If the PS3 is delayed until Spring 2007...

[Vagabond]

Do you think there would be a huge detrimental effect to the PS3 being delayed until 2007, if Sony lowers the price and unveiled a huge list of excellent launch-window games?

So far, the PS3 is looking quite unapproachable, mainly due to it's high price and the number of high-profile games being further off and not too far above it's competitors graphically. The PS3 also has quite the similar number of major franchises as it's competition.

The only way to fix that, and have the PS3 be a formidable challenger unafraid of all competition is for a short delay. The main reason for such a high price is the technology going into the PS3. The Blu-Ray is very new, and after a number of refinements and making mass production more feasible, prices will inevetably go down.

This also gives Sony time to reconfigure the PS3 system, perhaps increasing the clockspeed of certain processors or the amount of RAM, therefore "Dreamcasting" the X360 and Wii with it's great specs and apparent lineup.

Think about it, the 360 didn't exactly catch on like wildfire, as Sony feared and MS hoped. The Wii doesn't have too much of a chance outside Japan. Sony could easily afford it, seeing as the PS brand is strong, and they have a ton of support.

What do you think would happen if they delayed the PS3? Keep in mind that the PS2 was also delayed over a year from it's original expected launch.

[BlueTsunami]

I wouldn't mind it being delayed, though i'm greatly anticipating it. It would be a huge blow though, to Sony, if they missed this Holiday Season. They probably view it the same way.

I personally believe the PS3 was supposed to have an 07' release, Cell was to be 65n and have a good die rate. It would have probably been around the same pricepoint as the Xbox360 with all the same features you see now.

[Phoenix Dark]

They might as well delay it. No ones going to buy one of those lolz

[Nick]

wutz a ps3??

[Van Cruncheon]

I really can't get past how slow the Blu-Ray transfer speeds are, and it's really hurting any enthusiasm I might feign even if the price wasn't so fucking ridiculous and the launch library wasn't such unappealing drek.

[Fatghost28]

I think it's too late, the damage is done.

Sony could delay until the line up is better and the costs are lower, but that just gives MS a second Christmas season, this time with a lot more mind share and a killer line up.  Potentially worse, it could prompt some devs to move PS3 projects to X360 in order to get them out in time for Christmas. 

[etiolate]

If they delay, they give Microsoft more time and an even bigger lead.  If they delay, Nintendo has Christmas launch to themselves.

Sony just can't afford to delay really.

[Vagabond]

But has the 360 REALLY been that much of a success to pressure Sony? I mean, really? IMO, sony could afford it and provided they keep in stock they could lead by the end of the year if they rethink their strategy

[ToxicAdam]

There are still 2-5 million people out there that will buy the PS3 at 600 dollars to play it's shitty launch titles. That's what Sony is banking on ...


From then on .. it gets tricky.

[jobber]

they should release it Jan 1st.

imagine the crowds

[Fatghost28]

But has the 360 REALLY been that much of a success to pressure Sony? I mean, really? IMO, sony could afford it and provided they keep in stock they could lead by the end of the year if they rethink their strategy

Yeah.  While X360 started slow with a lacklustre launch and supply problems for the first six months, this Christmas the X360 is far and away the machine to beat.  Very strong line up, great positive buzz, a price advantage, and potentially no real hardware disadvantage compared to PS3, and likely having the advantage in terms of supply (and next gen Madden ahead of the game) I think Sony can't afford to let MS have this Christmas all on their own.

[Vagabond]

I think Sony (PS2) and Nintendo (SNES) have proven that with a strong hype train and press, it doesn't matter what your competitors have

[etiolate]

But has the 360 REALLY been that much of a success to pressure Sony? I mean, really? IMO, sony could afford it and provided they keep in stock they could lead by the end of the year if they rethink their strategy

Yeah, it's not a frightening lead right now, but sales balloon during the holidays and MS will be benefitting from that while Sony will get none of it.  You miss a Christmas, you screw up a Christmas, it can hurt.

It really turns on if Sony can get the hype machine to ps2 levels inspite of themselves and the product.

[Phoenix Dark]

But has the 360 REALLY been that much of a success to pressure Sony? I mean, really? IMO, sony could afford it and provided they keep in stock they could lead by the end of the year if they rethink their strategy

Yeah.  While X360 started slow with a lacklustre launch and supply problems for the first six months, this Christmas the X360 is far and away the machine to beat.  Very strong line up, great positive buzz, a price advantage, and potentially no real hardware disadvantage compared to PS3, and likely having the advantage in terms of supply (and next gen Madden ahead of the game) I think Sony can't afford to let MS have this Christmas all on their own.

I agree. Christmas is MS' to lose right now. They'll have the obvious price advantage plus some high profile games. Gears of War, Viva Pinata, Crackdown, and Mass Effect will all be huge sellers during the Nov-Dec holiday season.

Obviously the PS3 is going to sell out during its launch, but I truly think MS has this in the bag. They gained a lot of marketshare at E3, and they continue to build steam with games like Dead Rising and Saints Row on the way.

[The Miles Trahan Burger Experiment]

Goddamn it, after all the good hype surrounding Dead Rising, the fact that Halo 3 is on the way, and that Gears of War is looking pretty good is gonna make me pick up a 360. Hell, if I can just hold off I know it'll come to me sometime around XMas 

[xsarien]

If it's delayed until spring '07 I'd laugh maniacally. Not out of console fanboyism - I adore my PS2 - but because Sony's managed to make one mistake after another with the PS3 and they either don't care, or are convinced that people won't notice.

It's like they're deliberately trying to give up their hold on the industry.

[heavy liquid]

I don't think Sony can afford to push back the PS3.  If they do, the 360 will become further entrenched in the US, and Nintendo will spread like sex-starved bunnies in Japan.  Both of these are likely to happen anyway (due to the PS3's price and lauch titles, among other things), but the 360 and Wii be unfettered if the PS3 slips to 2007.  Sony will have a lot of ground to make up, should that happen.

[Lo-Volt]

Microsoft would really need every bit of distance they can get from the PS3, even if its public image has been wounded since May; I think delaying the system past 2006, when they were already forced to push the system behind from 'spring 2006' would give a window of opportunity to Microsoft, at least in America. The problems Microsoft had with unit quantity, unit quality and software line-up are going to be over by the time Sony launches in 2006 anyway; Microsoft is making enough units and its software lineup will look more attractive than in 2005. Everywhere other than America, the lack of competition would make this less of an issue (and yet the Wii is a wildcard), maybe, but America may well be a different story.

[Phoenix Dark]

Many people on GAF are going to be eating a lot of crow come the holiday season.

[Christopher]

I have my money for it, just waiting for it to be released...i'll get one, trust.