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PS3 In U.S. In November?

Next Generation reports that yet another analyst sees the U.S. PS3 launch a ways off. A gent from the Pacific Crest Securities group forsees a 1M unit strong launch in the U.S. sometime in November, with a Japanese launch the summer before and an EU launch the spring after. From the article: "Despite speculation of high launch prices - some quoting a ludicrously high $700 mark - these numbers will certainly lead to severe shortages. Sony will struggle to meet retail demand with a million units at launch, and will face the same kind of criticism leveled at Microsoft if it fails to back the launch up with regular pre-Holiday shipments."

84 comments

  1. Co-launch w/Revolution? by BTWR · · Score: 1

    Interesting... a Q4 launch for the PS3 would give it a launch window within weeks of the Revolution. Could make for an interesting holiday season...

    1. Re:Co-launch w/Revolution? by theJML · · Score: 1

      I'm sure that since there are only so many people droping that much money during one quarter (for the holiday season) that both the Revolution and the PS3 will sell at "less than expected" numbers. So I wonder if it's really in their best interests to fight at that point. However, on the flip side it may help to hide the fact that they don't won't have enough units to ship for the season.

      Oh, and Best Buy will now have to have two lines of people waiting at 3am, one for the Revolution, and one for the PS3. I can just hear the almost religious wars being waged between those lines-- So yeah, it could be an interesting time. LOL

      --
      -=JML=-
    2. Re:Co-launch w/Revolution? by rubberbando · · Score: 1

      Oh, and Best Buy will now have to have two lines of people waiting at 3am, one for the Revolution, and one for the PS3. I can just hear the almost religious wars being waged between those lines-- So yeah, it could be an interesting time.

      What would have me chuckling is when one fanboy finds out that they are out of the console he was waiting for and ends up wandering over to the end of the other line. Talk about having to eat some crow. :P

      --
      DEAD DEAD DEAD DELETE ME
    3. Re:Co-launch w/Revolution? by Ayaress · · Score: 2

      Not to mention Best Buy will also have twice the fights, twice the shortages, twice the $2000 ebay auctions, twice the clerks afraid to go to work and face angry parents who weren't smart enough to order their PS3/Revolution months ago and now can't get little Billy his Christmas present.

      Seriously, look at history - do any of us expect that Sony or Nintendo will NOT have launch shortages? Sony's history suggests their shortage will be even worse than the 360's. Of the three console makers, Nintendo's the only one with a good track record of release volumes, and even they've had long lines and short supplies at nearly every turn. Their record of late releases for the N64 and GC at least mean they haven't had to compete in a double-rush with another big console release. I was hoping that Sony would fall a bit more behind, or Nintendo would make their much earlier optimistic release schedule, just to avoid this sort of mess that will only hurt and/or annoy everybody involved.

      It'll be the same story as every new release: There'll be a lot of griping and complaining, and those of us with six braincells to rub together will just wait until March to buy ours.

    4. Re:Co-launch w/Revolution? by LilBlackDemon · · Score: 2

      Couldn't you also make the argument that because the Revolution is using a more current-gen hardware profile, that it's parts will be easier manufacture? Granted, ATi did create a new chip for the system (Hollywood, IIRC), but most technology should be more within the scope of current production methods, rather than something like a Cell processor (1 core vs. 8 cores).

    5. Re:Co-launch w/Revolution? by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      Most customers will choose only one console anyways, regardless of when they launch. Simple really.

  2. Microsoft == Munson by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    "...will face the same kind of criticism leveled at Microsoft if it fails to..."

    Funny how Microsoft has become the Munson of the console world. Almost synonymous with sucking or failure.

    1. Re:Microsoft == Munson by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.planetpat.com/img/2/kingpin-ernie(1).jp g

      Finally, Big Ern is above the law!
      It's a great feeling.

      You were so cool. Any pressure?

      Where are those girls? Get those girls
      over here. Yeah, there was pressure.

      I didn't want to get beat
      by a guy with a hook.

      Does this mean that he gets
      a handicap?

      I don't know. I'm rich.
      What do I care?

  3. They have a chance... by faloi · · Score: 1

    If they minimize their shipments by avoiding doing something crazy like...oh...let's say giving away a PS3 every 10 minutes for a month. I guess the reality is that sort of scheme doesn't dent the overall shipments much. I think it will be tough for them to overcome the high start-up cost, and if the game offerings just aren't there at release it will be even less compelling to be an early adopter.

    --
    "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
    1. Re:They have a chance... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      If they minimize their shipments by avoiding doing something crazy like...oh...let's say giving away a PS3 every 10 minutes for a month.
      What the fuck are you talking about? Do the math: 6 xbox 360s an hour * 24 hours a day * 31 days a month = 4464 xbox 360s a month

      This is NOT a lot of consoles and would have barely helped fix the shortage, and therefore is not "crazy".
    2. Re:They have a chance... by faloi · · Score: 1

      What the fuck are you talking about? Do the math: 6 xbox 360s an hour * 24 hours a day * 31 days a month = 4464 xbox 360s a month

      That's why my second sentance (yeah, I know, it's a long way to go for some) was "I guess the reality is that sort of scheme doesn't dent the overall shipments much."

      Thanks for helping me ephasize the rest of my post.

      --
      "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
  4. huh? by the+computer+guy+nex · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "If they minimize their shipments by avoiding doing something crazy like...oh...let's say giving away a PS3 every 10 minutes for a month. I guess the reality is that sort of scheme doesn't dent the overall shipments much."

    Crazy?

    60*24*31/10 = around 4,000 Xbox360's. That is nothing compared to the demand. It was effective advertising for both Mountain Dew and the 360. There were some people with a few hundred caps they saved for one drawing.

    1. Re:huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or you could just enter online constantly and never have to buy a sigle bottle of mountain dew.....my co-workers brother won an ipod and a 360 from pepsi this way and he only drinks coke products.

    2. Re:huh? by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 1

      The secret is to go to a university that has Pepsi products (if you're not already on one). Find a social area where there are pop machines (in the case of the University of Colorado, the "Real McCoy Grill" in the engineering center served nicely). Go through the recycling bins and take all the tops (in the Mountain Dew contest, they were colored orange which made them easy to identify).

      I collected about 400 caps with less than an hour of effort. I would have had more if another person hadn't already "farmed" most of the bins.

      Not all of those 400-cap entries were from obsessive Mountain Dew drinkers.

  5. The whole thing is... by ecryder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    speculative. Who are the sources for these analysts? I'll wait to hear from Sony, thanks.

    1. Re:The whole thing is... by Doomstalk · · Score: 1

      The very fact that we've yet to hear anything from Sony is the whole reason such speculation exists. Spring 2006 is way too close for them to not have a launch date, price point, or initial shipment figures. Even more than rabid gamers, retailers like to have these figures well in advance so they can incorporate it into their budget, and decide how much shelf space to dedicate to it. While November is pretty much a guess, it's not much of a stretch to see their logic: summer is a slow season for games, so it's an unlikely choice for a launch; and November gives them access to the same holiday hype that the 360 enjoyed.

    2. Re:The whole thing is... by tepples · · Score: 1

      summer is a slow season for games, so it's an unlikely choice for a launch

      If Sony can't necessarily get enough units out at once, then why not have a quiet launch during summer, possibly exclusively through an online store, and then the advertising blitz in fall?

    3. Re:The whole thing is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Spring 2006 is way too close for them to not have a launch date, price point, or initial shipment figures.

      No, it's not. The PS2 did not have playable games (or a launch date/price) until the February 2000 show. It was launched in Japan only a month later in March 2000 and N.A. and Europe in October and November of that year IIRC.

  6. Take all the time you need, to get it right by TheSkepticalOptimist · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think we can all agree that the Xbox360 launch was dismal.

    Hardware and software glitches, not enough stock, no real nex-generation games at launch and a lackluster Japan release along with rumours about when and how Microsoft will suppor HD-DVD all can be attributed to Microsoft rushing the Xbox360 out the door without proper testing and defining any real rollout plan.

    If it takes Sony until November of this year to release the PS3, then if they are doing so to ensure a rock solid release with lots of really good software titles at the time of release, then by all means, take the time.

    There is no real point for Sony to release the PS3 before the holiday season. Selling the PS3 in April or May of this year may generate a few million in quick sales, but sales will drop off until the holiday season anyways. Sony may be releasing that by waiting until he holiday season to drive up anticipation may help them gain record sales figures, especially if they can claim they could sell more units over Christmas then Xbox360 did last year.

    In then end, I am in no real panic about when the PS3 will be released. Xbox360 isn't everything it was cracked up to be, and I can easily wait until the PS3 is released to make a final decision over which game unit to buy. By then, Nintendo should have offered their Revolution, so real comparison shopping can begin for this Christmas.

    --
    I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.
    1. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by the+computer+guy+nex · · Score: 3, Informative

      "Hardware and software glitches, not enough stock, no real nex-generation games"

      Have you even played a 360 yet? The only hardware problems were around 2% of people who stuck their power brick behind a hot TV with ventillation. There haven't been any Microsoft software glitches.

      The 360 is over a million out the door. It is far ahead of the PS2 pace 2 months into release.

      No real nex-gen games? Play Kameo, COD2 and PGR3 on any TV with the full 1080 resolution. You are blind to call them non "nexgen".

      Sony will fail with the PS3 unless they pull the plug on Blu-Ray. The system will cost about twice that of the 360 with less features (online play) and less games (same stuff minus Halo).

    2. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hired Microsft astroturfer.

      Mods check post history.

    3. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are a fanboi bitch-fag.

      Get over it. Sony will NOT fail. They have the third party japanese support mutha fucka.

      One million units? So fucking what, it's failing miserably in Japan.

      It's god damn fanbois that prevent games from gaining any credibility. Please know what your talking about before you post.

      Asshat.

    4. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by oGMo · · Score: 5, Informative
      The 360 is over a million out the door. It is far ahead of the PS2 pace 2 months into release.

      Wow, a whole million? If you look at the actual facts, you'll find Sony sold just shy if a million PS2s on opening weekend... in Japan alone. Over half a million in the US on opening day. And over 100 million to date.

      If Microsoft were to continue selling, on average, 500k a month, it would take them sixteen years of consecutive continuous sales to match the PS2's record.

      Oh yeah, the 360 is a success all right.

      --

      Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage

    5. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by mjhacker · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You would think that fanboys would be disheartened by the fact that, well, the Xbox kind of blew. You would think that a console that maxed itself out in a year compared to the still improving yet considerably older PS2 would lose its fanbase. But no - they just keep chugging along, proudly displaying their white and green flag, singing the same old song. They once said that the Xbox was better than the PS2 because it had better specs. Now, since the PS3 will debut with superior specs - that the 360 is better because, well, they have Xbox Live!

      Microsoft has proven to us that they can't be trusted as a console manufacturer, much like Sega did. Who cares if the Dreamcast was good? They blew it too many times in the past with the lackluster game gear, Sega CD and 32x add-ons, and Saturn (Master System and Genesis were relative successes). These consoles had some REAL potential, and yet, each console failed after about a year or two after release. Now look where Sega is - producing games.

      While Sony has made some silly decisions, each of their entries into the console world were pretty much complete successes, the PSP to a lesser extent due to its short time on the market and high cost. PS1 crushed the N64, and the PS2 crushed both the Gamecube and the Xbox, much to Microsoft's surprise. See a pattern here? People are ALREADY fed up with MS, and they haven't even been in the game very long. Their only claim to fame is the Live service, which is admittedly a good thing. Too bad they don't have (hardly) any good games to play online to begin with.

    6. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, you slapped that dimwitted little bitch silly.

      The poor fucks who are the few million hardcore Dreamcast/Xbox freaks have had such a miserable 7? years being essentially terminal losers to the entire gaming world that they have created a fantasy world they all live in.

      They really believe the idiotic things they post like the idiotic comment you quoted:

      "The 360 is over a million out the door. It is far ahead of the PS2 pace 2 months into release."

      Fucking retard.

    7. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by C0rinthian · · Score: 1

      Hey Kettle? This is pot. Just thought I'd let you know that you're black...

    8. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by C0rinthian · · Score: 1

      Considering how Nintendo turns more profits than Sony, (Not Sony games division, Sony in it's entirety) well, lets just say that I sure wouldn't mind being 'bitch-slapped' like that. :)

    9. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by ClamIAm · · Score: 1
      If it takes Sony until November of this year (2006)

      The thing that pisses me off the most is that Microsoft is most definitely trying to push for a rigorous upgrade cycle. The Xbox was released in '01, and the 360 in '05 (four years!). Compare this to the historical lifespans of consoles, and you can see that this is ridiculous. Then they claim that they have a "next generation" console, when in reality it's like a half-generation better. Sorry, but I'd rather wait for something that has more mature hardware, isn't nearly the size of a minitower, and matches the heat output of an overlocked gaming PC.

    10. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Mnemic · · Score: 4, Insightful

      For once I wish I had mod points to Mod up some of the comments below this Post.

      As stated in other comments, Xbox has a long way to go before reaching the level the PS2 has managed to reach. Technical Problems aside, the hardware problems has tarnished the image of the X360 release. 2% or not, many seemed to know someone who knew someone who's brother's dad had problems with it. True or not hearsay is powerful.

      Next-Gen is still unknown to the masses. Technology right now is diluting itself. Retailers are pushing Hi-def, but there is little content for it, and non-techies can't tell the diffrence less they see it side by side. HD/Blu-Ray are pushing for new Media, but DVD is out there, and VHS still has a significant role as well, evident by the availablilty of new movies on DVD and VHS Format. Game is no diffrent. It looks like a game. It plays like a game, wow this must be another game!

      It's highly unlikely the PS3 will Fail due to blu-ray, and every article and speculation (since there is NOTHING ELSE but speculation) I've read indicates Blu-Ray costs will most likely get eaten by Sony, akin to DVD drives in the PS2 Release. Sony can build most of the parts for their consoles in house via their own manufacturing plants further reducing the costs.

      Anything is possible, but its pretty unlikely the PS3 will fail. Many thought the market would not support 3 Mainstream consoles when Xbox Came out, but its proven it can, and looks to continue that trend.

      --
      WHY ISNT LS WORKING ON MY PC?! well it's ls not LS LS IS NOT WORKING! turn caps off CAPS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LS!
    11. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Malor · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I've got all three last-gen consoles, plus a 360.

      Of the three older systems, I like the XBox the most; I've preferred the games and the presentation there. Most of the time, when you have the same game on both the PS2 and the XBox, it will load and run fastest, and look the best, on the XBox.

      The Gamecube, despite being unpopular, has always impressed me. It hasn't had as many games, but they've always been well-done... fast and easy to play. It's quite undeserving of its red-headed stepchild reputation. If it had used full-size disks, I don't see any reason why it couldn't have done just as well or better than the other two. I think the tiny game disks were its biggest limitation.

      The PS2 has always felt sort of hackish. It has good games, but the limitations of the hardware are almost always visible in some way. Look at Shadow of the Colossus, for example... a great game, but the PS2 has trouble animating the Colossi. It's still a great ride, but it's rather marred by the lack of horsepower to do what they wanted.

      I haven't seen it, but I've read that the PS2's version of Resident Evil 4 is the best of all three consoles. This surprised me, but I'll take it on faith. If it's true, it means that they are still figuring out ways to make the PS2 run faster, which is pretty cool. The major downside is that there must be, like, 12 guys in the world who can make that hardware sing to that level.

      An easier-to-program architecture strikes me as a better bet, most of the time, for most gamers. 'Normal' programmers are in pretty good supply... truly brilliant ones are hard to find. An easy architecture means that most games will look good and play well. An arcane architecture like the PS2 will start to pay off late in its life, but for a long time, the games will probably be better on the consoles with simpler architectures.

      The best comparison I can think of is the old Commodore Amiga versus Atari ST debates, way back when... the ST, being simpler, had good software sooner. The Amiga's much better architecture started paying off after a few years, and the software (particularly games) on that system ended up being much, much better. But for the first couple years, the ST looked stronger in many ways.

      It strikes me, as a multi-console owner, that the smart thing to do is to buy the easy-to-program system early in the lifecycle, and the tough one near the end, when it's cheap. (assuming you're not a diehard that must own everything, at least.) It's not like a computer... it's not an investment that can pay you back. It's just a toy. You don't really CARE what the architecture is like...all you care about is the games.

      As far as actual GAMING goes, the Revolution is likely to be the best out of the gate. The 360 will hit its stride a year or two out, as the programmers learn its medium-complex architecture. The PS3, most likely, won't truly develop for another year or two longer.

      Ultimately: wait until there's a game you want, and then buy the console. It's about the GAMING, not about wanking over how "powerful" one's console is.

      Remember, too, that the 360 is an actual, shipping product, though still hard to get. You can look at the games NOW and judge for yourself. The PS3 may be better. It's easy to compare the present reality of a shipping product with the possibilities of vapor hardware, and of course Sony would love for you to do that.... anything to keep you from buying a 360. But you can't look at the games on the PS3, can you?

      I'm sure I'll end up with a PS3 eventually. I do not think, however, that it's likely to make the bed and do the dishes, and if it's as arcane as the PS2 was, it's not truly going to hit its stride until 2010 or so.

      So why not wait and buy it when it's cheaper?

    12. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "An easier-to-program architecture strikes me as a better bet, most of the time, for most gamers. 'Normal' programmers are in pretty good supply... truly brilliant ones are hard to find. An easy architecture means that most games will look good and play well. An arcane architecture like the PS2 will start to pay off late in its life, but for a long time, the games will probably be better on the consoles with simpler architectures."

      PS2? Arcane? Do you have any clue what an idiot you sound like to a real life console engineer?

      Drop the tech talk sport. Stick with the fanboy stuff.

    13. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by j0nb0y · · Score: 1

      Many thought the market would not support 3 Mainstream consoles when Xbox Came out, but its proven it can, and looks to continue that trend.

      Actually, since the first XBox was a money loser for Microsoft, the market *hasn't* proven that it can support 3 major consoles. When they are three *profitable* consoles, then the market will have proven that it can support three.

      --
      If you had super powers, would you use them for good, or for awesome?
    14. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, hey everybody -- a real life console engineer. What an ass.

    15. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Doomstalk · · Score: 1

      You seriously underestimate the power of being first to market. I mean look at the Nintendo DS if you want an example. I'm a big Nintendo fan, but even I would argue that the DS launch was pretty dismal. Sure there was plenty of hardware to be had, but the launch library was pretty pathetic and key features like internet play didn't even hit the market until a full year later. If you'd asked me this time last year, I would've predicted that the PSP was going to steamroll the DS. Nonetheless, they've built up a hell of a lot of steam with their lead time and the sales figures speak for themselves. For another point of comparison, the PS2 had a far worse launch than the 360. There were severe hardware shortages, and the launch library was pretty sad. But by being first out of the gate(yes the Dreamcast was earlier, but I'm not counting it for simiplicity's sake) Sony was able to dominate Nintendo and Microsoft with momentum alone.

    16. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Awww.. did I hit a nerve? :P

      Lemme guess.. when you were born, Clinton was president, and console errors have always been an acceptable part of life, right?

      Keep on fellating the big guys by shellin'-out money for error-laden products. Good goin', idiot..

    17. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by BlueHands · · Score: 1

      ps2 is harder to deal with than the xbox or gamecube. Doesn't say which has more potential, just which is easier. That is something that every one i have ever heard talk about working on both systems has said. Maybe you are different but that doesn't make you right.

      --
      I mod everyone down who says "I'll get modded down for this." I hate to disappoint.
    18. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Wait, Clinton was president during the '90s, so you're saying that I'm inexperienced with video games. Hurr! Good one! Who knew you real-life console engineers had such a good sense of humor?

      I don't consider console errors an acceptable or unacceptable or ANY part of life -- IT'S A TOY. So I don't get all batshit on the companies that make them. Though once I had a G.I. Joe and his "life-like hair" rubbed off. Fuck Ha$bro!

      In any case, the only problems I've had with these toys is shitty-ass games. Now, who's fault is that? Not Sony, not Microsoft; the problem is YOU, and all your real-life-console-engineer-school classmates.

      And I don't fellate anyone, but you can certainly suck my dick, you asshole.

    19. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by tepples · · Score: 1

      [You're so inexperienced that you think] console errors have always been an acceptable part of life, right?

      So you claim that the NES didn't have its own Dirty Disc Error?

    20. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by stone2020 · · Score: 0

      The PlayStation 2 holds the record of fastest selling video game console ever, 100 million PlayStation 2 units were shipped in only five years and nine months, shattering the previous record of nine years and six months by the PlayStation. Ah, shipped...forgot to mention that. Plus, how many people had to buy another PS2 because of the disc read error? So Microsoft is on pace to sell 30 - 50 million units? And those estimates are constrained by production problems. Your right, that's a total failure.

    21. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      There haven't been any Microsoft software glitches.

      AHAHAHAHAA. Maybe you should take your own advice and play PGR3 --- potentially the glitchiest launch title ever. And let's not forget other stuff like the COD2 save bug.

      The 360 is over a million out the door. It is far ahead of the PS2 pace 2 months into release.

      No it's not, unless you believe your idiotic ps2 launch numbers which you've been spamming over the boards. The PS2 sold a million in the first 24 hours . The fact that it's taken the 360 a few months to get there is telling.

      As for the current numbers, let's check NDP sales figures for december:
      (source: http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=81022&pag e=4&pp=50)

      PS2 - ~1.5 million
      PSP - ~1.12 million
      DS - ~1.07 million
      Xbox - ~415K
      Xbox 360 - 281,441
      GBA 1,213,196
      GCN 606,423

      Software
      > 700k sellers
      PS2 1
      360 0

      > 600k sellers
      PS2 1
      360 0

      >500k sellers
      PS2 4
      360 0

      > 400k sellers
      PS2 5
      360 0

      > 300k sellers
      PS2 9
      360 0

      > 200k sellers
      PS2 18
      360 0

      The numbers speak for themselves. Note that these numbers are for the U.S., where the Xbox has it's largest marketshare. We're not even talking about Europe and Japan.

      No real nex-gen games? Play Kameo, COD2 and PGR3 on any TV with the full 1080 resolution. You are blind to call them non "nexgen".

      Oddly enough, not a single one of those games actually runs at 1080i or 1080p resolution. They are either at 720 or 600p (in the case of PGR3). As for them being "next gen," simply take note of the fact that most of the 2005 best graphics awards went to FEAR (a PC-exclusive title).

      Sony will fail with the PS3 unless they pull the plug on Blu-Ray. The system will cost about twice that of the 360 with less features (online play) and less games (same stuff minus Halo).

      Please, spare us your idiocy. You haven't got a clue about the price of the PS3, as does no one else besides a select few at Sony. As for your "same stuff minus Halo" comment, I'm still waiting to see a real FF game, or Gran Turismo, or something as innovative as Katamari Damacy or Shadow of the Colossus on an Xbox console. In fact, I'd like to see something that isn't a generic FPS/Sports game and isn't a PC or PS2 port.

    22. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Malor · · Score: 1

      I was born when JFK was president.. when the thought of a computer in the home, much less a computer with graphic capability, was science-fiction.

      My original PS2 died, and I had to replace the whole unit. My XBox developed disk errors, and I bought a replacement drive for it from EBay.

      The PS2 failure cost me a lot more money.

      (the Gamecube has been flawless, so far.)

    23. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GameCube.. flawless?

      That's how a console should be. Especially for the amount of money we're paying for them.

    24. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      So Microsoft is on pace to sell 30 - 50 million units? And those estimates are constrained by production problems. Your right, that's a total failure.

      That's assuming sales remain constant throughout the whole lifetime of the system. Sales will fluctuate with game releases, competition and season. A strong competitor could put a huge dent into the XC's sales and sales aren't going to be as high during summer as they are during winter. Killer apps will boost, game droughts reduce sales. I'd say any attempts at predicting lifetime sales at this point in time is futile.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    25. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      I haven't seen it, but I've read that the PS2's version of Resident Evil 4 is the best of all three consoles. This surprised me, but I'll take it on faith.

      It's considered better because it has additional content (Sony refuses to allow late ports without additional content to be published), not because it's technically superior. Gameplay supercedes technical aspects.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    26. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by (A)*(B)!0_- · · Score: 1
      "But by being first out of the gate(yes the Dreamcast was earlier, but I'm not counting it for simiplicity's sake) Sony was able to dominate Nintendo and Microsoft with momentum alone."
      You're not counting it for simplicity's sake? What does that even mean? You're not counting the Dreamcast because if you did, your point would not stand.

      Yes, being first to market can be an advantage but there are many other factors involved in whether a console will be a success or not. Furthermore, rushing to market to try to beat the competition, without actually being prepared (Sega Saturn) probably isn't a good idea.

    27. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Doomstalk · · Score: 1

      The Dreamcast had other factors against it- like being from a cash-starved console maker (read: not Microsoft) who had spent the past 5 years pissing off western gamers. None of the others had the multi-tiered flop that was the 32x/Sega CD/Game Gear/Saturn/Pico fiasco. Sega's past mistakes are what killed them, not being first to market. Their image was so tarnished that the Sony hype machine stomped all over them.

    28. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Sony hype machine"

      Go away loser. The console world had enough of you sad fucks YEARS AGO.

    29. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go away loser. The Slashdot world had enough of you sad fucks YEARS AGO.

    30. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by apoc06 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "There haven't been any Microsoft software glitches."

      are you serious? well apparently you havent heard tales of PGR crashing. CoD crashing... and this gem:
      http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?t opic_id=24198870

      these are software problems. regardless of whether it is faulty firmware or faulty software from the developers. it is microsofts' duty to ensure that these sorts of things/problems never make it to retail. thats why they have a testing and certification program in place in the first place. instead MS is pushing a release and patch program.

      when the majority of your consumers never connect to xbox live in the first place... and the rest of the other half dont have harddrives... patching should never be an option.

    31. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by oGMo · · Score: 1
      The PlayStation 2 holds the record of fastest selling video game console ever, 100 million PlayStation 2 units were shipped in only five years and nine months, shattering the previous record of nine years and six months by the PlayStation. Ah, shipped...forgot to mention that.

      Oh, yeah, a significant portion of those PS2s are still sitting at stores waiting to be bought. Right. Like retailers would have 10 million units sitting on shelves and still be asking for more.

      Plus, how many people had to buy another PS2 because of the disc read error?

      Good question, you have any actual numbers? I didn't think so.

      So Microsoft is on pace to sell 30 - 50 million units? And those estimates are constrained by production problems. Your right, that's a total failure.

      Constrained by production? I seem to recall barely one-fifth of the 360s in Japan selling. It's only on pace to sell 30-50 million if it keeps selling at the same rate it has been for the entirety of its life.

      Looking at opening weekends, the PS2 was "on a pace" to sell 387,400,000 in the US and Japan alone. Of course, this is silly, because sales trail off considerably after initial release, and continue to slow (with some ups and downs).

      Judging by things selling about 1/4 of the "on a pace" rate, the 360 is more likely to sell about 10 million units in a 5-year period.

      --

      Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage

    32. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by Psykus · · Score: 1

      "I haven't seen it, but I've read that the PS2's version of Resident Evil 4 is the best of all three consoles. This surprised me, but I'll take it on faith. If it's true, it means that they are still figuring out ways to make the PS2 run faster, which is pretty cool."

      Resident Evil 4 has only been released on the Nintendo Gamecube and the Playstation 2, no Xbox version. And , the Gamecube version is actually superior to the Playstation 2 version in graphics. For one, polygon counts had to be cut for the PS2 version, and all of the cutscenes are pre-rendered (for the same reason, technical limitations). The Gamecube version renders the cutscenes in realtime, being the more capable system.

      However, since the PS2 version did release much later, it got a couple of extra game modes, and another weapon.

    33. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by reedsr · · Score: 1

      i read a news release the other day that actually said MS only had 600k units sold total, where are the other 400k? http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=29000

      --
      "Is Sausage bad for printers?"
    34. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by stone2020 · · Score: 0
      Oh, yeah, a significant portion of those PS2s are still sitting at stores waiting to be bought. Right. Like retailers would have 10 million units sitting on shelves and still be asking for more.
      Just pointing out your error that you made it look like sold units (a classic Sony trick).
      Good question, you have any actual numbers? I didn't think so.
      So Sony is going to release numbers that look bad? There were enough for a couple class action lawsuits.
      Constrained by production? I seem to recall barely one-fifth of the 360s in Japan selling. It's only on pace to sell 30-50 million if it keeps selling at the same rate it has been for the entirety of its life. Looking at opening weekends, the PS2 was "on a pace" to sell 387,400,000 in the US and Japan alone. Of course, this is silly, because sales trail off considerably after initial release, and continue to slow (with some ups and downs). Judging by things selling about 1/4 of the "on a pace" rate, the 360 is more likely to sell about 10 million units in a 5-year period.
      Hahaha. I seem to remember in the U.S. most of them were sold out. You must have missed people waiting in line for them or being sold for more than retail on Ebay. Kind of kills the 1/4 thing. I know you tired of waiting for Jak and Daxter 10 for PS3 but alot of Xbox 360's are going to be sold in the next year. All 3 next-gen systems are going to sell alot of units because they all have strong points.
    35. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by (A)*(B)!0_- · · Score: 1

      That doesn't refute the point I made about your statement.

    36. Re:Take all the time you need, to get it right by DeadScreenSky · · Score: 1

      Constrained by production? I seem to recall barely one-fifth of the 360s in Japan selling.

      You'd be wrong. It sold over 62,000 in the first two days (some widely publicized early reports put it at a low 50,000, but they were wrong), and the country only got around 160,000 total. And I'm pretty sure in the weeks after it managed to at least break 100,000, but I don't really feel like crunching the numbers for such a silly debate (you can do it yourself here if you want, though understand the numbers run lower than reality). Not remotely awesome (especially compared to it selling out in the larger NA and European markets, where it definitely is being constrained by production), but also not remotely as bad as you claim.

      --
      There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -- Francis Bacon
  7. Re:Boycotting by LilBlackDemon · · Score: 3, Informative

    I just wanted to let you know that you shouldn't buy Sony products because of rootkits and DRM. Instead you should buy open, hackable platforms like the Game Park GP2X and the Nintendo DS. Buy a Revolution, too.

    Although I agree with your point, the GP2X isn't the isn't the best example to use right now.

    Now then, if they were to include the updated source, that would be freaking sweet.

    If Sony were to "wisen up" and open the platform of the PSP and PS3, the company would be killed by infighting. Sony is in the unique position of being both a device producer and a content producer. Sadly, in this case the content side of the business has almost total control over the device side of the business. This can be seen in the early digital media players that wouldn't play MP3s, and by exploit-laden CDs still in stores despite a recall. Indeed, the main problem for Sony is that the device side cannot pull itself out from the grip of the media side. Sony made a great piece of hardware with the PSP, but because of the content side's desire of creating a mobile video platform, the devices needs to stay locked-down and DRM'ed so that piracy is less of a worry.

    The biggest problem Sony faces is itself, and it is a similar problem to what is faced by all device producers: Content producers understand neither the technology their content is played on nor the demands and wants of the buying public. It is not a question of "if" but "when" DRM methods will be cracked, and no movie or record executive will believe that fact. Until they do, we will continue to see DRM.

  8. The only thing I know about the 360 is this by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1
    That everytime I am in a gamestore wich is a lot since I got friends at two of them is that each time the 360 has crashed is crashing or is rebooting. Well no not every time. Just enough for me to think, "Ah, MS".

    Same with the dutch trams in amsterdam, some marketing genius at MS has deciced to allow MS OS to be used to display ads on LCD screens inside the trams. Good advertising for MS, their distinctive error messages seen by millions each day.

    If you consider that other consoles including the often abused DS just run for months on end the constant problems with the 360 do not make me hopefull. Of course these were the very first units and are abused but still, it just doesn't look good.

    But this argument is never going to be settled. Fanboys vs Fanboys. What one considers a must have game another considers a tired sequel.

    By the end of this year we will know more.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:The only thing I know about the 360 is this by Quarters · · Score: 1
      "If you consider that other consoles including the often abused DS just run for months on end..."

      Not counting the two to three times each day you'd have to recharge the DS's battery and turn it back on, right?

    2. Re:The only thing I know about the 360 is this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yet another reason I don't like what MS is trying to do with the console market. These are consoles - not computers. We shouldn't have to download patches and upgrades to play these damn games, and we shouldn't be seeing error messages with such frequency.

      I'm not going to contribute to the further lowering of the video game console bar by fellating Microsoft financially. There are enough idiots who appear willing to do this already..

  9. More Importantly by SimplePaul · · Score: 1, Troll

    imho, Sony needs to give us some playable demos.

    I think *then*, the internet browsing public will know to (or not to) wait for the PS3 and buy an XBox 360 and the word will spread.

    Similarly, I imagine a good Japanese release will slow down the American / European XBox 360 sales, so a delayed North America release wouldn't be the end of the world.

    I think some solid realtime evidence is sorely needed to make the gamer/consumer think twice about blowing their console budget on the 360.

    A demo of the online play would also be reassuring. If they have started working on that yet ;)

    People need a reason not to buy an XBox 360.

    1. Re:More Importantly by guspasho · · Score: 0

      People need a reason not to buy an XBox 360.

      $400. That's mine.

    2. Re:More Importantly by amliebsch · · Score: 3, Insightful
      People need a reason not to buy an XBox 360.

      Why do you care what other people spend their money on?

      --
      If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.
    3. Re:More Importantly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh.. I need a reason?

      Bill Gates has enough damn money.
      Microsoft has ulterior motives for attempting to skulk into my living room.
      The players on Live are either annoying, 12-years old (real "mature," BTW), or racist.

      Oh, and first-person shooters & street racers suck sh!t out of the ass of a donkey with raging bloody choleric diarrhea.

    4. Re:More Importantly by furiousgeorge · · Score: 1

      >>Microsoft has ulterior motives for attempting to skulk into my living room.

      Any Sony doesn't? Sony is ever bit as evil in my book. More in certain ways, slightly less in others.

      Make no mistake, these are both corporations. They only have one agenda.

    5. Re:More Importantly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who said I like Sony? :P

      For the record, I find both Sony and MS about equally fecal..

  10. Re:Boycotting by SimplePaul · · Score: 1

    While geeks may be anti-Sony for the rootkit fiasco, one may also appreciate the PS3-Linux distro Sony has promised its users.

    Seems to me that the Playsation team is giving coders/geeks just what they have been asking for.
    Of course, the reality of this distro is yet to be seen.

  11. The DS is strapped to a pedastal and has permanant by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1

    The DS is strapped to a pedastal and has permanant power. If you let it hang loose it would walk out of the stores.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  12. Unique? by Bobdammit · · Score: 1

    Sony is in the unique position of being both a device producer and a content producer? Say what? How is that unique? Last I checked, both Microsoft and Nintendo were doing the same thing. In fact, of the three, Nintendo is the one totally reliant on releasing their own content for their own devices. If anything, Sony is the most reliant on licensing fees for content developed outside of their own company.

    1. Re:Unique? by LilBlackDemon · · Score: 1

      They are unique in that they are also a major media corporation: they have a music division, a movie division, et cetera. While Microsoft and Nintendo do have game studios (and in the case of Microsoft, many other software divisions not dedicated to games), they don't have a large, non-technical content division breathing down their necks about something that they don't really understand (DRM). Sony Music is the part of the corporation that made Sony release its first crippled digital media player. Sony Pictures is probably a driving force behind the constant upgrades to the PSP so that it's hard for users to pirate the UMD movies available for the handheld, and therefore preventing the comapny from truly opening up the console.

  13. Re:Boycotting by SimplePaul · · Score: 1

    There was a PS2 Linux distro as well. How many copies of it have you seen?

    I used it briefly. All I did was play around, run a few OpenGL (iirc) demos and install mplayer on the thing.

    This was never going to be a commercial success. It really was only aimed at people who wanted to dev on a PS2. I don't see any other reason to buy it!
    It could only be bought online, if my memory serves me right.

    The question is whether PS3 Linux will be aimed at the normal user or will it be something only advanced users can take advantage of?

    As it will come with every HD, perhaps it really will be nice and polished for the average gamer. It would certainly be nice.

  14. Re:The DS is strapped to a pedastal and has perman by Quarters · · Score: 1

    Ah, didn't realize you were talking about the particular DS in the gamestore you frequent. I thought you were refering to all DSs.

  15. Re:The DS is strapped to a pedastal and has perman by Doomstalk · · Score: 1

    Also you should note that you can plug the DS in mid-gameplay and chage it without restarting the system.

  16. Homebrew on later consoles? by tepples · · Score: 1

    Ultimately: wait until there's a game you want, and then buy the console.

    Problem is when the game's developer isn't given the chance to work with the publisher and has to release the game online as freeware. This means that players have to buy an older revision of the console that's more likely to accept games not authorized by the console maker. Case in point: can one reliably find a PSP new in box with 2.00 firmware, the latest to have a semi-reliable crack?

    1. Re:Homebrew on later consoles? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Isn't it a better idea to port it to the PC if the console companies don't want it? That way it's open to everyone, unlike requiring some arcane ritual to make the game run each time you want to play it. Hell, sometimes I play one game over another because I'm too lazy to change CDs!

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    2. Re:Homebrew on later consoles? by tepples · · Score: 1

      Isn't it a better idea to port it to the PC if the console companies don't want it?

      How many simultaneous players can you fit on one PC? Most middle-class families are not interested in buying three PCs so that the two kids and the friend that they have over for the afternoon can play simultaneously. And even then, what if the game was intended for a handheld system? Which gaming handheld sold at retail in the United States or Europe is open?

  17. What about the PSP? by tepples · · Score: 1

    one may also appreciate the PS3-Linux distro Sony has promised its users.

    So why does the PSP community see firmware 1.51 and 2.01 released the week after an exploit is discovered, as well as Sony's official announcement of an anti-homebrew stance, instead of PSP Linux? And why isn't there a version of PS2 Linux for the slim PS2?

    1. Re:What about the PSP? by SimplePaul · · Score: 1

      I don't know of any official anti-homebrew Sony statements but to be fair, the holes found in 1.50/2.00 allow for games to be ripped, distributed and booted/played very easily.

      Considering the loss Sony makes on each PSP, I'm not surprised this would be an issue they are quick to address.

    2. Re:What about the PSP? by tepples · · Score: 1

      I don't know of any official anti-homebrew Sony statements

      The best that Google gives me is this article.com.com.com.com.com.

      Considering the loss Sony makes on each PSP

      Then why isn't there a PSP Linux distro sold for the amount of this loss plus the cost of pressing the disc?

  18. I actually wouldn't mind this.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would temporarily reduce demand for the Revolution while some choose PoS3 instead, so I'd have an easier time getting my console.. hmm..

  19. Re:I think we can all agree by MrCopilot · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I think we can all agree that the Xbox360 launch was dismal.

    I think we can all agree that there is almost nothing that we ALL agree on.

    If it takes Sony until November of this year to release the PS3, then if they are doing so to ensure a rock solid release with lots of really good software titles at the time of release, then by all means, take the time.There is no real point for Sony to release the PS3 before the holiday season. Selling the PS3 in April or May of this year may generate a few million in quick sales, but sales will drop off until the holiday season anyways. Sony will release when they are ready. If they were ready they would have released alongside the Xbox360. But they aren't yet. Here's the real deal XBOX360 sales are higher than PS3 Sales at least and until after the PS3 ships. Funny thing I noticed during christmas though, Blue Hairs (No disrespect intended of course) were purchasing XBox 1 Forza Bundles because they were the only Xboxes in the store (Also the packaging was eerily similar to the 360). I don't think Microsoft wins this round but they are certainly not out as bad off as sega for the last couple of its hardware years. From every 360 game I've seen, (Not Screenies) The visuals and sound are incredible, I haven't actually been able to play one yet but I haven't heard any complaints from the kids crowded around the kiosk at the WalMart. Face it man, every Manufacturer wants that must have christmas gift and this year it was MS. Next year it will be Sony. Although I'm still pulling for the suprise upset from the big N.

    There is no PS3 on my list this year. However, if the Revolution comes I'll cough up my dough.
    (What a strange statement)

    From all indications Live is a force to be reckoned with that Sony has zero interest in competing with, instead leaving it to developers. (They get points for including a browser in new PSPs and firmware.) In my view at least Nintendo and MS see the internet as a feature not as a burden.

    --
    OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games