PS3: The Scaler Does Exist!

Those of you whose minds tend to wander on such topics might recall the PS3's current inability to up-scale resolutions. For most out there, this is not a problem, but those who have older 1080i sets (which don't accept 720p signals) are stuck playing games like Resistance at 480p resolutions. Also, those who have 720p sets that don't accept 1080i signals (which is very few) are limited to watching Blu-ray movies at 480p.

Fortunately, a solution to this problem has appeared, but seemingly for future titles only (There is a chance that developers could patch some of the titles that are already out but it is doubtful that they would even bother). Sony has finally updated their SDK to include the ability to have the PS3 up-scale via the hardware... but there is a catch. It can only scale horizontal resolutions. What does that mean? Well, you'll have to run over to http://www.beyond3d.com/articles/ps3scaler/ to get the full story and explanation.

For some reason, Sony is being very secretive about the PS3's scaler chip and its abilities and nobody is sure why. Maybe the answer will reveal itself someday. For now, we can at least rest a little easier knowing that most future titles will be devoid of the issue that was one of PS3's original weaknesses.

Sony and Namco Sitting in a Tree

Jan. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Sony Corp., the world's largest maker of game consoles, said its PlayStation unit will develop games with Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. to help take share from Microsoft Corp. and Nintendo Co.

Namco Bandai will own 51 percent of the venture, named Cellius Inc., with Sony holding the rest, Sony said in a faxed release today. The venture will begin operations on March 6.

Cellius will use Sony's Cell chip, which powers PlayStation 3, to create games for the console and content for mobile phones and personal computers, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka said today. He would not give earnings forecasts or other details.

The alliance may help Sony recoup the 200 billion yen ($1.65 billion) it spent developing the Cell with International Business Machines Corp. and Toshiba Corp. Sony is expecting the chip, which makes the PS3 about 35 times faster than the PS2, to attract gamers with sharper graphics and more complex play.

The Cell chip is also part of Sony's strategy to beat Microsoft and Apple Computer Inc. in controlling the digital home, a future network linking televisions, music players, game consoles and other appliances to the Internet.

Namco Bandai's ``Ridge Racer 7'' and ``Mobile Suit Gundam'' were PlayStation 3's best selling games in Japan last year, according to researcher Enterbrain Inc. Sony's ``Resistance: Fall of Man'' was third.

PS3: European Launch Game Lineup

Some of you were wondering what games would be available during the European launch window, so here you go:

Resistance: Fall of Man™ - SCEE - Disc
MotorStorm™ - SCEE - Disc
Genji™: Days of the Blade - SCEE - Disc
FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION - SCEE - Disc
Ridge Racer™ 7 - SCEE - Disc
Tekken®: Dark Resurrection - SCEE - Network
Lemmings™ - SCEE - Network
Go! Puzzle - SCEE - Network
Blast Factor™ - SCEE - Network
flOw™ - SCEE - Network
Super Rub’a'Dub - SCEE - Network
Call of Duty 3 - Activision UK Ltd - Disc
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - Activision UK Ltd - Disc
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 - Activision UK Ltd - Disc
Gundam – Target in Sight - Namco Bandai Games - Disc
Full Auto™ 2: Battle Lines - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
Sonic the Hedgehog™ - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
Virtua Fighter™ 5 - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
Virtua Tennis™ 3 - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
World Snooker Championship 2007 - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
NHL 2K7 - Take 2 International SA - Disc
Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWll - Ubisoft Entertainment SA - Disc
Enchanted Arms - Ubisoft Entertainment SA - Disc
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent - Ubisoft Entertainment SA - Disc
The Elder Scrolls lV: Oblivion - Ubisoft Entertainment SA - Disc
Def Jam: Icon - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
Fight Night Round 3 - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
NBA Street 4 Homecourt 2007 - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
Need for Speed Carbon - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
The Godfather: The Don’s Edition - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
F.E.A.R. Vivendi - Universal Games Intl SA - Disc
Gripshift - Sony Online Entertainment - Network

PS3: European Launch > U.S. Launch

Most of the time, I would say that it sucks to be a European gamer because they generally get shafted at every turn. This is especially true when it comes to console launches, as the territory has always had to play third fiddle (is that even a phrase?) to Japan and North America. However, in the case of the PS3, I think their wait will be worth it. The PS3 launched in the U.S. with limited units, a lackluster variety of games, and no peripherals (aside from the SIXAXIS) to speak of. We've also had to deal with multiple firmware updates (the latest of which just released last night) and slow updates to the PlayStation Store.

As a contrast, the European launch of the system seems to be of significantly higher-quality, with over 30 titles across the launch window, immediately availability of the PS3 Remote Control and official Sony cables, and a better-stocked PlayStation Store brimming with Tekken and Gran Turismo HD from the get-go. Obviously, by that time, the U.S. gamers will have had first access to all of that stuff, but the fact that overseas gamers get it all on Day One makes their launch that much more complete and compelling.

On top of all that, a major firmware update (with a lot of the additions that gamers have been clamoring for) will be released to coincide with the European launch, so even the experience of the console itself will be quite a bit better than what U.S. gamers saw when they booted it up last year.

The European launch, with its allotment of 1 million PS3s (over the launch window), is what the Japanese and North American launches should have been. If they were, a lot of the negative criticisms wouldn't have occurred and the Cell-powered console certainly would have been viewed in a different light by the media and hardcore gamers.

One might say, though, that all these early issues, such as the lack of quality titles, OS shortcomings and limited units don't really matter as long as they are resolved by the time the mainstream gamer comes on board and I would agree with them. The cost of being an early adopter is dealing with a console's initial growing pains. One might even consider it a beta test of sorts. For some people, that sounds like an exciting proposition while others would argue that they shouldn't have to wait in order to get the ideal gaming experience.

Regardless, the PS3 is expensive and it is going to take a while for it to come down in price. That's probably going to turn off a lot of people and, perhaps, maybe even make the impatient ones head over to the Wii or Xbox 360 camps. For those who are willing to wait, though, the experience of having a PS3 will only get better and better over time, while the cost of entry will continue to get lower and lower. The question I put forth today is, "How patient are you?"

PS3: Some Thoughts From a UK Gamer

Taken from: threespeech.com

"May 9, 2006. I’d say that was the day. The day the internet turned. But firstly, some history - a look back to when Sony entered the videogame industry…

It didn’t take long for the majority to fall for the PlayStation. Sony seemed to do everything right. They aimed it at ‘cool’ people in the UK. They showed it off at the Ministry Of Sound. They secured big arcade titles such as Ridge Racer and Tekken. WipEout made people realise they could play videogames without feeling embarrassed! And lastly, it was priced on a par with the competition, if not lower. This led to 102m in worldwide sales over the 11 years of its lifespan, as well as the PlayStation brand securing a huge fan base; something that meant the PlayStation 2 was always going to be tipped for success.

Again, with the PlayStation 2, Sony seemed to be doing everything right. Opting for DVD meant it appealed to an even wider audience and many initial sales in Japan were put down to DVD playback. Although the launch line-up wasn’t strong the success of the PlayStation meant Sony had plenty of publishers behind them. This led to some great games released shortly after launch. One notable title being Grand Theft Auto 3, which is arguably the game that sealed the success of the PlayStation 2, thanks to its long exclusivity. Like the original PlayStation, it was priced level with the competition. Even six years after launch it’s still selling strong - over 110m in worldwide sales and counting.

Sony could do no wrong. Its Computer Entertainment division was suddenly Sony’s saving grace and with its nearest competitor, Microsoft’s Xbox, trailing with worldwide sales of around 29m, it seemed the next-generation war was theirs for the taking.

May 9, 2006. E3. PlayStation’s top brass enter the stage. $600 for the 60gb console. A controller that arguably rips off the Wiimote (and lacks rumble), an online service that has yet to convince anyone it can compete with Xbox Live and a release date in November 2006. Let’s not forget the console was meant to launch back in Spring 2006. Yet after all this, the top brass had such an air of arrogance about them, people started to not want the PlayStation 3 to succeed.

And so the backlash started…

Negative threads flood gaming forums all over the internet. Mass hysteria at the price causes many people to just stop taking interest. Rarely a day goes by without there being a negative PlayStation 3 story linked to on the Digg front page. RIIIDGE RACER! Time Magazine say it’s not worth the hype. GIANT ENEMY CRABS! Shipment problems, analysts everywhere predicting it’s doom, more production problems related to the blue diodes, Gabe Newell calls it a disaster, Ken Kutaragi gets moved upstairs. I could go on, but I won’t. I won’t go on because even I’m tired of all the negativity.

2007 is a new year for all of us. A new year for Sony and the first year for the PlayStation 3. There are a few reasons all the negative press surrounding the PlayStation 3 doesn’t bother me. In fact, there are a couple of big reasons at the moment. And these, unlike the majority of the criticisms, are very important - Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm. If these two games are a sign of what’s to come for the PlayStation 3 then Sony need not worry. It’s the games that make the console, nothing else. Believe me, these are two games worth owning a PlayStation 3 for. And this is just the beginning."