PS3 spring launch confirmed

By Games Industry.biz Published 22 September, 2005

By Sony's biggest bigwig.

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.

Picture of Games.

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Comments (79) Latest comment 6 years ago

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  • Donglebomb #1 6 years ago

    > 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?

  • InfiniteFury #2 6 years ago

    Oh God, it begins....

  • Vin #3 6 years ago

    Daft move, leaving it so bloody late in the other territories.

  • Wobble #4 6 years ago

    sony in screwing over Europe shocker!

  • myiagros #5 6 years ago

    2007, what i don't wanna wait that long!!

  • tonynibbles #6 6 years ago

    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.

  • InfiniteFury #7 6 years ago

    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.
    Edited by 1 at 22/09/05 @ 15:55

  • richardiox #8 6 years ago

    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.


    Edited by 1 at 22/09/05 @ 15:57

  • Derblington #9 6 years ago

    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!

  • optimusprym8 #10 6 years ago

    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.

  • tonynibbles #11 6 years ago

    Good points there richard...

  • optimusprym8 #12 6 years ago

    Is that thrice now, once for each console?

    If so I want one now, pffft and whatever

  • richardiox #13 6 years ago

    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.

  • symmetry #14 6 years ago

    So if I'm adding this up correctly, it might be possible to get a 360 and a Rev for less than the cost of a PS3 AND get them before the PS3 is even released?

    £210 + £150 = £360.

  • Captain-nippon #15 6 years ago

    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.
    Edited by 1 at 22/09/05 @ 20:45

  • Netfreak #16 6 years ago

    "I wouldn't be surprise if Sony launch the Japanese, USA and Euro all within 3 weeks time frame. "

    Get real. 3 weeks time frame is bull.

  • #17 6 years ago

    Just about every gamer the world over suspected this for some time.

    I fear it will be too late if Europe/USA release dates do in fact turn out to be 2007.

    /waits for OFFICIAL release dates...

  • Blerk #18 6 years ago

    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? ;-)

  • kangarootoo #19 6 years ago

    @Captain-nippon

    Cheer up you miserable bugger. Oh and errr... learn to waterski... and bake cakes.

  • Kafeen #20 6 years ago

    Before everyone starts slagging Sony again I'd like to point out that staggered launches are very normal.
    Gamecube Japanese launch - September
    Gamecube America launch - November
    Gamecube European launch - May.

    8 Months difference.

  • symmetry #21 6 years ago

    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.

  • OrokuSaki #22 6 years ago

    "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."

    SHOCKER !

  • Blerk #23 6 years ago

    It IS on the GI news bit, Blerk. Look harder.

    Hey, I'm sure that wasn't there earlier! :-)

    /puts on tinfoil hat

  • w00t #24 6 years ago

    Japanese company doesn't really care about Europe shocka!

  • Gurgeh #25 6 years ago

    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.ht ml

  • paralipsis #26 6 years ago

    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.

  • kangarootoo #27 6 years ago

    @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.

  • kangarootoo #28 6 years ago

    "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.
    Edited by 1 at 22/09/05 @ 16:50

  • kangarootoo #29 6 years ago

    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.
    Edited by 2 at 22/09/05 @ 16:53

  • Xerx3s #30 6 years ago

    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. :(

  • OrokuSaki #31 6 years ago

    I just can't beleive Sony would do this to us, a 2007 launch WTF is that about man! It's not like Sony to be complete c***s to us euro peepz is it? :-P

    Edit- Soz but I just have to say it again .... SHOCKER !!!
    Edited by 1 at 22/09/05 @ 17:01

  • DrDamn #32 6 years ago

    > 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.

  • #33 6 years ago

    Sony only needs to sell 1 PS3 in each region and they too can declare a worldwide release, then feign shortages for the delay in restocking like they did with the Euro-PSP launch.



  • w00t #34 6 years ago

    @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'...

  • del_86 #35 6 years ago

    "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 :(

  • Khanivor #36 6 years ago

    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.

  • kangarootoo #37 6 years ago

    @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.

  • w00t #38 6 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    It's a bit chicken and the egg - do poor conversions cause poor sales, or do poor sales cause poor conversions?

    Either way, it's a tad annoying. And it's definitely true that no conversions cause no sales. ;)

  • smelly #39 6 years ago

    Well at least the revo is "coming 2006".. hopefully.

  • #40 6 years ago

    any tit that didn't learn a lesson from buying the xbox early should take note now. Like the xbox, if you don't buy it, the price will fall like a stone withine weeks. Too many rich fuckers out there who will buy this and artificially inflate the price!

  • Mr_Brown #41 6 years ago

    Well I wasn't going to get one...but well, after seeing Metal Gear Solid 4 video...I just don't have any choice.

    I shall buy one when ether Final Fantasy or Metal Gear is released for it. I'm in no rush.

  • OrokuSaki #42 6 years ago

    I dont think being able to afford a console on launch makes you a 'tit' ,If you have to wait then thats your prob.
    Edited by 1 at 22/09/05 @ 20:04

  • Captain-nippon #43 6 years ago

    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.










    Edited by 1 at 23/09/05 @ 00:54

  • Kiigan #44 6 years ago

    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.

  • kangarootoo #45 6 years ago

    "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.

  • kangarootoo #46 6 years ago

    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.
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/05 @ 00:06

  • brombeer #47 6 years ago

    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.

  • Frogger #48 6 years ago


    2007 in Europe !!

    Finally some good news...
    I'll have time to enjoy my 360 for more than a year, maybe two, before buying the PS3. My wife won't ever notice.

    Very good time to market for both Sony and MS this time !


  • Frogger #49 6 years ago

    BTW, the title of this news is quite funny ! "PS3 Spring Launch Confirmed" ! :-)

    Just forgot to mention the year, 2007 for Europe, but nice title anyway. Exactly what the Sony PR girl told you.

  • Blerk #50 6 years ago

    Er... guys?

    Read the damn story! Nothing is confirmed, especially not a European date!

    "Debut in Spring 2006" is the only absolute truth. Everything else is speculation, before you all go off on one. Oh... too late.

  • OrokuSaki #51 6 years ago

    "Read the damn story! Nothing is confirmed, especially not a European date! "

    Yeh that's the problem.

  • Blerk #52 6 years ago

    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.

  • OrokuSaki #53 6 years ago

    No I agree Blerk I'll be completely happy playing the 360 , But c-mon you just know Sony wont give us a decent launch date over here and to be honest If I took your line of thinking then I'd rather not know anything about the Ps3 right now because it just makes me want one and like you said , we can't buy it yet and I'll prolly be 0ver 30 by the time it comes out.
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/05 @ 08:59

  • tengu #54 6 years ago

    So... it's not out for at least 18 years? Odd...

    Nice whinging in here though, yeah.

    ¬ ¬

  • Blerk #55 6 years ago

    But I don't want a PS3 (or 360, or Revolution) at launch anyway. The sensible thing to do is give it 'til they're all out and established and evaluate how the machines are performing and what software is available then.

    There's more than enough current-gen gaming to keep me going for at least another two years. I don't understand what the rush is to grab a machine as soon as possible when there are absolutely no 'must have' games.

  • OrokuSaki #56 6 years ago

    Tengu you're such a cheeky scamp arent you poppet.

  • OrokuSaki #57 6 years ago

    I got my first XBox on US import for DoA3 and it was worth every penny so to me the 360 does have games I really want.Thats just down to choice though but judging by recent threads here I'm not alone.

  • Frogger #58 6 years ago

    The important thing about launch dates, Blerk, is that some people will not buy a xbox 360 if they know they can get a PS3 three monthes later. But they will probably buy the 360 if they know right now that they will have to wait maybe one year and a half for the PS3 release.
    My personnal next-gen buying plan would then be :
    1- Xbox 360 december 2, 2005 (it's my birthdate, btw)
    2- Nintendo Revo winter 2006
    3- PS3 winter 2007

    Looks ace !

  • PES_Fanboy #59 6 years ago

    Sony Entertainment in general is profitable - their movies and the PS stuff generates tidy profits.

    I can't see them abandoning the staggered release though - I mean, loads of sheep bought a region-free PSP at launch, despite it being so delayed. Where is the incentive to rush out a region-locked one?

  • Blerk #60 6 years ago

    So nobody's actually waiting to find out the facts before buying into the next-gen? Fair enough. Your money!

  • tengu #61 6 years ago

    "So nobody's actually waiting to find out the facts before buying into the next-gen?"

    'Facts' don't fit their agenda.

  • OrokuSaki #62 6 years ago

    I dont feel buying early is a gamble for me personally as I have and would buy a console for a single piece of software. That may sound foolish to some but to me a single game like RE4 did warrant me buying a cube at the time.

  • PES_Fanboy #63 6 years ago

    The facts:

    There are new consoles, that will play new games. Buy the console, you can play the new games.

    Perhaps this is an alien concept to some people, but, for example, I bought my television without knowing what chipset was in it, I just know I can watch HD TV on it and it's bigger than my living room :o)

  • Blerk #64 6 years ago

    ... and admit it, if PS3 was coming out now, you'd BLOODY WELL BE GETTING IT AT LAUNCH!!!

    No, I absolutely wouldn't. I've never bought a machine at launch and I'm not starting now. A machine needs at least a year to build a decent library of games, whereas the current machines not only already have a decent library, but also have lots more exciting titles on the cards for at least the next six months.

    Wait and see. You see? The launch dates really don't matter.

  • justMe #65 6 years ago

    "would buy a console for a single piece of software"

    I would buy the Revolution today without a single game for it! Just those tech demos from the "hands on" impressions would make me buy it. The only next-gen console that truly qualifies as a "new toy" for me. Here's another 35 years old kid exited about christmas (2006, probably). ;)

  • drumbaby #66 6 years ago

    "Blerk:
    Why are you so intent on crashing this party?
    I'm in my thirties, and I'm excited as if I was 12 about getting a new console for Xmas. "

    So you'd be this excited if it was the PS3 coming out for Xmas and the Xbox 360 next year? Is your excitement reserved exclusively for the Xbox 360, or for Christmas launched consoles in general?

  • w00t #67 6 years ago

    Comments thread degenerates into my opinion is different and may be better than yours exchanges shocka!

  • OrokuSaki #68 6 years ago

    I've had a Ps3 for years man, it doesn't play games but it grills chicken or steak really nicely :p

    Edit - "It's so great I put ma name on it!"
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/05 @ 10:13

  • tengu #69 6 years ago

    Good god you two are annoying.

  • Blerk #70 6 years ago

    o_O

    These threads get more and more bizarre by the day. Did I fall into a parallel universe?

  • OrokuSaki #71 6 years ago

    Ner ni ner ni ner ner ,Tengu's gonna cry like a big pink fluffy girly hehehe :)

  • drumbaby #72 6 years ago

    "I'd be as excited, except that there is NO WAY I could ever convince the wife to buy a piece of gaming hardware with such a price tag (speculating of course here), that looks like a printer/fax machine. Whereas she's sold on the 360 looks and media functionality. See what MS is doing here? "

    Not really, other than they're launching at Xmas and Sony aren't...thus playing to your yuletide excitement, I guess. Oh, and appealing to your wife. :)

    The PS3's price is speculation, as you acknowledge, so that has no bearing on what MSoft are doing, as they can't be undercutting an unconfirmed price.

    The looks of the PS3 are immaterial outside of your opinion. Yet again, Msoft making a machine that looks different to the PS3, and depending on one's opinion better or worse, isn't indicative of any Msoft strategy.
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/05 @ 10:26

  • drumbaby #73 6 years ago

    "These threads get more and more bizarre by the day. Did I fall into a parallel universe?"

    No...just the EG site's septic tank. :)

  • Mashum #74 6 years ago

    Does this mean that the euro release of 360 Halo3 will be delayed too?

  • drumbaby #75 6 years ago

    "I'd be as excited"

    Cool. Nice to know that you personally are as excited about PS3 as you are about Xbox 360, despite your wife's concerns about the PS3.

    :)

  • drumbaby #76 6 years ago

    "that looks like a printer/fax machine" refers to Xbox 360 media capabilities?

    /confused

  • OrokuSaki #77 6 years ago

    I am excited about the 360 launch because I want some of the titles coming on launch day or very soon after ,I dont know about Sony launch titles so I am not excited about the launch of the system yet.

  • drumbaby #78 6 years ago

    You said:

    "that looks like a printer/fax machine"


    I said:

    "Yet again, Msoft making a machine that looks different to the PS3, and depending on one's opinion better or

    worse, isn't indicative of any Msoft strategy."

    You then said:

    "I was actually referring to the media capabilities, that so many people here find 'offending' to gamers."

    which really has nothing to do with what I said at all....

    /vindicated

    :)

  • mattius30 #79 6 years ago

    Gaming paranoia rears its head yet again...

    I find it so amusing that people get annoyed with Sony regarding its release strategies. If you look at the PSP, it's delayed launch wasn't about Sony 'hating' Europe, it was about creating a release strategy that encompasses many, many different countries, languages, marketing strategies and support. The scale of a European launch is far larger than a single language territory such as US or Japan. Each country will have its own brand identity and marketing strategies, each country must have its own customer support infrastructure, POS has to be created for each territory and all these elements must be created to the same level for a specific date. It's not just a matter of boxing up a product and shoving it on the shelf.

    People that blame Sony for 'making' them want a console is pathetic. If you are excited about the PS3 then just wait until its launched. What's the point in moaning about Sony 'hating' Europe, which is ludicrous considering their console business in Europe has been unbelieveably successful.

    A lot of people here seem to think that Sony 'owe' them something. "Sony has made a new machine that I REALLY want, but they won't let me have it now! That's not fair!!!"

    Sony isn't going to release it on the European market until they are ready. It's exactly what every other company does. Nintendo, Microsoft, Nokia, Mitsubishi - you name it - they release when ready. So what if Microsoft has structured their release of 360 within a 3-week window - what does their business have to do with what Sony should do?

    Chill out guys - if you want a PS3 then it will come eventually...

  • drumbaby #80 6 years ago

    I know a lot of people around me have gone 'WTF' when the PS3 was unveiled.


    I know some too. I know some people who did the same with the Xbox 360.

    This is all opinion, about something cosmetic that can impact the sales, either way, of both machines...depending on one's....opinion.

  • OrokuSaki #81 6 years ago

    The point is mattius, MS are giving us the 360 at roughly the same time and for us brits that is very nice becuase we dont feel left out, If I want somthing I dont like waiting for it needlessly while others around the world enjoy it at better prices. If MS can do it, I'm sure Sony could too but tbh its ppl like you who let them get away with it and still praise them, so they have no reason to give us equal treatment.

  • tengu #82 6 years ago

    Yes, because Sony have MS's resources after all... Especially now they've just come out of a major console launch over the past few months.

    Fool.

  • mattius30 #83 6 years ago

    So a few desperate and annoyed gamers will make Sony change its entire international infrastructure? What a ridiculous notion. I should point out that I personally don't let Sony 'get away' with anything - by virtue of them being a huge multi-national corporation, I don't own them, and they don't owe me anything. If they release a console or game I like, I wait until its released and then I buy it. If the release date is a way off, I spend the weeks, months getting excited and getting on with my life; rather than wrapping my head in tinfoil to keep the Sony spies out of my head and wondering why they hate me so much...

    I don't understand the fear or upset of being 'left out', sorry. And I ask again, why blame Sony for you being desperate for the console? It's great that Microsoft has been able to structure the release of 360 globally, but it is a unique scenario and not the norm.

    But regardless of what other companies are doing - there are REASONS why Sony is releasing its new console in this manner - and I can assure you it has nothing to do with taking its evil revenge on the European market or trying to make certain impatient gamers cry.

    And okay, the lucky buggers in Japan will get the PS3 first, but so what? 360 is out in December, there are loads of great games coming across all platforms, there is air in my lungs and life is good. If PS3 arrives here early next year then there truly is a God; if not, never mind, it will give me more time to get over the financial disaster of Christmas having succumbed to a 360...

  • Freeman01 #84 6 years ago

    I don't know why everyone is bitching, ok we'll have to wait until late 2006 to get our hands on a PS3. Hopefully any bugs / problems will be ironed out by the time we get it. Over recent years there has always been something wrong or a problem when a new machine launches, something MS better watch out for....

  • SlackMaster #85 6 years ago

    When you mention the PSP I don't think people were Sony hating cos of the 9 month difference in release between Japan and Europe, it was more the way they threw their weight around suing grey importers.
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/05 @ 14:00

  • mattius30 #86 6 years ago

    In reference to PSP grey imports, Sony was merely following legal procedure. Isn't that what corporations do? Protect their investments? Uphold the law in regards to their properties? Nintendo has been known to clamp down on imports and Sony followed a similar procedure when Tesco did grey imports of PS2. But still, why would the average gamer care what the legal department of a big corporation gets up to?

    I guess I just find it a bit odd when people take the actions of big business so personally. Surely there are more important things to be thinking about and getting on with?

  • SlackMaster #87 6 years ago

    I see Sony as a company out to make a profit like any other... yes Nintendo did stop places like CEX selling US/Japanese GameCubes etc but they didn't go about things in the same way as Sony.

    Yes they are protecting their investment... but why should I care, I just wanted to buy a PSP as what I see as a reasonable/cheaper price than here in the UK and at the time not have to wait. Personally I believe in freedom of trade and I don't like it when companies tries to restrict this by going after grey importers to cut off supply. If it's somthing they get away with now it'll be something that they will try to get away with in the future, and possibly if successful other companies might try to follow suit. Yes it is their product and they can pretty much do what they like with it but if they are selling it in another conutry then they should have no right to stop me buying it from there through an importer if I wish.
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/05 @ 16:53

  • kangarootoo #88 6 years ago

    @tengu
    "Yes, because Sony have MS's resources after all"

    Errr, no they don't. There isn't a company on the planet that has the resources of M$ (save maybe Smith Kline Beecham). They have more money than NASA ffs.


    @SlackMaster
    "Nintendo did stop places like CEX selling US/Japanese GameCubes etc but they didn't go about things in the same way as Sony."

    That seems a bit of an unspecific statement. Care to expand? I honestly don't know the background of either company in this area, but I'd be surprised if they both didn't have reams of people employed to cover just this area.

  • brombeer #89 6 years ago

    Why don't people play games instead of bashing one another with the next-gen console of their choice (although sometimes it feels more like an identity issue)? I just don't get it. Who cares which console comes first, who cares which console is going to be ueberbased (although that should be apparant for all)?

    /Scratches head. Thinks: "Generation gap is now a reality?"

  • tengu #90 6 years ago

    "@tengu
    "Yes, because Sony have MS's resources after all"

    Errr, no they don't. There isn't a company on the planet that has the resources of M$ (save maybe Smith Kline Beecham). They have more money than NASA ffs."

    Wow! You have the best grasp of sarcasm I've ever seen!
    ^^^^^^Sarcasm^^^^^^^
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/05 @ 18:18

  • Xerx3s #91 6 years ago

    "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. " - Must...restrain...meself....from....making....fu...aarrghhhh h! ;p

    Anyway, i do recon that they will launch it in may 2006. Its their anniversary i believe. It would be a nice promotion to launch it at the same time.

  • kangarootoo #92 6 years ago

    @tengu

    Oops. Thats speed reading for you :)

    @mattius30

    Great posts. Spot on.

    @Xerx3s

    Did you skip breakfast or something? I think your brain might be having a sugar crash, a mars bar should sort it (though I doubt it well help your spelling).
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/05 @ 10:21