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When Sony says "Spring 2006"...

T

Triumph

Banned
Do they mean a simultaneous launch for the PS3? Or is it gonna be staggered like previous Sony launches? They could seriously fuck the 360 over by launching simultaneously in the US and Japan in Spring, or even just in the US first(I still don't see the 360 going over well in Japan).

Did no fucking journalist ask Sony that question at all?
 
Raoul Duke said:
Did no fucking journalist ask Sony that question at all?
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I know wtf.

My questions to Sony:

1) Spring of 2006 in the U.S.? YES OR NO

2) WTF is with the controller??

3) WTF are your online plans?
 
They've said that they might launch in the US first, but it depends on any number of other factors.

I bet that spring hardware launch is possible, but I don't think they will have the software support necessary to go forward in Western territories. They can launch in Japan because they pretty much own the territory anyway, and they seem to be more tolerant of poor launch game lineups (see Playstation 2, Nintendo DS).
 
If they're smart they'll launch in the US first. You're right Border, they own Japan and can launch there whenever the fuck they want.

Also, if the PS3 launches 6 months after 360, I'm most likely not getting a 360.
 
border said:
They've said that they might launch in the US first, but it depends on any number of other factors.

I bet that spring hardware launch is possible, but I don't think they will have the software support necessary to go forward in Western territories. They can launch in Japan because they pretty much own the territory anyway, and they seem to be more tolerant of poor launch game lineups (see Playstation 2, Nintendo DS).
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My take is they are going to follow their normal launch schedule of Japan in March, and US in Fall. The only reason they are not specifying now is to fuck with Microsoft and cast uncertainty into the timing of the competition.
 
HAH!

You actually think that Sony's releasing this thing in the Spring of 2006? Just like when they promised the PS2 would after DC's impending launch?

My Speculation:
It'll make it out early Summer 06 in Japan (at best), then US at Christmas. I'd be shocked if anything else. Given their failure to put PSP out in Europe in a timely fashion, who knows when it'll come out there.

Obviously we can't know for sure yet, but I definitely wouldn't give Sony's marketing team the benefit of the doubt. It's not a projected release date, it's an element in their strategy to destroy the 360.
 
Juice said:
Just like when they promised the PS2 would after DC's impending launch?
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That claim was never made. They didn't even reveal the hardware until around the Dreamcast's US launch.
 
I always thought spring meant 'march japanese launch.'

I do hope they launch in the U.S. first in spring, then japan in summer or fall. If it's a year a way I'm 75% sure I'll get a 360.
 
Looks at PSP launch.

Not a fucking chance of a worldwide release for PS3.

I don't expect 360 to launch worldwide either...I'm sure nearer the date Europe will get pushed back to post-Christmas period.
 
COCKLES said:
Looks at PSP launch.

Not a fucking chance of a worldwide release for PS3.
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:lol yeah PSP isn't even released in europe yet, that's a fucking joke. Nintendo used to be horrible of launching consoles in the west, but even they launched DS first in the US, and europe got it pretty quick afterall. Sony needs to hurry up with things in the west.
 
sony won't have software ready for USA launch before xmas 2006.

unless you want a "saturn" redux, that would be foolish (overpriced with fantavision-like games going against 360). lol.
 
If you read the press release from SCEA, it specifically states SCE announces a spring 2006 release for the PS3. Which means to me that it'll be out in Japan next spring and North America in the fall.
 
The UK will be lucky to see it before March '07 and i'm willing to bet it's gonna be 400 quid!

Why do Sony hate us so.
 
chinch said:
sony won't have software ready for USA launch before xmas 2006.
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Can't they just port 3rd party 360 software? :D

If 360 is out in mid november and PS3 in mid march, that's 4 months. Is it enough time? o_O

Edit: or 5 months if they launch in mid-april.
 
You never know. They could launch it at the end of March in Japan and then launch it in the US three months later like they did the PSP. It would technically be Spring for both.

After seeing how quickly they brought the PSP over and how they went for MS's jugular at E3 I seriously doubt we'll be waiting until the fall.
 
Chrono said:
Can't they just port 3rd party 360 software? :D

If 360 is out in mid november and PS3 in mid march, that's 4 months. Is it enough time? o_O

Edit: or 5 months if they launch in mid-april.
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brilliant idea.

software vendors love selling titles in the spring instead of the holiday rush.

madden is a big seller in March/April in the States.

PGR3 would look great on PS3... maybe Sony will purchase the studio.

sony could buy into DOA.

maybe MS will license out PD0 so the zealots will show it some love.

and if the hollywood studios buy into BRD maybe Sony could forgo games until xmas and pack in a 3-pack of Bluray movie discs.
 
border said:
I bet that spring hardware launch is possible, but I don't think they will have the software support necessary to go forward in Western territories. They can launch in Japan because they pretty much own the territory anyway, and they seem to be more tolerant of poor launch game lineups (see Playstation 2, Nintendo DS).
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Uh, what? Nintendo DS had a pretty solid Japanese launch lineup with five titles from Nintendo itself along with third party efforts. It was certainly a hell of a lot better than what the US received.
 
I'm hoping for a JPN/US launch in Spring 2006, with a EU launch in the Fall. But I don't know if the Spring is such a hot time afterall. But hey, the slower sales could allow them to ramp up production in time for Fall. Meh, whatever happens happens. PEACE.
 
if they launch in the US in the spring they will have a horrible launch lineup and the "hype" around the machine will be biggest during the slowest part of the year for video game sales. If Xdude has an awesome launch then it would be stupid to launch in the US in spring. Xdude will just hit them again with Halo at christmas which will have an even bigger impact cause it won't be going against the "launch" frenzy of ps3. I don't think it's a good idea. I don't think it's a good idea to wait a year either. I guess it all depends on what they are able to launch with by spring.
 
I think several games could easily be ready by next Spring. Heavenly Sword and I-8 appear to be quite far along, and who knows what else. I think we'll find out at TGS or around Thanksgiving.

I'm holding out until after X-Mas anyway with Zelda, KH2, Grandia III, and FFXII all on the way to keep me occupied until next Spring.
 
The Sony rep I talked with at the show said Spring for U.S. Unknown for Japan. That being said, she did say the system might not make it until summer in the U.S. but that they definitely DON'T want to launch during Christmas because it's too hard to launch systems around that time and retailers don't like it. Odd, but that's what she said.
 
if they launch in the US in the spring they will have a horrible launch lineup and the "hype" around the machine will be biggest during the slowest part of the year for video game sales. If Xdude has an awesome launch then it would be stupid to launch in the US in spring.
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Microsoft is saying 8-10 titles at launch, 30-40 within 4 months of the system. To put that in perspective PS2 had about 25 games the day of launch (and for all the talk about its "horrible" launch games, that included next-gen Tekken, Ridge Racer, Madden and SSX). X-Box 360 is not launching with some amazing, unbeatable launch library here.

I would expect a PS3 in spring 2006 will have a comparable launch library to MS, with about 10 titles, plus full backwards compatiility with PSOne and PS2.
 
They should continue on with the PS2 and push out the PS3 late next year. They also need to get their ass in gear with a great online service and give us a hardrive with the unit for free.
 
Two Reasons Sony Could/Should Launch in US First:
-Japan Superiority is a lock, regardless; Xbox only poses a threat in America
-New British(?)-American CEO breaking down Japanese pride stigmas throughout the ranks.
 
Craig Majaski said:
The Sony rep I talked with at the show said Spring for U.S. Unknown for Japan. That being said, she did say the system might not make it until summer in the U.S. but that they definitely DON'T want to launch during Christmas because it's too hard to launch systems around that time and retailers don't like it. Odd, but that's what she said.
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Damn. Well I really don't know why most consoles don't launch in the Spring. You get a second boost during the year at Xmas.
 
Like I've said before, if Sony could sell 700,000 PSPs in march, they will sell as many PS3s in Spring as they can make. You don't need Christmas to sell your console.

Sony would probably like to launch in at least one territory by the end of March so they can get some sales in before the fiscal year ends, although they might not be able to have the system ready by then.
 
Azrael said:
Like I've said before, if Sony could sell 700,000 PSPs in march, they will sell as many PS3s in Spring as they can make. You don't need Christmas to sell your console.
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Exactly! Let's hope Sony thinks that way. :D
 
easter is the 2nd biggest selling season after Thanksgiving/Christmas (all rolled into one big november-mid december blob).

nice time for a launch, and gives you all the hardcore buying power, then hopefully spreading the word in time for a good christmas.
 
Yup. I don't know what the story will be in the US - anything could happen there - but I fully expect 360 to be in Australian shops for at least a full 12 months before PS3, and I would also expect PS3 to be unaffordable for most people for up to 12 months after it does get released here. Again, looking at the PSP as an indicator.
 
Yup. I don't know what the story will be in the US - anything could happen there - but I fully expect 360 to be in Australian shops for at least a full 12 months before PS3, and I would also expect PS3 to be unaffordable for most people for up to 12 months after it does get released here. Again, looking at the PSP as an indicator.
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Same for europe, probably xbox360 will have a year or more advantge here, and also be more affordable both at release and when PS3 comes out.

I think sony thinks they can fuck the euro territory all they want, but they are in for a really nasty surprise nextgen.
 
NA
X360 November 15
PS3 August '06
Lead: 7-9 Months

Europe
X360 Nov/Dec '05
PS3 Nov '06
Lead: 11-12 Months

Japan
X360 Nov/Dec/Jan
PS3 May '06
Lead: 4 Months

This is *if* Sony has no choice in the matter and follows their previous release schedule timeframes and *if* they want to ensure a high quality launch lineup in most territories. However, I could see Sony possibly pull off a NA/Japan May '06 simultaneous release (but the launch lineup may suffer and there may be unit shortages) with Europe at the end of '06. It's going to be interesting to see how Sony plays this.
 
All this talk of Sony not having software ready for launch, when Allard and Gates all hint at most of the quality Xbox2 software (Halo 3); and games people were getting excited over at E3 (Gears of War, PDZ) being held back to defend against the Playstation 3 launch.

I'd say the more immediate concern should be, what will there be to justify the purchase of an Xbox2 at launch besides Halo 1/2? :X

Sony can take their sweet time releasing this one. I'm in no hurry to buy a new toy, and fortunately; nothing has been shown to compell me to run out and buy one on launch day. As much as I enjoyed the presentation of the first Killzone, slogging through an FPS sans mouse support will not sell me on a console.
 
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