Computer Software

Judging by early reports the Playstation 3 is going to be one sweet machine. It will have the revolutionary Blue-ray technology and the ability to watch and burn DVD’s. This is very important as most consumers have DVD technology at the moment and it will be a smooth overlap.

The Playstation 3 will be like a mini computer, with a huge amount of processing power. Some might even say more processing power than the now released XBOX 360.When the Playstation 2 was released 7 years ago, the average number of games sold per unit sold was 5. Fastforward to the PSP; it released and has only sold about 2 games per PSP sold. This is mainly because of the multimedia aspect of the game. People are buying it to watch movies just as much as they are to play the games.

This doesn’t sound so bad, but it can cause problems for Sony. A lot of Sony’s income from video game consoles are the licensing fees they charge video game companies to create games on any of Sony’s console platforms. Thus, when less games are being sold, less money is being paid for the rights to make games since not as many games are being bought compared to the past.

Another possible problem with the Playstation 3 is the complexity of the interface. Since the Playstation 3 is so powerful, crtics are speculating that the console may confuse consumers and give the PS3 the reputation of being complicated.

Judging by the screenshots of games such as Fight Night Round 3 that were made for the Playstation 3 the life like imaging on the games are astounding.
Watever the case may be, we will have to wait until the release of the Playstation 3 to speculate on it’s features. One thing if for sure, it will be a feature packed console like nothing consumers have seen before.

Sony’s original plan was to unveil its new PlayStation 3 in Japan this spring, but due to difficulties concerning its production plans, it seems that Japan will not see the new PS3 until August. One of the main production difficulties is related to the Blu-ray Disc drive in each console.

According to a Sony spokesperson, the company is waiting for the final specifications on some of the technology that is being used in the PS3, which includes the Blu-ray drive as well as input and output video and sound.

Sony’s stock took a hit on Monday after Merrill Lynch released a research note last week which indicated that the PS3’s launch may be postponed by six to 12 months, and that the cost of materials used in the console’s production could be around $900 per unit at the outset.

Yuta Sakurai, a senior analyst at Nomura Securities, estimates the price of the unit to be around 50,000 yen, which is about $420. “I don’t think it matters when Sony launches in the U.S. as long as it’s in time for Christmas,” he added.

Sakurai expects Sony to aim for an early summer launch, which would be in time for the big selling season around July, which is when schools are on holiday.

Little is known for sure about the PS3 as of yet. Price estimates by analysts in Japan vary greatly, ranging from 40,000 to 300,000 yen. The console will allow up to seven players to play at once, and will be powered by the “Cell” chip, which is more powerful than Intel’s Pentium 4.

Other features include an enhanced graphics chip, a built-in Ethernet port, and Blu-ray, which is a next-generation DVD format that is backed by Sony.

Since the technology specs for the PS3 are being delayed, game developers are forced to develop games with guesswork. “Game makers are developing games according to their guesses on what the final specifications might be,” said BNP Paribas analyst, Takeshi Tajima.

Sony’s PS3 will compete with the likes of the recently-released Xbox360 and Nintendo’s Revolution console, which is expected to be released later this year.