Good AND Bad News: The PS3 is NOT in production.

[makeitlookreal]

Here is the scoop. The PS3 has not yet began manufacturing.

This is GOOD NEWS because it means they may have had time to really tweak the hardware even more or add last minute stuff or features!

This is BAD NEWS because it means they have less time to manufacture one heck of a lot of PS3s before the launch of the console!

Personally, I'm in the camp that waiting a little longer is a good thing if it means *any* improvement to the hardware.

Perhaps CPI is right and the hardware is NOT YET FINAL at all!

It looks like many, many of us have been totally WRONG about the PS3 being in production.

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3660&Itemid=2

In an extensive interview with consumer site GameSpot, Hirai stated, "We haven't started manufacturing [the PS3] yet. Some of our ops guys were actually just in China, and also in Japan just reviewing the [production] lines and everything else. But they are, again, preparing as we speak to get the manufacturing going. We've not announced and we haven't set really a specific date to say, 'As of this day we're going to start manufacturing.'"

[Hrama]

Yep, been posted... but not here. I am still trying to decide if he meant a fully finished unit, or just the individual parts.

[masteratt]

Spec improvements upon what?

Sony never officially announced any Specs and the ones that were shortly on the site were clearly marked as mere estimations.

[frosty]

You're jumping the gun man. It's parts, cell and RSX namely, have both been said to be finalized and in production. He could simply be saying the full unit's aren't being assembled yet. Or, it could mean something more, but most likley not.

[ddaryl]

There will be no spec adjustments in any way at this point in the game. Sony has been recieving parts from multiple manufaturers already, they just haven't gone through final assembly.

Since the latest news is that Sony upped the USA's allottment to 1 million for launch it stands to argue that Sony is expecting production to exceed their original conservative numbers of 2 mil worldwide IMO.

[VG Aficionado]

I agree with the previous posts. As far as I know, Cell has been in production for more than a year now, and other parts must have been in production for some time as well, so I'm afraid you're drawing wrong conclusions.

[woundingchaney]

Well it depends on why the console isnt in production. If they are simply waiting for final notification or small production changes (perhaps even product testing) then thats not a concern to me, however, if they are experiencing low yields or havent begun to fab other key parts of the console then Im worried about launch.

[makeitlookreal]

Let me give you an example of what I mean.

I'm not a hardware expert, but I believe there are pins and other mechanisms that allow you to control the speed of internal components such as GPUs and CPUs. If they are doing performance testing they might still be fiddling with what settings and speeds to be used for the CELL and RSX.

For example, if their cooling solution is just supurb they might be testing out a small bump in mhz for the Cell. That's just a hypothetical situation, but I think its a possibility.

Also, they might be trying to decide how much RAM to put in the PS3. They could be carefully studying their budget, yields, and what kind of supply of chips they have to perhaps throw in a memory increase. Again, just a possibility.

Another thing they may be doing is very, very rough product punishment tests. The 360 has a bad rap for many units simply dying. I think they will be testing the units carefully, keeping them on for a very long period of time, and simulating all sorts of conditions before mass producing them.

There are all kinds of good things this delay could mean. It also is a bad thing because it means there will be some people still waiting for a PS3. But I would rather be patient than rush Sony.

[ddaryl]

Wouldn't a late bump in speed (mhz) in the cell or the RSX create timing issues with games developed for the already solidified specs.

The delay is simply based upon the final parts being recieved and verification of the productions lines capablilities IMO

[Applefiend]

Not if they're well written, nope.

[Fazares]

when in the hell will they begin this blessed production...when...?

[Smokey]

i think they mean Units as a 'whole'

[Leedogg]

PS3 production could mean alot of things...

1. Playstation 3 could already be in production, but not in there retail boxes. ;-]

2. Playstation 3 could just now be in production.

3. Playstation 3 is in production, but not the controllers or any accessories yet.

Remember it was leaked that Asustek as already been producing Playstation 3s.

[BruceWayneIII]

The earlier reports about Asustek was only regarding the motherboard. The rest of the components and the casing is handled by others than Asustek. The actual assembly of the units (including packaging) won't take place yet.

Considering that Sony expects to manufacture two million units for launch and one million units per months after launch could very well mean that they will start assembling the units around mid September.

[Fazares]

i fully agree^^

[Nameless]

Well, you guys are all optimistic...
I still believe we could have a delay or very small launch allocation on our hands! It's making me nervous how tight lipped Sony has been concerning the PS3 considering the launch is quickly approaching.

If Sony does not remove the curtain and take an agressive stance during TGS and reveal the PS3 specs and launch strategy, it could mean bad things to come...

I somewhat agree with MILR that Sony should not rush their product to market, but it would be suicide to delay the launch until 2007. If the PS3 is going to keep it's dominate position it really needs to see a 2006 birth. Peace

[VG Aficionado]

PS3 will be launched this year, no matter what. And anyway, the title of this thread is misleading. PS3 certainly is in production. It is just that the manufacturing process has not been fully completed yet, but it does not mean PS3's hardware development is not finalised as MILR understands it.

[OmniCloud]

I always wondered this...But how the hell do u get a job manufactuing video games? These guys have to get a discount or something, I bet they have PS3's a month before they even come out...lol lucky bastards.

I'm pretty sure PS3 will launch this year, just look at the games that keep popping up as launch titles each month. The question is, who will be able to get 1?

[woundingchaney]

I always wondered this...But how the hell do u get a job manufactuing video games? These guys have to get a discount or something, I bet they have PS3's a month before they even come out...lol lucky bastards.

I'm pretty sure PS3 will launch this year, just look at the games that keep popping up as launch titles each month. The question is, who will be able to get 1?
Im pretty sure that Sony has already offered a very limited amount of pre-orders to Sony employees that are interested in teh console.

[Nameless]

I always wondered this...But how the hell do u get a job manufactuing video games? These guys have to get a discount or something, I bet they have PS3's a month before they even come out...lol lucky bastards.

I'm pretty sure PS3 will launch this year, just look at the games that keep popping up as launch titles each month. The question is, who will be able to get 1?
I agree with your statement...
It's going to be very difficult to find a PS3 come November.
If I manage to obtain 2 I will make a killing on ebay. ;)

[overclocked]

I dont think its that bad. They have all the parts pressumably and get after hands.
The first shipment is going to Europe. Thats why they said the first units would be Europe ones because of longest logistic, then NA and JP rest.

If they really have a 1million @month capacity i dont see a problem.

But its what, about 90 days left so they better put togheter those machines now. They expected 4million before holliday ends.
Kaz said 2 million?