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[Wario64]

ban me if this is old
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/07/news_6118152.html

Last year, Sony announced it would debut its next-generation console--most commonly called the PlayStation 3--at the 2005 E3 games expo. The event will take place May 18 to 20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and will also be where the world will get the first glimpse of Nintendo's next-generation console, code-named "Revolution." With it now looking unlikely that Microsoft will unveil the Xbox's successor at next month's Game Developers' Conference in San Francisco, industry-watchers had been betting it will also first see the light of day at E3.

However, now it appears those bets may not be such a sure thing. Sony Computer Entertainment America representatives have confirmed to GameSpot that the US subsidiary of the Japanese electronics giant "will have an event to premier [its] next-generation system" before E3.

SCEA reps would reveal little else about the PlayStation 3 unveiling other than saying it would not be at GDC. "The premiere event has nothing to do with GDC," said one. "The event will be before E3, but the date is still not announced."

Sony's disclosure about the PlayStation 3 premiere came just hours after it officially took the wraps off the Cell processor, which the PS3 will use, at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference in San Francisco.

 

[Chiggs]

Any bets on when this thing launches in Japan and the U.S.?

 

[StephaneC]

it's recent news but old information because sony president says in old news that he want to tell about playstation 3 before E3 (Mars 31)

 

[thefit]

Yeah I think Ken or someone mentioned they would reveal it in March.

 

[StephaneC]

yes ... and he think about playable presentation at E3

 

[Kobun Heat]

Wasn't that exactly what the PowerPoint slide from the Sony conference last year in Japan said? That it would be revealed at a "premiere event" before the end of this fiscal year, i.e., March.

 

[koam]

This is old, but i just realized that Microsoft will reveal an inferior performing product after Sony reveals the PS3. No hype for you.

 

[marsomega]

Some how the chances of this being nothing but empty PR seems likely. We at least know there would be no real time demos. Perhaps FMV of what they should look like. I only make this statement because NVIDIA on record has said the GPU won't be finished till at least late 2005.

 

[0wn3d]

Nintendo Revolution will own E3. Sony is scared, so they are gonna announce it before.

 

[Gattsu25]

Some how the chances of this being nothing but empty PR seems likely. We at least know there would be no real time demos. Perhaps FMV of what they should look like. I only make this statement because NVIDIA on record has said the GPU won't be finished till at least late 2005.

the posts above you hint at it being more than just PR hype as it was mentioned before

koam, I'm expecting a negligible difference between the Xenon (best name for the system DAMMIT) and the PS3 in terms of graphical prowess...

if this ends up being the case, additional features such as native support for online, backwards compatibility, player storage solutions, vastly improved AI/physics capabilities, and media playing capabilities will be more important IMO

 

[marsomega]

the posts above you hint at it being more than just PR hype as it was mentioned before

koam, I'm expecting a negligible difference between the Xenon (best name for the system DAMMIT) and the PS3 in terms of graphical prowess...

if this ends up being the case, additional features such as native support for online, backwards compatibility, player storage solutions, vastly improved AI/physics capabilities, and media playing capabilities will be more important IMO

I totally agree. However, with all the big talk it feels like they have to show off it's graphical capabilities. After all this time all this PR about a PS3 as powerful as a super computer, it would definately feel like the audience and fans were cheated. Plus, it seems to be worded like they are going all out, tech demos certainly feel like they are a given. Then again, Microsoft showed off tech demo's that were supposedly only 1/6 th of the true power before the NV GPU was done. Perhaps, we will get something similar.

Yes, those are more important but you can't deny that the computing power has been the front runner of every Sony PS3 PR I've ever come across. This is why something doesn't seem right. If it were Nintendo or Microsoft (meh, to a lesser way lesser extent) then I'd definately believe the possibility of them considering just showing off the physical console and features.

 

[doncale]

Wario64, StephaneC and all, the Gamespot article is obviously referring to the 'PS3 Premier' event that's supposed to take place before E3.

been known since roughly mid last year I think.


doesnt Gamespot keep track of this stuff? maybe they're just reitterating it if Sony did.

 

[gofreak]

Someone at B3D mentioned March 18 as a possible date, but I don't know how reliable that is.

 

[doncale]

well that would be before the end of March so it is possible I guess.

 

[Chrono]

So will there by anything new on next-gen at GDC? =\

 

[DCharlie]

"This is old, but i just realized that Microsoft will reveal an inferior performing product after Sony reveals the PS3."

does it really matter ? after all if anything this gen has shown that being the most powerful console on the block means very little .... *

 

[kikonawa]

Someone at B3D mentioned March 18 as a possible date, but I don't know how reliable that is.

that was me, but i could be wrong about the 18 sorry

 

[iapetus]

does it really matter ? after all if anything this gen has shown that being the most powerful console on the block means very little .... *

Has it really, though? MS looked like a complete no-hoper at the start of the generation, but having the most powerful console has allowed them to make decent inroads on the market. Would they have been able to do that if XBox had only been comparable to PS2 in power? Personally I don't think so.

 

[Timedog]

If Nvidia won't be done with the cpu til late 05 how will developers have titles out by spring 06???

I smell a crappy launch lineup for Sony in Japan and maybe US too. Not that it hasn't happened before with them still outselling the competition due to pure hype. Although MS could have better looking 2nd gen titles than the ps3 has when it launches if developers don't have much time to make something incredible utilizing the hardware to a great degree.

 

[gofreak]

If Nvidia won't be done with the cpu til late 05 how will developers have titles out by spring 06???

GPU, you mean. And, Emulators? They'll have the final GPU for a few months before launch, they can tweak on that etc. But development doesn't have to wait for the final hardware, AFAIK.

 

[Drensch]

"will have an event to premier [its] next-generation system" the day before E3 at their annual press conference.

Nah.

 

[Ghost]

It's not gonna be anything special if the tools dont come out for another couple of months.

Maybe some solid specs though, which i guess would be special to some of you.

 

[gofreak]

It's not gonna be anything special if the tools dont come out for another couple of months.

Maybe some solid specs though, which i guess would be special to some of you.

There are apparently "workstations" out there with a limited number of developers, I'm thinking we should see demos (hopefully). They'll be on unfinished hardware, though, if they are there.

 

[TTP]

But what do we know about the GPU development? I doubt it's already in those workstations. Maybe we'll see demos programmed around an 'old' Nvidia chipset with the tag "IT'S GONNA LOOK EVEN BETTER WHITH THE NEW GPU!" thrown in there.

 

[DCharlie]

"Has it really, though? MS looked like a complete no-hoper at the start of the generation, but having the most powerful console has allowed them to make decent inroads on the market. Would they have been able to do that if XBox had only been comparable to PS2 in power? Personally I don't think so."

you think casual gamers look at the Xbox and Ps2 and see a clear difference? Personally, i doubt it - quite why MS has garnered such support though would be rendered somewhat mysterious though.

 

[gofreak]

But what do we know about the GPU development? I doubt it's already in those workstations. Maybe we'll see demos programmed around an 'old' Nvidia chipset with the tag "IT'S GONNA LOOK EVEN BETTER WHITH THE NEW GPU!" thrown in there.

They've probably got a prototype of the actual NVidia chip in there. If they do throw out the ol' "it'll look even better" line, I wouldn't pay much attention to it. IIRC, the PS2 demos were on non-final hardware (it was a lot slower than final hardware, I think), but Sony didn't really push the notion that games would look that much better.

"Has it really, though? MS looked like a complete no-hoper at the start of the generation, but having the most powerful console has allowed them to make decent inroads on the market. Would they have been able to do that if XBox had only been comparable to PS2 in power? Personally I don't think so."

you think casual gamers look at the Xbox and Ps2 and see a clear difference? Personally, i doubt it - quite why MS has garnered such support though would be rendered somewhat mysterious though.

Having worked in retail, and under management instructions, I can't tell you how many PS2 sales I "converted" to Xbox sales using the "it's more powerful" tagline. It's unbelievable how much confidence you can build around that notion. Sure, we still sold more PS2s, but we also sold a lot more Xboxs than we otherwise would have.

 

[NexusEggy]

dude everytime i hear ppl talking about the xbox...they always say its way better looking than the ps2....face it, ppl bought xbox for the graphics, not for the games

 

[iapetus]

you think casual gamers look at the Xbox and Ps2 and see a clear difference?

Yes, across multiple titles. And even if they don't, Microsoft's marketing (as dutifully pushed by retail staff) labours the point.

 

[human5892]

Xbox's additional power was definitely a huge selling point for the console, even if gamers only see a difference through Microsoft's marketing (after all, GC is more powerful than the PS2, but ask most casual gamers which has more horsepower and chances are you'll get the wrong answer). Losing that advantage (most likely) next generation will hurt Microsoft, IMO. The debate is in just how much.

 

[fse]

ban me if this is old.

I think its pretty much old news...

 

[Fafalada]

you think casual gamers look at the Xbox and Ps2 and see a clear difference?

Casual gamers look at endless supply of adds about XBox being the most powerfull thing and see a clear difference.
It's a psychological thing - I've had people telling me how they prefer P4 for windows use because it has hyperthreading support and they alt-tab between applications a lot. It's a completely absurd rationalization - but it takes a hw feature that end user will NEVER actually see a clear difference from, and makes it into a reason compelling enough to even pay a higher price for the hw.

The XBox hw advantage is a heck of a lot more obvious then that, and consequently has had a much larger impact as well.

 

[bitwise]

dude everytime i hear ppl talking about the xbox...they always say its way better looking than the ps2....face it, ppl bought xbox for the graphics, not for the games

uhhhh.. ok.

 

[Shard]

I thought everybody bought an XBOX for the Halo series of games.

 

[Azih]

Casual gamers look at endless supply of adds about XBox being the most powerfull thing and see a clear difference.
It's a psychological thing - I've had people telling me how they prefer P4 for windows use because it has hyperthreading support and they alt-tab between applications a lot. It's a completely absurd rationalization - but it takes a hw feature that end user will NEVER actually see a clear difference from, and makes it into a reason compelling enough to even pay a higher price for the hw.

The XBox hw advantage is a heck of a lot more obvious then that, and consequently has had a much larger impact as well.

I agree with this. Hype is more important than substance in these kinds of marketing battles (According to Hype Xbox > PS2 > GC afterall). But hype backed up with substance has a greater effect.

 

[Lord Error]

Yeah, I think MS did the right thing with Xbox. Delaying it to allow for more powerful hardware, and in return building hype to their core fanbase who could spread the gospel to casual gamers. If Xbox was released at about the same time as PS2, and with about the same hardware power, I don't think people would really care about it.

 

[mashoutposse]

If XBOX were inferior to PS2, there would be practically no reason to buy it (other than Halo).

 

[Ghost of Bill Gates]

MS hasn't even begun and they are already loosing.. I thought it would be different this time, but any news site you go to now there is something about PS3 in it some where.

 

[human5892]

MS hasn't even begun and they are already loosing.. I thought it would be different this time, but any news site you go to now there is something about PS3 in it some where.

I think the main reason (besides Sony being the current market leader) is that Cell's got quite a bit of hype behind it. The true measure of pre-launch mindshare will be after we get to see both machines in action -- once the games start showing up, what's inside won't matter as much.

 

[cybamerc]

Noone wants to see M$ go down more than me but if you think M$ is going to lose just because Cell gets a lot of press coverage then you are crazy. I expect M$ to have a considerable amount of titles at E3 and solid 3. party backing. If M$ has the right mix of titles at launch things could get very tough for Sony and Nintendo.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

I should post this in the Cell thread, but ah well, since I'm here...how the hell are developers supposed to program for the PS3? So man CPU cores, isn't it going to be a bitch to dev for?

 

[ram]

Having worked in retail, and under management instructions, I can't tell you how many PS2 sales I "converted" to Xbox sales using the "it's more powerful" tagline. It's unbelievable how much confidence you can build around that notion. Sure, we still sold more PS2s, but we also sold a lot more Xboxs than we otherwise would have.

youre right, you can "switch" customers to a other, more powerful system (its like, mines bigger than yours) - but also, the hype around the ps3 is already started and you know - the cell playstation 3 will own the next gen - its all about hype.

 

[Teddman]

I don't get why people are assuming it's a done deal that the Xenon will be markedly less powerful than the PS3.

 

[gofreak]

When does Sony's Financial Year end? End of March? I'm trying to work out from that slide when we'll see PS3 stuff I'm hoping for an early March premiere, ala PS2. 6 years to the day would be nice

 

[Gattsu25]

I don't get why people are assuming it's a done deal that the Xenon will be markedly less powerful than the PS3.

sure you do:

Cell. Hype.


the hype machine backing Cell (which is ~30% fueled by sony) is insanely powerful...hell...I find it hard to be casual about it...the damn thing has my full attention and I'm not even close to being a tech head

 

[gofreak]

I'm not sure if it's an assumption more than an expectation. We don't know for sure what Xbox2's CPU will be like. We have had "leaks" about what it may look like, and on paper, this Cell processor shown at the ISSCC would certainly be more powerful than than what was suggested in those leaks. That's where the (strong) expectation is coming from, I think, but we won't know for sure till we have specs for both systems.

The coverage Cell is getting is massive though (and some may equate this to "the hype machine"). It got a front page mention in the London Telegraph today :lol

 

[hgplayer1]

MS hasn't even begun and they are already loosing.. I thought it would be different this time, but any news site you go to now there is something about PS3 in it some where.

you aint just whistling dixie

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/7606/Cell-Processor-Unveiled/