PS3 Preparations in Disarray?
Sony behind schedule say hardware and software people.
Last week we reported that opaque Sony plans are making Japanese brokers nervous. There are more rumours this morning suggesting that PS3 production is going less than smoothly. Sony has set itself the target of rolling out four million PS3s this year, planning to make two million a month in November and December. Kaz Hirai recently asserted that Sony was still on course to meet the targets.
Production of the home supercomputer has yet to begin however, and those at the ready with soldering irons and screwdrivers in China and Japan are murmuring about shortages of laser diodes for the Blu-Ray drives. The vaunted Cell processors are also in short supply, it seems. It is said that these logistical problems have the potential to halve production.
Using such 'fresh-out-the-box' technology was always going to cause problems, but it's not only the hardware people suggesting Sony have been rushing things a bit. Frustrated sources in third-party development are grumbling too. While they have dev kits for the PS3, the operating system for the machine has yet to be finalised; something of a stumbling block when trying to build front end and menu systems for games. Technical requirements guidelines, which run to pages and pages for PS2 and both Xboxes, are non-existent. Tools, or any guidance at all, for programming online protocol and the recently added controller motion sensors have yet to be supplied too.
Sony will still have to push very hard to meet their hardware deadlines. But the mad rush is leaving big question marks over the functionality and quality of release titles too. Will it be alright on the night? Or is Sony going to reap a whirlwind? Feel free to post your musings in the forum.
Production of the home supercomputer has yet to begin however, and those at the ready with soldering irons and screwdrivers in China and Japan are murmuring about shortages of laser diodes for the Blu-Ray drives. The vaunted Cell processors are also in short supply, it seems. It is said that these logistical problems have the potential to halve production.
Using such 'fresh-out-the-box' technology was always going to cause problems, but it's not only the hardware people suggesting Sony have been rushing things a bit. Frustrated sources in third-party development are grumbling too. While they have dev kits for the PS3, the operating system for the machine has yet to be finalised; something of a stumbling block when trying to build front end and menu systems for games. Technical requirements guidelines, which run to pages and pages for PS2 and both Xboxes, are non-existent. Tools, or any guidance at all, for programming online protocol and the recently added controller motion sensors have yet to be supplied too.
Sony will still have to push very hard to meet their hardware deadlines. But the mad rush is leaving big question marks over the functionality and quality of release titles too. Will it be alright on the night? Or is Sony going to reap a whirlwind? Feel free to post your musings in the forum.
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Comments
duque 30 Aug 2006 11:43
1/10
I dont think that there will be shortage, cause, anyway, who's gonna buy a PS3 with all this bad rumors about the console?
SuperSaiyan4 30 Aug 2006 11:43
2/10
People want games not a supercomputer.
Nearly everyone has a PC we dont need another one.
Microsoft Xbox 360 has far more games and more support and more variety along with a superbly established online system.
While Sony are getting the chips in place Microsoft is rolling it in.
Nearly everyone has a PC we dont need another one.
Microsoft Xbox 360 has far more games and more support and more variety along with a superbly established online system.
While Sony are getting the chips in place Microsoft is rolling it in.
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SPInGSPOnG 30 Aug 2006 12:05
3/10
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
People want games not a supercomputer.
Nearly everyone has a PC we dont need another one.
Nearly everyone has a PC we dont need another one.
But the PC is not a supercomputer is it? It's an OK Computer, with a pretty shoddy OS. If Cell lives up to its potential, Cell based computers will be FAR more powerful than PCs.
ohms 30 Aug 2006 12:11
4/10
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
People want games not a supercomputer.
If I had a supercomputer I would only use it for playing games. :P
alexh2o 30 Aug 2006 12:40
5/10
Rod Todd wrote:
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
People want games not a supercomputer.
Nearly everyone has a PC we dont need another one.
Nearly everyone has a PC we dont need another one.
But the PC is not a supercomputer is it? It's an OK Computer, with a pretty shoddy OS. If Cell lives up to its potential, Cell based computers will be FAR more powerful than PCs.
you can already buy dual-dual core pcs with quad cores coming soon, itll be octo cores (dual-quads) within a year. within 2 years a cheap £500 dell will outperform the ps3. theres no point in putting cutting edge tech in!
they should have just done what m$ did but with blu-ray built in, although thats not needed for gaming just sonys alteria motives.
Joji 30 Aug 2006 13:12
6/10
Their s**t is hitting the fan again. More splat than a game of Splatterhouse, dog crap and cowpats combined.
Lot of problems there, which makes me wonder if PS3 will be delayed til new year. Sony don't have long to deliver now.
Lot of problems there, which makes me wonder if PS3 will be delayed til new year. Sony don't have long to deliver now.
LUPOS 30 Aug 2006 13:48
7/10
Joji wrote:
Lot of problems there, which makes me wonder if PS3 will be delayed til new year. Sony don't have long to deliver now.
Highly doubt they will delay it, they woudl much rather under deliver on quantity than not deliver at all. Least that way the few lucky ones who have them will be rubbing it in their friends faces in the following months until they manage to get enough into stores to satisfy the demand. If the delay past christmas entierly then i think peopel really will just jump ship to the 360.
__________
dr_faulk 30 Aug 2006 14:05
8/10
I think they'll pull it off, but I'd expect tons of hardware problems. Remember when the first few PS2's used to scratch the bastard off the discs? X360 was all over the place. More than likely will happen with PS3.
Also, I'd say only the big developers will comfortably pull off proper software for Christmas.
Somebody made a good point there about the PS3 being outperformed in the next few years by common PCs. You're right, but hasn't that always been the way with consoles? I mean, I agree with you on this, there's no need to push this "super-computer" (and that's a real loose term, btw) to market. I tell yiz all, the Wii will prove me right. Don't need all this new hardware, just new ideas.
Also, I'd say only the big developers will comfortably pull off proper software for Christmas.
Somebody made a good point there about the PS3 being outperformed in the next few years by common PCs. You're right, but hasn't that always been the way with consoles? I mean, I agree with you on this, there's no need to push this "super-computer" (and that's a real loose term, btw) to market. I tell yiz all, the Wii will prove me right. Don't need all this new hardware, just new ideas.
fluffstardx 30 Aug 2006 14:08
9/10
Odd as it sounds, but I'm beginning to pity Sony.
E3 made them look like fools, with their "giant mutant crab"s, "massive damage", "real-time weapons changing" and all that malarkey making them a running joke.
THEN they unveil the pad, saying it's been waiting quite a long while, and yet strangely they release code etc for it in a very incomplete and late format, and get derided for removing rumble.
NOW they're not even able to say "we've built a few", nobody believes a word they say, and people just keep laughing at all the U-Turns and copied elements (Entitlement Points, anyone? How about the Playstation Button?). They've gone from the centre of attention to the butt of a thousand jokes ("hey, maybe Ridge Racer 7 will bring back classic arcade machines on the course, and you play them with tilt as you race?").
E3 made them look like fools, with their "giant mutant crab"s, "massive damage", "real-time weapons changing" and all that malarkey making them a running joke.
THEN they unveil the pad, saying it's been waiting quite a long while, and yet strangely they release code etc for it in a very incomplete and late format, and get derided for removing rumble.
NOW they're not even able to say "we've built a few", nobody believes a word they say, and people just keep laughing at all the U-Turns and copied elements (Entitlement Points, anyone? How about the Playstation Button?). They've gone from the centre of attention to the butt of a thousand jokes ("hey, maybe Ridge Racer 7 will bring back classic arcade machines on the course, and you play them with tilt as you race?").
horngreen 31 Aug 2006 01:48
10/10
It is really beginnig to "look/sound" bad. What is really telling is that comment boards like this or others which would generally be ripe with Sony fanboys defending all things Sony are actually the opposite. It does sound like Sony has begun plunging the blade into their own gut. The comments have gone from hatred of Sony to what seems to be pity for Sony. This is not like Kodak getting hammered by technological changes this is just Sony being arrogant and thinking they can do no wrong when in fact they have. Say hello to Oldsmobile when you get to the other side Sony!