Rumors surrounding Sony's video gaming hardware are making the rounds today.
First, Gameindustry.biz stoked the fires of the ongoing Sony PS3 price cut rumors. Gameindustry quotes Janco Partners Research Analyst Mike Hickey as saying that Sony needs to drop the price by $100 US, and that there is "increased speculation for a PS3 price cut announcement from Sony in the next couple of days."
The story got odder, though, when Hickey stated "We are also hearing continued speculation that Sony is working on a non-Blu-ray PS3 console, which could enable them to make the aforementioned hardware price reduction." The PS3 is primarily a gaming console, and the main channel of content delivery is via blu-ray discs. So on the face of it, the idea of a PS3 that couldn't play blu-ray movies or blu-ray games seems rather ridiculous. On the other hand, Sony leads the way in digital delivery of "full-sized" games via its Playstation Network service (Microsoft and Nintendo both limit digital sales to small-footprint games). So in theory a disc-less PS3 with a hefty hard drive could be a viable product, assuming Sony beefs up the library of content it offers digitally.
In addition to the PS3 speculation, an even more speculative Sony rumor popped up today: this one for a "PSP 2." The PSP (Playstation Portable) is Sony's entry into the handheld gaming market, and it has struggled against Nintendo's DS system. Gaming blog Kotaku quote's Acclaim's Chief Creative Officer David Perry as having knowledge of a new, UMD-free version of the PSP (much like blu-ray is used to deliver game software on the PS3, proprietary UMD discs are used in the PSP). Says Perry, "I spoke to a developer who is working on it right now. I know this developer is already working on it, so that means they have a prototype. That would sound like a fall release to me." With no UMD drive, once again Sony would be turning to digital distribution to get software onto the system, though Perry claims games would be sold on memory sticks at retailers.
Neither a PS3 without blu-ray or a PSP without UMD seems likely alone, but combining the two rumors is interesting. Could 100% digital distribution be Sony's new business model for gaming?
Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world
Esther Schindler
If the comments are ugly, the code is ugly
claird
SVG a graphics format for 21st century
pasmith
Take Chrome OS for a test spin
Sandra Henry-Stocker
Solaris Tip: Have Your Files Changed Since Installation?
jfruh
Android fragments vs. the iPhone monolith
mikelgan
What Gizmodo missed about the Pro WX Wireless USB disk drive
Sidekick: The Good News & the Bad News
Either way you look at it Microsoft Data Center management did not follow standards or best practices in this failure. In which case it makes me wonder more about the outsourcing of corporate data much less personal data.
- mburton325
Join the conversation here
Quick, practical advice for IT pros. Made fresh daily.
Want to cash in on your IT savvy? Send your tip to tips@itworld.com. If we post it, we'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card.
Good News
Wooooo, good news, I'm waiting for the new PSP. I found many free psp games from this website. Share it here.http://www.freedvdripper.net/free-psp-game.html
you gotta be kidding
Whoever rote this review is a fucking moron.The PS3's engine is built on the Blu-Ray platform enabling it to handle better games with the capability of holding more data and potential. you remove the Blu-Ray technology and you have nothing more than an over powered PS2. The games are written in blu-ray format, so why would Sony be stupid enough to remove the drive that makes the PS3 a Ps3? Go get a fucking life, dumbass fuckwad.
it's quite good
the problem now is that Africa is left out of the gaming market why because the "big men" in the gaming industry are considered outside Africa and is bad.we hoping these new featured console will be released in Africa one day