PlayStation 3 To Debut at E3 2005

Yorrike writes "According to the BBC, Sony are planning to officially reveal the PlayStation 3 at the E3 Expo in May 2005. They're obviously not wanting to be outdone by Nintendo, who announced the same plans for the GameCube successor, as well as Xbox 2's rumored debut around that time. Looks like E3 2005 is going to be a biggy." Worth noting that's not the ship date, but when people will see it.

Comments

OMG!!!

[BigDork1001]

Now there's a shock! This isn't news. Anyone who even remotely follows video games should be expecting all three companies to have showings of the new consoles at E3 next year.

Re:OMG!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

How the fuck is this a troll?!?!?!?! Sarcasm yes, troll no.

Re:OMG!!!

[HappyDrgn]

Anyone who even remotely follows video games should be expecting all three companies to have showings of the new consoles at E3 next year.
Showings of anything would be good. With the exception of the Nintendo DS E3 2004 was not worth attending.

Re:OMG!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I would have to say the DS did show some interesting things, but it goes against the nature of a handheld, while the PSP is going to be extremely nice and Playstation twoy in power plus the fast that sony is going to have lots of launch games, while the DS is going to have some pretty corny ones...

I'm beginning to have my doubts...

[Anonymous Coward]

...after they renamed the project Playstation Forever.

Re:I'm beginning to have my doubts...

[ggy]

Nah, this'll be the best PS ever, especially when they renamed it Playstation 3D.

Oh yeah?

[Anonymous Coward]

Slashdot's going to cripple the BBC?

yay.. more linux porting

[TheAtomicElec]

haha... time to port linux to the next generation Xbox :b

Re:Text (We know what's gonna happen to their serv

[Grey Ninja]

Don't they mean 70 million PS2 units SHIPPED, and not sold?

In other news, Nintendo describes Sony's marketting division as a bunch of mindless jerks who will be the first against the wall when the Revolution comes.

(sorry, had to.)

Too late

[110010001000]

Microsoft is going to win these wars. Their smooth integration of online technologies and their ability to give the developer a single API to develop to (Xbox AND desktop windows via DirectX) is going to win out eventually. Its only a matter of time.

Re:Too late

[LWATCDR]

The best technology does not always win. OS/2, The Amiga , The Atari ST, and the Mac would have killed Microsoft back at MS-DOS 4.
What matter for consoles is Games. Are they fun. From what I hear from my game nut friends. The PS/2 has the best games followed by the Gamecube. XBox has Halo.
The Single API might also not be an Advantage for the XBox. If every game that I can get on the XBox. To make such a bold claim sight unseen is foolish at best.

Re:Too late

[BorgDrone]

Lots of games nowadays are based on off-the-shelf game engines, this won't be that much of a problem, you'll write the engine once for every platform and the game developers only have to program against the API the game engine exposes.

Look at games like Quake and Unreal, they are no more than tech-demo's to sell the engine, that's where the real money is to be made.

Re:Too late

[gekkotron]

Unless, of course, the rumor is true and the XBox2 ships with no hard drive.

What made me decide between a PS2 and the XBox was the hackability of the XBox and the ease with which it could be converted into something of a media center, using the added 120gb drive to store movies, mp3s, etc.
Other purchasers may share this opinion.

Re:Too late

[Incoherent07]

There are two rather large assumptions here.
1) The console gaming market wants to be like the PC gaming market, or vice versa.
2) Someone will actually develop for the Xbox.

The former is only obvious if you've actually followed the two realms. What makes a good PC game does not necessarily make a good console game, and what makes a popular PC game does not necessarily make a popular console game. It's not just the difference in how you control them, but also a difference in what sorts of games you tend to see. Console RPGs and PC RPGs have diverged quite a bit, for example. So the idea of having a single API for PC and console isn't as huge of an advantage as you'd think, simply because the two groups aren't all that alike, and I daresay won't be all that alike for awhile.

The second is probably a non-issue. Even if Microsoft can't get a dead monkey to develop for Xbox, they have enough cash to keep cranking out new generations for quite some time, or to buy out developers as exclusives (see: Rare).

Re:Too late

[gl4ss]

so they should just stop and roll over, even if they can make a buck selling consoles for good few years still? what business sense would there be in that, declaring yourself the loser even before the fight started?

how about 10 years? or 15? because microsoft hasn't already won the next console fight and the one after that is so far away that you can't _really_ say anything other than 'sensible' sounding guesses about what happens to ms, ibm, sony, nintendo, sharp, and dozens of other companies that might make a dip into the scene.

Re:Too late

[Last_Available_Usern]

The PS/2 has the best games followed by the Gamecube. XBox has Halo.

That's just not true. I have the X-box and the PS-2 and guess which one I (as well as some of my friends) stopped buying games for? And the primary reason is high definition support. So many of todays games are cross-platform available, so saying one companies games is better then the other is almost moot. What I want are, in this order:

1) Games (and most developers make games for as many platforms as possible)

2) Visuals and Sound

3) Controller comfort

4) Accessories

Re:Too late

[chrismcdirty]

It's all a matter of opinion. I feel the GCN has the best games, followed by Xbox, then PS2. I seriously don't see many games on PS2 that warrant a purchase of the system.

Re:Too late

[NetNinja]

No what matters is advertising.

Re:Too late

[alecks]

No, but it may be an advantage for the developers of said games. You get the developers, you get the good games, you get the market! my 2c

Re:Too late

[cybrthng]

This got modded up as insightfull?

What do you mean no developers? The only hold out i'm aware of are Sony owned or Nintendo own companies.

Even EA has seen the light of day and will offer broad support of Xbox Live.

i think the PS2 has dead monkeys developing for it with all the crap that comes out. Goes for any console for that matter.

As for Console vs PC, there will not be a distinction in the near future. DRM will enforce console like licensing & features on your PC and now that PC/Gaming "conversion" is coming on quickly and affordably (pc's were too expensive for market acceptance and performance) it won't be long before we just have "Consumer" devices.

Re:Too late

[KDR_11k]

Especially the kind of hidden advertising happening in magazines and on popular websites that involves bribing the journalists.

Re:Too late

[saintp]

The problem with this is that, if I can get "Pong Deathmatch Arena" for either the XBox 2 (for which I must pay ~$200) or for the PC (for which I must press the "On" button on the box that's already sitting next to my desk), I'm going to do the latter. Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot with this, since, as another reply to this post pointed out, what matters is the games that are available. So if all the XBox games are also on Windows, then all of the gamer geeks out there are going to stick with Windows and tell the XBox to go frag itself.

Re:Too late

[Anonymous Coward]

"PS/2 has the best games followed by the Gamecube. XBox has Halo."

When you make statements like that you lose all credibility. Good job!

Re:Too late

[roccothegreat]

This should be a TROLL (XBox has Halo)! XBox has tons of great games(even though only about half of the PS2). My kids have a PS2 and my nephew has an XBox. The only reason we did not get them an XBox, is because it cost more for the hardware(No DVD, Controllers more $, and my nephew did not have his XBox yet!). The XBox games seem to have better graphics (ie. Madden 2004 looks incredibly sharp on the XBox when compared to the PS2). I think it is really a toss up between $ and whether you would like more game titles to play.

Rocco

Re:Too late

[Anonymous Coward]

PS2 has the MOST games, including many of the best.

GameCube has less games than PS2, but the ratio of good games to bad ones (particularly regarding exclusives, but applicable across the entire line as well) is the highest of all current consoles. Many GameCube exclusives are cream of the crop, and stay exclusive to the GameCube. Of course, third-party exclusives are an occasional exception, as with the other consoles.

Microsoft's (*) Xbox has less games than PS2, and a noticeably lower ratio of good games to bad/mediocre games than GameCube. Xbox exclusives don't tend to stay exclusive for long, heading for the Microsoft (*) Windows platform quite often. A lot of exclusives actually turn out to be limited "first version" exclusivity deals on the order of a couple of months, before hitting the PS2 and GameCube.

I guess it all boils down to this: If you go down to a game store and pick up a random video game, most likely it will be a PS2 game. But if you specifically pick up a random game each from the PS2, GameCube, and Xbox sections of the store, the GameCube game is more likely to be a good game than the PS2 or Xbox games (which is not to say that it's necessarily a better game than the others, just that the likelihood that it's a good game is higher).

Re:Too late

[Incoherent07]

Allow me to correct what I said: very few people are developing exclusives for the Xbox. Those that exist tend to be ported to PC. And Microsoft encourages it... after all, they own most of the PC market. End result: why should I get an Xbox, when there's little advantage over the PC and other consoles which I already have?

In other words: if there are three consoles of comparable power, I'll buy the one with the best games that I can't get on any of the others. (Example: a number of RPGs on Playstation, and Nintendo's first party series on Gamecube.) Multiplayer isn't a big deal because I can get that on PC. In my estimation, that puts Xbox a distant third... your mileage may vary.

You also misunderstand what I said about the console/PC distinction. The games that come out for each are different. They've evolved to that point. Even if, say, tomorrow, all PCs magically used the exact same hardware configuration (like a console), I'm not convinced the two portions of the gaming industry would combine as much as you seem to think.

Re:Too late

[FatherOfONe]

I somewhat agree with you but I have to ask...

How many games do you have for your Xbox that you can't get for your PC? Specifically almost all the games that you talk about (cross platform games) look and play much better on a good gameing PC, yes they may come out a month later but so what, as you said it is the quality of the game that drives you to your purchase.

Everyone I know who has an Xbox also has a great high end pc, and tends to play "some" games on it, but they then tend to focus on their PC games over time. Now people that own Nintendo or Sony... that appears to be another class of people. Those people tend to buy stock PC's (for work) and then have a console for their "kids".

Not to go on a rant here, but can't you just call the xbox a total failure? I mean with all the money Microsoft has put behind this device, they appear to still be behind Nintendo and Sony? (Some reports have them in second, but it is basically a tie between Nintendo and Microsoft for last) I guess my question is: "How few of machines have to be sold over a time to be considered a complete failure?"

Now do I think it is the best hardware out there for games? Yep, but the facts speak for themselves, they could quadruple their sales for the next two years and not have as many machines as Sony has now. Again, at what point is this thing marked a failure? So why would any developer waist their time on this thing and not for the PC? I can only think of one reason, and that is that Microsoft is paying them to do so. That has got to get expensive after a while, and won't last forever.

Re:Too late

[spike hay]

The argument of xbox not having any good games is trite and untrue. Due to the fact that the platform is easy to develop for, there have been many excellent games ported to the system. It is now rivalling PS2 in its extent of quality games.

We've got Ninja Gaiden, Morrowind, Splinter Cell:PT, Panzer Dragoon, Neverwinter Nights, KOTOR, Rainbow Six, Prince of Persia:ST, Project Gotham Racing, and unnumerable other big games. The days of XBOX only having Halo and Mechassault to its name are long gone. Now any big title released on the PS2 is usually released on the xbox, but often with much improved graphics. Likewise, many PC titles make it to the xbox, at the exclusion of other consoles.

Re:Too late

[spike hay]

My personal feeling is that the xbox is all around the best console. It has a combination of good graphics and a wide availability of good games. Something that the Gamecube (good games, but very few) and the PS2(Piss poor graphics) cannot claim. However, while the xbox has many very good titles, most of them are also out on PC. And guess which platform is usually better?

For a non-pc gamer, the xbox is a good console to get. Myself, I've been thinking of picking up a GC. Kind of want to give Zelda:Wind Waker a try.

Re:Too late

[Anonymous Coward]

Aside from the "who has the best game" argument, I think it is equally important to note that PS3 will be backward compatible while Xbox 2 will be "virtual"ly compatible at best. Going to PPC G5 forces users to abandon their old games or put up with emulation, possibly via Virtual PC.

Re:Too late

[parryr]

> The PS/2 has the best games followed by the Gamecube.

No, that's not right. I've got a PC, PS/2, GameCube, and an Xbox.

I have one game for the 'Cube - Metroid Prime.

I have, I think, five for the PS/2.

My Xbox library holds something like 25 titles.

If you like Japanese RPGs, the PS/2 has the best games. If you like having a Hello Kitty shitting yellow flowers on your screen, then get a 'Cube. If you want superior controls, graphics, sound, and games, then you want an Xbox.

Exclusives aside, it's a better console. If you include exclusives, it's got more of what I want to play.

Although - it's worth mentioning my PC library is huge, because I've been collecting games on that platform since Prince of Persia (the original).

Re:Too late

[Simon Garlick]

>>I have one game for the 'Cube - Metroid Prime.
>
>If you like having a Hello Kitty shitting yellow flowers on your screen, then get a 'Cube

Holy crap, what version of Metroid Prime do YOU have?

Seriously though, if you have only five PS2 titles and only ONE (!) Gamecube title, then you don't really have much on which to base an opinion of any sort.

Re:Too late

[prockcore]

. The PS/2 has the best games followed by the Gamecube. XBox has Halo.

Well, the PS2 has the most games... but I would argue that most of the best games are on other platforms.

All my PS2 owning friends have sold their PS2s and bought xboxes.. simply because they said the games were more fun. Maybe they're just odd, I don't know, I own a gamecube.

Re:Too late

[Datafage]

Well, I don't know about him, but for me the XBox has Project Gotham Racing. There's simply no equal for those games on the computer and the physics are better than GranTourismo. Further, later this year Forza is coming out and looks to blow away everything else. I've never played Halo in my life. Ninja Gaiden and Prince of Persia are games that aren't my style to play but I love watching my friends play them; the graphics are gorgeous and the games are interesting. Combine this with the ability to mod it to stream DivX over the network and the XBox is clearly my choice of console.

Re:Too late

[FatherOfONe]

We could argue if it is beter than GT... Almost all the good games for the xbox come out for the PC. The difference is that on the pc they run in 1024X768 or much higher, in my case 1280X1024. So on a given game, it looks much better on the PC. Does that mean that there won't be a few games that are only for the xbox and not the pc? Yep, but they are few and far between. An example is Star Wars KOTOR. I could give many more (including Halo), but you get the point.

Now you mention having a hacked Xbox to do stream your DivX.... I say how does that help you with games? I can do the same with my PC, you could to.

So again, at what point do you consider the xbox a failure. How much money needs to be dumped in to this platform and how few machines need to be sold to consider it a complete failure? I say that given all the money that has went in to it, the cost to produce each system, and the limited amount of sales, the xbox has been a failure. That coupled with the fact that both Nintendo and Sony are close to having a new system(s) out, makes future xbox sales appear weak at best. Granted xbox2 will also be out, but that device appears to have abandoned backward compatibility, so current xbox owners are kinda screwed. Honestly, if this was Sega, Nintendo, or even Sony everyone would be comparing this console to the biggest flops in movie history. The xbox does kinda remind me of the movie water world, except far worse. Understand that I am NOT saying that all the games suck, or that it is not worth the money.

These arguments remind me a lot of the BETA vs VHS arguments a few years back....

Re:Too late

[Anonymous Coward]

If it's only a matter of time, then Sony will integrate their online technologies and Microsoft is back to square one. No-one gives a toss about developer support, least of all the game buying public. Publisher support is what counts and ... oops. MS have only just got EA back on side.

Re:Too late

[KDR_11k]

The only game I know of with lots of flying flowers is Serious Sam in Hippy mode. Instead of blood there are flowers and instead of splattering into red gibs enemies will blow up into apples, oranges, lollypops, etc. And Sam isn't GC exclusive, in fact the better console version is XBox exclusive...

Re:Too late

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft is going to win these wars. Their smooth integration of online technologies....

Darl, is that you?!

Re:Too late

[rspress]

The only way Microsoft can win the war is that they have yet to make a profit from the xbox. They fact that they can absorb those losses is what is keeping the xbox alive.

Since the new xbox will not run the old xbox games that had better make sure to have new, killer titles ready to go when they launch. If not they are going to crash and burn hard. If they blow it they will have fewer sales than Ballmer has hair.

Hey, since both the xbox and playstation will be running PowerPC chips from IBM maybe this will mean easily ported games to the Mac and maybe even a directx API for the Mac.

Re:Too late

[caitsith01]

Which games would you say are particularly great for the Cube? I have been trying to figure this out for ages, I just can't seem to find anything that rivals the greats of N64 (e.g. Goldeneye, 1080, Perfect Dark, Waverace, Mario 64).

I have played Metroid Prime and I really didn't think it was that great - kinda like an average PC FPS IMHO. Mario Sunshine was ok but not fabulous... and the only half decent FPS I have found is Timesplitters 2, but even that is no Goldeneye-beater and the controls are horrendous compared to the 64.

Not trying to pick a fight, just frustrated that I'm not feeling the love from the Cube like I did from the Nixty...

Re:Too late

[javacowboy]

I actually bought an XBox because of Knights of the Old Republic, which was available ONLY for the XBox.

I couldn't run the game on my PIII, because the specs asked for a processor running at least 1 GHz, and my budget didn't allow me to buy a new PC yet.

I was able to find every other game I wanted for the XBox:

Enter the Matrix
Splinter Cell
EA Sports Baseball
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb

Now, despite being anti-Microsoft, I use the XBox as my exclusive gaming platform. This way, I can wean myself off Windows, and either run Linux exclusively on a PC, or buy a Mac. Now I have one less reason to buy a Windows license.

Re:Too late

[chrismcdirty]

I thought that Wind Waker was great. It was a refreshing change of pace from the Zelda series, with great graphics and gameplay.

Don't care what anyone says, Mario Kart: Double Dash is the best in the series.

Super Smash Bros: Melee, Wario Ware, Inc., Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, and Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures are some of the best multiplayer games I've played in a long time.

Eternal Darkness is the perfect Resident Evil killer.... until RE4 comes out.

Ikaruga is an extremely challenging, but still fun game.

Viewtiful Joe is awesome. Enough said there.

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour is bounds better than the original. And Mario Tennis GCN is looking the same way.

Re:Too late

[Agret]

Gamecube sucks, you only have to play one game to realise this.

Re:Too late

[rhsanborn]

I disagree entirely. The best technology DOES win. Windows didn't become windows because of its gaming technology. You cannot make a comparison between gaming on DOS, atari, and Mac, and gaming of today. Microsoft got big, because it started out as cheap and easy to use. THEN, they pushed their way into gaming. Now they are using that same force to push their way into consoles. And as the above post said, its easier to write games for the Xbox console and have it hit an enormous target audience because the API's are close/identical, I'm not sure specifically. Irregardless its going to be easier to code for Microsoft. As of right now, choosing a console really depends on the type of games you like. I have an Xbox currently, and I must say that nothing beats the graphics, but they do have a poor good game to bad game ratio. They've had some really horrible titles in their strive to get their game count up. That said, they've also had some really great titles. As mentioned elsewhere, games like Morrowind, KOTOR, and Halo are spectacular. But Xbox lacks the cartoony games that GC has (I don't care what anyone says, I LIKE the Zelda graphics), and its missing the Japanese anime like RPG's that PS2 has. So if I were to recommend a specific system to a friend today, I might recomend any of the above depending on their choice of games. But into the future, my money is on Xbox growing significantly as developers move to that platform.

Re:Too late

[Talon33]

KOTOR and Halo are both on the PC. I play them both at 1280x1024 with AA and AF on, on a 19" monitor running off my Radeon 9800XT. Frankly, I see no reason to purchase an Xbox. I have a PS2 for all those cutsey Japanese RPG's that never come out for PC.

I've always found the Xbox to be a joke, the only people I know that have them, do so because their PC's suck and they want to play the multiplayer sports games. Then again, they have those on PS2 as well. Not to mention the PS2 is a lot older than the Xbox. We'll wait and see, but PS2 and Gambecube have a captive audience. If you want their games, you have to buy their system, they won't release them on PC. You can't play Metroid or Eternal Darkness on PC, and you can't play Final Fantasy X on PC either. But there isn't anything exciting on Xbox I can't get on PC.

Re:Too late

[Anonymous Coward]

I disagree entirely. The best technology DOES win.

The best-promoted technology will often beat the best technology. --Thomas Jefferson

Oh fun

[Turn-X Alphonse]

So we're what two years away from another FF game, another DDR series with erm.. better graphics?

Nah, I don't think I'll bother with the PS3, it won't be hugely different to the PS2 and well I'd rather support someone like Nintendo who can make a console which doesn't die after a year (I'm sure everyone has seen or heard of a bad PS2 like that).

Sony can make fine TVs, DVDs, VHS and whatever else you wish to name. But the PS systems after the first just need alot of work.. we're on what the 10th model now and they still don't run right...

Re:Oh fun

[daringone]

Maybe I was a lucky person then... I've had mine for 3 years now, and I bought it used off of EBay. Never a problem. *Knocking on wood* I look forward to the new console. X-Box and GameCube knock its socks off when playing the same game on all consoles both graphically and in load times. I look forward to the new PS3, hopefully this time with built in support for 4 controllers, ethernet, and HD.

Re:Oh fun

[psbrogna]

I've had a PS since when they came out and a PS2 since it came out and neither has failed. I also don't know of anybody that had a failed PS*. Your assumption is incorrect.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

I own Two PS2s, one bought in 2000, another one in 2002 (modded) and they are both fine. I have about 10 friends who did not report a single problem with their mostly modded-hence-not-so-original sets playing backups-hence-not-original-discs. Give evidence, not tainted opinions with no backup

Re:Oh fun

[th1ckasabr1ck]

So we're what two years away from another FF game, another DDR series with erm.. better graphics? I understand if you have a problem with PS2s breaking down, but if you buy the next Nintendo console and don't expect the big games to be MarioX, ZeldaX, and MetroidX you're fooling yourself.

Re:Oh fun

[PainKilleR-CE]

I'll just do the same thing I did with this generation of consoles:

1) Buy games for previous generation console dirt cheap when new console is released.

2) Wait for new console to have 3 or more games that I must have.

3) Buy the new console and the 3 or more games.

4) Repeat.

Gee, I wonder why I have 4 consoles and am considering buying a PSOne for the PS1 games I own that won't play on the PS2. This is what taught me:

5) Don't sell the old system until I've tested every single game I already have on the new system (if the new system makes any claims of backwards compatability).

I can buy switches to handle as many consoles as I could possibly collect. I can buy ports (or sequels that manage to replace the games they follow) to reduce my need for older consoles. When I don't play a console very much I can even box it up and store it in a closet until I just need to play that game. I can't get my old games and systems back if I sell them, though, and I see no reason not to preserve these old games for my daughter should she ever show any interest in retro gaming later in her life (though by then she may just be able to zap them all into some VR rig for pennies a ROM).

Re:Oh fun

[hawkbug]

Well, I know 3 people with PS2s that ended up not working, and it has nothing to do with modding. It has to do with watching dvds on them. The damn lasers in the PS2 are worthless, the new models are better, but the old ones are horrible. First gen PS2 was a huge pile of crap in a lot of ways (it was noisy and the laser sucked to name a few). After a while, these PS2s quit loading DVD based PS2 games and DVD movies. The still seem to load CD based (blue backed games) without issue in most cases, even though the laser is extremely noisy when loading blue games. Enough evidence for you? Don't get me wrong - I own a PS2, and will also own a PS3. Why? Backwards compatibility. Xbox won't have it, Nintendo never has it, so PS3 it is.

Re:Oh fun

[Cornflake917]

Don't forget F-ZeroX, Smash Brothers MeleeX, Rogue SquadronX, and Chrystal Chronicles X. You could never expect what the big games for the next PS console are gonna be! (GTA X, FF X, and the EA sports games you can get for the PC and other consoles)

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

The REASON you buy a Nintendo console is for Nintendo's first party games like MarioX, ZeldaX, and MetroidX.

Re:Oh fun

[Slick_Snake]

I've heard of more failures with Xbox than with PS2. I personally have a PS2 since June 2001 and it has worked fine even though it has been used as both a game system and our primary DVD player the entire time. Some of my friends have had different Xbox problems including failure of controler port, DVDs failing to eject, and games crashing when there doesn't seem to be any scratches on the disk.

You can make up your own mind, but I already have Xbox sucks!

Re:Oh fun

[PhoenixFlare]

I have one of the latest model PS2's (SCPH-5000x, not at home atm so i can't look at it), bought new, and i've had absolutely no problems with it so far.

Also have a orignal Playstation bought in 2000 that still runs fine after being through the 4 years of use, 3 moves, falling off dressers, etc.

So....You might want to try one. Also, as I recall, Sony is legally required by a class-action lawsuit to replace any (non-modchipped/user-damagaed) PS2's getting Disc Read Errors for free.

Re:Oh fun

[QEDog]

am considering buying a PSOne for the PS1 games I own that won't play on the PS2

I'm a bit curious, so far I haven't seen any PS1 games that don't work on the PS2. I am curious to know which games heve given you problems so far (I'm not arguing, I'm just wondering).

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

Hahaha, that's exactly what I do.
Two years ago I started buying up dreamcast games; this year, with the N5 or whatever coming out, I will finally buy a Gamecube. Mmmm, entire resident evil series...

Re:Oh fun

[LighthouseJ]

That's Intersting? whatever...

I can't stand it when people such as yourself have a bad experience and you think the company is wholly flawed. Maybe you just got a bad unit, did you think about that. I've had my PS2 since after a year it came out, even with my sister pushing the tray in and putting drinks and VHS tapes ontop of it, it still works fine.

You can't expect anyone that produces 50 million of anything to not have imperfections here and there. I'm sure you'll find out that you're the exception and not the rule.

Re:Oh fun

[timts]

the new ps2 models are using some cheap chip which can burn if you are trying to let it read CDR or DVDR.
at the time ps3 is out, ps2 would be super cheap to buy, why bother playing old ps2 games on ps3?
how many ppl are playing psone games on ps2 now?

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

I've owned two PS2 and each one quit around the 12 month period. I never even abused them like I would my orginal Playstation. The orginal one still works even though it been tossed in the rain and left there for weeks end. Smashed against walls and numerous other voliation of it rights. Never had a problem with it and still don't. But both of mine PS2 which lived their lives in an airy place and never once dropprd,kicked, or bused quite working after around 12months. Both died from laser problems.

Re:Oh fun

[EpsCylonB]

Well, I know 3 people with PS2s that ended up not working, and it has nothing to do with modding. It has to do with watching dvds on them. The damn lasers in the PS2 are worthless, the new models are better, but the old ones are horrible. First gen PS2 was a huge pile of crap in a lot of ways (it was noisy and the laser sucked to name a few). After a while, these PS2s quit loading DVD based PS2 games and DVD movies. The still seem to load CD based (blue backed games) without issue in most cases, even though the laser is extremely noisy when loading blue games. Enough evidence for you?

Enough evidence ? no, what you have just said is completely anecdotal, got any reliable source for your assertions ?.

Re:Oh fun

[KDR_11k]

Well, if you listened to Iwata's whining you'd know they're trying to add innovative features to the next device (code named "revolution", lamest codename ever) so at least Mario X won't be that much like Mario X-1 and Zelda X might differ strongly from Zelda X-1. There's no gurantee, but hey, it's better than just adding graphics, right?

Re:Oh fun

[PainKilleR-CE]

The primary one is one of the Final Fantasy ports (FF Anthology).

A quick search brought up a few pages saying that the following games have been confirmed by Sony not to work on the PS2, but then the above is the only one I have on this list:

Arcade Party Pak,
Atari Arcade Greatest Hits,
Fighter Maker,
Final Fantasy Anthology,
International Track and Field,
Judge Dredd,
Monkey Hero,
Mortal Kombat Trilogy,
Tomba.

Re:Oh fun

[hawkbug]

What the hell do you want? Me to mail you the dead PS2s? How is factual accounts of dead machines which back up the the original poster qualify as ancedotal?

Re:Oh fun

[Theaetetus]

Nah, I don't think I'll bother with the PS3, it won't be hugely different to the PS2 and well I'd rather support someone like Nintendo who can make a console which doesn't die after a year (I'm sure everyone has seen or heard of a bad PS2 like that).

Yeah, but remember the old squeeky wheel adage? My PS2 died after about a year (power supply was overheating), so I did a little Google research and was able to call their internal tech support line... Got to speak to their chief QA/QC tech, who Fedexed me a brand-spanking new PS2 along with a return label for my dead one. The key was to speak to someone knowledgeable - not an Indian out-sourced help desk person - and describe the problem in as complete a way as possible. I got the feeling he was used to hearing "it's dead and it won't play my Madden game!" rather than "no lights and fan doesn't spin up after cycling the power switch, outlet is good (double checked) and there's a smell of burned electrolytic capacitors coming out the back vent slots. Do you want me to crack it open and measure power supply voltages?"

Even though it was out of warranty by a month or two, he was happy to replace it.

-T

Re:Oh fun

[penultimatepost]

I've had a PS2 from day one. Never had a problem (it is my only DVD player). My g/f has a sligthly newer revison and hasn't had a problem either. I'm not a fanboy but my experience with the device, has been flawless.

Re:Oh fun

[vandoravp]

That's why I'm a fan of PC gaming. You don't have to worry about the hardware becoming obsolete since it will be old by the time it leaves the warehouse. Also, I don't have to wait a while for upgrades. This of course assumes I have the neccessary cash. PCs do make up for their cost by having software that is easy to pirate. Not that I would know from experience or anything *quick glances*. The multiple use thing is key too. Browsing those certain special sites isn't too easy on consoles. After all, it's easier to get Jenna on the PC.

Re:Oh fun

[MWoody]

Maybe I would have agreed with you, seeing as how my PS2 died. But I managed to fix my PS2 myself (found a guide on adjusting the laser distance) while my dead Gamecube would cost more to be fixed than the thing is worth.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

I have Final Fantasy anthologies and it works fine on my PS2, the only problem with it, is when I go to save. The screen jumbles up into blocks of red and blue. I have memorized the screen though and it is not a problem anymore.

Re:Oh fun

[king-manic]

Well, I know 3 people with PS2s that ended up not working, and it has nothing to do with modding. It has to do with watching dvds on them. The damn lasers in the PS2 are worthless, the new models are better, but the old ones are horrible. First gen PS2 was a huge pile of crap in a lot of ways (it was noisy and the laser sucked to name a few). After a while, these PS2s quit loading DVD based PS2 games and DVD movies. The still seem to load CD based (blue backed games) without issue in most cases, even though the laser is extremely noisy when loading blue games. Enough evidence for you? Don't get me wrong - I own a PS2, and will also own a PS3. Why? Backwards compatibility. Xbox won't have it, Nintendo never has it, so PS3 it is.

This is called an anecdote, statistical value : little.

Now grab a set of 1000 users and find how many of those untis failed. Adhear to standard data collection methodology. Otherwise it's just a story.

Re:Oh fun

[gabebear]

ditto here, 2/5 unmodded xbox's I've known have had hardware failures, 0/3 PS2s have died, although one idiot ripped the fan connector off his PS2's mainboard in a mod attempt.

Re:Oh fun

[king-manic]

When something breaks, that unit is defective. This allows you to assert "my unit is defective". Now you asserted all PS2 were defective. To asser "All" or "many" of the PS2's are defective you have to either show "every PS2" is broken, or statistically prove most are. Now, if you can show a report on failure statistics of the top 3 consoles and see if the ps2 has a significantly higher fail rate.

PS. Most new models of electronics have a higher fail rate then later generations.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

at least is can't be as bad as a recent "revolutions", right?

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

For what it's worth, the "Greatest Hits" release of FF Anthology fixes the save screen display issue on the PS2.
I can personally vouch for this. Of course, I'm an Anonymous Coward, so take that as you will.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone I know with a PS2 has suffered from the same problem about the DVD laser breaking. This was only after a few months.

Re:Oh fun

[MattyCobb]

Actually the PS2 is fine so long as you dont smoke around it and lay in in your filthy floor. Every person I know who has had problems with their PS2 was well... cleaning impaired. Its just dust that gets in there 9 times out of 10. A can of Duster sprayed in will usually fix it.

For the record both me and two of my friends have had our PS2s since launch day and they still all run great.

Also, I have seen that problem more and more in X-Boxes. If you are refering to the Disc Read Error or whatever in some games. Not quite as many as PS2s but im seeing more of it. Plus its more annoying because as far as I can tell their is no way to fix it without taking the system apart.

The only console system of this generation that I have seen to not have any real problems is the Gamecube. Mine still runs great.

Re:Oh fun

[GedConk]

I have had the exact same problem. The solution ? I simply openened the PS2, cleaned the interior, cleaned the air intakes and most importantly, cleaned the lens.

It took me half an hour(i was very cautious ;)), a couple of sheets of scott towels, a Q-Tip and some alcohol.

My PS2 has been working flawlessly ever since.

BTW, if you want some help on how to do this procedure, try google. There is a Howto somewhere (sorry I lost the link) that explains the procedure very well.

Re:Oh fun

[octal666]

Dunno for the GC succesor, but have you checked the launching titles for the Nintendo DS?

By the way, you have forgotten and amazing F-ZeroX also ;)

Re:Oh fun

[oberondarksoul]

Nintendo never has it

Sorry, but you're wrong here. The Game Boy lineage has always been backwards-compatible - you can still play an original Tetris cartridge released with the first Game Boy on the GBA - and Nintendo have announced that their follow-up to the GameCube will be backwards-compatible, too.

Re:Oh fun

[megarich]

I don't trust any new hardware once it first comes out hence i waited for over a year to by my ps2. No complaints...

Problem with gamecube for me its the lack of gaming options available. That and how long it took to com e out with there "bread and butter" games. I mean sorry but mario kart and zelda should of been the first two games the system came out with. That and a classic Mario/Luigi Super Mario Brothers game.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

In 2004, Nintendo offers backward compatibility for GameBoy games released in 1989. I can take the black and white Tetris that I got with my original GameBoy, and I can play it on that GameBoy, my GameBoy Pocket, my nephew's GameBoy Color, my Super GameBoy, the Super GameBoy 2 at the local game shop, my GameBoy Advances, my GameBoy Advance SPs, and the GameBoy Players attached to my GameCubes. If the Nintendo DS that I'll be pre-ordering in the coming months can play it too, nice.

The Playstation 2 was released in 2000, and was/is Sony's first/only backward-compatible gaming device. PS3 will follow in this tradition, just as Nintendo has established with GameBoy so many years prior.

Besides, the most informed rumor on that front comes from Famitsu (Japan's most respected and reliable independent gaming magazine syndicate, despite the name). That informed rumor is that Revolution will offer backward compatibility with GameCube software, as interpreted from one of their interviews with Satoru Iwata.

Re:Oh fun

[microTodd]

Interesting, I guess I'm lucky. I bought a PS2 on launch date. It is my DVD player. I'm currently playing Front Mission 4 on the same, original, launch date PS2.

Of course, I also take care of my PS2. It doesn't sit on the carpet, I clean and dust it, etc etc etc.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

Have you done the research?

If your GameCube is out, you can get it replaced for free assuming it has fallen victim to a known problem on Nintendo's list of most common failures. Many people have received free replacement consoles after calling Nintendo and describing the exact nature of their problems, including those whose warrantees have expired, in some cases.

In short, call Nintendo. Their U.S. phone support has always been excellent; they have to be, since they've been dealing with gamers and parents of gamers over the phone for almost twenty years now.

Re:Oh fun

[OneIsNotPrime]

Ugh, I have to comment because I'm getting sick of these "Nintendo can only make Mario games" comments. Just because every other Nintendo game has "Mario" or "Zelda" in the title doesn't mean they're not innovative. Nintendo is capitalizing on their star power (no pun intended), just like any other big company.

Think about it: Mario Sunshine, Paper Mario, Mario Kart Double Dash, Mario Party x, Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, Mario vs. DK. All vastly different, all great fun. So what if they're all "Mario" games?

You could argue that Mario Kart and Mario Party have had too many sequels, but give Nintendo credit for inventing the genres, unlike the million other "me-too" games out there (Crash Racing, Sonic Racing, Bomberman racing, Bubsy the Cat Racing. Just kidding about Bubsy). Watch and learn - in a ton of areas, Nintendo innovates and everyone else jumps on board. I bet it won't be long now before we see the "Wario Ware" clones coming out. If you missed this incredibly innovative and fun game just because it feautures one of Nintendo's trademark characters, your loss.

Re:Oh fun

[hawkbug]

Ok, you're talking about a hand held, I'm not. That's great for Nintendo, I applaud them. But I'm talking about Nintendo consoles:

NES
SNES
N64
Game Cube

None of those consoles will play the older generatiosn games. I think that stinks, but if you say the next console will play GC games, I again applaud nintendo for that.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

ngemu.com run from cdrom!
get 3d graphics plugin

play psx games w/better graphics than psx!

pull bios file for it out of thin air though///

Re:Oh fun

[AnyoneEB]

Huh? I thought FF X was for PS2.

Re:Oh fun

[EpsCylonB]

What the hell do you want? Me to mail you the dead PS2s? How is factual accounts of dead machines which back up the the original poster qualify as ancedotal?

Your perfectly justified in saying that you and your friends have had bad experiences, however you made the assertion that all early ps2's failed almost straight away. If this was true you would expect it to be documented somewhere. I think you and your friends have been unlucky, while early hardware is more fault prone if the ps2 was as severely defective as you suggest it wouldn't have gone on to sell 20 million plus.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony's problem is they use Sony brand lasers and power supply's. The laser diode's Sony makes are considered some of the worst in the world. They are cheap however and cheap (with a certain level of failure accecpted) are what is needed to stay in the console business. To compete you just have to cut a few corners.

Re:Oh fun

[Anonymous Coward]

The laser should be silent. If you have a noisy laser don't listen to it - those coherent sound waves can permanently damage your hearing.

Re:Oh fun

[Petrol]

Well, to make it less anecdotal...
I got my PS2 6 weeks after they came out. I can play DVDs, though some (like Gladiator) won't play anymore, the machine just can't read it now. And there are some DVDs that come out of the machine with a new groove cut into it near the center hole... very Bad Thing IMHO.

I chalk it up to decalibration due to age, but honestly don't know why. I just quit using the PS2 for movies and only play games.

My only goal now is to keep it alive long enough to get PSP and PS3.

Re:Oh fun

[LanMan04]

This is absolutely correct; I bought a rev 2 (or whatever, around Feb '01) PS2 I've had to send in for official Sony repair TWICE since I bought it. For anyone who doesn't know, if your PS2 starts destroying games (as mine did twice, scratching the hell out of them with circular grooves), they'll not only repair your PS2 for free (regardless of warranty), but they'll send you a check for the full, original retail value of the games. Crappy hardware, but good customer service.

Ars Technica

[strictnein]

claims that Nintendo will not be showcasing its nextgen unit next E3. It will just be discussing its "vision" for its nextgen unit.

I couldn't find links showing official info either way. Who's right?

Re:Ars Technica

[SilentChris]

"I couldn't find links showing official info either way."

You must be new to E3. Companies often don't have a set plan until a few weeks before the show. Even price changes are often laid down spur of the moment (although people at the company generally have some idea what price they will go to, they often wait for a competitor to ante up first). Considering demos are often burned the night before the show, and hardware that arrives with a curtain sometimes stays that way (Google both), I'm not surprised there's no official info.

Re:Ars Technica

[strictnein]

No, I'm not new to E3. It's just that I've now seen pretty official news from Sony and Microsoft about their next-gen stuff, but not Nintendo.

Re:Ars Technica

[Anonymous Coward]

Considering Nintendo with it's GameCube claimed they were going to release the system at the same time as the PS2 with almost no details of the system itself and only being months away, I wouldn't be surprised if all they released was a vision.

New Gamecube?

[artlu]

I thought Nintendo was going the same route as Sega which was not to release any more consols? What is the status on Nintendo's next gen as well. Anyone have any good rumor sites?

GroupShares Inc. - A Free and Interactive Stock Market Community

Re:New Gamecube?

[Turn-X Alphonse]

DS is a portable console...

and do you REALLY want to lose Nintendo? We're left with a DVD/MP3 player company and Microsoft..... why hell thar bad games market

Re:New Gamecube?

[Grey Ninja]

Nintendo is alive and well. They are keeping the specs of the Revolution close to their heart for the time being. (although there are rumors to the effect of a dual processor G5, or something like that... but I personally think those are bogus). Reports of Nintendo's death were greatly exaggerated.

Nintendo seems to have something up their sleeve though. They are talking about it like they were before they announced the DS. I am expecting something very strange that will have people going WTF.

I am also curious how the next Gameboy is going to factor into this. It seems to me that the DS is the perfect complement to a console, connectivity-wise but I am sure Nintendo will try to leverage the Gameboy more... Not sure how that will pan out.

For Nintendo console news, check out these sites:
www.planetgamecube.com
www.gcadvanced.com
www.gametabs.com

Re:New Gamecube?

[Wild Bill TX]

I thought Nintendo was going the same route as Sega which was not to release any more consols?

A while back, Nintendo's Satoru Iwata declared, "When we withdraw from the home game console, that's when we withdraw from the video game business."

Re:New Gamecube?

[nkh]

I saw today that Nintendo released all their old vintage games from the NES on the Game Boy Advance (pathetic). I can tell you what you will see on this Nintendo DS: all the N64 and Game Cube games (again) for a higher price...

Re:New Gamecube?

[ArekRashan]

Looking at Nintendo's fundamental financial position, I can with almost complete certainty guarantee _another_ console after the next. The next console, codenamed 'Revolution', will probably ship in 2006. While little is known about this machine, I have heard that you will be able to display its video output on a computer monitor. Nintendo is currently involved with IBM and ATI, and while no-one has explicitly confirmed anything about the hardware for the next console, it is safe to assume that Big Blue & Big Red are providing it. nVidia must surely be Green with envy that their competition is providing graphics for the mass-market consoles.

Re:New Gamecube?

[Donoho]

From the same article mentioned above 'The new console from Nintendo is codenamed "Revolution"'

Although no official statement has been given, this codename does give credence to runors that all games on this console will carry the Revolution moniker and be manipulated via dancepad controllers. As expressed by the promotional video for the Nintendo DS at the 2004 E3, Nintendo wants to improve the quality of life of it's consumers. The "Revolutiion" console will do so by ensuring the physical fitness of it's users.

One of the first peripherals on tap for this new system is a ceiling mounted harness to allow for real time super and double jumps...

Re:New Gamecube?

[NanoGator]

"I thought Nintendo was going the same route as Sega which was not to release any more consols?"

Somehow I doubt you heard that from a news site. Ever since the Playstation came out, everybody's tried to be the first to pass off a prediction of Nintendo's death as a sign of intelligence.

Sega scrapped the DC when they scraped broke. Nintendo has several billion cold hard cash in the bank. This fall/winter/next spring they're releasing the Nintendo DS, which sounds pretty darned cool so far. Nintendo's 'Revolution' system is another year or two away. It's supposed to be really snazzy. Not so much in terms of processor specs, but something's supposed to be revolutionary about it. After seeing the DS, I think Nintendo will pull it off.

Re:New Gamecube?

[Anonymous Coward]

They were released June 8, not today. There won't be n64 games on the new system. The NES games are classics because they are all 15-20 years old. People liked them because they were very playable and still like them today because of nostolgia. Judging by your UID, you are probably not even as old as many of these games, and you just don't get it. You missed the Golden Age of gaming, games today are by almost all counts, terrible.

Re:New Gamecube?

[Clock Nova]

Hmmm. This argument sounds so...familiar. I wonder why. Oh, well. Back to using my Macintosh.

Re:New Gamecube?

[Grey Ninja]

Yeah, I passed for most of them, as I am not too willing to cough up $20 for a 20 year old game... but I did pick up Super Mario Bros. =)

The thing is that the Famicom turned 20 in Japan, so they released a Famicom styled GBA, and a few classic games to go with it. American gamers were upset that they weren't getting it, so they did the same thing over here, even though the NES isn't quite 20 years old yet. I picked up a Classic NES GBA SP the day that they came out, and I don't regret it. It's just one of those cases where nostalgia really kicks in. I mean, this is a tribute to some of the best days of our childhood.

Re:New Gamecube?

[NanoGator]

"Hmmm. This argument sounds so...familiar. I wonder why. Oh, well. Back to using my Macintosh."

The difference is that a significant portion of Playstation users would be able to comfortably afford to also get Nintendo's system. Apple would enjoy more success if it could find a way to do that.

Re:New Gamecube?

[daringone]

Somehow I doubt you heard that from a news site. Ever since the Playstation came out, everybody's tried to be the first to pass off a prediction of Nintendo's death as a sign of intelligence

Don't get me wrong, I'm as much of a Nintendo fan as there is, but Nintendo will continue to die a slow, painful death unless they get better third party support very soon. I sold my Gamecube because I found the only reason I had it was for Legend of Zelda. As much as I hated to admit it, it became painfully apparent that PS2 and X-Box had more games I wanted, and the only exclusives that GC had were kid-based for the most part. I'll miss Zelda, but in the end, it was a better gaming decision for me.

Re:New Gamecube?

[Anonymous Coward]

Scratch that. Sony is a DVD/__ATRAC__ player company. MP3s are like Sony's kryptonite.

Re:New Gamecube?

[Anonymous Coward]

No doubt.

Apple would make a killing if they could pull in the same market share numbers in the PC arena that Nintendo does in the gaming market. And yet, with a far smaller share in their market, "beleaguered" Apple is faring well and kicking quite the bit of ass these days.

Nintendo is fit and ready for a fight. They are certainly surviving Microsoft's best efforts better than Apple can - and that's saying a lot, given that Apple are the ones that have made a good living off of this very activity.

Re:New Gamecube?

[Mike Hawk]

Wow, overrated again? Not even off-topic? Editors, your moderation system is now officially DESIGNED to be abused.

Slashdot the BBC?

[Anonymous Coward]

Sir, I think you're overreacting a little! May I suggest the Beeb links to /. to see this site grind to a halt?

Re::P

[dangerburger]

"SOUTHFIELD, MIBored with scaring elderly misers, the Ghost of Christmas Future is spending the holiday season taunting modern children with visions of Christmas 2016's hottest toy: the Sony PlayStation 5, a 2,048-bit console featuring a 45-Ghz trinary processor, CineReal graphics booster with 2-gig biotexturing, and an RSP connector for 360-degree online-immersion play."
now if i just had the time to play one

Also the Jaguar 2

[sjonke]

Atari will also return to form with their new 128-bit Jaguar 2 & Jaguar 2 CD, now more toilet-like than ever!

Re:Also the Jaguar 2

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought your comment was a troll until I saw the image. The only accessory missing is the Ultimate FlushPro 2000 chrome flush chain, complete with gold plated toggle, guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Re:Also the Jaguar 2

[galaxy300]

Don't forget the new Jaguar Hot Rod Intra-Oral Camera. No joke, they actually make this - using recycled Jaguar parts. I think they had a lot of the cases left over in the factory.

Development?

[gr8_phk]

I was wondering how to contact them about doing some development for it. I've got this really neat ray tracer that should be fantastic on all those processors....

Re:Development?

[nkh]

The official SDKs for gaming consoles have always been overpriced (like a multiple of $1000) and don't count on buying your own CD burner (more like $10,000). You'll have to wait for some kind of GNU cross compiling tools...

Re:Development?

[Anonymous Coward]

And then there's the question of publishing, which is a whole different ballgame.
Kind of frustrating if you're a small company interested in doing that sort of thing. :(

Well, they're on track...

[ajservo]

They said it was going to be like 2064 before the PS9 was coming out right? That's what the TV ads from 3 years ago told me. That and the (PS9) console was an implant... Seriously, I'm disappointed that no console outside of the portables has tried an innovation pushing on how we play games. All these consoles for the last 20 years have been tied to a TV. Only the GB/A/SP, The Nomad, and Virtual Boy have tried to innovate in these areas. I'd seriously consider buying a console that made some intelligent use of the 3D computer montior technology that's out on PC. Console manufacturers are too reticent to try something like this, but that'd be a true innovation over the current generation, without a loss on graphic capabilities.

Re:Well, they're on track...

[inkdesign]

Well, when you're a billionaire, and can afford to finance the R&D required to bring innovative technology to console gaming, you'll be able to solve that problem. Until then, the order of the marketplace dictates that we'll be sticking with what is profitable, not possible.

Re:Well, they're on track...

[Mordaximus]

"...and Virtual Boy..."

We all remember what a huge success that was! :)

"Console manufacturers are too reticent to try something like this, but that'd be a true innovation over the current generation, without a loss on graphic capabilities."

To be fair, what you're suggesting (with the 3D monitor) while intriguing, would probably be as successful as the Virtual Boy was. For a couple of reasons.

1. Not everyone is a 3D gamer.
2. Very very few people own a 3D monitor, or they won't own one for a very long time.

Besides, what you're suggesting is to remove the console from the living room, which is where everyone wants their console in the first place. Part of the attraction of the device is that it connects to an appliance that the vast majority of people own. Take that away, and you've lost a huge market.

Re:Well, they're on track...

[leerpm]

You could spend all the money you want developing a revolutionary console, and it can come with a zillion features. But if you have no good games for your console, no one is going to buy into it. As you increase the complexity of your console, you also make it harder and more expensive to develop games for your console.

Now, if somebody could come up with a revolutionary console AND a new way for developing to the console that is significantly easier than other platforms, you would have a winner.

Re:Well, they're on track...

[poot_rootbeer]

All these consoles for the last 20 years have been tied to a TV. Only the GB/A/SP, The Nomad, and Virtual Boy have tried to innovate in these areas.

If you're going to have the Sega Nomad on there, you ought to have the Lynx, the Game Gear, the TurboXpress, the NeoGeo Pocket, and hell, even the Game.Com and N-Gage on that list...

Re:Well, they're on track...

[Anonymous Coward]

i would wait and see what Nintendo will have to offer. They're calling their next system "Revolution" for a reason, and they've already stated that it will support PC monitors in addition to TVs.
Another thing to keep in mind was that a few years ago Nintendo started investing in some sort of Gyro technology, that they financed under the agreement that they could use whatever it this company was working on. I'm predicting some kind of controller, myself.

Re:Well, they're on track...

[Anonymous Coward]

don't forget the PSP...coming soon

Re:Well, they're on track...

[Anonymous Coward]

Gyromite 2?

Re:Well, they're on track...

[caitsith01]

I'm betting you're never going to have a 'million dollar idea' and invent the 21st century equivalent of a Model T Ford with that attitude.

Grandparent was trying to suggest that fundamental innovation is a Good Thing. I would think most ./ers would agree with this position, being (a) geeks and (b) outsiders who tend to dislike the mainstream.

Re:Well, they're on track...

[Canis Latrans]

Never mind 3D displays. How about just putting a standard digital output on the back of the thing, or even an analog output that you can hook up to a computer monitor. This could be in addition to the TV output, so those who wanted to use the console on their TV at a blurry 640x480 could do so, but anyone who owns a computer monitor can get a clearer picture if they want to.

I'm betting the overlap between people who own game consoles and people who own computer monitors is pretty big. It would be cool if game consoles gave people the option plug their monitor into the back.

Granted, sitting at your computer desk playing on your console is not quite the same as sitting on the sofa in front of the big screen playing games with some friends and some beers. But I think there are times I would trade the comfort of TV for the high resolution of a monitor.

Does it still run on love?

[FleaPlus]

I remember seeing a preview interview of the Playstation 3 a few years ago.

Sony: Dreamcast? Ha ha, funny stupid yankee! You dishonor me with your mention of this Dreamcast. The Praystation 3 does not connect to internet, Praystation 3 CONTAIN the internet. You prugga in the computer to the port, the internet isa all there. We copy it inside machine for fast access.

mis: Wait, so you're saying that you copied every single file on the internet into this box? That doesn't even make any sense! The internet is a constantly changing network of millions of individual machines. How does the PS3 update its so called "internet" if it has no connections to the real network?

Sony: Thasa right. No connections. Praystation 3 get internet from outerspace.

mis: And its power?

Sony: It run on love.

Re:Does it still run on love?

[mackman]

Sony: The PS3 controller also have egg of Sirry Putty and a Rubber Ducky built in.

mis: Are they meant to specially interact with a certain game, like the Samba De Amigo maracas or something?

Sony: No. They just fun. Rubber Ducky, it goes squeek!

Re:Does it still run on love?

[Anonymous Coward]

Its called humor.

You are called an "idiot".

Re:Does it still run on love?

[slashdotjunker]

That would be funnier if it didn't make fun of other people's accents.

Re:Does it still run on love?

[Anonymous Coward]

Humor needs to be at least somewhat believable to be what is called "funny."

Re:Does it still run on love?

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, it would be funnier even just by making fun of other people's accents _properly_.

This....was a mess. I almost started laughing at the author, but even his idiocy wasn't that funny.

Re:Does it still run on love?

[FleaPlus]

Yeah, I agree. I found the content quite amusing, but the fake Japanese "written accent" got incredibly old after the first couple of times.

Re:Does it still run on love?

[kisrael]

Actually I think the quoted passage is just enough for the accent to still be funny...that was actually a very good clipping.

Re:Does it still run on love?

[telstar]

Amazing how good a job Babblefish does.....
Spread the love brotherman .... spread the love.

Too fast...

[lcrypt]

I was just planning on buying a ps2! Now they're releasing the 3? Why can't they just make a small chip we can buy to upgrade the console? Soon the game companies wont be able to keep up ...

Re::P

[Anonymous Coward]

Okay, so the Onion has a pay service required for old articles, couldn't you do a google search?

[T]he Ghost of Christmas Future is spending the holiday season taunting modern children with visions of Christmas 2016's hottest toy: the Sony PlayStation 5, a 2,048-bit console featuring a 45-Ghz trinary processor, CineReal graphics booster with 2-gig biotexturing, and an RSP connector for 360-degree online-immersion play.
"You know how kids are--a year is an eternity to them," the wraithlike specter said Monday during a visit to the Southfield home of 13-year-old Josh Kuehn. "So just imagine showing them something they'll have to wait 14 years for. Teasing them with a glimpse of the PS5 is the ultimate torture. They absolutely lose their minds. It's like saying, 'Hey, kid, you'll be an old man before you ever get to touch this.'"...
"I like to appear in the living room with a PS5 hooked up to 2016's most popular TV, the 4'x8' Hi-Def Sony Titania," the Ghost said. "Then, I'll say in my best spooky voice, 'Jimmy! Behold what your kids will be playing while you're slaving away at an office job to support them!'"...
The Ghost said he then likes to show Airsledz, a racing game in which jet-powered sleds whoosh through a four-dimensional racing course in the sky. The game, he said, enables the player to compete online against dozens of other players all around the world.
"They always ask if you can play it on the Internet--it's so cute how they still call it 'the Internet'--and I tell them, 'Hey, you can play this against 63 other PS5 owners simultaneously. At least you can in 14 years,'" the Ghost said. "And you should see their jaws hit the floor when they learn about the add-on accessories that enable users to actually fly around the room during gameplay."

Re:Text (We know what's gonna happen to their serv

[selloutvixen]

Maybe shipped refers to the amount of units that have left the factory, but some of them are obviously unsold sitting on store shelves somewhere. They will be eventually sold, but I suppose they don't want to release false numbers.

Rambus scuttlebutt?

[Exmet Paff Daxx]

I never bought a Playstation 2 because I didn't want to support the thieves at Rambus by buying their memory. Any word on whether they've replaced that vendor for PS3? I think I've beaten "Gauntlet Legends Dreamcast" one time too many by now...

Re:Rambus scuttlebutt?

[inkdesign]

Fraid not brother,as PS3 will use RAMBUS memory.
http://www.ps3insider.com/modules.php?nam e=News&fi le=article&sid=122
(XDR on Schedule for Mid-2005)

Re:Rambus scuttlebutt?

[Anonymous Coward]

Rambus is involved on PS3- insider info from Rambus. I've actually seen some prototype chips.

Re:Rambus scuttlebutt?

[IdleTime]

Looks like your boycott was a huge success!

Only 70 million PS2 boxes was sold! Way to go!

Re:Rambus scuttlebutt?

[maggern]

Looks like your boycott was a huge success!
Only 70 million PS2 boxes was sold! Way to go!

...and considering the 5,930 billions people who didn't, it was a HUUUUUGGE sucsess! :D

Re:Rambus scuttlebutt?

[TheDude2084]

...and considering the 5,930 billions people who didn't, it was a HUUUUUGGE sucsess! :D

5,930 billion? What, are you including Mars in that number?

The Gamecube successor...

[Unnngh!]

...the Ninentendo GameHyperCube? For all your 4D tesseract gameplaying needs?

Re:The Gamecube successor...

[Anonymous Coward]

The nintendo GameHyperCube?

so we shouldn't look directly at it, and how the hell do I push the on button?

Oh, man just thinking about it makes my eyes hurt.

Re:The Gamecube successor...

[no reason to be here]

No, it's gonna be the Nintendo GameTimeCube.

The PS3 is a lie of evil pendants and dumb students.

It is dumb, stupid, evil and unworthy of
life on Earth to claim that this GameTimeCube has 6 sides - or no top and bottom.
Academia equates to a deadly plague.

Creation of 4 simultaneous
24 hour days, within a single rotation of Earth, empowers
GameTimeCube above all XBoxes and
educated stupid scientists.

Re:The Gamecube successor...

[MyDixieWrecked]

Actually, the higher-ups at nintendo are currently arguing about what shape the next console should be. From what I heard, it's a tossup between the klein bottle and a triple-twist mobius strip.

I'm sure they don't even wanna hear your tesseract suggestion, I mean, that'll drive the shape engineers CRAZY!

Re:The Gamecube successor...

[b0r0din]

Yep. They could show you what it looks like, but your puny mortal brain wouldn't possibly be able to comprehend.

I imagine it'd be hard to box up.

"Hey Frank, where'd you put that last one?"

"Damnit, slipped into the fucking fourth dimension again. That's the tenth one today!"

"42."

"Who said that?"
(sound of laughing mice)

Re:The Gamecube successor...

[KDR_11k]

"More dimensions, more power, more fun!"

Man, I wonder what kind of processing power you could get out of a four dimensional CPU...

I would use a different term...

[oofoe]

...Sony are planning to officially reveal the PlayStation 3 at the E3 Expo in May 2005. They're obviously not wanting to be outdone by Nintendo, who announced the same plans for the GameCube successor, as well as Xbox 2's rumored debut around that time. Looks like E3 2005 is going to be a biggy.

Hmmm... All that new hardware. I suspect that it's more likely that E3 2005 is going to be a buggy...

Re:I would use a different term...

[maggeth]

Seriously.

I want Sony to take their damn time and make PS3 absolutely rock-solid and expandable without any bugs. I don't care if I have to wait an extra year, I don't feel like plopping down another $300 because Xbox, Nintendo, and PS are getting into a pissing contest of "who can beat the other guy to market."

*shakes fist at the world*

Re::P

[Cpt_Kirks]

Ghost Of Christmas Future

No, it was the Robotic Ghost of Christmas Past From the Future.

Or the robotic turkey, I can never remember...

Could be a crapfest

[grunt107]

Seems to be a rush to be the first and the big question is what features and quality reviews will be skipped to accomplish this feat? Plus, depending on the offering, one of those 3 seems doomed (from current momentum it seems to be Nintendo). PS3 seems to be the world fave, but the 'X' is huge in the USA, so only the backward-compatible question would cripple the successor's debut. ... Still slobberin' for Halo2

Re:Could be a crapfest

[Anonymous Coward]

"but the 'X' is huge in the USA"

That comment is both lame and bullshit.

"Still slobberin' for Halo2"

What a fucking dork.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[AuMatar]

Based on worldwide numbers, if one of them is doomed its the Xbox. Remember that gaming is a much bigger inustry in Asia than in US, and gamecube kills it there.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[grunt107]

From what I've read of Xbox strategy in the Asian markets, it is killing itself (but supposedly getting better - although that sounds like spin doctoring).

Re:Could be a crapfest

[DeadScreenSky]

Ummm, Xbox is number two world-wide.

And the lastest indicator of Japan's increasing videogame sales irrelevance: Silent Hill 4, lush with critical praise and hype, sold only around 50,000 copies in its first two weeks of release. It will easily sell five times more than that individually in both Europe and the USA.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[king-manic]

but the 'X' is huge in the USA

Nto according to sales. The X is a moderate success on par with the Cube.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[king-manic]

The Xbox is #3 world wide. Arguably #2 in NA and #3 or worse in most outer areas.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[Wofser]

Its true. Xbox is number 3 worldwide but not by much.

http://hankfiles.pcvsconsole.com/answer.php?file=5 49

Notice the numbers for Asia/Japan. Smallest market by far. Both America and Europe is bigger so that old argument is not valid any more. Also notice that Xbox is #2 in both Europe and America. So Xbox bombing i Japan/Asia was the best of bad things to happen to it.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[Anonymous Coward]

Critical praise? The game is boring as all fuck-out! My import went back to the game shop for 60% of what I paid for it.

Silent Hill 3 was the pinnacle of the series so far, with SH a close second and SH2 an even closer third.

Anyhow, one can counter your numbers with Pokemon, Super Robot Wars, etc. sales. Even if you were supporting a valid point (you aren't), your anecdote would still be both irrelevant and conceptually flawed.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[KDR_11k]

the 'X' is huge in the USA

The validity of this statement depends on whether you intend to say commercially or spatially.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[DeadScreenSky]

The problem is that end of 2003 thing. This was true then - but a lot has changed in six months. In particular, immediate post-Christmas sales for Xbox were extraordinarily strong. The price-drop also gave it a nice boost. Combine that with Nintendo just not releasing any big titles recently...

Googling for links to current console sales numbers is MADNESS I have found, so I won't even try. :D You can trust me (and this has been publicized here and there - this is not just conjecture on my part), or you can just wait a month or so for one of the biggies to publicize world sales numbers again.

It certainly is a close race still, though, and you are dead on with your analysis of Japan.

Re:Could be a crapfest

[DeadScreenSky]

Xbox is solidly #2 in both the US and Europe, the two largest videogame markets in the world. Pay attention next time worldwide sales are hyped by the various console makers and you will see world-wide standings (which haven't changed since early this year - Xbox is still number 2). :D

Re:Could be a crapfest

[king-manic]

Now, I have a very very hard time finding the stats. But according to some press releases you can find on gamespot. the Gc is aroun 14.5m install base. PS2 is around 70 mil. Xbox is somewhere between 12.5mil - 15mil. All official press releases. So depending on how optimistic you feel, Xbox could be #3 or #2 depednign entirely on which part of the range you belive it is in.

state your sources plz.

IS!

[Anonymous Coward]

> Sony are planning

Sony IS planning. Learn some grammar skills.

Re:IS!

[Anita Coney]

Actually, in the rest of the English speaking world, groups such as Sony are considered plural. Thus, the original poster was correct.

It makes sense to me, even as an American. I find myself using both ways.

Re:IS!

[Surt]

Sony are the agglomeration of the several Son* companies.

Re:IS!

[Anita Coney]

First "The" implies singular.

Second, I'm only pointing out the truth. In Britain it's perfectly acceptable to say "Sony are." You may disagree, and that's your right, but it's still the truth.

Re:IS!

[glitch23]

Sony, and any other company name, is a collective noun. A flock of geese is a collective noun. The noun itself is singular (not Sonies or flocks) but it does imply more than 1 item (a person in the case of Sony and a goose in the case of a flock of geese). Because it is a singular noun, despite the fact it represents more than one item it is considered singular. Therefore you use a plural verb and in this case it would be "is". Sony is big. Given, in the UK grammar might be slightly different but in the US that is how grammar is setup.

Re:IS!

[tehcyder]

It's not just acceptable to say "Sony are" in Britain, it would be considered ungrammatical (or at least odd-sounding) to say "Sony is."

Misleading, it's sooner than that

[Anonymous Coward]

News from Dengeki including a powerpoint slide from the actual presentation:
link

Sony is planning on announcing its new system before the end of (FY) 2004, and unveiling a playable prototype at E3. Looking forward to it!

Good for the marketplace?

[lacrymology.com]

I was a wee lad when the early console wars happened (8-bit, handheld, and 16-bit), and didn't give a toss about anything but the NES system. After a time I grew older and missed the most recent wars. However, now that I have some time to indulge in gameplay, it's become increasingly irrtating to keep up. Is this massive turnover killing the industry? I realize that it has been quite a while since the PS2, GC, and XBox came out, but they only recently seem to have acquired widespread acceptance. Perhaps I am wrong, but it seems that unless each company plans on making their new consoles backwards compatible they are setting themselves up for a huge fall in this mad race to get the latest greatest technology out the door. To mee it seems that gameplay is the greatest draw, and technology is secondary. As far as gameplay goes, no one can touch Nintendo (although they tend to lean far to heavily on their franchises), but perhaps I am biased. There is something to be said for developer apis as companies are more inclined to develop for a platform that allows them to create and distribute games with the least amount of overhead... and it seems that M$ wins in that arena.
-m

Re:Good for the marketplace?

[chrismcdirty]

I would like to believe that gameplay is the #1 draw, but the sad fact is graphics are pushed over gameplay. Look at a lot of Xbox games. So many of them have terrific graphics with bad gameplay. Sony has even gone as far as to not give the greenlight to 2D games because they "aren't as pretty" as 3D games. Nintendo seems to be the only one to push gameplay over graphics, but their gameplay idea is for everyone to be able to pick up and play it, which sometimes draws the more hardcore gamers away from them.

Re:Good for the marketplace?

[Anonymous Coward]

NES was part of the middle console wars. The earliest wars were between the Atari 2600,
Mattel Intellivision, and a handful of other minor players.

Re:Good for the marketplace?

[Quarters]

I realize that it has been quite a while since the PS2, GC, and XBox came out, but they only recently seem to have acquired widespread acceptance.

In terms of the PS2 you don't get 12 Million + units sold if they have just recently acquired widespread acceptance.

Showing a unit at E3 2005 is no where near being the same as shipping production units. The PS2 was first shown at an E3 at least nine months to a year before it debuted in Japan. It was a big silver pyramid with a displaying running early code of GT3. You couldn't play it and it was most definately development hardware.

Showing a console still in development at E3 is just to get 3rd party developers/publishers to go "WHOA!!! We want to sign up for dev kits and have games ready for launch".

There's nothing in this annoucement or the Nintendo announcement that indicate either company is trying to shorten the traditional 5yr product cycle for consoles. Microsoft is kind of a black-sheep in this regard, though, as rumors about XENON have gone from "Show at E3 2005" to "Release for XMas 2005", which would definately be less than a 5 yr cycle for them.

Re:Good for the marketplace?

[th3space]

Yeah, I pretty much hated the feel of Project Gotham Racing 1 & 2...of course, I think that the GT series had spoiled me. Come to think of it, there aren't many games who have the feel that I really enjoyed back in my youth. That's probably why the last few games I've purchased have been re-releases of old games (Midway Treasures, NamcoMuseum, MegaMan Collection, etc) and I've sold off my XBox and all of the games that I had collected.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Maybe i'm a consumer whore, BUT:

[Gannoc]

I'll be preordering or whatever a PS3 as soon as EB starts allowing it.

Logically, I know a Final Fantasy game will come out for the PS3, and I will buy the PS3 then, so why deny myself 6-20 months of extra enjoyment? ;)

Re:Maybe i'm a consumer whore, BUT:

[mrgreen4242]

Maybe FF will finally return to Nintendo! At least non-exclusive Nintendo/Sony... they're making GBA FF games, so it could happen!

Rob

Re:Maybe i'm a consumer whore, BUT:

[Anonymous Coward]

"so why deny myself 6-20 months of extra enjoyment? ;)"

Cause you could catch a price reduction cycle or two. Who wants to pay $300+ for it? Not me.

Re:Text (We know what's gonna happen to their serv

[MBraynard]

Possibly, but the amount of unsold inventory is probably less than 5%.

I know this isn't Tuesday, but...

[Thud457]

BOW before Hello Kitty!

Re::P

[Anonymous Coward]

Source: The Onion ( http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:Trstb9pAepoJ: www.onion.com/onion3847/ghost_of_christmas_future. html+site:onion.com+%22playstation+5%22&hl=en )

Rush rush

[superpulpsicle]

I don't know who marked that funny but that's true. Like PS3 and linux and everything else, linux has a home somewhere.

On the other hand, it's sad cause PS2 easily could have another 4-5 years of life in the market alone. But PS3 is forced into the market by peer pressure.

Re:Rush rush

[Dizzle]

"On the other hand, it's sad cause PS2 easily could have another 4-5 years of life in the market alone. But PS3 is forced into the market by peer pressure."

To me, that's a good thing. Look at how long the Gameboy had on the marke, what, 10 years? Then the GBA came out and we were all better for it. They could have kept pumping out GB games and we would never have known the difference. That's the good thing about competition. Of course, I'm not too happy about buying another console, but I'm personally waiting until the prices drop a bit.

Games do matter, but...

[rd_syringe]

...how will you have lots of good games without good developer technology and APIs? The grandparent post was right (even if anti-"M$" mods have knocked him down for absolutely no reason other than praising Microsoft).

Re:Games do matter, but...

[KDR_11k]

The PS2 is said to be a nightmare to develop for yet it has the most games. Devs/publishers can overcome almost any obstacle put between them and the largest userbase.

Re:Games do matter, but...

[gabebear]

"Good API" is pretty relative, if you use Microsoft's DirectX, then you end up doing more work when you port to the PS2 and GC. A lot of games use frameworks so that the makers can focus on the HUGE task of art and gameplay. OpenAL is available for just about every platform/console now and seems like a logical choice for any game audio now.

Besides, for the REALLLY huge games(i.e. GTA3, Halo) money seems to be the most important factor.

Re:Games do matter, but...

[LWATCDR]

I have actually written programs under windows. As to there APIs... I do not find them at all useful. Under MFC I sware you have to type cast between about 20 different flavors of strings. VC++ 6 was so far from the Ansi C++ standard that it was not funny. Now Visual Studio dot net is much closer to the standard. In fact it has moved so far from V6 that it took a month to get our flagship product to recompile under it and work. Several changes where made to MFC strings I would say that all of them where for the better but some where just small enough that the code would compile but would would cause problems in the programs. So as to good APIs. Since I do not develop on the GameCube or the PS2 I have no idea if one is better than the other.

Re:Games do matter, but...

[unclethursday]

While DirectX may be a decent API, the fact that it takes somewhere along the lines of 3x as much code to do the same things that OpenGL does makes it bloated.

Besides, DirectX is tied to Windows. Other methods of doing the same things exist, at the same level or maybe even superior levels, for a lot less bloat. Unreal Tournament 2004 looks and runs fantastic on a PowerMac G5, and not a hint of DirectX to be seen; it's all OpenGL.

The reason more and more PC developers use DirectX over OpenGL and others is the simple fact that Microsoft integrated DirectX into Windows, and thus, the developers know that most of the people playing the games have the correct software to run it. Being in a monopoly position tends to do that, ya know.

Real question...

[Erwos]

As the article blurb pointed out, the real question is more "when will they ship?"

I'm in the market for a new console, since my bastard apartment mate took the common DVD player when he left for the summer. That, and I'm getting married in the near future, and neither my fiance nor I own a stand-alone DVD player.

We're planning on buying an HDTV of some sort, but we're unsure what console we should get. We're DDR fans, but that doesn't really separate the pack, since both consoles have DDR. I _am_ a big RPG fan, though, and Final Fantasy is definitely a consideration. Therefore, I'm leaning towards a PS2, but if X-Box is amazingly better at playing DVDs or has better HDTV support, I might go for that instead.

Obviously, GC is off the table since it doesn't play DVDs.

Any opinions from people who have owned _and_ used both?

Another question: are there any rumored release dates for PS3 that seem remotely believable?

-Erwos

Re:Real question...

[Anonymous Coward]

If you're a DDR and FF fan, get a PS2. The DDR game (note the lack of plural) for XBOX is unbelievably awful. Not only that, it requires you to pay $25 beyond the initial price to get the complete song list.

Re:Real question...

[cybrthng]

The XBOX has better HDTV support but both are on par for DVD playback.

DVD players are a dime a dozen these days.. may as well make your selection on games and what you want.

Obviously if you have HDTV i would suggest that you get the appropriate equipment to really enjoy HDTV content - like a Bravo D1 upconverting DVD player or similar product or wait a few months until the HD DVD standards are finished.

A console works best as a console :)

Re:Real question...

[FoxWing]

I wouldn't recommend either one for a DVD player.

They both have some problems with certain DVDs and neither of them can display movies in progressive scan. Which BTW, if you're getting an HDTV I'd highly suggest you get a progressive scan capable DVD player.

Your best bet would be to goto (insert name of electronic store) and pick up a stand alone progressive scan dvd player for $50-$60. Then buy the console that has the games you want to play. (from what you said it sounds like you would like a PS2)

Re:Real question...

[bludstone]

I own a ps2 and a gamecube, Ive had friends bring over their xbox on several occasions.

I run a 42inch widescreen hdtv.

Maybe it was just me, but I just didnt feel that the increased resolution in "THUG" made the xbox worthwhile.

Skip the technical aspects and go for game quality. I say, buy a used ps2. Its got the games, and plenty of ps2 games look great on hdtv. (heck high-res soul calibur 2 on xbox doesnt support widescreen! bleh!)

that and rez.

Re:Real question...

[Jens_UK]

neither of them can display movies in progressive scan

Sony says the PS2 is progressive scan - do you have a contradictory cite?

Re:Real question...

[aardvarkjoe]

Obviously, GC is off the table since it doesn't play DVDs.

A gamecube and a dvd player can be had for roughly the same price as a PS2 or XBox, and the standalone DVD player will probably do a better job of it than the consoles. Besides, if you can afford to buy an HDTV, you're not hurting for cash so much that you couldn't afford to buy an extra DVD player.

Look at what games you'd like, and buy based on that. But counting the GC out just because it doesn't double as a DVD player is a bit silly.

Re:Real question...

[Sysgen]

That's becuase THUG is a cross platform game. Titles like Splinter Cell, Crimson Skies, Riddick, Amped2, Rallisport2, PGR2 all look amazing. Anyone that says 99% of the PS2 titles out there can approach any of these games in terms of visuals is smoking some good weed.

Re:Real question...

[Anonymous Coward]

hello fellow ddr freak. ;) i use the ps2 for dvds as well ddr and many other (mostly) online games and it works great. i've heard the earlier versions had problems but mine was made around the end of 2002 and works flawlessly. i actually like it better than my old dvd player due to convienent buttons on the remote like one-click subtitles, audio tracks, etc. anyways good luck on your purchase.

Re:Real question...

[FoxWing]

Well, a quick google search and here's what I found out.
Version SCPH5000 and later support it for DVDs. Earlier versions don't.

So if you're going to buy a ps2 there ya go. Altho, I'd still say buy a stand alone DVD player. ;)

Re:Real question...

[Anonymous Coward]

Neither of the Splinter Cell games that are on the Xbox are exclusives. Both games have or will hit all the current major platforms.

PS2 Pandora Tomorrow looks great. GameCube Pandora Tomorrow will look even better. So, choose on overall quality and quantity of games you want to play. For me, that means every platform except Xbox.

Re:Real question...

[Sysgen]

Hello? Where in my post do you see the word exclusive? Implicity my post inferred developed to take advantage of Xbox features. PS2 Pandora Tommorow is good but is a shell of Xbox Pandora Tommorow which is great. See Gamespots reviews for the game for both platforms. As for Gamecube you better hope that you get the Xbox version.

Re:Real question...

[Anonymous Coward]

Gamecube CAN support DVDs... just not your standard GC, you have to get the pimped out Panasonic version... Definitely wow factor

Re:"According to the BBC"

[Anonymous Coward]

Alot of great discussion comes from "I don't read the articles", eh?

Re::P

[pretentiousPPC]

Now someone just say it's shipping with Duke Nukem Forever and get a +1 Funny...

Don't know how true this is, apparently.

[Hamster Lover]

Friend of mine lived in Japan for two years teaching and brought back many fascinating and hilarious stories about the cultural differences between Japan and North America.

I recall that he mentioned that at any trade show or convention they will have an assortment of lovely ladies that when asked questions about the products will give ridiculous answers. It's part of the show, he said.

Some of the weirdest shit comes out of Japan, I swear.

News Update? March 2005 release date

[WebGangsta]

Well, now the news is that the timeline has been accelerated.

They're saying that the PS3 is coming out in March 2005.

If confirmed, that timeline would mean Sony's new game console will be out before the E3 convention in Los Angeles, scheduled for May. Sony and other video game makers have used E3, which draws game developers, fans and industry officials, for major product launches.

If this isn't accurate, I'm sure it will be corrected here shortly.

Re::P

[Anonymous Coward]

so are you the fool that got the Tiger Stadium IP range banned from slashdot?

oh, and get back to work, the big boss is coming down to the floor you are on.

Re::P

[Crouching Turbo]

Actually, it's Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future.

Easy answer

[boredman]

Most people that want to buy game consoles own TVs. In order to innovate in the display technology area, you either have to sell the display as an integral part of the unit (e.g. Gameboy, etc.) or convince people that they really need to buy a new display.

New, integrated displays have to be incredibly cheap or there will be no incentive to manufacture them. New stand alone displays have to be really, really incredible or there's no incentive for people to buy them.

Consoles as DVD players

[SpooForBrains]

... don't. Just don't. It's okay if you want a second DVD player, but firstly the interface is usually annoyingly limited (for example, you cannot power off an XBox or eject a DVD using the remote) and secondly some DVDs will just refuse to work for no good reason.

Also, while the XBox is fairly decent as a DVD player (apart from the limitations mentioned above), the Sony PS2's quality leaves a lot to be desired. It's not in Sony's financial interest to focus on that aspect too much - afterall, they don't want it competing with their stand-alone offerings.

Re:Consoles as DVD players

[Phiu-x]

"(for example, you cannot power off an XBox or eject a DVD using the remote) and secondly some DVDs will just refuse to work for no good reason."

The PS2 currently sold support this feature (eject and power off) In fact all you need is the "new" remote control (about 15$ ) along with it. It has these 2 new buttons + the new PS2's the ir receiver is built-in now and they are dirt cheap, considering the large library of Best seller titles (triple A titles at 20$ a pop) PS2 is still the way to go for games.

Re:Consoles as DVD players

[jmj_sd]

for example, you cannot power off an XBox or eject a DVD using the remote

I've never understood why someone would need an eject button on the remote control. To put a disc in or take one out you still have to physically move to the player. I've seen the same "criticism" in some user reviews of my HD/DVD recorder (Panasonic DMR-HS2), but I've never needed such a button on my remote control.

Re:Consoles as DVD players

[SpooForBrains]

I've never understood why someone would need an eject button on the remote control. To put a disc in or take one out you still have to physically move to the player. I've seen the same "criticism" in some user reviews of my HD/DVD recorder (Panasonic DMR-HS2), but I've never needed such a button on my remote control.

Yes, you have a point, but at some point, someone thought it would be a good idea, and now most remote controls include that button. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm used to using it now, and not being able to do so is annoying. The power off thing is a much more legitimate complaint though.

re: Which console for playing DVDs?

[RowdyReptile]

IMHO, just get a stand-alone DVD player. Then get a console if you still want one. Especially connected to a HDTV, progressive scan and component outputs are a must. The new model PS2 has both, but in my experience a stand-alone DVD player is better as far as usability goes. Best Buy offers a Samsung model with 1080i HD Upconvert and MP3 Playback to take advantage of the HDTV's higher resolution. Of course there are cheaper players out there, too (for $30-$50).

We need better games, not better consoles

[c0d3h4x0r]

The current consoles are more than powerful enough already. We need better games, not better consoles. All this focus on newer fancier (and more expensive) hardware is misplaced effort. It's just going to turn the video game industry into the same mess that the PC industry has been for years: perpetual upgrade cycle with no time for developers to make software that truly utilizes the current generation of capabilities well.

Re:We need better games, not better consoles

[armentage]

Good and very true point, but the trouble is -- your view doesn't make all that much money for Sony nor Nintendo. MS is a different story, we know they have been losing money on each XBox sold from the start. That $250-$400 earyl adoptors drop on those newly released consoles must add a pretty nice jump to the consoles revenues.

Re:We need better games, not better consoles

[Anonymous Coward]

"It's just going to turn the video game industry into the same mess that the PC industry has been for years: perpetual upgrade cycle with no time for developers to make software that truly utilizes the current generation of capabilities well."

Thankfully, the PC hardware is compatable with the last couple of generations of stuff, so when you buy that new hardware (pricier than a consol, but there's the trade off) you know you can use it for a couple of generations of software development.

On the consol the generation of software has to go with the generation of hardware. Even tho the sony box offers backwards compatability it doesn't work quite the same because the developers will get pushed to leave off with that PS2 crap and make their games for the PS3 as soon as sony starts to pimp it.

Re:We need better games, not better consoles

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, those half-decade upgrade cycles are killer!
Just because FreeCell is more your speed doesn't mean consoles pack enough power for everybody!

Re:We need better games, not better consoles

[AnyoneEB]

At least when their consoles come out, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all lose money on each console sale. This is a standard business practice in the video games industry. I do not know much much they currently lose or gain on each sale. The companies probably don't want their consoles being seen as old and therefore bad or some other marketing nonsense. Maybe console sales look good for 3rd parties deciding which platforms to develop for.

Re:We need better games, not better consoles

[king-manic]

At least when their consoles come out, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all lose money on each console sale. This is a standard business practice in the video games industry. I do not know much much they currently lose or gain on each sale. The companies probably don't want their consoles being seen as old and therefore bad or some other marketing nonsense. Maybe console sales look good for 3rd parties deciding which platforms to develop for.

Actually, the PS2 was sold at a loss for a few(6) months but soon got into being profitable via fab yeild increases and vertical intergration. The Cube was profitable since day one. The only current console to sell at a loss is the Xbox. At least that Nintendos line, that they won't sell a console at a loss and the PS2 is so old and so massivly produced that the chips are commodity even though only sony fabs them.

Re:We need better games, not better consoles

[armentage]

I said revenue, not profit. Revenue looks good - it means you are doing business. People are interested in your products and are buying them.

This is why you are wrong

[neflite]

I think you forgot to mention that those games 90% of the time ARE the best games of their time. Of course, this is only opinion. But, if you go to gamestats and check Highest Rated top 10 list, three of them are ZeldaX and MarioX, and two are in the top three. This has to show for something. Oh and also look at Most Wanted top 10.. Is it that hard to believe that Zelda (as of reading it now) is #1?

Re:This is why you are wrong

[DeadScreenSky]

Nostalgia is very powerful for some people, especially for some particularly hardcore players like your average videogame reviewer.

I personally am sick of Nintendo's complete lack of character or setting design creativity, and I am increasingly not alone in this.

Re:This is why you are wrong

[Macgrrl]

You do understand the concept of franchises in gaming don't you? I mean, look at Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider, War Craft, Resident Evil, Leisure Suit Larry even...

If you can't get your hard around it at a gaming level, what about in books, movies or even comics... People like the familiar - that's why it's so hard to get a truely unique project going in any industry, especially any branch of the entertainment industry.

Re:This is why you are wrong

[Anonymous Coward]

Currently, Nintendo is pretty much the only company expanding the number of their franchises. Pikmin? Animal Crossing? What has Microsoft given us since, uhm, Halo, which isn't a particular distinctive franchise anyway?

Re:This is why you are wrong

[DeadScreenSky]

Of course I understand franchising. That doesn't mean I can't be sick and tired of it. Nintendo certainly was big into franchising back in the SNES, NES, or Gameboy days, but they still created plenty of new series and settings, too (like Pokemon on GB, for example - that certainly was good for them!). I am not really seeing that kind of creativity from them anymore.

The fact that companies franchise the hell out of certain things doesn't also mean they can push it too far and customers get sick of it - this happens all of the time in music, movies, comics, games (look at the sales for the latest Tomb Raider and Resident Evil releases). Nintendo has pushed things too far - that is what their declining sales are partially about. Mickey Mouse isn't really selling things anymore either - Mario and him have reached a saturation point.

And you are certainly right that getting unique projects going can be hard. I probably would be easier on Nintendo if they weren't always ranting about how they are the Creative Company. But new characters and settings are important to me.

I love the Silent Hill series, but if the developers hadn't (apparently) moved to a new setting and set of characters for the upcoming sequel, I probably would have mostly ignored the game.

Slashdot Layout in Firefox (Offtopic)

[Anonymous Coward]

"Why is slashdots layout jacked up under firefox...yeah, i'm way off topic"

What version? I'm using Firefox 0.9.2 on WinXP and it displays just fine. While testing under OS X this month, Firefox 0.9.1 displayed properly as well.

Yes it's offtopic folks, but hopefully informative offtopic. ;-)

Re:Slashdot Layout in Firefox (Offtopic)

[Anonymous Coward]

Well I'm using the newest, .9.2 but it some times shifts the contents of the middle of the page over the links on the left. Oh well..

Re:Slashdot Layout in Firefox (Offtopic)

[Anonymous Coward]

0.9 and 0.92 I still get weird effects from time to time. I get the content pane covering the menu, or sometimes the whole thing becomes twice as wide with a big blank where the content should be and all the content over to the right a full screen's width. Rock on!

Re:Text (We know what's gonna happen to their serv

[Anonymous Coward]

I think they do mean sold. If Sony sells the playstation like other goods. Then the would sell it to the reseller and give them a retail price to sell the good at and the store usually resells at that price and the store can then collect it profit. When prices drop because of a manufactor retail price change usually it's small enough change that most of the resellers won't lose money. Understand. Sony already sold the goods. Now the resellers must sell them. And unless there is a contract stating the the manufactor buys back unsold products then that means that the manufactor has made the profit and the sell.

Re:"According to the BBC"

[Anonymous Coward]

I come to slashdot for the discussion..

You call this discussion??? I'd hate to see your idea of an argument :)

My GameCube is a Doorstop.

[Jackie_Chan_Fan]

The thing is useless. My Gamecube is sitting in limbo on my shelf. PS3 should finally kill of nintendo once and for all. I simply dont see Nintendo changing their ways. Afterall look at their new lame dual screened handheld system. It looks slapped together and dated.

Then look at Sony's handheld offering. The PSP is sleak, incredible games etc.

I think at E3 2006, Nintendo will be annoucing their own death.

Re:My GameCube is a Doorstop.

[gabebear]

Sony's handheld offering. The PSP is sleak, incredible games etc.

etc = twice the price and 30 minutes of battery

O.K. so maybe not, but I don't see how Sony is going to pack enough batteries into the PSP to power all that crap they put in it. I don't see Sony gaining much market share from Nintendo.

Re:My GameCube is a Doorstop.

[Imazalil]

Frankly... WTF!

Yeah the PSP look sleeker to you, guess what the Gameby DS is not meant for you, it's a slightly younger market. (Yes, when you were younger you had a Nintendo and it rocked didn't it! Unfortunately you grew up, and Nintendo didn't age with you, so you went to Sony who caters to your age bracket) Nintendo is just more focused on the one demographic they know best.

Incredible games my ass, what incredible games, all anyone has seen for both consoles is just demos, and at least Nintendo's were playable. Nevermind what the battery life will most likely be for the PSP. Who knows maybe Sony will pull something out of their ass and the PSP will have great battery life, but not likely. I'm getting visions of Gamegear here...

That's it for my daily rant.

my appologies.

Im.

Its milking copyright

[Thinkit4]

Copyright should be abolished, but 5 years would be better than now. This is just getting more cash for games that already made them rich.

Re:Text (We know what's gonna happen to their serv

[Grey Ninja]

Well, I am sort of used to game console numbers being stated in sell-through rates. I think that this is a carry over from the NES days, where Nintendo offered to buy back any unsold NES merchandise (as a result of the collapse of the American console industry). I have no idea if this practice is still in place though (and I doubt it is)

I dunno, I just have problems believing 70 million consoles sold to the consumers. I have no hard numbers to back me up at the moment (I'm at work), but I very much doubt that there are more than 50 million PS2s sold through...

I think I'll try to look it up when I get home and see what I can find.

HDTV resolution ?

[Anonymous Coward]

I just hope they start making consoles with better resolution then TV resolution. You just can't show good graphics at a good enough resolution.

Re:News Update? March 2005 release date

[maddogjt]

Check your article again, PSP not PS3. They will have their new handheld out by March 2005, but I would be very suprised if we saw PS3 before mid-2006, especially in the US.

XBox Response

[WebGangsta]

And in related news, rumors are that Microsoft may introduce XBox2 at the X04 trade show in September 2004, with their launch in October 2005.

pay no attention to the dreamcast!

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony at E3:

That's right, folks! Step right up! On the PS3 every game will be antialiased, bump-mapped and 3D, with developer contracts stating that no model may have less than 50,000 polygons! The PS3 will have smell-o-vision! The PS3 will beam happiness straight into your brain!

AND...!

It will be available spring of 2006!

*mesmerized customers stagger away from xbox, nintendo displays to look at pre rendered ps3 video*

- from the still-bitter dreamcast fan

HDTV

[Detritus]

You've ignored the widespread deployment of HDTV in the USA over the next five years. That will create a market for game consoles with enough graphics horsepower to drive 720p and 1080i displays. It's going to be increasingly difficult to sell 480i games and consoles.

Re:HDTV

[c0d3h4x0r]

But most people aren't going to upgrade to HDTV sets over the next five years. Well-off home theater geeks will, but not most others.

Even if HDTV set prices drop to the same price as today's non-HDTV sets, there's not enough incentive (in most people's minds) to purchase one. Okay, the picture is a little sharper. To tech heads this may be a big deal, but to most people it's a minor improvement. Certainly not enough of an improvement to justify throwing $500 or more at a new TV when your current one still works fine. Plus you have to then sign up for something more (expensive) than analog cable service to actually see anything in HDTV.

I predict HDTV won't really take hold for about 15 years, because that's probably about how long, on average, today's non-HDTV sets will last before dying and needing replacement. Replacing a dead TV is the biggest incentive most people have for buying something better at similar prices.

Re:HDTV

[king-manic]

Penetration will be slow. Don't expect it in many homes until at least half a decade from now. I bought one. But I'm a tech geek.

Nintendo Nintendo Revolution

[drwiii]

It'll probably play DVD Video and come with a universal cartridge adapter. Nintendo will claim universal compatibility with all Nintendo console titles.

Then Nintendo will fuck it up, right on schedule:

Nintendo hardware design team will somehow manage to make the console look like yet another cheap toy. Packaging team, eager to leave GCN handle debacle behind them, will suggest shipping the console to retailers in a commemorative bookbag with Pokemon all over it.

Some designer on his lunch break will manage to relocate the Z button directly on the left circular edge of the analog stick and shrink the d-pad by another 50%. The d-pad is laid out such that you have to flip the controller over and rotate it at a 45 degree angle even have access to the d-pad. Since Nintendo invented the d-pad, his co-workers do not question him.

Console shipping color will be purple, pink, or bright orange, and it will not have any Certified-Badass blue status LEDs. Don't worry: true to Nintendo form, the only accessories available in your local EB will be colored differently than your console.

System's flash memory cards/drives will be 16 times too small. Nintendo will bitch about how developers are getting too lazy, and how they should strive to fit 20 encyclopedias worth of data in 3 memory blocks. (will not be remedied until 4 years after console launch.) Sony takes note and evolves PS3's units of storage from "kilobytes" to "encyclopedias".

Sony will outbid Nintendo for exclusive "GTA4" to be released at PS3 launch, and no Mario game will be ready at 'Revolution' launch. To make up for it, Nintendo releases four games that are only 25% fun.

Console will have 8+ ports on the bottom that will never be used for anything, just so you know it's a Nintendo system. Will be left unlabeled, since "SP" acronym was already taken for something other than "Speculation Ports". Fucking idiots will lose port covers, causing console to sit unbalanced. Nintendo, sensing a new market for mismatched-colored accessories, starts selling replacement port covers.

Network adapter not integrated and no wireless connectivity except to the portable Dual Boy (which was released two years ago at Christmas). Simplicity-oriented Nintendo will hand the plug-and-play Internet gaming market to Sony and Microsoft on a silver platter.

Third parties, already scared away during the N64 and GCN iterations, go with Sony.

Nintendo will ship Ultra Mario Bros. a whole 8 months after system launch, which just happens to be in May, a nice safe 6 to 7 months away from the lucrative Christmas shopping season.

Ultra Mario Bros. will have some stupid goddamned gimmick, like Mario wearing (oh, I don't know..) toasters instead of shoes. He won't punch blocks or collect coins, though. God forbid he should punch blocks or collect fucking coins. Nobody born prior to 1993 will like the game, and everyone will bitch.

Similar bullshit happens with the next Zelda pre-post-post-pre-post-prequel. Oh, by the way, Link's a kid in this one again. And get this, he's got a musical instrument. There's an option available to turn off cel-shading, but only if you beat the game twice on the same save.

Miyamoto will surface from his underground bunker 3 weeks later to insist that the players are wrong and that Nintendo's new batch of artists and programmers are innovators and that toaster shoes improve gameplay and that Link was always a kid. Suddenly, noticing the Mushroom Signal in the skies high over Kyoto, he hurriedly leaves in order to urgently not-supervise the next Mario game.

Dual Boy SP will be released 3 years and 1 month (December 26th) after complaints surface about the screens on the original Dual Boy acting as a black hole. Upon finding that shining light from both screens cancels out any external light, thereby darkening the space around it and making it impossible to see much less play, Nintendo proudly proclaims that, hey, it worked in R&D!

Jak

Re:Nintendo Nintendo Revolution

[subsonic]

You're obviously a little bitter, but you have a very good point in there. Nintendo has always not-supported its own peripherals. And it is glaringly obvious that having next-to-nothing as far as broadband play is really hurting them in the US.

However, Nintendo is far more succesful in Japan, and a lot of the products that see little to no use here are actually supported over there. During the N64 debacle, Nintendo ended up scaling back most of the peripheral development (you may recall the vaporware 644DD tape drive).
I'm just thankful that Nintendo didn't go the Sega route and sacrifice true innovation for gimmicky extras.

Re:Nintendo Nintendo Revolution

[Anonymous Coward]

just feel lucky the guy who decided to make the VirtualBoy left nintendo, and was killed in a car crash, or else you could count on numerous headaches, after trying to play games for more than an hour at a time lol

Re:News Update? March 2005 release date

[WebGangsta]

Double-checked the article just to be sure, and I can see where you think it's misleading, but I still think that they're talking PS3.

The picture accompanying the article is of a PSP, but the text refers to "the next generation Playstation" along with a later sentence that says "Kutaragi also said Sony would start selling PlayStation Portable, dubbed PSP...". Why would they include this statement at the end of the article if the PSP is what they were referring to at the beginning of the piece regarding the March 2005 announcement/release?

Re:News Update? March 2005 release date

[MyDixieWrecked]

I agree, I was about to ream you out because I thought it was talking about the PSP, too, but in fact, they seem to be talking about the PS3... the last paragraph says it all:

Kutaragi also said Sony would start selling PlayStation Portable, dubbed PSP ... in Japan by the end of December, Kyodo reported

where, earlier it states:

...plans to unveil its next-generation PlayStation video game console before the end of March 2005...

Now, the article IS very poorly written, so they could be saying anything...

A Biggy?

[superultra]

Looks like E3 2005 is going to be a biggy.

Not really. Can you name one title from any of this generation's launch titles that was great, save perhaps Halo? There aren't any, or they're few in number, because the end of a hardware cycle is a thin time for software. If anything, E3 2003/2004 were the best conferences for gamers. Developers have mastered each system's nuances and have reached a plateau in graphics and started to focus more on gameplay. Games released now are refined, honed. Games released for the new systems will be choppy, rushed, and extremely rough around the edges, and in some cases little more than graphical show off stunts.

The changing of the guard is a purgatory for developers. Games released on older systems will be expected to have lower prices, and therefore will result in lower profits. On the other side of the fence, gamers will have just spent $300 on a new system, not including money towards needed periphereals or forced bundles. In the least, that's six games that they could have bought otherwise. What's more is that it will incite rabid fanboyism in the press, and we'll see a barrage of articles over-evaluating the systems. ("The Xbox2 has 8 vertices to it. The PS3 also has 8 vertices to it. EVALUATION: Corners are great to a system, and always add to the stackability. They're keeping with the console tradition of not using pyramids or spherical shapes. WINNER: Tie.")

If anything, E3 2005 will be a great year for PC gamers if only because the engines (Doom 3 & Half Life 2), which are the PC industry's equivalent to consoles and follow a similar cyclical pattern, will have been released and leased out to developers.

But yeah, I guess if you're excited about seeing graphical demos or launch titles that will never actually see the light of day on the new systems, or will look dated within six months of the system's release, sure. E3 2005 will be a biggy. Have fun at E3'05. Go get your hard on. Hardware on, that is.

Re:A Biggy?

[Anonymous Coward]

Developers don't master the individual systems any more, they target the middleware and just port around.

Devlopment cycle

[Andonyx]

Wasn't it the ushering in of the last generation that offcially established a targeted 5 year cycle between console generations?

I'm just having trouble finding this information surprising because I think we've all always anticipated five years between generations and now it looks like they'll be right ons chedule. If they demo at E3, the ship date is probably holiday season 2005, which is right five years.

Nintendo, Sony, and MS have all been acting like this is some huge leap forward because of competition I'm betting that's just more publicity, I think they have planned all along on five years. (I'll give nintendo a little slack I guess, since I believe they introdcued their last sytem a little later than anyone else.)

Re:"According to the BBC"

[Anonymous Coward]

I might consider buying you a DVD if your taste wasn't so poor. Robocop? Seriously. I should order you the Island of Dr. Moreau to punish you.

Pretty sleak, dude.

[Anonymous Coward]

It is pretty sleak. I look forward to nintendo annoucing their own death, as the PS3 will kill of nintendo. Afterall, I dont think anybody buys gamecubes, except idiots who can't even write coherently.

Cell = hype

[DRWHOISME]

How can you honestly say your building better technology for a gaming system than what's on expensive desktops or servers ?

Remember all the sony hype about their 'emotion' engine. It's not much different than a good desktop of that time .

ATI demo's

Will it look like these ?

Re:Cell = hype

[Anonymous Coward]

that's not an accurate statement. The performance of PS2 was roughly equivalent to a top of the line desktop, but the emotion engine is a very different beast. Go read the articles on ArsTechnica to learn about the differences. If Sony had given the system more RAM, it would have been easier for game developers. The primary limitation of PS2 was Sony decided it was too expensive to put more RAM on the PS2, which lead to game developers increased learning curve. If they simply gave it 4x the memory, more developers would have been able to get a hang of PS2 development. Hopefully Sony won't make the same mistake with PS3 and put enough memory on it this time.

+3 insightful?

[Anonymous Coward]

Really? Like, ...really?

Re:News Update? March 2005 release date

[WebGangsta]

A followup article was just posted that states... The launch date was given by Ken Kutaragi, the chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment. Speaking at a briefing for developers, suppliers and media in Tokyo, Kutaragi said that the new player would be ready in time for the E3 show, but he gave no indication of when the product might ship either in Japan or elsewhere.

Nothing new here (just confirming the E3 information), but it clarifies Kutaragi's quote that the previous article mentioned. Who knows? They may still intro the PS3 to the press in March to build hype for the E3 show itself, making both articles right.

One thing that could hurt both Sony and Nintendo

[Anonymous Coward]

I see a potential problem arising. All of these companies are targetting the same unveiling date (and theoretically similar release dates). The problem is, Sony and Nintendo (ESPECIALLY Sony) have a history of releasing thier systems earlier to the Japanese Market. Microsoft will release first to the US market. If that's the case, we might see X-Box 2 beat it's competitors to the US market by months or even years. That wasn't the case last go round. PS2 beat all of them to market in both the US and Japan. History seems to show that whichever is first will beat out the others (or rather, I'd say if one of the systems gets an exclusive Christmas season before the rest). I know Japan technically has a larger market, but the US market is nothing to sneer at either and X-box 2 could end up taking the crown.

* Note this is just my prediction on the way things might go, not necessarily how I want them to go. I'm personally a Nintendo fan overall, though I own all 3 of the current systems.

I'm not ready for a new console

[Anonymous Coward]

... I haven't played all the games I want to on my PS2 and GameCube yet. It's too soooooonnnn!

backwards compatibility?

[*weasel]

No home console before the PS2 had backwards compatibility.

Is it really such a requirement? Sure, I'd prefer to have it than not -- but who has ever looked at a next-gen system and said: "no backwards compatibility, never mind"?

No nintendo fan. No-one who bought the PS1 or the XBox. I mean, you already own the last generation console right? What do you really need another for?

It's nice, it's not necessary. It might cost someone a few sales, but it isn't make or break.

Re:backwards compatibility?

[unclethursday]

No home console before the PS2 had backwards compatibility.

*cough* Atari 5200 *cough*, *cough* Atari 7800 *cough* *cough* both played the previous gen's games, and 7800 also played 2600 games *cough*

Sorry, something caught in my throat there.

Re:backwards compatibility?

[hawkbug]

I'll tell you why I need backwards compatibility - so I can have only one console taking up space in my entertainment center instead of 3. Also, I sell my old consoles on ebay to help afford the cost of a new one. So yes, it's a requirement for me most definitely.

Re:backwards compatibility?

[Anonymous Coward]

Doesn't look like backwards compatibility helped Atari much.

Re:backwards compatibility?

[paulbiz]

Sega Genesis/Megadrive could also play Sega Master System games and Sega Mark III games (predecessor to the Master System). You had to buy an adapter but the processing for it was all built-in to the Genesis already (they used the same CPU for the Genesis sound processor that the original SMS was based on), the adapter just remapped the pinouts for the catridge slots.

Numbers and Halo

[Theaetetus]

From mcall.com about a week ago: Microsoft said last month it was placed to sell between 13.5 million and 16 million of the consoles worldwide by the end of its business year on June 30.
That's roughly on par with the 14.5 million GameCube consoles Nintendo had sold as of March 31. Sony had sold 70 million PlayStation 2 machines as of March 31.

So, "X" being huge in the USA isn't quite right - it's on par with the GameCube, and vastly behind the PS3.

Also, you're slobbering for Halo2. I'll admit, Halo 1 was a spiffy game (I've got it on my XBox). However, the "must-have" game for the XBox is a game that came out at launch? It was the big push disc, the "reason to buy this console" by Microsoft, and, 3 years later, it's still the reason to buy this console.
PS2, on the other hand, has had a long string of "must-haves", from Dynasty Warriors 3 (which is what made me buy one) to GTA3, GTA:VC, the Madden series, FF:X, etc. I think that's the real reason why the XBox is lagging - the PS2, despite having older technology and slightly poorer graphics, has had much better (and more) games. The GC also suffers from older tech and limited storage space on their half-size DVDs, but by having the Nintendo Bloc of titles (Mario, Zelda, Metroid), they keep their sales.

I do have an XBox (on permanent loan from a friend), but with the non-backwards compatibility of the next version, it'll take a lot to make me want to buy one, particularly if I'm going to shell out $50 for Halo2 this Christmas and have it not be able to work on the $400 XBox2 next year.

-T

Re:Text (We know what's gonna happen to their serv

[microTodd]

I wish I had mod points, just for your against the wall comment.

Brilliant.

Console Wars and people's opinions

[microTodd]

I love Slashdot. Its the same as every other gaming forum out there. X sucks. Y rocks. Z outsells X and Y, although I have no reference to back that up.

Face it, if you're reading this forum you're probably (but maybe not) a fairly serious gamer. So if you are truly into your gaming, what does that really mean?

You are going to buy whatever console, whatever system, whatever game is what you want to play.

Some people play for gameplay. Others for graphics. Others for storyline, human interaction (i.e. MMORPG), whatever. Me, I play for a combination of storyline and graphics. (In other words, I'm a FF fan).

Why must people insist that some particular hardware will fail and others will succeed? Before the DreamCast came out, who thought it would fail? How can anyone really know what system is "better"?

Here are some games that I think are really awesome: Zelda, Full Spectrum Warrior, Disgaea. Well, they are all on different systems! So how can I say which system is better?

Re:Console Wars and people's opinions

[forkboy]

That's exactly the point. The games make the system. The fanciest new-fangledest system in the world will fail unless it has great high-quality games in a variety of genres.

Why'd Dreamcast fail? Sega didn't have the titles it needed to succeed. The Atari Jaguar? Way ahead of its time technologically but again no decent games. The Neo-Geo was semi-successful but it was way too expensive to be within price range of the typical family.

Playstation and X-box succeed because they have a LOT of good titles available for them. Gamecube succeeds because it has many of the cross-platform titles as well as a few popular game franchises that are exclusive. (Zelda, Metroid, Mario etc)

But basically I agree with you, predicting success or failure before the system ever comes out is foolish. However, Sony does have a good trackrecord with the previous 2 Playstation systems.

Maybe I've got things Backwards

[One Childish N00b]

I've had my PS2 for years and it hasn't died yet. I've got an original Playstation I bought the year it came out and if I were to haul it out of my 'Junk Electronics' cupboard I'm 100% certain it would still work - the only reason it's there is because I don't need it thanks to my PS2.

Admittedly my PS2 is a little temperamental about working sometimes these days (though I've no such problems when it's turned upside down - anyone know why it behaves like this?) but as I had an N64 which died within 18 months of purchase, and two friends of mine have had GameCubes die on them. I hear a lot about Playstations being unreliable but I've never experienced it - then again I've had Linux recognise (out-of-the-box) several pieces of common hardware that 3 different varieties of Windows refused to detect without a lot of assistance, so maybe all my technology is backwards.

And as for repetitive games, that's hardly the fault of Sony, is it? it's the third-party dev companies cranking out sequels of prequels of sequels - and then there's EA's infernal sports-titles - FIFA 2004 had the player-editing feature removed to make sure people had to buy the next one to get the new players instead of just adding them to their current game - It's sad when games companies start shipping crippleware.

Nintendo's neverending streams of Marios, Mario Karts and Zeldas are the only big games on Nintendo consoles - at least there's the occasional big game release that's original with the PS2. Games development on Nintendo consoles was mortally wounded when Rareware went to the dark side (Microsoft Game Studios).

Speaking of which...

[cryptochrome]

Do you suppose the console makers will grow a brain and utilize user-configurable USB peripherals? Namely controllers, joysticks, steering wheels, printers, keyboards, headsets, and hard drives? Or is that not part of the sales plan?

Re:Speaking of which...

[Anonymous Coward]

No, because it is better not to support any of these devices which would open up lots of different possiblities, allow 3rd party developers to make their own hardware, allow users to use hardware they might already own and generally make a lot of sense rather then deal with the possiblity of incompatabilty.

Re:Speaking of which...

[CronoCloud]

Obviously you don't own a Playstation 2, which does have USB ports.

That's where the keyboard and mouse plug into, supported by several FPS, online games and the Linux kit.

The USB headset used for voice communication plugs in there too.

As does the Eye Toy USB camera

The Logitech wheel designed for Gran Turismo 3 is also USB.

The HD slides into the espansion bay and does not need USB.

Printers work just fine with the Linux kit.

Launch Title Suggestions

[cryptochrome]

I guess they'll just have to make introductory games that fully utilize the hardware and get the fanboys drooling to buy them. Here's some possibilities:

GC2:
Yet Another Legend of Zelda: Link saves the girl in an epic adventure of sword swinging and puzzles and quests. Inexplicably, it incorporates an interactive storyline with PG-rated dating simulation.
Yet Another Mario - Mario jumps on stuff, whacks his head on bricks, and falls improbably large heights.

XBox2:
Halo2 - Online or single player FPS. Scenarios and battles may be played by individuals or teams ranging from squads to armies, with bots filling the gaps and various roles from tactical commander to combat cargo pilot to infantry available. Whole wars are conducted online between hundreds of players. Services of the best players are actively recruited, and are even paid off to throw a battle, leading to the creation of online mercenary armies. Microsoft gets massively bad PR for trying to manipulate game standings and raising prices for the online service.
Generic game: It's generic. It's not worth buying. You should be playing Halo instead.

PS2:
Grand Theft Auto America: Massively multiplayer thug game. Join a gang and move up the ranks, defend your territory and increase your profits, throughout America and neighboring Canada and Mexico. Takes place in the mid-70's, featuring an absolutely badass classic rock, funk, and disco soundtrack. Meanwhile, politicians have fits, which everyone ignores until society collapses, not because of video-game inspired violence but because everyone's too busy playing it to work.
Final Fantasy Orgasm: Gorgeous characters realistically rendered in a huge scripted adventure, from which you cannot deviate. Tits bounce in an exquisitely Japanese fashion, and often.

This is news?

[Simon Garlick]

>Looks like E3 2005 is going to be a biggy

Let me get this straight -- Slashdot is announcing that the BBC has announced that Sony has announced that it will be making an announcement at an industry tradeshow in May 2005... and this is something I should get excited about?

Re:"According to the BBC"

[Anonymous Coward]

its not that my taste is poor.. its just i own everything else so i just put new releases and a few things i want on the list.. i doubt i listed robocop as something i really want, its just there if anyone wants to buy me it.. what i really want at the stargate dvds (which ive been slowly buying myself, got season 1 and 2) and fear and loathing in las vegas

Nintendo

[sbszine]

Nintendo is adding new characters and settings, though. Pikmin is a great new franchise, as does Animal Crossing. Also, while MarioX, ZeldaX and MetroidX may be old characters, the design sensibility and gameplay is changing over the years (e.g. the fuss over the cel-shaded Zelda).

Re:Nintendo

[DeadScreenSky]

(Animal Crossing is just a sequel to an N64 game that didn't see release in America. I would argue it certainly isn't a new franchise because of this, but it is debateable I suppose.)

Pikmin is certainly a noble attempt at creating a new setting, but come on - should we really only expect one new setting a console generation from Nintendo from now on? And even your example of a cel-shaded Zelda shows how conservative Nintendo is with creativity - when fans got a little miffed at the new direction, Nintendo PR went on and on how this was how Link always should have looked ("Just look at the old manuals!"). They didn't sell it as a new Zelda so much as they sold is a return to the original aesthetics of the series!

(And I won't even really get into just how derivative the 'new' Zelda look was of certain specific, popular anime and cartoons. This wasn't like Jet Set Radio, which had an interesting visual style inspired by anime, American comics, graffitti, etc.)

I guess the issue can be boiled down to a game example that I haven't even played: why did Dinosaur Planet need the Star Fox characters shoehorned in it? Are the Star Fox characters famous for hand-to-hand fighting with a staff, or exploring a planet via running? Why wouldn't Star Fox fans be mad that the game wasn't like ANY of the previous games in the series? It was just a particularly inept version of the same thing Nintendo has been doing with all sorts of games for quite a while.

You won't get me to really argue against not massively innovating new gameplay mechanics. Videogames aren't necessarily like films or music - when you find a really good way to control a character, you probably shouldn't arbitrarily stop doing things that way just to be different and innovative for a sequel. But that just makes the need for new characters and settings even more important!

You could be right about a gradual changing of design sensibility and the like at Nintendo. I still don't see it clearly, but I can see little things that may be signs of it. Only time will tell, of course, but I don't feel very optimistic about it. The moment Nintendo makes something vaguely original now (Metroid Prime, Made in Wario), they whore it out into as many sequels and spinoffs as they can, as fast as they can. And older series (like the side-scrolling Metroid games) which used to get an occasional update (3 games over 4 systems, for example), now get rapid-fire sequels. I think they are getting a little desperate, and it will only make them less willing to try new designs and settings...

Wait at least year

[sbszine]

I bought a first gen PS2 and it was noisy and had a DVD drive that died almost instantly. Hold on until they have some time to iron out the hardware bugs -- it'll be way cheaper too.

Same-room multiplayer

[tepples]

Do you play any same-room multiplayer? If you play multiplayer, and you don't have Smash Bros. and WarioWare for GameCube, you are missing out.

Re:Same-room multiplayer

[Tom Courtenay]

Super Smash Bros. is the most overrated game ever. I've tried to play it with friends over and over and we just can't enjoy it. I honestly think there's more strategy in the Dreamcast's Marvel Vs. Capcom II.

We usually end up going back to Top Spin Tennis or some sports games...

This Revolution can't dance

[tepples]

Nintendo's 'Revolution' system is another year or two away. It's supposed to be really snazzy.

How can Nintendo's next console be the "Revolution" when among current consoles, Nintendo's is the only one not to have a port of Konami's Dance Dance Revolution series, unless you count a couple horrible Game Boy Color ports played through the Game Boy Player accessory?

satisfying gameplay vs. attention to graphics?

[1ntegral]

This is in no way mean to be inflammatory. I have a PS2 and an 8-bit Nintendo. I find myself having a lot more fun playing some of the old school Nintendo games, and it's not just nostalgia. A lot of people I know (nerds who also play a lot of console games) feel the same way. I think that games for the recent systems have devolved, at least in terms of the means by which they engage the player with an interesting story and puzzles that don't rely on how fast you can push a sequence of buttons within a given interval of time. Obviously the gameplay for an old school sidescroller is going to be vastly different from a complex 3d rendered PS2 game, but gameplay aside, I wish that developers would spend more time on making the games fun to play and less time on making scantily-clad women who look like omg real girls. There was a paradigm shift at some point, I don't know when, and from my perspective, gameplay suddenly became harder to for developers to make well than did graphics. Basically, I'd be happy with the current systems, if only they could make some fun games for them.

Grandparent wanted DVD *and* DDR

[tepples]

Did you miss this:

We're DDR fans, but that doesn't really separate the pack, since both consoles have DDR.

Not only does the GameCube lack DVD Video support, but it also lacks a port of Konami's Dance Dance Revolution unless you buy a Game Boy Player accessory ($50, bringing the Cube back up to price parity with the other two consoles) and one of the horrible Game Boy Color versions of DDR (listen and compare), and it still won't work to the fullest because the PS->GCN controller adapters typically don't work with dance pads.

Re:Grandparent wanted DVD *and* DDR

[aardvarkjoe]

No. Did you miss this:

Look at what games you'd like, and buy based on that.

His "we're DDR fans" statement sure doesn't make it sound like it's a deal-breaker -- the only thing he mentioned that was was the DVD support.

In the United States

[tepples]

Penetration will be slow. Don't expect it in many homes until at least half a decade from now

Unless the FCC steps in and terminates licenses to broadcast analog TV, as it has promised to do at the end of 2006. All FCC-licensed terrestrial TV broadcasters and all viewers of terrestrial broadcasts will have to convert to at least 480i digital TV by that time.

Re:In the United States

[king-manic]

480i can still be displayed on normal sets. just needs a dumb converter. 480i is much better then analog but it's not HDTV. 1080i is. 480i is nothign special. 480i is the signal I got form my satalite conenction. Crisp most fo the tiem. On the HDTV it looks pretty poor. PS2 is 480i compatable so is everythign else with the right cables (I mean cube and xbox).

Re:In the United States

[king-manic]

I was wrong, a converter isn't even needed just has to have a svideo cable. otherwise it needs a cable converter.

troll, or idiot?

[I judge you]

You decide...

It's a well argued position on slashdot. An idiotic position, often repeated by retards. But then, he slams PC's? Gotta award a troll point there for the multi-troll.

But then you get an F for failing console history.

Survey says... RETARD!

Thank you for playing.

Laser Calibration

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem you are refering to is the laser calibration. The PS2's laser is set too low on all model (including the newer ones). This is done to serve 2 purposes. 1. To extend the life of the laser and 2. It makes it harder to play backups. But as the system gets broke in and played more. The laser gets alittle weaker. To fix the problem is a matter of turning up the power to the laser. They have the steps to do that online Here But with out an Oscilliscope you typically turn it about 1/8th of a turn clockwise for most PS2s.

Re:Laser Calibration

[hawkbug]

Yeah, I know. I have gone through this procedure many times - and it does extend the life of the PS2, but in the end, every one that needed this has ended up not working. And no, I didn't turn up the power too much - on one of the machines, I had to turn it up approximately 5 times in small increments, where it would work for about a month after I did that, and then eventually get weak again. I just gave up.

Enough said on the topic...

[Anita Coney]

"In British English, singular words like family, team, government, which refer to groups of people, can be used with either singular or plural verbs and pronouns. 'This team is/are going to lose.'"

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/archive/c ol lective_nouns.html

Re:Enough said on the topic...

[Anonymous Coward]

Could you be more disingenuous?

The line above your quote on that page is:

"Swan elaborates on this singular/plural usage, and disagrees about treating collective nouns as both singular and plural in the same construction:"

In other words, you quote out of context someone whose position is only present to provide a counterpoint to the summary position actually given on that page. The irony being furthered by the fact that you are trying to lay the issue to rest via appeal to authority, when the very authority you appeal to says it's a muddy issue.

Re:Enough said on the topic...

[Anita Coney]

There may be disagreement but the quote IS valid. It IS true that in "British English, singular words like family, team, government, which refer to groups of people, can be used with either singular or plural verbs and pronouns."

It even contrasts it with the way we do in in the US:

"In American English singular verbs are normally used with most of these nouns in all cases."

Here's another site talking about the difference in use:
http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifcompnyvscompn yr.sht ml

Here's yet another one:
http://www.onestopenglish.com/english_gramma r/brit ish_american.htm

And here's anther one:
"Collective nouns: Nouns like 'team' and 'company' that describe multiple people are often used with the plural form of a verb in British English, and with the singular form in American. British "the team are concerned"; American 'the team is concerned'"
http://brandt.kurowski.net/projects/l sa/wiki/view. cgi?doc=400

How much more proof do you need?!

Good god, man, that is really funny.

[thatguywhoiam]

Thanks for the laugh.

whatever

[tepples]

True, but I also saw "that doesn't really separate the pack, since both consoles have DDR," referring to DDRMAX for PS2 and DDR Ultramix for Xbox.

Still, I guess you're right that it doesn't break the deal, as GameCube-owning DDR players tend to get their dancing fix through StepMania for PC.

Remote eject means no waiting for unmount

[tepples]

Without eject button on remote: Walk up, push eject, wait for tray to come out, pull out disc.

With eject button on remote: Push eject, walk up, pull out disc. This use case involves no waiting because the DVD player spins the disc and opens the tray while the user is still walking up.

Advantage of four players per screen over two

[tepples]

With two-player fighting games, you have to have twice as many TVs and twice as many game consoles to keep four kids entertained. This can add up at family gatherings.

Re:News Update? March 2005 release date

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't believe you posted an RTFA comment without Ring the Fucking FA yourself!!! What's up with that?!

The article was all over PS3, but unfortunately the key word here is "unveiled" rather than "released".

It worked!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Otherwise they would have sold 70 million and 1 PS2 boxes...

Try it on 64

[caitsith01]

It's way better... better controls, less annoying environments... all around a better game, despite worse graphics.

LAN-gamers

[PzyCrow]

It seems to me that a HUGE market to conquer would be the LAN-gamers.

Imaine a device, tailored to solve all your LAN-gaming whoes.

To list a few:

Moving a big heavy box around.
Moving a big heavy monitor around.
Getting all drivers to work.
Getting bullied for having the slowest cpu/gpu/ram/rat whatever.
Trying to convince your friends that it can be fun playing a game that actually runs on Linux too!
Makeing shure everyone has the right patches, crackz and stuff.

What I see before me is a compact, silent box that support two gamers with headsets or some laptop lookalike as interface.
Theese boxes can be clustred to support more gamers. And the whole cluster can be connected to the internet for online gaming.
VoIP is a must.

its called linuXbox

[shimen]

Its called linuXbox as people on freenode are hackin xbox to linuXbox