Sony's "full-on assault" on Xbox Live continued
The supposed "full-on assault" by Sony
on the Xbox 360 and its vaunted Live service continues in the pages of PSM this month, with the rumored DVR
and media-center-like capabilities of the PS3 taking center stage.After someone literally took a page from the unofficial PS mag for the previous post on the topic, another PlayStation.com forum poster (with J Allard 'shopped into "Jak" as an avatar?) decided to spill the beans on the rest of Sony's secret plans for the next generation. They include DVR functionality, "high-def movie and TV episode downloads" in an iTunes/Connect-like way, LocationFree support for the PSP, and a fall release for the system and possibly its online service as well. For a look at the PSM page with all this secret talk, try the publicly available link over here.
Of course, a scan from a magazine doesn't prove anything, as Engadget so rightly states in a recent post. After all, if the PS3 hard drive proves to be optional, and a video input isn't featured on the back, it's highly doubtful that every system (if the PS3 releases in Blu-ray/HDD-separate SKUs) will support all of these capabilities.
[Thanks for letting us know about the scan, Aaron Laine, and thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
untitled @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:29PM
Does it still play games?
Kamalot @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:34PM
Lets put things into perspective...
The PSP is a mutli-finction device.
*) PSP is a poor video player, playing expensive and proprietary UMDs or lower-resolution videos off of an expensive and small-capacity proprietary memory stick.
*) PSP is a poor music player with the most bare function set, even fewer functions than most cheap, tiny Chinese players. Music, like video, is plagued by the proprietary memory stick format.
*) The PSP Web browser is worse than that on most mobile phones.
*) PSP Text entry is the worst possible combination of on-screen keyboard and T9 without leveraging the strengths of either.
*) PSP Game selection sucks and play is plagued with long load times and short battery life.
*) PSP was promised to have GPS integration and a slew of other features that never saw the light of day, much like the poorly conceived and implemented PS2 hard drive.
All in all, the PSP does many things and does none of them well.
One can extrapolate based on historical evidence that the PS3 is going to be a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none.
Do you really expect a PS3 to make a better Tivo than Tivo? Do you really expect it to have a better Microsoft Live than Microsoft Live? Do you really expect it to have all of these features better than the competition?
All I ask is they everyone keep their head. Sony is in serious financial trouble and they are betting the farm on this one product. Think of it as the Homer Mobile (http://www.megahobby.com/Modeling_Z...ity/POL4000.jpg), a product designed with features for everyone but appealing to nobody.
Now is a good time for everyone to read the Lost Garden article about why convergence is a dirty word.
http://lostgarden.com/2005/12/conve...rd-to-hate.html
Jeremy Wright @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:35PM
So, what, it'll have 5 different packages? ;-)
meyt @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:38PM
They said exactly the same thing for the ps2, and im still waiting for the toys story graphics.
doubtful @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:39PM
I hope to god the PS3 doesn't actually have these features...all I'm hearing is *ca-ching$! ca-ching$*! with every new feature that I am reading, I'm seeing hundreds of more dollars being ripped from my pocket. I'll put down $500 for a PS3...no more.
Cyberclaws @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:41PM
In memory of the immortal words of Josh Robinson;
"Ive also talked with people on the technical side of the Xbox 360. The consistent comment I am hearing from people on my end is, 'The Xbox 360 is better'," Robinson wrote.
"They are saying that it is capable of just doing more."
Whopping Wombat @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:42PM
What intrigues me about this is that I've read that the reason the BluRay in PS3 can be so cheap is that the decoding/processing and such can be taken care of by the Cell processor and the graphics card, and therefore the actual drive itself had to do much less work...
If some PS3 games ever actually come out on BluRay (DVD9 not large enough), then does this imply that a great deal of the Cell processor and the graphics card's resources will be dedicated to just getting the information off the disc?
That's gotta limit the graphical potential of games on BluRay...and if they are crippled, then shouldn't DVD9 be large enough anyways?
I'm no tech genious, so correct me where I'm completely wrong (I'm guessing in the region of 90%)
The Wallbanger @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:45PM
From the article, "Something else to consider is that, at the same event, Microsoft revealed that its Xbox 360 would eventually be able to play discs from the rival HD-DVD format... on an optional, external drive. As countless add-ons, including Sony's own HDD, have proven, if it doesn't come standard, it almost certainly doesn't stand a chance."
Does this include the DVR functions that will need an optional HDD, and TV tuner? Or the "Slingbox" functionality that they won't have for years into the future?
Oh yeah, DVR functionality was also pushed as a feature of PS2, but that never came to fruition. Hmmm...
Dan Choi @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:49PM
If it helps, I believe the links Kamalot wanted to provide were the following (sorry, all I see are ellipses on my end, too):
http://www.megahobby.com/cgi-bin/shopper.exe?preadd=action&key=POL4000
and
http://lostgarden.com/2005/12/convergence-great-word-to-hate.html
Kamalot @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:56PM
Thanks Dan!
Dralt @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:59PM
Does the 360 still play games?
Didn't Microsoft start that media-center-convergence-HD-digital-media-integration trend?
What did you expect?
After Microsoft started the ball rolling, Sony must follow or be left behind.
For Sony, it's damned if you don't, damned if you do.
Embassy @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:06PM
woo..sony fans get ready to take out a second mortage or save your college financial aid...and get ready to be amazed by the everything-station 3...
Soo Knee @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:12PM
So Sony is sticking with the PSX? Hmm, that system cost what $700-$800 without a blu-ray drive?
I thought the PS3 wasn't coming with a hard drive.
Does this mean a slew of accessories to bring the cost up to what, the price of a computer?!
bd @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:14PM
I love how PS3 threads have solely comments made by Xbox 360 fans.
"The problem with the cheaper SKU is that it plays blu-ray games (as if there will be any) and not movies"
This is retarded. Obviously all PS3s will play Blu-ray movies out of the box - if not, that would entirely cripple Sony's attempt to make the Blu-ray a standard. Why would they sell them for 300 anyway if it still has the blu-ray disc player? It's impressive how gullible some people can be. What Sony should do, is offer a single SKU that costs 500 dollars and includes a 120 GB hard drive; developers would like having HDD as a standard.
"4. They said exactly the same thing for the ps2, and im still waiting for the toys story graphics."
Toy Story graphics are pretty relative, and honestly the FFX in-game graphics are close to the cut-scenes. Want Toy Story graphics? Watch the cut-scenes. I'm still waiting for the Xbox 1 to show me graphics like the video they showed with the huge robot and the funky girl.
"In memory of the immortal words of Josh Robinson;
"Ive also talked with people on the technical side of the Xbox 360. The consistent comment I am hearing from people on my end is, 'The Xbox 360 is better'," Robinson wrote.
"They are saying that it is capable of just doing more.""
Immortal? Hahahaha, if he cited any source, that would be swell; the opinion is divided though, so nobody cares about Josh Robinson. Stop being so gullible, people.
"Oh yeah, DVR functionality was also pushed as a feature of PS2, but that never came to fruition. Hmmm..."
It did. It's called "PSX", sold only in Japan.
"If some PS3 games ever actually come out on BluRay (DVD9 not large enough), then does this imply that a great deal of the Cell processor and the graphics card's resources will be dedicated to just getting the information off the disc? "
No, you have a "BD-reader" (a blue laser) to do that. The processor and graphics card will be used for AI, physics, polygon rendering, etcetera.
copa @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:17PM
Best news from the article:
"It will also allow the PS3 to stream all major video and audio formats over a home network."
Once Sony officially announces DivX support, Microsoft will have no choice but to follow suit. Competition is good!
Nossy @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:21PM
Huh? What about a unified online gaming service? How is this (Tivo-like function, music service) an assault on Live? Umm yeah, just like PSP's 16x9 widescreen and MPEG4/MP3 playback is a "full assualt" on the NDS. Where's the games? I hope we don't see a "PSP-game drought" on the PS3. I hope Kaz Harai don't come out and praises the "success" of video/music purchases of the PS3 (Just like he did with UMD for PSP) instead of the "great games" that are missing. I think it's about time to sell my PSP.
Abe @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:25PM
What Microsoft did right with the Xbox 360 is that it built in some WMC extender capabilites, but it wasn't the focal point of the 360. They alway said games come first. The Xbox is for gaming. Like a lot of people have said lately with what little news Sony has revealed, what about the games? I bought an Xbox 360 to play hi-def games. I'll buy a PS3 to play hi-def games, too, but I'm starting to wonder if the games aren't a priority anymore for the PS3. And to lose that focus, I feel, is going to be very costly mistake for Sony. I'm not saying I think the 360 will be more popular than the PS3, but I do think Sony will lose a lot of its lead this generation.
But that's just my opinion.
JuJuBee @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:25PM
By the time this thing comes out, sony is going to be in such financial trouble from losses in all of its other divisions, its going to create a situation where it MUST be a wild success or sony is in trouble. And then if Blu-Ray doesn't take off the way DVD did, it will create a really difficult situation indeed. If it gets too serious and they are forced out of the hardware biz, I hope they at least keep making games for MS and Nintendo consoles the way Sega does. I would miss alot of their games.
Blizz419 @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:26PM
Blah, i'm alset with the PS3 Josh Johnson did say it best didnt he cyberclaws, and DVD9 is big enough, the only reason PS3 really needs bluray is for 2 reasons one in attempt to win over HD-DVD and also the cell processor is desined with streaming in mind, were the 360's Processcor was made with compression in mind, the 360 can decompress files on the fly while like the PS2 which had no image compression is more reliant on streaming, the 360 can fit more stuff on less storage space than the PS3 due to this. Then you got Nintendo which are experts at making extremely efficiant machines, Sony has never had an advantage as of yet on the hardware side there only expertise is in there marketing.
Blizz419 @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:29PM
JUJUBEE, what games are you speaking of, all there games are 3rd party games and a few second party, i dont think there are any actual 1st pary sony games.
LMAO @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:29PM
LOL, bd, as I recalled you were all over the Xbox360 threads with solely comments about a "superior PS3." Now you are accussing Xbox fans of the same thing. Certainly a hypocrite.
Balor @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:32PM
Sounds to me, like the PS3 is quickly becoming a PSX2 and we all know what happened to PSX1.
ill trooper @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:33PM
Look, if you want to 'next-gen' game, get ready to take your lumps. The 360 isn't cheap either - I factor in the cost of my HDTV I bought to play it on as well. I have 6 games for it, an extra controller, and countless 'microtransactions' that add up. Oh yeah, the LIVE subscription. I'll concede I did not need the woodgrain faceplate, but I did spend the money. An HD-DVD drive in the future? No way I'll have some other thing dangleing off the back of the 360. But the point is, Microsoft is going to offer it and that means 'more money.'
The PS3 is probably going to be expensive, but only a little ahead of the 360...
bd @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:38PM
"the 360 can decompress files on the fly while like the PS2 which had no image compression is more reliant on streaming, the 360 can fit more stuff on less storage space than the PS3 due to this"
The PS3 can do that too; I love how xbox fanboys repeat what they read (in blogs) with nothing to back themselves up.
Examples of why the PS3 can procedurally generate content (that is, "on the fly") are:
-The use of the development tool "SpeedTree" which generates forests procedurally
-Caspar Sawyer, an advanced engineer that works for SCEE will talk about how to use the SPUs (namely, the Cell) for procedural geometry.
Fanboys... the lot of you.
Andrew @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:42PM
Well, most of it sounds pretty suspect, but the one thing that intrigues me would be the ability to download TV shows and whatnot over the online service. I mean, I love being able to down videos via iTunes, but, ya'know, some videos were made for viewing on nice big 40-inch TVs, not my dinky little iPod.
Here's hoping that Microsoft or Sony replicate the iTunes experience for the living room.
Kit @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:47PM
Is anyone else concerned that a downloaded 1 hour TV episode in High Def would be like 2 Gig =]
[quote]
They include DVR functionality, "high-def movie and TV episode downloads" in an iTunes/Connect-like way
[/quote]
I really want Sony to have a strong Online go of things, and hopefully their streaming media does force Xbox360 to support streaming video (AND DIVX/XVID %!@$@#!) without a windows media center pc....
Back to earning money to put in my Ps3's college fund...
GTFO @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:49PM
Hah the downfall of Microsoft is getting closer.
SuicideNinja @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:58PM
There are a lot of good comments in this article.
Peripheral attachments do so poorly because they have no game support. The PS2 hard drive only supports 2-3 games if I remember right; the only one that needs it is FFXI. The only thing it is really useful for is the non-Sony-approved HDLoader so your games will load faster. A network adapter is needed for that, and it happens to be the only thing it is good for as well.
Another example: my friend gave me a Gamecube microphone that he found in his car. Come to find it is essentially worthless, just like their broadband adapter.
As someone else mentioned, the 360 should fair well because they are putting games as a priority. The other functions are great, but if they don't directly support the games then it is obvious they are less important. This is what Sony missed with the PSP.
#2 is spot on as far as far as this article goes. If Sony tries to cram too much in there, it will do each function poorly.
As far as movies and music downloads go, this is still something Microsoft could easily offer if the need arises. But they better start producing bigger hard drives at a decent price.
As far as DVR, consumers would be better off with a Media Center PC. I have no need for DVR myself.
The PS3 Bluray using the Cell processor for part of its functions shouldn't affect the games. Even if it did, the developers would/should optimize if it put any drag on the system. The only problem there is we end up with more proprietary Sony parts that are difficult to service.
I don't know about you, but as long as the PS3 has good games and GOOD online support, then I will be mostly happy with it. I don't care about all these extra features. If that controller sucks, I hope some 3rd party hardware vendor produces a good replacement.
Sense @ Feb 3rd 2006 4:01PM
Personally, I love the extra media functionality. I enjoy it right now on my 360.
My question is, will all of this media functionality work with any home network? Will it work with any home computer or mp3 player?
Or, will all of this functionality be restricted to only Sony products? Sony is really bad about proprietary media and hardware. I wouldn't want to be forced to fill my home with Sony products just to get the most out of my PS3.
I hope PS3 and 360 start expanding their media functions. I just hope that they find a way to make it seamless and not intrude on the games.
b @ Feb 3rd 2006 4:01PM
nintendo wins.
anyway, so how much are these blue ray dvd's going to cost themselves, and what will motivate people to buy them instead, majority being people who own hdtv's. a slight clarity upgrade? is it worth the price?
Cyberclaws @ Feb 3rd 2006 4:03PM
I think that MS and The Big N have learned that keeping cordial relations with each other is producing favorable results. It's almost like a Highlander flick, Sean Connery played by Nintendo and McCloud played by Microsoft and the 'Big Bad Guy' played by Sony. MS and Nintendo seem to be 'buddies' right now, but in the end, there can only be one! Heheheh
[Edited out something concerning bd]
dsub @ Feb 3rd 2006 4:51PM
nothing but fanboy propoganda. end of story.
it's on a playstation 3 forum. and look...I can make an "unofficial magazine scan" too.
http://www.imageviper.com/displayimage/24275/0/magazine.jpg
Andrew @ Feb 3rd 2006 4:52PM
bd, the PS3 can handle procedural generation -- for that matter, the Revolution could as well, but the question is whether or not it's to code that way. The slight advantage that Microsoft has however is that the XNA environment makes it much quicker to do so. How much of a difference that makes is up in the air, but the one thing that Microsoft has done right is, on the software end at least, making the 360 developer-friendly.
JuJuBee @ Feb 3rd 2006 5:08PM
"Big Bad Guy"
The big bad guy is Clancy Brown.
"Its better to burn out then to fade away!"
Sorry, great movie and so I had to get Clancy's back on that one.
Nice analogy too. :)
And Blizz419, I'm talking about games like SOCOM, Gran Turismo, Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, God of War, ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, etc. All great games. I would hate to see them go.
LaughingMan @ Feb 3rd 2006 5:16PM
I agree with No.26's comments, a high def download of a hour long tv episode would be insanely long! And high def movies? Jesus, I thought those demos on XBL take a long time.
As far as all the other stuff, hey I hope Sony can pull off some of this stuff. When companies compete to make the best product possible, we all win. But I couldnt help but hear the faint sound of a cash register every time a feature was mentioned. If the 360 cost $400 (w/harddrive) I can't see how the PS3 will cost anything less than $500 (if all these features turn out to be true)
cap-n-crunch @ Feb 3rd 2006 5:17PM
Does anyone else remember thoose pictures in Gamepro magazine that showed the PS2 souped up with a keyboard and mouse running on a open source linnux os that was suppose to let you web browse and make your own games?
They showed it right before the Gamecube and xbox launch.
I not going to get too excited at about any hype sony says. But it would be cool it if it did that stuff. If they said they were going to push the launch back a two or three I might start believe some of it.
SuicideNinja @ Feb 3rd 2006 7:10PM
#36, Sony did actually release "Linux for PS2". The release was very limited, and it didn't run that well (the PS2 has what, a 300mhz processor in it, and only 32mb RAM?). In order to get it now, you have to mod your PS2 and get a hacked version of it (or a hack that will allow "rhino" to run), or find it on ebay ($200+). It's not worth it. You can browse the internet with a PS2 just with the online CD that comes with the Network Adapter...it's somewhat of a hack (like the original PSP browser hack). Don't get too excited though.
You can also install Linux on the Xbox, and make the Gamecube a Linux client. The Xbox is the only machine that makes a linux install worthwhile and useful (as a PC). You can even get a PSX emulator for the XBox.
I'm waiting for Sony to claim the PS3 could emulate the Xbox 360. They've made equally stupid claims before.
meyt @ Feb 3rd 2006 7:27PM
"Toy Story graphics are pretty relative, and honestly the FFX in-game graphics are close to the cut-scenes. Want Toy Story graphics? Watch the cut-scenes. I'm still waiting for the Xbox 1 to show me graphics like the video they showed with the huge robot and the funky girl."
oh, please. Don't you even know what your are talking about? I loved ffx and ffxi fmvs, but When i was refering to sony's quote on the Toy story graphics, it is because it would be done in real time.
We all know sony and kuturagi are real liars to the bone. They just hype their things so much that its becoming Incredibly stupid, and still some people follow them and believe them, even if it defies the laws of the realism.
Sony already said they would sell videos and chapters of your favorite video games, like add-ons, on the ps2 with the hdd and online. Bullshit.
They also said playing ps2 would be like entering the matrix, and that they feared terrorism would use the ps2 as a super computer to launch and guide missiles.
So, please...
As for your exemple with the xbox, i dont care at all.
I love my xbox, just as much as i love my ps2 and my gamecube, and we know that every compagnies are lying at some point, because they want to sell. But sony is going so far that it is ridiculous. And whats more stupid is that some people actually believe them.
m3mnoch @ Feb 3rd 2006 7:47PM
maybe it's just me, but i think doom 3 or half-life 2 look hella better than the robot and girl video....
hell. they look better than that freaky redhead-matrix-joanna-dark video for the xbox 360. is that thing supposed to be impressive?
ghost recon, gears of war, fight night -- lord, even basketball games look better than that video.
m3mnoch.
Jim @ Feb 3rd 2006 7:50PM
PSX3 then?
bd @ Feb 3rd 2006 8:06PM
Hey Cyberclaws, [edited out]
Don't worry though; you might be correct, but only time will prove right... or wrong.
stop with the stupid Toy Story graphics quote! @ Feb 3rd 2006 8:32PM
See URL:
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-250632.html
"Gates and Seamus Blackley, head of Microsoft's Xbox division, ran demonstrations of several Xbox titles, which featured detailed graphics and smooth animation that looked more like a Disney movie than current video games....
One of the basic premises of the Xbox is to put the power in the hands of the artist," Blackley said, which is why Xbox developers "are achieving a level of visual detail you really get in 'Toy Story.'""
I dunno if Sony promised Toy Story graphics, they probably did, as it was the most common frame of reference for people at the time. But MS certainly did too.
As to Sony showing a PS2 with a mouse and keyboard running linux...
http://playstation2-linux.com/
Sony shipped it. A friend has it. There's plenty of hacking done on it, the PS2 cogswap loader exploit was developed on it. Not many units were sold (or even offered). It came with a keyboard, hard drive, mouse, network adaptor and VGA out cable (VGA is somewhat limited, maxing out at VESA 1024x768/60Hz).
The PS2 can definitely decompress on the fly, the PS1 could decompress on the fly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation
"Data Decompression Engine
This engine is also inside the main CPU. It is responsible for decompressing images and video. Documented device mode is to read three RLE-encoded 16%uFFFD16 macroblocks, run IDCT and assemble a single 16%uFFFD16 RGB macroblock. Output data may be transferred directly to GPU via DMA. It is possible to overwrite IDCT matrix and some additional parameters, however MDEC internal instruction set was never documented."
The PS2 contains an entire PS1 (the I/O chip is a PS1) so the PS2 can definitely decompress on the fly, in fact the PS2 had more decompression capabilities. Note that in case, "in the CPU" means in the chip, the decompression capabilities were extensions to MIPS, not just part of the regular CPU operation.
Wise up. Where do you space cadets come from? I've said it before, I'll say it again, there is no fanboy like an Xbox fanboy (because an Xbox fanboy don't stop).
Now, the comments about PS3 being cheap because main processor can handle the work was in reference to a PS3 versus a dedicated BluRay player. A dedicated BluRay player would need a pretty beefy processor, a bunch of RAM and such in order to decode the audio and video on the disc. The PS3 already has this stuff in order to play games, so you don't have to duplicate it in there to play BluRay discs. In other words, those who say PS3 will be expensive by stating that the BluRay drive will be expensive because standalone BluRay players are expensive are adding in extra costs that won't be there.
That's a misunderstanding, not a crazed fanboy thing though.
Anyway, I don't see PS3 as being all that cheap. It'll be cheap for what you get, like 360 is, but it won't be $250 at launch I don't think.
And back to the original article crapping on Sony's online stuff, yeah, I'll say they're unproven so far. But to say that it can't be all that because the HD in PS3 is optional is a bit weird since the HD in 360 is optional too and no one says that makes Live suck.
Live 360 sets a high bar. But I'll say this, 360 can be beat. For example, if I could stream video to it without running a special MS OS on my computer at extra cost (if MS will even sell it to you!), it'd be a big advantage over the 360.
Brad @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:13PM
Trust me people. Take everything Sony says with a grain of salt. With a launch in 2006, I seriously doubt the online aspect of the PS3 won't even be added until next year.
jc @ Feb 3rd 2006 10:54PM
Xbox 360 costs around $600-$700 to manufacture without the inclusion of Blu-ray, Cell processor and bunch of things PS3 is announced to have, and MS is still losing considerable wad of cash everytime a unit is sold.
Just how much is Sony willing to lose on this next-gen war???? Just looking at the bare minimum spec they released like Blu-ray and Cell CPU, this thing must cost them at least $1000 to manufacture. Just Blu-ray drive alone will cost them at least $400 to include in PS3.
I plan to buy both Xbox 360 & PS3 and honestly I don't care about all the features Sony's trying to cram into PS3. I watch videos and listen to much on my computer just fine, and I most definitely don't need a Blu-ray player.
Maybe when I get several grands to blow on a super hi-res HDTV, then I might consider getting a Blu-ray player, but not with TV I got right now.
Sony can wish that people will go out and spend crazy amount of cash right now to just enjoy the benefits of Blu-ray spectacles of PS3, but honestly you need invest at least $2000 on your TV to notice the difference between Blu-ray movies and common DVD.
Most people are not willing to invest kind of money on a "Gaming system".
Remember, Sony?? It's supposed to be a gaming system.
There were days when people were just happy with their gaming system and most people still are. With all the hype that surrounded with PS2's DVD player function, how many people do you think actually plays their DVD movies with PS2??
Most people simply don't care. With the kind of money I'm spending of my next-gen 'game' console, I'd rather have 10 awsome must-have games than some half-baked media center. What I mean is I'd rather hear from Sony that they got exclusive rights to several mega game franchises like FF, Resident Evil, etc than the news of Blu-ray drive or media center fuctions on PS3
Although I love all big 3, I think Nintendo and Microsoft are really getting their acts together in terms of their focus. This time, Nintendo is focusing on new 'innovation in gaming' blended with its never-waning sense of fun flavour it always had, and Microsoft is concentrating not only on the visuals, but also the ever improving Xbox Live that made game connectivity so much easier.
On the other hand, Sony seems to be all over the place with too many things they want to implement. They seem to be losing focus when it comes to getting clear message across consumers. I'm sure PS3 will sell tons of units, but that will only force Sony go deeper into their financial troubles. What will save them are profits from game softwares. That's where the money's at.
What Sony should do is to minimize the cost on hardwares and maximize the profits from softwares. No matter how many features they put, the number of PS3 shipped won't change very much because it will be very popular even if Sony puts out PS3 with bare minimum feature sets, and therefore any more features they tack onto PS3 will only hurt Sony's bank account in the end.
I just wish that Sony mindset goes back to it's PS1 days.. It's the incredible games that allowed Sony to break into this business, not the hardware.
jc @ Feb 3rd 2006 11:10PM
oh one more thing.
There's NO WAY Sony will have DIVX/XVID streaming enabled on PS3!
Sony owns a movie studio, remember?
DIVX/XVID is the format that almost every single illigal moves are encoded in, which makes it the undisputed king of formats that are on Sony's blacklist. Sony hated MP3 so much that they developed their own got aweful ATRAC format exclusively for their audio players.
On top of that Sony's own record division went as far as putting DRM(root kit) spyware to their CDs to prevent piracy.
Sony suffers from extreme paranoia when it comes to media piracy, so there is no way DIVX/XIVD streaming will be allow on PS3. More like the exact opposite is more plausable.
play free games @ Feb 4th 2006 1:08AM
Well, all these functions sound awesome, but will this dvr be able to record my hd tv shows while I'm playing a blu-ray disc or a ps3 game? All this great tech will probably set us back some serious $$$. I also agree with the above poster that I doubt Sony is gonna let me play my divx and xvid files on this machine. The final ps3 will be many comprimises of the described features. All of them together is too good to be true.
Rare Hare @ Feb 4th 2006 1:56AM
Cyberclaws (#32):
...
[edited out]?? i'm sorry, but that's the stupidest thing i've heard in quite a while.
what's the point in trying to create some retarded fantasy out of corporate rivalries? Nintendo and Microsoft.. buddies? that's idiotic. just because you happen to be a Microsoft fanboy, and Nintendo has seemingly chosen to not compete on the same level as Microsoft and Sony, doesn't make Microsoft and Nintendo allies against Sony.
[edited out]
.. GOD that was a stupid comment..
m3mnoch @ Feb 4th 2006 2:12AM
"In other words, those who say PS3 will be expensive by stating that the BluRay drive will be expensive because standalone BluRay players are expensive are adding in extra costs that won't be there."
uh. i kind of agree with you. mpeg2 decoding hardware capable of decoding an hd stream has been around for about 10 years now. that's certainly not where the blu-ray gets expensive.
it's the manufacturing process for that fancy triple-action, .85 aperture blue laser head that's expensive. the margin for error is so incredibly small (40% more than hd-dvd by the way) that it just plain takes longer/fails qa/more throw aways/costs more.
now, combine that with the crazy high-margin for error blu-ray disc manufacturing process -- 1 in 5 discs of that first run of charlie's angels were coasters -- and stick it to a board that actually has 9 processors on it -- just in case up to 2 of the dies are hosed -- because the yields are so error prone and you have yourself one damn sexy, super expensive, low failure tolerance machine.
boy-howdy, don't that make you feel fuzzy about the ps3's chances at launch. especially with all the hub-bub over the 'complicated' process of putting together xbox 360s. hell. they're tinker toys compared to the assembly magic the ps3 will require.
that's why they are going to be so very expensive. not because of some silly mpeg decoder chipset who's technology has been around for a decade.
m3mnoch.
bd @ Feb 4th 2006 2:14AM
"bd, the PS3 can handle procedural generation -- for that matter, the Revolution could as well, but the question is whether or not it's to code that way. The slight advantage that Microsoft has however is that the XNA environment makes it much quicker to do so. How much of a difference that makes is up in the air, but the one thing that Microsoft has done right is, on the software end at least, making the 360 developer-friendly."
Yeah, but that was not the point. Someone above mentioned it wasn't possible to do on PS3 which is wrong, and in fact Revolution will apparently be able to do it too. Anyway, XNA might make it easier to compress everything, but then again a good programmer will know how to compress everything. What is likely to occupy less space on 360 discs compared to PS3 discs are FMV, since the 360 will probably use WMV-like codecs for that, while the PS3 is likely to use MPEG-2, which occupies more space.
m3mnoch @ Feb 4th 2006 2:16AM
uh. meant margin of error is big. big. not small. small margin of error good. big error bad.
uhg. uhg. me likes games.
m3mnoch.