PlayStation 3 Delay 'Confirmed' (By Variety) [Archive]

fitbabits

03-06-2006, 06:39 AM

Looks like everyone is hopping on the PS3-delay bandwagon, this time it's Hollywood trade magazine Variety.

Thanks to Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com) for the 'news' (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8396).

A new interview with Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer by Hollywood trade magazine Variety has indicated that the PlayStation 3 will be delayed until later in the year, due to complications revolving around the consoles’ complex chipset.

The Variety article attributes the delay to the company “fine-tuning” the console’s technology, referring to the PlayStation 3 as a “the poor man’s Blue-ray [sic]”, and suggests that the console will be released before the end of the year, but does not include a specific comment from Stringer confirming this.

The only direct quote from Stringer on the subject suggests that if the PlayStation 3 "delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up", presumably referring to rival consoles from Microsoft and Nintendo. Regarding the Blu-ray format in general, Stringer is quoted as saying, "Once Microsoft picked sides it was clear we were going to be in a battle royale." He also added, "We won't be stampeded" by Microsoft into rushing decisions "that are there forever."

The article does not mention a specific territory when discussing the date of the console’s new launch, but it is implied that it is referring to North America. Few analysts have ever expected a Western launch for the PlayStation 3 in spring, although it is now looking increasingly likely that the Japanese launch will also not take place until this summer at the earliest.
I want one of those 'poor-man's Blu-Ray players'. I wonder if it also plays games. You know, like the PSP.

bone_matrix

03-06-2006, 06:44 AM

I want one of those 'poor-man's Blu-Ray players'. I wonder if it also plays games. You know, like the PSP.

My sentiments exactly. I want to see real games, not renders, and not smoke up my ass. I would also like a real release date and info from Sony. Not crap through magazines and whatnot.

Vandenh

03-06-2006, 06:55 AM

'poor-man's Blu-Ray players'?

That is not a very nice choice of words in that article.

In other news (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/06/lg_blu-ray_hd-dvd_plans/).. LG is not launching its Bluray player and is including HD-DVD support. The whole Bluray vs HD DVD is getting totally chaotic. I smell a bit HD flop.

alienchild

03-06-2006, 06:57 AM

burn Sony buuuuuuuuuuurn!

Yeti2005

03-06-2006, 07:01 AM

They're probably calling it the 'poor-man's Blu-Ray player because the PS2 was the poor-man's DVD player (crappy pictures, wouldn't work on some DVDs, etc).

I like this quote from the article:
"The only direct quote from Stringer on the subject suggests that if the PlayStation 3 "delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up""

Um shouldn't Stringer know if the PS3 is going to deliver? Shouldn't he be hyping it up a little?

Montolio

03-06-2006, 07:02 AM

He has that game is up part right, just not as he may have intended.

Serapth

03-06-2006, 07:05 AM

The only direct quote from Stringer on the subject suggests that if the PlayStation 3 "delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up", presumably referring to rival consoles from Microsoft and Nintendo.

Comments like these are pretty much reasons why people hate the Sony hype machine more then Nintendo and even Microsoft. Neither company has ever said anything so brash about the competition.

God their arrogance gets to me... why, I just dont know.

Vandenh

03-06-2006, 07:06 AM

Shouldn't it be "the game is afoot!!!"

RandomViolence

03-06-2006, 07:32 AM

Shouldn't it be "the game is afoot!!!"

"Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!"

bapenguin

03-06-2006, 07:34 AM

These console launches are getting more and more like political campaigns. I thought the 360's stuff was getting out of hand, now we have this. UGH.

QueeG-Servo

03-06-2006, 07:39 AM

Sheesh, Sony should just stop making consoles, and make games for the Gizmondo!

jeffool

03-06-2006, 07:55 AM

I've often made it a point to say that this generation is Sony's to lose. Good job, Sony. You lost a bigger lead to MS and now have to combat Nintendo's image of 'industry changing game machine' with your image of 'really cool VCR'.

And to think, I all but abandoned Nintendo after the N64. I'm sorry Mario. I didn't mean it baby.

DiBiddilyBop

03-06-2006, 08:07 AM

Sheesh, Sony should just stop making consoles, and make games for the Gizmondo!

Yeah, you'd think they would have learned after the whole PS2 disaster! Oh wait...

Mason

03-06-2006, 08:08 AM

I don't know, things keep escalating with Sony. Either the bad news is approaching crash-and-burn level, or they're setting everyone up. When the conventional wisdom in such gamer hotspots as Variety is turning against the PS3, it really makes me wonder why Sony's notoriously rabid PR is letting it slide mostly unchallenged.

Expectations are being managed, obviously. The only question is what the ratio of bad news vs false bad impression is, and Stringer's quote is ripe for interpretation on that point.

Can anyone find a copy of the Variety article, so we can get that quote in context? Because it can be read two very different ways.

gzsfrk

03-06-2006, 08:15 AM

I thought the 360's stuff was getting out of hand, now we have this. UGH.

What specifically about the 360's stuff are you referring to? The supply shortage? The advertising campaign? 360 PR Talk?

I'm not aware of anything MS has done lately with the 360 that directly compares to this latest round of PS3 news.

And I agree with a previous poster--Sony's arrogance is really turning me off to them this go round. To compare, in an interview from a while back, Peter Moore was very honest and forthright in stating that they know very well how tough a competitor Sony is in the console market, and that he had no doubts that the PS3 will sell very well. Compare that to any mention by Kutaragi or Sir Howard regarding their "competition", and it's nothing but snide, belittling remarks about how there is no competition for the PS3 because it's in a league of its own.

I think comments like those might come back to bite them before the end of this cycle. People generally don't like supporting pricks, or, as in the case of Sony vs. MS, people will, I think, tend to support the lesser of two pricks.

QueeG-Servo

03-06-2006, 08:16 AM

Sheesh, Sony should just stop making consoles, and make games for the Gizmondo!

Sarcasm FTW!

Quoting myself FTrunnerup!

Yeti2005

03-06-2006, 08:28 AM

...And I agree with a previous poster--Sony's arrogance is really turning me off to them this go round. To compare, in an interview from a while back, Peter Moore was very honest and forthright in stating that they know very well how tough a competitor Sony is in the console market, and that he had no doubts that the PS3 will sell very well. Compare that to any mention by Kutaragi or Sir Howard regarding their "competition", and it's nothing but snide, belittling remarks about how there is no competition for the PS3 because it's in a league of its own.

I think comments like those might come back to bite them before the end of this cycle. People generally don't like supporting pricks, or, as in the case of Sony vs. MS, people will, I think, tend to support the lesser of two pricks.

As much I as I hate Sony's arrogance, in the end I DON'T think it will bite them in the ass. People aren't going to remember Sony being a bunch of asses when the PS3 launches. It will be the "must buy" purchase of the holiday season (US) and very few people will say "I was thinking about purchasing a PS3 but because I don't like the way Sony handles their PR I'm no longer going to but it." Bottom line is Sony can do whatever they want and most consumers will just take it.

Bushido

03-06-2006, 08:28 AM

Sarcasm FTW!

Quoting myself FTrunnerup!

Why did I never think of that?

Also I just bought a PSP and I gotta say its pretty tight. Sony will vanquish its foes. Forgive the reigning champion of home entertainment its lack of modesty.

bapenguin

03-06-2006, 08:33 AM

What specifically about the 360's stuff are you referring to? The supply shortage? The advertising campaign? 360 PR Talk?

I'm not aware of anything MS has done lately with the 360 that directly compares to this latest round of PS3 news.

There were tons of jabs at Sony and Nintendo pre-launch. Then as the competitors started announcing their stuff MS just took kind of a "Meh" approach.

The worst thing MS did though, was stick to their tag phrases. Instead of talking, and participating in actual conversations on their console, they PR-ized everything they said. That's what I'm referring to about the political-type nature of these console launches lately.

Serapth

03-06-2006, 08:33 AM

As much I as I hate Sony's arrogance, in the end I DON'T think it will bite them in the ass. People aren't going to remember Sony being a bunch of asses when the PS3 launches. It will be the "must buy" purchase of the holiday season (US) and very few people will say "I was thinking about purchasing a PS3 but because I don't like the way Sony handles their PR I'm no longer going to but it." Bottom line is Sony can do whatever they want and most consumers will just take it.

I dont know, I think there are ALOT of people remembering the PS2 arrogance. The more they do it, the less they will be forgiven.

Frankly, if sony would just shut up instead they wouldnt have an issue in the first place. Im agreeing with the earlier posting... where was Microsoft ever this conceited toward the competition? ( In gaming, and only gaming. )

Serapth

03-06-2006, 08:42 AM

There were tons of jabs at Sony and Nintendo pre-launch. Then as the competitors started announcing their stuff MS just took kind of a "Meh" approach.

The worst thing MS did though, was stick to their tag phrases. Instead of talking, and participating in actual conversations on their console, they PR-ized everything they said. That's what I'm referring to about the political-type nature of these console launches lately.

They are guilty of hype, that isnt the question. Hell, in todays world marketing == hype. Look at the last Apple announcement. We live in a hype world and yeah, I think we are all getting sick of it.

That said... show me where Microsoft was directly rude to the competition... show my any link coming close to Sony levels. Also, show me anywhere the massively over-promised on the 360? Its pretty much exactly the console they described to me earlier... I dont see alot of features missing from when it was revealed at that horrible MTV show. The split sku is about the worse theve done.

bapenguin

03-06-2006, 08:50 AM

They are guilty of hype, that isnt the question. Hell, in todays world marketing == hype. Look at the last Apple announcement. We live in a hype world and yeah, I think we are all getting sick of it.

That said... show me where Microsoft was directly rude to the competition... show my any link coming close to Sony levels. Also, show me anywhere the massively over-promised on the 360? Its pretty much exactly the console they described to me earlier... I dont see alot of features missing from when it was revealed at that horrible MTV show. The split sku is about the worse theve done.

I'm not saying they directly bashed the competition. I'm saying their PR spin was atrocious and they directly avoided many questions (and continue to do so I may add). It's just very political like.

lockwoodx

03-06-2006, 08:54 AM

Amen brother

Mason

03-06-2006, 09:55 AM

I'm not saying they directly bashed the competition. I'm saying their PR spin was atrocious and they directly avoided many questions (and continue to do so I may add). It's just very political like.

MS said lots of dumb stuff, and made several bad decisions about this generation.

But you know what? People were playing 360 games at E3. That's really all that matters to me. All PR is staged scripted nonsense, so the worth of a company is based on how much they let you actually see what they're selling and judge its merits for yourself.

Sony has undeniably been way less open about the PS3. I mean, either they're launching in the spring, in which case they're hiding their system until the last possible moment, which is furtive and deceptive, or they're lying to everyone about when the console will be ready.

I'd forgive Sony for an awful lot if they'd just show their cards. But until that happens, MS has the moral high-ground, as in comparison they were far more forthcoming about their system. And keeping consumers truthfully informed is all that really matters here, comparing the quality of PR is like comparing the bouquet of sewage.

jbavon

03-06-2006, 10:18 AM

Im getting a bit tired of this site's incessant PS bashing. A couple of years ago this site was real, now its just Xbox Avatar.

Serapth

03-06-2006, 10:26 AM

Im getting a bit tired of this site's incessant PS bashing. A couple of years ago this site was real, now its just Xbox Avatar.

Join Date... 2005? A Couple years ago this site was.... what?

Anyways... ever stop to think that maybe just maybe alot of the anti Sony press is... hmmmm... from Sony fucking up?

No PS3 delay... no negative press.
No features cut... no negative press.
No press release *from Sony* about how expensive the PS3 is going to be... no negative press.
No trash talking other companies... no negative press.
No rootkit... no negative press.
No uber hyping cell... no negative press.

Seeing a trend here? Dont fault EA when a company shoots itself in the foot. When Microsoft was making major launch blunders... like the split sku and the horrible MTV launch, EA pointed that out to.

Montolio

03-06-2006, 10:56 AM

Im getting a bit tired of this site's incessant PS bashing. A couple of years ago this site was real, now its just Xbox Avatar.
Funny.

Look, since the devs who used to be brave enough to post here are long gone (or doing the ninja avatar thing), someone had to become the target of the required daily lashings. I think everyone here does a great job of jumping up and down on top of all things gaming though.

You're just having a really sensitive day or something ;-)

The whole "joined" date thing is a little misleading. Evil Avatar and crew have had to start over several times (and I for one thank them for it!) and everyone here, regardless of when they jumped-in, has had to register multiple times.

Citizen Philip

03-06-2006, 11:06 AM

If you want to know the burning ire rabid Xbox fans feel about compeition this is one of THE places to be.

You can mention rumours, with no links about anything pro Xbox and negative PS and unless it looks really outlandish, it can and will be posted as news.

This problem came up a couple of months ago, it cleared up, and now this shitstorm is back at normal levels. I don't even care to comment about it anymore, it will bite them in the ass in the end and I'll get my gaming news without the MS attitutde.

Go buy your own goddam soapbox for preaching your steaming pile, this place is suppose to be news about games, not HATE PS and LOVE XBOX.

Serapth

03-06-2006, 11:15 AM

You can mention rumours, with no links about anything pro Xbox and negative PS and unless it looks really outlandish, it can and will be posted as news.

See, I have trouble taking your stance serious about this sites bias, when the thread you choose to make them in, both contains links and quoted 'the news' to imply it was probrably nothing?!?!

And, if I was to label an overall bias, I would actually say the site is mildly pro nintendo right now. Even though little is known about the Rev, I read very little negative about Nintendo right now, and I read alot of "The next gen sux, im buying a Rev only!" type posts.

Citizen Philip

03-06-2006, 11:46 AM

See, I have trouble taking your stance serious about this sites bias, when the thread you choose to make them in, both contains links and quoted 'the news' to imply it was probrably nothing?!?!

And, if I was to label an overall bias, I would actually say the site is mildly pro nintendo right now. Even though little is known about the Rev, I read very little negative about Nintendo right now, and I read alot of "The next gen sux, im buying a Rev only!" type posts.

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10327

I have no officially quotable sources for this

Like I said, I could post all the previous articles, but since I don't care enough, I'll just grab the one off the main page instead.

Serapth

03-06-2006, 11:52 AM

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10327

Like I said, I could post all the previous articles, but since I don't care enough, I'll just grab the one off the main page instead.

See, I agree with you that their is no evidence to support that post and as such it probrably shouldnt be posted.

That said, I dont see it as pro Microsoft press in any form. I can easily read it as both a positive ("Woot! Microsoft has inventory issues under control") or a negative ("Microsoft is *finally* meeting pre-orders! 4 months late... late.")

Now had the article been "Microsoft declared better then Sony, news at 11" without any link then... well yeah, sure. In this case though its just sloppy posting/editings. I dont see this huge pro MS bias you do.

jbavon

03-06-2006, 12:48 PM

Join Date... 2005? A Couple years ago this site was.... what?

Anyways... ever stop to think that maybe just maybe alot of the anti Sony press is... hmmmm... from Sony fucking up?

No PS3 delay... no negative press.
No features cut... no negative press.
No press release *from Sony* about how expensive the PS3 is going to be... no negative press.
No trash talking other companies... no negative press.
No rootkit... no negative press.
No uber hyping cell... no negative press.

Seeing a trend here? Dont fault EA when a company shoots itself in the foot. When Microsoft was making major launch blunders... like the split sku and the horrible MTV launch, EA pointed that out to.

I had an account loooong ago, but never posted with it. Then I had to serve, because of the draft, and from what I can read from the last couple of posts, and yours, the original devs have gone somewhere else. Have they started another site, or are they just gone. Where is this place? Im totally out of the loop.

And just to make things clear: I have no gripe with the news being brought. EA still gets around most interesting news stories I'm interested in. Its the way its brought on this site that tickles me. I just cant bare that nearly every PS article on this site gets a "negative" tagline, while Xbox's never does. There doesnt seem to be much integrity, which is also okay, I just think the reader should be informed of a site's bias to one product. It might be apparent to me and you, but younger gamers might be confused and believe the hype (which ever way it goes).

And I wont comment on your list of PS negative stories, becuase i firmly believe you can find similar stories about the xbox, which are brought in a much different tone on this site. But thats just my opinion, and you apparently disagree :) So before we start talking nonsense (both of us) lets just agree to disagree.

Zurik

03-06-2006, 12:50 PM

If you don't see a bias toward MS then you are blind. Alot of people here own xboxs and xbox 360s. Of course they're going to be biased with what they own versus what they don't or isn't out yet(like the PS3). It annoys me too that most of the posts here are praising something for MS and bashing Sony, but the trick is not to let it get to you. You start letting internet forums run your life and then there's worse problems then which console is better.

MasterEvilAce

03-06-2006, 04:09 PM

There's a bias towards MS and Xbox360 because MS didn't bullshit with us. the only thing that was thrown around was the backwards compatibility thing.. and that's supposedly going to eventually happen.

Otherwise, MS gave a release date, they hit it. Their shit is done. They have games. People are having fun, XBOX Live is all its cracked up to me.

Sony is just talking. Over.. and over.. and then they do something and it pisses people off.. and then they just talk and talk and bullshit more to get out of it.

PimpMasterToTheMax

03-06-2006, 06:52 PM

The only direct quote from Stringer on the subject suggests that if the PlayStation 3 "delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up"

Let's have a show of hands. Who thinks the PS3 will "deliver what everyone thinks it will"? I bet MS and Nintendo are already filling out their bankruptcy papers, and Iran and North Korea are placing pre-orders.

Cyrano

03-06-2006, 10:14 PM

There's a bias towards MS and Xbox360 because MS didn't bullshit with us. the only thing that was thrown around was the backwards compatibility thing.. and that's supposedly going to eventually happen.

Well, that and the whole "every one will come with a hard drive and wireless controller" thing. Sony still lies more, and they're even more arrogant about it.