if it wasn't so darn hard staying current with pc hardware (read expensive), I'd just stick to pc gaming.
Sony PS3 EU Launch Delayed Until March '07, Only 500K Units for US, Japan LaunchSony revises its PS3 launch scheduleWell, here's some rather interesting news from the Sony camp. Sony has originally planned on a November 17 global launch for the PlayStation 3, but those plans have been completely hosed. It is now reported that Sony will delay the launch of the PS3 in Europe until March of 2007. To make matters even worse, Sony is only going to make available 500,000 total units split between the United States (400,000) on November 17 and Japan (100,000) on November 11. For comparison, Microsoft had about 1.5 million units of the XBOX 360 available at launch -- and we all know how well that went over."We decided to focus on the Japanese and U.S. markets. I am so sorry not to be able to answer to all the expectations," said Sony CEO Ken Kutaragi. Problems with manufacturing blue laser diodes are putting a serious strain on PS3 production and are part of the reason for the delay and low launch numbers. Kutaragi went on to say “We've been working hard to try to tackle the problem, but we see the delay is inevitable."Mass production of Sony's Cell processor isn't even expected to start until the end of this month according to Kutaragi. And as a result of this production snag, Sony has revised its shipping estimates from 4 million units at the end of 2006 to just 2 million. Bottom line: if you thought you were going to have trouble getting a PS3 this year, your chances just got much worse.
Composite, S-Video and component are all possible via AV cables, but for the best image quality the 60GB version of the system also employs a built-in HDMI connection.
Shortages of PS3s hit US/Japan More and more problems for SonyBy Dean Pullen: Wednesday 06 September 2006, 14:43 NOT ONLY HAS Sony moved the PAL launch of the PS3 to March 2007, four months later than originally planned and only two months before the original release date, massive shortages of the new console will affect the Japanese and North American territories upon its launch.Sony Computer Entertainment Chief Ken Kutaragi told reporters that Sony has drastically reduced the expected shipment allocation, with the US set to receive only 400,000 units, and Japan to be allocated an absurdly small 100,000 units.Accordingly, Sony has now lowered its estimate of four million consoles shipped by the end of 2006, to a more realistic two million. However, the global shipping target of 6 million consoles by the end of 2007 has not been changed.Kaz Hirai, president and chief executive officer of SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment America) was recently quoted as specifying that a reduction in shipped units would occur in an interview with Gamespot, which was reported by the INQUIRER, and then later retracted by Sony - so its plainly to observers that these issues have been known for some time.The PS3 has been a point of contention for some time, but despite reported yield problems with the unit's main Cell processor, the Nvidia GPU having been bolted-on to allow for Cell short-comings, the costly addition of the Blu-Ray drive, draconian DRM measures, and a flood of fanboy mail, Sony seemed to have slowly gained momentum and things were looking up for the firm, and the Playstation 3. Not now. These announcements amount to more egg-on-the-face for Sony in the ongoing PS3 saga. µ
Microsoft Launches Cheap New Xbox 360 in Japanby GamePro Staff | 09/08/2006 | 9:48:05 AM PSTMicrosoft is planning to launch a cheaper version of its Xbox 360 games console in Japan a week before the PlayStation 3 is due on sale.The Xbox 360 Core system, which is already on sale in other markets, will go on sale in Japan on Nov. 2, the company said Friday. The console doesn't include several components present in the full system, including a hard-disk drive and headset, and as a result is cheaper. It will cost ¥29,800 ($256 US), which is half the price of the PlayStation 3 and $43 less than the $299 Core model offered in the US.Initial versions of the core system will also be bundled with two popular games: Project Gotham Racing 3 and Ninety-Nine Nights. These games and three other titles will also be re-released on the same day under the banner "Xbox 360 Platinum Collection" for ¥2,800 -- or roughly $24 US, a competitive price.That cheaper console could increase pressure on Sony which is looking unlikely to be able to satisfy demand for the PlayStation 3 on its Nov. 11 launch and in the year-end sales period. Earlier this week the company said it will have 100,000 units of the PlayStation 3 shipped to retailers for the launch, a fraction of its original claims.Based on previous PlayStation launches, that's sure to be far below consumer demand so consumers will have to decide whether to wait until a PlayStation 3 becomes available or go for a competing console for half the price.Nintendo launch of its Wii console will fuel the competition in the Japan market. That system is due on sale sometime between October and December and is expected to cost around the same as the Xbox 360 core system.In Japan, Microsoft will continue to sell the Xbox 360 full version, which also includes a 20 GB hard-disk drive, wireless controller, remote control, high-definition analog cable and Ethernet cable, for ¥37,900 (roughly $325 US).
"If you asked me if Sony's strength in hardware was in decline, right now I guess I would have to say that might be true," game unit head Ken Kutaragi said after Sony pushed back the PS3's European launch by four months to March.
