Sony Hints on PS3, PSP, and PS2 Plans 230
jaaron writes "The Register/GamesIndustry.biz reports on what Sony may have in store in terms of gaming hardware for E3, and according to remarks from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president David Reeves: 'PSP games will probably be region-free, that PS3 will be intrinsically linked with PSX and may appear in home server and standalone gaming versions, and... Sony may announce a stripped down, PSone-style PlayStation 2 product.'" The interview also mentions: "Looking further ahead, Reeves spoke about Sony's 'ultimate goal' for PlayStation 3 - 'to get into electronic broadband distribution'."
Sega TV! (Score:4, Interesting)
This time maybe it could work!
(for longer anyway)
Learn more about the Sega Channel (Score:2, Informative)
It was called "Sega Channel". This early application of push technology let subscribers select a game of up to 2 MiB and then wait until the repeating broadcast looped until that game "came on." Learn more about the Sega Channel [google.com]
Electronic Distribution? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Electronic Distribution? (Score:2)
Re:Electronic Distribution? Of course Sony can't (Score:2, Funny)
Sony wastes all that money in "production", "advertising", and "sales networks" of actual systems...
Thought on region free (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Thought on region free (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Thought on region free (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Thought on region free (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm not sure if any of the parties make much money from the consoles themselves, I know supposedly Microsoft bleeds for every XBox sold, I really don't know how much that applies for Nintendo or Sony now.
Re:Thought on region free (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Thought on region free (Score:3, Interesting)
they have not hinted at it, and it certainly isn't a general purpose device that would need such anyways to be succesful. they're probably going the nintendo(as with gameboy) route with it, meaning that they're the only ones who can make manufacture the games anyways(the physical medium).
if you want offically accepted 'homebrew', buy a gp32 or n-gage(or some other series60 phone if you're geek fashion touchy, any bozo can even apply for official symbian application uid's! eve
Re:Thought on region free (Score:2)
While I don't think the Linux kit has inspired a home-brew market like the X-Box one, it does offer excellent learning value for someone wanting to get relevant experience programming the PS2.
I would imagine an SDK for the PSP would allow someone to create a Gameboy Advance (and maybe DS) emulator, which I'm sure Sony would unof
Re:Thought on region free (Score:2, Insightful)
Most of the revenue comes from game licenses, not from hardware sales, but huge hardware ssales (possibly spurred by GB emulation) would mean more developers wanting to sign up.
Personally I think the emulation thing is a good idea. Assuming it requires a cart, and not that you can download the GB roms to the PSP from the internet...if that were the case sony would absolutely love it, they get more hardware ou
Re:Thought on region free (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Thought on region free (Score:5, Informative)
The biggest improvement.. (Score:2)
Re:Thought on region free (Score:4, Funny)
Put your psp on the floor and repeatedly jump on it.
Works if your a 7 year old japanese girl.
Don't forget... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Don't forget... (Score:3, Funny)
PS5? Hah! PS9! (Score:3, Informative)
Who remembers Sony's television commercial for the PS9, the entertainment system you inhale so it can access your brain directly?
(If someone has a link to the commercial itself, please share!
Re:PS5? Hah! PS9! (Score:4, Funny)
PS^3 (Score:5, Funny)
Re:PS^3 (Score:5, Funny)
Re:PS^3 (Score:2)
Re:PS^3 (Score:2)
At last! (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, at least they'll get _SOMETHING_ right.
Any PSP movies, however, will probably have to remain region protected, even if Hollywood decides to back the UMD format for distribution, although there may be other incentives to buying movies this way.
Oh well :(
The PS3 isn't sounding like a normal console... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:The PS3 isn't sounding like a normal console... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:The PS3 isn't sounding like a normal console... (Score:3, Informative)
Yeah, its sounds like standard Sony marketing (Score:5, Insightful)
This is likely just Sony throwing smoke to steal the thunder from Microsoft, and snow the existing Sony userbase into thinking the PS3 will be much better than it really will be (just like PS2 v DC).
Either way, two versions of the same console would be gimmicky at best. It'd have the same problem all add-on hardware does: developers can't count on possibly expanded functionality being there on every box, so they don't spend time/money to leverage it in a meaningful way.
So there would be no reason for the average consumer to buy a psx+ps3 instead of just buying a ps3 and a tivo.
Perhaps they're trying to push microsoft and nintendo into budling expensive multifunction bits into their boxes -- allowing sony to punish them on unit price and take the 'high-road' of selling a box that 'just does games'.
Likely the only way Sony will 'screw up' the PS3 and allow Nintendo/MS to reclaim some of the market due their own bad decisions - is if the Cell continues to be behind, and they show up late to market with an outmatched product.
It's much more likely that any market share reclaimed by Nintendo/MS will be due
Re:Yeah, its sounds like standard Sony marketing (Score:3, Interesting)
You mean like the PS2 and PSX? Developers aren't supposed to use the expanded functionality in the PSX, so your argument is moot.
So there would be no reason for the average consumer to buy a psx+ps3 instead of just buying a ps3 and a
Re:Yeah, its sounds like standard Sony marketing (Score:2)
Re:Yeah, its sounds like standard Sony marketing (Score:2)
The NGage sold without a contract, right? Or was that 300$ with contract from a telco?
Re:Yeah, its sounds like standard Sony marketing (Score:2)
Game console features overlap with a DVR's features enough to say you will probably get a PS3 w/DVR cheaper than a PS3 + TIVO. TIVO's are selling for $150 and up with a $300 activation fee right now. The artical says the
Re:Yeah, its sounds like standard Sony marketing (Score:2)
I think it's a case of "what's good for the goose is good for the gander" here. Two wrongs rarely make a right, but in this case, more power to Sony. Because I know MICROS~1 would pull the same shit if they were on top. Hell, they'd probably do that in any event.
Personally, I think there should be more games for the GameCube. Every time I look at the
Re:Yeah, its sounds like standard Sony marketing (Score:2)
Which would be fair enough, if Microsoft had any thunder to steal.
Swiss army portable gaming device? (Score:4, Interesting)
I can't decide if this is cool or not. A GPS receiver and cellular phone attached to my portable gaming device? What for?
Now, if it had a touchscreen, Palm OS, and a secure way to copy my games onto the device so I don't have to carry them around with me everywhere... then we're talking.
Re:Swiss army portable gaming device? (Score:2, Interesting)
Next big thing.... (Score:4, Funny)
What I'd like to see... (Score:2, Informative)
US $50 is simply too much for a new PS2 game.
Games have been $50 USD since the days of Nintendo (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Games have been $50 USD since the days of Ninte (Score:2)
Re:Games have been $50 USD since the days of Ninte (Score:2)
I'm not sure how they justify it now, the cost of owning a lexus (some Ubisoft programmers made 140+ k last year), or a stable of Porsche and Ferraris (Romero, probably a couple of EA executives).
Re:Games have been $50 USD since the days of Ninte (Score:3, Interesting)
You think that the art/game design for zelda took more R&D to create than for Splinter Cell?
Vice City stands on its own as a completely new game.
And here's the biggest thrill of them all, you are permitted to wait for the prices to drop, which they will.
No one is forcing you to buy them when they first come out at $50. Stop being cheap, if you want it first you'll have to pay for it. If you can wait you'll be able to pick it up at $20-30 relatively soon.
Re:Games have been $50 USD since the days of Ninte (Score:2)
Re:What I'd like to see... (Score:5, Insightful)
Really? How much time do you spend with a typical game?
Considering going to a movie for 90 minutes is usually going to set you back at least $15 when you include admission and transportation, good video games are a bargain. I've logged hundreds of hours playing Ratchet and Clank, Socom II, and Dynasty Warriors alone.
Re:What I'd like to see... (Score:2)
Some have been cheaper (Score:2)
One new game (Beyond Good And Evil) released at $40, then just a few months later (after Christmas) was down to $10-$20.
At $10 for such a great game, who could resist? I bought one, and I'm sure they made a killing.
Re:What I'd like to see... (Score:2)
US $50 is simply too much for a new PS2 game.
Argh, how does a comment like this get modded "insightful"?
First of all, N64 games listed at $69.99-$79.99 when the system was first released. Prior to that, Sega Genesis games sold for up to $80 (Phantasy Star IV being an example). The original Warcraft on PC had an MSRP over $50 (check this month's 10th Anniversary PC Gamer for confirmation). Going back further, most Atari 2600 titles retai
Re:What I'd like to see... (Score:2)
How many Atari 2600's were out there in 1977?
How many PS2's are out there today>
It's called Economies of Scale. According to Economic theory, shouldn't games be cheaper now? Or maybe not, since there's historical proof that people will pay these outrageous amounts.
Re:What I'd like to see... (Score:2)
Last I read, there is an installed base of 17 million PS2s, I think that was in the US.
Re:What I'd like to see... (Score:3, Funny)
Him: Games are too expensive.
You: No they're not, they've always been expensive.
See? Doesn't make sense.
Re:What I'd like to see... (Score:2)
is sony trying to be like valve? (Score:5, Insightful)
I hope to god Sony's attempt at online delivery is way better than Steam. *shudder*
e.
Re:is sony trying to be like valve? (Score:2)
The best average speed I get on my cable modem is about 120kbs. I think we're a ways of from actual >1Mbs download speeds on average.
Still, I can't wait to get my hands on a PS3. : )
Re:is sony trying to be like valve? (Score:2, Informative)
If you download at 120k/s then you're actually downloading at ROUGHLY 1200 kbps... Which is over the 1Mbps barried you refer to above. The part where you're getting confused is w/ Kilobit and Kilobyte, and likewise with Megabit and Megabyte...
A 1.5mbps line on can download at roughtly 150k/s.
And SnappyDSL *COFS.net* is releasing a 3Mbps DSL line *Yes - I did say DSL* in FL and w/in the next 3 months one in GA. So I don't think its that far away at all...
Never know though...
Re:is sony trying to be like valve? (Score:2)
Maybe they'll license some phantom technology from these guys [infiniumlabs.com] instead!
Playstation 3? That's nothing! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Playstation 3? That's nothing! (Score:2)
'broadband distribution' (Score:3, Interesting)
IL didn't and doesn't have a Phantom console, they were selling this concept.
I wouldn't be the least surprised if Sony acquires IL for 'intellectual capital' that they've already compiled from 'researching' this market strategy.
My guess is that it was IL's plan all along, don't sell a product-- just an idea.
When?! (Score:2)
Re:When?! (Score:3, Informative)
the fabs Sony/IBM are building for the Cell-chips will not be ready until early 2006.
Re:When?! (Score:2)
Re:When?! (Score:5, Informative)
The PS3 will be backwards compatible with PS2 and PS1 games, Sony's already announced that, so if you decide to get one in the future you can use it on all the games you already bought. The main reason I suggest buying the PS2 now is price. When the PS3 comes out, it'll probably cost at least $300. Right now you can get a brand new PS2 for $180, and if you get the network adaptor bundle (also comes with a copy an ATV racing game you can play online) it's just $200. The network adaptor alone is $40, so the bundles the best deal if you intend to play online.
The only waiting I'd recommend is till after E3, there's a good chance Sony will lower the PS2's price to match or beat Xbox's new price of $150.
Re:When?! (Score:2)
I agree with my parrent post to wain untill after E3 because prices are likely to change. And if a new system becomes $150, a used one is likely to get even cheaper.
PS3 home server? (Score:3, Informative)
Beh (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Beh (Score:2)
Which is why Sony also make the Vaio [vaio.net] range of AV computers, and have also been working with [macrumors.com] Apple [apple.com], arguably the current masters of digital convergence.
Personally I've taken the most complicated middle road and put a Mod Chip [teamxecuter.com] in my XBox [teamxecuter.com], installed the GPL Xbox Media Centre [xboxmediacenter.com] and stuck it on my mixed system home network, so it can now play an crazy number of media formats [xboxmediacenter.com].
Is there really a need for the broadband connect.. (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm a programming dork myself mostly, I hardly play games at all, and I must confess I like singleplayer the best. When I'm finding myself playing, it's mostly because of relaxation. I don't want to communicate with other users. I don't want to play stressful FPS's against other computer/tv-games player. It just gets my nerves going in a spin I can't controll and that's actually exhausting, I can't play for more than an hour or I'll get all fuzzy in my head.
I just want to sit down, drink some coffee and run a few laps around the course in GT3 or bash some cars in GTA3. If I want to play multiplayer, I'd much more prefer to do it together, like playing the "Pro Evolution Soccer" game at my friends house or batteling eachother in "dance dance revolution" or such similar game.
I certanly see why people enjoy multiplayer, but I don't like the idea that I need to cough up with $50 more for the network adapter and god-know-how many hours of development which goes into the console for developing this.
Maybe I'm just "old fashioned", after all, I'm closing 30
Albert
Spellchecked by my cat Zelda.
Re:Is there really a need for the broadband connec (Score:5, Insightful)
I just want to sit down, drink some coffee and run a few laps around the course in GT3 or bash some cars in GTA3. If I want to play multiplayer, I'd much more prefer to do it together, like playing the "Pro Evolution Soccer" game at my friends house or batteling eachother in "dance dance revolution" or such similar game.
I certanly see why people enjoy multiplayer, but I don't like the idea that I need to cough up with $50 more for the network adapter and god-know-how many hours of development which goes into the console for developing this.
Maybe I'm just "old fashioned", after all, I'm closing 30 ;-) But what's bad with a choice?
Still, the focus on multi-player and online gaming worries me too. I'm afraid game companies are going to forget that there are still plenty of people happy playing single-player, offline games.
Cost is small (Score:3)
The decision on including a hard disk is a little different, as hard disks actually cost something to produce. Network adapter is pretty much about "can we make them pay for one more accessory?" vs. "can we sell more consoles by including this".
I'd like an adapter for my GameCube. I wouldn't use it to game online, but
Re:Is there really a need for the broadband connec (Score:2)
If DOD was released fo
Re:Is there really a need for the broadband connec (Score:3)
Background: I'm 34, make my living in creative tech, been addicted video games since Asteriods.
Simply put, after Xbox Live, there is no going back. Everynight, I get to play with the best players in the game regardless of where they are. I'm in Los Angeles, they could be in Miami or even the UK. But in reality, it makes no difference. They might as well be sitting right next to me. Their player is right there on my widescreen, in my living room! We're competing in real t
Re:Is there really a need for the broadband connec (Score:3, Insightful)
Y'see, that's the problem. People who play online tend to be a lot more skilled than me. There are a few reasons for this, but it boils down to the fact that my game playing time is extremely limited (I consider 5-6 hours over a week to be a lot), because I'm too busy doing other stuff. The people that play online tend to both put more time in, and just care more about how good they are.
So, while I think on-line gaming will continue to be rea
Forcing features onto players (Score:2)
It's also feature upselling. Maybe you didn't know about online games but now its a feature on
Re:Forcing features onto players (Score:2)
Seems like you don't know The Real Reasons Mobile Phones Have Cameras [mobileasses.com]?
Maybe, maybe not... (Score:5, Funny)
So things are definetely decided then?
the part that interests me.. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:the part that interests me.. (Score:2)
As a sort of "onboard entertainment" for my kids on longer routes, I use a combo of an iBook 466 (used to be my workhorse, now it's our family "hand-me-down" laptop) + car charger + Virtual Gamestation (a PSX emulator for MacOS 9.x) + MacAlly iShock II (USB clone of the Sony's iShock). It's better than PSOne + screen, as it can a
Stripped down PS2 (Score:2, Funny)
This blows. (Score:4, Funny)
I support the product and/or service (Score:2)
When will PC gaming come to an end? (Score:2, Interesting)
I could never understand why people spent upwards of $3,000-$4,000 on a PC when they could buy a $200 console, all the acessories, and a big screen for far less.
Am I missing something that makes a PC more atractive than a PS3 with a fast graphics card, HD, and braodband connection?
More control (Score:3, Interesting)
If it ever gets to the point that I can't purchase a system and a game and outright play them at no cost beyond the initial costs, then I'm going back to books and media that do not have recurring costs and subscription fees. Otherwise, I already have enough monthly bills to deal with, telephone, insurance, rent, utilities, etc., I certainly don't need one dealing with entertainment. The only reason I have a cable bill is for my broadband connection. My cable tv is the most basic package that I can get because I don't want a $120/mo cable bill. What are those theories that competition brings prices down? I certainly haven't seen it with the 500 channels competing against one another, target markets and demographics be damned, my cable bill has only gone up, so it was time to get rid of it. Sorry for the rant....
Amigori
PS3 to use blu-ray discs (Score:5, Interesting)
Broadband distribution, huh? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:30 MB = Any game I want? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:30 MB = Any game I want? (Score:2)
Re:hmmm... (Score:3, Funny)
Over Dial Up modems I hope, that would be excellent.
Re:I'd like to be the first to say (Score:2)
Sony said it would have 1000 times the performance of the PS2, by using cell processors.
Anyway I thought Ensor from Blakes Seven invented the Tarial Cell computer [btinternet.com].
Re:I'd like to be the first to say (Score:4, Insightful)
Plus playing 3D games on an *interlaced* TV set really sucks when you try to move around fast. PS2/xbox are only worth looking at if you happen to have a progressive scan TV and the console actually uses it.
All I want in a future console is 3 things:
* a LOT more memory then the current generation consoles.
* progressive scan support.
* joysticks with trackballs instead of stupid analog sticks, with support for optional mice you can buy separately.
Re:I'd like to be the first to say (Score:2)
Re:I'd like to be the first to say (Score:2)
Well, given that that just the video card costed more than the entire console at the time of release, I can imagine it to be that way. Even now, a video card like that still runs nearly $100.
I really did wish that progressive scan was supported, better yet, 720p on all games.
Re:I'd like to be the first to say (Score:2)
I'm not an expert on the PS2, but doesn't the whole thing share about 32M of RDRAM. Thats frame buffer, texture buffer, game code, etc, all in 32M? Doesn't leave room for a lot of 512x512 textures. I remember even when the PS2 first came out, my PC had sharper textures. I know there was still probably a price gab between my video card+system and the whole console though.
As for 720p - it sure would be a lot nicer for those 4 player split-screens. 720p would give each player about 640x360 pixels. Thats a
Re:I'd like to be the first to say (Score:2)
Oh that would be great, so the consoles can become the home of more FPS and RTS games like the PC, and no other types of games because EVERY OTHER GAME GENRE PLAYS BETTER WITH ANALOG STICKS THAN A TRACKBALL/MOUSE.
And the PS2 has supported an optional mice, using standard USB, practically since its creation - of course you can only use mice in a few games, because the vast majority of PS2 gam
Re:I'd like to be the first to say (Score:2)
Personally, for most console games, I prefer the d-pad to the analog stick, which is why I would like to see a d-pad and a trackball, since the trackball is really for the games that would normally be better with a mouse.
I've tried plugging a optical USB mouse into a PS2 as well, sure it lights up, but I haven't found a game that supports it yet.
For the xbox, I'm mainly comparing Halo to playing RTCW:ET on the PC, since that is the latest 3D game I play a lot. Halo is incredibly blurry, its no wonder you n
Re:NO HARD DRIVE!! (Score:5, Insightful)
What are you talking about? (Score:2)
Re:NO HARD DRIVE!! (Score:2)
I thought that the hard drive would make things a lot more complicated, but really it doesn't. you get the same browser menu for the hard drive as you do for your memory cards... if you can launch a program off a CD/DVD from the browser you can do it from the HDD. There's really not much of a difference.
Re:Price Drop? (Score:2)