E3 - Sony Drops PS2 To $149, Shows PSP, Hints At PS3 326
JSDopefish writes "Not much of a surprise, but Sony announced today at their E3 press conference that they're lowering the price of the PlayStation 2 console to $149, including the network adapter. That matches the already in-place $149 price of the Xbox system. The GameCube remains at $99." Elsewhere, jasoncart writes "Sony has just unveiled their Playstation Portable specs to the enthralled masses at their pre-E3 conference in LA. The result is the first photographs of the new device (alt. link), confirmation of the impressive specifications (Wi-Fi ahoy!) and hints on the games we'll be playing on the PSP, including 'clips of Gran Turismo... Wipeout [and] Metal Gear Solid'." 1UP also discusses mentions of the PlayStation 3 in the press conference, including "some rather grand predictions for the future of Sony's game console efforts."
Re:Yea, but does the PS2 run Linux? (Score:2, Insightful)
But it'll cost you a few hundred bucks, and its severely crippled.
Re:poor microsoft (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:poor microsoft (Score:3, Insightful)
Microsoft NEVER made any money on the Xbox. The console is sold at a loss, and the profits come from the games. I believe it took 3 titles purchased for Microsoft to break even when the XBox was launched. With the reduction in component prices and the increases in manufacturing efficiency, they probably aren't losing much, if any, more than they were when the console was launched.
Re:This will sell like acid at Woodstock . . . (Score:5, Insightful)
This will be an interesting competition. MANY technologically superior handhelds have gone up against nintendo, only to be defeated soundly.
Also realize that, if properly utilized, this touch screen could adapt the handheld to any control scheme necessary. Heck, Maybe in the future all controllers will be touch screen, and the button configurations will depend on the game programmers themselves.
We shall see.
Now. Gimme some ubisoft news. (play "beyong good and evil.)
Re:poor microsoft (Score:5, Insightful)
Xbox outsold PS2 this month. The list of third party titles and developers is snowballing.
I really dont get being a fanboy for any console based on the "company x is evil!" philosophy. Both are big companies with histories of Evil(tm), hell add Nintendo and their emulator witchhunts and censorship of games to the list, oh and their illegal developer lockin contracts of days-gone-by. Hell, if they had their way, Capcom, EA, et al would be contractually obliged to only develop for them.
Re:More info on the PSP (Score:5, Insightful)
Sony has a history of promising incredible things, and then backtracking on them a week or so before launch.
"ps2 renders toystory in real time." Indeed. PSH.
Re:This will sell like acid at Woodstock . . . (Score:5, Insightful)
Monstrosity? Sorry, I don't feel sorry for Nintendo here. The system has wireless capability built in. This means both head to head play AND net play. It's got the touch screen interface like a Palm Pilot, that means you can play multiplayer + chat. Forget doing that on the PSP. It plays GBA games. Sorry, no backwards compatiblity for PSP. It has a built-in microphone. Sorry Sony, no voice recognition for you. Undoubtedly, the Nintendo system will be a lot cheaper than the PSP as well.
Who should feel sorry for who?
Re:WHY! Why does a portable system have so many po (Score:4, Insightful)
Because games are too expensive to develop.
Why are people fawning over the specs? (Score:4, Insightful)
We all know it's going to be the games that make the system... so I'm sure this thing will be stunningly successful. As for the specs, it's almost exactly what I was expecting at the price-point, nothing more, nothing less.
Re:ps3 workstation (Score:2, Insightful)
They are not in the business of making cheap development systems - the more expensive to the developer the fewer low-budget developers.
Re:ps3 workstation (Score:2, Insightful)
Meanwhile, Microsoft already and developers using G5's to develop for the X-Box2.
Considering it can sometimes take two years for a game development project from start to finish, who should start to be worried???
Just a thought,
-B
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Not Likely (Score:3, Insightful)
Given current touchscreen technology this isn't likely. Currently, touch screens (or even touch pad mice) register only a single touch at a time, and they wear out after a number of touches (usually like 100k). Given that you at least need two buttons at a time (direction and action), usually more, this probably won't happen.
Maybe someone will come along with cheaper better technology that makes this possible, but the tactility of mechanical buttons along with the cheaper manufacturing costs will keep them around for the foreseeable future.
Re:Slashdotted! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:poor microsoft (Score:4, Insightful)
And you're right, no point in supporting one company over another for "evil corp" reasons. Frankly, the way I see it, each company has its own domain. Up until recently I would say PS2 was the best system; but I think Xbox has taken over, with an excellent selection of games. Not to say that PS2 or Gamecube aren't good. Crystal Chronicles alone makes that system amazing.
Re:This will sell like acid at Woodstock . . . (Score:4, Insightful)
Anyhow, they're not meant to replace all the buttons. They're meant to make in easier to perform selections based on variable options. Sure, it's pretty easy to select "Attack monster" with an analog stick, or to scroll through a list of weapons to find the one you like. But it's even EASIER to have a visual catalog of options that you can slide your thumb down and tap to select. It'll make for some GREAT controls, and for some INSANELY quick and intuitive gameplay.
Re:Sony/PSP Owned (Score:3, Insightful)
Great, just great. I had enough problems kicking my addiction to the AW GBA incarnations.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
wireless chat? (Score:2, Insightful)