a real tech savy guy only needs to do the math, they can upgrade their computer to have a video-in card ($50) a half decent dvd-recorder($150) and buy a brand new ps2 ($150) all for ($350) half the price, and enjoy the same features of the psx in the living room. (not under the same case though).

Why this doesnt look like (and actually isn't) terrible news for sony? well for starters they are heading the "console wars" for what? 20 million sales? also the PSX is just a "bundle product" not their main console? and the ps2 is selling at almost the same rate? AND they are also a huge company who gets money from just about everywhere (movies,tv,electronics,evercrack addicts)? I mean seriously feelings aside at what point Nintendo was in the same position when they had to stop producing the cube? we were worried for nintendo back then. (fortunately we now realize they have never been in trouble since they are actually getting a profit for each console, contrary to other companies. So they will still be around for a while. thankfully for their fans)

However back at the PSX maybe sony should consider a price drop. I will definetily pick one up, if they put it around $350 or $300. I will ran to the mall if its on $250 Hell would be unleashed if its $200-$150 (but thats daydreaming).