Playstation 3 router function dropped

by Conrad Quilty-Harper { Jul 11th 2005 at 10:35AM }

It's finally happened; a next gen console maker has cut a feature from their console. According to Sony boss Ken Kutaragi, the proposed router feature on the upcoming PS3 has been dropped because it would have been too expensive. Whether or not the console will still feature three gigabit ethernet ports is not certain. Another reason for this feature to be dropped was that apparently lots of consumers that want a router already have one or are planning on a dedicated one. Why anyone would want a wired router in their living room is beyond my understanding. Although apparently they had plans for an "IP camera" (which I guess is a posh word for an always-on webcam). Still, this doesn't answer the question of why they'd need three ports to plug a single camera in.

[Thanks, Jamod & Shizzle]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Rabiddog @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Amazing, just when you thought that PS3 was going to include everything including the kitchen sink. This will not be the only feature that will be dropped. Trust me on this one.

Myria @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Is anyone honestly surprised? The E3-announced PS3 specs existed for the sole purpose of trying to grab attention from MS. Any relationship between those announced specs and the actual delivered product will be purely coincidental.

Chris Weber @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Why have three Gigabit ports in back? You mean other than the obstinate comeback, "Why not?". Well, to sync two PS3s of course. Or maybe use one to connect to the internet, and two to connect to other Cell enabled devices (if that idea ever pans out).

You'd think they'd be talking about the whole "Cell cluster in your living room" idea if it was working out well for them. Who knows if will actually happen.

phantomprophet @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

A router was not needed, it's true, but a switch would be great, that way I'd only need one cat5 cable running to the back of my entertainment center.
Do you hear me Ken? Scrap the router, that's cool, but replace it with a switch, it's cheaper, it's less complicated than a router, and it will do what you wanted the router to do (more or less)

Arch-360 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

surprise! NOT! let the underdelivering BEGIN!! and the copying of MS ALSO begin!
i said this would in many of my posts and some fruitcakes were telling me off that i dont know sony and that this will never happen, well take this info and shove it!

anyways no, it isnt surprising that they would do this.maybe know people will come out of their dreamland. and i agree with #2.

oh and BTW where is rog27 hes late.

Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

#4 ofcourse sony is going to start copying MS. Nintendo is being smart and hiding pretty much every detail for the Rev because they know Sony will just copy them. Now sony can't, so they are going towards MS.

Chiablo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

My future predictions:

Dual display support: I bet one game at launch utilizes it and even then it will be to fuel Sony's marketing machine. Nobody else is going to dedicate additional programming to a feature that nobody will use. At least with the Nintendo DS (which Sony is blatantly ripping this idea from) the two screens are already on the unit and even then they are barely utilized.

Multimedia streaming over network connection: I doubt it will play anything other than propriatary Sony video and audio files (PSP MP4 files and ATRAC audio.) There's too many video and audio codecs for them to take into account and there are new codecs that are released monthly. They could do monthly updates to give support for these codecs, but this is Sony we're talking about... it's just not going to happen.

1080p support: This video format doesn't exist yet, and supporting this fantasy format will probably be game based (like 480p on the gamecube is now.) So just like the dual display, maybe one or two games at launch will support it.

Blu-Ray: I sure hope you like Spiderman, because my rehash-senses are tingling. Take a look at the current UMD releases for the PSP, those same exact titles will be on Blu-Ray discs. So my question to Sony is... how many times do I need to keep buying the same damn movie I already own??

Support for 7 controllers: What game could possibly have 7 players playing at the same time? I can see Madden having support for this many players, but that's about it. And even then, if 7 humans are playing that means that some of the positions that see no action are being played (linebacker etc.) Boring!
On the other side of the spectrum, if they created a 7 player mario party-esque game, it would be absolute insanity trying to tell which on-screen player you are.

Storage: Their decision to not include a Hard Drive really makes me question their aim for the PS3. They've openly admitted that it's not a gaming console, but instead it's a "multimedia center." So if this is the case, where do we store our mutimedia??
We will probably have to convert it to propriatary MP4, then store it on a "Sony" external hard drive, which costs 3 times as much and is the only hard drive compatible with the PS3.

Downloadable content: With no hard drive, and even with 512MB of solid state memory (which they also are not doing) there is no room for downloadable content. Even the update for Ninja Gaiden for Xbox was over 30MB in size. Maps, demos, etc. These take space that isn't availible on Playstation memory cards. You could load them onto a Pro Duo Memory Stick, but who wants to spend $100+ for a 512mb card???

CorporateWhore @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I don't understand why, if you guys hate Sony so much you bother wasting your time posting ... I guess you guys are all CEO's of major electronics companies and have products in development that are far superior to anything Sony could come up with. You saps. It's only a fecking games console.

Kuyu @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Chiablo, I totally agree. Sony is shooting themselves in the foot with the PS3. There trying to make a PS4, not a PS3.

Overheard at SCE strategy session...
"Only 10% of households have HDTV, running at 720p and 1080i. We expect this number to hit 50% by 2012. Let's make our system compatible with a format that doesn't actually exist, 1080p"
"Great idea, that way the four people in America with two 1080p screens in 2010 can play FFXVII on two screens!"
"Wait. Let's just say that the PS3 does this, then pull it right before release!"
"Great idea"

Seriously though, I bet Sony plans to make money with more crappy proprietary formats, hardware add-ons, and in game ads.

The PS3 is the same old Sony... Overpromise and underdeliver.

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Before I respond to stuff on these comments, let me just say THANK GOD. The router thing was a dumb idea. Just more open holes on the back of my system. I really hope they don't drop the 1080p thing just yet, since by the end of the PS3's life(hell, maybe even the start of it) it won't be theoretical as everyone says. The way I see it, they have 5 years or so for a TV like that to come out, and that's plenty possible in half a decade.

====
"Why have three Gigabit ports in back? You mean other than the obstinate comeback, "Why not?". Well, to sync two PS3s of course. Or maybe use one to connect to the internet, and two to connect to other Cell enabled devices (if that idea ever pans out)."

The PS3 has a wireless connection for linking to other PS3's. Just like the Revolution and X360 are reporting.
=================
"Downloadable content: With no hard drive, and even with 512MB of solid state memory (which they also are not doing) there is no room for downloadable content. Even the update for Ninja Gaiden for Xbox was over 30MB in size. Maps, demos, etc. These take space that isn't availible on Playstation memory cards. You could load them onto a Pro Duo Memory Stick, but who wants to spend $100+ for a 512mb card???"

Either you missed a zero on that Ninja Gaiden update or your math is off. Playstation2 memory cards are 32mb, and if the Ninja Gaiden patch was 30mb, it fits on PS2 memory cards, and could easily fit on a PS3 stick(if it HAS a format other than the PSP's mem stick). Chances are it'll support content from memory sticks, and the hard drive if you choose to buy it. Hell, look how many people bought the PSP gig sticks despite it costing $100. It adds functionality, and drops the units launch price, they'll do it.
========
"Support for 7 controllers: What game could possibly have 7 players playing at the same time? I can see Madden having support for this many players, but that's about it. And even then, if 7 humans are playing that means that some of the positions that see no action are being played (linebacker etc.) Boring!
On the other side of the spectrum, if they created a 7 player mario party-esque game, it would be absolute insanity trying to tell which on-screen player you are."

I completely disagree with this. There are games that could pull this off and it still be fun. I can imagine 6 players easy right now. Any soccer game(Winning Eleven 10?) could very possibly have 3 per team. One for defenders, midfielders, and the other for offense. That's 6 players right there, and it wouldn't take away from the gameplay at all. It'd be a glorified fuseball table.

As for losing your place in a Mario-pary'esque game, I doubt that. Maybe if you're blind. If there ever was a Smash Brother type of game, it'd play well with 7 people as well. There's also the possibility of NEW games being released that function on a level we haven't thought of yet. Simply put, there hasn't been a NEED to make a 7 player game yet, so they haven't ventured into that realm. I know a dungeons and dragons game would work wonders with a 7 man group. Of course there would be a tether, or even pull a ToeJam & Earl where it could split the screen up to 7 times to show all the seperate adventurers. I mean, that IS what cell processing is about right? Handling completely different enviroments all on screen at the same time? God, actually, the idea of that just gets me wet thinking about it.
=====

vidGuy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I agree with Chiablo somewhat. I do believe they will keep dropping some aspects that won't really get used.

I don't, however, see them dropping Blu-Ray, as it is their format. Nor the 7 Bluetooth devices. It was my understanding that its 7 devices total, not controllers. And they'll have to have some downloadable content to compete with M$.

But the dual display and 1080p will likely go, possibly quitely.

Oh, and someone doesn't know his football if he thinks the linebacker doesn't see action. Even on Madden its a key position, unless you are playing against a pass-happy freak that doesn't know how to play football.

Olderthanyou @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

===============================
By Corporate Whore...Quote
I don't understand why, if you guys hate Sony so much you bother wasting your time posting ... I guess you guys are all CEO's of major electronics companies and have products in development that are far superior to anything Sony could come up with. You saps. It's only a fecking games console.
===============================
According to your beloved Sony, QUOTE (IT IS NOT A GAME CONSOLE) Unquote.
No, we are not corporate CEO's, just guys who have been scalped enough by Sony.
So answer a question Corporate Whore, if according to Sony it is not a game console, Then what the F--k Is it?

Inferno @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I have been predicting (and praying) for this since the specs were released. I initially intended to buy both an Xbox360 and a PS3. But after E3 (and several of Ken's retarded interviews), I decided the PS3 was out of the picture completely unless they got rid of some of the non gaming crap that was just gonna make it more expensive (for the record, I didn't think the harddrive would be one of them, that should have been the last thing they cut). Here is what else will be cut before release...
- Card reader: If it keeps any of this capability, it will only be for a proprietary memory stick slot, which isn't necessary. files can be transfered from the PSP via USB. Plus, why would people buy memory cards, which help offset console deficit, when they can use an flash card manufactured by another company.
- One video output: This functionality is useless for the livingroom, it is there because the PC based RSX supports it, but if it can save Sony $2 per unit, scrap it. That is a lot of money, when multiplied by millions of units.
- At least 3 USB ports: They will keep 4 to have more than MS, but any more than that is really a waste of money. Again, it may just save a couple bucks, but it will be worth it.
--------------------
Now, my suggestions to Sony... replace Bluray with Dual Layer DVD-RW drive. It will likely cost less than a Bluray drive, it will allow storage of media for the PS3, and prompt people to buy your expesive hard drives to make their PSP a PVR. Bluray is nice, but the extra cost for the drive and the media sucks. Besides, HD-DVD is gonna win the format war cause it is cheaper to manufacture. So in 3 years, you will find as much bluray on store shelves as you do today.

nod @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I understand that Sony released those specs at E3 to steal some of Microsoft's thunder and poise the PS3 for technical and market superiority when it's released after the Xbox 360.

It's a good strategy, that could indeed make somebody think twice about buying an Xbox 360, when the technically superior PS3 is coming out not long after.

However, if they start dropping these features that give them an edge in performance and functionality, I think people will start to smell another con-job, and that Sony's strategy will backfire on them if they start backpedalling with the promises and announced specs and features.

We'll just have to wait and see.

PvpMan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I just hope that they don't take away the built in grilling machine. :)

I just hope that they can cut out the extra crap they are putting in it and only keep the good things that can help it compete with the Xbox 360. This way Neither Microsoft or Sony get a huge chunk of the pie and have to share/battle it out while Nintendo gets the remaining which might be a decent slice(2nd console). Cant wait till i can Experience the next gen of gaming :D

Jake @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Ok, I have a few comments to make. Chiablo, it is important for you to understand that the 7 Bluetooth slots are not just for controllers. They are for 7 Bluetooth devices. This includes controllers, certain DAP's, headsets, etc. Seven is the max they could have. There are probably situations where more could be used at one time.

And I don't know where you people have been, but there are already TV's and projectors on the market that support 1080p. There are no 1080p broadcasts yet, but there are displays that can handle it.

If you're saying that Sony is copying the DS with the dual display thing, then we can go ahead and say the DS copied off the PC, which was doing the dual display dance long ago.

Another important fact: Blu-Ray is NOT a Sony propriety format (like the UMD). Blu-Ray was developed by several companies, and is not exclusive to Sony.

I don't know where you've been shopping, but I can go and pick up a 512MB MemoryStick for $50. Also, the PS3 supports MemoryStick, SD, and Compact Flash. Chances are that just about everyone that will buy a PS3 already has one of these type of cards of some size. Also, USB flash drives will probably work with the PS3, and their prices are falling all the time.

Lastly, Arch-360... You're a complete moron. At least Chiablo was trying to prove a point. You're just an idiot with a computer.

CorporateWhore @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Olderthanyou ...
Oh for goodness sakes ... if you don't believe the specs are real why on earth would you believe it when they say it's more than a games console ... why don't you ignore the other aspects that Sony claim the machine will do and be more concerned about the gaming aspects. This is after all a site concerned with gaming ...

"My beloved Sony" ... pathetic.

Smashing name by the way, I can't imagine how you got hold of my date of birth but I'm sure you MUST be right.

Chiablo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Just for clarification...

I did not intend my post to list features that I think are getting dropped. It is more of my personal opinion of features that are currently slated for the console that set it apart from the offerings from Nintendo and Microsoft.

ill trooper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Oh brother. The comments get soooo silly on here. I saw a guy earlier say that he never bought a PS2 because he didn't think Sony lived up to their promises... Jesus, my friend, you missed several years of excellent gaming, but who knows if you would have cared anyway - anyone serious about their gaming owns or owned a PS2.

The Xbox360 never had a router. Now the PS3 leaves it out too.

The PS3 can support 1080p but can also downstep to anything under that resolution, so what's the big deal? Sony has a whole new wave of LCD TVs coming next year, anything can happen. Fanboys, you can't see the future, as much as you try to by reading Thurrott, ARS, and IGN...

People complain about Sony possibly asking you to buy a seperate hard drive, but ignore that the 360 rumors have the HD drive shipping at a later date, in a later box... Sounds like we're gonna have to pay more in that scenario too. Just accept it - both companies are making comprimises to get the boxes out the door cheap(er).

Kuyu: Since you want to have some fun and speculate on funny backroom-meetings, try this one:

"Hey, TeamXbox, let's emphasize HD but not even put an HD drive in the box. Yeah. It's a media center."

End of meeting.

Blue-ray is fine with me too - it's been mentioned here before: By shipping the PS3 with blue-ray, Sony can make it THE standard, by volume of consoles shipped and in customer's hands. In fact, fanboys, the 360 won't have an HD drive of any format at this point, so why bother hating? It's a SPECULATION that Microsoft MIGHT add one at a later date. Even Gates said 'might' in Tokyo. No big rush - there isn't a store you can casually walk into and buy an HD movie on either format anyway.

The good thing here is that the 360 is coming out early enough that we can absorb the cost and be ready to buy the PS3 when it ships too. With a reminder to earmark some of the budget to buy the Revolution as well.

Peter Kennedy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

This is retarded!

Sony never announced router functionality for the PS3. They even went out of their way to say at the time that it wasn't a router! (see the Masa Chatani E3 interview). It's a switching hub and that's all it ever was.

Kutaragi considered router functionality prior to E3, but they decided against it. However they never announced this as part of the spec! Saying this is like saying MS cut HD-DVD or digitial video out from X360 just because they privately considered it at one time and rejected it.

Stop copying articles from GI.biz without checking your facts.

Arch-360 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

JAKE. may i ask where you have been? when i made that post it wasnt directed toward you. and i am right, they ARE underdelivering and have started. if you have a problem with it, go post on the sony forums. dont post here. mayby there they will listen to their mindless goats.

The Jeremy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

There are some really uninformed morons posting here. 1080p exists. There are 1080p televisions hitting the market TODAY (and some have been on the market for awhile), and this will be one of Sony's major selling features to their new televisions. Blu-Ray, unlike HD-DVD (because of the format's limitations), supports 1080p. So claiming Sony is going to abandon 1080p in the PS3 is ridiculous. So is the claim that 1080p won't be a force to deal with until 2012. Just because broadcast and the cable industries won't support 1080p doesn't mean the satellite and telephone companies won't. Broadcast supports MPEG2 on SD and HDTV broadcasts. Cable is MPEG2 to my knowledge. DirecTV is moving up to MPEG4 next year. And thus 1080p through satellite is realistic, although probably a couple more years away. That does not matter to Sony because if Blu-Ray movie titles look better than what you see on cable or satellite, that will be another compelling reason for Joe Consumer to buy a copy. And for those mouthing off that HD-DVD is going to win the format war, "cheaper" does not guarantee it will. Circuit City's DIVX titles were *cheaper* (up front) and had no features when compared to DVD. DVD won. Blu-Ray will repeat that trend. The only thing Blu-Ray as a physical media format has to worry about is some player like Apple successfully implementing an online movie service.

The Jeremy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

What I would like to see Sony change is the PS3's case design. I think its ugly compared to the Xbox360 case. And no matter how many gamers claim the "faceplate" change with the 360 is stupid, it will be popular.

Conde @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

i think this move was way smart for sony. i mean they want to make a great console but not make you dish out 700 bucks for one. heck i already got 3 routers and 2 in storage so why the heck would i need my ps3 to have one. plus if it was a high end router they could have just dropped there price up to 100 bucks. and now with the drive optional too, i can get a ps3 and then save up for a drive later.

CapTn_InSanO @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I'm no Sony hater. I own a PS2 but I'm not really surprised by the dropping of the features. If the machine were released with all the features mentioned at E3 then we'd be talking an $800 machine.
They are famous for dropping features though. They did it for their PS2 HDD (yeah they used to support a HDD for PS2; try to find one now) and they did it for PSP too.
If Sony plans to release an affordable system (under $400) then all you are going to get is a PS2 with a pretty box, a higher spped procesor with prettier graphics and a wireless boomerang for a controller.
I'll wait for the Revolution and do it cheaper then both Sony and M$ and look better and have more fun playing.

vidGuy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

"And for those mouthing off that HD-DVD is going to win the format war, "cheaper" does not guarantee it will."

I originally thought HD-DVD would win, not because of pure cost (to the consumer or manufacturer) but because of the potential availability and quickness to market due to the lower cost. When current DVD pressing facilities can make an HD-DVD disc with very little adjustment, that's a plus. If your typical consumer is standing next to a rack of HD-DVD discs and Blu-Ray discs, with no noticeable difference in clarity he will probably choose the one that's (possibly, not only because of tech but also a smaller supply) $10-15 cheaper. HD-DVD would also provide a smoother transition to highDef, with the possiblity of pressing both a SD and HD version of a film on opposite sides of the same disc, making it more acceptable for general consumers.

Now, I don't see consumers being eager to choose sides (especially those that got burnt during the Betamax vs VHS feud) so the availability of the player and discs makes all the difference.

All that changes if Sony keeps the Blu-Ray drive in the PS3, as that would put this format in the hands of millions in a very short amount of time. It could even be a selling point for the PS3 later on if BR does win (with the possibility of a stand-alone player toping $800, the PS3 would be considerably more attractive).

So, my verdict: Sony is, for once, at a great position to determine the outcome. IF they keep the drive, and IF it sells, then Blu-Ray will likely win. Otherwise, we'll see only HD-DVD on the selves come Christmas 2006.

Check here for some interesting info and a small tech chart:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002356946_dvdwars04.html?syndication=rss

vidGuy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

"he will probably choose the one that's (possibly, not only because of tech but also a smaller supply) $10-15 cheaper."

of course that's supposed to be larger supply