If you're an Xbox 360 owner you're well aware that the console and power brick can heat up quite a bit after some time powered on. Especially for users who tuck their consoles deep inside an entertainment cabinet, this causes console lock-ups and glitches. A low cost ventilation system for the Xbox 360 was one way some gamers successfully fixed this problem.
So will the PlayStation 3 follow in the Xbox 360's footsteps? Sony says no. We contacted Sony today, and officially the response we received from Dave Karraker Senior Director of Corporate Communications for SCEA stated that there isn’t going to be a problem.
“PS3 does not suffer from an overheating problem.”
So what about the Tokyo Game Show reports? As one of the Game Informer staff that attended the show on every day I can tell you flat-out that even I was overheating. The convention center was hot and humid and there were so many people there that at times you couldn’t even move.
You would overheat in here too!
Sony denies the report of TGS hardware failures and that reports from Macquarie were unsubstantiated and that hardware issues were not attributed to a source. Macquarie Equities' David Gibson said that the PlayStation 3 units had "operated erratically" and continued with "We are concerned that such a problem has occurred so close to full production and is clearly negative news for the company."
Sony called foul immediately.
“Despite the report from Macquarie Securities implying that they had heard of reports of PS3's needing to be rebooted at TGS, SCEI are not aware of any instances of this occurring at TGS, nor have we received any reports from third parties to such effect.”
While other outlets are reporting that they saw companies rebooting PlayStation 3 units, it’s not surprising considering the software and hardware isn’t final. Especially in the case of software that’s created for conventions, many times the software is finalized the night before the event begins. It will have bugs, crash, and cause a system to be rebooted.
“The environmental conditions at TGS conspire to test any electrical item. In the case of PS3, the combination of pre-production software, running on pre-production debug units, enclosed in demonstration units without ventilation, and surrounded by so many eager fans that on Saturday and Sunday it was almost impossible to move, are bound to prove a challenge. If indeed, there was the occasional unit that needed rebooting, it was due solely to the adverse environmental conditions within the Hall and not to any more general problem with PS3 “
So will the PlayStation 3 have a heating problem? Who knows? It may or may not. The simple fact of the matter is that there are no retail units out there, so at the end of the day it’s too early to tell. All of the PlayStation 3 units that press and industry insiders are playing game demos on are PlayStation 3 “Test” units, which are still developmental hardware and not final.
However, the PlayStation 3 is packed with a ton of technology that will generate heat. The fact is that all electronics generate heat. Back in the day of the NES we used to leave our consoles on all night, and they’d be warm as well. If you keep a console in a confined space without proper ventilation it’s most likely to heat up. How Sony has dealt with keeping the system cool internally is unknown until (except for that one guy that will take apart his system on launch day and post pictures on the internet) gamers get their hands on final hardware.
Hot on the heels of reports that PS3 hardware was locking up at the Tokyo Game Show, Nyko Technologies announced that they would be releasing the Intercooler for the PlayStation 3. The company has a version for the Xbox 360 that proved helpful for users, and it plans to be ready when the PlayStation 3 is released later this year. We spoke with Nyko's Vice President and COO Sean Mann to find out why the company was planning so early when the console hasn't even hit the streets.
Game Informer: Retail units aren’t even out there yet, so why do you already feel that the PlayStation 3 needs a cooling system?
Sean Mann: Great question. With the Xbox 360 and some of the things that have happened in the past year, there’s evidence in the area that there’s an issue out there with these types of consoles overheating. What we feel is, with Sony trying to step it up a notch with coming up with something faster and more robust and better graphics, and still in a small type case we feel the problems should exist and should carry over to another platform. So what we’re trying to do is be ready to protect all of the consumers out there to make sure they have something to protect their $600 investment on something that should last them until the next PlayStation comes out.
GI: With the retail units not even out there yet, we know that the Xbox 360 in confined quarters can heat up extremely quickly, especially with the power brick. But the PS3 retail units aren’t out there, so how do you know how hot these consoles are going to be?
Mann: What we’re hearing are the same rumors that I’m sure you are, as well. We’ve also heard evidence that at game managers’ shows where they’re showing the systems off to retailer employees. We find that if this is an issue now it can be very difficult to do a complete fix. Now the actual question is: To what extent is it actually heating up. That is a good question. I think if there’s a small percentage of heating problems, our Intercooler will help extend the life of a machine for a longer period of time.
GI: So how are you testing now to actually make this unit?
Mann: It’s very difficult working as an accessory manufacturer. We don’t have our hands on an actual PlayStation 3. But what we have to do is go by what we think will happen based on what has happened in the past, and what we feel will happen in the future. But right now we have specs that are very close to what the system will be, and we may have to make some minor changes to be ready for consumers as soon as possible.
Source: Game Informer Online 
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