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Sony Drops Platinum Title Cost
Eurogamer has the news that Sony has lowered prices on Platinum titles. Selections such as Eye Toy Play 2 and Jak 3 will now retail for about a third less, or roughly $US 34.95. From the article: "The news is set to allow retailers to enjoy a bumper summer at a time when the supply of quality new releases has all but dried up - and consumers will be able to sample a huge range of titles at prices that won't break the bank."
I don't see any mention of the prices in the US. In fact, the article is about european prices.
The article assumes you know about UK games prices, ranges etc., so if you don't know, here's some information other people have probably already posted whilst I dither over this message:
PlayStation Platinum is the European equivelant of PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits. They used to retail for £19.99ish (~$35) in the UK. (Xbox has Xbox Classics, GameCube has Player's Choice for their budget ranges, all usually at £20ish).
Full games usually have an RRP of £40 (~$70), but as the article states, are often found cheaper nowadays, although they're usually slightly above £30 (~$50).
£15 is nearer $25 than $35, but exchange rates fluctuate.
There are of course various offers and stuff, budget priced games (whever in a budget range or not) are often in 2 for £30 offers and stuff.
Yes, living in Europe sucks if you like videogames. We usually have to wait until last to pay the most for them.
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Here's a link to Sony's Greatest Hits games... I don't know if it's the same as the UK Platinum games, but I doubt they're too dissimilar.
"I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
-Hoban Washburn
It sounds like Sony is just adding a few more titles to the Platinum series of games. In the US these are called Greatest Hits and retail for $20. Expect Jax 3 to hit these price. I'm not sure about Eyetoy Play 2 over here. The Eyetoy has done extremely well in Europe, but hasn't caught on in the US.
I'd go as far to say that MS views the Xbox as a failure, and that's why their so eager to jump ahead into the next generation.
But in some respects, Microsoft did far better with the Xbox than they were expecting. Several pieces of the Xbox empire (like Xbox Live) have done tremendously. Launching the first global online console gaming platform is no small feat. Microsoft knew that they were in for a tough fight. Their worst-case scenario would have been "get eaten alive by Sony" - and that didn't happen (although it came close in Japan - Japan is a tiny market).
As for Nintendo, they're always a wild card
True, but that means they don't have a focus. Nintendo's street image is "handhelds for kids". Their Gameboy and DS are doing too well to allow them to win on the console front. Companies can only push one type of product at a time - otherwise their products compete against each other, the marketing message turns muddy and people stop listening.
(This muddying of the message is partly how the Nintendo 64 came unseated by it's own Gameboy - and is now Sony's problem. For Sony fans, the PSP is far more exciting than the PS2 - yet true fans of handhelds are more interested in Nintendo's DS as they already had a Gameboy.)
(And this is also why car manufacturers often have several brands to help them sell different products to different markets. Even Toyota's done it with their Scion and Lexus brands that have laser focus on markets (in this case: gen-Y'ers and luxury) that would normally exclude Toyota).
The only way I can forsee myself buying another Nintendo product is if it really is light years ahead of anything else.
Still, it'll be interesting to see what happens next.