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Sony's PS3: Wrapup (For Now) Thoughts And Reader Invitations

March 6, 2007

Continued from 'Sony's PS3: Streaming, Browsing and Gaming Stumbles'

Compare the $599 PS3 against the $399 Xbox 360, and you'll encounter some big-picture advantages for Sony's contender:

  • A 3x larger HDD
  • An integrated high-definition optical disc player, which is a $200 add-on for the Microsoft competitor
  • Motion-sensitive controllers
  • Integrated Wi-Fi
  • Integrated Bluetooth
  • An integrated memory card reader, and
  • The ability to boot alternative operating systems on the hardware

But you'll find an even more substantial list of shortcomings, beginning with the incremental price tag and the dearth of compelling PS3-unique content.

I'll continue using the console in the months ahead, through revisions and additions of both hardware and software, and will report back any additional findings (including inevitable "oh, I forgot to mention this" nearer-term addendums in coming days). I'll also share my thoughts, from afar, after I hear what Phil Harrison has to say at GDC in the morning. But I don't see any substantial evidence, after several weeks with the PS3, that Sony's going to be able to cut into Microsoft's shipment lead over the next several years, if ever.

If it weren't for Sony's Blu-ray aspirations, I'd be tempted to say "who cares"; after all, Sony's still selling profitable PS2's at a just-under-300,00-per-month clip in the U.S alone (begging the question of just why a seven year old console is still selling so well; are the rumours I've long been hearing from local retailers about PS2 unreliability, leading to premature but still out-of-warranty deaths and inevitable replacements, true?). But the PS3 is key to Sony's vision of not only Blu-ray dominance over HD DVD, but also its eventual ascendancy to the throne currently occupied by DVD. Blu-ray may indeed win the blue laser battle, but like SACD-versus-DVD Audio (which didn't even scratch CD sales), the ultimate winner of the war may still be today's current champion, DVD.

Last November, I claimed that Sony had overstepped sane design boundaries with the PS3, to its ultimate detriment. I guess I'm still singin' that tune. And now, I'll turn the microphone over to you; I welcome your comments.

Followup: Back in mid-December, fellow EDN blogger (and my boss) Maury Wright pointed out an article in IEEE Spectrum about Insomniac Games, the developers of Sony's to-date showcase PS3 title, Resistance: Fall of Man. I'd like to point you to another interesting article on Resistance, this one a postmortem written by project manager Marcus Smith in the February issue of Game Developer Magazine.

The article's not available for free download from the magazine website, but you can purchase a digital copy of the entire issue for $3.95. GD's Postmortem series has an engaging format that encompasses five 'What Went Right' and five 'What Went Wrong' sections. The magazine consistently succeeds in somehow convincing developers to be brutally honest with their project self-critiques; Postmortem reliably makes for engaging reading.

Posted by Brian Dipert on March 6, 2007 | Comments (6)

March 7, 2007
In response to: Sony's PS3: Wrapup (For Now) Thoughts And Reader Invitations
Amplifier commented:

Regardless of what anyone''''s opinion is or isn''''t...this is "Playstation" brand, about as powerful as "AOL" brand so...regardless of how "bad" certain people might think it is...it''''s still going to sell and do extremely well regardless of price because of brand-name recogniation.


March 7, 2007
In response to: Sony's PS3: Wrapup (For Now) Thoughts And Reader Invitations
Nambo commented:

You Sony fanboys are so desperate it sad. What this person wrote about are his opinions on a piece of machine, not your mothers. Get a grip. And do some homework before you come off sounding so ignorant. The 360 can do 1080p native, and has just as many games out in 1080 p as the PS3. Also if the failure rate of the 360 were 50 or even 10%, they'd be in a lot of trouble. You have to realize that in those polls, the people who have problems are more likely to report them.


March 7, 2007
In response to: Sony's PS3: Wrapup (For Now) Thoughts And Reader Invitations
Mark commented:

Seriously, many sites have done polll on the ACTUAL failure rate of the 360, as microsoft claim "3%-5%", and every poll have come back with AT LEAST 30%, some 50% do a searchf ro AVForums, ther is a poll entitled Watchdog Poll. It currently shows over half 360 owners are on at least their 2nd 360...


March 7, 2007
In response to: Sony's PS3: Wrapup (For Now) Thoughts And Reader Invitations
Daio commented:

Comparing the 360 to the PS3...that's hard to do without expecting 'fanboys' from each perspective group flaming the other console. If you are looking for an unbaised review, look elsewhere. If you want a comparison which is then followed by the authors opinion, you found it. The author just stated the facts about both consoles and offered his insight. True, all of the readers may not have nearly as much money as he does. So what? He had the money and the time to review the consoles. The X-Box 360 does what it does just as the PS3 does what it does. It all boils down to 2 things. What games do you want to play? and What do you want to do with your console? Personally, I just upgrade my computer and play games on that. There, now anyone care to burn me for a change? I don't even play on either console. Have fun everyone, lifes to short to not have fun. - Daio


March 7, 2007
In response to: Sony's PS3: Wrapup (For Now) Thoughts And Reader Invitations
Dan commented:

The person who said the XBOX 360 is basically a Windows PC needs to do some homework. It''s actually a dual core PowerPC. And actually, for most people, the PS3 will cost about $1700 when you factor in the HDTV and the one game they will need to buy for it. Can we talk lack of rumble that they are now talking about putting back in? Will Sony send you PS3 owners vouchers to get these new controllers? Of course not, they''re going to force you to buy the new SIXAXIS controllers with rumble...thus, you are paying more for their stupid mistakes. The fact is, Sony released something only a small percentage of consumers are ready for. While it may be ultra powerful...imagine if DVD manufacturers started putting DVDs out on the shelves before DVD players were available? Thats similar to what Sony is doing with the PS3. They jumped the gun.


March 7, 2007
In response to: Sony's PS3: Wrapup (For Now) Thoughts And Reader Invitations
Tom M commented:

This article is a vomit of old news and relatively lame writing. Try again when you have something new to report.

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