No Playable PS3 This Year

[Kb-smoker]

Forget it. 2005 is out. This year, there will be no playable PS3 demos. We’ve been let down at the Tokyo Games Show and the PlayStation sponsored Akihabara Entertainment Festival. Clinging to something, I’ve been holding out for Japan’s end of year gaming event: the Games Japan Festa in Osaka, put on by the Japanese Video Game Commercial Association. Checking the list of titles on display pulls up a ton of 360, NDS, GBA and PS2, but no PS3.

Common sense says this means we have to wait until next May for playable PS3 demos at E3. With the necessary time needed to generate a buzz, how long after that will the console to go on sale?

Link (http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/playstation-3/no-playable-ps3-this-year-133741.php)

Kinda sucks that we won't see anything b/4 xbox 360 launch. Maybe sony will surpise us and release something, but that looks very unlikely.

[woundingchaney]

It is looking somewhat barren, but Im not ready to count out a playable PS3 this year just yet. The 360 launch is going to be a momentus occasion and Im quite sure Sony has some form of wet blanket for MS. At the same time, Im not overly interested in a playable PS3 till next year when the polish starts to wear off my 360. :)

[Kb-smoker]

^^I agree, i don't want to see games that are not close to being done and also games not running on final hardware. Sony could aways let out some new info on the ps3's online plans or maybe a upgrade in hardware to hurt xbox 360 launch in japan. I don't think sony can do anything in USA to hurt xbox 360 launch.

[xbdestroya]

Well I don't think there will be any this year then, but definitely before May of next year. I mean - what the hell! - LOL. Sony stated earlier that their first playable games would be either Jan at CES in Vegas or February at that pre-launch Playstation event, so I guess we'll just have to roll with it.

With the console supposedly launching in March/April though, May for first time playables seems a little off. ;)

[woundingchaney]

^^I agree, i don't want to see games that are not close to being done and also games not running on final hardware. Sony could aways let out some new info on the ps3's online plans or maybe a upgrade in hardware to hurt xbox 360 launch in japan. I don't think sony can do anything in USA to hurt xbox 360 launch.
I agree I think the US is the stong point for MS with Europe being the wild card (sorry no hopes for MS in Jap). But there is no better advertising than word of mouth. Essentially if Johnny gets a 360 and tells people about it then your looking at another x amount of console purchases from that one alone, this is best displayed when the PS2 sold more units than its competition (MS and Nin) in their holiday season launch (both having more powerful hardware to boot) (also the increased game library helped as well :-p ).

[Illmatic]

I find it hard to believe they even wrote that in the article >_>

Hmm, so the Japnese public get to own the console before the press get to see/play demos, sound like it could be true. :moon:

The first playable builds we'll see will be next year for sure, no doubt about that, but May!?! no. Either CES in Jan or PS Meeting in Feb (along with the big surprise, unless that's it :susp: ).


EDIT: didn't realise i just echoed XBD post

[Kb-smoker]

i thought the ps meeting in feb wasn't going to happen.

???

[xbdestroya]

I find it hard to believe they even wrote that in the article >_>

Hmm, so the Japnese public get to own the console before the press get to see/play demos, sound like it could be true. :moon:

The first playable builds we'll see will be next year for sure, no doubt about that, but May!?! no. Either CES in Jan or PS Meeting in Feb (along with the big surprise, unless that's it :susp: ).


EDIT: didn't realise i just echoed XBD post

LOL, can't go wrong with that! http://community.the-underdogs.org/smiley/happy/biggrin2.gif

@KB: If you have a link to the Feb event being cancelled, could you provide a link to it? Talk for it did die down after the Jan CES participance was announced, but at the same time I don't remember the Feb event being formally cancelled. It would seem like a tight window to do two large events, but pre-launch you never know.

[Sephiroth_VII]

Oh, the PSmeeting is coming.
Thrust me, this is one of the few years where the meeting is REALLY needed!

[Bad_Boy]

wasnt there already some gameplay footage of fatal inertia? i think its on gamespot. its definately early build but still, its playable.

[Z]

At the same time, Im not overly interested in a playable PS3 till next year when the polish starts to wear off my 360
why? the polish supposed to begin to shine by that time.
i thought the ps meeting in feb wasn't going to happen.
it isn't the annual PS Meeting, but a special occasion. think of it as a pre-launch event. PS3 is supposed to launch the following month.

[Kb-smoker]

@KB: If you have a link to the Feb event being cancelled, could you provide a link to it? Talk for it did die down after the Jan CES participance was announced, but at the same time I don't remember the Feb event being formally cancelled. It would seem like a tight window to do two large events, but pre-launch you never know.
I saw it at IGn.com but i guess they got it wrong.

Originally, SCE was scheduled to hold a Japanese event in February that would give players a chance to play PS3 games. Earlier, we mistakenly reported that this event had been cancelled. However, Saeki actually reveals to the magazine that SCE will be taking a somewhat different approach in holding the event. It's something that will surprise gamers, but it's being kept a secret for now.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/654/654390p1.html

[Coded-Dude]

I am NOT surprised, but I am disapponted....

[rpgamer_2k5]

Not surprising at all; playable games during November is a dream that just won't happen. The PS2 is still a cashcow and Sony is looking at 3 million PSPs for US during the Christmas holiday.

Besides, Nintendo isn't even presenting playable demos so don't expect Sony to do the same. It's a given, PS3 is going to surprise us all; all Sony needs to state is that Killzone and Motorstorm are in realtime (on early SDKs) and just move the camera around like the Unreal3 trailer.

The RSX specifications is another card too; besides the final controller and console design; the webcam, DS3 features, HDD, Linux, etc, etc. We got much to learn about the PS3; Sony isn't worried about Microsoft.

[woundingchaney]

Sony isn't worried about Microsoft.


You sure?????????

[venomv]

I'm sure they're worried in a 'this could be bad if we screw up' kind of a way not a 'we better do something major or MS is gonna kick our butts' kinda way, they have a pretty big cusion simply cause they sold far more this gen. If even half of the people who bought a PS2 buy a PS3 they will be in a good position and the amount of gamers is growing not shrinking so they will probably sell tons more then that.

[rpgamer_2k5]

You sure????????? Yes, nor is Nintendo really worried (remember GC was released AFTER the Xbox). Sony always launched second; Dreamcast, and 3DO. Microsoft is not as supreme as one thinks; launching first still does not mean much. Currently, both Sony and Nintendo have plenty of sources (PSP, PS2, GC, GBA, DS) to attain revenue and have no need to launch so early. In fact, most Sony and Nintendo owners will probably not purchase the Xbox 360, because of the numerous games on their respective systems.

I will likely just purchase the Xbox 360 RPGs, but I'm one of those heavy spenders. ;)

[Red_Eyes]

"Originally, SCE was scheduled to hold a Japanese event in February that would give players a chance to play PS3 games. Earlier, we mistakenly reported that this event had been cancelled. However, Saeki actually reveals to the magazine that SCE will be taking a somewhat different approach in holding the event."

How is the event usually held then? And how could it be different? Playable demos?

[woundingchaney]

Yes, nor is Nintendo really worried (remember GC was released AFTER the Xbox). Sony always launched second; Dreamcast, and 3DO. Microsoft is not as supreme as one thinks; launching first still does not mean much. Currently, both Sony and Nintendo have plenty of sources (PSP, PS2, GC, GBA, DS) to attain revenue and have no need to launch so early. In fact, most Sony and Nintendo owners will probably not purchase the Xbox 360, because of the numerous games on their respective systems.

I will likely just purchase the Xbox 360 RPGs, but I'm one of those heavy spenders. ;)


To say that Sony and Nin are not concerned with the strategies of MS is somewhat of a smokescreen is it not. Where as they do have other sources in the gaming market, console sales is still the pentacle (perhaps not so much for Nin).

I dont claim to know the intentions of these companies, but I think its very fair to say that all are indeed concerned with the movements of their competitors. Nor do I believe MS to be supreme in any way however if they achieve strong market penetration this holiday season through the winter, it will be an obstacle for the other companies to overcome. I dont think your typical gamer is quite as loyal to brand names as many believe, they are more interested in whats hot and new. How many Johnys out there are going to run to get a 360 when their neighbors have one, I dont honestly see everyone waiting around for another 10 months till the PS3 releases (supposedly, anyway in US and Europe).

But I guess this winter will tell the story for many months to come.

[VG Aficionado]

(remember GC was released AFTER the Xbox)GameCube was released in Japan two months before Xbox was released in the US. However, it is true that GC released three days later in the US after Xbox did. It depends on where you meant "after". Anyway, I'm not sure whether 3 days really make a difference, mostly when Xbox was bound to be more successful in the US than GameCube.

[woundingchaney]

Xbox was bound to be more successful in the US than GameCube.

I dont know about that one, xbox was new to console scene and Nin has had a following for about 15 years during this launch, also with a smaller price tag. For MS to overtake Nin in console sales last gen was quite an accomplishment.

[tazz3]

i really dont think sony has anything to counter the 360 launch.
iam really up set with sony. they where caught with pants down.
by doing this sony is going to lose more console sales by doing this.

[xbdestroya]

Wait a minute, why would this effect PS3 sales?

XBox 360 is going to sell out this year, nothing can effect that. I mean, they're only predicting 1.5 million consoles worldwide; how could they not sell out? (except maybe in Japan) Before most people will ever be able to or conside buying themselves a 360, PS3 will have revealed more of itself. There's no need for Sony to rush playable demos out the door if the immediate risk is basically zero.

[woundingchaney]

Wait a minute, why would this effect PS3 sales?

XBox 360 is going to sell out this year, nothing can effect that. I mean, they're only predicting 1.5 million consoles worldwide; how could they not sell out? (except maybe in Japan) Before most people will ever be able to or conside buying themselves a 360, PS3 will have revealed more of itself. There's no need for Sony to rush playable demos out the door if the immediate risk is basically zero.


I think the conversation became removed from playable demos and ventured into MS potential market penetration from Nov 05 to Spring 06, and how Sony intends on negating this.

At least thats what I was talking about ;-]

[Infernal]

I dont know about that one, xbox was new to console scene and Nin has had a following for about 15 years during this launch, also with a smaller price tag. For MS to overtake Nin in console sales last gen was quite an accomplishment.
People keep saying that Xbox did good for its first generation, well in comparison to Playstation's first generation Xbox did horrible. I mean honestly the original Playstation dominated when it was released, then Xbox gets slaughtered and people say they did really good? What am i missing here?

[Domination]

i really dont think sony has anything to counter the 360 launch.
iam really up set with sony. they where caught with pants down.
by doing this sony is going to lose more console sales by doing this.


http://community.the-underdogs.org/smiley/happy/biglaugh2.gif Wait a second. Ok, this is how it sounds: because you are a bit upset that Sony didn't show any playable footage, or should I say playable footage similiar to Microsoft, you feel that they have not only lied about what they have but that they are going to go down as well. Note that I'm not defending the last part, but what you are saying is like me telling you that I don't like a particular color. But that doesn't mean that color is going to be banned just because I dislike it, though. You see what saying?

[Z]

well, by numbers of system sold, original IP (very few) and to make a name it did good. not great but good. but looking at it where it really matters (financially) Box is a disaster. MS lost around $5 billion with absolutely ZERO profit. that includes dedicating a whole billion dollars for world wide marketing alone.

MS didn't make Box as good as they could. I tell you, if Box was X2 then things would have been a lot diferent. they won't have performed better than PS2 (nor PSOne for that matter) but it would be a very different picture than it is today. X2 does alot of things right. except for some marketing schemes, things look positive. that is why I am looking forward to see how X2 does.
and chances are, Rev will make a fus of its own. things are pritty interesting next-gen.

[sif]

Sony does not need to counter the MS launch because console sales will die down as always post christmas (relative to a usual big hardware launch) and there is nothing that can be done about the first weeks of a console launch to slow it down (even playable PS3 games would have very little effect on pre-ordered 360's. Die-hard Xbox fans are not going to turn and run with playable PS3 games shown, they are more likely to bury their heads in the sand).

If Sony launch in Japan in March/April, MS's lead will be perhaps 3 million units. If the PS2 launch is anything to go by, Sony will sell 2 million units in the first week of Japanese/European sales (I think the figure for Japan's first two days, post-PS2 was 940,000 units). I think the average consumer (one without a pre-order, who make up the vast majority of console buyers) will not be interested in a next-gen console until Xmas 2006 / 2007, ie the first price-drop. In the end early-adopters have very little bearing on the overall race. The whole releasing first concept is overrated. Sony's brand recognition in Japan and Europe wil win through as long as the games are there and hardware power is roughly level to the 360.

[Domination]

People keep saying that Xbox did good for its first generation, well in comparison to Playstation's first generation Xbox did horrible. I mean honestly the original Playstation dominated when it was released, then Xbox gets slaughtered and people say they did really good? What am i missing here?

What people only remember is Microsoft surviving. This is why I try to tell people that Microsoft is a very powerful company financially. They can withstand a lot of punishment. If not for their financial situation, the story would be told a lot differently. Microsoft lost 4 billion, FOUR BILLION. No console in history has done this before. But BECAUSE Microsoft was able to hang in there financially, they were able to keep up with the competition. Microsoft doing well is only good if one doesn't look at the numbers.

[Z]

that is why I wonder what will happen if X2 performs even half of how Box did.
Sony's brand recognition in Japan and Europe wil win through as long as the games are there and hardware power is roughly level to the 360.
why not include Sony's biggest market; N. America?
if you think Box has a good number, look at how much PSOnes, PS2s and PSPs have been sold there. in fact, Sony can gain a lot going by brand recognition alone.
you may have said that since N. America is MS strongest market, but don't forget it si Sony's as well :)