[PS3] PS3 delayed until March 07 in Europe

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19492

http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/De...68&NewsAreaID=2

SCEE Press Center is being fucking HAMMERED. Good luck getting in, but here's the press release:

Quote:

6/09/2006 06:40
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Announces New March 2007 date for European Launch of PLAYSTATION 3



Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Announces New March 2007 date for European Launch of PLAYSTATION 3
No change in launch date for Japan and North America

London, Wednesday 6 September 2006 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that it would revise the launch date of its PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment system in the PAL territories of Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa and Australasia from 17th November 2006, as previously announced to March 2007.

Launch dates for Japan and North America will remain the same, which are November 11th and November 17th respectively.

The revision of the launch date in the SCEE territories is caused by the delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components to be utilised in PLAYSTATION 3.

The previously announced PLAYSTATION 3 shipment forecast of 6 million units globally within the fiscal year ending 2007 is not changed.

Uh oh.

UPDATES: More fucking bad news for Sony.

a) "But as the technical problem with the Blu-ray system weighs on the launch of mass production of the PS3, Kutaragi said he now expects the combined shipments of PS3 consoles for the Japanese and US markets to come in at 'slightly above 2.0 mln units' between November and December." - Forbes

Yes, 2 million units in Japan and North America. That's it for the fall.

b) Reuters is now reporting production of PS3 will start at the end of September, giving them like.. 6, maybe 7 weeks, to be in time for launch. What the fuck?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Was about to post that.

Sony is done.

They just lost the console war.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Rock

Catch up to what exactly? Wii will probably launch at the same time while Microsoft hasn't used their early launch "advantage" to get a lot of good games on the 360, while still being beaten in sales by their current competitor, the PS2.

Yes, Wii will probably launch at the same time.

.. And people will be able to find it a lot easier. It's going to outsell PS3 by a LOT in every region. In the US, it will outsell PS3. In Japan, it will smash PS3, in Europe, well, obviously it'll outsell something that isn't out.

And MS hasn't used their "advantage" to get a lot of good games on the 360?

Uh, yes, they have. There's plenty of good games on it. And while hardware sales could be a little better, software sales, are fucking great.

But this is only going to HELP MS. Thanks to big titles like Gears of War, 360 is going to be picked up by a lot of people who wanted PS3 this fall.

Quote:

Problem is there is no reciprocity, many people purchase Playstation hardware/software religiously and have faith in Sony, yet the number of times Sony has let down, lied and raised false hope and hype among consumers is ghastly.

And they're just about tired of it.

There weren't a whole lot of problems with PS1, so there was no reason for consumers to be hesitant on PS2. However, many people have gone through at least one PS2 now. Plus, the PSP has been a large disappointment overall.

Consumers ARE now wary of Sony, and I don't think they're going to keep waiting. This will be the SECOND Christmas of this gen without PS3 in Europe and it will be impossible to find in the US. Harder than 360. People are going to pick up a 360 because it will have a nice library at that point. (Oh, and Gears of War.)

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.