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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."
The PS3 may launch in Europe but unless they get the supply issues resolved it is unlikely that any europeans will be able to get their hands on one.
On a side note, I noticed a store near work had several PS3 systems for sale and (after the initial surprise wore off) asked the clerk about them; he said that he expected the systems to stay there for awhile because no one has inquired about the PS3 for a couple of weeks. I wonder whether people who want a PS3 have simply "given-up" looking for one until they know supplies are more abundant.
Not on;y that, but they don't even need a defense. With many of the nastier things they've done lately they haven't even offered one. I think you'd need to be quite naive to trust Sony at this point.
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It also sounds like they're saying that they'll let you sign up for a username (fir a fee I would imagine) to give them a little more hold over you if they're late with their release. Maybe I'm just paranoid
Speaking with some EB games guys last night (as I traded in my Red Steel Wii game and miraculously found 1 of 2 nunchuk attachments I still need) it seems the PS3's price tag is keeping the PS3 from 'flying' off store shelves (though, my city is slightly lower income than the average, I would bet). From the the EB manager said... "The PS3 has been selling slower than expected, but we've been getting in shipments constantly. It takes take a day or two to sell out our shipment.".
My next question naturally moved into how the Wii shipments where going and he replied... "We just cannot keep those in the store. We have people calling constantly to check for more shipments."
I also asked about the Xbox360 which the manager explained that he did not see any drastic change in sales due to PS3/Wii shortages, but added that he would definitely buy a 360 over a PS3 given the price points and multi-platform launches for the PS3/360.
It won't be long and soon the US will have a surplus of PS3's which we'll just ship over to the EU. hehe I admit, I was a little surprised to here the PS3's taking a couple days to sell out, but with a lower income community, it might explain things better. That and the proximity to the Xmas holiday probably slows down such big-ticket premium items as most shoppings have already started maxing out their credit.
Cheers,
Fozzy
"The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." ~1984 George Orwell