Two versions of PS3. Good thing or bad thing?

[The_One]

if you haven't already, read:
http://www.ps3insider.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=103

So, what do you guys think? Is it a smart choice to make 2 versions of PS3? One without a HDD (like PS2) and simply DVD and Game support, and one with HDD and all the bells and whistles. Or should Sony just combine most of the features (including the HDD!) into one version and price it around 400-500 USD?

[KlawHammer]

I think the latter. Sony should bundle everything into on affordable package (yeah rite!) but then there's always the cost issue. The price of the console will skyrocket.

[phreakypat]

On the article about "broadband distribution" I definetly say "NO" to that. I still would rather go to the store, choose a game, purchase it and play it at home.
Who are they kidding about hoping many people having broadband and at 2 or 3 MB! That's insane my DSL connection only goes 512K download. There are way too many people still on dialup!
Hmmm.... that's an interesting question. That's like saying would you like to buy a PS2 with the following included peripherals: ethernet modem, keyboard,mouse, extra controller, hard drive, tivo...
And my answer is yes and no. If yes, then at least give the option for people with just the game console to purchase these other bells and whistles as an optional peripheral.

[KlawHammer]

good point there about the PS2 with all the periphirals added on it already.

[julps31]

On the article about "broadband distribution" I definetly say "NO" to that. I still would rather go to the store, choose a game, purchase it and play it at home.
Who are they kidding about hoping many people having broadband and at 2 or 3 MB! That's insane my DSL connection only goes 512K download. There are way too many people still on dialup!
Hmmm.... that's an interesting question. That's like saying would you like to buy a PS2 with the following included peripherals: ethernet modem, keyboard,mouse, extra controller, hard drive, tivo...
And my answer is yes and no. If yes, then at least give the option for people with just the game console to purchase these other bells and whistles as an optional peripheral.
I feel the exact same way. I would rather have a physical game and a case to carry it around with than downloading a game to a harddrive. I hope sony doesn't try to hard to develop a new standard. What would happen to Gamestop, or electronics boutique? I don't want to have to pay $40.00 a month just to play my console.

[The_One]

I would rather have a physical game and a case to carry it around with than downloading a game to a harddrive. Same here, and what happens when some sort of power surge screws up your PS3's HDD? Then you lose all your money since you lose the game that's stored on your HDD!!

[Marjoh]

Does that mean if I decided to want an HDD, I have to buy the other version instead of just an HDD as an add-on? Well, I can't complain since it's not official and we don't really know the real story.

[JoshD]

They are not talking about the need to download a game. I'm sure that it would be an option if that were availible. So you could either go to the store and pay $50 for the game or pay $50 and download it. It would be more used for shared computing and downloading demos.

[KingTalo]

I think some of you misunderstood what they meant; they want to release a scaled down version ( that will most likely support modular upgrades ) for the ppl who do NOT want to shell out $400+ for a game system, and a higher end version for the techno-philes/people who don't want the bs that comes with a computer. As for the term "broadband distribution"; it's been well known that sony is a broadband isp in japan, i think they simply want to expand that using the playstation as a gateway. Someone mentioned how so many people are still on dial-up, well that is the case but ONLY in the U.S. ; the playstation would provide a perfect transition to broadband for these people (perhaps when you buy a ps3 there will be a voucher for a few free months of cable/dsl, pending your area is wired). Maybe the people with the higher end version playing socom 3 will be allocated extra bandwidth when they host a game on Sonys ISP.

Oh yeah and regarding the statement they made about having a broadband service with 3-100Mbit/s, read This (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/03/24/1553203&mode=thread&tid=126&tid=137&tid=95) .

*whew* haven't posted here in a while. :D

[NickSCFC]

Sony and Microsoft have both confirmed that they will be launching online music services later this year. The first step in the online distribution process I believe :mrgreen:

[Mitri]

so basically what everyone is trying to say is that, sony is trying to use the same scheme as the phantom?

[NickSCFC]

Not quite. Sony are working towards broadband distribution of media content such as television, movies, music and games exclusively to its own systems (VAIO, PSX, PS3+, PSP).

[ibrooklyn]

Its smart..it will be like a new version of PSX but with PS3 games and more features. And as for the 2-3Mbs internet connection speed, i think it will be possible by 2006 im on 1.5Mbs now and i pay $39.99 a month so in 2 years it is possible for my internet provider to increase the connection speed.

And its hillarious how some of u voted NO....SONY knows what they are doin lmao and they are a bit smarter than most of u, so if they have thought of this plan there has to be atlest an 80% chance the ywill suceed, they arent retards u know.

[ibrooklyn]

They are not talking about the need to download a game. I'm sure that it would be an option if that were availible. So you could either go to the store and pay $50 for the game or pay $50 and download it. It would be more used for shared computing and downloading demos.

no see your not getting the point. Once games go thru online distribution they will not Cost $50 dollars....dont u see that online distribution cuts out the middle man and all the UNNESISERY people? How u may ask...easy how are games sold? In this lil DVD case which costs MONEY, on a DVD which ALSO costs MONEY....once the ygo online distrubution these thing ont be neseserry and the games will drop price. Would u rather pau $50 for a game on a DVD disc from some game store, which by the way u have to get to first...OR dload the damn game in a manner of MINUTES for a cheaper price, maybe like $25 bux....thats 2 games right there for a price of 1. And if u read carefully ONLINE DISTRIBUTION will not begin untill MOST of the users have a great connection speed. So that might not even happen till like 2008 or so, even tho i do belive i will be on 3+Mbs by 2006, read my post above to see why =)

[JoshD]

no see your not getting the point. Once games go thru online distribution they will not Cost $50 dollars....dont u see that online distribution cuts out the middle man and all the UNNESISERY people? How u may ask...easy how are games sold? In this lil DVD case which costs MONEY, on a DVD which ALSO costs MONEY....once the ygo online distrubution these thing ont be neseserry and the games will drop price. Would u rather pau $50 for a game on a DVD disc from some game store, which by the way u have to get to first...OR dload the damn game in a manner of MINUTES for a cheaper price, maybe like $25 bux....thats 2 games right there for a price of 1. And if u read carefully ONLINE DISTRIBUTION will not begin untill MOST of the users have a great connection speed. So that might not even happen till like 2008 or so, even tho i do belive i will be on 3+Mbs by 2006, read my post above to see why =)

Currently, a game cost about $35 per disc to create. They then sell it to retailers at a profit from $5-$10 and then the retailer sells it to you at a profit from anywhere from $5-$10. So really, the only thing that will come from online distribution, is that games which were passed over before because they were too risky will now be picked up because the profit margin will increase. Games won't be sold at $25. They will continue to sell the games at $50 and take the extra $5-$10 to pay for the distribution of the games (those high speed distribution servers cost money) and putting more money into games.

[ibrooklyn]

no see your not getting the point. Once games go thru online distribution they will not Cost $50 dollars....dont u see that online distribution cuts out the middle man and all the UNNESISERY people? How u may ask...easy how are games sold? In this lil DVD case which costs MONEY, on a DVD which ALSO costs MONEY....once the ygo online distrubution these thing ont be neseserry and the games will drop price. Would u rather pau $50 for a game on a DVD disc from some game store, which by the way u have to get to first...OR dload the damn game in a manner of MINUTES for a cheaper price, maybe like $25 bux....thats 2 games right there for a price of 1. And if u read carefully ONLINE DISTRIBUTION will not begin untill MOST of the users have a great connection speed. So that might not even happen till like 2008 or so, even tho i do belive i will be on 3+Mbs by 2006, read my post above to see why =)

Currently, a game cost about $35 per disc to create. They then sell it to retailers at a profit from $5-$10 and then the retailer sells it to you at a profit from anywhere from $5-$10. So really, the only thing that will come from online distribution, is that games which were passed over before because they were too risky will now be picked up because the profit margin will increase. Games won't be sold at $25. They will continue to sell the games at $50 and take the extra $5-$10 to pay for the distribution of the games (those high speed distribution servers cost money) and putting more money into games.

thats not what i heard =\ plus if u read the interview u can see tha the SCEE representative mantioned the games price WILL infact drop if the games go thru online distribution =\

but hey only time will tell....

[The_One]

Haha, time will tell everything, including whether they will or will not create two different versions of the PS3.

[phreakypat]

Time will tell everything true true. But you also lose the basic functionality of being able to play the game at your friend's house. If you buy the game from a store you get a disc. Then you can use the disc on any PS3 system. Unless Sony is making it so you can send your games over a broadband connection to your friend. NOT! If anything that broadband distribution MIGHT be a 2nd option that Sony is adding so you can pretty much choose to buy the game from the store or download. So yeah everybody wins! :wink:

[ibrooklyn]

Time will tell everything true true. But you also lose the basic functionality of being able to play the game at your friend's house. If you buy the game from a store you get a disc. Then you can use the disc on any PS3 system. Unless Sony is making it so you can send your games over a broadband connection to your friend. NOT! If anything that broadband distribution MIGHT be a 2nd option that Sony is adding so you can pretty much choose to buy the game from the store or download. So yeah everybody wins! :wink:

But then again its been stated everyehre that ONLINE gaming is what NEXT GEN CONSOLE and PC games are all about =\

so that kinda says tha tyour friend will need to buy the game anyways =\

PLUS im pretty sure that you will be able to download DEMOs.....as a matter of fact i think that downloadable demos might even start on ps2...why else would u need a 40Gb HDD for? but who know...ONLY TIME WILL TELL =X

[NickSCFC]

Online gaming is mainly for unsociable people. Nothing beats having your mates round, a few beers and Pro Evolution Soccer :mrgreen:

[gamingmonkey2004]

or have your "mates" at their house so they dont piss on your floor when they are drunk

[shaudeus]

the only dowside i see to this is having two really dffernt machines say one with a hard drive and one without devopers wouldnt use the equipment nearly as much as if it was standard, lessening the quality of gameplay. id like the stamdard machine and the server option to have the same game specs the server option should jus add alot of extras like tivo, recording capabilities (obviously) options like the denon home server has and extra options like posible video game hosting etc etc

[The_One]

I agree completely with shaudeus. I believe this point have already been pointed out, so Sony better make the smart decision by adding a HDD into both versions to give game developers more to work with.

[stanDarsh]

I highly doubt Sony will release 2 versions of PS3, (unless its the same sort of thing they did with PS2 and PSX as in release PS3 first, and then release a PSX-2 about 3 years down the track.) but if they do release 2 versions the specs for GAMING are going to be identical, as in, if the high-end PS3 has a hard drive, the low-end PS3 will also have a hard drive, just most likely smaller! It would NOT be a smart move by Sony to include a hard drive in one and not in the other!

As mentioned by user scei in another thread, David Reeves is still just speculating. Think of him more like the "Pointy-haired Boss" from the cartoon Dilbert

[shaudeus]

i really think this was some whats speculation on the reps part, ideas obviously are bein thrown around left and right right now he could have took this idea as a future direction i wouldnt count on it being set in stone

[ibrooklyn]

Online gaming is mainly for unsociable people. Nothing beats having your mates round, a few beers and Pro Evolution Soccer :mrgreen:

that my friend was the stupidest thing ive ever heard......how are u gonna fit 16 diff ppll in your room when everyone one of them needs a ps2 and a separate TV to play a game like socom???

16ppl, 16ps2 and 16TVs.....not everyone lives in BEST BUY =\

and thats why we have online gaming, u call ur buddies up, tell em to meet up in a gaming lobby or w/e AND have a few good games

and split screen sux, the only good multiplayer games without online are like sports games where there is no split screen, but u can onli play them so much and then they are boring =\

Online gaming beats single player AI =\

[shaudeus]

I do online gaming with many of my friends it really makes for easier access

[Domination]

i really think this was some whats speculation on the reps part, ideas obviously are bein thrown around left and right right now he could have took this idea as a future direction i wouldnt count on it being set in stone

Which is exactly what I have been trying to tell a lot of people from the moment I read it.

[shaudeus]

agreed just because he works for sony doesnt mean he is fully informed on all sensative info

[The_One]

Online gaming is mainly for unsociable people. Nothing beats having your mates round, a few beers and Pro Evolution Soccer Dude, Online gaming is THE FUTURE. Perhaps one day, Console gaming will even beat PC Gaming, since Consoles are catching up on the fact that Online gaming is MANDATORY for the success of any console at this day and age.
I highly doubt Sony will release 2 versions of PS3, (unless its the same sort of thing they did with PS2 and PSX as in release PS3 first, and then release a PSX-2 about 3 years down the track.) but if they do release 2 versions the specs for GAMING are going to be identical, as in, if the high-end PS3 has a hard drive, the low-end PS3 will also have a hard drive, just most likely smaller! It would NOT be a smart move by Sony to include a hard drive in one and not in the other! That's possible, since the cheaper version is suppose to be around the 200-300 range, it makes sense for Sony to put a smaller HDD into the cheaper one.
i really think this was some whats speculation on the reps part, ideas obviously are bein thrown around left and right right now he could have took this idea as a future direction i wouldnt count on it being set in stone Exactly, nothing is set in stones at this point of time. Since it's still a fair 1 and a half to 2 years away 'till the release of the next-gen consoles.

[KlawHammer]

True - as for console gaming overtaking PC online gaming in the near forseeable future, i have my doubts....

[BigBoss1978]

It might work, and then again it might not. Me personally I would go for the cheaper version if they do decide to make two of them.

[KlawHammer]

Me too

[BigPapaSmurf]

i think its not a good idea well if by a more bare system it means no hardrive. sony should include a hardrive with every ps3 no matter what. they can make another ps3 with a bigger hardrive so you use it like a tivo and all the other bell and whistles most gamers dont care about. all system must include hardrives next gen. we cant have game makers being held back next gen we must give them al lthe tools they need.[/b]

[The_One]

i think its not a good idea well if by a more bare system it means no hardrive. sony should include a hardrive with every ps3 no matter what. they can make another ps3 with a bigger hardrive so you use it like a tivo and all the other bell and whistles most gamers dont care about. all system must include hardrives next gen. we cant have game makers being held back next gen we must give them al lthe tools they need.[/b]
Agreed.
It might work, and then again it might not. Me personally I would go for the cheaper version if they do decide to make two of them. Same :P.

[brownbeaner2]

personally i think that if sony makes two versions of the ps3 it will be like the PSX and the ps3 will have a feature or two less then more expensive one.

[Raiden]

On the article about "broadband distribution" I definetly say "NO" to that. I still would rather go to the store, choose a game, purchase it and play it at home.
.



I couldn't agree more on that one.

[oxygenuk]

I would rather have a physical game and a case to carry it around with than downloading a game to a harddrive. Same here, and what happens when some sort of power surge screws up your PS3's HDD? Then you lose all your money since you lose the game that's stored on your HDD!!

ever heard of a surge protector? :lol:

[KlawHammer]

HAHA, i dont think he/she has ever heard of one....
I use a UPS anyway.

[alternate_ending]

NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 million developing a pen that writes in zero gravity.

When confronted with the same problem, the Russians used a pencil.

Yeah, and then all the Russian Astronauts got eye infections because of all the floating graphite

Real smart.....

[KlawHammer]

Thats why my friend the Russians wore glasses.

[Makaveli_786]

LOL, the russians arent stupid you know, they outsmarted the Americans several times over, get over it.

[The_One]

LOL, the russians arent stupid you know, they outsmarted the Americans several times over, get over it. Lol, agreed :lol:.

[KlawHammer]

Tell me about it...

[Swordmaster Jehuty]

Weren't they the first to launch an animal into space and the first human-spacewalk!!!??!!!

As for the two versions: I like it, because it will enable many less fortuned people and softcore gamers to also buy a PS3 without useless things (to them).

As for online gaming revolutions: I think it's a good thing, but only if it is going to be like .hack, it's way too boring right now.

[Omega Blue]

2 versions of the ps3 is a good thing, it gives variety and chioce, thats all this is settled.

*Locked*

[KlawHammer]

oohhh Omega the mod...

[The_One]

oohhh Omega the mod... XD.

And I agree, the vote is 21 to 10, 2 time as much people prefer 2 versions. This matter is pretty much settled.

[KlawHammer]

We should close this.

[Ibanez32]

I hope they don't plan to distribute games. I mean its such a great idea that must be why everyones rushing to pre order the phantom and eagerly anticipating its arrival. But I do think that 2 versions it a good idea it means that they can have a greater target audience.

[The_One]

I hope they don't plan to distribute games. I mean its such a great idea that must be why everyones rushing to pre order the phantom and eagerly anticipating its arrival. But I do think that 2 versions it a good idea it means that they can have a greater target audience. I'm not getting what you're trying to say in the first part about distributing games :?.

[Webmaster]

Yes I think it is a great idea because people can choose to play the more expensive gaming system and plus it will last longer because they took longer on that version to perfect it and get the bugs out of it... :lol:

[Seto]

I hope Sony sticks with discs, downloading a game onto a hard drive, that is just like a computer, it is better to just go to EB Games and buy it. But I realy like the idea of 2 diff. PS3s. I think what they were saying was that they would be different, like the PS2 and PSX. One would be like the PS2, no hard drive, Tivo, and a not as good DVD player, but CHEAPER for those that don't want a TiVo and want to just play games, or cant afford a more expensive one. And the second PS3 would be like the PSX, way more expensive, but with a built in HDD, Tivo, downloadable music and all that stuff, but not downloadable Whole Games, just downloadable demos and upgrades for games. I personaly think this is a REALY good Idea. Some people are willing to blow a lot more money on consoles than others, while others only want one to play games, nothing more.

This is just my take on the whole thing, so if i am wrong dont be mad at me.

[Makaveli_786]

Actually theyll give you the option of going to a shop and buying games AND downloading games, they wont stop selling games in shops if they allow you to download them so theyll keep everybody happy.

[Seto]

Actually theyll give you the option of going to a shop and buying games AND downloading games, they wont stop selling games in shops if they allow you to download them so theyll keep everybody happy.

I don't like the idea of downloading games, wouldn't it take a while, and be of lower quality. That is how computers work, and I don't want that for my PS3. Plus, it would make it a whole lot easier to illegaly distribute games.

Call me narowminded, but I don't like the idea of downloading games off the net at all (unless it is upgrades or demos and stuff like that, but Whole games, that is crazy)

P.S. does anyone know exactly what Sony said about this???

[Makaveli_786]

Its like everything Sony have said, a vague description of an idea they have.

It would definetly be of lower quality and would come later in the PS3's life too so by the broadband should be much faster, besides the PS3 will be online 24/7 so its not like the PC either.

[KlawHammer]

Unless you use broadband. Then a PC is online 24/7 as well. As for the lower quality statement - do you mean lower in graphical, sound, features etc quality?

[Ragnorok]

Well, do you really want to be downloading 10Gb games. I think they'd have to scale down to make them reasonable sizes. And i dont think broadband will be alot faster by ps3 release, just the broadband will be taking over most homes finally (vhs to dvd scenario).

[KlawHammer]

I think it will, 1GB/s seems close. Of course you cant do that through phone lines, fiber-optics will be the rule of the day.

[Makaveli_786]

Sorry I meant there wouldnt be lower quality graphics through broadband.

The fastest service ive seen in the UK is 4MB, about a year ago the fastest you could get was 512K.

Thats a 8 times increase, if they increase 8 times next year and 8 times the year after we should see a 1GB/s in a couple years, of course most people wont have this service, the 4MB service costs quite a bit but in 6 years time(half way through the PS3's life) 1GB/s should be more popular.

[Mitri]

but what about the children who will be playing these games? they don't have a credit card in order to download these games.

where would you have your ps3 in order to download these things? not everyone has a broadband connection in their bedroom(where most people put their consoles)

if you were to download the games what about runing out of space on the hard disk? you can't just swap hard disk like a memory card you have to take it out, put another in, then take that out to switch games or whatever.

what about making bootleg games? i don't know if the ps3 is going to use downloading games or discs or both. but what if they use both, then people will swap disk srives and put in a burner then copy games that they download.

why not just get a computer.

[Seto]

2 seperate console, VERY GOOD IDEA

Downloading games, the end of the world.

I would like 2 different consoles, neather of them that could download games. Downloading games is the stupidest idea ever, and im not buying a system that you have to download games on.

2 different consoles is a great idea though. Sortove like the difference between PS2 and PSX, PS2 is a lot cheaper, but has a bad DVD player, and no TiVo or hardrive or any of that stuff. PSX is a lot more expensive but has all that extra stuff. Some people don't have 700$ to spend on a Game System-entertainment system, so they buy the cheaper one that is just basicaly a Game System. Some people also already have a TiVo and burn CDs and stuff on there comp, so why paay the extra money for it. But some people have the money to spend and want all the extra stuff. They like to have all there stuff in one machine that haveing a TiVo, a DVD burner, a PS3, and all that other stuff. And after looking at the pool, it is easy to see that half the people would probly buy the cheap one, and the other half the advanced one. It gives people the choice, and if there is only one thing that i know is that people like Choice.

[Makaveli_786]

but what about the children who will be playing these games? they don't have a credit card in order to download these games.

I doubt most of these kids pay their own money to buy games, rather their parents do it for them but the option of buying games at the shop is still available for those who dont like the online idea

where would you have your ps3 in order to download these things? not everyone has a broadband connection in their bedroom(where most people put their consoles)

By 2007 the UK will be fully broadband(no more dialup) and everybody should have wifi in 5 years time so I dont see the problem.

if you were to download the games what about runing out of space on the hard disk? you can't just swap hard disk like a memory card you have to take it out, put another in, then take that out to switch games or whatever.

Sony have developed a 1000 gigabyte HDD and theyve developed memory sticks which can handle 2GB of storage, theyll probably have something several times bigger and flash memory should mean you can take it out and put it in without switching anything off.

what about making bootleg games? i don't know if the ps3 is going to use downloading games or discs or both. but what if they use both, then people will swap disk srives and put in a burner then copy games that they download.

The PS3 games will most likely have a special code which makes it impossible to directly copy a game(like they do with the PSP), by the way dont forget Sony make bluray so they can release bluray burners with special attributes if they want to, this would make it virtually impossible to copy games.

why not just get a computer.

Because the PS3 should easily kick any PC's ass, have a better looking OS which is errorfree and have better games, did I mention it will also be a hell of a lot cheaper??

[Ragnorok]

"1Gb/s" No such speeds will be avaible to the general public at reasonable costs within the time the ps3 comes out period.

[Mitri]

By 2007 the UK will be fully broadband(no more dialup) and everybody should have wifi in 5 years time so I dont see the problem

what about the peeps that don't live in the UK? (like me for instance) not all gamers live in the UK :lol:

[Loc]

If you live in US, Broadband just got cheaper since Mr. Bush just cut off a tax from broadband.

[brownbeaner2]

If you live in US, Broadband just got cheaper since Mr. Bush just cut off a tax from broadband.

but when will we see the difference i pay $58.00 and something cents and havent seen a decrease maybe it might be in this months bill who knows.

[Omega Blue]

i pay 39.99 for a 3.5 Mb/s connection, im hoping this bill gets passed soon. im strugglin to keep my connection on.

[KlawHammer]

95% of NZ will be fully broadband in 2005...
NZ$20 ($10US) for my 768Kb/s connection.

[Makaveli_786]

"1Gb/s" No such speeds will be avaible to the general public at reasonable costs within the time the ps3 comes out period.

It will only be available in industrial areas and obviously come at a high price, for e.g. the 10MB service is only available in built up cities, you can get 4MB anywhere though.

[KlawHammer]

Interesting do you have a link where it says the UK will be fully broadband by 2007?

[Seto]

not to be rude, but i think we are a bit off topic here

[Makaveli_786]

Its a government mandate, Labour want everything to be broadband by 2007 and everything to be digital by 2007 too.

[Aderick]

WTF, I have to pay $36.99 a month for my 1.5 - 3.0MB connection...

[The_One]

Off topic... :?
See, this is what happens when the mods leave an topic that's already finished discussing... People start to get off topic.

[Rallyracr420]

On topic...

Yeah I think its a good thing there's two different PS3s. What if the game system and homestation could talk to each other? I mean, lets say you could store your MP3's on the full entertainment PS3 and then stream them to the cheaper system. Or if you could play a video from the expensive version on all tv's in the house that have the PS3s connected. This would make each non entertainment PS3 into little workstations for pushing video, music, and other media.

Okay I don't plan on buying two systems anytime soon, the full PS3 will be expensive enough. But if you had a roommate that had one, having two PS3s in the same household working together to power one game would kick some serious ass.

[Makaveli_786]

Thats the whole idea behind the cell, they communicate with each other.

[The_One]

Thats the whole idea behind the cell, they communicate with each other. Yup. That's technically the whole idea behind the "broadband engine".