Microsoft Oz boss sticks boot into Sony

PS3 News | Doubts PS3 will even make next March.

If there's only one thing certain about the PlayStation 3 at the moment, it's this: Microsoft is getting all the PR mileage it can out of Sony's recent decision to delay the PS3 in PAL regions until March 2007. Last week, Xbox UK chief Neil Thompson claimed he wasn't the least bit surprised that Sony had put back the release date of the eagerly anticipated machine.

Now, Microsoft Australia boss David McLean has joined the anti-Sony conga line, and has suggested that European and Aussie gamers could be waiting even longer than next March to pick up the PS3. “[The PS3 delay] doesn’t surprise me. And it further wouldn’t surprise me if this product wasn’t seen in March next year either,” said the difficult-to-surprise McLean in an interview with Gamespot. “We've always been comfortable with our strategy for Christmas, irrespective of Sony. We are completely unsurprised by this situation. We have actually been a little surprised at how surprised other people have been,” he continued, not at all milking the moment.

Still, the news of the delay does carry a tinge of disappointment for McLean. "It would have been nice for people to really contrast what the Xbox 360 had to offer versus Sony this Christmas, so the vapourware aspect could go away," he said. Bet you're gutted, David.

Related Content

nVidia chief sticks up for PS3
26 Jul, 2006 Inclusion of Blu-ray is a "master stroke".

Sony on PS3 and E-distribution
07 Jul, 2006 New developers set to benefit, promises executive.

Sony top brass slams Microsoft over two versions of Xbox 360
01 Sep, 2005 Yes, it's Phil Harrison again. On PS3, innovation on the PSP, and his love for Nintendogs.

19 Comments

wobbler

5 years ago

Well Im suprised that they're surprised at how surprised other people have been.

And hopefully no one should be suprised that Im suprised that MS are surprised at how surprised other people have been.

realitybites

5 years ago

No, I'm not going to touch that surprise bit

.

Its actually quite ironic because Sony really lambasted MS for its attempt at a world wide launch. Yet historically Sony's PS2 launch hit the same production issues. History is repeating itself again with the PS3.

Although in Sony's defense MS did shift the playing field by releasing the Xbox 360 earlier than Sony had planned to make the PS2 obselete with a new console. It must have had to bring its projections forward I think at least 12 maybe 18 months. If that is the case than being 12 months to 18 months behind would account for the public "bungles".

ugh the boot

5 years ago

I don't see what the rush is, i'm happy to wait for it. I'm glad Microsoft brought out the 360 early but I would've been fine playing Xbox, Ps2 and Gamecube games for another year or two.

Some of my most anticipated games are on previous gen (Super Paper Mario, God of War II, Okami).

cycosippius

5 years ago

I wouldnt be surprised either if PS3 suffers further delays, and even expect a later a launch in Australia to Europe. A bit rich though, Microsoft launched the 360 in Australia some time after NTSC versions so ......

Nev

5 years ago

“[The PS3 delay] doesn’t surprise me. And it further wouldn’t surprise me if this product wasn’t seen in March next year either.”

And I'd wager that's either because of the Blu-Ray and the Cell. Two things the Xbox 360 didn't have to contend with

Considering how "safe" the design of the 360 is, I'm surprised there were as many delays as there were on their end.

By saying he's not surprised that the PS3 has been delayed, he's basically admitting that the system is more complicated, and thereby has more under the hood than the 360, and that once both systems are out, it'll be painfully obvious which one is the more technically superior.

Unless he's just just hassling Sony's production lines.

In which case he may as well have said "Bwahahahaha!!! Sony's production lines suck!!! Oh, and Japan also sucks, because they don't like our console!!! And Blu-Ray is for GIRLS!!"

Andronicus

5 years ago

Ah, but technological superiority doesn't always indiciate which system will prevail over the other...

Jellyfish

5 years ago

I'd put money on Blu-Ray being the cause of the delay, also I'm suspicious of Microsoft being an under table cause of the delay too.

The PS3 must have blue laser diodes to run the Blu-Ray player. Microsoft hasn't of yet announced shortages of their HD-DVD player which also needs the same diodes. The diodes required are in massive manufacturing shortages at the moment and it's possible that Microsoft used it's better purchasing power to get a big batch of the diodes for the HD player, which also cuts off the amount of diodes Sony has access to.

Joseph

5 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

Actually, there is word going around that Super Paper Mario has been moved to the Wii console. Unconfirmed at this stage, if it is true though, chances are it may be launch title or released a few weeks after launch. I'll buy it at launch along with Zelda if that's the case. But I do see we're your coming from.

Xbox360 was rushed. The launch titles could've used a little polishing if you ask me. Only now am I starting to see decent titles being released on it (feel free to say how I'm wrong and the launch titles were fantastic, but come on, how many games were 100% great? Only a few.)

PS3, it didn't have a decent launch lineup anyways. I welcome the delay so they can have more software avaliable and also so they can have excellent supply amounts avaliable. M$, don't act so big, you had major supply issue too with your launch, and Australia as well as a few other countries didn't get Xbox 360 til march this year. In some cases you still haven't released the xbox360 in some countries. Isn't Russia one of them?

Jim Dash

5 years ago

You're spot on about them being rushed, and needing more polish. Not many of the launch titles were 'fantastic'. But yes, some decent games have arrived with more on their way.

admeister

5 years ago

"We've always been comfortable with our strategy for Christmas, irrespective of Sony. "

They shouldn't forget about Nintendo, the Wii has great potential for Christmas. I can see a lot of sales.

Sin Ogaris

5 years ago

We still don't know it's being released before Christmas, so how would you know?

Jedi.Jell

5 years ago

Nev wrote

Take a look at the current 'next gen' titles for the Xbox 360. Only the system exclusive titles (and not even all of these) are really any jump over a HD-ified current gen experience. With the way the industry works in relation to multiple platform games, there isn't going to be very much difference between Xbox 360 and PS3 games anyway, not for a very long time. I'm also willing to bet that the Cell will be difficult to develop with, and it'll take a while for the games to get up to scratch. This isn't to say that the PS3 wont have more aesthetically pleasing games, I just don't think this will be the case at launch and for a long time thereafter.

Sony took a gamble by putting the Blu Ray player into the PS3, not only because it raised the cost through the roof and overly complicated the system, but as we have seen it's caused delays in shipping the product to a very major area in Europe. (I'm sorry, but in the big corporate world, Australia doesn't mean all that much). This might pay off for them, it may not. However seeing as storage isn't a major issue for the foreseeable future blu-ray is only really there for HD movies and to push Sony's cause in the HD DVD wars. This is smart business in this sense, however seeing the way in which the Xbox 360 has released it's HD DVD player, means that it isn't necessary to pay that much for the console, but there is a cheap (relatively) option in order to have High Definition movies, makes the PS3 almost seem like a waste of money. One only needs to see the uptake on HD TVs in homes to realise that as of now, most people are still running in SD and wont get the full experience of the PS3. Perhaps Nintendo has is sussed this time around... who would have though that a year ago?

Just a note: I know I'm new here, and I hope this doesn't seem anti-Sony to anyone, because it was never intended this way. I'm just putting forward my 2 cents on the issue, and well... yeah. It's been a busy week with school and all so it's probably not the most cohesive piece of writing I have ever created.

admeister

5 years ago

Sin Ogaris wrote

We still don't know it's being released before Christmas, so how would you know?

Don't worry, it will be here for Christmas. Stay tuned for the news tommorow, and on Friday. Channel 7 apparently have the info ready to broadcast on Friday.

Spanca

5 years ago

Jedi.Jell wrote

Just a note: I know I'm new here, and I hope this doesn't seem anti-Sony to anyone, because it was never intended this way. I'm just putting forward my 2 cents on the issue, and well... yeah. It's been a busy week with school and all so it's probably not the most cohesive piece of writing I have ever created.

Even if it was anti-Sony (it wasn't) it wouldn't be such a bad thing. We need as many people to combat the other fanboys as possible! (see the post above mine

) Well written post and a fine way to start off at the forums

Jedi.Jell

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

Jedi.Jell wrote

Even if it was anti-Sony (it wasn't) it wouldn't be such a bad thing. We need as many people to combat the other fanboys as possible! (see the post above mine

) Well written post and a fine way to start off at the forums

Hey thanks man. I just say things as they appear to me. I own an Xbox, Xbox 360, PSP and I intend to get a Wii. (The same old argument, I'm not a fanboy because I own... ) It's too late for a PS2 as far as I am concerned, (With the exception of the Wii, I've moved into the HD era) I just find myself a little jaded by the corporate antics of Sony. It's funny though, never did I think I would be backing Microsoft based on a moral standpoint. (Well, that and my $$$ standpoint).

admeister

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

Jedi.Jell wrote

Even if it was anti-Sony (it wasn't) it wouldn't be such a bad thing. We need as many people to combat the other fanboys as possible! (see the post above mine

)

Oi, so what if I'm a Nintendo suppoter?

I'm probably the most well known pro-nintendo guy on here, aside from chirarr. I could be a lot worse though!

I say a lot of positive things about Nintendo, but at least I don't go about saying "NINTENDO ROXS, TAKE THAT SONY" all over the place. I take a far more mild approach than that, and I don't dislike Sony much at all (I have a PS2, and at the moment it's my most played console). As for Microsoft however..

Jim Dash

5 years ago

More like well liked, admeister. Welcome to the forums, Jedi Jell. Top first post. You are quite right about the minute diferences, which will probably not stand out on cross-platform games for a year yet..

There is a difference between being a supporter and being a fan boy.