PSP to Miss EU Launch Date

GamesIndustry.biz has the news that just one day after announcing the U.S. launch date for the PSP, the European launch of the PSP may not happen until after the first quarter. From the article: "Speaking with the news service, Sony's Kenichi Fukunaga admitted that the firm cannot manufacture enough of the devices to satisfy demand in all three major markets - which has pushed the schedule for the European launch back."

Comments

No suprise

[pikakilla]

This is no big suprise. With sony losing 200 dollars per unit (it costs 400 dollars to make), and with the US release date around the corner, it isnt that big of a suprise that the eu date is off.

Re:No suprise

[SetupWeasel]

$400 is an analyst figure, but let's put it this way: Sony is losing enough that they don't want to let their investors find out how much.

Gah!

[PerspexAvenger]

This is starting to get old.
Anyone care to explain why Europe tends to be the second-class citizen for practically all tech releases?

*miffed*

Imports?

[White Roses]

Since there are a few PSP Japan imports floating around the US, what's to stop EU consumers from doing the same?

Re:Imports?

[Firehawke]

That's it entirely. Japan is treated first-class since it comes from there. The US is a large market but not as big as Japan, so it's second-class (doesn't help that the US division of Sony in particular has its head so far up its ass-- 3D gaming only bias, anyone?), however..

Europe not only needs multiple languages in localization but frequently massive cuts need to be made due to anti-violence laws that aren't uniform across Europe as compared to a single set of laws for the US (Contra to Probotector changes, anyone?) and for consoles there's the whole reformatting to PAL issue.. localization for Europe is considerably tougher than for the US. While the PAL thing doesn't count for a handheld, it's the overall "Japan first, US won't take so long, but Europe will be slow going" mindset.

I won't be surprised if the US launch date slips for having difficulty producing enough hardware. Not sure if I'm going to be in line for one or not, but I'll probably wait until the initial warfare dies off and it's easier to get one in the stores if I get one at all-- or possibly even wait for the second revision since I've had *really* bad luck with first rev Sony hardware to date.

Same old Sony.

[r00td43m0n]

I'm not surprised they pushed it back because they're in short supply. Sony had this issue with the PSX and the PS2, so it's nothing new. There are always two things you can count on with a new Sony game console release: 1) It will be in short supply 2) It will have one or more serious flaws.

Dollar vs. Euro?

[Not-a-Neg]

With the current low dollar value, wouldn't it be cheaper for Europeans to buy their PSPs from the US anyway? If you're pissed, just get someone in the states, or an import shop near you, to pre-order all of ours for yourselves! Personally, I'm waiting for the inevitable $50+ price drop that'll probably come in the summer or winter of 2006, and picking up an XBOX and/or PS2 this year to tide me over until the next-gen consoles drop in price as well.

Re:Dollar vs. Euro?

[Wirr]

With the current low dollar value, wouldn't it be cheaper for Europeans to buy their PSPs from the US anyway?

Theoretically yes. But first there is the arrogance of American companies which seem to think that shipping to Europe is not worth the hassle (e.g. Amazon - we can order books from them though) and then there is customs and VAT.
It's much easier for me to order from an Asian specialist like Lik-Sang, which is what I actually did, after hearing that the European release is delayed.

BTW: Does anyone know if it's possible to get the 'Good Eats' DVDs in Germany ???

Re:Dont forget also...

[DrSkwid]

you missed the real difference