CNN On The $500 PS3
Chris Morris reports in CNN's Game Over column that analysts have pegged the price point for the PS3 at $500. Despite the high price, you're getting a lot of tech for your buck. From the article: "The strongest argument behind the $499 price point is the PS3's inclusion of a Blu-Ray drive. This bleeding edge technology will give Sony significant bragging rights, but it comes at a cost. Pioneer last week at the Consumer Electronics Show unveiled a standalone Blu-Ray player for $1,800. Obviously, Pioneer's earning some profit there - and Sony will almost certainly subsidize the cost of the drives, but you're still looking at an expensive bit of hardware. The PS3 will also feature other pricey items, such as a hard drive, the Cell processor and a new graphics chip from nVidia."
I dunno about the rest of the world, but when the PS2 was release, HORDES OF MORONS that weren't even hardcore gamers (even saw parents when this was on the news - yes, on the evening news!) lined up to buy the 3,000 francs console. Let's divide by 6, bingo, about 500 bucks or euros, give or take a few.
You guys are either naïve or forgetful. I predict the PS3 will come out at whatever price Sony wants it to be, and it will sell like hotcakes because it appeals to the lowest common denomiator. Why would they fix a business model that isn't broken?
Anyway, enjoy your DRM.