PS3

[Chris]

I realize we've got threads 'sort of' dedicated to PS3, but this is a thread for Anything PS3. It doesn't have to be about the OS, or Blu-Ray or anything specific.

Try and keep it unfanboyish.

[Chris]

From an LA Times article:

Sony Corp. has patented technology that would prevent its PlayStation consoles from playing used, rented or borrowed video games — raising questions about whether the electronics and entertainment giant may attempt to redefine what it means to own something in the digital age.

Sony has said little about the technology, patented in Japan in 2000, or how it might be deployed. But speculation over Sony's plans has sparked a furor online as game fans and consumer advocates fret that the company may incorporate it into the upcoming PlayStation 3 console, due to hit stores this fall.

[Rival24]

I thought that was a hoax, at least some Sony d00d denied it.

[The M.A.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Chris

I realize we've got threads 'sort of' dedicated to PS3, but this is a thread for Anything PS3. It doesn't have to be about the OS, or Blu-Ray or anything specific.

Try and keep it unfanboyish.

Well actually this is a XBOX 360 site. So I guess we may do some real and some fanboy posts right? I have some really nice links about a dev saying interesting stuff about the PSZero. Actually what we all already knew, but still. The man that has it's hands on Quake Wars and if I read in between the lines that one will come to 360 also!

http://www.g4tv.com/pile_player.aspx?video_key=11274

A nice Sony fanboy caller @ the radio

http://web.utk.edu/~ascott9/SonyFanboy.mp3

All PS64 lies together:
http://wikihost.org/wikis/ukres/prog...e=sonyps3_lies

And don't forget about the bad yields, 10 to 20% succes on Cell CPU...

And then all the news about BetaBluRay having less quality then HD-DVD, including the thing that HD-DVD got a software update also to play 1080p.
Combined with Sony having almost 600 million dollar loss each quarter of the year (also first quarter 2005) and just took a multimillion dollar loan...

It all doesn't look very bright for Sony and the PS3. If you ask me, even a giant like this can go bankrupt for sure with this big bet called the PS3!

[Curry]

I agree with Chris on keeping this thread as pure as possible Good and bad news alrighty, but try to keep the fanboy stuff in the slowchat topic or something

As for the rental and 2nd hand protection: the technology is patented but Sony has quite explicitly denied using it. Would be nearly impossible too, since they'd have to fit every PS3 with actual Blu-ray writing capabilities at monstrous cost. All in all, highly unlikely up to the point of impossible.

[TRIGGER M4N]

On the Blu-ray front, has anyone heard of a technlogy called HVD(Holographic Versatile Disc.)

These discs have the capacity to hold up to 3.9 terabytes (T of information, which is approximately 6,000 times the capacity of a CD-ROM, 830 times the capacity of a DVD, 160 times the capacity of single-layer Blu-ray Discs, and about 8 times the capacity of standard computer hard drives with space that accounts for year 2006 standards. The HVD also has a transfer rate of 1 gigabyte/s. Optware is expected to release a 200 GB disc in early June of 2006, and Maxell in September 2006 with a capacity of 300 GB and transfer rate of 20 MB/sec

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_Versatile_Disc

[Curry]

Yeah there are actually sources that think the market may skill HD-DVD and Blu-ray altogether and just head for the holo discs straight away

[Cage]

Originally Posted by TRIGGER M4N

On the Blu-ray front, has anyone heard of a technlogy called HVD(Holographic Versatile Disc.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_Versatile_Disc

I think I'll pass for now.. A qoute from the same wikipedia page.

With such a high end storage capacity, it would seem like a better technology than either HD DVD or Blu-Ray Disc. However, the reader currently costs approximately US$15,000, and a single disc currently costs approximately US$120, and by 2010, will cost about US$100. The market for this format is currently not the common consumer, but is instead for those with very large storage needs.

.

[TRIGGER M4N]

Like everything, technology prices will drop.

[TRIGGER M4N]

Is the PS3 completely region free?

[Cage]

Yes, it's region free according to this article with leaked info.
Some quotes below and read the full article here. http://www.megagames.com/news/html/c...document.shtml
Oh, and did I mention that PS3 is a Computer system?

Playstation 3 / E3 2006 QA

- PS3 is a computer system
- PS3 is one product with different configuration
- PS3 launch date : Nov 11 (Japan), Nov 17 (US/Europe)
- PS3 price : 20GB : JPY 59,800, USD499, EUR499 (incl. VAT) / 60GB : JPY Open, USD599, EUR599 (incl. VAT)

Are all titles shown at E3 (press conference and booth) launch titles?
Many of the playable titles shown at E3 are likely to be released at or around launch. Some titles shown as (demo) video may also become launch titles.

Do all titles shown at E3 support 1080p?
"Gran Turismo HD E3 2006" is demonstrated at 1080p with frame rate of 60 frames per second. As for other titles, some are 1080p and some 720p.

How many launch titles do you expect to have?
We expect the best launch line-up in history.

Why did you change the design of the controller to that of PS and PS2?
We received many feedback after E3 last year and created the PS3 controller by refining and improving the world's most popular Playstation controller that shipped more than several hundred million units worldwide, while inheriting its basic concept and design.

MS's Xbox360 was launched a year ago and has a head start. How do you feel about it?
We have set the best launch timing for PS3.

How is the PS3 network service going to be ? Will you also start the service from day one ? What are the differences between Xbox Live and PS3 network services?
Apart from providing basic features and functions, the most important element is content and services. Downloading music in SingStar, purchasing or exchanging game data as we demonstrated at E3 press conference and many other new ways of enjoyment will be provided.

Will the network service be charged?
Basic services available free for current PCs will be free of charge but content and specific services will be charged from the beginning.

Are the specifications and design final?
Very close to final.

[Curry]

Expectations are though that "our console is region-free" is a metaphor for "our console does not enforce region-locking, but developers can implement it as they see fit". Which would be exactly identical to the Xbox 360.

[Chris]

Read this article.

Apparently the PS3 Cell processor is so big and complicated, they're having a hard time making enough to satisfy the demand. An IBM Semiconductor VP says they're "lucky to get 10 or 20 percent" out of a chip like the Cell. The other 80-90 percent aren't fit to be used in PS3s, meaning they either get used in another application or thrown away if they can't be. (Gizmodo)

Ok so now we have the cell processor one of those "new things that sony is taking a risk on" having horrible production runs... 10-20% is going to REALLY eat into sony, if they are only able to use 1 in 10 or 1 in 5 of the produced chips that means 4 of those chips atleast are scrap silicone and wasted cash... THIS IS NOT GOOD, especially considering that sony is taking at minimum 400$ on each ps3 console.

[Chris]

Is Sony's PlayStation 3 in trouble before it even launches? Sony has been the undisputed champion of the last two console generations, towering over the competition, but now it seems like every analyst, developer and industry pundit is placing a laser sight directly on Sony's forehead.

The biggest problem would appear to be the pricing for the system. Even the lower priced $500 SKU is expensive, and $600 seems ridiculous to most. Ever since Sony revealed this pricing strategy at this year's E3, the company has been put on the defensive, arguing that it's a "computer" and that with the inclusion of a high-def Blu-ray player it's really a "bargain."

Link.

[Curry]

If it doesn't run Visual Studio, MS Office, Dreamweaver, MySQL, SQL Server, IIS, ASP.NET, Apache and PHP it's not a computer since I'll still be needing a real computer, and thus it's an overly expensive game console.

[Sir SpankalotUK]

dont see how they can catagorise it as a computer, we know its going to have linux on it and a web browser, but surely if you can make changes to the software people will be playing freely available linux games rather than the blu-ray games. If it is a computer that you can adjust the software on, arent sony going to make an even bigger loss cos people will be using it solely as a computer and not a games machine. Blurred lines me thinks. Reckon the OS will be read only with limits on what can be saved to the flash memory or hd.

Also have you lot listened to the latest major nelson podcast about hd-dvd vs blu-ray, some rather shocking revelations in it, made me think instantly hd-dvd is where I am going.

[TRIGGER M4N]

Originally Posted by Sir SpankalotUK

dont see how they can catagorise it as a computer,

It's the usual Sony bullshit. They're hitting 2 birds with one stone.

1) Saying it's a computer will remove Sony paying taxes whilst importing to Europe/United Kingdom. I think I recently heard that the courts denied it was a computer. they pulled the same shit with the PS2 and failed.

2) Advertising it as a computer, will make it sound bigger and better than the other "consoles."

[kidkit]

Originally Posted by Sir SpankalotUK

....but surely if you can make changes to the software people will be playing freely available linux games rather than the blu-ray games...

Hehe, have you ever tried one of those Linux games? Most are awful, people will stick to the native ps3 games.

The (only) good news about it being a so called computer is it can be a true Media Centre to stream content to your home theatre (without needing a certain OS and propriatery codecs), PVR etc... and totally customizable. But only if the development community finds it interesting to make.

Realistically though most of us, if we don't have Windows Media Centre now, will be running Windows Vista in next 2 or 3 years. So streaming video to 360 will be more accessable to more people. Especially with the help of such programs as Transcode360.

[kobejonez]

sony are doomed, and are very likely to come 3rd in now current gen race.
but they might pull it off with a decent release or 12 in the 1st year.
i know sommat tho if I was investing in stock, M$ would be choice for the next 5 years with the 360 being the next/current gen leader and vista on PC.
futures bright.

[TRIGGER M4N]

Originally Posted by kobejonez

futures bright.

..the futures orange.

[kobejonez]

Originally Posted by TRIGGER M4N

..the futures orange.

Green?! surely

[Cage]

Originally Posted by TRIGGER M4N

..the futures orange.

It should've been orange yeah.. Holland was supposed to win the World Cup..

[Curry]

Originally Posted by kobejonez

sony are doomed, and are very likely to come 3rd in now current gen race.
but they might pull it off with a decent release or 12 in the 1st year.
i know sommat tho if I was investing in stock, M$ would be choice for the next 5 years with the 360 being the next/current gen leader and vista on PC.
futures bright.

Well Sony's still got momentum from hell ofcourse with 100 million PS2 owners aching for some next-gen stuff finally. MS hasn't sold 100 million 360's yet, and it's safe to assume a lot of PS2 diehards will just blindly upgrade to the PS3

How did our pal Kaz put it? "If we put the PS3 logo on an empty box without games we'll still sell 10 million" or something. Regrettably, man has a point.

[YLA G]

i think that MS first have to work more on the europese market in stead of focusing on china/japan.

In belgium for example you see one little row on the badest place for the few games in a shop.. if i did know better i just buyed a Playstation to.

[Hoffer]

I can see buying a PS3, but not until it costs at least half as much. I want the $600 system, but no way I'm paying that. I figure within the first year, that price will come down $200.