That has been their plan since last year some time.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15333

PS3 details expected tomorrow, as Sony confirms briefing plans

Rob Fahey 12:24 14/03/2006
Kutaragi set to address Tokyo conference; announcements due for 6am GMT

New information regarding Sony's PlayStation 3 plans, which could include the pricing, launch date and initial software line-up of the console, is set to be announced in Tokyo tomorrow at a specially convened Sony conference.

Sony today confirmed that the conference, which has been widely rumoured to be the venue for new PS3 announcements since last week, will take place at 3pm local time (6am GMT) in Tokyo tomorrow, and will be open to media and analysts as well as to Sony's publishing partners.

Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi is set to address the conference, which will be the last possible venue for major PlayStation announcements in Japan before SCE's worldwide studios chief Phil Harrison's keynote at the Game Developers' Conference in San Jose next week, and probably the last chance for the firm to reveal PS3 details before its year-end on March 31st.

Although some commentators have suggested that the event may not include exact launch details since it is a relatively low-key conference, Sony can hardly afford to wait until E3 to announce further information regarding PS3, since it has as recently as last week claimed to be sticking to a launch timescale which will see the console appearing in Spring.

Other indicators also point to a significant amount of information being released tomorrow - most notably screenshots of a PS3 version of RPG title Untold Legends, which were reportedly set to be released on Wednesday morning but were accidentally revealed a few days earlier. The timing suggests that at least some of the software line-up will get an airing in Tokyo tomorrow.

The current expectation from most analysts and publishers is that the PS3 will launch either in late summer or early autumn in Japan, followed by a US launch before Christmas and a European launch in the first quarter of 2007.


Chris

http://1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3148763

Smells like complete bullshit to me, being that they are launching Blu-Ray players on May 23rd and they aren't claiming any problems with the product, but I figured I would post it before someone posted it saying "OMFG SONY IS DOOOOOMED".

Perhaps they're choosing to use that as their reason when in fact it's something else?

Like the article says, we should wait until the PS conference and GDC instead of speculating on internet rumors.

I agree about the first part. Why reveal such big news in a Japanese newspaper when there is a much larger forum for that kind of thing... say I don't know... their own PS conference? Sounds like BS.

Now, aren't the initial wave of BR players shipping w/o the copy protection? That part actually makes sense, if they are trying to have that in place to prevent game pirates.

Of course its bull shit, the PS3 is going to be delayed to a whole host of technological hurdles and massive costs to bring to market, not some BS story about it specifically being tied to encryption issues.

Nope. They will comply with the interim agreement and receive updates once the final agreement has been reach.

Exactly. I have reason to believe that Sony engineers are still trying to figure a way to fit all of the components into the case.

Not sure how reliable this is, but Stuff Magazine's UK edition posted an article earlier today indicating that their sources say Sony will be announcing its PS3 launch plans in a few hours. See http://www.stuffmagazine.co.uk/hotst...asp?de_id=1390

Guess we'll know soon. My predictions:
1) PS3 launch in Oct/Nov (in the US at least)
2) Price= $299 (I'm going out on a limb)
3) Online network from day 1. Free to use
4) 15-20 launch games

1. agree
2. I'm gonna say not below $499
3. bold guess, if it is free that backs up my #2 even more.
4. agree

1) I think it will launch in both Japan and the US in the Oct/Nov timeframe.
2) I have do doubt it will be $499.
3) Online from day 1, but it won't be free. I expect a similar fee to Xbox Live.
4) 15-20 sounds reasonable.

1. Yup, November launch
2. At least $499
3. Online network (HUB?) - similar to Xbox Live pricing (I'm going to say something more like $75 for a year)
4. 15 launch games, tops.

Xbox Live has proven that consumers will pay for quality online service and Sony is aware of it. No way in hell that it's free.

Just announced:

November 11 2006 PS3 GLOBAL RELEASE (US/JAP/UK)

Also PS1 emulator for PSP with downloadable games.

November launch for US, Japan, and Europe.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/696/696054p1.html

High-Def PS2 and PSOne Games
Legacy titles to be displayed in high-definition.
by Chris Roper

March 14, 2006 - Sony today announced that not only is the PlayStation 3 to be 100% backwards compatible, but all legacy titles played on the system will be displayed at high-definition resolutions. The Xbox 360 currently does the same thing and the result on that end is much sharper image quality for older games.

Other key features of the system that the electronics giant has pointed out so far are full Blu-ray support, the latest HDMI connection, broadband and wireless connectivity and HDD support.



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PS3 Online Details Released
Sony finally unveils Live competition.
by Chris Roper

March 14, 2006 - Sony today finally unveiled info on its PlayStation 3 online plans at its PlayStation Business Briefing currently happening in Japan.

Beginning at the system's launch, currently scheduled for sometime this November, the system will feature community tools including lobby matching and voice chat, commerce features that includes bootable software via the hard drive.

The service was created with the help of Sony Online Entertainment. Best of all, the "basic" service will be free of charge.


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Final PS3 Dev Kits in June
Kits coming sooner than we thought.
by Jeremy Dunham

March 14, 2006 - In one of several compelling announcements made in Tokyo at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing today, SCE president Ken Kutaragi confirmed that the final PS3 development kits will be shipping out to production houses in June. Additionally, there are 15 different companies making tools and middleware for the SDK.

For frequent readers of this site, you may be interested to know that the technology folks in IGN.com's parent company IGN Entertainment (aka GameSpy Technologies) are contributing to the network solution.

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PS3 HDD Required
It's 60GB and Linux too.
by Jeremy Dunham

March 14, 2006 - As part of the PlayStation Business Brief today in Tokyo, Ken Kutaragi confirmed that the PlayStation 3 will require the hard drive peripheral. In total, it will be 60GB big, be completely upgradeable, and support Linux OS. Additionally, the peripheral will act as a home server and allow users to store various forms of media to be pulled up elsewhere.

Interestingly, Kutaragi didn't confirm if the system will actually ship with a hard drive or not -- just that it's required. It's semantics, we know, but we thought that it was worth pointing out.


_


Blu-ray Disc Production Info
PS3 to use Blu-ray exclusively - no games DVD.
by Chris Roper

March 14, 2006 - At its PlayStation Business Briefing 2006 in Japan, Sony announced its production plans for BD-ROM discs (Blu-ray). Firstly, all PlayStation 3 games will ship on Blu-ray to help prevent piracy. In other words, no "cheap" DVD releases; Blu-ray only. Of course, it'll still play PS2 and movies on DVD, but all PS3 releases will be on Blu-ray.

The company expects initial BD-ROM production to reach 2.5 million in Japan and Europe and 5 million in the US.


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PS3 is "Live"
Kutaragi continues to hype PS3's experience.
by Chris Roper

March 14, 2006 - At the PlayStation Business Briefing 2006, Ken Kutaragi has just added another infamous quote to his belt, this time stating that PS3 games are "live" and that the PS3 concept is "4D".

He claims that games have gone from 8-bit to 16-bit planes, to the "space" that you saw on the PS1/PS2, and now PS3 will be "live".

Translation by Tenaciousdave: Typical Kutagari bullshit.


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No Games on Display
Sony focuses solely on hardware news.
by Chris Roper

March 15, 2006 - The PlayStation Business Briefing 2006 has just wrapped up over in Tokyo, and surprisingly, there were no new software announcements made. Sony basically kept this to a hardware-only event, speaking about PS3, PSP and PS2 hardware news, but failed to bring up any software-related topics, aside from a few details about its online plans.

Now if we could just get a confirmation of price, everything else looks pretty interesting.

Now that the conference is said and done, I have some thoughts to add.


Expect massive shortages.

Even if Sony meets their production goals, there still won't be enough units for 3 markets. Considering that parts aren't in production yet, chip yields are still an unknown factor and can cut those numbers drastically. Reserve one as soon as humanly possible. I would imagine that Gamestop and EB will start taking them within the next couple of days, most likely Thursday because their computers have already been updated for tomorrow.

I think Europe might get pushed into '07. Sony will not let MS have another holiday season alone in the US without the PS3, but they'll most likely want to combat the shortages by going US/Japan only.

A copycat version of Xbox Live is by no means surprising and it's a great thing. I do hope Sony can come up with some original features but I think it will be difficult to top the Xbox Live integration in the 360.

A required hard drive is a huge bonus for the PS3. I hope MS's non standardized hard drive approach doesn't hurt PS3 games. Considering the multi platform nature of games, I think it will most likely mean less HDD support.

Linux support is AWESOME. If a homebrew scene emerges similar to the original Xbox, I might end up buying more than one. A legal homebrew scene will be nothing short of amazing.

When the hell are they going to announce a price? I guess we'll have to wait for E3.

http://www.scee.presscentre.com/cont...2&NewsAreaID=2

I'm glad to hear this will get out before Christmas, even if it is hard to find. I bet every person who picks up their MGS3 pre-order today turns right back around and reserves one.

Still worrisome that no price was announced.

So, November....smart move for Sony to get the X-mas rush. Now, hopefully I can pre-order it since I have $200+ credit at GAMERUSH. I don't even want a PS3 that bad, but I have credit to burn. Who knows...maybe it will be like the XBOX360 fiasco too.

I'm confused - released in November, 1 million units per month (yeah, right...), 6 million units in 2006? At that rate, we're looking at 2 million units in 2006, not 6...

Well shit. I didn't think they were going to delay release until November. I thought for sure that they would have a product out soon after the Blu-Ray launch. Oh well.

Simultaneous world-wide launch is doubtful. That was the original intention with PSP, and it wasn't even close. There was a mention that Sony predicted 6 million units out by March of 2007. With an estimated capacity of 1 million units a month, that would mean Production begins in October with only 1 million units for a beginning of November launch. You can't launch in 3 regions with only 1 million units.

It sounds like Sony is trying to copy Live, which definitely isn't a bad thing. It also sounds like a hard drive will replace the standard memory card. Instead of dropping $35 on a memory card, you'll drop $40 on a 60GB hard drive. I like that, because it means no more memory cards for 3 different systems.

I need to see some games. E3 needs to be all about games, and they will most likely announce the launch line-up at TGS in October.

I really wish PS3 wasn't delayed. This means I'll have to go out and purchase a Blu-Ray player.

Well, I said since October of last year that the PS3 would not launch in the spring time. Sorry, but since so many people like to play the media game, I had to throw in my "told you so", im such a child sometimes.

Anyway, here's my next prediction, similar to what some have said already:
1. The PS3 will not launch in Europe this year, no way.
2. IF the PS3 launches in the US, expect it to simply be to maintain attention away from 360 and Revolution. Sony will be able to ship about 200k-500k units, if any at all.

I honestly expect Sony to continue to hold the carrot out in front of consumers pulling them along and then making a decision based on US sales of the 360. In other words, if 360 starts selling really well in the fall Sony WILL release some units to north American markets, however if sales are slow and the PS3 buzz keeps many consumers waiting for a PS3, Sony will delay the unit to reduce costs or to fuel the Japanese market which is clearly Nintendo vs. Sony.