[PS3] PlayStation 3 Discussion Thread

You've got a point, seeing as how the 360 made the $400 price point work, Sony could easily grow a big pair and ask for $500 or drop a bomb with a $300 machine. Sony simply said "Coming Spring 2006" and the media went berserk with all sorts of speculation since that's where most of the PS3 hype is coming from, rather than Sony.

Eh, as long as I get my Devil May Cry 4 and Motorstorm, I'm all good.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by T1249NTSCJ

Here is a Hands On PS3 article a few members might be interested in.:eyebrow:

You have no idea how much that article has gone through on GAF or even PSINext's forums. His description of his current dev-kit talks about it being a tower, while the final kits are in server blade form. Also, his mention of no Blu-Ray drive present conflicts with quite a few devs over on B3D who have the latest kit and are actively streaming things off the discs to see what can and cna't be done (DeanoC for one).

My bet? He works for a small third party dev.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Hmm, looks like there may not be any PS3 related events until E3, essentially proving what Phil Harrison said at E3 2005. What he basically said was that the machine was "going underground until E3" and since he's the head of SCEWWS I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case.

Here's the article:

Quote:

PS3 a no-show at Destination PlayStation?

Source: A growing number of sites, ranging from US tech-site Joystiq to UK game-destination Spong.

The official story: See below.

What we heard: With the PlayStation 3's official "spring" launch window fast approaching, one would expect Sony to start pulling out all the stops in promoting the next-gen console any minute now. However, the company has instead been eerily silent on the PS3 front, rebuffing inquiries about the next-gen console with the blanket line that it hasn't made any official PS3 announcements since E3 2005.

So when invitations went out for this year's Destination PlayStation (DPS) event in Florida, many thought Sony would use the closed-door event to unveil the PS3 to retailers and industry insiders. Apparently that hasn't happened. An increasing number of leaks from attendees, all of which had to sign nondisclosure agreements to get in the door, claim that the next-gen console was nowhere to be found at the confab.

It now appears that Sony is holding off showing off the PS3 until the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo--aka E3--in May. A source familiar with Sony's strategy confirmed the move on condition of anonymity. "Retailers talk too much," the source said. "They decided to keep it under wraps until E3." That bit of information casts some doubt over exactly what will be shown during Sony Computer Entertainment executive Phil Harrison's keynote address at GDC 2006, which is titled "PlayStation 3: Beyond the Box."

For its part, Sony is saying that, contrary to popular perception, they never intended to show the PS3 at DPS. "DPS is actually over and we have made no new announcements concerning PS3," a rep told GameSpot. "We never indicated that DPS was to be used as a forum to disclose new information or demonstrate PS3 content. DPS is designed as a forum to bring our retail and publishing partners together for new-year planning and this is the sixth conference we have hosted to do so."

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Gotta get the AA guns ready for this one.

Originally Posted by Megalith

Let me tell you all a little bit about PS3.

1. The graphics will look no better than the 360, possibly even worse due to the complexity of developing for CELL.

The sentiment, for the most part, is that the PS3's strength will be in it's physics capabilties (thanks to the SPEs) while it may edge out the 360, graphically, in the end.

2. The unit will be rushed in any scenario, leading to hardware problems that will eclipse the PS2's.

What hardware problems? Sony recently reported that CELL yields were very good and the RSX finished taping out a few weeks ago. These are easily the most important parts of the machine, and neither looks to be problematic on the hardware front. The only that's left is the BRD, and the only reason that's being held up is because the AACS features haven't been agreed upon yet.

3. There is no way that Sony could afford to lose all that money by putting a BR drive in every PS3, so there has been talk of dual SKUs. This doesn't make sense though, since the media will be used for games as well. So we can only conclude that the stock Blu-ray drive that comes in all PS3s will be a cheap, awful piece of crap, kind of like the PS2 DVD player.

The original PS1 was supposed to be $900, the PS2 $700 and the PSP, $500. Folks only started applying the dual SKU idea after Microsoft tried it, just like people bumped their expectations for the PS3's price up to $500 after the 360 launched.

Third time's the charm, eh?

4. Here is what Sony's PS3 unveiling at E3 will consist of: Fake CG, fake CG, and fake CG.

What do you get when you give developers an entire year without leaking a single thing to the media while refining their games?

5. Sony may just announce that PS3 games will use standard DVD9, so they can sell a high-priced version of the PS3 for $900.

Quite a few early PS2 games were on CD-ROMs, so why would it surprise you to see them on DVDs at first?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

He'll just have Otacon shoot you from the next building with a tranq dart while he walks into your house with a PS3 anyway.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Megalith

1. Didn't they emphasize the physics capabilities of PS2 as well. ::fart noise::

When was this? I remember Kutaragi talking about how it could bring little kids back to life and operate global mind control machines, but not physics.

Quote:

2. BR is such a new technology. There'll be problems.

3. I'm not even talking about price here. I'm just against the notion that the Blu-ray drive is some kind of incredible incentive for PS3 owners, because with all cases considered, the quality of it will be awful. Compare the stock PS2 DVD drive to a standalone player, or the Xbox's even.

Pfft, of course, that's why first adopters are consciously spending their money on buggy and unreliable hardware. That's on them. You have a point about the Blu-Ray drive being an incentive, since (like you said) it isn't. We may not see it's benefits for games until next gen. You've also, unknowingly, touched on something most folks don't know about the PS3: It's CPU and GPU are doing things that a standalone player's hardware would be doing, therefore reducing it's quality.

Red lasers are cheap as dirt, as are most parts in a BRD, and the blue laser/diode isn't hard to make either.

BTW, the PS2 and XBox are shitty DVD players and wouldn't try to make one out as better than the other. It's like trying to say green tinged shit is better than blue shit.

Quote:

5. I'm saying that games might not be on BR at all.

Oh yeah, can someone clarify how BR games are even going to work on the PS3. I've heard that HDMI isn't required, which makes sense, because HDMI would spell suicide.

They may not be, and it's very likely that they won't. How many DVD9 games were there this gen? How many of those actually came close to filling that? Even with loads of uncompressed sound or textures still wouldn't come close to filling BR discs.

Requiring HDMI for PS3 games would be tantamount to blowing your fucking head off after having lapped your competitors 50 times over. With games the only difference the between the 360 and PS3 in terms of output would be that the latter simply has another means of getting the image to your TV.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

To keep this light hearted, here's an interesting conversation:


"We have lost many fanboys in this battle against the analyists of Satan. Hail the victorious dead!"


"..."


"No news of the PS3 yesterday?"



"None. Apparently Massive Attack is a heretic"


"There is no time. Everyday the Xbox 360 becomes more powerful.."



"Dammit, how do we know that?"


"What does your heart tell you?"

"..."


"That the PS3 is vaporware"


"Lol, you bastard"

What the... 360 and Rev until 2009? Ugh, Guns and Wands for 3 years...

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by T1249NTSCJ

ROFL

Well done there Metal Sphere.

Oh hell no! I'm not going to take the credit for that. DarkPhoenix on GAF made that little conversation up, and it had half the forum in stitches. The facial expressions and comments are hilarious.

Oh God... People actually listen to EB employees for news about next gen consoles? And yes, Merrill Lynch's revised estimate for the bill of materials for the PS3 came under more fire than the first, from every angle because it just reeked of being fabricated while on the crapper.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

We just finished talking about Merrill Lynch's estimate's being ridiculous. Before they pegged the Cell, RSX and BRD at $101 a piece and here the price for the RSX plummets while the drive jumps to $350.

And this is based on what? The only part that hasn't been getting rave reviews on yields is the BRD drive, while the other two are having very little trouble in production.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Phil Harrison at a UK event, said that he felt (his opinion, not Sony's) that the 2 SKU setup was far too problematic in terms of producting, marketing and consumer confusion.

And I don't know about other folks, but I made sure to put that in regards to next-gen consoles, you really shouldn't be listening to EB/Gamestop employees.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by SouthJag

But don't overgeneralize. Some of us aren't retarded. That particular person might have just misinterpreted something or made an assumption -- it happens. If a writer at GameSpot said it, would you be denouncing them as well?

Actually... yes I would. Especially Greg Kasavin, that bastard.

Quote:

If I sound a little too defensive, I don't mean to. But I fall into that EB/Gamestop employees category and I don't make stupid assumptions like that. At least, not anymore. >___>;

Come on, you can tell us SouthJag. What kind of bizzaro information did you tell some poor soul?

How ya doing, buddy?

For the console itself? $400, even though I'll likely wait until a revision or two has taken place before picking it up. If it's largely problem free (highly unlikely) I'll pick one up maybe 3 months after the launch date with one game.

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Hmm, I'm guessing May/June for Japan and September/October for the U.S. with Europe getting it either late November or anytime in Dec.

I was speaking idiomatically.

His team just got down with KHII and Dirge of Cerberus, but I think they're also up for the next FF (or is it Kitase's go this time). Either way, as you said, it depends on how much they've got on their hands.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Elixir

I hope like hell europe doesn't need to wait until 07. I mean, the 360 was released in 05. And the PS3 is being released in 07? That's quite a gap for Microsoft to fill.

Yeah, that's why you'll notice I said late November or anytime in December, rather than early 2007. It's possible Sony may launch in Sept with the PS3, giving them about 3 months more to iron out issues and get supplies up over the summer.

FELIPE NO

Err, what the fuck? That hardly makes any sense at all Wraith. E3's the biggest gaming bash for the industry, and if you launch shortly before or after it, you're bound to get an extra boost of hype.

Spring 2006 is vague for a reason, since they could launch it well into June in Japan and still be able to do so in the U.S. in October or Decemeber and be in the clear while hyping it over the summer.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by T1249NTSCJ

Say this does happen, it'll be like the M$FT release. So far the PS3 has a weak launch title lineup and most of the games aren't anywhere near completion. :eyebrow: It'll be a pretty box to to look at in the living room though.

We haven't seen any new PS3 footage or media for almost a year now, and you talk as if you know what the lineup will be? Come on now.

And the May launch is based on May 23 rollout of Blu-Ray players worldwide.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

And to add to what Elixer just posted, most don't even have names or release dates. No screenshots, videos, interviews or details on what they're about. Aside from the expected EA shovelware and some first party titles, we don't know how strong or weak the launch will be until it's beating the door down.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Quote:

* Fifth Phantom Saga - Sonic Team
* Heavenly Sword - Ninja Theory
* ShadowClan - Tiger Hill Entertainment
* Tekken PS3 - Namco

Those are likely launch titles, since I doubt DMC4 and MGS4's teams and directors would let themselves be constrained by 1 year's worth of development time with new equipment.

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Well, looks like the nice folks over on GAF have found out what the name of Insomniac's 8th title is. BTW, this is that WWII/Sci-Fi first person shooter shown at last year's E3 if anyone forgot.

I-8 (never really a name) is actually Resistance: Fall of Man.

Quote:

Word Mark RESISTANCE: FALL OF MAN
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: COMPUTER GAME SOFTWARE AND VIDEO GAME SOFTWARE

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: OPERATING A REAL-TIME GAME FOR OTHERS OVER GLOBAL AND LOCAL AREA COMPUTER NETWORKS
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Design Search Code
Serial Number 78819976
Filing Date February 21, 2006
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 919 E. Hillsdale Boulevard Foster City CALIFORNIA 94404
Type of Mark TRADEMARK. SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

This, along with Heavenly Sword and Warhawk were the only games to actually have in-game footage shown at E3. Given their record, this should at least be fun.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Megalith jumped the shark as the article even says there's no direct quote and all he says is that when it rolls around, the game's up. They're assuming that his comments on the Blu-Ray issue = delay, and therefore a delay of the console itself is delayed.

"Coming Spring 2006" doesn't exactly sound like a launch date, especially when it could easily be referring to E3 2006.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Variety

Sony's CEO Howard Stringer told an interviewer from Variety Magazine that the PS3 has been "officially" delayed until later this year due to complications with the chipset. According to the article, the PlayStation 3 will hit the market sometime around the holiday season, and it could possibly take then even longer to make it to the US.

And yet Stringer doesn't say a word about delaying it, Variety says he said it though, so it must be true. Way to applaud the vague.

Quote:

Sony's new PlayStation 3 was widely expected to be introduced this spring, but will be delayed as the company fine-tunes the chips that are crucial to the success of the console's Blu-ray function.

The PlayStation 3 --- which is being called "the poor man's Blue-ray" --- is vital to Sony's plans because it plays Blu-ray discs as well as videogames.

Sony will roll out the PS3 by year end, in time for the holidays. If PS3 "delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up," Stringer boasts.

Blu-ray is the system developed by Sony to view next-generation high-definition DVDs. Rival format HD DVD is championed by Toshiba. Microsoft recently joined the HD DVD camp, a move that came as its Xbox 360 videogame console is trying to grab market share from PlayStation, the industry leader.

Software makers, electronics firms and Hollywood studios have lined up behind one or the other, or both.

For Sony, the stakes of the rivalry are colossal. The new discs are seen as a way to energize flattening DVD sales. Both the systems also make movies harder to pirate.

It says the console as been delayed, but when? Who said it? That's essentially all it says on the machine.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by www.sega.co.jp

The article notes flattening DVD sales, I was not aware of this. I thought DVDs were doing very well. But anyways, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are going to take two years at least to get as popular as DVDs did early on and that's if everyone loves the formats. But with two formats and restrictive DRM, that's highly unlikely.

Well, what other reason would Hollywood have behind pushing these two formats and the amount of DRM they're requiring of each? They're simply taking advantage of the slowing DVD sales to introduce the successor as HDTVs are purchased. Hollywood's increased influence as opposed to the original DVD shows that they're trying to nip pirating in the bud, something that's causing the entire industry problems.

I, however, fully welcome our DVD overlords.

Edit: Where does Stringer say the console is delayed? Variety says he says it in the interview, but iz not theah.

FELIPE NO

That's all the info that's been leaked about it, Kaleb. You wouldn't be wrong to bet he'll probably be working on the game's tracks, since it looks like the Ratchet games are over and he's been involved with most of Insomniac's games thus far.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Holy shit, I'm gone for one day and things go from:

PS3 is launching in 2007... in Japan, to the above. Great timing with that Captain Obvious pic, but throw in the exploding head pic and you've got a winner.

Jam it back in, in the dark.