Sony set to miss next generation console phase as ‘filler’ machine rocks world
PSX is PlayStation 2 with knobs on as Sony flounders in technology hell.
This morning in our news on Sony’s latest PlayStation offering, the PSX, we asked whether the machine would be an all-new machine, the true PlayStation 3, or just a PlayStation 2 augmented with a DVD burner and hard drive.
Today Sony confirmed that the PSX does use the existing PlayStation 2 chipset - news that, when looked at in the broadest sense, spells a long and difficult road ahead for the profitable computer entertainment division of the world’s biggest manufacturer of home electronics.
It’s now an established fact that both Sony and Microsoft have the same goal in mind. Both their next generation machines will be media convergence set-top boxes, capable of playing games and delivering movies, music, pay-to-play games, shopping and more, direct to your lounge. PSX is obviously a machine aimed at positioning Sony in the space, as it waits for its research and development process to catch up.
However, the route Sony has opted for is significantly more fraught than that of Microsoft, leading some to believe that the PlayStation 3 may sink.
Specifically, Sony is currently developing a Cell Microprocessor, little of which is known. It has to go the trouble of implementing production of this unit, as well as the rest of the console, and getting it on the shelves, before further online media integration, both first and third-party, can be thought of as viable.
It then has to build an online infrastructure capable of rivalling that of Microsoft’s.
Microsoft on the other hand will simply get a PC with a decent spec and a high end graphics chip, squeeze it into a box and hook it up to Xbox Live, complete with full MSN integration, with minimal development costings, both in terms of online delivery and hardware manufacture. And it’s now almost certain that this will happen before the true PlayStation 3 hits stores, now believed to be Christmas 2005.
So, from this is it safe to assume that Microsoft will still endeavour to release Xbox 2 before PlayStation 3? Almost certainly. And is it safe to say that it will release a developer-friendly, low-cost unit with the highest level of diverse connectivity ever seen? Perhaps.
A feeling resounding from E3 was that, in the next generation of the console industry, there will be space for two main players: a media delivery set-top box for the living room and a machine that plays games and nothing else. Nintendo is already hard at work on its next gaming machine and will probably deliver it before PlayStation 3.
Analysts believe that Sony will be banking on the strength of the PlayStation brand to convince consumers to wait for PS3, while it catches up to its rival in the race for the Golden Fleece of video games- the set-top music/movie/gaming/shopping/communication box.
Whether consumers will be willing to shell out for a filler machine, aimed entirely at bulk-buying media-delivery space, remains to be seen.
Indeed, the next year will be very interesting.
And as if to prove its intentions to deliver the generic media hub concept, we can reveal that the PSX will be handled by Sony's Home Electronics Division, not Sony Computer Entertainment - truly amazing news.
With the PlayStation 3 now further away than ever, Sony will soon have to wake up to the fact that the market it dominates at this point in time is about to change radically. If Microsoft is downstairs and Nintendo is upstairs, where does PlayStation 3 fit into the picture of the gaming home of the future?
Today Sony confirmed that the PSX does use the existing PlayStation 2 chipset - news that, when looked at in the broadest sense, spells a long and difficult road ahead for the profitable computer entertainment division of the world’s biggest manufacturer of home electronics.
It’s now an established fact that both Sony and Microsoft have the same goal in mind. Both their next generation machines will be media convergence set-top boxes, capable of playing games and delivering movies, music, pay-to-play games, shopping and more, direct to your lounge. PSX is obviously a machine aimed at positioning Sony in the space, as it waits for its research and development process to catch up.
However, the route Sony has opted for is significantly more fraught than that of Microsoft, leading some to believe that the PlayStation 3 may sink.
Specifically, Sony is currently developing a Cell Microprocessor, little of which is known. It has to go the trouble of implementing production of this unit, as well as the rest of the console, and getting it on the shelves, before further online media integration, both first and third-party, can be thought of as viable.
It then has to build an online infrastructure capable of rivalling that of Microsoft’s.
Microsoft on the other hand will simply get a PC with a decent spec and a high end graphics chip, squeeze it into a box and hook it up to Xbox Live, complete with full MSN integration, with minimal development costings, both in terms of online delivery and hardware manufacture. And it’s now almost certain that this will happen before the true PlayStation 3 hits stores, now believed to be Christmas 2005.
So, from this is it safe to assume that Microsoft will still endeavour to release Xbox 2 before PlayStation 3? Almost certainly. And is it safe to say that it will release a developer-friendly, low-cost unit with the highest level of diverse connectivity ever seen? Perhaps.
A feeling resounding from E3 was that, in the next generation of the console industry, there will be space for two main players: a media delivery set-top box for the living room and a machine that plays games and nothing else. Nintendo is already hard at work on its next gaming machine and will probably deliver it before PlayStation 3.
Analysts believe that Sony will be banking on the strength of the PlayStation brand to convince consumers to wait for PS3, while it catches up to its rival in the race for the Golden Fleece of video games- the set-top music/movie/gaming/shopping/communication box.
Whether consumers will be willing to shell out for a filler machine, aimed entirely at bulk-buying media-delivery space, remains to be seen.
Indeed, the next year will be very interesting.
And as if to prove its intentions to deliver the generic media hub concept, we can reveal that the PSX will be handled by Sony's Home Electronics Division, not Sony Computer Entertainment - truly amazing news.
With the PlayStation 3 now further away than ever, Sony will soon have to wake up to the fact that the market it dominates at this point in time is about to change radically. If Microsoft is downstairs and Nintendo is upstairs, where does PlayStation 3 fit into the picture of the gaming home of the future?
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Comments
cubedman990 8 Apr 2004 19:52
1/6
boo sony!
SPInGSPOnG 11 Apr 2004 09:36
2/6
cubedman990 wrote:
>boo sony!
Dude, check the date on the story. This was written a year ago, before GC2 and XB2 were put back from late 2004 to early 2006.
PSX will arrive in 2005, and will not be any kind of stop gap, in fact Sony has announced that theere will be a "PSX" version of PS3.
>boo sony!
Dude, check the date on the story. This was written a year ago, before GC2 and XB2 were put back from late 2004 to early 2006.
PSX will arrive in 2005, and will not be any kind of stop gap, in fact Sony has announced that theere will be a "PSX" version of PS3.
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mattribute 11 Apr 2004 12:53
3/6
It wouldn't surprise me at all if Sony decided to miss the next generation, or, in the least, did a Nintendo/Microsoft or releasing it 18 months after the competition.
From what i've heard in reports, the Cell chip doesn't seem to be coming along as planned, and I don't think it'll make the PS3, but, rather, be placed in the PS4.
From the massive sales and profits made in this generation, I think Sony can afford to stay ut of the next one, but, obviously, that'd gove Nintendo and Microsoft a chance to catch up on teh Japanese giants.
Whilst i said it 'wouldn't surprise me' I still doubt they'd miss out the next generation, and would probably revamp the PSone rather than sit it out...
From what i've heard in reports, the Cell chip doesn't seem to be coming along as planned, and I don't think it'll make the PS3, but, rather, be placed in the PS4.
From the massive sales and profits made in this generation, I think Sony can afford to stay ut of the next one, but, obviously, that'd gove Nintendo and Microsoft a chance to catch up on teh Japanese giants.
Whilst i said it 'wouldn't surprise me' I still doubt they'd miss out the next generation, and would probably revamp the PSone rather than sit it out...
esveno 7 Aug 2005 20:23
4/6
Matthew Britton wrote:
It wouldn't surprise me at all if Sony decided to miss the next generation, or, in the least, did a Nintendo/Microsoft or releasing it 18 months after the competition.
From what i've heard in reports, the Cell chip doesn't seem to be coming along as planned, and I don't think it'll make the PS3, but, rather, be placed in the PS4.
From the massive sales and profits made in this generation, I think Sony can afford to stay ut of the next one, but, obviously, that'd gove Nintendo and Microsoft a chance to catch up on teh Japanese giants.
Whilst i said it 'wouldn't surprise me' I still doubt they'd miss out the next generation, and would probably revamp the PSone rather than sit it out...
From what i've heard in reports, the Cell chip doesn't seem to be coming along as planned, and I don't think it'll make the PS3, but, rather, be placed in the PS4.
From the massive sales and profits made in this generation, I think Sony can afford to stay ut of the next one, but, obviously, that'd gove Nintendo and Microsoft a chance to catch up on teh Japanese giants.
Whilst i said it 'wouldn't surprise me' I still doubt they'd miss out the next generation, and would probably revamp the PSone rather than sit it out...
esveno 7 Aug 2005 20:48
5/6
NO. I don't think so. XBOX isn't a filler machine but xbox360 is ALSO gamble of microsoft like xbox 1. why? they are pulling too much market hype. LET word of MOUTH DO THAT. ANYWAY, THE NEXT GENERATION Battle won't start UNTIL PS3 arrives. PS2 may not be as good as XBOX and XBOX360 spec-wise but i've seen game charts and its obvious that PS2 owners COMMAND the market. Look, Grand Turismo is still on the charts months after its release ALREADY OUTSELLING GTA San Andreas and ONE MONTH after it has OUTSOLD HALO 2. PS2 OWNERS are not easy to convince to BUY xbox360 if they are average and casual gamers which could not even play old xbox1 games. BELIEVE ME HERE.
DaPistolPat 8 Aug 2005 03:19
6/6
I really don't understand why you looked up a news article from 2 years ago and attempted to make a coherent thought which was clearly lost somewhere, my guess would be that it was lost around the time you clicked the reply link.
What?
esven oertes wrote:
........PS2 OWNERS are not easy to convince to BUY xbox360 if they are average and casual gamers which could not even play old xbox1 games. BELIEVE ME HERE.
What?