momaw Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Sony mulls bigger PS3Correspondents in Tokyo APRIL 18, 2007 SONY is considering launching PlayStation 3 (PS3) game consoles with larger hard disk capacity, in a bid to cater to the needs of hardcore gamers and other heavy users. Sony currently offers the basic version of the PS3 with a 20GB hard disk drive and an advanced model with a 60GB drive in North America and Japan, but it plans to discontinue the lower-capacity PS3 in North America. "For users who vigorously store (games and other entertainment content) in the PS3, 20-giga is probably going to be too small, and even 60-giga may not be big enough eventually," Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka said. Mr Fukuoka said, however, that potential changes to the PS3 were not limited to its hard disk drive capacity. "We are not likely to change its core components and functions such as the Cell, RSX, Blu-ray drive and network capability. But outside that realm, addition and deletion is quite possible," he said. Sony packs the PS3 with its cutting-edge technology including the Cell microchip, dubbed "supercomputer on a chip," RSX graphic processor, and Blu-ray high-definition DVD player. The advanced functions have driven up PS3's manufacturing costs, and Sony's game unit is estimated to have made a loss of more than ¥200 billion ($2 billion) for the year ended March 31, making the game console the biggest risk factor for Sony's earnings growth. source Assurances they "not likely to change its core components and functions such as the Cell, RSX, Blu-ray drive and network capability" are not very credible considering their track record with the truth. Will we need a mortgage for this new version?
AndrewW Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Assurances they "not likely to change its core components and functions such as the Cell, RSX, Blu-ray drive and network capability" are not very credible considering their track record with the truth. The bit in bold has me concerned. I thought the whole concept and point of a console was that the hardware remained unchanged throughout the life of the console, so that developers did not have to code for multiple platforms ? Will we need a mortgage for this new version? I'd guess an even larger mortgage than required for the current one. Andrew.
momaw Posted April 18, 2007 Author Posted April 18, 2007 The cynic in me sees this as the prelude to the announcement that current PS3's are not BDJ or Blu-ray version 2.0 (or whatever revision they are up to) compliant nor will they be via firmware, but with hardware revisons players released after October 31 will be.
Guest EZYHD Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Its the old story comes with one size HD then a bigger one, then another, then more features, they do it this way to keep us purchasing. As they say "when you are taking it out of the box its already superseeded!".
AndrewW Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Its the old story comes with one size HD then a bigger one, then another, then more features, they do it this way to keep us purchasing. As they say "when you are taking it out of the box its already superseeded!". But this is the problem. Historically this has not happened with consoles. You don't normally have to worry about upgrading until the next new "major" model is released. I just find it funny that after losing $2 billion on the PS3 they think they can dig themselves out by releasing a larger (presumably) more expensive model. Andrew.
AndrewW Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 The cynic in me sees this as the prelude to the announcement that current PS3's are not BDJ or Blu-ray version 2.0 (or whatever revision they are up to) compliant nor will they be via firmware, but with hardware revisons players released after October 31 will be. My cynic agrees with your cynic. Andrew. edit: glad I didn't pay full whack for my about to be superseded (maybe) PS3.
momaw Posted April 18, 2007 Author Posted April 18, 2007 but Andrew, you forget....... BR has by far the better hardware (at present) for future evolution,
bladerunner_97 Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 As much as I hate Sony, and wouldn't trust anything they say, I'm guessing they are referring to the Emotion Engine (for backwards compatibility with PS2 games) and that they'll possibly remove that from all PS3s globally. They wouldn't add any features to it that makes older versions of PS3 incompatible with newer games...Sony are arrogant and stupid at times but they wouldn't be THAT stupid...the consumer backlash would mean corporate suicide.
attilathepun Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 I imagine they will wait and see what kind of backlash (if any) Microsoft get from releasing the new Xbox 360 version.
momaw Posted April 18, 2007 Author Posted April 18, 2007 I imagine they will wait and see what kind of backlash (if any) Microsoft get from releasing the new Xbox 360 version. This 360 thing is BS. Its a bigger HDD (which given it is an external clip on shows they always planned larger ones and this larger one will be sold seperately if you want one for your existing 360) and a freakin HDMI port. That is not a revision. I don't see what the big deal is? Most can't use HDMI anyway and those that can probably wouldn't waste a precious port on the 360. Pure madness.
Chesty Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 This 360 thing is BS. Its a bigger HDD (which given it is an external clip on shows they always planned larger ones and this larger one will be sold seperately if you want one for your existing 360) and a freakin HDMI port. That is not a revision. I don't see what the big deal is? Most can't use HDMI anyway and those that can probably wouldn't waste a precious port on the 360.Pure madness. Isnt this thread in the wrong section? Shouldnt it be in the Consoles. Just my 2c worth
attilathepun Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 This 360 thing is BS. Its a bigger HDD (which given it is an external clip on shows they always planned larger ones and this larger one will be sold seperately if you want one for your existing 360) and a freakin HDMI port. That is not a revision. I don't see what the big deal is? Most can't use HDMI anyway and those that can probably wouldn't waste a precious port on the 360.Pure madness. I agree that a bigger hard drive and a new port is a relatively minor change - which was the main thrust of the article you posted - a bigger hard drive. Given that it is already HDMI enabled, it would be even less of a change than the xbox. Even that was only a suggestion (who needs a bigger hard disk currently anyway?), and any other changes are pure speculation based on one quote.
pgdownload Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 A bigger drive is the oldest con job in the cunsumer elecronics market. Costs them all of $5 to wack in something twice the size (with zero costs due to production changes) and they can bump the price on the 'premium' model buy a few $100 dollars. Heck, wouldn't surprise me if they started selling machines with the larger drives (but firmware disabling the extra space). Then just pay extra for the upgrade as needed (bit like a while back where servers were sold with unused RAm and processing capacity that could be bought and activated automatically when demand exceeded the machines current capability. Regards Peter Gillespie
AndrewW Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 As much as I hate Sony, and wouldn't trust anything they say, I'm guessing they are referring to the Emotion Engine (for backwards compatibility with PS2 games) and that they'll possibly remove that from all PS3s globally. They have already said that they will do this. They wouldn't add any features to it that makes older versions of PS3 incompatible with newer games...Sony are arrogant and stupid at times but they wouldn't be THAT stupid...the consumer backlash would mean corporate suicide. But they've already changed the spec on the Australian/European PS3 so that it is less backwardly compatible than the US/Japanese versions. And all to save a couple of bucks. I don't think they really care what the consumer thinks. Andrew.
Tweet Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Isn't the BR format largely anchored on the current PS3 as a player base ? Well if they dismiss the current PS3 as 'superseded' all ready then those that have just bought into it with all its pretensions are not going to be very happy. The backlash may well be a boycotting of this PS3 as a games machine altogether and thus Sony's BR player base. 2 BILLION dollar loss on the PS3 ! Oh well, the gamers will have to make it up on the next model I guess. Thumbs up HD DVD. C.M
attilathepun Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Well if they dismiss the current PS3 as 'superseded' all ready then those that have just bought into it with all its pretensions are not going to be very happy. Which they haven't done and won't do. We have a comment that they may consider upgrading the hard drive. As momaw has said - big deal. Seriously, did Sony run over your dog or something?
davep Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Arnt the Hard drives user interchangeable anyway? :/
betty boop Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 maybe they decided they needed to add a hd-dvd drive into it to sell mroe of them ! hehe ok jsut kidding. but suprised it needs an upgrade already. its inevitable I suppose.
Tweet Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Which they haven't done and won't do. We have a comment that they may consider upgrading the hard drive. As momaw has said - big deal. Seriously, did Sony run over your dog or something? "Mr Fukuoka said, however, that potential changes to the PS3 were not limited to its hard disk drive capacity. " Any changes other than a HDD capacity increase is going to bauk prospective buyers from buying into the current PS3. You can be gullible if you like but it isn't just a HDD upgrade. C.M
attilathepun Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 "Mr Fukuoka said, however, that potential changes to the PS3 were not limited to its hard disk drive capacity. "Any changes other than a HDD capacity increase is going to baulk prospective buyers from buying into the current PS3. You can be gullible if you like but it isn't just a HDD upgrade. C.M You are right - it isn't just a HDD upgrade - it isn't *even* a HDD upgrade. It is a single comment by a spokesman. But given your logic, I trust we will see a sizeable drop in 360 sales, given that they have changed more than the HDD? I don't think we will, and nor do I think this will have an impact either.
Tweet Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 You are right - it isn't just a HDD upgrade - it isn't *even* a HDD upgrade. It is a single comment by a spokesman.But given your logic, I trust we will see a sizeable drop in 360 sales, given that they have changed more than the HDD? I don't think we will, and nor do I think this will have an impact either. ...." It is a single comment by a spokesman."............A Sony moron ? Give him a ring..... Satoshi Fukuoka Tel: +49 (0) 30 2575 5160 C.M
momaw Posted April 18, 2007 Author Posted April 18, 2007 The way I read it is they are paving the way for the announcement that current PS3's will not be compatible with the forthcoming BD revisions and that new PS3's will be - along with the larger HDD (wich is user swappable right now with any 2.5" sata drive). Probaby see an announcement on a sony plan for downloadable film content (from sony pictures first of course) and other downloadable video content to compete with the 360.
gtr73 Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 So enlighten me, Oz only gets the 20G version at present anyway? So does that mean the consumers Downunder are paying full price for a 20G while in the USA and Europe they get a 60G for the same dollars? And Sony have canned the 20G in the USA anyway - so once again the piddly Australian market gets screwed over? Or am I wrong?
attilathepun Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 So enlighten me, Oz only gets the 20G version at present anyway? So does that mean the consumers Downunder are paying full price for a 20G while in the USA and Europe they get a 60G for the same dollars? And Sony have canned the 20G in the USA anyway - so once again the piddly Australian market gets screwed over? Or am I wrong? No, we get the 60gig. We were never offered the 20, and now it is being canned. We did get screwed price wise though.
Recommended Posts