PS3 delayed until Nov '06 in JAPAN

[sabre2922]

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15354Japanese newspaper reports PlayStation 3 delayed to NovemberRob Fahey 19:01 14/03/2006Six month delay caused by unresolved technical issues with Blu-RayOne of Japan's leading newspapers, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, isreporting in its Wednesday morning edition that the PlayStation 3console has been delayed to November due to unresolved issues with theBlu-Ray technology.According to the paper, the problem lies with the copy protectionsystem used by Blu-Ray, details of which have not yet been finalised -which will now cause a delay of some six months to Sony's PS3 plans.Sony has always maintained that the PS3 will launch in spring of thisyear, but most industry commentators and third-party publishers arecurrently anticipating US and Japanese launches late in 2006, followedby a European launch in early 2007.If the Japanese launch doesn't occur until November, that could put anyhope of a US launch in 2006 in jeopardy - which would give rivalMicrosoft a second Christmas on the market before the arrival of PS3 inthe US as well as in Europe, as well as giving Nintendo a head-startwith the Revolution console.The newspaper report comes just hours before Sony ComputerEntertainment boss Ken Kutaragi is due to address a conference audienceof media, analysts and third party publishers in Tokyo, where he isexpected to announce details of the firm's plans for thenext-generation PS3 system.However, it's not clear whether Nihon Keizai Shimbun is reporting onleaked details from this conference, or whether the report is based oninformation from other sources. Speculation that technical problemswith Blu-Ray could delay the roll-out of PS3 has been rife for wellover a month, and has not been quelled by the announcement that Blu-Raymovie players will ship in North America in mid-May.Sony's conference is planned for 3pm in Tokyo on Wednesday - around 6amGMT - and is also expected to feature a first look at some of thelaunch line-up for the console.

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http://www.psxextreme.com/scripts/ps3-news/new.asp?newID=134Though NDAs on Sony's business conference have yet to be lifted, WallStreet financial sources seem to confirm that the Playstation 3 willnot be hitting shelves until at least November of this year:14-Mar-06 12:28 ET In Play Sony to delay the release of its PlayStation3 next-generation video game console - DJ (SNE) 47.48 +0.71: Dow Jonesreporting that Sony Computer Entertainment will delay the release ofits PlayStation 3 next-generation video game console until earlyNovember because the copy protection technology for the Blu-ray Dischas not been finalized, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported in itsWednesday morning edition.Considering that the original report came from a Japanese newspaper, itis assumed that the Novemeber release date is intended for Japan.Unless there is a simultaneous release in the US, as well, domesticgamers may not see the PS3 until 2007. If the Blu-ray copy protectionisn't finished, that may also delay the release of Sony's standaloneplayers for the new format, giving HD-DVD a slight edge.Once the NDAs are lifted and more details are confirmed, we'll havethem for you.

[Ed Oscuro]

More time for developing first-gen games? Sounds good to me. Well, that's hoping it goes down that way...meanwhile the PS3's tech ages on the shelf.

[Neo Rasa]

Translation: Blu-Ray just costs too damn much right now.

[le geek]

From 1UP:

"Somewhere in Microsoft's offices, Bill Gates just opened a bottle of champagne."

LOL

I'll be curious to to hear an offical announcement from Sony before I jump to conclusions though...

Cheers,
Ben

[GarrettCRW]

Huge ass block party in Redmond, WA. TONIGHT!!!!!

[GrandAmChandler]

PREDICTION:

Xbox 360 will be the top selling console of Christmas 2006.

UNLESS!

Sony decides to drop the price of a slim PS2 to $99.

[youruglyclone]

Sony decides to drop the price of a slim PS2 to $99.

but unless...the immersion lawsuit prevents ps2s from being sold.

[portnoyd]

If you didn't see this coming, you haven't been paying attention. Just wanted to get that out.

[Cmtz]

PREDICTION:

Xbox 360 will be the top selling console of Christmas 2006.

UNLESS!

Sony decides to drop the price of a slim PS2 to $99.

Unless the Revolution controller actually works well and the price of the Rev is dirt cheap.

[Sothy]

Unless skynet becomes self aware and fires its Continental Ballistic missiles causing judgement day and the war with the machines.

[njiska]

If anyone is suprised by this they're an idiot.

[unwinddesign]

In other news:

Sony loses next-gen console war miserably.

[InsaneDavid]

In other news:

Sony loses next-gen console war miserably.

I love how people count Sony out before it even begins. "Sony has huge multiple missteps out of the gate" is more like it.


PREDICTION:

Xbox 360 will be the top selling console of Christmas 2006.

UNLESS!

Sony decides to drop the price of a slim PS2 to $99.

I don't think Sony has a choice now. Although this is one of those things they can do to stop the bleeding. Sony is WAY behind the curve in getting the PS3 ready - we all know that, we all agree to that. But Jimmy's mom around the holidays would probably rather pick up a PSTwo and six or seven games for the price of an XBox 360 and no games. The hardcore gamers that are ever going to buy a PS2 have. Yet there's still a ton of money to be had outside of that upper bracket - at the same time increasing the installed user base which may eventually lead to increased PS3 sales. (hey, the current generation of gaming kids needs to start somewhere - I'm sure not all of us got VCS's and NES's when they where super brand new and overpriced) :)

Then again the recent appeal rejection could stop that as well. A very interesting time is upon us.

[unwinddesign]

In other news:

Sony loses next-gen console war miserably.

I love how people count Sony out before it even begins. "Sony has huge multiple missteps out of the gate" is more like it.



It already HAS begun. The 360 has been selling quite nicely, has a sizeable, ever expanding library, and will be in its second/third generation of software in all territories at the time the PS3 is seeing shelves in Japan.

God knows when the PS3 will launch in the US/Europe. It could be over a year from now.

[The Manimal]

Sony has their line show two days from now. It will show their new product line, including the first consumer blu-ray players for north america. :) i can't wait - i want to know details about the new SXRD (sony's implementation of LCoS) sets.

[kainemaxwell]

At this point Sony should just scrap the damn blu-ray and get the damn thing out the door.

[DonMarco]

I was betting on "chip shortage" myself.

[§ Gideon §]

If you didn't see this coming, you haven't been paying attention. Just wanted to get that out.
Haha. Succinct and very, very true.

[GarrettCRW]

I was betting on "chip shortage" myself.

You realize that the final paragraph of that first article linked on your page prefaces a possible scenario for the next video game crash, right? x_x

[DonMarco]

I was betting on "chip shortage" myself.

You realize that the final paragraph of that first article linked on your page prefaces a possible scenario for the next video game crash, right? x_x
Edit: Article in question from last week. (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2428&Itemid=2)

Not exactly. If you read the last paragraph, they're talking about publishers and devolopers losing money because they're depending on a new system from Sony sometime between now and Spring 2007. With this new system, Activision can have one more platform to put Tony Hawk's Xtreme Trailerpark on. One more platform to put another Madden NFL 2007 on. Boo hoo, they'll be stuck with just the 360 and possibly the Revolution later in 2006. Even worse, the current gen (PS2, xbox and gamecube) will hit price drops (of course), games will become cheaper (of course) to compete for the consumer dollars. Also, unit sales will decrease as people buy next-gen consoles or at least save up for them.

On the other hand, most of these companies have very well-paid accounting and market research depeartments. Scraping a game mid-development to move it to another platform or delaying it for more pressing projects isn't totally unheard of. Keep in mind that Activision and EA are mentioned specifically because of the high number of titles and staff they have. Yes, one game here and there from those guys in millions and millions of dollars. Great.

Let them.

[pacmanhat]

IGN's reporting that a worldwide launch has been confirmed for this November. Color me surprised.

[GarrettCRW]

IGN's reporting that a worldwide launch has been confirmed for this November. Color me surprised.

Sounds like the damage control. And for the Japanese developers, a chance to talk like Q*Bert.

[Nez]

IGN's reporting that a worldwide launch has been confirmed for this November. Color me surprised.

I really dont see this happening, maybe a simultainous US JPN launch but Europe as well no way.

[GarrettCRW]

I really dont see this happening, maybe a simultainous US JPN launch but Europe as well no way.

*as Sony exec* Europe? What's this "Europe" you speak of?

[Anthony1]

November launch worldwide is a joke. Anybody that really thinks they are going to be playing a Playstation 3 in the United States in the year of 2006, without importing one from Japan is kidding themselves. It's simply not going to happen. They can't afford to sell it in the U.S. for $699.99 and that is the price they would need to sell it at to only suffer a $160 or so loss per system.


They might continue with this "worldwide" rhetoric through the e3 show, but once we start getting into late Summer, there will be another announcement. The PS3 will be delayed in the U.S. and Europe until spring 2007, but will launch in Japan in November 2006. The Japanese populace will be able to deal with the ridiculous cost of the thing, but in the U.S. it would be a horrible mistake. Even thought they would be giving the 360 two holiday seasons without a next gen Sony sku going against it, it's better that, then coming out at $699 and turning off the entire American public.

[smork]

Some people need to calm down with the talk of "Sony loses the war" until a console is actually released, games are shipped, people play those games, and, oh, at least another 2-3 years pass. It's fun to prognosticate, but it's pretty idiotic to claim product x will beat product y and z before either y or z arrive.

Look at this newer AP article on Yahoo! (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060315/ap_on_bi_ge/japan_sony;_ylt=AqiBHwmTh_qVMxFBp.bUKyms0NUE;_ylu= X3oDMTA3bGI2aDNqBHNlYwM3NDk-) about Kutaragi's press conference. US & Japan release this November, effect on the "gaming war" to follow.

Besides, hasn't DS vs PSP shown that there's plenty of room for several profitable gaming products in the same niche? Ford, Chevy, and Dodge all make pickups that sell with varying success, but just 'coz Ford may hit the market first with a new model doesn't mean the others won't do well, or better. Same thing with games...

[InsaneDavid]

Some people need to calm down with the talk of "Sony loses the war" until a console is actually released, games are shipped, people play those games, and, oh, at least another 2-3 years pass. It's fun to prognosticate, but it's pretty idiotic to claim product x will beat product y and z before either y or z arrive.

Danke. The next console war is not over until toward the END of the hardware cycle that the XBox360 began. It's not looking good for Sony but lots of time left.