Today is the Meltdown day for the PS3, from the PS3 being delayed till March and very low release numbers for Japan.

Theres much more and in greater detail over at PS3 Evolution

Check it out for the latest PS3 News, basically any PS3 news i can find ...

Today is the Meltdown day for the PS3, from the PS3 being delayed till March and very low release numbers for Japan.

Theres much more and in greater detail over at PS3 Evolution

Check it out for the latest PS3 News, basically any PS3 news i can find ...

Thompson says decision to move launch date is "not surprising"

Xbox UK boss Neil Thompson has told GamesIndustry.biz that Microsoft is not surprised Sony has "backed away" from its commitment to a global launch for PlayStation 3.

"We know how challenging it is to pull off a global launch, so it's not surprising that Sony has backed away from their previously announced launch plan, due to the unproven technology they are trying to pack in to their console," he said.

Microsoft brought Xbox 360 to market in Europe, Japan and North America late last year, pulling off a simultaneous global launch - although hardware shortages did follow. With the PS3 delayed until March, MS now faces one less competitor this Christmas; but according to Thompson, that will make little difference to the success of Xbox 360.

"Europe remains a priority for us. That is why gamers have been able to experience Xbox 360 from day one, and why we're confident we're going to have a great Christmas - regardless of what competitors are or are not in the market," he stated.

Thompson went on to observe that Xbox 360 owners will have more than 160 software titles to choose from, with the likes of Viva Pinata, Gears of War, Pro Evolution Soccer 6 and FIFA 2007 due out in time for Christmas.

In addition, Thompson continued, Xbox 360 offers "a growing and innovating online gaming service, fantastic entertainment capabilities, optional HD-DVD capability and a great value price".

He concluded, "These factors will help us reach our goal of 10 million consoles sold worldwide by the end of the year." ...

But March launch will open up major sales opportunities

Microsoft is set to take full advantage of the lack of Sony competition at retail this Christmas, but UK specialists are warning that the PS3 is still likely to clean up come March 2007.

Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz, leading UK retailers have expressed surprise at the PS3 delay - but also relief that there's one less console to worry about in an already crowded Christmas market.

"I have to admit this is pretty disappointing news as we've been gearing up for the launch for some time now," said Tim Ellis, head of games at entertainment retailer HMV.

"It also presents a major opportunity for Microsoft to consolidate Xbox's position in the market, while Nintendo has a great chance to launch and firmly establish Wii," he added.

“We’ve got a substantial amount of orders for the PS3, so from a consumer point of view they’re going to be gutted,” revealed Don McCabe, MD of Chips.

“But from a logistical point of view trying to deal with all this hardware - with all these pink SKU’s, the DS, PSP, PS2 and Wii – it’s going to be a hardware Christmas, even without the star turn."

The lack of a solid pre-ordering scheme for the PS3 had led many UK retailers to initiate their own plans, which now leaves UK stores with the unenviable task of placating the disappointed customer.

"This will be all about managing the consumers’ expectations,” commented Steve O’Brien, MD of Action Replay and Gameshop.

“With the absence of any concrete pre-order scheme in place for the UK from Sony, many retailers have taken it upon themselves to be pro-active in this area. Now it's a case of managing the aftermath.”

“Ultimately, it will have very little financial impact for retail this Christmas as the consumer has very attractive alternatives. I'm sure Microsoft and Nintendo will grab onto this opportunity with both hands," he added.

With the retail sector looking forward to a bumper Christmas, the delay of the PlayStation 3 until March next year represents a new opportunity for stores in a traditionally quiet period.

“The delay means we now have a major sales opportunity to look forward to next Spring instead, and hopefully this means there will be plenty of hardware produced to go round, so there will be no shortages,” said Ellis.

“In many respects it will give a really good boost to the spring period. It’s going to be like the second coming and it will make this Easter an extremely good one for retail,” offered McCabe.

He added: “All the other hardware manufacturers are going to benefit from this delay. And that’s without a doubt. But I don’t think it’s going to affect PlayStation 3. The PS3 is going to sell in significant quantities, but it gives Microsoft longer to grow its installed base and maximise its abilities.” ...

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has told GamesIndustry.biz that he believes the European PS3 delay proves Sony is out to win North American consumers over first and foremost.

"The allocation to the US - 80 per cent of initial shipments - is shocking, and it is clear that they intend to ship as many PS3s here till they crush Toshiba," Pachter said.

"I really think it's unfortunate for European consumers, but the delay makes clear that Sony intends to fight the Blu-Ray - HD-DVD battle on US soil."

The PS3 was due to hit European shops on November 17, but this morning Sony announced that the console won't be arriving till March due to delays in production of the crucial blue laser diode component.

According to Pachter, hardware shortages are still likely to occur and could continue well into next year. "I'm not as optimistic that there will be a supply-demand balance in Europe until late 2007, as the diode supply situation may take some time to balance," he stated.

However, Pachter does not believe the delayed release date will have "a tremendous amount of impact on the publishers" - noting that Ubisoft, which has at least six PS3 titles currently in development, is likely to be most affected.

"Much of the shortfall in PS3 software sales will be absorbed by higher purchases of Wii and Xbox 360 hardware and software, assuming that Nintendo has no component supply issues.

"I think on balance, this is just a bad headline, and that it will be forgotten in a year or so," Pachter concluded. ...

SCE UK has dismissed claims that it is shelving the GBP 40 million PS3 ad campaign in the wake of the console's delayed launch as "categorically not true".

The claims were made this morning in an article on the Media Guardian website, following the news that the PS3 will now be arriving in Europe in March of next year rather than November as previously announced.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, a Sony spokesperson said: "We don't know where the Media Guardian got it from, but we are not shelving the PS3 marketing campaign."

The spokesperson confirmed that the new PS3 website, which launched yesterday, will remain live - and that the short films made to promote the console, otherwise known as 'PS3 stories', will continue to roll out.

"Now more than ever is it necessary to promote the key USPs of PlayStation 3, and we believe the 'Stories' campaign is an excellent way of doing this," the spokesperson concluded. ...

Ray Maguire, managing director of SCE UK, has told GamesIndustry.biz of the company's disappointment at the news that the PlayStation 3 will not arrive in Europe until March 2007.

"We are extremely disappointed at news of this delay. We can truly empathise with everyone who was looking forward to PS3's imminent release," Maguire stated.

"We will however be working tirelessly to ensure that the March 2007 launch is the biggest and best in the company's history."

News of the delay broke this morning after Sony issued a statement revealing that the PS3 will no longer launch in PAL territories this November, as planned.

However, the console is still slated to launch in Japan on November 11, with a US release to follow on November 17. ...

Despite Forza 2's release date changing to “winter” during Microsoft's recent Games Convention press conference, with a top executive refusing to guarantee a pre-Christmas debut for the Xbox 360 racer, GamesIndustry.biz has learned that the US giant is still briefing retail that it is aiming for December 8 in Europe.

Forza 2, sequel to the critically acclaimed Xbox racer Forza Motorsport, was confirmed for a “Holiday 2006” release when announced at E3 back in May. But during Microsoft's media briefing at last month's German event, the game's release window was announced as “winter” - immediately raising fears that the high-profile racing sequel had slipped into 2007.

Speaking exclusively to sister site Eurogamer TV immediately after the presentation, in an interview now showing, Xbox Europe boss Chris Lewis refused to admit the slip, only promising a release by the end of Microsoft's current financial year - which runs to June 30 2007.

“I'm not going to use your media to make any announcements in that regard - what I will say is watch this space,” Lewis offered when pushed to provide a specific timeframe.

“I think we've always said that it will appear in our financial year - and in our financial year I can guarantee you that game will appear. I can't be specific right now in terms of the actual dates for Forza, but certainly it will be an integral game that appears during our financial year '07 which is the one we're in now.”

Lewis's remarks certainly suggest that a pre-Christmas release for Forza 2 now looks unlikely. But GamesIndustry.biz can reveal that the firm is still communicating a target date of December 8 in Q4 briefings with key UK retailers.

“We're being told that Microsoft are still aiming to get Forza 2 out on December 8,” one retailer told GamesIndustry.biz this week.

“But this is very much an aspiration; it's hanging in the balance but I expect it to slip into next year.”

The loss of Forza 2 from Xbox 360's holiday line-up will undoubtedly be a blow to Microsoft - not just because its console will therefore lack a new triple-A racing title during the peak season, but also because the game had been earmarked as a key driver for the firm's Wireless Racing Wheel peripheral, which will retail for a hefty USD 149.99 later this year.

Equally, however, Microsoft Game Studios will be reluctant to rush out one of its biggest products until it is absolutely ready - and Lewis's significant widening of the release window implies there is still plenty of work to be done on the anticipated sequel. ...

Ken Kutaragi, president of SCEI, revealed the reduced numbers following the news that Europe would not see the release of the PlayStation 3 until March 2007.

According to Kutaragi’s statement, only 400,000 consoles will be available at day one in the US, with around 100,000 units for the Japanese launch.

The reduced numbers are in line with Kuturagi’s comments from May of this year, where he stated two million PS3 units “is a number we announced having made sure we can definitely prepare it.”

However the reduction of the figure to two million units is in contrast to a Sony statement made last month suggesting the shipment figures would indeed reach four million by the end of the year.

Source:gamesindustry.biz

thanks to tsurumaru for the news ...