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[ManaByte]

Before the PS2 was revealed there was a rumor going around that Sony would use Memory Stick as the memory card for the system. Naturally that didn't happen, but does anyone think it may be a possibility that they'll slap a Memory Stick slot on the PS3 now that the PSP is using them?

Say you're playing Madden 2007 on your PS3 and you decide to go out. You could save your franchise on a memory stick and continue it on the PSP.

Or it could use memory sticks to store MP3s for a custom soundtrack option on both the PSP and PS3.

 

[TTP]

I bet it will. Sony needs to unify its storage media.

 

[wobedraggled]

If sony has thier way, yes.

I'm surprised the ps2 didn't

 

[TTP]

Well, maybe it didn't for backward compatibility issues (one slot for both PS1 and PS2 mem cards). Now wait: what if PS3 in also backward compatible to PS2? They would need to put some memory card slots in there too...

 

[wobedraggled]

They could have easily made an adapter/extra slot

 

[cvxfreak]

I think the PlayStation 3 should use the Memory Stick to help with potential file swaps between PS3 and PSP.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

I would love mem stick support for the PS3. I hope Sony puts it at the top of their priority list. They need to popularize the Mem Sticks more (so that I can get bigger ones for cheaper ), using it in the PSP and PS3 would help greatly.

 

[number386]

Hopefully it will have 1 memory stick slot to save ps3 games, and 1 regular ps/ps2 memory card slot to play ps2 games.

 

[GG-Duo]

hopefully not, other cards are more popular...

 

[Agent X]

hopefully not, other cards are more popular...

That's true, but I think Sony would want to encourage the continued use of Memory Stick, since they created it and therefore benefit directly from its success.

I predict PS3 will have a Memory Stick slot. I'm surprised PS2 didn't have one.

 

[goomba]

hah i doubt it.

Sony want you to have to buy overpriced memory cards, if you could use memory sticks, thed make less money.

Plus the backwards compatibility issue.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

hah i doubt it.

Sony want you to have to buy overpriced memory cards, if you could use memory sticks, thed make less money.

Plus the backwards compatibility issue.

Trust me, they make lots of money off those Mem Sticks.

 

[goomba]

Yeah but an 8MB memory card costs about NZ $60 , memory sticks are FFAAARR cheaper per MB.

 

[Panajev2001a]

They should have two slots for PlayStation 2/PSOne Memory Cards and a single Memory Stick Pro/Pro Duo compatible slot.

 

[lexy]

Plus the backwards compatibility issue.

Wouldn't they just use both memory stick and Playstation memory cards? Doesn't really hurt to give people the option to use memory sticks especially now that PSP is using them.

 

[Agent X]

Yeah but an 8MB memory card costs about NZ $60 , memory sticks are FFAAARR cheaper per MB.

That's also a valid point. However, I think they're going to go with Memory Stick anyway, because the PSP is bringing it into the public eye. Sony wants people to buy Memory Sticks, and they likewise want people to buy devices that use Memory Sticks, because it will encourage them to buy more Memory Sticks. The PSP has a chance of being the most popular device that uses Memory Sticks, and if PS3 also uses them, then it'll cement the notion that the Memory Stick is a major contender in the flash memory market.

 

[Vormund]

PS3 should just have the regular memory card slot, and just have an adaptor available to use memory sticks. Maybe include the adaptor with the machine.

 

[kumanoki]

That's also a valid point. However, I think they're going to go with Memory Stick anyway, because the PSP is bringing it into the public eye. Sony wants people to buy Memory Sticks, and they likewise want people to buy devices that use Memory Sticks, because it will encourage them to buy more Memory Sticks. The PSP has a chance of being the most popular device that uses Memory Sticks, and if PS3 also uses them, then it'll cement the notion that the Memory Stick is a major contender in the flash memory market.

Are we going to be seeing a cross-usage with memory stick capable systems? PSP to PS3? PSP to laptop?

 

[The Faceless Master]

Both... as seen here...

 

[Che]

I can already see it: Game saves exchanged across the net and my friends claiming that they alone finished MGS4 in 6 hours...

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

I sure hope so, but then again I don't exactly trust Sony to do what's best in every situation. PS2 should have had it too, there was no reason not to, except to make more $$$. Lets face it, in a MB-per-$ comparison they make loads on the memory cards and they also force users with CLies and Cameras to buy twice. Then there's the whole backwards compatible issue.

I hope they do it but who knows.

Of course, there will be no f'ing excuse next gen for not having 4 controller ports on the system. It's a standard as far as I'm concerned. PS2 should have had it. Again, Sony would rather save $ on the system and make more $$ from the multi-taps than give people what they need. Anybody who defends the 2 controller ports decision is letting their bias dictate their actions and cloud their thinking.

 

[Panajev2001a]

I do not know if it is worth SCE's time and money to invent a new non-Memory Stick based Flash ROM format for the PlayStation 3.

Remember, Sony is trying to return to relatively high profit margins also by making the most use of all internal IP and already R&D'ed solutions.

Also, PSP will bring Memory Stick to a lot of gamers who probably never used them before and they will start to associate Memory Stick with the PlayStation brand.

We will see what they do: I think PlayStation 3 will have embeded LAN port and WiFi HotSpot functionality as well as at least 1 USB 2.0 connector.

I still think they should have a Memory Stick Pro slot as it would allow them to go without a HDD and make their users happy: in an MMOPRG like FFXI the Blu-Ray disc would contain the majority of the code and art content and in the Memory Stick you would save the patches, extra data and expansion packs.

By 2006 a 1-2 GB Memory Stick Pro module should not be more expensive than what FFXI cost when it came out in the U.S..

In 2004 a 2 GB Memory Stick Pro is "only" ~$270.

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=1956593/search=sandisk memory stick pro 2 gb

In 2004 a 1 GB Memory Stick Pro is "only" ~$170.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-191-414&depa=0

Then again, PlayStation 3 games might have drivers for external generic USB 2.0 (High Speed) Mass Storage that would allow almost any portable HDD, like the one you have in the ARCHOS Jukebox FM Recorder or in the iPod, to be used with PlayStation 3 games like MMORPG's.

 

[Jonnyram]

Both... as seen here...

I agree.
A single slot for either type is no good since it stops you from copying data. So they need to either drop the old cards completely or come up with a nice way of supporting both the old type and Memory stick.

 

[firex]

come on. we all know the ps3 will write directly to the human brain.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Wait a minute. If they don't want to invest in something new, what's to stop them from just continuing to use the standard 8MB Memory card? I mean, the amount of data saved will not be that much different from this gen to the next, except for MMORPGs and those are a special case.

Is the PS3 expected to have HDD functionality? If not, then some sort of large flash based storage would be required. I doubt image-consious Sony would want a boxy external HDD solution with the USB ports. Not Sexy.

 

[Mrbob]

I hope so.

There is nothing special about the PS2 memory cards right now. They are memory gate enabled memory stick cards in a proprietary format sold at an insanely high price per megabyte compared to traditional memory stick cards. Have a slot on the console for PS2/PSone cards and a slot for memory stick. Or have the memory stick slot built into the controller.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

I agree.
A single slot for either type is no good since it stops you from copying data. So they need to either drop the old cards completely or come up with a nice way of supporting both the old type and Memory stick.

I would hope that they would just have a slot for the Memory Sticks. They could probably sell a $5-$10 USB accessory for those that wanted to copy saves from old cards. Of course, that's assuming that PS2 games would even recognize the Memory Sticks in the first place. Let's not forget that while you can copy PS1 saves to the 8MB PS2 MC, they can't see them so basically you have to keep both types of cards handy at all times. A pain in the ass, IMHO. I understand why it is so, but I would hope Sony would be able to avoid this problem with PS2 games on the PS3.

 

[kaching]

I would have thought adding a Memory Stick slot to the redesigned PS2 was a logical choice, given that its dirt cheap these days to buy flash card readers, the release of the PSP is just around the corner and they removed the HDD bay while still indicating a commitment to online gaming through the integration of the network hardware and talk from Sony about microtransactions for downloadable content, but then, what do I know?

So I have absolutely no idea whether the PS3 will use Memory Stick.

 

[FitzOfRage]

I think they will use it, because in the last couple of years Sony has tried to integrate their units better and have them work together more than in the past, which is also why I think the PSP uses memory sticks.

And I think another issue is the fact that Ken Kutaragi is widely expected to be running all of Sony in the not too distant future, which is probably another reason why he's more open to help other units - eventually he's going to be in charge of all of them.

 

[Bebpo]

Wouldn't they 'not' want to use memory sticks due to piracy?

I mean with the PSP reading the memory stick like a drive, we all know in the future they're will be all kinds of bootleggery on the PSP and people won't even have to mod the system since the hacked stuff will be on the memory stick.

I'm pretty sure they'd want to avoid people having too much accesibility to the system with PS3.

 

[Jonnyram]

Wouldn't they 'not' want to use memory sticks due to piracy?

Well they used DVD rather than a proprietary format, so I don't think they care about piracy, even if they say they do.

Regarding the size of memory - 8MB will not be enough next gen. Already the PSP is up to a 32MB default. That's not because of MP3s and photos, that's because game saves are betting bigger. In an interview with the Ridge team, they were asked why the save game data for RR is so big, and it's because the system screens now require more data to be incorporated into the save - there's a big background wallpaper and a small movie/animation for each save game now. They make the data management screens look nice, but it means more memory is required. 8MB will definitely not suffice next gen.

 

[mrklaw]

yes please. Makes sense really, and they could really leveraget PSP/PS3 as a 'family' with transferable saves etc.

BTW, I get annoyed by the inevitable 'there are other more popular cards' argument - usually by people with 5 million soon to be outdated CF cards. When I bought my PDA, that only took SD. Thats an annoyance to me, but I'm not complaining that HP should have used memory stick.

1) memory stick is about 23% market share right now. Thats pretty good
2) Sony would want to use their sticks in their devices
3) If you don't have an existing stock of cards, then you'll need to buy one with your device, and the type doesn't matter

 

[ManaByte]

Well since I mostly use Sony stuff, I like memory sticks. I have a 128MB one that goes between my still camera, DV cam, PDA, and PC.

Being able to use memory sticks on the PSP is a big plus for me, which is why I hope they put a slot on the PS3 for them.

 

[Axsider]

Memory Stick! Yes, it will!

 

[VNZ]

I hope to see 2 Memory Stick slots and 4 hi-speed USB 2.0 ports on the PS3. The old memory card + controller ports are simply too large, dictating the industrial design of the unit unnecessarily much. Just look at the PSTwo, its front is practically full of improportionately sized ports.

That is, make the Dual Shock 3 a standard USB device. We could then use any number (via USB hubs if necessary) of controllers / peripheral devices with less technicalities to worry about. Sony could also make some extra bucks of Memory Stick -> PS1/PS2 memory card and USB -> PS1/PS2 controller adaptors.

 

[goodcow]

In an interview with the Ridge team, they were asked why the save game data for RR is so big, and it's because the system screens now require more data to be incorporated into the save - there's a big background wallpaper and a small movie/animation for each save game now. They make the data management screens look nice, but it means more memory is required. 8MB will definitely not suffice next gen.

A small fucking movie? Just give us small, static images like the Dreamcast saves.