[Rumor] Is This the PS3 Slim?

[DoctorFinger]

Image courtesy 1UP

Is the image above the first look at the rumored PS3 Slim? According to a Chinese message board posting found by 1UP, it very well may be. This image - along with several others - purport to show the packaging and outer shell of a new, redesigned PS3. It's a little hard to tell from the images, but it would appear to be smaller in just about every dimension than the current PS3. Sony has, of course, denied the story.

Do I think this is the real thing? No. China has a reputation for hosting a number of electronics knockoffs (remember the Vii?) and my best guess is that this is one of those. It's a game machine, but not a PS3. They did a decent job photoshopping the box, and the "120GB hard drive" bit in the corner is a nice touch, but even if Sony were to announce a PS3 Slim at E3, I doubt it would look like that.

Source - 1UP

[DoctorFinger]

We discussed whether to post this story, but even though I don't think it's a true rumor, it's still something I felt many of you would want to discuss. I'm not endorsing the rumor, just discussion of it.

[Troggles]

I saw some pictures of the actual thing. It looked like it was made out of shitty plastic and was completely unfinished.

In other words, it looked like a mock up.

[AgtFox]

I'm sure it's much like the Vii except they didn't get cute with the naming convention.

[Goronmon]

All I care about is a lower price point honestly.

[Rock Bandit]

[Shjinta]

Wow.. look at how slim it is, After two minutes of game play I bet I can cook an entire breakfast on the top cover :P

[Whunpo]

It wouldn't make sense. Making the device smaller would only make manufacturing it more expensive. Considering the fact that the PS3 is costing Sony a boatload to manufacture, this kind of thing would not make sense. Especially after they report a 1 billion dollar loss for last year.

[AgtFox]

Originally Posted by Whunpo

It wouldn't make sense. Making the device smaller would only make manufacturing it more expensive. Considering the fact that the PS3 is costing Sony a boatload to manufacture, this kind of thing would not make sense. Especially after they report a 1 billion dollar loss for last year.

Well, with Sony over the past few years you pretty much have to throw logic out the door. I think they are still in the mindset that this generation will turn out like last generation, although they aren't going to do anything proactive to get it there.

[Psykoboy2]

Plenty of things about Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo haven't made sense from time to time and I bet a few things from them at E3 will feel that way.

[Wraith]

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

Image courtesy 1UP

Do I think this is the real thing? No. China has a reputation for hosting a number of electronics knockoffs (remember the Vii?) and my best guess is that this is one of those. It's a game machine, but not a PS3. They did a decent job photoshopping the box, and the "120GB hard drive" bit in the corner is a nice touch, but even if Sony were to announce a PS3 Slim at E3, I doubt it would look like that.

Don't most knockoffs not print the exact same company name / product name on the box? Not that I'm convinced yet that this is a real Sony product, but I would have assumed this is someone's photoshop or mockup work, rather than a Chinese knockoff (a Ploystation 3).

As for the prospect of a slim PS3, I've got both a PSOne and slimline PS2, and a slim PS3 would be great, but I'm not giving up my 60GB's back compat.

[violent]

Did the PS2 Slim line change the logo font of the device as well? Also, this thing does not need a slim model, it needs a price drop. I hope this knowledge is obvious to Sony.

[GigaFuzz]

Originally Posted by violent

Did the PS2 Slim line change the logo font of the device as well? Also, this thing does not need a slim model, it needs a price drop. I hope this knowledge is obvious to Sony.

I don't know, but I actually really like that logo-font. It sure beats the Spiderman font in my eyes.

[violent]

Originally Posted by GigaFuzz

I don't know, but I actually really like that logo-font. It sure beats the Spiderman font in my eyes.

I prefer the old PS2 one myself. I really don't know much about effective marketing tactic but the idea of changing a logo and in turn, discarding recognition seems like a bad idea especially when in need of sales as badly as Sony is.

[itchyeyes]

Originally Posted by Whunpo

It wouldn't make sense. Making the device smaller would only make manufacturing it more expensive. Considering the fact that the PS3 is costing Sony a boatload to manufacture, this kind of thing would not make sense. Especially after they report a 1 billion dollar loss for last year.

Not necessarily. Moving to smaller nm chip production makes chips cheaper to produce for the manufacturer while at the same time makes the chips run cooler and on less power, both of which can result in a smaller overall design and further savings on parts for the manufacturer. It's conceivable that Sony could have been planning to announce this concurrently with a die shrink announcement for the Cell.

[Hawkzombie]

I'd kill for a 60gb PS3, to be honest...if Sony wants to make money, put the BC back in and I'll buy another one. I've got the 40gb and I barely touch it...I'm playing more on my PS2 and only the PS3 for Blu-Ray.

[Wraith]

Originally Posted by violent

Did the PS2 Slim line change the logo font of the device as well? Also, this thing does not need a slim model, it needs a price drop. I hope this knowledge is obvious to Sony.

There certainly was a change between the original "PlayStation" and "PSone".

The slim PS2 had the "PS2" font in the same style as on the full-size PS2, but in smaller print, in a different position.

The PS3 actually has "PLAYSTATION 3" spelled out on the console, whereas both version of PS2 had "PS2". (The original PS2 had "PlayStation 2" below the larger text "PS2.")

[Tayaya]

I'm on the fence on this one. In the cardboard shot it looks pretty horrible, but the actual shell they show looks kinda nice. The "bottom" half they show looks very prototype/fakey but overall the completed product looks kinda nice... has the signature curve of the big PS3 but a smaller, almost cuter design. It could possibly be a real product, but the box looks quite atrocious, and not anywhere in line with any of Sony's current product offerings. The new logo is easy on the eyes though, and I like the way the lines flow.

It could be real. Chinese factory leaks like this one have a track record of being evidence of legitimate product, but also have been known to sometimes lead to nothing. Definitely in the Rumor column for now, but certainly plausible.

[violent]

Originally Posted by Wraith

There certainly was a change between the original "PlayStation" and "PSone".

The slim PS2 had the "PS2" font in the same style as on the full-size PS2, but in smaller print, in a different position.

The PS3 actually has "PLAYSTATION 3" spelled out on the console, whereas both version of PS2 had "PS2". (The original PS2 had "PlayStation 2" below the larger text "PS2.")

I think it's an ok move to change position and even spelling. It's an actual font change that could be problematic. At least, I think it would.

[Kelegacy]

Day 1 purchase for me. When does it release?