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Sony USA: PS3 will be "difficult to cost reduce"
joystiq.com — An interview with SCEA chief Jack Tretton in the latest Game Informer revealed some troubling news for consumers waiting for a cheaper PS3. When asked point blank whether price drops for the PS3 will be "as soon or as drastic as they were for the PlayStation 2," Tretton responded with a curt, "No." The PS2 price dropped $100 after 565 days.
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- chocobomog, on 10/12/2007, -4/+108Marketing 101: Don't tell potential customers that if they wait to buy your product they can save $100.
565 days won't be until Summer '08 anyways. There probably will be a price cut by then, but no one will actually announce that because it could hurt sales now.- nixonrichard, on 10/12/2007, -33/+38Despite the cost to manufacture it, I fully expect the PS3's price to drop faster than a Virtual Boy and I fully expect the system to do about as well as the Virtual Boy. Both are a pain in the neck.
- gxcdesign, on 10/12/2007, -24/+32I don't see how better launch numbers than the 360 is any sort of failure
as for the 360 I don't see it dropping in price either - rockforever, on 10/12/2007, -9/+29I dont care how bad a system is. Nothin is as bad as the virtual boy. You couldn't even see the games. Just bleh.
- wafflez, on 10/12/2007, -45/+7lol i have a ps3 60gb and the ONLY things keeping me from returning it for a wii and a 360 are FFXIII, FFXIII versus, Devil may cry 4, Metal Gear Solid 4, Gran Turismo 5(omg the demo owned), and kingdom hearts 3(i can hope, can't i =D), and i currently have Resistance: Fall of Man..all of these games mean i'll have to wait about 7 months before i can actually start having fun...
yes if you're wondering why i bought it so early, my dad gave me a 8 month interval until i can get a 20" imac so earlier i get a ps3, earlier i get an imac.. - prockcore, on 10/12/2007, -26/+20The ps3 didn't have better launch numbers than the 360.. not by a long shot. By this time last year, MS had sold 2.5 million 360s world wide. Sony hasn't even launched in europe yet.
- chembro84, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23Exactly, no company would ever say "Hey, wait a few months, it'll be cheaper then"
Sony, MS and Nintendo will all deny price drops until the day they happen. - gxcdesign, on 10/12/2007, -7/+22@ prockcore
We are clearly discussing US Launch since this article is about the US PS3 Pricing
the US Launch had more sales than the Xbox 360, just check with the NPD - TonyCubed, on 10/12/2007, -11/+10The reasons people still think this is bad (even though the launch was better than the Xbox360's? -- Haven't checked the numbers on that) is because the PS3 is a Playstation. It has been the most overhyped games console that I've had to witness, and it's doing well below what Sony expected.
- ozsynergy, on 10/12/2007, -13/+2Once Sony (and the market) accept Blue Ray as another dismal failure, the drives will be $50 on eBay.
As a result, one incredibly overpriced part of the system will be a give away.
And with those high prices, and poor sales...
I don't think its going to take long ! - EatingPie, on 10/12/2007, -11/+18This is really scraping the barrell for anti-PS3 fodder here.
Yes, anything bad about the PS3 will get dugg like crazy. We get it. Can we just move on now?
-Pie - zybch, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5Didn't sony just announce that the PS3 would be getting a price drop in Japan?? 20% off or something.
- jacksons98, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@zybch Don Quijote a japanese retailer had a promotion for 20% off PS3's. For a limited time valid on promotional stock.
- angelp, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5@zybch - It's amazing how that INCORRECT blog post is being quoted across the Internet as if it's fact. Reputable sites have reported that Sony didn't drop the price, but that a retail store in Japan is having a sale on 20GB PS3s. A sale that ends in February.
It just goes to show that anything anti-Sony is taken as fact. - SGagnon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"as for the 360 I don't see it dropping in price either"
gxcdesign, not me, I see the 360 drop in price within a few months. Already the 360 premium is sold at profit. It was unexpected that early and Microsoft already said they would like an annual price drop. Since the PS3 was hard to find and MS met their target of 10 millions (which moved a bit mind you), they didn't have an incentive to do so yet. If the 360 drops by $50-$100 a few week before their European launch (can't lower the price close after that launch otherwise it would look as if they are panicking) that would put a blow to Sony's effort. - shadus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5http://curmudgeongamer.com/media/console-prices-absolute.pdf
Anyone notice a trend in the above 500$ systems? - thebaron2, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3The 360 did drop in price, at least in a lot of places in the Midwest here. My 2 brothers and I each bought a premium with a $100 rebate from MicroCenter. $299 for the premium 360.
- FishyJoe, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7"I don't see how better launch numbers than the 360 is any sort of failure"
It's a failure because it's a huge reduction in market share. The PS2 had an overwhelming market share advantage. Imagine if Vista systems sold at the same rate as Apples during their launch. It would be consider a failure of titanic proportions. - NoHandle, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10Where did all the PS3 fan boys come from? Check into what you read.
PS3 launch was not better than the 360, no matter what kotaku may believe. Check the references from Wikipedia, they are from the actual financial releases from microsoft and sony.
Disinformation: http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/ps3-launch-outsells-xbox-360-launch-226742.php
Truth:
360 Christmas sales last year
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360#Sales {check reference 75]
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/101283.asp?source=rss
PS3 Sales
http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/sony/ps3s-at-launch-north-america-400k-japan-100k-198718.php
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36955
I would note that Sony's sales figures are being questioned into whether or not these are actual sales or units produced and currently in stores.
Basically, 1 million units moved by sony (Nov 11th - Jan 1st) and 1.5 million units move by microsoft (Nov 22nd - Jan 1st) - angelp, on 10/12/2007, -8/+4@NoHandle - You do realize that Microsoft's number include 500,000 from their European launch? The PS3 has not launched there yet.....to be fair, you should probably only compare the countries in which they BOTH launched.
- Nobi-Wan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@ gxcdesign
I'm not so sure about those figures. Do you have any idea how many people bought the PS3 just to scalp it? I'd like to see the sales figures before Christmas and how many returns were the week after Christmas. I bought a PS3...but I didn't keep it. Damn I couldn't even sell the thing for what I paid for it. - SGagnon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4angelp, keep in mind that if those 500,000 360 would have shipped to NA instead of Europe, they would have sold easily, beating the PS3 by 50%.
- NoHandle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@angelp:
Good point, though, I see the PS3 failing miserably in Europe. It is also funny the PS3 needs to be discounted in the country it comes from... They didn't do anything like that for the 360 in North America (or Europe that I know of) - matthewaaron, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I'll buy one when it reaches $100 and strip it for parts...
- igotdugout, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Still waiting for 90% of their exclusives to get released before I even THINK of purchasing a PS3.
- firefox15, on 10/12/2007, -11/+31Tretton responded with a curt, "No."
Open your eyes Tretton, that's exactly what customers are saying to your product. Either cut the price or be prepared to fail.- colouredlights, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Well put
- dominasian, on 10/12/2007, -9/+40"For reference, the PS2 was reduced from $299 to $199 in the United States on May 14, 2002, 565 days after the Oct. 20, 2000 release date. Using this data and Tretton's above answer, we can expect that the PS3 won't come down in price until at least June 4, 2008."
yeah but there was demand for the PS2 - rYno, on 10/12/2007, -35/+12friggin sony - why won't they die.
PS3 sucks - 360/wii FTW
oh and F blu-ray... I hate sony and their lame formats they want everybody to embrace.- ezikiel2517, on 10/12/2007, -23/+9Wii-60 is the greatest combo EVER!
- broomett, on 10/12/2007, -19/+9Yet ANOTHER Sony hater proves to the worldd that those who blindly hate Sony are all 12 years old.
You see, those who are older, or at leat older intellectually, realized long ago that inane acronyms like FTW make you look foolish, unless you are on MySpace. And actually , even worse than the typical MySpace acronym, because at least those were considered cool or clever at SOME point. FTW was never considered anythign but pathetic.
It is great though. you NEVER see Sony fans sayinbg FTW. Or Microsoft ones, etc. Because they are mature. - chinaman1472, on 10/12/2007, -7/+27Sony die? I'm not exactly the most hardcore fanboy but let's think about this logically for a second.
You want a company who manufactures: Computers, TVs, Video Games, Video Game Consoles/Handhelds, Digital Cameras, Movies and more to die?
Yea, let's see that happen. They may have bad tactics or whatever, but they're a business, get over it. They entire reason they push new formats (or back existing ones) into the market is so they can make more money, the entire point of business and capitalism in America. Microsoft and Nintendo in the end are no different. They put making $$ ahead of you as a person. It's just how it's presented that makes a difference. - iampoch, on 10/12/2007, -9/+33Oh, and research more on video game history. Nintendo that you seem to so love deserved what happened to them. We're talking about a company who bullied 3rd-party developers and and at one time successfully locked them out from developing for other systems (NEC and SEGA). It took two international court rulings before they relented. They were also foolish enough (and, in accordance with Japanese customs, unacceptable and dishonorable) to stab Sony in the back. That's why we have the PS line in the first place. And to further add things for you ro research on, determine why 3rd-party developers flocked to the then-new console, and almost left Nintendo to hang dry in N64.
And as for MS, i don't think we need any introduction here. It's a very well-known fact how they go about this their business. Unless you've been living under the rock, this is a company rife with antitrust lawsuits. Think "OEM" and it's a pretty enough picture what the videogame industry will be like if MS is the winner.
Not that Sony's a prettyboy as well, with their arrogant BS and pro-DRM thing.
But what I'm trying to say here is that you people think really hard first before saying "DIE SONY" or "DIE MS" or "NINTENDO IS GOD". I'd like all three to do equally well. Why? Because cometition will force them to breathe down each other's necks. And that's a good thing for consumers because they'll always try to outdo each other, offer better service and products ant more competitive prices. So, if one dies off, will that be a good thing for us consumers? I don't think so. and for those bird-brains who'll say it is, research on the friggin history of each company first before making an ass of yourself - ThinkBox, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4@ chinaman1472
Good points and welcome to digg (been here a bit over a month I see)
I agree with you up to the point where you mention "They put making $$ ahead of you as a person."
You see - a true business is truly made of people who are providing a service to people - and if they ever lose sight of what their business is for (people) and about (people) then they will fail. If you focus on the customer - then they will want to give you money. Nintendo focuses on user experience - and innovation - making the user think - "WOW now that is something I would like to experience!" - i believe Sony has lost that touch - they are looking to formats to make money rather than formats to enhance user experience. I'm not anti-Sony but I believe by available evidence - this is made plain - StevoCJ, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@ iampoch: Absolutely right. I'd rather have the three of them too busy trying to screw each other than have one of them screwing me, because that would be #:$%ing painful!
@ThinkBox: I think you're deluded. The people that work for the company may well want to provide a service, but above them is a PHB telling them to screw people for as much $$$ as possible, otherwise they lose their jobs to someone else that will.
Companies are in business to make money. Some may let a little bit of money go for ethical reasons, but I doubt Sony would, and Microsoft would rape your grandmother for cash! - nogami, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2"You want a company who manufactures: Computers, TVs, Video Games, Video Game Consoles/Handhelds, Digital Cameras, Movies and more to die?
Yea, let's see that happen."
The only part of Sony that really makes money is their Movie division, and maybe the Video Games and music areas (in other words, the publishing parts). Sony is under increasing competition from other Japanese companies (and more recently, Korean manufacturers) in the home/portable electronics area.
While Sony certainly won't immediately collapse, they're not the undisputed leaders in technology that they once were, and the Sony name brand isn't what it used to be. To be sure, they still make some quality products, but they also make a lot of stuff that really makes you shake your head and wonder what they were thinking...
Even Sony's broadcast and pro gear is under fire from other manufacturers (most notably Panasonic), who are providing what many see as a superior product at a lower price... - hmcook87, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4panasonic broadcast gear? i dont think so... what ever happened to DVCPro anyway?
- Lawr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@ nogami
what kind of crack are you smoking? there have been new entrants into the home A/V market the last few years with the Koreans, but Sony's marketshare is still very strong, and they make some of the highest margins in the industry.
"The only part of Sony that really makes money is their Movie division" -- lol, RIGHT.
Just because there are up and comers with interesting competitive products doesn't mean Sony is suddenly on it's way out.
Sony doesn't need to have a monopoly in order to make money. - revisrev, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Of course all of the companies are after money, that's a given. The thing is that Nintendo understands that to make money you have to make your customers happy. I'm not saying that Sony doesn't understand this, just that they have done a horrible job of it this time at bat. Nintendo does a damn good job of making the customer feel important from start to finish, case and point:
I was sitting down, a few weeks ago (dry winter) with my DS plugged in while playing it. I went to stand up and when my feet touched the tile *ZAP* I ESD'd my DS. So I call Nintendo, and the lady asks the prerequisite questions, then she asks me what happened. After I tell her she says "Well, your box to send that to us is in the mail, now are you okay?" That was all she talked about the rest of the time. There were no insulting questions trying to corner me into admitting wrongdoing so that they don't have to replace my DS. A few days later Nintendo calls me again to see if I had sought medical attention, they were going to foot the bill if I decided to (worth mentioning that both times I was speaking with what sounded like native English speakers). That's making your customer feel important. Were they afraid I might sue for that little ESD? Probably, (I won't, that's retarded). But the point is they impressed me with their consistent customer focus from before you buy (marketing) to after you break it (warranty service). Of course they want to make money, it's just that they're really good at customer focus, which is the right way to make money, because it builds repeat business.
So, you see, not all companies are out to screw the customers, as a matter of fact, a sustainable business model does not include screwing customers. Happy customers line your pockets. Nintendo has done a great job of winning hearts and minds, and that is what matters most in the long run. I have never been more satisfied with a company than I have been with Nintendo the last few years. - StateofMind09, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3Yeah, lame formats for sure. What was that one that they tried to push with the PS2?
Wasn't it called "DVD" or something? - rlg420, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1I think Sony makes the best alarm clock around, but the PS3....meh. Does that make me a Sony hater? I would rather play my "inferior" 360 and watch movies of my tiny little 20gb hdd than plop down 600 for another system.
- DefiantGSR, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2LOL
What an Idiot
- Steek, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6I was hoping to buy a PS3 eventually but if there are no price cuts for awhile I guess iam outa luck or sony is outa luck im still not sure yet.
- Bobalobabingbon, on 10/12/2007, -16/+5Save, its worth it
- rhesuspieces00, on 10/12/2007, -5/+21No it isn't.
I bought one. I returned it. - SoonerPet, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9I totally agree. In this generation the PS3 is the "me too" product.
If you want graphics go with the xbox.
If you want fun games and great exclusive games get the Wii.
The PS3 offers nothing over the other two really except a hefty price tag. - jacksons98, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5@soonerpet X360 is less expensive?? Don't mention core version, you need to get a memory card or hard drive right away just to save games, most people realize it's not a good value, especially when future games are requiring the Hard drive. So $100 difference, is that what makes it the hefty price tag?? Blu-ray and HDMI alone are worth that. Secondly everything you need with PS3 comes included, I'm not going to get dinged after wards for internet play fees, recharge kits, etc.
- n3rrd, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4Worth is subjective. Blu-Ray and HDMI aren't essential to any one's survival, and so one should be able to make a decision about worth individually.
On top of that, the 360 may not have HDMI or Blu-Ray, but that $100.00 makes a big difference to a lot of people. Add to that the fact that the $100.00 less expensive system comes with two games and you're actually at a difference of about $200 in Canada. - jacksons98, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Was referring to the US, both systems come with no games.
- angelp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5It's worth it to me. I happen to be a huge HD fan and have been enjoying Blu-ray movies since I got my PS3. I've played games on it as well (not as many as I do on my 360 of course). Considering I paid $400 for my 360 and I also have the add-on which would have been another $200 if I had paid for it...that's $600. If I had paid full price for my PS3 it would have been $600 plus I get wireless, 60GB drive, plus HDMI. Clearly worth it for someone who enjoys the technology.
- shadus, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8I must be a luddite these days... I enjoy games, not technology.
- angelp, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4@shadus - Nahhh....you're not a luddite...just a smart ass. I enjoy games and HD movies, that's why I have systems that allow me to enjoy BOTH.
- DarkJC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@n3rrd
Being in Canada like me, you'd know the PS3 is only 50 bucks more. That's not a huge difference. (Although the fact that the 360 comes with a pack in game or two does)
- fishbert, on 10/12/2007, -18/+7PS3 will be difficult to cost reduce? That's ok, I wasn't planning on buying one anyway.
- Bobalobabingbon, on 10/12/2007, -15/+10who gives a *****?
- airencracken, on 10/12/2007, -12/+11USA to Sony "PS3 will be difficult to sell"
I see people returning them several times a week. - eddie72, on 10/12/2007, -8/+8$600.00 is just a ridiculous price point with or without a Blu-Ray drive. If they knew they were going to be that expensive they should have never released them this year.
- Zoxy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Well without the blu-ray I doubt it would be 500/600 that it is, it probably would be 400/500.
- Zoxy, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9The blu-ray player adds only 100 dollars to the console. The only real difference in the core PS3 and the prem 360 is the hdmi output and the hi def player which makes the price 100 more then the 360. Hey I don't what to spend 50 dollars a year on online play but you have to in order to play online with the 360. I just don't see the whole uproar in the price. People are willing to spend 400 + 50 (1 year of XBL) but the extra 50 bucks makes the system with a hi-def player totally out of reach. The 360 is a good system with a lot of good games coming out this year and so is the PS3 so just buy for the games you want because the system would probably cost you about same when it all adds up any way.
- dzmetcalf, on 10/12/2007, -9/+15I wanna know how many PC gamers have spent less than 600 dollars on a PC that they only use as a gaming machine cause most times a PC designed only to game usually costs at least triple the cost of the PS3. Give me the new tech.
- FrankieB078, on 10/12/2007, -8/+7I've been arguing that since the PS3 price was announced, but sadly no one seems to agree with me! It seems like a no brainer, but its a bit more complex than that. My monster gaming PC doesn't sit on top of my DVD player...
- chinaman1472, on 10/12/2007, -9/+7LoL. 1 GeForce 8800 GTX costs roughly the same as a PS3. I'm not sure anyone could justify the other $1000-$2000 be spent on "surfing the internet" or "schoolwork" etc.
- Thorlord, on 10/12/2007, -6/+24there are enough PC games to warrant 3x the price.
hell you can make your own games
download movies
make movies
make games
play emulated games
Play games in a resolution higher than 1280x720
display images
edit images
its a damn PC, need i go on?
quite honeslty i would rather spend $600 for the GeForce 6600GS rather than a PS3 because i would end up with better looking games, and a whole hell lot more of them to boot.
$600 is alot of money to spend on a machine with no good games. - johnthedebs, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23Who uses a PC solely to play games?
- xNaquada, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5call me a fool but if someone somehow came up to me and said... "Here's $600, you can either buy the PS3 or something for your computer" .... I would take the 8800GTX in a heartbeat.... ok maybe the 8800GTS and a nice powersupply...
WTF are people thinking... I can build a decent PC for 600... and anyone who is a dedicated "I scream PC>ALL always" Gamer (who isnt dirt rich), that spends 600 bones on a PS3 instead of a computer part,.... you are NOT a PC Gamer.
I can continuously find ways to sink 600 into my system many times over, before finally, after about 10-15 multiples of 600 injections to my PC, I would,nt have anything to do with it... and I STILL wouldnt buy a PS3.... Id probably build a cheap NAS server. - Thorlord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2heh, i was thinking of the GeForce 8800GS, not the 6600GS... wow thats a HUGE mistake, the 6600 is like $75... the 8800 is like $600
- mitrovarr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Most people want a decent, current computer anyway, even if they don't game. A reasonably modern desktop is only about $300-500 away from being an acceptable gaming machine. Laptops are a bit harder, but even they're probably not over $500 to upgrade into gaming shape; you just have to do it when you're buying the laptop, not later.
For example, my old gaming computer was just a cheap $500 computer with a $200 video card and a $100 stick of ram stuck in it to bring it up to speed. Yeah, that's $200 more than a PS3, but I would have needed the computer anyway. - theBrink, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2a lot of people solely play PC games, if you're RTS fan, if you like FPS games but dislike playing the Nth Halo clone (yes, besides GOW, nearly all console FPS games originate on PC and are released years before the console versions) or if you like playing any decent sims/mmorpgs, it's all PC dominated stuff.
- jacksons98, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@mitrovarr I don't think that is a gaming PC. A $200 dollar video card will just run current games at minimal settings and isn't going to last you much more than a year.
I'm a PC gamer first, but I love my PS3 too. There is a reason Sony is losing about $200-300 per console it's not because they are idiots, it's because there is a lot of technology in it. - BobsYourUncle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I'd play console games over the PC, but it has nothing to do with the cost of upgrading (although that has to be considered). I like consoles because I can sit on the couch and just play. I sit at a desk all day long at work and if I had to sit at a desk to play games too, I think I'd go crazy. That's what draws me to consoles. I don't own a PS3, but I'm certainly not ruling it out in a year or so. I waited a year for the 360, and now I have it and I love it. We'll see what the future holds for the PS3, but I know I won't be switching from console to PC anytime soon, and console price has nothing to do with it.
- Thorlord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1jacksons98 i disagree, 2-3 years ago i bought a 9800PRO for $200 and that was the best gaming video card for quite some time!
my current card i bought for $250, i kinda had to buy it at that price, it was close to $400 regularly, my x1900xtx
but with the $200 price goal for the average gamer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814186013
GeForce 7900GS with 256mb GDDR3
that will beable to play quite a few games at maximum, or near maximum settings (depending on your resolution)
not to mention, the 7900GS is also better than the RSX in the PS3.
the only reason to spend more than $200 on a video card is if you have a very high resolution display, i play at 1680x1050 so a x1900xtx is perfect for that resolution, those with a 19" LCD and run at 1280x1024 will find that the 7900GS will play most games at maximum settings. - mitrovarr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@jacksons98
A $200 video card is just fine. My old card was an Nvidia 6600GT - it ran the games it came with at full resolution (1600x1200 here, on a CRT) with high settings. Most other current games ran well on moderate to high settings and resolutions. I would have swapped it into my new system if I could have, but I had to ditch it when I made the AGP -> PCIE transition. The rest of my system was badly outdated (that $500 computer ran fine for about two to three years, but wasn't very upgradable) and it needed replacement before the video card did.
It's important to remember that you don't actually have to play games on maximum settings, and in fact most people aren't intended to; those are there for people who can afford the best hardware. Even at moderate settings and resolutions, the graphics in most games are competitive with current consoles.
- beaumont911, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2This will make more people buy then now, they will realise there will be no price cut so they will buy them now.
- shadus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4hahahaha you're funny.
- FrankieB078, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13Hell by the time the PS2 price dropped, I had already bought a 2nd one because the 1st fried out on me...
- Thorlord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1oddly enough, so did i.
hell i was on my 3rd (and last) PS2 before the PS2Slim came out.
i had spent about $700 on the PS2 and its replacements. im not about to get a PS3 to have it die on my 3 times and have sony tell me its my fault for it dying and that it would cost 90% of the consoles price to fix.
- Thorlord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1oddly enough, so did i.
- PhilMoskowitz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2This marketing campaign is going to make a blooper reel somewhere.
- rodon, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6"difficult to cost reduce".. That's funny, because according to the article linked below here, retailers in Japan are reducing the cost of the PS3 just so they can attempt to get the damned things from cluttering up their shelves.
I'm not even remotely considering to purchase a PS3 till the price comes down substantially.
http://www.qj.net/Japanese-retailers-slash-PS3-prices/pg/49/aid/80245- chinaman1472, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Have you ever thought about certain stores losing money for it?
Eventually items are sold at a discount so stores can get rid of them, regardless whether they make money or not.
The entire purpose of this is so they can make room for other items that can generate a profit instead of a sitting a shelf collecting dust, which is the worst case scenario in terms of sales. - rodon, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4That is my point, the PS3 is the worst case scenario for many retailers. As of right now, they are expensive paperweights taking up valuable retail floorspace.
Did you notice that the major US retailer Best Buy is not selling PS3s at their brick and mortar stores anymore. They're limiting orders to their online store most likely because they're going to be sitting on shelves collecting dust if they were to send them out to their retail locations. - jacksons98, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Don Quijote a japanese retailer (similiar to Wal-Mart) had a 20% off PS3 promotion available only on promotional quantities. (ie a sale) Just like Amazon had X360 for $100, oh I guess by your standards Amazon just wanted to get the "damned thigs from cluttering up their shelves."
- chinaman1472, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Have you ever thought about certain stores losing money for it?
- imanihilist, on 10/12/2007, -14/+18I don't really see the problem with the price. I spent nearly as much on a Xbox 360. $400 for the console + $100 for the wireless adapter + $50 for Xbox Live + $30 for the battery charger...and I've still only got a 20GB HDD.
- derelictmindset, on 10/12/2007, -12/+15the problem is you are comparing the price of one console, along with optional purchases you made which are not needed to play the system, to the base price of another system without any optional accessories.
Its like comparing the price of my nintendo ds with the top of the line noise canceling headphones i use with it to the price of the ps3. Yeah the price is almost the same, but wtf does it prove?
Nothing, along with your post - imanihilist, on 10/12/2007, -9/+12"Its like comparing the price of my nintendo ds with the top of the line noise canceling headphones i use with it to the price of the ps3. Yeah the price is almost the same, but wtf does it prove?"
Actually, it's not. What I'm doing is setting things equal such that an accurate comparison can be made. My point is that it's not the price that's the problem, because people (myself included) are easily spending close to, if not more than $600 on an Xbox 360. In fact, there is little point in getting the model with the HDD if you aren't going to use Xbox Live, so that $50 subscription is pretty much a given. Similar idea with batteries (whether you use Microsoft ones, throw aways, or rechargables, it doesn't matter the cost is still there).
The problem with the PS3 is that it sucks. It's a $600 Blu-Ray player that can also play some games, and has a bunch of other built-in broken functionality for free. The scaler is horrible--pretty much limiting you to 480p unless you own a 1080p HDTV, the backwards compatability is completely broken, the web-browser (while neat) is virtualy useless like it's PSP counterpart, on the online gaming component is pretty broken compared to Xbox Live. If all these problems were fixed overnight, they'd be selling. In fact, I'd probably buy one. - JayD16, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10I agree, the value is there its just the sticker shock. You can say you don't need all that stuff but yeah, yeah you do. You can choose to be nickel and dimmed to death but really the PS3 is the better value.
$400 xbox is really close to $500 for the core ps3 which really you should be comparing it to. Even then you don't get HD-DVD yet.
I don't think its easy to argue that you don't get what you pay for but I can sympathize with the sticker shock state of mind even if its a bit unfair. - taxman, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10When i got my 360, i also bought an extra wireless controller, the dvd remote, 1 rechargeable battery plus 1 battery charger with a rechargeable battery.....That put my hardware around 530$ which is more than what the 20 GB PS3 goes for. But, i made all those extra purchases as per my liking....I dont want the wireless connection or the hi-def player. So why should i be expected to pay an extra 100$ when i have no inclination of using them.
- jacksons98, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7@imanihilist -- I can tell by your post you don't have a PS3 just a few corrections below
-The scaler is horrible -- The issue is with older HDTV's that only support 480i/480p and 1080i. If you have a standard TV or a HDTV that support 1080p or 720p your set to go.
The backwards compatability is completely broken -- less than 40 games out of 20,000+ exhibit an issue. PS3 by far has the best backwards compatability and available library of games. Microsoft completely stopped working on backwards compatability for their Xbox games and only 20% of those actually work.
The web-browser (while neat) is virtualy useless - What are you talking about?? It works fine I, I'd rather surf using my PC but if I'm lazy and don't want to wait for my PC to load up then I use my PS3.
the online gaming component is pretty broken - Games start fast and are lag free. The friends/messaging needs to be more unified, but if you just play it works fine.
If all these problems were fixed overnight, they'd be selling. In fact, I'd probably buy one. -- See now go get one :)
- derelictmindset, on 10/12/2007, -12/+15the problem is you are comparing the price of one console, along with optional purchases you made which are not needed to play the system, to the base price of another system without any optional accessories.
- chinaman1472, on 10/12/2007, -12/+4don't forget that $100 for that HD DVD player some people buy, which is referring to imanihilist above me.
- Thorlord, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13meh.
HD-DvD really isint anything special. neither is Blu-Ray. - Bobalobabingbon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13$199
- MiDri, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8You can use the HD-DVD on a pc too... so technically if there are Linux drivers for it, you can use it on the ps3... But the HD-DVD is not going to be used for games, so it is not a big deal...
- Thorlord, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13meh.
- MichaelAnthony, on 10/12/2007, -13/+6I never liked Wii... graphics just suck.
- kid_kansas, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3How come the prices of the PS3 in Japan are so cheap. Kotaku had an article that in Feb the 20 Gig will be like $329 US, discounted $82 from retail of $412. Games are hella expensive in Japan though.
http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/japanese-stores-slashing-20gb-prices-230297.php- MiDri, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2The thuging Christmas penguin probably has something to do with it. Linux bitches, best recognize! Is that really Tux?
- chinaman1472, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Difficult to cost reduce refers to their production cost. Retailers and stores reducing the cost of the PS3 has nothing to do with production cost.
- GawtMilk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@kid
In Asia, we don't have expensive shipping...
- Neorio, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2In Japan, Xbox 360 retail shelf space real estate has expanded a little bit.
At the moment, there are more games available for the Xbox 360 than the PS3, but not that much. I noticed that the PS3 gundam game was sold out (but not much else. Tells you something about the Japanese who bought a PS3 this early). The gundam game for the Xbox 360 can't come fast enough.
What the Xbox360 really needs is a Virtual Fighter 5 release though.... that would sell the whole machine.
Far and away the PS2 still commands the most shelf space in retail here.- gomezfreak, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0It proves that sometimes ***** can sell. In OPM's final volume (Jan 07) the Gundam game in question was rated like 3/10. Thats not very impressive. The graphics in said Gundam game look like a 1st gen PS2 game.
It is been beaten to death that the Japanese and American markets have a different taste for games.
We like big tough guys and sexy chicks slaughtering *****.
They like leather bound fem-boys dancing around the next incarnation of FF.
Come to think of it, maybe the soy is making them gay. ("Not that there's anything wrong with that.")
- gomezfreak, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0It proves that sometimes ***** can sell. In OPM's final volume (Jan 07) the Gundam game in question was rated like 3/10. Thats not very impressive. The graphics in said Gundam game look like a 1st gen PS2 game.
- suppah, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2in japan, 20% off
- theghoul, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3The article sums up the sentiment quite nicely at the end.
"It's interesting to check out the PS3 vibe at 2chan; Reasons for not buying go from "there are no games I want" to "video stores don't rent Blu-ray movies."
I believe the system was pretty innovative, but without great titles or something besides "Talledega Nights" to watch on it, the point of buying the system for $600 is moot.
And everyone should know that the price will drop of course. As the crappy blu-ray diode becomes easier to produce, hard drives cheapen and chip creation processes advance, the price point will fluctuate. Why should Sony tell us now that the price will drop? Marketing 101 as the first poster said.- angelp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You do realize that there are tons of Blu-ray movies available to rent/buy?
- topcat5, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4If they get rid of the trojan horse called Blue Ray which they put in that machine, they could knock a couple of hundred bucks right off the price. It's obvious the only reason the Sony made Blue Ray a required option was to push the format, not make a better machine. I am glad it backfired right in their faces.
- shadus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Sad but true... reminds me of another format war where sony lost... mmm betamax?
- supersteve, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Well put my friend.
The PS3 is just a big wooden horse. Where Sony went wrong is... they should have given the PS3 away for free... just ike the greeks did with the wooden horse. Then maybe getting blu-ray in everyones homes would have worked.
- Kevin108, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3What this translates to is "You can't afford to trim the fat when nobody's buying any meat."
- apalys, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3That is fine. That just means the PS3 will be "difficult to purchase." There is no way a gaming system is worth $600+. I hope Sony goes belly-up over it. They deserve it. The Wii and 360 are superior anyway. Farewell Sony... and good riddance! You brought this on yourself.
- graphmac1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I like the 360, but just like the original Xbox, Microsoft was loosing money everytime a unit left (I think it was rumored around $100 a piece). I think it could've just been timing; the 360 had some time to entrench itself with the gaming public. I'd be willing to spend $400, but not $600...
- gomezfreak, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0@graphmac1
Add to that the fact that when I bought a 360 THIS holiday season there were already a ton of great games that I could pick up used for $20-30. I know game developers need to make money, but I need to save money too.
I will admit, I'll spend $60 on a game when its worth it, *Assassins Creed*, but I usually keep myself occupied with older games (used section) until the newer one becomes a Platinum Hit, can get it used, or just can't take it anymore and buy the game new. - supersteve, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Do you think the PS3 can remain competitive at its current price until mid-2008?
No one wants it now and no one will want it in 2008.
Also by then the XBOX 360 will be cheaper and even the Wii maybe. Poor SONY they use to own the gaming market, now look at them... Also blu-ray will be dirt cheap and there will be no movies for it. Beta, UMD anyone?
If you don't have the system yet, will you be willing to wait that long for a lower price?
hell no, I don't ever want one. I already have a computer.
How much would you be willing to pay for Sony's power-packed system?
again I don't want one. I just want to play games not watch HD movies or surf the web or what ever else makes up it's $600 price tag. I'll stick with my Wii thanks!!!- Krakn3Dfx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Plenty of people WANT a PS3, I know more than a few, but when the XMas season passed by and they weren't able to get one, it seemed absurd to spend $500-$600 on a game console in a post-XMas market. Wii, and the 360 to a lesser extent, are cheaper options, although you could argue the price/components issue 360 vs. PS3. The Wii is a pure gaming system, very stripped down to the core, no HD, no DVD playback, no HD playback option, and very last gen graphically, which is fine, because it brings some very cool control options to the table that gamers didn't have before, and the graphics themselves, while not 360 or PS3 grade by a long shot, are fine for pretty much any casual gamer, which make up a huge section of the market, including myself (sadly, more so the older I get). When you look at the DS compared to the PSP, the DS graphics are abysmal compared to the PSP, but the control scheme of the DS is unique and innovative and fun to pick up and spend time with, while the PSP is heavily handicapped by a single analog stick and the overall control design of the system itself.
I think the PS3 has a long life in the console market, but I also think they 360 is gaining momentum and the Wii is doing well out of the gate, and hopefully for the long term. I think having 3 strong contenders in the game console market is boon for all gamers, because it will force developers and publishers to offer something substantial on those platforms. I seriously hope the Wii doesn't because another Gamecube, but then, I don't want to see the 360 or PS3 end up in that boat either.
- Krakn3Dfx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Plenty of people WANT a PS3, I know more than a few, but when the XMas season passed by and they weren't able to get one, it seemed absurd to spend $500-$600 on a game console in a post-XMas market. Wii, and the 360 to a lesser extent, are cheaper options, although you could argue the price/components issue 360 vs. PS3. The Wii is a pure gaming system, very stripped down to the core, no HD, no DVD playback, no HD playback option, and very last gen graphically, which is fine, because it brings some very cool control options to the table that gamers didn't have before, and the graphics themselves, while not 360 or PS3 grade by a long shot, are fine for pretty much any casual gamer, which make up a huge section of the market, including myself (sadly, more so the older I get). When you look at the DS compared to the PSP, the DS graphics are abysmal compared to the PSP, but the control scheme of the DS is unique and innovative and fun to pick up and spend time with, while the PSP is heavily handicapped by a single analog stick and the overall control design of the system itself.
- EvilPsycho, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2With the bundles and/or rebates at Microcenter. I could very well say the Xbox 360 premium is $300. Half the price of the PS3. I don't know too much about the PS3 so i won't bash its technology, but you could buy 2 premium xbox 360s for one premium ps3. Plus the Ps3 has no games worth any money.
By the way. Xbox live is just like a video game. You should have to pay for it because it adds an entire new part to each video game and you can use it just for communication with friends. Most xbox live combos come with microsoft points and $10 of video games anyways. - seneyr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1This is not something Sony should want to be admitting right now. They already shot themselves in the foot with the $500+ price tag. Saying they can't/won't drop the price for over a year is just suicidal.
- clubmasta2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I think it will also be "difficult to make a decision on if the paperweight is worth it"
I'm not paying $600+ just to play FF13, I refuse. - rowlodge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1they'll just have to sit on no sales then at the brink of bankruptcy sell them all off for nothing...(dreamcast)
- snoox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think this is great, because I don't want to play games online with poor people anyway
- evanstueve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah if I can't recall, they said similar things about the PS2, but that dropped. It's all marketing peeps, all systems drops in price.
It's simple economics and business, once they can't sell the ps2 at 600 anymore, they will drop the price. And it's inevitable that they won't sell at 600 forever. - glooper23, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Me USA: PS3 will be "difficult to cost afford"
- topbravo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1FUD
This is marketing 101 here.... this should not be news - epicdigg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I hear all this rant about stores being flooded with PS3s around the US on digg, so can anyone of you
tell me where to find one in Orlando ? :) I can`t seem to be able to find one.. :( - stray, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1When Sony is losing ~$300 on each 60GB unit sold, it's pretty hard to justify a price drop.
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