PS3 “Slim” Photos Result In Cease & Desist From Taiwanese Lawyers

i wonder about how you don't see any vent holes in the pictures shown

This is all very interesting but what we really need is a slim 360...

TheShape

@Deadshot:
One internet tough guy down 1288793 to go

@Jambi_Bum: I have no problem with the current design of the PS3, but I actually really like this redesign. I'm just another voice in the crowd, and there's obviously there's a possibility that this is totally fake, but it looks pretty genuine to me.

Hey Kotaku, just out of curiosity, have you or anyone else verified that Li Mo & Associates actually exists? Heh.

Bialia

@Black-Dog-Howls: Still doesn't nullify the fact that there are tons of videogame hardware (and software) being cheap knock-offs in Asia.

CosmicElement

@tnmnsquare:

Yeah i'm about ready to buy a PS3 soon. I have a PS2 & Gamecube with lots of games, real good ones too. Right there that's at least 200 bucks on ebay. Maybe more.

Fake and ugly...fugly.

It's real. I have touched it.

There is only one things this could be.....

NEW POLYSTATION 3!!

+ Watch video

nightwheel

@vosslerbasch:
I see the same spiderman font in that trailer. the font on this case is blatantly poop

Crypysmoker

@DarthMetalHope: bree bree oarr oarr

Lennon Stephenson

I would love if this were to happen. Needs to play ps2 games tho. People seem to think they are seeing the whole thing though? It's just the top half of the case.

kyle2dotcom

LOL..
Translation from the front page of Law firms website

Some feelings in ours country, for dozens of years flaunt the government by law, but the person holds the idle talk; The law and discipline ruins, the order sees the confusion. Professor Li Mu based on the legal scholar's sense of mission, the establishment practical legal science foundation, with the practical Law office, and expedited Dongwu law department master the class second division (next to call law large second grade) establishment, Hebei could from the legal education aspect and the government by law practice aspect, encourages and supervises. Therefore takes "practically" for, Ge Yuxun "only then can honor the law practically", "honors the law to be practical" the aim, strength of for our country government by law slightly completely cotton and kapok silks. We hoped that continues the Professor Li Mu idea, promotes the legal science education positively, and promotes development of our country government by law.

Crypysmoker

@djricekcn: Honestly, from what I've seen this looks better to me than the current PS3 consoles. There is nothing worse than glossy surfaces.

@Saabu: Can you prove ANY of those assertions?

@SEX_BISON: This looks like a prototype www.

@Ozymandias: Your unnecessarily angry comment is accompanied perfectly by the broken link.

@djricekcn: ehh 120 gb hard drive? That is nice! But they put the gloss gplastic layer on it.

i love when rumors are proven true by Legal trying to stop rumors.

its just magical.

If no one ever said anything, we'd all assume "oh, its fake."

but now? I guess here comes the slim! (and HOPEFULLY a price drop!)

Noodle-Works

I wonder if you guys are talking about the TOP cover, or the whole thing. Honestly, from what I've seen, it's exactly the same as the current one, just smaller and less shiny.

if ever this is true, its ugly >_<

@[londoncommons.ca]
See this.
Douche.

at the end of the resonance of fate trailer it has that same FONT change.. Hmmm lol
[kotaku.com]

vosslerbasch

@BubbleF**kingBuddy: Damn, you did it again. Funny stuff.

I for one think this PS3 slim is 100% legit.

1. that "ugly" housing would be alot cheaper to produce than the current ultra high gloss, semi transparent housing the current model sports.

2. That box is totaly authentic, look at the sony logo all over that thing, I have seen alot of imitation products and they are always slightly off, they might say sony but in a different font or something, not to mention the blu-ray logos all over that box.

Those chinese knocks offs may be blatent rip offs but they never misrepresent. they wouldnt put blu-ray on the box if it didnt play it.

despite all the haters im calling this 100% authentic.

PhilipVanLuke

@BubbleF**kingBuddy: dammit you are a king even if it is a fuc king.

starwind-hawking

@Ubersoldat19: Which would essentially be a "slim" PS3. Duh. :/

@FatalChaos: You think you shall conquer the internet but I have already taken measures to ursurp your plot and make it my own!

starwind-hawking

@ArJay:

1. Professional factory quality molds that can only be made with mass production units.
2. The pink+green workstation matches the PS3 factory workstations.
3. The factory is sending out cease and desist to any place posting about this.
4. The unit shown matches the shape of the slimmed down motherboard.
5. Sony stated that they are within the breaking even point in PS3 production costs, and that they have more cost-saving measures coming up (smaller = savings).
6. Sony rep lets slip of his surprise about the release of these photos.
7. Sony announced that redesigns to PS3 are coming.

Saabu

Perhaps this abhorrent Slim PS3 is real perhaps it's not but I don't know what Sony was thinking about when taking out all its beauty and attractiveness, probably some sacrifices were made in order to achieve lower production costs, but ohhh deaaar looks really bad.

Hope for the sake of Sony this PS3 is real and will come with a price tag of $ 299 USD because the company needs to save its ass and I luv Sony!!!!!

heirdt

@Gemini-Phoenix: Probably due to the Blu-ray drive's size

Shin-san

yahoo news suggests the imminence of price drop. That is why this issue has pull, no? They have to eventually. I just watched the uncharted two footage and, having never really desired a playstation 3 that badly ever, even when MGS4 came out.

tnmnsquare

@jamesjohnson01: Its not the plastic. Its because it looks like a PS3 that just got run over by a steam roller.

@SG79: Uh, it's actually quite a bit smaller than the OG PS3. They shaved off some serious dimensions.

Black-Dog-Howls

@Jawmuncher: I thought it might be a PopStation 3 way back when they first posted it. This might give creedance to that line of thought.

I'm sure Ashens will be furious when he reviews it.

@Archaotic: So the plant is sending a C&D with Sony basically having no comment. Okay.

@The Sad Onion Symbol Thing: Lots of factories in China are owned by Taiwanese.
And needless to say, Mainland Chinese lawyers are not really experienced enough in defending copyright law and trade secrets. (As the factory itself is probably in Mainland China)

That design looks horrible, imo. It looks like something that came out of the inside of my car. I already have PS3, which looks slick as it is. This design just looks like it needs to be worked on.

Still, the picture of the actual unit and the picture in the apparent box for the unit looks different, so we may not be getting the whole story.

Steven Graboski

@potatojenkins: Kotaku and Sony have some history though...
Although lawyers were never involved in that case

@SG79: It just seems to me that Li Mo represents the Taiwanese company that has a manufacturing plant in China. And the Taiwanese manufacturer is seeking a C&D because they will get in to trouble with Sony for leaking this information.
Now, instead of discussing with Sony on how to handle this PR debacle, the manufacturer wanted to cover themselves first and try to cover up the internet leaks (how naive can you be?).
Guess Sony will start looking at their lawyers on how to legally kill Li Mo's client

Personally, i'm still holding out for an alternative coloured console, as I don't want a generic black one. The American's have even had a nice gunmetal silver one (MGS4), so when are us Brit's going to get a piece of this LE goodness? The X360 already has at least two retail LE consoles available, as well as the choice of white and black depending on what model you prefer...

The original PS2 console received EIGHT other coloured releases here in the UK before the PStwo came out...

Okay let's talk price range. $149?, is very doubtful. $199?, is a possibility. If that's the price, not only could it boost PS3 sales, but it would help Blue-Ray become more mainstream.

@Vanilla_Ninja: All these years i've been told no women are on teh internetz and now your going to take over. My world has just been turned upside down.

The PS3's size isn't it's main fault. People are happy to have something that bulky to an extent. I would say the number one main problem with the PS3 isn't the lacking software catalogue, nor even the price - It's the fact that they removed backwards compatability, when both the other consoles have it. I refuse to buy a PS3 until the time comes when they decide to reinstate backwards compatability - Why should we buy a brand new console, when we still need to have our PS2's hooked up to play our favourite games?

All I know is, if this was white, or brushed aluminum and said APPLE on it ... it would be "such a sleek and cutting edge design choice".

Just sayin'.

@EveryoneBrowses4chan:

Wow, that was intense.

Scotsdale

Here's the way I see it:

Sony: "Oh sh-...! Everyone just shut up and hope people think it's fake! And whatever you do, don't try to get the pictures taken down, or our cover's blown!"

Taiwanese manufacturing company: "Hey! Those Sony guys told us to keep this thing a secret! Get those internet guys to take down the pictures!"

Sony: "OH SH-...!"

@Cheroro:
It's already too late to do anything about it.

thank god i sold my ps3 phat.

Fox Hound

Streisand effect FTW!

@GohanGVO: There's no finish on it. Even the PSP shots had ugly quirks to it like the rings being a bit messed up.

Also, like I said in another thread - Sony can use this. If they rebrand the PS3 and effectively relaunch it with a new image at $299 USD they can sway the opinions of the mass consumer base. It doesn't look like the "failed" unit and doesn't carry the same logo.

Both Apple and Nintendo have made it work with iPod/Mac, and DS from phat to Lite.

Black-Dog-Howls

Evidently fake.
BORING

@Cheroro: lol at all of you.

@Valnen: Customers don't have a right to anything until they've bought it, because up until that point they're not customers.

@Ping5000 IS OUTRAGED BY BLIZZARD'S VOICE CAST: lol I just got a mental image of that.

@Sonira - AND MY AXE!:

cough, cough, is this thing on, cough, cough...

@ArJay: Sony has to do something with the PS3, the model on the shelves now isn't cutting it. It failed to sell enough in the time it has had, and they aren't gaining ground on MS. I bet the situation at Sony HQ is a lot worse than we think it is.

I'm sure the idea is to PS2-ize the PlayStation 3- lose the spiderman font (which was a mistake) and change the branding to logo similar to the PS2 (which is how it's referred to anyways, nobody says PlayStation 3).

It's a smart move. I bet this thing is unveiled sometime this fall, with it on shelves a week or two later. $249.

@Vanilla_Ninja: Well, now we know it............ >.>

@hodayathink: Stoya's personal Android developer:
The manufacturing plant that these pictures were taken at is in Taiwan.

I quite like the look of that.

Perhaps I'm the only one, at least it wouldn't get any finger prints on it.

TenP

fight the power kotaku... dont fold till sony sends you something...

ShaggyB

You may contact the firm here:

[www.limo.com.tw]

KsprayDad (I've lost my balls. Seen them?)

Is that the lid or the whole thing?

Looks like shit

Import98

@djricekcn: this looks more like a prototype or a rip off console rather than a retail version. I think that even if this story is true this will not be the final product that would be put out in the market.

Masterpain22

Because this are not product of SONY .

This is some ripoff version of PS3 by some evil CHINA company.

ye0073

@Elfgrin: Here's a question: Why would a Japanese company have a Taiwanese lawyer? Has anyone ever heard of these lawyers representing Sony before? Honestly, I think this is a knock-off.

@parad0x360: They have to change logos on all game boxes for games new and old in future printings. To start.

astronautcowboy

@jamesjohnson01: I don't think people are complaining about the plastic. I think it's the overall look and shape of it. At least that's why I don't like it.

@SEX_BISON: Exactly what I was thinking. The last thing I want to see is some random Taiwanese lawyer make a Lik-Sang out of Kotaku.

Elfgrin

@BubbleF**kingBuddy: You win.

@ArJay: Why NOT? PlayStation became "PS-One". PlayStation 2 officially became "PS2" (I think).

PS2 uses the same cheap matte plastic in its revisions as in this picture.

Not saying it has to be real, but those who come up with the stupidest reasons for debunking it are just lol.

One of the better reasons would be that the people that BOX the package usually have the completely assembled system in their hands, so why would the chassis be off? I dunno.

@Black-Dog-Howls: I just did a quick Google search for those leaked PSP 3000 shots. They looked way better than this.

For the record, I do not doubt that a PS3 "Slim" will eventually hit retail. But, to me, THESE PARTICULAR shots looks really shady and ugly.

It would be rather odd of Sony to switch production models considering their financial situation.

@nworobes: "NEED A CEASE-N-DESIST HERE!"

GohanGVO

@Gambit09: Aaand the obligatory "my girlfriend" post has arrived.

If this is real I'll probably get whichever one gets a price cut and pray that this one looks more polished in the end

@The Sad Onion Symbol Thing: But they have the cardboard boxes...

Cardboard boxes I tells ya!!

4lejandro

@djricekcn: I don't know what everyone is talking about. IT'S THE EXACT SAME MATTE PLASTIC THEY USED ON THE PS2 AND ITS UPGRADES. Why is it so unbelievable that they want to cut costs by using a cheaper plastic over a glossy cover?

@djricekcn: agreed... i dunno why but it reminds me of a 3do

houkah

@Firelance: They also ordered a cease&desist to Engadget.

@wonder6oy:
...{zzop}

Still hate the controller though.

{zzip!}

wonder6oy

@ArJay: expensive to change the logo? It cost them NOTHING to change the logo.

parad0x360

@L33Td00d: You know the PS2 Fat and the PS2 slim both have the same logo and font, right?

My rant or whatever name it gets these days, is more about how anything can make the headlines these days. Further more, this PS3 case looks like one of those cheap -Made in China- imitations. To me it is hard to digest that Sony would even bothe to incase the parts that would make a PS3 slim into something like that.

Now, I do agree with what you said about the strategy behind changing a product's logo [being style, font, etc...] but I don't think Sony would do that now. If the best they could do was to use the Spiderman movie font, then why bother changing that now? Much less to the font seen on these images.

ArJay

@djricekcn: I <3 it! Much nicer than that fingerprint/dust magnet monolith they're selling now. :-p

{flamesuit-zzip}

wonder6oy

It's unfinished isn't it the picture on the box has more parts than the PS3 in the bottom picture.

jakinov

@Curse_Lily:
Us girl are going to take over the whole internet. You just don't know it yet

@NINTENDO_ZEALOT: I'm just glad you're on page 2 of the comments. Where you belong

@Corey Harrison: Personally think it is the best looking of the current gen machines. Having opinions is fun.

KsprayDad (I've lost my balls. Seen them?)

Sony fucked up again, Nintendo +1

@Archaotic:

True, but they can be vultures as I said. Though realistically, they'd only follow through if this leak cost them the SCEI contract. As unlikely as that may be.

@SG79:
They'd have a pretty big mess to clean up. Engadget, Destructoid, Kotaku, and several other sites have all been slapped with the same C&D, and all of them have ignored the request.

@baconfrenzy:

There are other pictures out there, and the unit isn't exactly THAT slim. Just redesigned without a glossy finish and seemingly smaller BD drive.

@The Sad Onion Symbol Thing:

LOL

We have to save the Sad Onions.

Like I said this is a POPstation in Disguise

I think it's real, just like my GF's titties.

@Gundem: WHAT! well then I'm missing a few parts....not good ¬_¬

@baconfrenzy: The point of this is to redesign the PS3 to be cheaper to manufacture so they can stop losing money on the thing. The old PS3 is still damn expensive for them to make. They did the same thing with the PS2, which went through quite a few design changes over its lifetime.

Dreamwriter

@djricekcn: super duper ugly...I hope they are receiving a cease desist for trying to sell a rip-off. Maybe they have the designs for a new model and this is a cheap knock-off of that design. It looks too ugly and cheap for it to be an official product.

Also what's the deal with violating "trade secrets"? How could Sony have a trade secret over this? Assuming it's over the design once Sony releases the system anyone could make a copy of it since it'll no longer be a secret. It makes no sense whatsoever.

@Gundem: TELL THAT TO MY VAGINA, SIR.

@Luke Plunkett:

What if some stubborn lawyer actually follows through one day? They're not likened to vultures often for no reason.

@Luke Plunkett:
True, the letters DON'T threaten any major legal action so far; it's just surprising that everybody (not just you guys, I'm not singling you out) is immediately saying 'HEY GUYS, LOOK AT THIS CEASE AND DESIST WE GOT!'

Just feels weird to me, it's surprising is all.

@nworobes:
Very true.

@baconfrenzy: For a rebranding and relaunch to change the public image. It worked for iPod and DS.

In order to jump start PS3 sales Sony might rebrand the PS3 and relaunch it in the marketplace complete with a redesign. Many companies have done this successfully, including Nintendo with the DSlite when DSphat wasn't doing well.

A simple thing like this can change general public opinion pretty easily. Attach a $299 USD price point and promote all the features it has plus the fact that it has motion control and they can make a product that looks more attractive than the Wii to the general consumer-base for -only- $50 more by using a new ad campaign.

Black-Dog-Howls

@unangbangkay: It's not even going to be a real Blu-ray. It'll just be a blue plastic disc that turns the device on!

Besides, they should make it even smaller! We all know it'll have a board the size of a gift card connected by two wires.

Atomsk88

@GohanGVO: "BUILDIN' AH COURT CASE!"

nworobes

@Archaotic: This sort of C&D seems hilariously ineffective, though. Once things are on the Internet, they're out there forever.

nworobes

Hey, newsflash. The current PS3 is ugly. Why are so many people calling a slimmed down version of it ugly?

In my eyes, this is a huge improvement over the current PS3 model. I wasn't planning on buying a PS3 until the new Team ICO game came out and until the slim version hit the shelves.
Anyone who thought that the PS3 wouldn't get a slim version is only fooling themselves.

Corey Harrison

@Archaotic: It's because those letters aren't as threatening as the people sending them would have you believe.

@Archaotic:

Thing is, it's the Taiwanese manufacturer in this case, not Sony. I'm sure SCEI isn't happy about this, and that's what prompted the C&D, but regardless, I don't see this being a "noble" move from journalists. Sometimes you just have to think straight.

@GohanGVO: Uh, PSP2000 and 3000 were leaked the same way this is, plus they didn't look as nice before the finish was applied.

Black-Dog-Howls

Don't reply to the email! It's a phishing attempt?

I mean come one, Li Mo and Associates? Limo Associates! Next they'll say they'll let you post the pics if you click on their Bank of America account or push 9 on your cell phone.

dry-roasted-peanuts

@potatojenkins: He would have had to.

Valnen

@ArJay: they definatly would change the logo. the ps2 is about as well known as the wii and has been for years and years. just look at how its selling. this would reduce costs and could be seen as a new item to the casual consumer the logo change would only further that. i for one could give a shit less how it looks my ps3 sits below my tv i dont look at it unless im chaning discs. the smaller the better. if true ill probably sell my 60 gb. and buy one of these. dont go crazy and say "errr the backwards compat.." i really dont use it despite having over 50 ps1 games and about half as many ps2 games. i got a ps2 if i ever want to play those again anyways. anyways do you REALLY care about what it looks like? most consoles are in enclosures and i doubt many people come to your house and have a tech nerd-gasim from seeing your ps3

L33Td00d

@BubbleF**kingBuddy: I teehee'd

@baconfrenzy:

smaller components are cheaper, unified components are cheaper, smaller product is cheaper to ship and stock.

For the record, the C&D isn't for Sony's benefit but the Taiwanese manufacturer itself.

@SG79:
I wonder why every site out there is posting the letter despite being told not to. Are they really that sure it's all fake so they're not afraid of repercussions, or is the internet trying to stand up to BIG MEAN SONY again for making them have to take down rumored pictures?

@BubbleF**kingBuddy: Haha i actually laughed at that. You sir should be payed for your comments, as they are pure gold :P

Got a company name or just some random Taiwanese lawyers? Because if you had a company name...we could research.

@DarthMetalHope:

HER? LIES.

NO GIRLS ON TEH INTERNET!

@Archaotic:

Yup same one, and I'm not sure it's wise to push buttons. It's not like the whole Harrison and Crecente incident from two years ago.

@bfwings55: That joke is terrible. Here's doing it right:

"Looks like the PS3 finally takes up less space than a collection of PS3 games!"

"How can you occupy less space than nothing?"

"Dohohohohohohoho!"

BubbleF**kingBuddy

Would you have caved if it actually had came from Sony? :x

Trade secrets? Bullcrap. The customers have a right to know about this stuff.

Valnen

As the sad onion that represents a baby symbol that appears on cheap and crappy products, I know knockoffs when I see them. The 120 and Blu-Ray wouldn't fit, besides look where the firm is from...

The Sad Onion Symbol Thing

I still can't believe that people are still talking about these images.

Do you guys really think SONY is going to change the PlayStation 3 logo at this point? Do you guys even know how expensive that is? SONY is not making as much money as they would like to be with the PS3, so why would they bother to change the logo?

Another thing, do you know that owning SONY Style they would dare release the "PlayStation 3 Slim" in such ugly case?

Whatever right? whatever.

ArJay

@SEX_BISON: Your avatar and your post were made for each other.

BubbleF**kingBuddy

It just looks like a cow body slammed a PS3.

@djricekcn: It's only half of the system's chassis.

BubbleF**kingBuddy

Looks horrible. Yeah, probably some cheap TW knock off that doesn't actually work.

Mister_Bump

Too late, damage is done, we've all seen them. Plus, they're posted all over the internet on various forums now.

No doubt they want cease and desist most likely because if they're fake, they've just been caught with their pants down. If they're real, then that pretty much stuffs Sony up for something major to announce at E3

Rather than blaming Kotaku, they should really be trying to source whoever it was who took the pictures inside the production factory...

It's so illogical to me! Why spend more money in R/D of a slimmed down ps3? Why not price cut, start getting money back, then begin with these sorts of endeavors? The ps2 didn't get a re-design until later on in its life span, and not that the ps2 and ps3 are equal in price and revenue, but the at least be logical in the economic times. i find it incredibly hard to believe that a redesigned ps3 would come with a price cut as well.... Only time will tell, I suppose.

baconfrenzy

What's the point of this?

Last time I checked, a smaller George Forman grill means less room for burgers and steak.

@Jawmuncher: Sweet! I always wanted a POPstation 3!

I wonder what kind of crappy 16 bit games we'll get to play...

@djricekcn:
Agreed. But hopefully it will spur a price drop in the older models if it's legit. Wonder if it will still have all the same capabilities as teh older models also.

e1salvador

@Jawmuncher: Quick send it to Dr. Ashens for review!

FrankieViturello

@Frank Justice: ^insert lawyer joke

Frank Justice

@Jawmuncher:

Or a Polystation. 10,000 in 1 Blu-Ray!

That's what it's beginning to smell like, anyway.

Frank Justice

@SEX_BISON:
Ironically, the cease and desist letter, if it's the same one I've seen on a few sites, explicitly states NOT to make the C&D public.

It's a POPstation in disguise

I still hope these arent really....er...real. Not the prettiest thing ive ever seen lol *hugs her giant PS3*

DarthMetalHope

It still looks like a cheap knockoff. I think the bootleggers are made that they have been exposed.

In other words, "INNANET SAPPIN' MAH PROFITS!"

GohanGVO

I doubt this.
Probably some Taiwanese Ripoff.

Firelance

That's a good reason to post them all again.

SEX_BISON

it looks....really ugly personally

djricekcn

@jamesjohnson01: Surface finish (glossy vs. matte) by itself usually does not significantly affect the cost. Matte finish requires you to either add texture to the mold or add it after the fact with a subsequent operation. Either way, this is another step in the process. Glossy finish may require polishing, depending on the quality of the mold and the finish required for the part. For injection molded or thermoformed parts, polishing usually isn't required unless we're talking about optical grade plastics (lenses for glasses, light fixtures, etc.). For the current PS3, I don't think any subsequent polishing operations are required.

The only ways to significantly reduce cost on the plastic portion of the casing are by implementing one or more of the following:

1. Move to an entirely different type of plastic. HDPE to ABS. Just an example as I don't know the pricing break-down between types of plastics, but this is a fairly likely consideration.
2. Change from an injection molded part to a thermoformed part. This is probably difficult to pull off for a part like this because fastening bosses are likely to be needed which are hard to thermoform. This would be difficult, though not impossible to implement.
3. Keep the injection molded part, but streamline the design to make for a simpler/cheaper die. Very likely.
4. Use less material overall. Very likely.
5. Eliminate silk-screened printing or appliques (chrome PS3 logo) on the surface. Use molded-in features to accomplish this (recessed lettering/logos). This cuts a step out of the process. From these photos, looks like they did this, so this is highly likely.

Vipre77

it might as well just be one of those fake consoles that end up being nothing more than a little tetris game with a black and white screen... :)

Like the "popstation" :)

@EveryoneBrowses4chan: And they will no longer be customers when they get ripped off, either.

Valnen

@okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under):

*Speechless*

Firelance

@Animaitor: And why would you say that? There are many legitimate reasons as to why this could be real, and many legitimate reason as to why this could be fake.

The brain shrink is occuring in those calling it fake because "it looks ugly", based on just the top half of the console. I guess if the 360 ever got a revision in hardware design it would just be a floating disc tray as well, right guys? :P

Svend Joscelyne

@vosslerbasch: No it doesn't.

Svend Joscelyne

@Steven Graboski: Good job they're clearly still working on it then, if it's real. I doubt Sony would announce it at E3 for release before the Fall.

Svend Joscelyne

@jakinov: I'm glad someone figured that out, at least.

Svend Joscelyne

@The Sad Onion Symbol Thing: Not saying it's real at all, but you know you're only looking at the top half of the 'new console'?

Svend Joscelyne

@lenandude: At the moment Sony are losing roughly ten percent of the current selling price of a PS3. Give or take a couple of bucks, that makes it about $40.

A new PS3 model - with cheaper components, smaller plastic shells and new cost cutting measures that wouldn't have been possible to include in the current production line - is not likely to lose Sony -more- money. Assuming these photos aren't fake, I doubt Sony will even be losing $40 per unit once it's released. You can bet your left nut on it.

Svend Joscelyne

@DarthMetalHope: Hell yeah, Porcupine Tree

@Scotsdale: But true.

-MasterDex-

@touchmypenguinagain: You obviously don't understand the value of goods if you expect to pick up a brand new PS3 for $200.

The PS3 is expensive for a reason, it contains expensive and high quality components. The cell chip alone is probably worth $200. Add a Blu Ray player into the mix, built-in wireless networking, a motion controller with dual shock and the cost rises even further.

You can expect a price drop to about $299 but you're unlikely to see anything below that before the end of it's life cycle unless the system in question is second-hand.

-MasterDex-

@garytek: I think that picture shows us the shell in the middle of the Production and the final step would be a Glossy touch on the surface.

I guess it will be like the Nintendo DS Lite, an extra Transparent Plastic Layer on the Shell which gives an nice Glossy effect.

KotakuFreund

@Ubersoldat19: You do realise that's only the top half of the console, right? If you look on the box there's still the silvery panel where you turn the console on and such, missing from the chassis image.

That and @Jambi_Bum: It looks almost exactly the same as a 'phat' PS3, just without the silver 'PLAYSTATION 3' text on the top.

Honestly, if that image was the entire console I'd call it ugly too, but... I can see that it's obviously not the entire console.

Svend Joscelyne

PS3 Ripoff maker are afraid of being sued by sony since they are using the PS3 Tradmarks

or you guys got trolled hard by someone in the intrawebs

@4lejandro: Hehe, i love the way people try to legitimise the pictures because someone mocked up some cardboard boxing for the product :P

touchmypenguinagain

@parad0x360:

You dont have a clue paradox. Changing the brand of a product costs a small fortune in design, marketing, production and distribution. Try thinking before posting.

touchmypenguinagain

@baconfrenzy:

No i agree bacon it seems illogical right now. I remember hearing that they posted something like a 1bn loss for the last fiscal year, which they said was primarily down to their games department. Furthermore they're investing in a psp redesign right now. They should be more concerned with making the cpu/gpu as small as possible, reducing the price of entry and getting a good library of software out there before redesigning the console to attract the casual consumer. Rebranding the console will help the sales for the initial few months but if theres no triple A software to coincide or a massive price drop to back it up itll be short lived. They should be looking at the $200-250 mark for the slim ps3 at the most.

touchmypenguinagain

I wouldn't say a cease-and-desist necessarily indicates that sony are working on a slim ps3, there's a multitude of reasons why they would want them to take the photos down primarily damage they could do to the PlayStation 3 brand. This all seems a little far fetched and you're just digging for a big story in these weeks before E3, you can't seriously think they are legit?

touchmypenguinagain

@Steven Graboski: What kind of car has something that looks like that in it? Is it some kind of future-car?

Moreso, the Wii, to me, just looks like an external DVD drive with a glossy white coating. Yuck. Didn't stop me from buying one.

V1L3

@Gemini-Phoenix: Actually, out of all the things you mentioned (size, price, games), backwards compatability is the LEAST important feature.

I guess that's why the DSi is doing so terribly after they removed the GBA compatability, right?

V1L3

@Gemini-Phoenix: Not sure how it "stuffs Sony up."

Provided this is real, all we have is a general idea of what the PS3 Slim will look like. We still have no idea on price or any extra/removed features.

If they launched this thing at $199, you bet your ass that'd be a "major" announcement.

V1L3

@djricekcn: I think this, the current PS3, the 360 and the Wii are ALL ugly.

I grudgingly came to terms with a future of ugly consoles when I bought an Xbox, and made my peace when I bought a PS2.

I think the last console I considered pleasing to the eye was the Dreamcast.

V1L3

@Giroro G66: Yes.

Saabu

@Mentuss:

Yep. Microsoft has to admit pwnage on this one. The PS3 was only released late-2006 and a slim one is already in the works. Sony beat the previous Playstations' hardware revision record.

garytek

@Koztah: So do you use gloves whenever you handle any of them? Or do you just constantly wipe them off with a cloth? Glossy is a magnet to fingerprints and dust. I'd rather dust every third day, not every third hour.

@Mister_Bump:

My thoughts exactly.

For those talking about the logo change. If I remember rightly, Sony has already changed the use of the logo from PLAYSTATION back to PlayStation in a lot of advertisements, so don't be so surprised if it were the case that they decide to backtrack with the hardware itself. They're pretty desperate at the moment and changing the logo back to the old style may be an attempt at emulating past glories.

This system does not look nice but I can underestand how they would fit the hardware inside. If you see the guts of a current 80GB compared to a launch 60GB you will see just how much it has been refined. It's completely different architecturally and the hardware is almost rattling around inside where as with the earlier versions every gap was filled with it's bloated guts.

I'm 65/35 on this being real. Based on the logo changes in publications and sports advertising and the alterations to current hardware, plus the savings thhe company would make on shipping and packing materials with the added savings of a cheaper case this could make sense for a global company with billions in losses.

Alsybub

@djricekcn:

Looks and ugly AND fake.

@Goldwings: Has no idea why his avatar is a smiling sun: Well trust me nothing will throw the teammates off lol I normally dont play online or talk if i do, since 99% of the time im bothered badly by douchebags lol So they'll never know they are playin with a girl, and therefore, wont suck...hopefully lol

The only shooter games i have are CoD4 and World at War annnnd Resistance 1 and 2.....and the only one i recently am pretty good at is resistance 2...and i havent played call of duty in a while. Though actually i picked it back up today to try and get good at it again lol

I have quite a few other games of course and so does my brother. i'll list them and send them in a message to you sometime lol

DarthMetalHope

@DarthMetalHope: I'll add you, but the 3 girls (I know for sure 2 of them are ladies anyway :/) on my friends list stink when it comes to the competitive "shoot that moving object" game.
90% of the time we lose because all my teammates are too distracted going "holy shit you're a girl? Did someone say girl? Girls play games? Can I add you? I'll protect" *groan* and the ever so popular "how old are you."
Also half the time we end up playing Rock Band/Guitar Hero anyway because they beat my ass ALL THE TIME.

@HJSoulma: Oh man i totally lied about my PSN ID lol DarthMetalHope is my Xbox Live gamertag...my PSN ID is PorcupineTree07

This is why i shouldnt be up so late, my mind gets jumbled lol

DarthMetalHope

@Mobusaki: I think its all luck. lol i mean its hard for me to say but it seems to find a good gamer girl g/f you just have to be patient. We are a growing species for sure ^__^

DarthMetalHope

@-MasterDex-: i'm all for the jokes, i never mind :)

DarthMetalHope

@HJSoulma: Yea i dont regularly post alot, but im on this site every 10 seconds lol refreshing like mad :)

Nice to find another kotaku gamer girl on here! Also one who loves thier big 'ol ps3 like myself! You can add me to your friends list whenever youd like if ya want. my PSN ID is the same as my name on here ^_^

DarthMetalHope

@Goldwings: Has no idea why his avatar is a smiling sun: Well im definitly a girl always up for shooting aliens and other lifeforms lol Here is my PSN ID if ya ever wanna play lol

PSN ID: DarthMetalHope

im amazed that my post has the top replies and ALL of them are in regards to being a girl. Thats hilarious :)

DarthMetalHope

The 2nd pic looks like a PSP bettery.

Tom-Servo

@-MasterDex-:

Damn. Beat me to it.

garytek

A new (?!) picture:
[img411.imageshack.us]

Lorenzo Cicione

Taiwan-based attorney? Yeah, that whole console looks "Taiwan-based" to me.

kiddoblivion

Any advice on finding a gamer girl girlfriend, gamer girls? ^_^

this could be lagit. the PS3 is the size of my laptop (compare it next to the controller) but I assume it has an Xbox360 size power brick.

@Animaitor: Apparently, your brain shrunk as well. Simply because you can't spell:D

FAKE DAMMIT!!!! The only thing that got shrink here was the brain of the people who believe this is real.

@lenandude: 2006 called and said that you need to join 2009 for an important announcement.

1+ to the list of people who think it's a knockoff

EditorinChief

@Sonira - AND MY AXE!: Now that's what I call a date!

@Ozymandias: I'm all for girl power on the internet and the presence of women in some places on the net could do much to temper us guys and save us from becoming complete assholes(see 4chan) but you have to remember that meme aside, the internet isn't serious business and Gundem was clearly making the expected joke that some guy probably would have eventually made.

No need to get your knickers in a twist. <--That was a joke too ;)

-MasterDex-

@Madeira: HAHAHAHAHA! I laugh at that comment. It is NOT gonna sell for $249! Maybe. MAYBE $300. MAYBE. If this is even real. But they would be losing too much money if they tried selling it for that much. They are already losing like eighty bucks.

Damnit Sony, I'll totally buy another PS3 if this is real. I hope it gets announced soon so I can unload my current one on some sucker...

@CosmicElement: But those cheap knock offs ain't called the Sony PS3 or the Nintendo Wii and they ain't packaged advertising Playstation Network. The Taiwanese manufacture a helluva lot of shit that you use every single day and some of those products are very well built by generations-old manufacturers that know the business better than the suits around the world that employ their services.

The cheap knock off analogy fails when you see the flat packaging along with the PS3 shell, combined with a C&D from the Lawyers of the plant and take into account that whoever leaked these photos thought they were importnant enough to leak. I doubt anyone working at the plant would leak to the public images of a knock-off so that Sony could then shut that plant down. It's illogical.

These images are clearly a PS3 shell and there's a high likelyhood all will be revealed at E3. You can hold me to that too.

-MasterDex-

@HJSoulma: My sister hates my PS3 due to its massiveness.
She only likes it unless we play LBP. Seriously why can't she enjoy shooting aliens on the head like me? D:

@Koztah: Yeah I like the nice shininess of my PS3. The only problem with the gloss finish is that it scratches super easy.

@Firelance:

Here's the original Kotaku story: [kotaku.com]

@Dafrety:

I disagree, I love glossy.

My PS3 is glossy, my Samsung HDTV is glossy, my cell phone is glossy, my DS is glossy, my PSP is glossy and my guitars are glossy.

Koztah

i hate it cause it pulls dust like no ones business and the controller is unconfortable as hell. Still its a cool machine. Id tie it with my 360 for how much i use it

Rav Gar

@TheShape: I'd rather have the 360 stay the same time, and the electronics be refined so they don't overheat and fail, than have MS shrink the design and cause a whole new round of RROD problems.

Mentuss

@Curse_Lily: *late to the girlparty*

How many of us are there that regularly post here? I know of you, me, Geekgrrl, and now DMH, Sonira and 'nilla-ninja.

SIX ARE ENOUGH TO TAKES OVER. MUA HA HA.

Also, I like my big beasty PS3, too, DMH.

HJSoulma

@Gemini-Phoenix:

What makes you think the whistleblower is still alive?

garytek

@SG79: Just because someone sends you a letter and says "Don't tell anyone I sent you this" doesn't mean they can do something to you if you don't comply and stay silent. And just because a lawyer sends you a letter saying that you have to take down some pictures, it doesn't mean you have to just because they're from a law firm. Lawyers know what kind of thing they can win and what they can't, and if you know that they know they can't win then you post away, because it's all talk.

They may be vultures, but they value money, and know that futile cases are a waste of it.

Yertle8

Totally fake. Whey would Sony go back to the older looking logo???!!!

choyt80

Real

François Bouttemy

@ps360blows: I have a sneaking suspicion you're gonna eat your words.

-MasterDex-

Maybe it will look better in real life than in those crappy pics.

If not it looks like it will probably be the ugliest thing that Sony has ever produced. For a company that prides itself and has built a reputation on aesthetics, what an ugly disappointment.

Still fugly. I really hope they are fake.

I'd be willing to bet it's a proof-of-concept mock-up.

micjwelch

@CosmicElement: And the fact that this thing looks like it comes straight from the early 90's video game era. Good lord I can't believe people think this could be real.

ps360blows

@Crypysmoker:
It's the same font they used for PS2

[www.wilsonsshoppingcentre.com]

@Giroro G66:
There is a thread on NEOGAF that you should visit.

@ganpondorodf: AH someone who likes Porcupine Tree!? You are now my friend forever lol Porcupine Tree is amaaaazing. I remember seeing them live (front row and everything) before i even knew who they hell they were....that night changed my life foreeever :)

DarthMetalHope

probably just a prototype for a PS3 slim, but I'm sure Sony really is working on it.

@Archaotic: In my experience once one site goes "screw it let's post it" EVERYONE jumps on the bandwagon. I'm pretty sure this is the same thing.

you'd think if Sony wanted Kotaku to not show the images, they would just ask. This lawfirm thing seems like a scam

This is real

@ArJay: Sony changed psx logo to psone when console was still the leader. Sony don't care about logo

I still don't believe it. It's too soon, and it looks like a fake.

from fat to ugly, great job sony!

Lyme

Maybe a prototype? The way SEGA solicited several different companies to design Dreamcast, maybe they made this to show SONY but it's not been picked yet as final design?

@Sonira - AND MY AXE!: I would love to.

@EnigmaNemesis: I LOLed.

KaneTaker

@Arthur-Otaku: A winner is you?

...

L2Englsih.

(Yes, that was indeed intentional. Move along.)

GrinningKestrel

@Goldwings: Has no idea why his avatar is a smiling sun: Well, I'm pretty good at FPS. And I sound like a 12-year-old boy so I think most people assume I am a 12-year-old boy. Kinda funny.

@Firelance:
They look cheapily made and ugly,

I too reckon it's a cheap rip-off

@Sonira - I am old news.: yea that happens to me too....i never play with a mic though the raaaare times i play online lol

DarthMetalHope