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EU Gamers Reassured by PS3 Preparations
European gamers have been feeling a might edgy of late; rumors have been circulating that the PS3 will be pushed even further out into 2007 ... possible to September. People put off by those comments were reassured this past weekend, when Sony sent around an email letting everyone know they could register for their online IDs with the PlayStation Network. The Guardian post that describes this development also links to a post on the Three Speech site, a Sony marketing blog. The site has posted more tidbits about the European launch, and assures eager gamers that they'll see the console launch in the early weeks of March 2007. From that post: "In terms of the European online store, while still being extremely vague, a spokesman for SCE Europe was able to explain that Sony would have no defense if they were to charge the European consumer more than in other regions as there are no extra costs on digital distribution as apposed to a product with packaging etc. So expect a $15.00 download to cost people in the UK around £6.50."
Here in Canada, PS3's have been spotted on the shelves at Walmart, and Best Buy ... no line-ups to be seen. Still can't get a Wii though. I had a on-line order confirmed at Toys'R'Us, but it was cancelled, and the the units are being sold in-store. The Better Business Bureua and some local newspapers, and Nintendo will be advised accordingly. That's the sort of behaviour I'd expect to see with a Sony product, not Nintendo.
Here in NYC you can't find a PS3 or a Wii anywhere that I know of. Every store has a sign stating so in the front window and asking about it will only give you looks as though you're from Mars. Most of the stores are reporting online that things such as the SIXAXIS controller are out of stock. www.jr.com says they're out of stock but I just went to the store today and they have about 10 or so left (I bought three myself), so I think they're putting a priority on in-store demand. Also, the DS selection is horrible - I couldn't find BrainAge or MarioKart in the store at all. Surprisingly most people were buying PS2 games - it was kind of funny actually. I saw a lot of DDR and Guitar Hero packs in people's hands as I think they were having a sale on them.
I bet in the more rural areas it's easier to find the PS3 as people probably don't have as much money to throw around. The PS3 is still going for well above retail on Ebay so I doubt very much that there's a much lower demand than reported.
The PS3 is still going for well above retail on Ebay so I doubt very much that there's a much lower demand than reported.
Actually, if you check out eBay most PS3 systems are not going for dramatically over the retail price ($100-$200 about MSRP typically http://search.ebay.com/PS3_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8 ) which is why I didn't buy a PS3 to eBay it; I'm not trying to bash the PS3 or anything, but the days of the PS3 'selling' for $1500 on eBay are long gone.
I bet in the more rural areas it's easier to find the PS3 as people probably don't have as much money to throw around.
I live in a pretty wealthy city which is full of oil executives with more money then sense so I don't think it is really a matter of money. Personally, I suspect that most people who were desperately looking for a PS3 called up every store from the launch (Nov 17th) until early December and heard a clerk say "We don't have any PS3 systems in stock, we don't know when we will have a shipment and are not expecting a steady supply until after christmas." At that point I suspect that anyone (with any sense) would probably give up and wait until January/February to pick one up; if they were looking for a Christmas gift for their family they probably decided on something else; being so close to Christmas I expect that there are few people who will impulse buy a $600 videogame system.