SONY haven't changed their full-year forecast of six million units by march 2007

[Zinn]

Sony 'overreached' including Blu-ray in PS3 - Harrison

Saxat från: eurogamer.net

Sony's Phil Harrison has admitted that the company "overreached" with its decision to include a Blu-ray drive in PlayStation 3.

Referring to the shortages of blue diodes that forced Sony to postpone the console's European launch until March, Harrison told Eurogamer's Rob Fahey, "we have overreached in production of the Blu-Ray component - I can't deny that".

"But that's the price you pay for adopting brand new, leading-edge technologies that will be future proof. We will resolve those issues - we are already catching up."
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"We will continue to catch up on the production, and as you know, we haven't changed our full-year forecast of six million units [by March 2007], so we're only talking about a ramp-up issue. We're not talking about the fundamental design of the product itself," he added.

"There's no denying that we’ve had some very public challenges," he had said. "Today, it looks like a very difficult situation - but in the weeks, months and years to come, this will pale into zero."

Speaking as part of an interview being serialised on Sony's semi-official Three Speech blog, Harrison also addressed the issue of HDMI's late inclusion in the lower-end PlayStation 3, the 20GB model.

"The reason for the change was in reaction to a market trend, which is that much more displays are being sold with HDMI, earlier, than had been previously forecast. Not just Sony, but all the other TV manufacturers," he said.

"Although we didn't say it at E3, I think that the unspoken assumption was that we would always merge everything into HDMI eventually. We just made that decision earlier."

[hyperdine]

They absolutely made the right decision to "overreach". That's how to gain and grow market share. You've got to innovate and take risks.

Glad to see they haven't changed the forecast!

[theknub]

personally, i like new challenges and i congratulate companies for trying new things. are they dumb sometimes, yes. but it comes with the territory.

as for hdmi and overreaching, i like it because we will now have a player that isn't outdated at launch like the 360 or wii (yeah yeah, they have that weird ass controller).

[Monkey]

Well if it's just the blu-ray diodes (not sure it is though) that are lacking in quantity, it seems possible that it would be easier to reach target once they come to the numbers needed than if there were other issues for not making numbers. What the reality is though, I have no idea. Regardless PS2, launch with 500k in the U.S. and the PS2 sold well over 100 million. So obviously launch numbers are only a tiny fraction of what is to be sold. Of course the some anti-sony types seem to think launch numbers are more important than they really are.

[JTK]

So be it. I hope they make that forecast.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by theknub

as for hdmi and overreaching, i like it because we will now have a player that isn't outdated at launch like the 360 or wii (yeah yeah, they have that weird ass controller).

What's that game? Guitar Hero? Didn't that include like a guitar-like device to play?

I think eventually Sony or a third-party will develop a similar device for the PS3, but one that is much more complicated (two Bluetooth transmission device) and multipurpose. If Sony can develop that dance mat, I'm sure this is relatively easy.


fuad

[tron3]

I'm not exactly sure where they get the demographics and numbers to make such predictions. I mean, how do you predict the sales of a 1,500 hundred dollar entertainment unit?

However, a little over prediction is common because it pleases stock holders and creates "mind share" with the public. "Wow, that many units? I guess I should get one too if everyone else is."

If you ask me, sales predictions are useful if the data is real and meaningful, otherwise they are just paying people good money to blow smoke up their collective bums. Market trends are fickle - never trust them implicitly.

[mainman]

Originally Posted by tron3

I'm not exactly sure where they get the demographics and numbers to make such predictions. I mean, how do you predict the sales of a 1,500 hundred dollar entertainment unit?

However, a little over prediction is common because it pleases stock holders and creates "mind share" with the public. "Wow, that many units? I guess I should get one too if everyone else is."

If you ask me, sales predictions are useful if the data is real and meaningful, otherwise they are just paying people good money to blow smoke up their collective bums. Market trends are fickle - never trust them implicitly.

I am glad they choose Blu-ray. Blu-ray is one of the biggest reasons that I want a PS3. HDMI, 1080p and lossless audio are also one of the biggest reasons, but this comes with Blu-ray itself.

So the 2 bigest reasons for me to choose PS3 is Games and Blu-ray. In other words, Blu-ray is a major factor for me.

[JTK]

Sony has taken a gamble upfront. No question about it.

But look at how long they've milked the now "ancient" PS2?

I could easily see the PS3 staying current for about 10 years while everyone else will have to roll out another console at the 4-5 year mark.

[Bullseye]

I'm still annoyed that they decided to put the European launch back til March 07. What sort of message is this meant to send the European gamers? Then they threaten to sue anyone attempting to bring one in from the USA or Japan.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Then they threaten to sue anyone attempting to bring one in from the USA or Japan.

I think that only applies to companies intending to bring a truckload of them.

If you had gone to Japan or going to the US, Hongkong or Taiwan and snagged a PS3 to bring it back, they won't stop you because it's a personal purchase. It's just a matter of you having more cash to spend on a mini-break and then getting a PS3.


fuad

[Blackraven]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

I'm still annoyed that they decided to put the European launch back til March 07. What sort of message is this meant to send the European gamers? Then they threaten to sue anyone attempting to bring one in from the USA or Japan.

Somehow agree.

However, seeing as how the Europeans, Aussies, NZ peeps, a few Asians will be cramming jam=packed in lines just to get a PS3 this coming March, I'd say that I'm forced to wait till the next holiday season.

Oh well, just one more full year, then I can get my PS3 of a latter build (with the software emulator instead of the EE+GS chip)

Although who knows if the former or latter is better....