A reader asked about a press event from Sony.

Sony seems to be going for a low profile at TGS, with no playable demos at their booth. Their both does, however, have a video wall showing off trailers for PS3 games. Sony has also released a list of PS3 games in development (also here).

But as far as a press event, I’ve heard nothing about Sony. And looking around on the net for a schedule, I can’t find any mention of a Sony press event. They seem to be all about showing off PSP and PS2 games and PS3 trailers.

PS3 Portal - Pictures from Floor at TGS

For those of you at TGS who were looking forward to a playable demo, I have to say that really sucks. Sony doesn’t have even one playable game on the PS3 at the show. For those of us not able to make it to the show, it’s not as much of a big thing, but it’s still a disappointment.

I was looking forward to hearing from IGN or Gamespot about the cool PS3 games they played, what they thought of the gameplay, graphics, and feel. Real, actual, playable demos are always a cool thing and the public at TGS has been deprived.

It’s small comfort to know that Sony probably had a very good reason for the PS3 playable demo no-show. Unless the PS3 shows up later than generally expected, we’re about as far away from the PS3 launch as the Xbox 360 was from its launch at E3. And there were a very few playable demos at E3, if I remember correctly. (Do I? Please correct me.) So it would have been nice if Sony could have done something for the fans.

Ah, such is life.

PS3 IGN - TGS 2005: Playable PS3 a No-Show

At the Tokyo Game Show Nintendo finally showed off their revolutionary new controller for their next-gen game system.

Main Controller Features

• 3D Pointing. Sensors understand up, down, left, right, forward and backward.
• Tilt Sensitive. Controller can be rotated or rolled from side-to-side.
• Buttons Included. Has a trigger on its backside, face buttons, and a D-Pad.
• Multifunctional. Has an expansion port which can be used with different types of controller peripherals. Analog stick with two trigger buttons planned for left hand.
• Wireless. Totally wire-free. Currently there are no details on the max distance, source or power, or otherwise.
• Rumble Built-in. Included as a standard in all the controllers.

Some pictures

Cube IGN - TGS 2005: Hands-on the Revolution Controller
Cube IGN - Controller Video

Over the years Sony has established studios in Japan, North America, and Europe. Now, Sony is bringing them all under one corporate roof. That roof is called SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS). This change is effective immediately.

Phil Harrison, executive vice president of SCE Europe, will become the president of SCE WWS. The studios will remain in place, but Mr. Harrison will have the task of overseeing them all.

“SCE is unique in having innovative development studios in the US, Europe, and Japan that have each created numerous global hit titles. By combining the wealth of creativity and talent of games development we can dramatically change the landscape of computer entertainment,” said Harrison. “I am honored to be taking on that challenge working alongside the best people in the business.”

“As SCE enters its second decade, we need to reinforce our games development power and create new entertainment experiences that will bring out the best of the technology in platforms such as PSP, PlayStation 3, and beyond,” said Ken Kutaragi, president and CEO of SCE.

I don’t know how Mr. Harrison plans on administering divisions on three continents. Maybe he plans to put his office in an airplane and continuously fly around the world.

gamesindustry.biz - Sony announces formation of SCE Worldwide Studios
Gamespot - Sony establishes SCE Worldwide Studios

It looks like the Xbox 360 will get a staggered release after all, though the staggering is pretty tight. Maybe that makes it more of a stumble.

Microsoft has always said that it would launch the Xbox 360 globally and simultaneously. Chief Xbox Officer Robbie Bach clarified this Wednesday, saying that “We will launch in North America, Europe and Japan in the same holiday season. There will probably be a week or 10 days in between the different territories, just to give us a chance to manage the logistics.”

Makes sense, really. It’s hard to launch a major product all over the world simultaneously. It’s pretty obvious that North America will get the Xbox 360 first. The question then becomes: who gets it next? Japan or Europe?

Reuters - Microsoft sees week between Xbox debuts

Well, the answer came at the Tokyo Game Show. First, North America, of course. Then Europe, then Japan.

• North America: November 22, 2005
• Europe: December 2, 2005
• Japan: December 10, 2005

This will put the Xbox 360 on store shelves in time for Thanksgiving.

News.com - Xbox 360 to hit shelves before Thanksgiving

Google has a new blog search tool, and I was proud to see how well PS3Blog.net does. See for yourself! Just do a search for ‘ps3′ on the tool, linked below. Of the top ten entries, PS3Blog.net comes up four times, plus my other site HDBlog.net makes it in there too! Plus, the first related blog listed is PS3Blog.net. Good stuff!

Also, on an unrelated note, I’ll be redesigning the comment interface a bit due to user demand, but for now don’t forget that you can add comments to articles by through the link just below the article title. I know it’s a bit small right now, you might have missed it.

Google Blog Search for PS3

In a recent poll that Xbox 360 garnered 5.8% support in Japan. Kind of a small number, I know. But you can look at it in two different ways. Since the last such poll (where the Xbox 360 had the interest 2% of respondents) the Xbox 360 has either:

(a) only gained an additional 4% support, despite all of Microsoft’s efforts

OR!

(b) tripled the support of Japanese consumers due to Microsoft’s valiant efforts.

Take your pick.

The PS3, meanwhile, had 72.3% of the people salivating over owning own.

So Xbox fanboys are poo-pooing the poll saying its crappy, of course. While PS3 fanboys are all giddy.

Yeah yeah. How about we just take a look at the market share numbers a couple years after release, and see how they stack up?

Gamasutra - Japanese Next-Generation Console Survey Released

PSM magazine, not the most objective of sources (like this one!), will have some more PS3 news in an upcoming magazine, according to Spong and CVG.

One of the most interesting tidbits is that some developers feel that the PS3 is easier to develop for than the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360’s development tools are very good, and if this rumour is true it would be quite an achievement. But we know that Sony has learned its lesson from the PS2, so we know that the tools are much better than the previous generation’s. Whether or not they’re better than the Xbox 360’s is another matter!

Another is that Sony is targetting a worldwide launch in the summer of 2006. The debut would occur at CES in Las Vegas, in an attempt to spoil the Xbox 360’s momentum.

We also know that Sony has been working hard on an online strategy. Previously we learned that Sony is trying to make the online service accessible by the PSP and PS3 (and maybe even the PS2). But now we hear that supposedly the service will be available upon the PS3’s launch. It will include associated friends lists, matchmaking and ‘intelligence’ services.

C&VG - HOT NEW PS3 HARDWARE DETAILS GUSH FORTH…
SPOnG - PlayStation 3: Release Date, Titles, Development Process

For those of you looking to listen to PS3 news via podcast, then I highly recommend you take a look at PS3 Countdown. If, on the other hand, you want me to do a podcast, well, anything is possible I guess. Tell me your thoughts.