At 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing in Tokyo, Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutagari revealed following details about the PS3 and PSP's.
PS3
PSP
Update
Playstation 3 will be region free
SONY has confirmed that its next generation Playstation three will be region free, at least for gaming.
The outfit had hinted that the move was possible some months ago but it was only officially confirmed yesterday.
Ironically the move is designed to combat piracy. If game players can’t play imported games they tend to chip their consoles, which in turn allows pirates to release illegal copies. Illegal games also run better on chipped consoles.
The move would also enable games makers to do world-wide launches of games, particularly as Blu-Ray will mean that multiple languages can be stored on each disk.
The one caveat of this new region-free structure is that games made for specific regions' electrical and TV standards may have problems on your TV set. A PAL PS3 game, for instance, will have difficulty running on an NTSC TV, unless the developers have thought ahead and planned for that issue.
It is currently unknown how the PS3 will cope with this problem (whether there will be a warning when you run an import about possible TV incompatibility, or if possibly there might be a no-play screen for incompatible games depending on your PS3's TV settings.) Luckily, modern HDTV standards go a long way towards making that problem moot.
Also, games made in other countries will naturally only have the text and dialog it is programmed with, so don't put your pre-orders down so fast on all of those Japanese RPGs and Dragon Ball if you don't know a lick of kanji, because English will only be in if the developers have planned for it.
It's unknown if there will be any type of "patching" system for multi-language releases, although that might be possible on supported games post-release now that the PS3 is carrying its massive HDD and flash memory support.
[break=Basic Sony Network Platform for PS3 confirmed free-of-charge]
Update
Basic Sony Network Platform for PS3 confirmed free-of-charge
Phil Harrison, President of Sony Computer Entertainment's Worldwide Stuidios, opened his keynote address by reiterating his company's promise that its PlayStation 3 console will ship worldwide in November of this year, with production capacity slated to be about one million units per month.
He also made clear that the PS3's basic online service would be free of charge to subscribers, laying down the gauntlet for Microsoft's competing Xbox Live service, said to be the jewel in that company's crown.
Dubbed the Sony Network Platform, the basic service will feature universal login, matchmaking (in terms of player versus player, rather than romantic), and skill rankings. Users can send text messages, but more interestingly, they can also partake in continuous video chat, seamlessly overlaid on game screens.
Extending the marketing model for games, Network Platform subscribers will also be able to purchase amended and enhanced content in the form of new levels, equipment and characters. Sony has plans to accept subscription and micro payments.
But also extending Sony's revenue model for gaming will be extensive in-game advertising, made feasible through the Network Platform - and perhaps explaining its free basic service tier.
The first SDK for developers for Network Platform will be released next week, and the final production environment will appear in September. The basic service will be free of charge, though it isn't exactly clear just yet where Basic service ends and "extended" service begins. Sony will take care of all the backend services and server farms will be installed in Asia, Europe and America. However, Sony will allow third-party game servers, like those for massive multiplayer games, to be connected.
[break=PlayStation 3 European pricing revealed]
Update
PlayStation 3 European pricing revealed
The president of Sony Computer Entertainment France and vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, George Fornay, is talking price when it comes to the PlayStation 3.
In a radio show with France's Europe 1, Fornay said that the PlayStation 3 will sell for between €499 and €599. Fornay acknowledged that the price may seem steep, but he emphasized that that price should be seen as inexpensive when one considers that the console will also play Blu-ray movies. Fornay also confirmed that Sony would be going for a simultaneous launch of the console in November of this year.
Strict currency translation suggests that American pricing may be in the range of US $605 to $726, but currency exchange alone can't tell the story. Case in point: the Xbox 360. In the United States, the Xbox 360 retails for $399, which is only €320 in exchange. Yet the Xbox 360 is priced at €399 throughout most of Europe.
If the PlayStation 3 follows the Xbox 360, the console may arrive in North America for US $499 to $599. This would easily make the PS3 the most expensive console on the market, with Microsoft's two next-gen systems coming in at $399 and $299. To round out the scene, recall that Nintendo is looking to launch the Revolution for less than $300.
With the Xbox 360 priced at $399 and a potential PS3 pricing of at least $499, the days of multi-console ownership may be coming to an end for many gamers. Or, perhaps not. Mario and friends may not be everyone's first choice when it comes to this next round of console action, but with most observers expecting inexpensive games on top of a fairly priced console, Nintendo may reap dividends for its strategy.
[break=Sony denies the 600 Euro price]
Update
Sony denies the 600 Euro price
In an official response, SCEE corporate communications did not confirm reports that the PS3 will cost up to 600 Euro. Instead, the company told gamesindustry.biz that the indication of a price point has been "a mistranslation or misunderstanding of the discussion, which was actually focused on the relative value of PS3 as a Blu-ray Disc player."
Retailers familiar with the European market have noted that price quotes for that market generally contain nationwide taxes, which can range between 15-20% for countries throughout the EU.
Assuming Georges Fornay intended to draw an allegory for the Europe 1 interviewer, with €500 - 600 as the base price range in that ballpark, and with French sales taxes as high as 20%, Fornay's estimates would translate to between $489 - 587.
This is assuming today's currency exchange rates, however, which are subject to change, especially in the wake of skyrocketing energy prices, as well as the soaring price of gold and other commodities.
[break=Inside the PS3]
Inside the PS3
We will first start with some background information concerning Sony's PlayStation 3 competition that is known as the Xbox 360.
One of the first things that one notices when they utilize the Xbox 360 is that it has an operating system running constantly in the background, even while playing games. This is a new feature as far as dedicated Game Console hardware is concerned.
The operating system running in the background enables,
Balancing these out, one could argue that MS has removed a total of 4% of the Xbox 360's total available system power in order to provide these features and more which were not mentioned. They also left room, CPU and RAM wise, for future features. In other words, they are not using all of the CPU time and RAM that they have reserved to date.
This brings us to the information we have concerning the PS3. As some gamers have heard, Sony revealed at GDC this year that they will be constantly reserving 1 of the 7 available SPEs on the Cell Processor for their OS. This, we have discovered, is just the tip of the iceberg.
As was witnessed in their demonstrations at GDC, Sony is planning to have an Operating System running constantly in the background, just like one witnesses when using the Xbox 360 OS (aka Dashboard). They plan to have a "Blade" like pane that can appear out of the right hand side of the screen for viewing and participating in activities that the OS enables.
This include but are not limited to,
The 1 SPE that can be taken away, by the system, from the games at a moments notice could be for the purposes of rendering the Blade and decoding and presenting the multiple video sources and other content onto the Blade when it appears to the user.
This will have minimal to no impact on the ability of single player games to utilize the SPE, though it will likely add complications during development of games for the system. The main impact would be in Online Multiplayer games that do not have a pause option available and thus will have increased difficulty in relinquishing the SPE.
[break=Sony Playstation 3 is far from complete]
Sony Playstation 3 is far from complete
The news about PS3s being scarce at E3 is kind of troubling to me, but not totally unexpected.
We are about six months from launch, and debugging should be done, prototypes and dev kits should flow like water, and all the tame magazines should already have one. The situation is rather different though, they are nowhere, and there are two related reasons behind this.
The first is size. People tell us that the current PS3s are about 50% too large to fit in the sleek but empty boxes they have been showing off. This is a problem, but a solvable one, electronics always get smaller. Time solves all, and there is still time, just not much.
More troubling to me is that Sony is still bidding on components for the boxes. This means the development is far from final, and it will be debugging up to, and in a Microsoft overheating manner, past the last minute. Not a good sign.
Overall, I think it will be out late in the year, but Sony will push the launch out as far as humanly possible. If you have one on your non-denominational year end holiday list, you may be waiting in XBox360esqe lines to get your toys. Basically, don't hold your breath waiting, you may be blue till next spring.
[break=Playstation 3 To Be Fat And Retarded]
Playstation 3 To Be Fat And Retarded
The PS3 launch looks bleaker and bleaker. We already reported that, yes, Sony will have no bananas  or rather, PS3s  at E3 this year. But a couple more insidious rumors about the PS3 are going around.
The first rumor is that, currently, the innards of a Playstation 3 are too large to functionally fit in the case. Although fat people can suck in their massive guts or cram fists fulls of cellulite down into a slimming girdle, no such option exists for the PS3, meaning that either the sleek and empty cases they’ve been showing off will have to grow larger to accommodate the electronic bulk or the components themselves will have to shrink… and soon.
The second rumor? Sony is still bidding on components. As Inquirer states: “This means the development is far from final, and it will be debugging up to, and in a Microsoft overheating manner, past the last minute. Not a good sign.â€
The last bit of bleakness is the rather astounding news that the OS that the PS3 will be running on will consume 25% of the system’s core and 18.75% of the system RAM! Holy crap! Don’t we buy consoles so we don’t have to deal with that sort of OS overhead?
[break=Sony Drops PlayStation 2 Prices]
Sony Drops PlayStation 2 Prices
Sony cuts PlayStation 2 price to $129 ahead of PS3 release
In the latest sign that the company's PlayStation 3 release will make it in November on time, Sony announced late yesterday a much-expected price drop for its current inventory of PlayStation 2 consoles, from $149 to $129.99 ($139.99 in Canada).
While Sony's PlayStation 3 is on the back burner, it's PlayStation 2 is still doing fairly well. New games are being released for it even still, and coming soon to North American shores is the highly anticipated release of Square's Final Fantasy 12.
In anticipation of PlayStation supporters everywhere, Sony has announced that the price for its PlayStation 2 console has been reduced down to $129 from a previous $149. Sony hopes that the price cut will give its gaming presence an ever greater boost.
Sony's PlayStation 2 to date has sold more than 101 million units. Some were expecting that Sony would drop the price of the PlayStation 2 down to $99, to match that of Nintendo's GameCube.
However, Sony doesn't appear to feel the need to as Nintendo's GameCube is not enjoying much success recently in terms of unit sales and software volume. Sony's PlayStation 2 also commands the largest volume of games for consoles in its generation as well as those ahead of it.
In several weeks, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), will be occuring and many are expecting Sony to release a few surprises. Unfortunately, another E3 will pass by before gamers get to pick up a PlayStation 3 console from their favorite store.
The PS2 price cut was reflected immediately on major online retailers' sites, including Amazon.com, Circuit City, and WalMart.com.
[break=Playstation 3 chips being tested]
Playstation 3 chips being tested
THE KING Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) has hinted that it will start testing the PS3 chips next week.
According to Digitimes, the company, while refusing to give much in the way of details, confirmed that orders for PSP have already started.
Deep throats within the company have said that the first batch of chips will be tested next week. Apparently the outfit has been testing engineering chipset samples for PS3 for a while.
KYEC will test the graphics processing unit (GPU) for the PSP, it also has a commission from Microsoft to do the southbridge for the Xbox 360.
Sources at equipment makers stated that KYEC has already started testing engineering chipset samples for PS3. The IC testing house also undertakes testing of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for the PSP as well as the southbridge for the Xbox 360.
KYEC is positive about its performance this quarter, and it is seeing relatively strong performance in testing of logic ICs, according to a Chinese-language Central News Agency report.
[break=Teams working on PlayStation HUB, PS3 back-compatibility]
Teams working on PlayStation HUB, PS3 back-compatibility
Software emulation for backwards compatibility progressing well, claims source
Key elements of the technology for PlayStation 3 - including the PlayStation Network Platform and the software to enable back-compatibility with PS and PS2 games - are being worked on at Sony's UK studios, GamesIndustry.biz has learned.
Sources at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have revealed that technology for the PlayStation Network Platform is being developed at Sony's London studio, under the internal name of "PlayStation HUB".
This tallies in with our earlier report about the progress in developing a billing system for the platform with the Royal Bank of Scotland, with testing on that aspect of the network system due to begin next month.
However, as yet it's not clear whether PlayStation HUB is the final name for the system which will be used in the company's marketing, or if a more consumer-friendly name will be chosen before the PS3 launches in November.
Elsewhere in Sony's UK division, other teams are working on the backwards compatibility for the PlayStation 3 - which, one programmer on this project has revealed to GamesIndustry.biz, will be accomplished in software rather than by building the PS2 hardware into the PS3 console, as was the case with the PS2's emulation of the PSone.
Sony has already pledged that all PS2 games which adhered to the company's TRC (technical requirements checklist) will be playable on the PS3 - and according to our source, the software emulation system is progressing well and may indeed meet that lofty goal.
He claimed that a surprising number of PS2 titles are already working on PS3 prototype hardware, and revealed that the emulation tricks being used to mimic the behaviour of the notoriously complex PS2 processors are getting whole swathes of game titles up and running on an ongoing basis.
While our source was positive about the progress being made on backwards compatibility, the team is undoubtedly working under fierce deadline pressures - as if the vast, vast majority of the PS2's software library is not up and running by November, it will be hugely embarrassing for Sony in the wake of the company's frequent touting of compatibility with an existing software library as one of the key features of PS3, and one of its key advantages over the Xbox 360.
[break=PSP Gains Support for Flash, Podcasts]
PSP Gains Support for Flash, Podcasts
Sony delivers the first of three promised software updates for the PlayStation Portable.
Sony Computer Entertainment will begin offering a software update for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) that adds several features, including support for Flash content and the ability to save audio podcasts.
At present, the PSP's Web browser, which itself was added to the device through a software update last year, doesn't display Flash content although the update will change that. It will bring basic compatibility with Macromedia Flash 6, although Sony notes not all functions are supported. On the podcast side, the current player can only handle live streams of files captured through RSS (Really Simple Syndication) but with the update users will be able to download and store files to a Memory Stick for offline playback.
There are several additional functions with the update including support for AAC audio, simplified and traditional Chinese characters, and an enhancement to the LocationFree TV player.
The update, which will take the PSP's firmware to version 2.70, will be available through the device's update function in the main menu and through the Web, said Sony. The company has only announced the update for Japanese versions of the PSP although typically the same update is released for overseas versions at the same time or shortly afterwards.
More to Come
Today's update is one of three promised for this year.
Last month, SCEI President Ken Kutaragi outlined plans for the year and said a second update will follow in the "summer" and will add video podcast support and expand the video profile for the UMD (Universal Media Disc) removable media that the PSP uses.
A final software update, due in the "winter," will add the ability to boot games from Memory Stick media and VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) telephony.
The update for PSPs bought in Japan is available for download.
[break=Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion on PSP and PS3]
Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion on PSP and PS3
Modojo has received word that video game developer Bethesda will be releasing a version of its recent Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RPG title on Sony's next generation console, the PlayStation 3. Not necessarily a surprising move, however the porting doesn't appear to stop there as a PSP version is apparently also in development.
An odd move to say the least, but the Elder Scrolls have seen a portable iteration once before, available on Nokia's N-Gage, so a move to the PSP would certainly be possible.
Both titles are slated with a tentative November 2006 release date, which would imply that the PS3 version could be a launch title.
In other news, a new Star Trek game, titled Tactical Assault, has also been unofficially confirmed to be in development by Bethesda. Available on both the PSP and Nintendo DS, the title currently sports an October 2006 release.
[break=PSM "reveals" PS3 release date, price]
New PlayStation 3 Details Emerge
The latest issue of PSM has revealed new details about the PlayStation 3. While CNN’s Chris Morris claims that Sony won’t announce a price for the PS3 at E3 2006, PSM says the PlayStation 3 is expected to sell for about $399 in the U.S., €322 in Europe and ¥45,965 in Japan.
The magazine also claims that the console will come standard with a 60GB, non-removable hard drive.
For those who care about backward compatibility, PSM also revealed that PSO and PS2 games will run on the PlayStation 3 in 720, 1080i and 1080p.
The magazine also confirms some info we already knew. First, all games will come in Blu-ray Disc media and there won’t be regional lockouts. Second, the launch line-up, as well as the final design for the controller, will be revealed at next month’s E3 expo.
Finally, the console will launch in the first half of November with the PlayStation Network Platform service launching simultaneously with the console and offering free online gameplay.
PS3
- Global Release some time within the first ten days of November 2006.
- 60GB HDD 2.5" with pre-installed Linux OS will be standard (included? we don't know 100%, but it is "required").
- HDD could be used as a "home server," could be directly connected to the Internet, and would be fully "upgradable."
- Hard drive will be necessary to play games, Sony is telling developers to make games assuming every PS3 has a hard drive installed.
- Dev kit specs fix as of today.
- Final PS3 development kits will be sent to developers in June.
- 10.000.000 BD-ROMS manufacturing capability per month @ cost around same as 2-layer DVD.
- Every PS3 game will be on a Blu Ray Disc, in an attempt to prevent piracy.
- Price will not be less than 50.000YEN (~$425USD) [Note that Japanese. prices are usually higher. SPECULATION is that it will be $349-$499 USD].
- PS3 will have HDMI support from launch.
- Sony plans to produce 1 million PS3s a month; 6 million PS3s for FY2006 (by the end of March 07).
- Xbox Live-like online gaming service for the console, which would be called the "PlayStation Network Platform."
- "Basic" online service free, no details yet (and apparently free for games as well unlike XBLS)
- Full backwards compatibility from day 1; hi-res and texture filtering for all titles (akin to what MS does to the few BC titles on 360)
- The online service will be working off of GameSpy technology (co-development with SOE)
PSP
- Videophone & VoIP in autumn.
- GPS (Hot Shots Golf with GPS revealed; October 2006 for Japan).
- Eyetoy.
- Flash support with next update.
- Mem.Stick boot support in autumn.
- First-gen PS1 official emulator.
- Buy/download games from net.
- New RSS channel that will playback internet radio and video content in which you can save for later use.
- 199 CORE PACK PSP being released in USA/Europe by end of March (March 22nd for Europe)
- 19,800 yen Ceramic White PSP CORE PACK from 15 April in Japan
- Starting March 22, gamers will be able to pick up the portable for just $199, versus the $249 Value Pack currently available.
- Europe and Canada will also see the PSP's price drop to 199 euros ($239) and CA$229 ($198), respectively.
- Value Pack contains a 32MB Memory Stick Duo, a soft case, a remote control, and headphones, the only peripherals mentioned as being in the $199 PSP package are an "AC adaptor and battery.
- The company also said that by month's end there will be "more than 107 games and more than 347 feature films, TV programs, and videos from major studios" available for the PSP in North America.
Update
Playstation 3 will be region free
SONY has confirmed that its next generation Playstation three will be region free, at least for gaming.
The outfit had hinted that the move was possible some months ago but it was only officially confirmed yesterday.
Ironically the move is designed to combat piracy. If game players can’t play imported games they tend to chip their consoles, which in turn allows pirates to release illegal copies. Illegal games also run better on chipped consoles.
The move would also enable games makers to do world-wide launches of games, particularly as Blu-Ray will mean that multiple languages can be stored on each disk.
The one caveat of this new region-free structure is that games made for specific regions' electrical and TV standards may have problems on your TV set. A PAL PS3 game, for instance, will have difficulty running on an NTSC TV, unless the developers have thought ahead and planned for that issue.
It is currently unknown how the PS3 will cope with this problem (whether there will be a warning when you run an import about possible TV incompatibility, or if possibly there might be a no-play screen for incompatible games depending on your PS3's TV settings.) Luckily, modern HDTV standards go a long way towards making that problem moot.
Also, games made in other countries will naturally only have the text and dialog it is programmed with, so don't put your pre-orders down so fast on all of those Japanese RPGs and Dragon Ball if you don't know a lick of kanji, because English will only be in if the developers have planned for it.
It's unknown if there will be any type of "patching" system for multi-language releases, although that might be possible on supported games post-release now that the PS3 is carrying its massive HDD and flash memory support.
[break=Basic Sony Network Platform for PS3 confirmed free-of-charge]
Update
Basic Sony Network Platform for PS3 confirmed free-of-charge
Phil Harrison, President of Sony Computer Entertainment's Worldwide Stuidios, opened his keynote address by reiterating his company's promise that its PlayStation 3 console will ship worldwide in November of this year, with production capacity slated to be about one million units per month.
He also made clear that the PS3's basic online service would be free of charge to subscribers, laying down the gauntlet for Microsoft's competing Xbox Live service, said to be the jewel in that company's crown.
Dubbed the Sony Network Platform, the basic service will feature universal login, matchmaking (in terms of player versus player, rather than romantic), and skill rankings. Users can send text messages, but more interestingly, they can also partake in continuous video chat, seamlessly overlaid on game screens.
Extending the marketing model for games, Network Platform subscribers will also be able to purchase amended and enhanced content in the form of new levels, equipment and characters. Sony has plans to accept subscription and micro payments.
But also extending Sony's revenue model for gaming will be extensive in-game advertising, made feasible through the Network Platform - and perhaps explaining its free basic service tier.
The first SDK for developers for Network Platform will be released next week, and the final production environment will appear in September. The basic service will be free of charge, though it isn't exactly clear just yet where Basic service ends and "extended" service begins. Sony will take care of all the backend services and server farms will be installed in Asia, Europe and America. However, Sony will allow third-party game servers, like those for massive multiplayer games, to be connected.
[break=PlayStation 3 European pricing revealed]
Update
PlayStation 3 European pricing revealed
The president of Sony Computer Entertainment France and vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, George Fornay, is talking price when it comes to the PlayStation 3.
In a radio show with France's Europe 1, Fornay said that the PlayStation 3 will sell for between €499 and €599. Fornay acknowledged that the price may seem steep, but he emphasized that that price should be seen as inexpensive when one considers that the console will also play Blu-ray movies. Fornay also confirmed that Sony would be going for a simultaneous launch of the console in November of this year.
Strict currency translation suggests that American pricing may be in the range of US $605 to $726, but currency exchange alone can't tell the story. Case in point: the Xbox 360. In the United States, the Xbox 360 retails for $399, which is only €320 in exchange. Yet the Xbox 360 is priced at €399 throughout most of Europe.
If the PlayStation 3 follows the Xbox 360, the console may arrive in North America for US $499 to $599. This would easily make the PS3 the most expensive console on the market, with Microsoft's two next-gen systems coming in at $399 and $299. To round out the scene, recall that Nintendo is looking to launch the Revolution for less than $300.
With the Xbox 360 priced at $399 and a potential PS3 pricing of at least $499, the days of multi-console ownership may be coming to an end for many gamers. Or, perhaps not. Mario and friends may not be everyone's first choice when it comes to this next round of console action, but with most observers expecting inexpensive games on top of a fairly priced console, Nintendo may reap dividends for its strategy.
[break=Sony denies the 600 Euro price]
Update
Sony denies the 600 Euro price
In an official response, SCEE corporate communications did not confirm reports that the PS3 will cost up to 600 Euro. Instead, the company told gamesindustry.biz that the indication of a price point has been "a mistranslation or misunderstanding of the discussion, which was actually focused on the relative value of PS3 as a Blu-ray Disc player."
Retailers familiar with the European market have noted that price quotes for that market generally contain nationwide taxes, which can range between 15-20% for countries throughout the EU.
Assuming Georges Fornay intended to draw an allegory for the Europe 1 interviewer, with €500 - 600 as the base price range in that ballpark, and with French sales taxes as high as 20%, Fornay's estimates would translate to between $489 - 587.
This is assuming today's currency exchange rates, however, which are subject to change, especially in the wake of skyrocketing energy prices, as well as the soaring price of gold and other commodities.
[break=Inside the PS3]
Inside the PS3
We will first start with some background information concerning Sony's PlayStation 3 competition that is known as the Xbox 360.
One of the first things that one notices when they utilize the Xbox 360 is that it has an operating system running constantly in the background, even while playing games. This is a new feature as far as dedicated Game Console hardware is concerned.
The operating system running in the background enables,
- - Custom Music in all games
- - Simplifying development of Online games
- - Seamless updating of games when the Xbox360 is connected to the Internet
- - Voice Chat across all games, even outside of the games own UI
- - Notifications and messaging to be sent between users regardless of the games they are playing
- - 32mb of the 512mb of available GDDR3 RAM
- - 3% CPU time on Core 1 and Core 2 (nothing is reserved on Core 0)
Balancing these out, one could argue that MS has removed a total of 4% of the Xbox 360's total available system power in order to provide these features and more which were not mentioned. They also left room, CPU and RAM wise, for future features. In other words, they are not using all of the CPU time and RAM that they have reserved to date.
This brings us to the information we have concerning the PS3. As some gamers have heard, Sony revealed at GDC this year that they will be constantly reserving 1 of the 7 available SPEs on the Cell Processor for their OS. This, we have discovered, is just the tip of the iceberg.
As was witnessed in their demonstrations at GDC, Sony is planning to have an Operating System running constantly in the background, just like one witnesses when using the Xbox 360 OS (aka Dashboard). They plan to have a "Blade" like pane that can appear out of the right hand side of the screen for viewing and participating in activities that the OS enables.
This include but are not limited to,
- - Multi-User Voice Chat across all games, even outside of the games own UI
- - Multi-User Video Chat across all games, even outside of the games own UI
- - Notifications and messaging to be sent between users regardless of the games they are playing
- - 64mb of the 256mb of available XDR memory off the Cell CPU
- - 32mb of the 256mb of available GDDR3 memory off the RSX chip
- - 1 SPE of 7 constantly reserved
- - 1 SPE of 7 able to be "taken" by the OS at a moments notice (games have to give it up if requested)
The 1 SPE that can be taken away, by the system, from the games at a moments notice could be for the purposes of rendering the Blade and decoding and presenting the multiple video sources and other content onto the Blade when it appears to the user.
This will have minimal to no impact on the ability of single player games to utilize the SPE, though it will likely add complications during development of games for the system. The main impact would be in Online Multiplayer games that do not have a pause option available and thus will have increased difficulty in relinquishing the SPE.
[break=Sony Playstation 3 is far from complete]
Sony Playstation 3 is far from complete
The news about PS3s being scarce at E3 is kind of troubling to me, but not totally unexpected.
We are about six months from launch, and debugging should be done, prototypes and dev kits should flow like water, and all the tame magazines should already have one. The situation is rather different though, they are nowhere, and there are two related reasons behind this.
The first is size. People tell us that the current PS3s are about 50% too large to fit in the sleek but empty boxes they have been showing off. This is a problem, but a solvable one, electronics always get smaller. Time solves all, and there is still time, just not much.
More troubling to me is that Sony is still bidding on components for the boxes. This means the development is far from final, and it will be debugging up to, and in a Microsoft overheating manner, past the last minute. Not a good sign.
Overall, I think it will be out late in the year, but Sony will push the launch out as far as humanly possible. If you have one on your non-denominational year end holiday list, you may be waiting in XBox360esqe lines to get your toys. Basically, don't hold your breath waiting, you may be blue till next spring.
[break=Playstation 3 To Be Fat And Retarded]
Playstation 3 To Be Fat And Retarded
The PS3 launch looks bleaker and bleaker. We already reported that, yes, Sony will have no bananas  or rather, PS3s  at E3 this year. But a couple more insidious rumors about the PS3 are going around.
The first rumor is that, currently, the innards of a Playstation 3 are too large to functionally fit in the case. Although fat people can suck in their massive guts or cram fists fulls of cellulite down into a slimming girdle, no such option exists for the PS3, meaning that either the sleek and empty cases they’ve been showing off will have to grow larger to accommodate the electronic bulk or the components themselves will have to shrink… and soon.
The second rumor? Sony is still bidding on components. As Inquirer states: “This means the development is far from final, and it will be debugging up to, and in a Microsoft overheating manner, past the last minute. Not a good sign.â€
The last bit of bleakness is the rather astounding news that the OS that the PS3 will be running on will consume 25% of the system’s core and 18.75% of the system RAM! Holy crap! Don’t we buy consoles so we don’t have to deal with that sort of OS overhead?
[break=Sony Drops PlayStation 2 Prices]
Sony Drops PlayStation 2 Prices
Sony cuts PlayStation 2 price to $129 ahead of PS3 release
In the latest sign that the company's PlayStation 3 release will make it in November on time, Sony announced late yesterday a much-expected price drop for its current inventory of PlayStation 2 consoles, from $149 to $129.99 ($139.99 in Canada).
While Sony's PlayStation 3 is on the back burner, it's PlayStation 2 is still doing fairly well. New games are being released for it even still, and coming soon to North American shores is the highly anticipated release of Square's Final Fantasy 12.
In anticipation of PlayStation supporters everywhere, Sony has announced that the price for its PlayStation 2 console has been reduced down to $129 from a previous $149. Sony hopes that the price cut will give its gaming presence an ever greater boost.
Sony's PlayStation 2 to date has sold more than 101 million units. Some were expecting that Sony would drop the price of the PlayStation 2 down to $99, to match that of Nintendo's GameCube.
However, Sony doesn't appear to feel the need to as Nintendo's GameCube is not enjoying much success recently in terms of unit sales and software volume. Sony's PlayStation 2 also commands the largest volume of games for consoles in its generation as well as those ahead of it.
In several weeks, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), will be occuring and many are expecting Sony to release a few surprises. Unfortunately, another E3 will pass by before gamers get to pick up a PlayStation 3 console from their favorite store.
The PS2 price cut was reflected immediately on major online retailers' sites, including Amazon.com, Circuit City, and WalMart.com.
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Playstation 3 chips being tested
THE KING Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) has hinted that it will start testing the PS3 chips next week.
According to Digitimes, the company, while refusing to give much in the way of details, confirmed that orders for PSP have already started.
Deep throats within the company have said that the first batch of chips will be tested next week. Apparently the outfit has been testing engineering chipset samples for PS3 for a while.
KYEC will test the graphics processing unit (GPU) for the PSP, it also has a commission from Microsoft to do the southbridge for the Xbox 360.
Sources at equipment makers stated that KYEC has already started testing engineering chipset samples for PS3. The IC testing house also undertakes testing of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for the PSP as well as the southbridge for the Xbox 360.
KYEC is positive about its performance this quarter, and it is seeing relatively strong performance in testing of logic ICs, according to a Chinese-language Central News Agency report.
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Teams working on PlayStation HUB, PS3 back-compatibility
Software emulation for backwards compatibility progressing well, claims source
Key elements of the technology for PlayStation 3 - including the PlayStation Network Platform and the software to enable back-compatibility with PS and PS2 games - are being worked on at Sony's UK studios, GamesIndustry.biz has learned.
Sources at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have revealed that technology for the PlayStation Network Platform is being developed at Sony's London studio, under the internal name of "PlayStation HUB".
This tallies in with our earlier report about the progress in developing a billing system for the platform with the Royal Bank of Scotland, with testing on that aspect of the network system due to begin next month.
However, as yet it's not clear whether PlayStation HUB is the final name for the system which will be used in the company's marketing, or if a more consumer-friendly name will be chosen before the PS3 launches in November.
Elsewhere in Sony's UK division, other teams are working on the backwards compatibility for the PlayStation 3 - which, one programmer on this project has revealed to GamesIndustry.biz, will be accomplished in software rather than by building the PS2 hardware into the PS3 console, as was the case with the PS2's emulation of the PSone.
Sony has already pledged that all PS2 games which adhered to the company's TRC (technical requirements checklist) will be playable on the PS3 - and according to our source, the software emulation system is progressing well and may indeed meet that lofty goal.
He claimed that a surprising number of PS2 titles are already working on PS3 prototype hardware, and revealed that the emulation tricks being used to mimic the behaviour of the notoriously complex PS2 processors are getting whole swathes of game titles up and running on an ongoing basis.
While our source was positive about the progress being made on backwards compatibility, the team is undoubtedly working under fierce deadline pressures - as if the vast, vast majority of the PS2's software library is not up and running by November, it will be hugely embarrassing for Sony in the wake of the company's frequent touting of compatibility with an existing software library as one of the key features of PS3, and one of its key advantages over the Xbox 360.
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PSP Gains Support for Flash, Podcasts
Sony delivers the first of three promised software updates for the PlayStation Portable.
Sony Computer Entertainment will begin offering a software update for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) that adds several features, including support for Flash content and the ability to save audio podcasts.
At present, the PSP's Web browser, which itself was added to the device through a software update last year, doesn't display Flash content although the update will change that. It will bring basic compatibility with Macromedia Flash 6, although Sony notes not all functions are supported. On the podcast side, the current player can only handle live streams of files captured through RSS (Really Simple Syndication) but with the update users will be able to download and store files to a Memory Stick for offline playback.
There are several additional functions with the update including support for AAC audio, simplified and traditional Chinese characters, and an enhancement to the LocationFree TV player.
The update, which will take the PSP's firmware to version 2.70, will be available through the device's update function in the main menu and through the Web, said Sony. The company has only announced the update for Japanese versions of the PSP although typically the same update is released for overseas versions at the same time or shortly afterwards.
More to Come
Today's update is one of three promised for this year.
Last month, SCEI President Ken Kutaragi outlined plans for the year and said a second update will follow in the "summer" and will add video podcast support and expand the video profile for the UMD (Universal Media Disc) removable media that the PSP uses.
A final software update, due in the "winter," will add the ability to boot games from Memory Stick media and VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) telephony.
The update for PSPs bought in Japan is available for download.
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Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion on PSP and PS3
Modojo has received word that video game developer Bethesda will be releasing a version of its recent Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RPG title on Sony's next generation console, the PlayStation 3. Not necessarily a surprising move, however the porting doesn't appear to stop there as a PSP version is apparently also in development.
An odd move to say the least, but the Elder Scrolls have seen a portable iteration once before, available on Nokia's N-Gage, so a move to the PSP would certainly be possible.
Both titles are slated with a tentative November 2006 release date, which would imply that the PS3 version could be a launch title.
In other news, a new Star Trek game, titled Tactical Assault, has also been unofficially confirmed to be in development by Bethesda. Available on both the PSP and Nintendo DS, the title currently sports an October 2006 release.
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New PlayStation 3 Details Emerge
The latest issue of PSM has revealed new details about the PlayStation 3. While CNN’s Chris Morris claims that Sony won’t announce a price for the PS3 at E3 2006, PSM says the PlayStation 3 is expected to sell for about $399 in the U.S., €322 in Europe and ¥45,965 in Japan.
The magazine also claims that the console will come standard with a 60GB, non-removable hard drive.
For those who care about backward compatibility, PSM also revealed that PSO and PS2 games will run on the PlayStation 3 in 720, 1080i and 1080p.
The magazine also confirms some info we already knew. First, all games will come in Blu-ray Disc media and there won’t be regional lockouts. Second, the launch line-up, as well as the final design for the controller, will be revealed at next month’s E3 expo.
Finally, the console will launch in the first half of November with the PlayStation Network Platform service launching simultaneously with the console and offering free online gameplay.
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