Will they Make a PSThree?

[LilPaintballer]

i just realized there was the ps1, then the psone, then the ps2, then the pstwo. now with the ps3, logically next in line is the ps3, it could be clearly smaller if they do what they did with the pstwo and made the power brick separate. Will they? Is there any speculation?

[HCHecxz]

I don't think the Slimmed down PS2 was called "PStwo" LOL, that's a funny title, though writing PS1 looks crazy compared to "PSone" which was the mini version of the older Boxy Playstations.

If those leaked PS3 Slim pics are real since a Taiwan legal company has sent letter regarding the removal of such pics, then yes, I wouldn't be surprised if they announce the PS3 Slim at E3 '09.

But it won't be written as "PSThree" i'm sure of it LOL :P

[Vinny]

It seems a little early for a PS3 slim... but considering the lackluster sales of the PS3, it would not surprise me if they revealed a slimmer PS3.

[davo1224]

That's probably going to be for the last year of the ten year cycle if anything

[Dr Mario Kart]

Home console redesigns are more a function of marketshare/market position, with the occasional local exception like the Panasonic Q Gamecube

-NES Top Loader
-SNES Model 2
-PSOne
-PSTwo

Just because something happened during Sony's two cycles of leading the market doesnt mean that they will do it now.

As it stands, the bottom will drop out of the PS3 market if they launch a PS4 to coincide with their competitor's new machines. In that scenario, its not worth it to them to redesign. If they decide to go with a mid-cycle launch or skip the next cycle and continue PS3 support, then a redesign is possible.

[niceguyshawne]

Home console redesigns are more a function of marketshare/market position, with the occasional local exception like the Panasonic Q Gamecube

-NES Top Loader
-SNES Model 2
-PSOne
-PSTwo

Just because something happened during Sony's two cycles of leading the market doesnt mean that they will do it now.

As it stands, the bottom will drop out of the PS3 market if they launch a PS4 to coincide with their competitor's new machines. In that scenario, its not worth it to them to redesign. If they decide to go with a mid-cycle launch or skip the next cycle and continue PS3 support, then a redesign is possible.

Not necessarily. The Intellivision was redesigned, as was the Sega Master System. The Atari 2600 was redesigned well after it was relevant (as the NES was king) and the Genesis went through a couple of revisions. Granted the Genny would probably fall into the marketshare position argument above, but as the tech improves, they would be silly not to do a redesign, especially if doing so would get the PS3 price more in line with the competition.

For more recent examples, look at how the GBA redesign to the SP and the DS to DS lite redesigns helped spur sales.

[souljah420]

The PS3 probably won't see a redesign until manufacturing costs come down. I mean, the thing is like $400 as is, if they made it smaller, it would use more expensive components. I just don't see it being a reasonable thing at this stage of the PS3 life cycle.

[Dr Mario Kart]

I would put the 2600 and the NES in different cycles, despite significant overlap and the 2600 having a very long life. Generally though, I would not want to follow in the footsteps of Atari or Sega on the hardware front. I wonder how much those redesigns were worth it for them. Did it really spur sales significantly?

Redesigns still take some amount of R&D and costs to change/revamp the manufacturing facilities. If the system is truly on the decline or on its way out support wise, then those initial costs may be better spent prepping for the next cycle.

Handhelds are a different beast. If the E3 rumors are true, PSP will soon have its 4th iteration of the hardware in 5 years. I think the claims of the DSLite helping the DS are a bit overstated. The revolution really began ~6 months earlier, with Mario Kart DS and Nintendogs. The revolution with PSP began with and is nearly entirely sustained by the Monster Hunter series, with the PSP 3000 launching alongside The Best rerelease of 2nd G.

[guinaevere]

With a small number of posts, this thread is a little off track from the original question. but for now, its fine.

I think the claims of the DSLite helping the DS are a bit overstated. The revolution really began ~6 months earlier, with Mario Kart DS and Nintendogs.Where are you getting the numbers for this?

[Dr Mario Kart]

I'm having a hard time finding good data going that far back, but that was my recollection of the time: That the DS got off to a very slow start on both the hardware and software fronts, improved particularly on the software and slightly on hardware toward the end of 2005 (enough for shortages in Q4) followed by the explosion in 2006 with DSLite/Brain Age in the West, and the collapse of home console gaming in the East.

Thats not to say that price drops and redesigns arent huge factors.

[Ecofreak]

The PS3 probably won't see a redesign until manufacturing costs come down. I mean, the thing is like $400 as is, if they made it smaller, it would use more expensive components. I just don't see it being a reasonable thing at this stage of the PS3 life cycle.

That doesn't make sense. Smaller, more efficient chips + smaller system casing = Less money spent on materials, thus higher profits or reduced losses. Otherwise, by your logic, what's the point of working towards any miniaturization of components?

My guess is that a price drop will hit first before a redesign, and the earliest introduction of a PSThree would be winter of 2010.