Sony denies PlayStation 3 delay reports/Sony Pisses Off Online Korean Developers Next-generation console still on track for Spring launch, says spokesman Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson Kei Sakaguchi has officially denied reports from financial analysts at Merrill Lynch that the PS3 could be delayed by several months, reiterating that the console will launch this spring. Sakaguchi was responding to allegations made by Merrill Lynch analyst Joe Osha in a report published late last week, in which Osha claimed that the PS3 could launch in autumn in Japan, with a US launch possibly being delayed to early 2007. "There is no change in our original plan to release the console in spring 2006," Sakaguchi told the press in Tokyo, referring to the company's only stated goal for the launch so far - namely that the console will appear in at least one territory, most likely Japan, this spring. Curiously, Sakaguchi's comments appear to directly contradict statements which appeared on the BBC News website this morning, attributed to an unnamed Sony spokesperson who apparently confirmed that the firm is "aiming for spring", but went on to comment that certain unfinished technical specifications could hold up the system. "We're waiting for them until the last possible minute, but the launch could be pushed back if they're not decided soon," the spokesman is quoted as saying - although in the absence of any source information, it's impossible to say how much weight should be attached to these comments. It's also hard to say what exactly Sony defines as "spring", however. It's certainly not the traditional definition of the season, which covers the months of March, April and May. That would probably mean that the company has to meet its goal by E3 in May - a near-impossibility, given that no price point has been announced and no pre-sale activity has taken place at retail. It's possible, however, that Sony will be ready for a launch by June or July, at least in some limited sense - not enough to make serious headway in terms of sales, perhaps, but enough for the firm to be able to argue that it met its own deadline and certainly enough to create a media furore that would give consumers another option to consider before purchasing an Xbox 360. That last factor is one Sony must be painfully aware of. By the time the PlayStation 3 launches, assuming that the company can manage to scrape a June/July launch out of the system, the Xbox 360 will already have racked up between 4.5 and 5.5 million sales - not a lot on the scale of an entire console life cycle, but certainly putting a lot of open water between the Microsoft console and the PS3 in the crucial first 12 months. Source : http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=14821 Kotaku This just in! ________________________________________________ With Sony announcing that the PS3’s online support will be similar to Microsoft’s, it is only natural for the Japanese electronics giant to approach Korea’s online gaming industry for help. South Korea boasts one of the strongest online gaming communities globally. Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and KIPA (a Korean government agency that promotes IT) co-organized a business proposal PS3 event for developers in Korea. The meeting didn’t go as planned and ended in a heated Q&A. Korean developers were upset and offended. Kotaku reader Torokun kindly provided us with a translation of the main issues: 1). KIPA and SCEJ will provide the entire development cost for an online PS3 title. The project will be funded up to the Alpha version. Moreover, the PS3 tool kit and support will be provided. There’s also an option for the team to become a first party developer. The game will be published under SCE in Japan. A worldwide release will follow. Korean developers were pleased with these terms. (The remaining ones pissed ‘em off.) 2). Even if the prototype of the game is finished, the quality or marketability could be deemed “low†(a subjective term not clarified by either Sony or KIPA), the entire development cost would need to be paid to KIPA. 3). Since the game is slated for the PS3, the entire rights including the source code would be owned by Sony — regardless of whether the title is published or not. 4). If the game is successful and a sequel is made, Sony will own all rights to the title. 5). When the game is released, all initial profit will go to the SCEJ to cover the development cost. After that is paid off, Sony and the development team would divide the remaining profit. However, at what percentage the development team starts to receive profit cannot presently be revealed. Source : Kotaku links - http://www.thisisgame.com/board/view.php?id=36678&category=102&subcategory http://ruliweb.dreamwiz.com/data/rulinews/subread.htm?num=14483
The console will be out in spring. And by spring, we mean Summer... maybe fall... WTF? The article says that the console will be out in the spring, but goes on to say that they're taking a "non traditional" view of the season? Basicly the article is outright calling sony liars... lol, nice. I've never seen such a rush job on a console... Like i said before, if the ps3 comes out in the spring (and by spring, i mean spring), i'll eat my shoe.
dont you know sony has manufacturing plants on the moon? The ps3 is already well into production and will launch in may...
I for one would not criticise Sony for changing their release dates to some time much later this year. It might actually mean we end up with a better quality product at the end, if Sony was seen to display respect for consumers and put quality over meeting a release date. I can't help but feel the 360 launch was rushed, do we want the same thing to happen again? A better console leads to a more hassle free gaming set-up, which is what I really want. Maybe Sony will keep claiming to be on track (for PR) and just keep jogging back the launch date a bit at a time. Oddly I myself am in no rush, while I want to see what the PS3 will offer - I am willing to wait for it. If Sony release in Japan in late spring (It will be cool as I will be able to pick one up in japan!) they will probably have demand issues, lack of games for a while and (probably) not a fully realized online "hub". They would earn more respect from me if they took their time.
i agree. it's just funny to see sony slammed on various sites for having a perceived boggled launch plan. I'm patient and want it to be of quality. Everyone that wants to fanboy over it should go play their 360, assuming they even have one yet...
