To help us in our analysis is someone familiar with the inner workings of the company, Leon Lai, former Sony Music Cantopop star and all around nice guy. Thanks for helping us out, Leon.

No problem. Even though I left to start my own label, I still have great respect for the company. Plus, they still owe me that PS3 they promised in November.

It's in the mail, Leon. There are actually quite a bit of Playstation 3 units available right now. Can't you pick one up in Hong Kong?

I do see inventory available when I go shopping for my latest album (available now!), but they keep trying to sell me 10 copies of Untold Legends with the system. By the way, I believe you spell it PLAYSTATION 3.

Thanks Leon. Having a name in all caps certainly makes it seem much more important.

Call me LEON from now on.

Sure thing. Now let’s begin.

PLAY BEYONDER
The most publicized blunder for Sony, in 2006, is the PLAYSTATION 3 launch... what resembled one, at least. Since it's announcement in late 2005, the PS3 has been hyped as everything from a supercomputer to the center of your home entertainment system. Cell Processor, built-in hard drive, 1080p, BluRay, WiFi... When the final specs were announced, gamers let out a collective groan as Sony took the XBOX 360 route, offering two versions of the system. The gimpier "core" system had a smaller hard drive, no Wifi and fewer ports than the premium version. The cheaper version of the PS3 was also supposed to ship sans HDMI; the preferred port to connect to your new Plasma or LCD, until consumer backlash forced them to include it.

And the price for all this? $499 for the 20GB system and $599 for the 60GB. And for a system touted for it's high definition gaming, all flavors of PS3s only ship with composite video cables.

I still have my component cables from my PS2, so I should be set when I finally get my PLAYSTATION 3. Woo! Hi-def on my 40" Plasma!

Yes, but what resolution is your TV, LEON? There are reports the PS3 has issues with sets that don't support 720p and downgrades the image to 480p.

That sucks, but I was planning to get that new 52-incher with 1080p, anyways

.....

Is That A SIXAXIS In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?
Sony’s PS3 hardware blunders also extended to the controller. The first design was mockingly dubbed "The Boomerang" and looked just like the Alps Interactive PSOne controller with dual analog sticks tacked on.

Sony changed its design to their more familiar Dual Shock but with two important differences. First, Sony added motion sensing to counter the then-recent unveiling of the Wii remote and even dubbed the controller the SIXAXIS to seem superior to the Wiimotes 3-axis movement. Many gamers felt this was a tacked-on feature and a desperate attempt to take the limelight back from Nintendo.

Well, if you count movement back and forth along the x, y and z axes you do have six degrees of 3D movement.

LEON, wouldn't that mean the Wiimote is capable of the same?

Details, details. Did I mention my new album is now available?

The second difference in the SIXAXIS is the omission of rumble. Sony's explanation was that it was too costly to implement and interfered with the motion sensing aspects of the controller. Again, gamers didn't buy it and the real reason is often credited to Sony's loss in the Immersion lawsuit.

The SIXAXIS also suffers from another potentially fatal flaw, once the rechargeable battery dies you have to purchase an all new controller as the battery cannot be switched out easily.

Great Taste, Less Filling
Even with these problems, the PS3 was still highly anticipated and gamers were ready to plunk down their C-notes come the worldwide launch in November. As the launch window drew closer, manufacturing troubles such as low Cell processor yield and shortages of the costly BluRay drive caused Sony to ship far less than 500,000 (from the 2 million systems promised) to North America and Japan. Riots and criminal acts were perpetrated and many of the people who managed to snag a PS3 turned around to sell it for up to three times the retail price. Europe was denied any systems outright.

Where Are The Games?
Sony also failed to deliver in the most important aspect of any game consoles launch, having at least one must-have title in the lineup. Despite good reviews for Resistance, there wasn't much else for gamers to be excited about. Marquee titles like MGS4 and Final Fantasy XIII won't be released for awhile and previous Sony exclusives like Virtua Fighter 5 are also coming out for the XBOX 360. Backwards compatibility issues for PS2 and PSOne titles also abound, with many titles playing less than perfectly and graphics of some PS2 games actually looking worse when played through a PS3. And despite being able to download PSOne games from their online store, you can only play those titles on a PSP for now.

Sony did send me a Champagne Gold PSP last week.

Wow! They don't go on sale until February 22nd in Japan.

Yeah, but they only gave it to me on the condition I wear it around my neck everywhere I go. They also sent this nifty gold chain and hat to go with the ensemble.

Speaking of which, tune in for part 2 next week, when we turn our sights to Sony's portable powerhouse. And special thanks to LEON LAI for helping us out. Will we see you next week, LEON?

Fo shizzle, dawg! I dropped some knowledge wid Pinky G, yo! In da rain or in da snow, got da funky funky flow!

Take off the PSP, LEON....

Update: part 2 is now online