Domination
09-25-2005, 02:58 AM
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, a spokesperson for Sony Computer (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11719#) Entertainment has clarified comments made by CEO Howard Stringer recently (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/news.php?aid=11692) regarding a spring launch for PS3.
"Ken Kutaragi, president of SCE, announced a spring target date for the launch of PlayStation 3 at this year's E3, and it appears that Sir Howard confirmed it at yesterday's strategy meeting," the spokesperson said.
"We have not yet announced detailed launch dates for each region," he continued, adding: "If you look at how close Microsoft (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11719#) announced release dates to the launch of the Xbox 360, it's rather unrealistic to expect PS3 dates now."
Microsoft made its announcement at the Tokyo Game Show last week (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11537), informing a packed press conference that the Xbox 360 would launch in North America on November 22, in Europe on December 2 and in Japan on December 10.
Industry insiders believe it's unlikely that Sony will follow suit and adopt such a short global launch window - indications are that the PS3 will go on sale in Japan around April or May, with European and US launches expected later in the year. Some analysts have even predicted that the console won't make it outside of Japan until 2007.
It's a question of whether history will repeat itself - Sony's PlayStation Portable handheld finally launched in Europe on September 1, nine months after it was released in Japan and five months after the US launch.
Source (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11719)
I'm surprised no one didn't post this. I guess it was due to everyone already knowing that the PS3 would launch spring of 2006 since it was annouced at the E3 press conference.
Anyway, it is still unknown as to whether Sony will launch world wide or repeat history by launching Japan first. I'm thinking they may follow Microsoft or launch Europe and US before Japan to keep Microsoft from gaining much momentum in those territories in which they've been fortunate enough to gain a name for themselves with the previous Xbox console. I must say, though, that Microsoft's launch in several different territories isn't the least bit surprising to me. When they first entered the gaming industry, they were talking about how they would launch in three of the main territories first (USA, Europe and Japan) to take advantage of the competition. Actually, I remember posting a topic about that awhile back based on THIS (http://specials.ft.com/ftit/sept2001/FT39KPD96RC.html) report. It seems they are finally doing it.
"Ken Kutaragi, president of SCE, announced a spring target date for the launch of PlayStation 3 at this year's E3, and it appears that Sir Howard confirmed it at yesterday's strategy meeting," the spokesperson said.
"We have not yet announced detailed launch dates for each region," he continued, adding: "If you look at how close Microsoft (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11719#) announced release dates to the launch of the Xbox 360, it's rather unrealistic to expect PS3 dates now."
Microsoft made its announcement at the Tokyo Game Show last week (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11537), informing a packed press conference that the Xbox 360 would launch in North America on November 22, in Europe on December 2 and in Japan on December 10.
Industry insiders believe it's unlikely that Sony will follow suit and adopt such a short global launch window - indications are that the PS3 will go on sale in Japan around April or May, with European and US launches expected later in the year. Some analysts have even predicted that the console won't make it outside of Japan until 2007.
It's a question of whether history will repeat itself - Sony's PlayStation Portable handheld finally launched in Europe on September 1, nine months after it was released in Japan and five months after the US launch.
Source (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11719)
I'm surprised no one didn't post this. I guess it was due to everyone already knowing that the PS3 would launch spring of 2006 since it was annouced at the E3 press conference.
Anyway, it is still unknown as to whether Sony will launch world wide or repeat history by launching Japan first. I'm thinking they may follow Microsoft or launch Europe and US before Japan to keep Microsoft from gaining much momentum in those territories in which they've been fortunate enough to gain a name for themselves with the previous Xbox console. I must say, though, that Microsoft's launch in several different territories isn't the least bit surprising to me. When they first entered the gaming industry, they were talking about how they would launch in three of the main territories first (USA, Europe and Japan) to take advantage of the competition. Actually, I remember posting a topic about that awhile back based on THIS (http://specials.ft.com/ftit/sept2001/FT39KPD96RC.html) report. It seems they are finally doing it.