PS3 Launch: disaster

[Jack McSlay]

which leads meto think... if Sony doesn't release their next batches of consoles real soon, they'll be in a really tight spot.
Assuming that wii will have similar outcomes in Japan and Europe, that gives around 2M units, which is about 8 times PS3's current selling numbers.

[Aridas]

Hmm. PS3s have freezing problems. I've heard 4 individual counts of PS3 demo machines freezing up, two of which were in the same store, both frozen. I've heard a couple or so counts of peoples' PS3s freezing on them too.

[DigitalMan]

The PS3 also has backwards-compatibility issues. And I'm positive that won't be the last of the problems.

[GabrielsThoughts]

ssince whan has any of playstation's console's release not been a disaster.

[Saist]

The first Playstation launch. Beyond that though, the Playstation2, PSX (DVR/PS2 combo), and Playstation Portable all had disastrous launches. The one that needs to be examined though is the Playstation2.

The Playstation Portable, as is, is already dead. UMD support is gone from most major retailers, sales flatlined, and the DS is so far ahead there is no shred of competition left.  If we want to say so, the Playstation Portable is/was Sony's Virtual Boy.

The Playstation2, however, had several advantages going for it that made up for the dearth of games. The first advantage was the lack of competition as Sony strong-armed developers and publishers away from the Sega Dreamcast, manufacturing a scenario where the Dreamcast could not match compelling content offers. In the case of the Playstation3, Sony cannot strong-arm either Microsoft or Nintendo, nor keep 3rd party developers from either competitor. The result is that the Playstation3 must match compelling content with compelling content offers from both the Xbox 360 and the Wii.

The second advantage the Playstation2 had was DVD support. DVD was popular because it offered a clearly superior alternative to VHS cassettes. The Playstation2 was, at the time of release, one of the cheapest DVD players available, which helped move units off the shelves. In the case of the Playstation3, the mass market consumer doesn't have a clue what Blu-Ray is, and as Sony's Playstation3 is the highest quantity Blu-Ray player available, there is no demand for the format. Coupled with the fact that Blu-Ray does not offer a clearly superior format to the vast majority of movie watchers, it is not a selling point. Basically, with DVD, Sony rode on the coattails of the format. With Blu-Ray, Sony is trying to ride the format on the coattails of the console. That... doesn't work (CD-I anybody?)


Basically, the point is that while Sony's three major releases in between the Playstation and Playstation3 have been disasters, two of the products have outright flopped, while the product with extenuating factors succeeded.

The problem gets even worse if you look at Sony overall. Over the course of the Playstation and Playstation2, Sony Corporate was making a profit. As of the final fiscal quarter of 2005, only two segments of Sony posted a profit. UMD Licensing, and the LCD/TV segment. With UMD out of the market, Sony's financial position hasn't gotten any better.

Long story short, Sony is bankrupt, and without the artificial market conditions that allowed the Playstation2 to succeed, it is very likely that we are witnessing the death of Sony right now.

[Zedd]

Do what I do..Wait a year and wait for price drop and bugs fixed..Stupid assholes...Killing for a piece of plastic...

[DigitalMan]

Wow, very nice analysis.

One thing I have to add, is that there is apparently a Blu-Ray drive in development for the XBox 360. Granted, I'm sure it won't be cheap, but it'll sure as hell be cheaper than the PS3.

But what's this about the PSX? Normally PSX refers to the original Playstation, with PS1 referring specifically to the smaller version of the first one. I believe it's even how the illegal games are labelled for download... not that I'd know anything about that, of course.

[Darkmoon]

They muddied the waters when they released the PS2 woth a DVR combo. They started calling the layStation (which had been refered to as the PSX) the PSOne, and called the PS2 + DVR PSX... stupidity.

[Aridas]

As far as I was aware, the first model playstation was PSX and the second model was PSone... How many times do they change names?

[Zedd]

As far as I was aware, the first model playstation was PSX and the second model was PSone... How many times do they change names?

Till the end of time and the seas boil of fatty acids!

[Darkmoon]

It was, which is where the confusion kicked in. The named the upgraded PS2 PSX when they made and released the PSOne... as I said, stupidity.

[RJ]

The only way I can really see the PS3 making money is if Sony accounces a Kingdom Hearts 3 in the works for it. Fangirls would do anything to play it.

[Vidar]

The only way I can really see the PS3 making money is if Sony accounces a Kingdom Hearts 3 in the works for it. Fangirls would do anything to play it.

Even more so, if sony spreads a rumor about a possible shonen-ai thing with Sephiroth in the game.
After all, FF7 + fangirl == Sephiroth + (shonen-ai / yaoi).

Even if they did, I'm still not buying the George Foreman GrillPS3.

[Saist]

One thing I have to add, is that there is apparently a Blu-Ray drive in development for the XBox 360. Granted, I'm sure it won't be cheap, but it'll sure as hell be cheaper than the PS3.

While the drive combo might be cheaper separately, it won't be overall. Keep in mind that the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive retails for $199 (US). If you got the Pro-Bundled version of the Xbox 360 you also shelled out about $400. That means that an Xbox 360 with an HD-DVD drive is going to run you around $600, the same as the premium package of the Playstation3. With the Core Bundle, you'd have shelled out $500, again, same as a baseline Playstation3.

What needs to be understood about the Xbox 360 drive is that it is a bone-stock HD-DVD drive mounted in a fancy case. There really is no development that needs to be done other than writing the movie software and drivers for the console. The same will apply if Microsoft decides to release a Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360, it will probably just be a bone-stock off the shelf Blu-Ray drive with custom software for the Xbox 360.

The catch is that Microsoft can play both sides of the game. If HD-DVD wins, they have a drive, and if Blu-Ray wins, they can support that as well. Right now though, Microsoft is betting on HD-DVD (that whole part in the specification that you have full rights to rip a copy of an HD-DVD disc really is popular with consumers) to win.


Xbox 360 HD-DVD-Drive : http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=802558

Xbox 360 Systems : http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?N=133+83

As far as I was aware, the first model playstation was PSX and the second model was PSone... How many times do they change names?

The quick answer is to sell consoles. Many of Sony's Televised ads banked on the Play-Sta-Tion and the building of the Playstation logo in three parts. Sony also knew that the term PSX had gained traction with it's targeted audience as a way to Shorten the name Playstation. The intent by Sony was to foster a name recognition. Consumers would think PSX, a term they were familiar with, and give the new product a go.

However...

okay, at this point I'm being called away from the keyboard.... I'll finish up talking about the PSX later if you want. Anyways, long story short, Sony over-promised, under-delivered, and never brought the product to the US.

[Sid]

While the drive combo might be cheaper separately, it won't be overall. Keep in mind that the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive retails for $199 (US). If you got the Pro-Bundled version of the Xbox 360 you also shelled out about $400. That means that an Xbox 360 with an HD-DVD drive is going to run you around $600, the same as the premium package of the Playstation3. With the Core Bundle, you'd have shelled out $500, again, same as a baseline Playstation3.

Yeah, but the 360 HD-DVD drive apparently also works when you plug it into a PC, so you could hop onto the HD bandwagon for only $199 without buying the X360, assuming that your PC is up to it.

Given that Sony markets the PS3 as a cheap HD-generation player, the 200 Dollar HD-DVD drive suddenly looks like an even cheaper alternative for all those who already got a good gaming PC and a large monitor.

Edit to add a quickly googled link: http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=325&type=expert&pid=3

[Jack McSlay]

but aren't actual PC HD-DVD players available out there? I don't think you need to something weird with a X360 Hd-DVD player and a PC to play movies.

tho I think the goal was just to add X360 HD capability, and the PC copatibility is a bonus, not to mention kicking sony in the balls by doffering something that kills tha only solid advantage the PS3 had over X360.

[Sid]

but aren't actual PC HD-DVD players available out there? I don't think you need to something weird with a X360 Hd-DVD player and a PC to play movies.

tho I think the goal was just to add X360 HD capability, and the PC copatibility is a bonus, not to mention kicking sony in the balls by doffering something that kills tha only solid advantage the PS3 had over X360.

Well, I made the statement without checking prices (or availability) of regular HD-DVD drives, so I honestly don't know the prices of PC drives that offer HD-DVD. I think the main points are that you get the most for your money with it and that the "Yeah, but you need a costy bundle, too!" argument has a fairly large hole.

You get a drive that gives potential HD-DVD playback on the X360, the PC, the Mac (even though it had been unclear whether or not there is a player for HD-DVDs already, at least last time I checked), laptops, and whatever else you want. Not even to mention that you got a mobile drive for tons of regular (non-movie) data, even though you'd need a HD-DVD burner to use that feature completely

So PC users get a nice, portable drive while X360 users can opt to play the movies on a PC (freeing up the console for games) and don't have to spend twice the money just to have HD-DVD on the computer, too.