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PS3 spring launch confirmed News
PlayStation 3 News by Games Industry.biz
Sony chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer has confirmed that the company plans to launch PlayStation 3 in the spring of next year, according to German website Gamefront.
But in which territories, precisely? Well, indications are that a Japanese launch will come first, some time around April or May. European and US launches will follow later - most likely before the end of the year, but possibly as late as 2007.
Anticipation for the PS3 is exceptionally high amongst consumers, particularly in Sony's native Japan. A recent survey which questioned 500 male and 500 female console owners in Japan found that an overwhelming 72.3 percent said they would be buying the PS3.
Microsoft, which has struggled to secure a foothold in the Japanese market with the Xbox, is keen to do things differently with the Xbox 360. The company is hoping that its head start over rival next-gen consoles will help - the 360 launches in the US on November 22, with European and Japanese launches to follow on December 2 and 10 respectively.
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Donglebomb
22/09/05 @ 14:46
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> European and US launches... possibly as late as 2007
> Anticipation for the PS3 is exceptionally high Can't we settle on one or the other here? |
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tonynibbles
22/09/05 @ 14:55
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With PS3 I'll be severely tempted to get a Jap import one, regardless of decisions on region coding - I'd rather be set up with a home media centre in Spring than up to potentially, 12 months later.
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InfiniteFury
22/09/05 @ 14:56
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Is it common for Xbox-owners to own a PS2 as well?
It looks silly launching so late while Microsoft are cleaning up but on the other hand, it means that those who bought an Xbox are likely to have the cash again for a new console. I would suspect that coupled with that, the hand of GTA is in there somewhere. Mmmmmm, launch title for the console - SA shifted a hell of a lot of slimlines. My money's on fourth quarter 2006.
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most recently on 22/09/05 @ 15:55
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richardiox
22/09/05 @ 14:58
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Unfortunately. I can really see a repeat of the PSP launch with this.
Japan Spring / Summer 06 then an agonising wait til Spring 07 for Europe. Certainly dont think it will be any earlier than Dec 06. That said, despite guaranteed sales whenever they launch I think if they miss out on the Christmas '06 market, especially if the Revolution is out, it wont do them any favours. In fact Christmas '06 could be an interesting one. Revolution and PS3 should be both new out and if Nintendo manage to pull of an RRP of £150 with some kind of simple party games disk thrown in (air hockey using the new controller etc) it will be an interesting sales period, especially if PS3 is £349 - £400. Microsoft will need some new AAA x360 stuff to sell us around then too to keep themselves in the press/picture. It's such an exciting time to be gamer. X360 and PS3 had me excited anyway then the Revolution announcement fired me up further still. The prospect that by Christmas 06 we may have all 3 in our shops is an exciting prospect even though I want them now, now, now.
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most recently on 22/09/05 @ 15:57
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Derblington
22/09/05 @ 14:59
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I'll be importing a US model. It makes no sense to buy a UK machine if it's made by SONY. It'll be cheaper, there will be more choice of games and you don't have to wait as long.
Looking forward to it already! |
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optimusprym8
22/09/05 @ 15:02
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Sony launches in Japan first - the rest of the world has to wait and pays over the odds for an import. A la PSP imports, Sony gets huffy and sues everyone importing PS3s, covers cost of loosing out to m$ with the earlier xBox-360 launch, result.
At least this time around we won't be f*'d over +10 as PAL won't be an issue then with lovely HDTV :) Sony won't get cash out of me anyway, I already have one George Foreman grilling machine. |
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optimusprym8
22/09/05 @ 15:04
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Is that thrice now, once for each console?
If so I want one now, pffft and whatever |
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richardiox
22/09/05 @ 15:10
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There isn't any next gen console I dont want. It comes down to affordability of hardware and laterly the software. If money wasnt an issue I'd own all 3 no question - wouldnt want to be deprived of any potentially amazing next gen titles through having the "wrong" format.
Surely every gamer would want all 3...fair enough not everyone could afford to buy and run all 3 but I couldnt fathom why anyone wouldnt at least want them all. |
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Captain-nippon
22/09/05 @ 15:13
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you people need to learn how to read. Where did sony say that the rest of the world will have to wait for PS3 after the Japanese release? 18 months after the Japanese launch? at best 6 months
GEt real. I wouldn't be surprise if Sony launch the Japanese, USA and Euro all within 3 weeks time frame.
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most recently on 22/09/05 @ 20:45
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Well, indications are that a Japanese launch will come first, some time around April or May. European and US launches will follow later - most likely before the end of the year, but possibly as late as 2007.
Hmm... indications from where? This part isn't in the story on GI.biz, nor is it mentioned in the GameFront story - that only confirms that it will launch in Spring 2006, with no other details. I know that historically this is what has happened and more than likely it's what will happen this time, but as far as I'm aware there's been no confirmation that this is definitely what will happen this time, and no indication at all as to the time-frame. "You're biased against MS!" fanbois finally getting to you, lads? ;-) |
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kangarootoo
22/09/05 @ 15:20
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@Captain-nippon
Cheer up you miserable bugger. Oh and errr... learn to waterski... and bake cakes. |
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Dont forget Cell chips have DRM hard-wired - importing hardware might not be a wise move in the long run.
In related news EB Games has stopped taking pre-orders for the XBox 360 as they've used up their allotment. They "hope" to get a second allotment before the end of 2005. http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/09/21/news_6134066.html |
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paralipsis
22/09/05 @ 15:46
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symmetry, while those dates might be correct, it ignores the fact that Microsoft have decided to push out the Oceania (inc. Australia and New Zealand) release until 2006. I was by told by Microsoft it would be either January or February.
And just as a point of reference, Australia and New Zealand have historically seem console releases on the same day as Europe. So I am less than totally pleased with Microsoft. |
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kangarootoo
22/09/05 @ 15:48
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@w00t
I think you could probably replace that with "big company cares more about cash then customers' general happiness". I don't think this is demographic thing, its just business. |
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kangarootoo
22/09/05 @ 15:51
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"have decided to push out the Oceania"
It was called Autralasia when I was at school, then somewhere along the line it became Oceania, with no specific crossover. Kind of like the pronunciation of Uranus. Unless I was just totally lied to at school of course. It was up north, so they could have just been making it up, never suspecting I might one day head south to seek my fortune in the big city. EDIT: I'm still bloody seeking it too.
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kangarootoo
22/09/05 @ 15:53
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Cripes. Sony are cutting 10,000 jobs.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11696 Streamlining its probbly called. Suggests some hard pricing ahead perhaps? EDIT: Quote "We must fight like the Sony warriors that we are." Give that man a medal AND a slap. Double EDIT: Its Sony global, not just entertainment, so it may absolutely nothing to do with games consoles at all.
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most recently on 22/09/05 @ 16:53
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Again, europe gets shafted.
"I wouldn't be surprise if Sony launch the Japanese, USA and Euro all within 3 weeks time frame." - Your absolutely right mate! I mean, Sony always thinks of europe first and considers it to be a good market. On top of that, sony really knows what its doing when it comes to logistics! The early european launch of the psp is a testemony to that and the fact that sony really cares about its european gamers. Ahh well, it isnt just sony. MS and ninty fuck us over too. :( |
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> XBOX 360 Launch
> > XBOX 360 America launch - November 22 > XBOX 360 European launch - December 2 > XBOX 360 Japanese launch - December 10 > > 2.5 Weeks difference. Yeah but realistically they only need 4 or 5 machines ready for the Japanese launch :-D. Seriously I think we should wait until an official announcement on dates for Europe before shouting screaming and getting the import from the US. |
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@kangarootoo
You have a point, but - I wasn't just referring to console manufactures... I'm also thinking of all the incredibly poorly localised Konami (and others) games, various ace titles not being released in Europe for ages or at all (Katamari, Animal Crossing) and I still have flashbacks to the black bars on the PAL 'conversions'... |
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"A recent survey which questioned 500 male and 500 female console owners in Japan found that an overwhelming 72.3 percent said they would be buying the PS3."
Ahh, but did it mention how much it would cost??? As a gamer i would love to own all 3 consoles - i'm getting a 360 at lauch, but dont know if i could justify a PS3 to the wife if the initial costs turn out to be true :( |
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I reckon the only way we will see the PS3 in Europe next year is if sells very poorly in Japan and the US. This would allow Sony to actualy make enough of the buggers to sell over here.
Not very likely then. Sony's financial situation is not going to help them with their manufacturing concerns. It's quite handy to have cash on hand to make consoles with if you want to sell them, and a credit rating that's worht something if you need to borrow money. Sony is in real danger of losing its A credit rating which could seriously affect its ability to make PS3s for any region. And anyone thinking of importing had better know someone in Japan and/or the US and not mind getting stung by import tax. No way are Sony going to let importers ply their trade. |
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kangarootoo
22/09/05 @ 16:53
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@w00t
I see what you mean. I think in cases like that they are just looking at the numbers and saying "not worth it". In the case of low volume games like Animal Crossing (which is low volume, even if it shouldn't be) big corps often just decide that the money would be better spent pushing a stronger brand. As for poor conversions, again I think that is just cost cutting. If we stopped buying poor conversions maybe the message would get through, or perhaps they would just simply not do them in future. Its tough as a consumer to know how best to push a supplier in the desired direction, which is a real pity. |
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Captain-nippon
22/09/05 @ 20:00
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Damn sony, a 2007 release? MS should increase the x360 price to $500 and $700 that way they can make a lot of money and reduce the price when sony release PS 3. Afterall, MS have 2 years a head of Sony.
So what are the chances that MS will follow the same tactic twices? so funny. than again all the anti-sony are making up shits so that people would buy a crappy xbox. Hell if they're are going to make up shit about PS 3 why the hell not tell people that PS 3 will come out in 5 years instead of 2 years. That way more people will buy xbox for sure, who in the world would ever wait another 5 years for a gen console? Oh by the way, rumors has it that MS is releasing Xbox 720 in 2008 with Sony tech Blu Ray, so people don't buy x360, just wait for another 3 years and buy the X720 with a lot of cool shits. This will be the best console in the entire world. it worst the wait. its something i pick up on the street. which i think is a lot more reliable the the news I pick up at IGN or gamespot.
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Hardly a surprise to anyone is it? From the games on show so far, and the hardware design too for that matter, it is still pretty early days for PS3. I reckon it won't get released until the end of 2006 in Japan, and 2007 for the rest of the world. Did anyone seriously expect it any sooner? The spring launch thing is clearly nonsense, probably intended to take the wind out of the Xbox 360's sails / sales.
I don't think this is bad news at all though. There are some great titles still coming out on PS2 (such as Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, MGS3 Subsistance etc), not to mention lots of decent games on the other platforms like Xbox 360, Nintendo DS etc. I'll happily wait for PS3, there's really no rush. I'd rather they take their time, redesign the console so it doesn't look like a George Foreman grill, redesign the controller so it looks less like a boomerang, lose the Spiderman font, get some decent titles ready for launch, strip out unnecessary hardware such as gigabit ethernet and support for twin hi-def screens to get costs down, get manufacturing and supply problems ironed out, and launch with a handful of decent launch titles. "Europe being screwed over yet again" - grow the hell up guys. |
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kangarootoo
22/09/05 @ 23:03
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"Too many rich fuckers out there who will buy this and artificially inflate the price!"
There is no such thing. By what benchmark do you define an unartificial price point? Sony (and everyone else) price their products as high as they can, then if the market changes (such as all the early adopters having bought their PS3s at the release price point) they reprice again. Same as every other product on the planet from cat food to petrol. |
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kangarootoo
22/09/05 @ 23:06
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Balls, I totally posted on the wrong thread. How the hell did that happen.
/moves post to Peter M signing books or some such thread.
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Are people so dissatisfied with their current console that they NEED a new next-gen right now and cannot wait for a year? The more time spent on development, the bigger and better it will become, you'll see. Have some patience and play some more games. Still plenty of them out there to be discovered, I'm sure.
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It's not really a problem though, is it? There aren't any release dates confirmed. So.. what? Just forget about it and go about your business. Why does it matter that you know the release date right now? You still wouldn't be able to buy one.
Chill out, play some games on the consoles you have right now. The new stuff will arrive eventually. It won't arrive any quicker by getting 'bent' over it. |
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