@MikeB

Quote:

Why? It was known from the start Sony would cost reduce the PS3

Because the 40GB PS3 is the sellingest one. It also happens to have no PS2 functionality. If the vision of Backwards Compatibility always was held tight they wouldn't have lowered the price or it would have had more business impact. Clearly Sony identified the business direction wasn't perfect and acted quickly to repair. I don't think we've seen any other console ever drop their price so quickly or drop features as quickly as the PS3.

Quote:

I still stand by my prediction the 360 will not come close to a 40 million installbase for its lifecycle

But does it matter? No I'd say. The reason is products are to make profits for companies. 2007 saw Microsoft with one of the largest revenue years ever in videogaming. They claim the arges ever beaing he biggest year of the PS2. Their goal is to make money it looks like it was acheived. Their next goal is likely to penetrate into a larger overall ownership then their last console, this too looks well on it's way. So in turn Microsoft will be coming out with a 3rd console, they've already commited publically. I think the question will be how quickly will 360 sales drop their profits and revenues will help determine how soon their 3rd console is released.

Last edited by BrianK on 20-Jan-2008 at 04:20 AM.

@BrianK

Quote:

I don't think we've seen any other console ever drop their price so quickly or drop features as quickly as the PS3.

There was never a console specced this high before providing so many extras, it was easy to envision a cut down, I think a slimline PS3 may get cut down in some areas even more.

It was also clear the PS2 CPU would be dropped from the design eventually, maybe it was a little surprising they did so before PS2 software emulation is near fully compatible. But they want to make money and the PS3 is also a great Blu-Ray player, many such consumers may not be very interested in PS2 compatibility (may rather buy PS3 games next to Blu-Ray movies, I am sure Sony did some research on such matters).

A very in depth article on 360 failures, I think well worth reading:
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/digitaljoystick/archives/129866.asp

Regarding France I think we can now safely add it to the list of countries where the PS3 already overtook the 360:

French software chart from December 2007 (last week):

http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News-102036.aspx

01 (02) [WII] Wii Play (Nintendo)
02 (01) [WII] Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo)
03 (04) [NDS] Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (Nintendo)
04 (07) [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
05 (16) [WII] Mario Party 8 (Nintendo)
06 (03) [WII] Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Sega)
07 (08) [NDS] More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima (Nintendo)
08 (05) [NDS] TLoZ : Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo)
09 (11) [PS3] Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft)
10 (06) [PS2] PES 2008 (Konami)
11 (09) [NDS] The Sims 2 : Castaway (Electronic Arts)
12 (10) [NDS] My Sims (Electronic Arts)
13 (12) [NDS] Mario Kart DS (Nintendo)
14 (17) [PS3] Uncharted : Drake's Fortune (SCE)
15 (__) [PS3] Call of Duty 4 : Modern Warfare (Activision)
16 (13) [PS2] NFS : Pro Street (Electronic Arts)
17 (__) [PS3] NFS : Pro Street (Electronic Arts)
18 (__) [WII] TLoZ : Twilight Princess (Nintendo)
19 (15) [NDS] Pokemon Diamond (Nintendo)

Only 360 title in this chart:
20 (__) [360] Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft)

Last edited by MikeB on 20-Jan-2008 at 11:08 PM.

Good Humor -- PS3tology

@MikeB

Quote:

There was never a console specced this high before providing so many extras, it was easy to envision a cut down, I think a slimline PS3 may get cut down in some areas even more.

I read a rumor that Sony is pulling the Cell processor and going back to the normal power pc chipset. Any truth in this?

_________________
"The system no longer works " -- Young Anakin Skywalker

@Interesting
Quote:

I read a rumor that Sony is pulling the Cell processor and going back to the normal power pc chipset. Any truth in this?

Unless Sony convinced IBM to include Cell processing in future 'normal' powerpc line I can't see this happening.

Sony is/has moving manufacturing of the Cell to Toshiba in a cost saving measure.

God Of War III in 2009? Boo!

@MikeB

Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division announcement second quarter earnings of $524 million (compared to a $423m loss during the same period last year). During the last six months they say Xbox platform and PC game revenue increased 35% as a result of "increased Xbox 360 console sales, video game sales led by Halo 3, Xbox Live revenues, and Xbox 360 accessory sales. Microsoft said that for the remainder of the 2008 fiscal year it fully expects EDD revenue to continue to increase "due to increased sales of Xbox 360 consoles and related games, accessories, and services."

....mustn't...let...thread...die...

http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/01/27/mole-80gb-ps3-dead-120-160gb-with-dual-shock-3-incoming

@Lou

Unfortunately it looks like Sony might screw Europe again.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe told GamesIndustry.biz that it currently has no plans to introduce a 120GB PS3 to the UK. Whereas the rumored 120GB - 160GB PS3 (with Dual Shock 3 controller) would take the retired 80GB model's place in the US.

MikeB has been holding onto his panties for the DVR interface for the PS3. A 120GB drive would be so much more desireable then a 40GB if one is adding in DVR capability. Especially if it's a HD DVR.

And of course it goes without saying that a 120GB harddrive handle more games then the 40GB especially when we're seeing 5GB installable options on our PS3s.

Also.

PC Gaming is being hit hard.

NPD recently reported that of the whopping $18.85 billion the video game industry made in North America last year, only $910.7 million (or around 14%)

Though note NPD doesn't track digital sales.

Crysis for consoles?

Crytek will be showcasing its CryENGINE 2 running on multiple platforms including the Xbox 360 and PS3 at GDC next month.

@BrianK

CryENGINE 2 can scale.

Anyway, my ASUS G1S laptop can run Crysis DX9 @high details and 720p or DX10 mode @ medium details and 720p on Geforce 8600M GT GDDR3.

Using Forceware 171.16beta improves FPS for Crysis.

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=17042

"best driver for crysis...finally running shaders on high with smooth framerates. Asus G2S-A1 8600gt "

Last edited by Hammer on 31-Jan-2008 at 09:51 AM.
Last edited by Hammer on 31-Jan-2008 at 09:47 AM.
Last edited by Hammer on 31-Jan-2008 at 09:42 AM.

_________________
Ryzen 9 7900X, DDR5-6000 64 GB RAM, GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB
Amiga 1200 (Rev 1D1, KS 3.2, PiStorm32lite/RPi 4B 4GB/Emu68)
Amiga 500 (Rev 6A ECS, KS 3.2, PiStorm/RPi 3A+/Emu68)

More 120GB + dualshock 3 controller confirmation for US.
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8921&Itemid=2

I wouldn't be suprised if this version offered PS2 compatibility in the same manner as the Xbox 360 does. Afterall they recently hired more emulation specialists...

I guess this will be the "elite" model. Hopefully the price won't be more than $500...

@Lou

Quote:

I wouldn't be suprised if this version offered PS2 compatibility in the same manner as the Xbox 360 does. Afterall they recently hired more emulation specialists

At this point one has to ask why? The PS3 was 5+ years in the making and they announced at least 1 if not 2 years before that backwards compatibility existed. Then they stated software wasn't ready so a full chipset of the PS2 would be in the PS3. So what 7 years and they couldn't get this job done? But, all of a sudden they'll hire people and make it a priority? Doesn't make good business sense at this point. They should just not do it.

@BrianK

With World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment Rakes in $1.2 Billion in 2007,
http://www.dailytech.com/Blizzard+Entertainment+Rakes+in+12+Billion+in+2007/article10528.htm

_________________
Ryzen 9 7900X, DDR5-6000 64 GB RAM, GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB
Amiga 1200 (Rev 1D1, KS 3.2, PiStorm32lite/RPi 4B 4GB/Emu68)
Amiga 500 (Rev 6A ECS, KS 3.2, PiStorm/RPi 3A+/Emu68)

Quote:

So what 7 years and they couldn't get this job done? But, all of a sudden they'll hire people and make it a priority? Doesn't make good business sense at this point. They should just not do it.

I think the PS3 software was far from ready when they released the alredy delayed PS3. Now that "basic" stuff works they can begin to iron out the quirks (e.g. Emulation of PS2). I hope that PS2 backward compatability will come back to the PS3. It is a nice feature to have, if Sony really thinks it is not relevant anymore i wonder why they did not drop PS1 compatability.

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<- Amiga 1260 / CD ->
Looking for:
A1200/CF CFV4/@200,256MB,eAGA,SATA,120GB,AROS

@Donar

Quote:

Donar wrote: Quote: So what 7 years and they couldn't get this job done? But, all of a sudden they'll hire people and make it a priority? Doesn't make good business sense at this point. They should just not do it. I think the PS3 software was far from ready when they released the alredy delayed PS3. Now that "basic" stuff works they can begin to iron out the quirks (e.g. Emulation of PS2). I hope that PS2 backward compatability will come back to the PS3. It is a nice feature to have, if Sony really thinks it is not relevant anymore i wonder why they did not drop PS1 compatability.

Probably because PS1 is emulated through software, while the ps2 emulation is done with hardware, which makes it cost more to manufacture.

@Hammer

Quote:

Hammer wrote: @BrianK With World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment Rakes in $1.2 Billion in 2007, http://www.dailytech.com/Blizzard+Entertainment+Rakes+in+12+Billion+in+2007/article10528.htm

I have 6 characters on server Skywall:
Loudfiero, Loudias, Louthor, Loucidius, Damnyew, Golgon

Turalyon: Lougernaught
...and another on I forget the server name: Loudwun

Last edited by Lou on 01-Feb-2008 at 01:32 PM.

GamePro decided to test the battery life of the current-gen wireless controllers.

PS3: The Sixaxis died after about 19 hours and doesn't have an auto-off feature. The upside is that the controller recharges through USB connection to the console and doesn't require purchasing batteries.

PS3: The Sixaxis died after about 19 hours and doesn't have an auto-off feature. The upside is that the controller recharges through USB connection to the console and doesn't require purchasing batteries.

Xbox 360: Lasting almost 57 hours the controller was the winner in the battery life test. Just like the Wii, consider getting the first-party Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit to save cash in the long run.

Although the Sixaxis allows gamers to plug in and charge while playing, for those who have their PS3 more than a few feet from where they actually sit and go on gaming benders, it may be worth investing in a USB extension cable. As for the Wii and Xbox 360, investing in charge kits (or rechargeable batteries) will definitely save cash and avoid the awkward situation of a dead controller with no AA batteries in the house.

--
* Note there is a play and charge kit for the 360, similiar to the PS3, It is extra $ and comes with a rechargeable battery.