2014 Update: Sony's losses DOWN from $5.7 to $2 billion!

[Skykid]

Sony and MS should not release anything until their new console can do something that this generation cannot. It shouldn't be isolated to graphics either as many won't care. If all the PS4 games came out on PS3 as well, most people wouldn't even upgrade.

Sure, but you're talking in complete ideals. The truth is, Sony and MS can't wait any longer to open up the next generation because the industry is ailing. A resurgence needs to come now or never really, and I doubt they've managed to come up with a console that does anything beyond offer the same old shit with slightly improved graphics rendering and processors, bolstered instead with a larger emphasis on the virtual marketplace.

Physical media is not about to be abandoned, but this gen will be the platform for seriously testing the cloud based infrastructure for delivery of virtual content. If it proves fruitful, it's almost a done deal that the generation after will be completely disc free.

At that point, retail can kiss its ass goodbye.

[Op Intensify]

At that point, retail can kiss its ass goodbye.

Not without a fight. Gamestop is going to fight their coming irrelevance tooth and nail.

Sadly, I have to say I'd actually be more interested in an $800 processing beast with an HVD drive, than a dingy box that plays videos of games coming from someone else's machine. But the market and economy do not agree.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Clearly Sony should have come out with 3D TVs or something.

They certainly have made some 3D TVs, including some that don't need the use of bulky 3D glasses to view such 3D content. Such 3D TVs without the need for 3D glasses still haven't been sold in the U.S. yet.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Op Intensify]

Sony made that Playstation-branded 3D TV that requires glasses.

I want nothing to do with glasses-less 3D, though. It's a recipe for an instant headache.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Sooo....how long will the PS4 works before it breaks down? 6 months?

With all the processing power of the PS3, the thing generates an enormous amount of heat and it leads to an early failure. While a Mega Drive or a Nintendo can last decades if taken care of properly, you're lucky if the PS3 lasts for over 2 years.

I assume they're adding even more processing power to the PS4, so it'll generate even more heat. I can't see it working for long.

Yes, with the 1st-gen PS3 consoles, they sure do generate quite a bit of heat/noise with the stock cooling fan in place. I had my 1st-gen PS3 last for about five years before giving me the "Yellow Light of Death" syndrome (with it placed in the vertical upright position at all times). It wasn't even powered on for very long, less than 30 minutes tops, before the YLOD issue reared it's ugly head. Had to get it fixed + use a 3rd-party Nyko PS3 external cooling fan to draw away that excessive heat build-up.

The PS3 Slims utilize a smaller fan for less noise factor overall. You'd think that the gaming console manufacturers would utilize some better cooling methods to get those CPUs cooled down quickly (at the expense of a higher MSRP pricetag, naturally). I recall that the Apple G4 cube didn't have a cooling fan installed whatsoever and was totally silent when in operation.

Wasn't the DC console supposed to have an elaborate water cooled layout but Sega learned that it would've increased the initial DC console production costs through the roof (hence going with the much cheaper current cooling fan setup)?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Obiwanshinobi]

Wasn't the DC console supposed to have an elaborate water cooled layout but Sega learned that it would've increased the initial DC console production costs through the roof (hence going with the much cheaper current cooling fan setup)?

I read there was a heat pipe in the earliest units. Utilising some liquid, sure, but without a pump (just convection).

[Skykid]

I had my 1st-gen PS3 last for about five years before giving me the "Yellow Light of Death" syndrome (with it placed in the vertical upright position at all times).

Lol, I had my 1st Gen PS3 for about five hours before the Blu Ray drive stopped working.

[neorichieb1971]

If people just want to play the upgrade graphics game then consoles is not for them. Just get a PC and be done with it.

Since young people don't have much money these days I don't believe they will go running out to buy any new console tbh. If I'm offloading another £400+ on a new box I want Sony and Microsoft to make me feel like I'm really missing out on something. I think we can all assume that isn't going to be the case.

[neorichieb1971]

Gamestop can still sell pads lol

[Op Intensify]

Since young people don't have much money these days

Unless it's for beer and iPads.

[louisg]

If people just want to play the upgrade graphics game then consoles is not for them. Just get a PC and be done with it.

Since young people don't have much money these days I don't believe they will go running out to buy any new console tbh. If I'm offloading another £400+ on a new box I want Sony and Microsoft to make me feel like I'm really missing out on something. I think we can all assume that isn't going to be the case.

I dunno if it'd have to be 400 pounds.. that sounds really steep. That's not the going price for a new console over there, is it? It's definitely possible to squeeze a lot of tech into a cheap box, especially if companies continue doing the sell-at-a-loss thing.

[Cuilan]

Sony made that Playstation-branded 3D TV that requires glasses.

And funny enough, those TVs seem to have a failure rate that's on par with the 1st-gen 360s, if user reviews all over the net are anything to go by.

And it's a real shame too. Those TVs have some pretty good features and are decently priced for what they offer. I would have bought one if they were more reliable. Hopefully Sony releases a 2nd revision of them with improved features and none of the reliability issues.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

That Sony 3D TV for the PS3 was officially listed as the following:

'24" Playstation 3D Display' with an original MSRP of $499.99 USD and had two price drops down to $399.99 and $299.99 respectively within it's short retail lifespan stateside. I'm not sure if it's still being sold at Best Buy and Gamestop anymore.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Cuilan]

That Sony 3D TV for the PS3 was officially listed as the following:

'24" Playstation 3D Display' with an original MSRP of $499.99 USD and had two price drops down to $399.99 and $299.99 respectively within it's short retail lifespan stateside. I'm not sure if it's still being sold at Best Buy and Gamestop anymore.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Stores that still carry it have price-dropped it as low as $200 recently. I know Gamestop is selling off their remaining stock for $200, as have a number of online stores like Amazon.

[Skykid]

It's that time of year again folks! Christmas is coming and Sony's forecasts are in, this time slashing operating profit predictions by 40%.

News in on 1st November, although it's mainly (again) down to losses in the consumer electronics department and getting royally fucked up at Sony Pictures over the ENORMOUS FLOPPY WHITE HOUSE DOWN. Jamie Foxx didn't spare them a penny, apparently.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24753856

Game division profits sucking nuts too, according to reports:

http://www.vg247.com/2013/10/31/sony-fi ... s-slashed/

This real kick in the nuts is for the Sony shareholders however, who have lost $100 billion collectively since 2000 according to Bloomberg, who label the company a "chronic underperformer".

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0 ... l-m-a.html

Predictions for next year folks?



Pain.

[Skykid]

Time for the annual update on Sony's total operating losses!

Thanks to strong PS4 sales the loss deficit has been greatly curbed this year, with the games division now by far the strongest arm of the company. No-one could really have predicted just quite how well the PS4 would do, largely thanks to Microsoft's enormous pre-launch gaffes giving Sony a nice vacant spotlight.

Unfortunately losses in the handheld sector have taken some of the celebration out of the PS4 sales, leaving the company forecasting...

*drumroll*

...Total operating losses of £1.2 Billion or just under $2 Billion dollars approx. But considering that's up from $5.7 billion last year the PS4 has done incredible things to soften the blows caused by mobile, PC and TV division losses.

Forecast for next year: turning a profit still unlikely.

[Udderdude]

How long until Sony's games division splits off to avoid going down with the ship?