PS3 Prices in Europe Revealed
fistfullast33l writes "Ars Technica is reporting that the VP of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe revealed pricing for the Playstation 3 on a French radio show today. From the article: 'Strict currency translation suggests that American pricing may be in the range of US $605 to $726, but currency exchange alone can't tell the story. Case in point: the Xbox 360. In the United States, the Xbox 360 retails for $399, which is only 320 [euros] in exchange. Yet the Xbox 360 is priced at 399 [euros] throughout most of Europe.' The article goes on to speculate that 'the days of multi-console ownership may be coming to an end for many gamers' based on the Xbox 360 and the PS3 prices."
The same is true of Blu-Ray as a whole. Numbers like $1000 and $1500 for simple players have been thrown around.
Either Sony bite a very big bullet and swallow hundreds of dollars in cost (which they probably are already at $599), or accept that it would be a minority console for several years until prices could fall - giving XBox 360, Revolution and HD-DVD a massive headstart.
Maybe this will be a nail in the coffin of Sony. I can't see any easy route out for them that will be acceptable to the stockmarket. Maybe they will be worth more in bits and someone will force that on them?
This, of course, is really bad for sony with it's apparently much higher price, lateness to the game, and DRM shenanigans. The only way for the PS3 to come out a winner is because of anti-microsoft mentalities, sony fanboyism, or a really killer exclusive title. One of the big reasons Sony came to the forefront of consoles is because it effectively stole the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises away from Nintendo. Unless they can invent a breakthrough franchise a-la GTA or Halo that will be exclusive to them, they're essentially dead in the water.
Nintendo, on the other hand, has essentially re-invented the console for the Revolution. Not only is the controller revolutionary, but also the game distribution and game compatability platforms. The idea that I can buy one console, play both new games and old games, and not even have to go to the store to buy many of the games is going to put both the Xbox 360 and PS3 to shame. Because of this Nintendo doesn't compete directly with Sony or Microsoft.
Nintendo has more exclusive franchises, more backwards compatability, and will cost less. Even when you compare the 360 and PS3 directly Nintendo comes out ahead. Screw polygon count and cpu speed; give me my Revolution.
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Suddenly the inclusion of Blu-Ray doesn't seem like such a great idea. I know I'll be thinking twice when I look at the price tag and realize that a lot of that will go to recoup the loss on the drive and not towards gaming goodness which is primarily what I will buy the console for.
Twinstiq, game news
No way in hell. When was the last time a console came with everything you need including a game? Not since the SNES.
If the PS3 costs $499 you won't walk out of the store with out buying all of the same shit you have to buy for the Xbox 360 and you know it.
You won't walk out that door with out spending atleast $600+(console + game + tax) or $700+ for some basic shit and a game.
I don't think it's Sonys fault though.
Gamers think they NEED the most bad ass specs on the planet to have a good console. HD + 60+gig HDD + 3+ CPU/Cores running at insane speeds + Shit loads of Memory + NIC/WiFi + Some format of disc that is beyond DVD (Blu-Ray) and they want it all for under $400. Just listen to the way the fanboys talk shit about Nintendo. They act like the lack of HD is going to kill the revolution the same way the lack of online play killed the GameCube...... BUT WAIT online play had nothing to do with the GameCube. Not even a small percentage of people had xbox live and even less played PS2 online so uhhhh yeah.. Fanboys don't know SHIT about what they are talking about.
It's pure retardation.
Even if the PS3 costed what the Xbox costs to produce I doubt Sony could afford to charge $400 like MS does. Microsoft has a lot more extra cash to spare than the half broke mofos that be Sony. Seriously can Sony take that kind of hit for each console sold? And since the cost and time to develop games will be so much higher than last gen there we be much fewer games released which means much less profit in a much longer period of time.
Sony better pray for the best and hope their millions and millions and millions of fanboys (or is that just millions x 3 consoles each because of crap quality causing us ALL to buy 3 or 4 ps2's each.. I've owned 3 personally how about you?) are rich enough to afford this shit.
(mod this as a troll if you like because im drunk AND stuck at work all night because my roommate "doesn't feel like driving 10 mins to pick me up" -- that lazy pile of SHIT -- and my car is in impound until tomorrow..... grrrrr)