Sony PSP - Pricing Hints Emerge?

Thanks to MCV for their interview with Sony Europe boss Chris Deering, in which it's mentioned again that Sony's PSP handheld "will be launched across the world in the final quarter of 2004." But Deering also talks price, suggesting that the PSP would launch at "closer to 200UKP [369USD] than 300UKP [554USD]" in England. Meanwhile, a Gamesindustry.biz article takes note of "information from Japanese retail sources earlier this week, who told us that a price point around 50,000 Yen [448USD], was being bandied about in Tokyo." Recent exchange-rate changes complicate U.S. launch pricing estimates, though - the PSP will likely launch at less than those raw dollar conversion rates Stateside, but is not intended to be a hardware loss-leader for Sony, with Deering suggesting: "The feeling is that this product should generate profit on hardware alone. We want to make it affordable for publishers to produce a wide range of entertainment and so [Sony-payable] royalties [on software produced for the PSP] will be lower down in the mix this time round."

Comments

Handheld Pricing

[MBCook]

So, what will I buy (price wise)? Let's take a look:

• $0 to $50 - I'll grab it, what's to lose?
• $50 to $100 - I'll look a little harder, but still great
• $100 to $150 - OK, this will take some considering
• $150 to $200 - It better be one hell of a product
• $200 to $250 - And it should include 2 games
• $250 to $350 - And a Gameboy
• $350 to $500 - And a PS 1
• $500 to... - And a girlfirend

I trust Sony a LOT, and I do intend to buy a PSP when they come out, but it costs anything more than $200 they're idiots. You can get a brand new GBA for $60. One of the reasons that many people get GBAs for their kids is that they are $60. Who would buy their 10 year old a $300 portable game system? I wouldn't trust one with something that expensive. If they're smart it will price at about $150, $200 if it includes a good game or two. Anything more than $200 is shooting themselves in the foot.

Of course this is all speculation. Currency conversion, taxes (like I assume VAT is included in the European prices?), and such all factor into the numbers posted in the article. p But in closing, it's one thing to pay $300 for a console, but something like a handheld that can get scratched/lost/soaked in a puddle/stolen/run over with a car/etc. the chances of getting people to pay $300 or more is PATHETIC.