Sony Playstation 3: a conceptual design?

by Blake Snow { Jan 17th 2006 at 2:00AM }

Sony stuck with the same PS3 "conceptual only" approach at this year's CES in Las Vegas as they did at 2005's Tokyo Game Show. Engadget writes: "Yes, you're reading that placard right... Is it true? Is the Sony PlayStation 3 that we've all now come to know and love (or not) merely a "conceptual design?" Because if it is they must be further behind than we originally anticipated."

If that's the case, then the Playstation maker has been behind schedule for a long time, or at least since September's TGS. Still, maybe this is another tell regarding rumors that Sony will delay the PS3, or simply the company reserving the right to change the final design before launch. Bloggers digging too deep? You tell us.

See also: E3 PS3 pictures

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Dralt @ Jan 17th 2006 2:11AM

And maybe, just maybe...Sony is much better at keeping secrets than Microsoft ever will be...and maybe they play mind tricks to drive Ballmer and Gates crazy...and maybe they will have a worldwide launch in April...and maybe you should stop speculating and wait until the middle of next month when everything will be revealed...just maybe...

vrf @ Jan 17th 2006 2:16AM

Does anyone actually care about the PS3 anymore?

fuzz @ Jan 17th 2006 2:20AM

lol, if everyone just waited for offical anouncments and proof, a multi-million dollar industry would die...

Jake @ Jan 17th 2006 2:22AM

I'm sure the whole conceptual design label is just there so that they don't have to stick to that design. It's already changed hasn't it? I'm thinking they've taken out an ethernet port or two... I'm not sure though. Who knows, they might have a completely new design up their sleeves that they've known about for months, but have just been wonderful at keeping it a secret. All in all, Sony has done a tremendous job of that. No one at the company has leaked important information we all wish we knew, and that's saying something. If nothing else, congrats for that.

Sebas @ Jan 17th 2006 2:29AM

Jeez, lay off ey? It's this kind of "speculation" that feeds the hype I so very much enjoy....I'm pretty excited about the PS3, mostly for GTA:4 , anyway keep it coming....hype, speculation, predictions and guesses are what keep me coming to this website. Oh and facts too, those are always good.

SuicideNinja @ Jan 17th 2006 2:40AM

Is there anything good about this machine? 1080p is a joke; most games won't even use it. There won't be a hard drive. There won't be centralized online support. They are sticking with the crappy dual-shock layout. Um, anything interesting?

Hopefully they do redesign it, because it is by far the ugliest console we've seen to date. Of course, anything looks better than an old PS2. How about getting some good games that don't get boring half-way through this time, Sony? Doesn't matter...I've decided not to buy this console until much, much later.

Dionysus @ Jan 17th 2006 3:29AM

#6 SuicideNinja: why are you still going to buy it then if it's so bad in your opinion?

Dragon @ Jan 17th 2006 3:35AM

I think they're trying to go the way Nintendo did with keeping everything a big secret, but they've given too much information out to keep people in anticipation like the Rev controller did. Not near as many people are sitting around curious about how it will look, not near as much speculation of the unknown. Either that, or they believe that their fan support is so loyal and die-hard, that they can take their time with the system and do it the right way. Which would be good for gamers who buy on released date, but I think the longer they wait to release the PS3, the harder it's going to be to get the blu-ray into the bigtime for entertainment. I say just wait for E3, where they will try to kill some of the Rev hype by bringing out their own system into display.

Cem @ Jan 17th 2006 3:55AM

I don't think the PS3 will have an enormous delay and am sure it will be released before or during summer 2006 in Japan, then later in the US and finally somewhere in 1st quarter 2007 in Europe. Another design would be a good idea, since I think the current concept is really ugly and bulky. Maybe they've already finished the final design a while ago and we don't know about it. Let's just wait and see.

Chris_C @ Jan 17th 2006 4:11AM

I really wish Ken and Bill would just settle this the old fashioned way, a pair of boxing gloves and a squared circle. Only then would we truly know who's console is "stronger".

Jago @ Jan 17th 2006 4:17AM

"s there anything good about this machine? 1080p is a joke; most games won't even use it. There won't be a hard drive. There won't be centralized online support. They are sticking with the crappy dual-shock layout. Um, anything interesting?"

(1) Funny...last time I checked NO GAMES HAVE BEEN SHOWN RUNNING IN 1080p.

(2) There HAS NOT been a finalized official design for their online strategy.

(3) "Crappy dual shock layout"? Funny...I seem to remember a little thing called the "Xbox 360" which kept basically 98% of the same controller layout of the original Xbox.

Snake2k9 @ Jan 17th 2006 4:20AM

I would rather buy Halo 3 than buying PS3 and that's my final choice

good-night

everyone.

KilgoreTrout XL @ Jan 17th 2006 9:31AM

Is this the part where I'm supposed to defend the honor of my 360 and laugh that the PS3 looks to be delayed? I think this is a shame.

Mongolian General: "360 fanboi, what is good in life?"

Fanboi: "To crush my PS3 enemies, see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentations of their of their GTA Katamari-women."

FunnyFrog @ Jan 17th 2006 9:54AM

Conceptual Design = We can remove [expensive] features that we've been showing because they were [just] conceptual [but we used them a year in advance to make you hold off buying anything else].

Whaddya mean my PS3 only has 1 HDMI? I thought it was going to have 2!?

Oh right, conceptual design...

CaPtiN_InsAnO @ Jan 17th 2006 10:13AM

Well Sony did say a few telling things at CES not directly related to the PS3. They unveilled their stand alone blu-ray DVD player. The MSRP on this thing was $1800-$2000. Now that being said one of two things is true.

They are blowing the price so way out of proportion that a $900 PS3 with blu-ray and game funtionality is a steal for even casual game consumers.

or

Sony will not be able to bring out an affordable PS3 this year.

Bringing out an extremely high-end high priced game system has been done with marinal success before. SNK did it with their $600 Neo Geo and $150 games. They did it and no one knew who they were. With the high level of brand recognition PS3 has, it could work. Sony has a big decision to make: high-price or late release.

Tiremfej @ Jan 17th 2006 11:30AM

Regarding #1, the last time a company tried a suprise launch was Sega with the Saturn. Which ended being a total and utter failure, and one of the main reasons the Dreamcast failed as a console, not to mention other things, but it was a good reason. Both of those systems were much better than their PS counterparts, IMHO.

The PS3 has as many rumours going around about it as the 360 did, the gaming folk just seem to have a very selective memory when it comes to their system of choice. In fact we didn't even know the exact and final design of the 360 until 6 months before it launched. Why would Sony release a conceptual design with no guts? Because they were scared and wanted to take away the hype of the 360, that's why they threw out all the crap it will supposedly have when the 360 is announced, it's all hype. In fact I would be highly surprised if the system launches this year at all, I don't think they have a final design, hell the cell wasn't finished until last April or something....it takes longer than a year to get a console designed and working well.

As it stands I love my 360, and am I a fanboy? Yes, and I am proud of it. I have a console that truly exists, and is amazing, not some vaporware plastic case.

Spaz @ Jan 17th 2006 11:59AM

Let's change our perception of what we consider "delayed" or "pushed back" with the PS3, and instead think that with the not-so-hot release of the Xbox 360 that Sony and Nintendo have regained their common sense and realize there is no need to rush their next-gen systems any more. The Microsoft threat just isn't large enough.

Bascanuwegos @ Jan 17th 2006 12:02PM

CaPtiN_InsAnO(post #15), is right on the ball. Sony cannot afford to launch the PS3 for 400, 500, or even 700 as one EBgames employee told me. If we examine the situation logically, we will find that a blu-ray drive costs $1000 at the minimum as the consumer pays $1800+. In other words, add an expensive gaming machine to that and it's another $500 at the least. The PS3 launching in 2006 will play to MS's advantage as a good number of folks will begin to think the 360 isn't as expensive when the competition is in excess of $800.

Jago @ Jan 17th 2006 12:59PM

Correction the minimum price for a Blu-Ray player is $1000 (it's a Samsung unit)...and why the hell do you people think that when a console comes out that company has to make money from the beginning? To my knowledge, NO CONSOLE has made money from the beginning. It always takes a few years for them to make money on it.

Also...what SEGA did with the Saturn was release it earlier then the scheduled release date. It was supposed to (I believe) be release in September and instead was released in May. Sony hasn't set a release date yet and "Spring 2006" could change. They haven't officially announced the full release date timeline.

don_sf @ Jan 17th 2006 1:01PM

hah xbox fans just make me laugh.

they take the p out of sony ps, but they easily forgot sony sold 100 millions+ first time round, 100 million + 2nd time round.

i dont even have to argue for sony here, the figures do the talking.

if your xbox console is soooooo good, why dont people buy it?

hd dvd add on, firstly why would i want to buy an add on which means more wires and more hassle and this add on drive would break far too easily since its externel. secondly blu ray has too much support to fail, wb the leading movie supplier, dell the leading computer supplier.

and those who want to argue the hd dvd will be easier to change into and cost less. dont forget the move from cd to dvd was big and expensive but look how successfull it has done.

which leaves space, 15 gig and 25 gig (with plans for 100+).

this add on hd dvd drive is a complete joke, if someone is going to by it then they want to watch hd movies only, why not by a hd dvd player which will have far better quality and recording functionality.

bd will be a extra feature that people can enjoy without much hassle.

Mango @ Jan 17th 2006 1:07PM

the 3DO was an incredible system. It's in my top 3 consoles of all time. However, no one heard of it. Why? Because when it was released, it cost $800. If sony does the same, they stand no chance of success, especially with Nintendo Revolution coming out at $199. Every single nintendo has come out at $199 in the past, look it up, the rev will be no different.

If sony can get this system out for $400 a shitload of people will buy it and it will probably lead the way considering the huge PS fanbase. At $800+, Nintendo will regain #1.

Microsoft will never be #1 in consoles. It's either sony or nintendo.

darryl @ Jan 17th 2006 1:14PM

Bwahaha... Check out the 360 freaks, back up against the wall out what!? Having difficulty justifying your expensive mistake? LOL

-The PS3 is a "concept" until it releases... as with all hardware, nothing new about that.

-The console will launch when Sony said it will... as it has in the past, everytime. Keep in mind this is a real consumer electronics company, they actually know what they're doing... they make stuff, lots of stuff.

-The PS3 price will be what they said it would be, under 500 USD. The price for those blu-ray players are WAY over-priced, intentionally... devices like this always are. They have to make theirs more expensive then the "next guys" (HD-DVD), a common tactic.

"2. Does anyone actually care about the PS3 anymore?"

Everyone, but you... you're so special!

Bascanuwegos @ Jan 17th 2006 2:32PM

Jago, even if it is $1000 for the cheapest blu ray, that's still well above the ps3 bs pricetag of $500. If you are a huge hardware manufacturer on the Blu-Ray consortium/group, and everyone but one company is selling the players for $1000+, you will not even be considered by customers. Consumers would see a $500 blu ray player(PS3) and not even consider the high priced ones. Do you actually think all those big hardware companies are going to let Sony break thier back with a cheaper player. Think again. And sorry, Jago, but Nintendo profits off their consoles much sooner than Sony and MS.

Now, for the Sony Fanboy who was blasting 360 fanboys. The first and second time, when the Playstation was hitting 100 mil, it was $500!?! The only company worthy of fanboys is Nintendo(and I say that as a fan of MS).

GaF @ Jan 17th 2006 2:47PM

That "conceptual design" sign has been shown every time the PS3 has been on display and has referred to the dualshock controller- the boomerang one, NOT the console itself.

Falelorn @ Jan 17th 2006 5:19PM

I am a fanboy.. of games.. PC, Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, etc... but I can not see me buying a PS3. Cost if it comes in at 499.99 USD I shall consider it, but it wont, and cannot. Sony does not have the cash flow to take a huge hit on a system, it is simple economics.

I do hope Sony can release the PS3 near 500 bucks, and if they do I am sure they will sell a ton of them. Gaming fans blow 3000 a year or 18 months on new computers, 500 bucks for a console ever 5 yrs (10 if you can beleive uncle Ken)

whatever @ Jan 17th 2006 6:48PM

okay first off, the PS3 IS a conceptual design because the console has absolutely no air vents or holes, never heard of a system that does that. The specs are all hyped because the 360 actually released TRUE information, not just a bunch of bolgna. The 360 is HUGE and it will be for years to come all the features they have added and such, it will be amazing to see how everything plays out in the end. The PS3 and Sony are going down the hole because you cant put a high price tag on a system, expect to sell it AND make profit from it. Forget it it's just not possible. And nintendo will have success with their system especially if they go with a 199 price tag. And mark my word the PS3 will release in the US Feb of 06 and at the launch price of 749 USD. Sheesh sony is retarded