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Author Topic:   Possible reason for shortage has surfaced. - (Read 1 Times)
gamerX


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Posts: 159
From: us
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 10-01-2000 04:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gamerX     Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote   send a private message to gamerX  
DVD Content Controversy Holds Up PlayStation2, Sources Say
By Steven Fyffe, Electronic News
Sep 29, 2000 --- The dramatic set-backs in the U.S. release schedule for Sony Corp.s PlayStation2 game console may have more to do with concerns about DVD content protection than the component shortages cited by Sony, according to anonymous sources. A behind-the-scenes clash with Hollywood has prompted a time-consuming redesign of the consoles software and hardware, sources said.
Shares in Sony took a 5 percent dive on Thursday after the Japan-based company announced it would only be shipping half the anticipated number of PlayStation2s in the initial U.S. rollout.

Sony blamed the set-back on shortages of unspecified components in a conference call to analysts early this week. But some industry insiders are not convinced.

Its been pretty well established that the big brand players have gotten all of the parts they need, said a source who asked to remain anonymous. Its only been the second tier and white box suppliers who have been pinched on parts. Its hard to imagine that a power house brand like Sony would be subject to part allocation.

Component suppliers said they were stocked up with parts and ready to go. Toshiba Corp. said supplies of Rambus memory and NAND flash memory chips were ready to go into the box. LSI Logic Corp., who is supplying some ICs, was indignant at the implication that it had come up short. And analysts said they expected the supply of ASICs from Sony to be on track.

While Sony specifically denied the set-back had anything to do with the DVD player incorporated into the game console, some analysts pointed to the widespread shortage of DVD parts as a possible reason for the hold-up.

We think theres a chance it could be some of the DVD drive components, said Scott Hudson, an analyst at International Data Corp. Apparently theres a general shortage of those. We know for a fact that notebook manufacturers are having a hard time getting DVD parts.

Other sources said the real problem was with the PlayStation2s lax DVD content protection systems.

The Content Security System (CSS) guidelines used by the rest of the DVD industry incorporate special country codes that mean a DVD from one country cant be screened on a player from another country. The system is part of Hollywoods attempt to retain control of its content and maintain the cinemas monopoly on first screenings of new movies.

The idea is to protect the release of movies in different markets, said Gerry Kaufhold, principal analyst at Cahners In-Stat Group.

But versions of the PlayStation2 released earlier this year in Japan allowed users to view DVDs from anywhere in the world after performing a relatively simple hack, sources said.

Sony previously said they had solved the problem. But some say it is still a work in progress.

Other analysts said Sony was just making sure it had enough parts for the European release of PlayStation2 in November.

It seems to me like they are allocating what they can deliver, said Kaufhold. This is not uncommon in the semiconductor world.

Sony could not be reached for comment.

There has already been a few threads on this subject, but intill now there was no indication of why it has happened.

Got this from another forum with out a link.

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I really feel sorry for fanboys that limit the games they play to that of one system. Which ever fanboy you are you will miss out on some great Exclusives!

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Huddy


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Posts: 124
From: Portland, Oregon (RainVille)
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posted 10-01-2000 05:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Huddy     Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote Visit Huddy's Homepage!   send a private message to Huddy  
How many months has it been since they released the PS2 in Japan?? I think in that amount of time they'd fix the dat files for their OS for the machine.

I seriously doubt this so called "shortage".

-huddy-

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Yes, Sony will kick our ass that much!!

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gamerX


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Posts: 159
From: us
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 10-01-2000 05:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gamerX     Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote   send a private message to gamerX  
quote:
Originally posted by Huddy:
How many months has it been since they released the PS2 in Japan?? I think in that amount of time they'd fix the dat files for their OS for the machine.

I seriously doubt this so called "shortage".

-huddy-



What do think the reason for the shortage is, If not this.

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I really feel sorry for fanboys that limit the games they play to that of one system. Which ever fanboy you are you will miss out on some great Exclusives!

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VP


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Posts: 243
From: California
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 10-01-2000 05:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for VP     Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote   send a private message to VP UIN: 64214392  
quote:
How many months has it been since they released the PS2 in Japan?? I think in that amount of time they'd fix the dat files for their OS for the machine.

Remember they re-designed it for the U.S. to incorporate the DVD drivers in the machine, so other problems could have arose. I wonder if the first shipment will have some bugs b/c of that.


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jaggies


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Posts: 541
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Registered: Apr 2000

posted 10-01-2000 05:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jaggies     Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote   send a private message to jaggies  
Iam waiting anyway the good franchises,mgs2,soul reaver,final fantasy,etc arnt coming out till late 2001 mabye even early 2002. Not to mention there online network wont be up till fall of 2001.
I was gonna wait for a price drop but i might pick one up to play lunar eb,breath of fire 4,final fantasy 9,spiderman,dino crisis 2 on it. Because this whole shortage thing seems fony.Walmart will give me a good chance to get one.

[This message has been edited by jaggies (edited 10-01-2000).]

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Soul Reaver

Posts: 725
From: ~New York~
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 10-01-2000 05:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Soul Reaver     Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote Visit Soul Reaver's Homepage!   send a private message to Soul Reaver  
quote:
Originally posted by jaggies:
Iam waiting anyway the good franchises,mgs2,soul reaver,final fantasy,etc arnt coming out till late 2001 mabye even early 2002. Not to mention there online network wont be up till fall of 2001.
I was gonna wait for a price drop but i might pick one up to play lunar eb,breath of fire 4,final fantasy 9,spiderman,dino crisis 2 on it. Because this whole shortage thing seems fony.Walmart will give me a good chance to get one.


[This message has been edited by jaggies (edited 10-01-2000).]


Why are you waiting for me?

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***Peter Moore Comments on PS2 Shortages***

"It seems that Sega will be doing its best to turn the upcoming war into a Genesis vs SNES thang."

True story...

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