Linux to frag Sony and PS3?

Thanks to HELIOS Software and its modified Yellow Dog Linux, it’s now possible to use the PS3 as a server. For the price of US$600, small enterprises can now avail of a server with powerful processors and capable HD space just by downloading free software.

Sounds good, right? Not for Sony. It’s already a commonly known fact that Sony is losing money for every unit sold. What’s keeping them in the fight is the income they can get from games purchased for the PlayStation 3.

Imagine: 1 million PS3 units are being used as servers. That much units would lose profitability because companies using them are not likely to buy games; all the while, Sony loses US$ 250 for every one of those units sold. Count ’em all: US$ 250 million in total.

More PS3s not used for gaming purposes would also put third-party publishers in a bind. If Sony cannot determine how many PS3s are being used as servers, publishers would think twice before investing US$ 20 million in a game that will be released on a platform which installed user-base is uncertain.

People used to wonder what Ken Kutaragi meant back then when he said the PS3 is not just a gaming console. Looks like we’ve found our answer right here. The PS3 is also a good server machine.

Via Lazy Gamer

Thanks to HELIOS Software and its modified Yellow Dog Linux, it’s now possible to use the PS3 as a server. For the price of US$600, small enterprises can now avail of a server with powerful processors and capable HD space just by downloading free software.

Sounds good, right? Not for Sony. It’s already a commonly known fact that Sony is losing money for every unit sold. What’s keeping them in the fight is the income they can get from games purchased for the PlayStation 3.

Imagine: 1 million PS3 units are being used as servers. That much units would lose profitability because companies using them are not likely to buy games; all the while, Sony loses US$ 250 for every one of those units sold. Count ’em all: US$ 250 million in total.

More PS3s not used for gaming purposes would also put third-party publishers in a bind. If Sony cannot determine how many PS3s are being used as servers, publishers would think twice before investing US$ 20 million in a game that will be released on a platform which installed user-base is uncertain.

People used to wonder what Ken Kutaragi meant back then when he said the PS3 is not just a gaming console. Looks like we’ve found our answer right here. The PS3 is also a good server machine.

Via Lazy Gamer