LG wins injunction against Sony PS3

[TheVoice]

Mayby Sony will take the oportunity to release a cheap PS3 with a bigger Hard Disk and no expensive BD Drive. They could get the unit cost down and switch to full download distribution at the same time.

Two problems: Nobody would sell it, and nobody would buy it. Retailers aren't going to sell a console that they can't sell any games with/for, and consumers still aren't ready or prepared to download-only for things like this; the prices are astronomically high because there's no competition, and you can't trade-in, lend or borrow games either.

Unless the console is £99, there's simply no incentive whatsoever for the average person to get something so restricted. As Strife says, they tried it with the PSP Go and it didn't work at all; even after slashing the price they're still not selling.

 

[robgmun]

It needs a BD drive for the games anyway, so not going to happen...ever

 

[insane200]

It needs a BD drive for the games anyway, so not going to happen...ever

Ever is a bit of a strong word, it will happen one day, once high speed BB is the norm, for now, while most of us are stuck on slow 4mg lines it would be silly to do as it would take days for a game to download.

 

[robgmun]

Then it wouldn't be a PS3

Maybe called the PlaystationGo or something, and it will be laughed at...

.... i find extremely unlikely it will ever happen

 

[The Running Man]

People are getting more comfortable with the idea using I apps and Google app store though...

 

[orderoftheflame]

People are getting more comfortable with the idea using I apps and Google app store though...

Or how about the slightly more appropriate example of Steam?

People have been getting multiple dozen gigabyte games from there for a while.

The concept is sound, but you'd eliminate competitive pricing if consoles went download only. I can't see it working well.

Now replace the BD drive with some form of new super fast flash storage technology and we're cooking.

 

[PhilGQ]

Two problems: Nobody would sell it, and nobody would buy it. Retailers aren't going to sell a console that they can't sell any games with/for, and consumers still aren't ready or prepared to download-only for things like this; the prices are astronomically high because there's no competition, and you can't trade-in, lend or borrow games either.

Unless the console is £99, there's simply no incentive whatsoever for the average person to get something so restricted. As Strife says, they tried it with the PSP Go and it didn't work at all; even after slashing the price they're still not selling.

Two good points, and I know I said it was a fleeting thought but I have thought it out:

Curry's sell fridges and cookers but no food. Also I highlighted the posibility of a game kiosk in the game shops to download games onto your own media. (And also get around the bandwidth issue for people not in fibre areas).

and

A PSN members market could be created to trade games. Traders could add value by unlocking content then selling the game on content unlocked. Prices would find their own level. No scratched disks, no out of stock. Lending could simply be a case of a tempory transfer of a licence on PSN. While it may not appear to be in Sonys interest to do such a thing it would make the platform stronger and therefore more popular.

Theres also no logistics, no printing presses, no packaging so it would save money (once the gigantic server farm had been bought that is) which could help keep the paltform more competive on price.

It's a dramatic not and perfect solution to a patent row but it well thought out one.

 

[TheVoice]

Two good points, and I know I said it was a fleeting thought but I have thought it out:

Curry's sell fridges and cookers but no food. Also I highlighted the posibility of a game kiosk in the game shops to download games onto your own media. (And also get around the bandwidth issue for people not in fibre areas).

That's not really the same though, fridge manufacturers don't make food and Currys have never sold it. There's not much money to be made by retailers on the console, the money (for both the retailer and the manufacturer) is in the accessories and the games. Plenty of retailers chose not to sell the PSP Go because they couldn't sell any games with it. A game kiosk would work, but they're not going to be as widespread as physical copies of games are, and they're not going to be competitively priced.

A PSN members market could be created to trade games. Traders could add value by unlocking content then selling the game on content unlocked. Prices would find their own level. No scratched disks, no out of stock. Lending could simply be a case of a tempory transfer of a licence on PSN. While it may not appear to be in Sonys interest to do such a thing it would make the platform stronger and therefore more popular.

Theres also no logistics, no printing presses, no packaging so it would save money (once the gigantic server farm had been bought that is) which could help keep the paltform more competive on price.

It's a dramatic not and perfect solution to a patent row but it well thought out one.

That'd be a nice idea, but aside from the retailers the entire industry (almost) is against pre-owned games so they're not going to support or facilitate any kind of system like that, especially when it actually costs the platform developer (i.e. Sony) to maintain it.

In my mind, for digital distribution to become a proper success, developers and companies need to stop seeing it as a vehicle for charging whatever they want for their games. Until then, the consumer will buy the retail version which is in most cases cheaper and can be lent out or sold on.

 

[PhilGQ]

That's not really the same though, fridge manufacturers don't make food and Currys have never sold it. There's not much money to be made by retailers on the console, the money (for both the retailer and the manufacturer) is in the accessories and the games. Plenty of retailers chose not to sell the PSP Go because they couldn't sell any games with it. A game kiosk would work, but they're not going to be as widespread as physical copies of games are, and they're not going to be competitively priced.

Kiosk wouldn't need to cost much, every highstreet gaming outlet, music store and video rental place could have one plus any supermarket that wanted them. As long as they are given some freedom to price as they want, it would avoid the reseller needing to hold stock so would probably be in the shops interest.

That'd be a nice idea, but aside from the retailers the entire industry (almost) is against pre-owned games so they're not going to support or facilitate any kind of system like that, especially when it actually costs the platform developer (i.e. Sony) to maintain it.

I think the 2nd hand market makes very little difference overall, if it didn't exist the new copies would fall in price quicker. More new copies would be sold at a lower markup. The indusrty needs to get past its own reservations, which is possible, of course Sony would take a % of every transaction.

In my mind, for digital distribution to become a proper success, developers and companies need to stop seeing it as a vehicle for charging whatever they want for their games. Until then, the consumer will buy the retail version which is in most cases cheaper and can be lent out or sold on.

I agree 100%

 

[FrankJH]

That depends.
Sony could drop their case and agree payments and its all done, but i doubt Sony's ego would accept it.

More likely it's going to last for a few weeks - month, and have both suits thrown out.

The fact PS3 has been on sale for 4 years in different parts of the world is a little dubious as to why LG have done this after so long

Would be suprised if both arent thrown out very quickly

Bravia link is something different but I cant see how Sony can infringe on any BR copyright as they designed it in the first place



Majority of population dont have a decent enough broadband speed to both downloading multi GB apps/software

 

[Mp4]

My ps3 is just a BR player have COD MW2 for it and never played it as i own it on 360 and ive never watched a DVD on the 360.

At the time the ps3 was a bargin with games & BR player in 1 but id happy buy a stand alone BR player now as they are cheap

 

[meths]

Or how about the slightly more appropriate example of Steam?

People have been getting multiple dozen gigabyte games from there for a while.

The concept is sound, but you'd eliminate competitive pricing if consoles went download only. I can't see it working well.

Now replace the BD drive with some form of new super fast flash storage technology and we're cooking.

I agree.

I tend to think that Steam is only as popular because of the great sales they have where people can pick up games a couple of years after release for a few pounds.

Sony's sales on the PS Store haven't been that impressive in my opinion and you're often cheaper buying a BD copy from a shop or online than paying sale prices.

I hope they never go download only if their PSP software pricing is anything to go by.

 

[msmalls74]

Well the court case about the injuction was heard today and Sony won the Case, all the PS3 are free to sit on shelves now. LG have to pay sony 130K court cost and 200K a day they dont pay up, this doesnt mean that Sony have won the patent case yet.

 

[Alpherah]

Bravia link is something different but I cant see how Sony can infringe on any BR copyright as they designed it in the first place

BD group joint developed BR. Sony had very little to do with it other then shoving cash at the film industry's publishers to avoid HD-DVD.
Group agreed who would pay how much and what for what usage ..
Sony are trying to argue that the PS3's a console, and not a BR device. Avoiding royalty payments.