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PS3 European Launch 23 March, $835

Posted by Zonk on from the better-late-than-never dept.

Andy_R writes "Sony has finally committed themselves to a European launch date for the PS3, after disappointing European fans by not having the promised worldwide simultaneous launch, then missing the lucrative Christmas period. The BBC is reporting that the console will arrive on the 23rd of March. EU fans will only be getting the 60Gb version at first, and it will be priced at 599 Euros or 425 pounds in Britain. At today's exchange rates, that's US$ 835.99! From the article: 'A problem manufacturing blue diodes, used in high-definition Blu-ray disc drives, forced the Japanese firm to announce another delay but only for European customers. Sony said the decision was made because Europe was logistically the most complex market for distribution."

86 comments

  1. At last by djb6 · · Score: 0

    I am sure that I am not to only one to express this sentiment. Why is Europe always the last region to get games/consoles?

    1. Re:At last by MemoryDragon · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Dont worry too much, not too many people will buy it at that price anyway ;-) It does not matter when it will be released, because it is out of christmas and hollywood season, and it is too expensive. Add to that the fact that hdtv has not such a big impact here than it has in the USA, so blue ray is a non argument for a lot of people.

    2. Re:At last by pasamio · · Score: 3, Informative

      At least you have it announced, it still remains to be announced in Australia. I've seen two PS3's in Australia and both of them were running Linux at Linux.conf.au 2007 (from the Yellow Dog Linux guys, so I don't think they were local). So to answer your question? It isn't. I can understand localization issues in parts of Europe might cause delays but for Australia were technically its British English but due to the absolute raping that occured during our early TV development where the US TV producers firmly established their foothold in Australia (to the point that easily 50% or more commercial TV in Australia is American; the Australian Broadcasting Commission's Radio National weekly 'The Science Show' covered this in one of its broadcasts on TV in Australia), American English would be accepted normally without a second thought. I'd almost suggest it'd be easier to ship the PS3 from Japan to Australia than it would to get it from Japan to the UK - especially via boat.

      --
      I always wondered where this setting was...
    3. Re:At last by Darkfred · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Technically with the minimum 15%-20% VAT tax (always included in price) that is nearly the same as the US price ($600-700) depending on VAT. Of course they aren't flying off the shelves here in the US.

      --
      ----- 70% of all statistics are completely made up.
    4. Re:At last by zoney_ie · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Or even 21% VAT here in Ireland, where unfortunately we don't quite have pots of gold despite all the tall tales.

      The bigger question is what the package deals will be priced at. Even now you would be hard pushed to get a decent Xbox 360 full package (HDD etc.) with a game or two for much less than €500. Unsurprisingly, although there are buyers, it's not a must-have item that everyone is going for.

      The one thing that people have been going for like rabid ferrets is the DS lite, those sold out again a couple of times before Christmas - esp. the black ones. In fact, the prices are now far higher than back in late Autumn - profiteering shops.

      Getting consumer items in Ireland can be expensive too because of moron distributors insisting on routing things through the UK, despite our using the euro here. Generally this costs more as there are more agents who have to take a cut. Also UK companies have a belittling attitude to Ireland and seem to regard it as an annoying exception - heck, half of them even have problems sending stuff in their own country to Scotland or Northern Ireland, or even odder places like, oh no, Channel Islands (OK so technically that last place isn't in the EU).

      NOTE: WHEN WILL SLASHDOT ALLOW EURO SYMBOL DIRECTLY TYPED INTO POSTS?! ARGH!

      --
      -- *~()____) This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds...
    5. Re:At last by animaal · · Score: 1

      I've often wondered about advertised prices in the US. Why is it the pre-tax price that is shown to the consumer? Surely the consumer needs to know the total amount of cash they have to hand over, rather than the amount the vendor will have after passing the tax portion on the the government.

      Is there some reasoning I'm missing?

    6. Re:At last by xianfa · · Score: 2, Informative

      Is there some reasoning I'm missing?

      The reason is simple. Every State in the US has a different sales tax rate.

      --
      The greatest good of man is daily to converse about virtue - Socrates
    7. Re:At last by Moochman · · Score: 1

      Yes. There's something big you're missing. It's the fact that THERE IS NO VALUE ADDED TAX in America.

      There's just a sales tax of 6-10% varying state to state (with the exceptions of Oregon and Delaware, where there's also no sales tax. Also, in many states groceries are exempt from said sales tax).

      Anyway, lesson being: If you ever visit America, buy your electronics there. They're WAY cheaper, especially consider the RIDICULOUS EXCHANGE RATE that Europeans now enjoy.

      (I'm currently studying in Europe, but my parents are funding me from America. Which ROYALLY SUCKS from our financial perspective (basically since the Euro here gets you about as far as a dollar does in America, it's like there's a blanket 30% tax on everything).)

    8. Re:At last by edwdig · · Score: 1

      In the US, taxes vary completely from state to state. Some states break it down further, and have different taxes per county. New York City adds its own taxes onto the state taxes. New Jersey cuts the sales tax in crappy areas, in an effort to encourage people to spend their money there and bring more money into the local economy. Other states have other oddities.

      Also, what's taxed varies from state to state. In New Jersey, prepared foods are taxed, but unprepared foods are not. This gets some weird corner cases - if you buy a Snapple bottle from a refrigerator you pay tax on it, but not if you buy one off a shelf.

      In short, US sales taxes are even more complicated than income taxes. It's not as well known because most people don't have to deal with more than a couple different tax zones with any regularity.

    9. Re:At last by ZzzzSleep · · Score: 1

      March 23.
      $999 AUD for 60GB
      See http://blogs.theage.com.au/screenplay/archives//00 4857.html

      --
      Emerald Astrology
  2. Good plan Sony! by KDR_11k · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Delay for months, don't sell the version most people wanted to buy and thereby put yourself 200€ over the closest competition (unless you count the MacMini which is more expensive than a PS3). Sony's statement? "Europeans are used to waiting". Gee, thanks for demonstrating that you're not going to do something about that like your two competitors have done (360 and Wii were released less than a month after their US release). Next thing you know SCEE is wondering why we don't buy any PS3s.

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    1. Re:Good plan Sony! by moranar · · Score: 1

      Has to be said, here the Mac mini (basic) is 619,00 euro, just 20 euros more. The superdrive model comes at 799,00 euro. And you can usually get them for less at sales (last Christmas, I believe a big shop in Italy was selling the basic model for 550 euros or so).

      --
      "I think it would be a good idea!"
      Gandhi, about Internet Security
    2. Re:Good plan Sony! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      PS3 £425
      Mac Mini £399

    3. Re:Good plan Sony! by DrEldarion · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Uh, the version most people want to buy is the 60GB, unless Europe's market is radically different from the US's... The 20GBs were a LOT harder to unload than the 60GB ones were (from what I saw with eBay), and were easily available far before you could get a 60GB.

    4. Re:Good plan Sony! by Threni · · Score: 1

      > Has to be said, here the Mac mini (basic) is 619,00 euro, just 20 euros more.

      Yes, but then you'd have a Mac mini, and not a PS3, so you'd not be able to play any PS3 games. Actually, I'm not at all sure what I'd do with a Mac mini. I'd probably hide it when friends game over for a gaming session, to prevent any embarrassing questions.

    5. Re:Good plan Sony! by moranar · · Score: 1

      You obviously didn't read the parent comment.

      --
      "I think it would be a good idea!"
      Gandhi, about Internet Security
  3. Rip-off Britain by Don_dumb · · Score: 1

    Cue endless complaints about "Rip-off Britain" and high (after tax) prices. Made by people who then still go out and pay those excessive prices, thereby exacerbating the problem. If we didn't buy goods at those inflated prices, we wouldn't have to pay those inflated prices.
    After all, it is our right to buy goods from continental Europe if they are cheaper there.

    --
    If this were really happening, what would you think?
    1. Re:Rip-off Britain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      425 quid isn't much if you live in the UK. The current exchange rate is irrelevant unless you are buying a UK model with USD. Your other problem is comparing pre-tax US prices with post 17.5% VAT ones. Add that to the US price and you're over $700.

      However, I fully agree with your message. If you want prices to drop, don't buy artificially inflated priced product. But we all know that isn't going to happen. There's a reason the car manufacturers refer to Britain as the "golden island".

    2. Re:Rip-off Britain by AKAImBatman · · Score: 4, Informative
      Your other problem is comparing pre-tax US prices with post 17.5% VAT ones

      Mod parent up. The reason why European prices are often higher is not because they're being sold at significantly higher prices. It's because the high tax rates (VAT - Value Added Tax) are computed into the price of the goods rather than rung up separately at the time of purchase. Many Europeans actually prefer this situation as something that costs 200 pounds/euros will still cost 200 pounds/euros at the register. Here in the US we have to calculate the taxes before arriving at the price we'll pay at the register.
      --
      Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
    3. Re:Rip-off Britain by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      However the markup is usually the difference of value between one Euro and one US Dollar for the systems and even bigger for games (console games cost 60€ normally, add ten for those that cost 60$ in the US). That's a 30% markup for continental Europe (on hardware) whereas the VAT is somewhere between 15 and 20%. It's a 56% markup for games. Especially that latter bit is infuriating since PC games don't even have a markup that makes up for the tax (most cost around 45€ which wasn't much more than 50$ until recently).

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    4. Re:Rip-off Britain by robaal · · Score: 1

      btw. we also usually get both - netto and brutto - prices for the product on price tags/price lists, so it's not like we lose anything, unless you aks for the price, and in that case I don't see why you would care for the one before tax...

    5. Re:Rip-off Britain by RyoShin · · Score: 3, Informative

      I also like the idea of including taxes in posted prices; it makes calculating things much easier, especially across state lines and even cities where taxes can vary.

      Even so, the PS3 is still more expensive in the EU. Assuming a 10% tax rate in the U.S (which is higher than most places), you're looking at $660 total for a PS3, still far less than what it is in the EU after exchange.

    6. Re:Rip-off Britain by AKAImBatman · · Score: 1
      Assuming a 10% tax rate in the U.S (which is higher than most places), you're looking at $660 total for a PS3, still far less than what it is in the EU after exchange.

      VAT runs a LOT higher than 10%. It's a unified tax structure that pays for all the health care, schools, and social programs. Several countries have VATs as high as 20% or more.

      Here's a list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAT#VAT_Rates
      --
      Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
    7. Re:Rip-off Britain by RyoShin · · Score: 1

      Sorry about that, I meant higher than in most places within the U.S.. Sales tax ranges from state to state, and even then from county to county and city to city, with local governments taking on a percent here or there to cover local expenses.

      Don't worry, I know that the poor Europeans have a much higher tax bracket than anyone in the states. :)

    8. Re:Rip-off Britain by Moochman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "The current exchange rate is irrelevant...."

      Haha, right now I would be laughing my ass off except it's just too sad. The exchange rate may be irrelevant to you, Mr. I-Spend-$15-on-a-Fish-and-Chips-Every-Day, but for Americans who might want to visit or study in England, it's as if half of our life savings just became worthless. (2:1 exchange rate)

      America really does seem to be becoming a 3rd-world country in the world marketplace. I don't like to think about what will happen when the next depression sets in....

      Oh well. At least there's another excuse for Americans not to leave their own country. :-P

    9. Re:Rip-off Britain by PeelBoy · · Score: 1

      Even after VAT the console price is over $100 more expensive than the US price.

    10. Re:Rip-off Britain by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 2, Insightful
      I also like the idea of including taxes in posted prices


      I don't - the tax is not something that you are paying to the retailer, it is something that you are paying to the state. If the government is going to force businesses to take my money on its behalf, it should at least be clear that the government's take is not part of the price from the retailer's perspective.
    11. Re:Rip-off Britain by antiseptic_poetry · · Score: 1

      Don't worry, I know that the poor Europeans have a much higher tax bracket than anyone in the states. :)

      But we also have free education and healthcare. :))

      I'd rather pay a little extra for goods to get those benefits..

  4. Ouch! by iainl · · Score: 1

    That's a BIG price. Really, realy big. Wii60 big (Premium XBox 360 plus a copy of PGR3 is £250, Wii is £180, but what's a fiver at that price?)

    But we expected this. What I really don't understand is why Sony hate the 20Gb model so much? Many of us (most?) don't have any call for the extra features of the 60Gb (drives are swappable, 20Gb is big enough anyway, memory stick readers are about £15 in the unlikely event of us not already having one but needing it, and the wireless is a bit pointless if your Cable Box lives under the telly next to the PS3). Those ignored stockpiles you always hear about in US stores always seem to be 60Gb ones, too.

    Have Sony made a mistake by making too many 60Gb ones at the expense of the 20Gb?

    --
    "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    1. Re:Ouch! by Fozzyuw · · Score: 1
      Many of us (most?) don't have any call for the extra features of the 60Gb

      I wouldn't overlook the benefit of the 60GB version vs the 20GB. Wi-Fi is quite important. Maybe your cable box is near your PS3 now, but will it be in 1 year? 2 years? The entire life of the PS3? What if Wi-Fi costs drop and quality skyrockets. Some cities are giving free Wi-Fi already. You might regret not having Wi-Fi at that point.

      Further, 20GB is not much. This generation of gaming isn't about 'saved games' anymore. It's going the way of the PC. Free downloads and add-ons will be available online for your games, all of which will have to be stored on your hard-drive.

      Can you predict what Sony will offer online? Maybe they'll offer a free promotional movie download. Free game downloads. Once you have 10 of your favorite PSOne games downloaded, maybe a PS2 game or 2 if they start allowing those for download, maybe some 3rd party, download only games. That demo game you just downloaded that took 2-3GB of space on your hard drive might have to go... even if you're enjoying playing.

      Point be said, your 20GB will likely fill up fast if you plan on using the PS3 for what it's worth. You're not going to enjoy swapping hard drives all the time, or spending MORE to get a 60GB drive when you could have spent less if you bought it from the start.

      One thing is true, UK does get screwed in prices a lot. =(

      Cheers,
      Fozzy

      --
      "The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." ~1984 George Orwell
    2. Re:Ouch! by iainl · · Score: 1

      I don't anticipate any PS3 I buy moving terribly far from my XBox 360, put it that way. So either they will both stay wired, or I'm going to need my wireless router to act as a wireless-to-wired station anyway.

      Right now, the 20Gb drive in my XBox 360 works just fine (around 10Gb free, actually). If I need more in the PS3 over time, I very much doubt that 60Gb will be enough either, so I'm looking at upgrading the drive to a couple of hundred Gb either way.

      The PS3 is an excellent media station, I agree. But one that works with network streaming, USB drives and files-on-a-DVD as well.

      Oh, and it's very unlikely I'll ever find 10 PS1 games I want to download. PS1 games fall into two categories, really. Those I enjoyed playing enough to keep them and drag out for nostalgia fun, and those who I've no intention of ever playing again. There are a few 'classics' I missed, like Castlevania, but not very many.

      --
      "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    3. Re:Ouch! by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      I think the point is that the additions of the 600€ one aren't worth those 100€. People don't want to pay that much more for minor features while Sony doesn't pay much more to make a 60GB model over a 20GB one so a 60GB PS3 is more profitable.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    4. Re:Ouch! by KDR_11k · · Score: 2, Insightful

      WiFi bridges that get connected to the network port. Those were available for the last gen consoles for much less than 100€ and should work on a PS3, too.

      You can get a 60GB (2.5") HDD for 50€ already and bigger ones for only slightly more. You'd spend the same on a 120GB HDD whether you already have a 60GB one or just a 20GB.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  5. American Dollars? by delire · · Score: 1, Informative

    To make the data a little more meaningful to Europeans: 835.00 USD = 643.790 EUR.

    Source.

    1. Re:American Dollars? by Seraphim1982 · · Score: 1

      The price in Euros was in the summary. How is stating it again more meaningful to Europeans?

    2. Re:American Dollars? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since the price in the UK is more than the price in europe. Note that the Pound to EUR conversion was more than the price quoted in EUR in the summary.

    3. Re:American Dollars? by ironwill96 · · Score: 1

      Apparently some /.'ers don't even read the article summaries anymore! RTFAS?

      --
      "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." - Tennyson
    4. Re:American Dollars? by Maxwell · · Score: 3, Informative

      The Us dollar is at record lows w.r.t to the Euro. You can't use Todays spot exchange rate to get a real idea of cost/valu. The reailty is the US dollar does not buy as much in the last few years. Lately, everything looks very expensive when converted to USD!

      In canada, The PS3 60G is listed at $699 at best buy (sold out, of course). Here in Ontario we add the 14% vat/sales tax to that to get a total of $796CDN. In Europe, the VAT is usually included in the price, so a 600 Euro works out to around $900CDN with tax. So there is about a $100 higher price in Europe, not the 200-300 difference the article header would imply. For the additional complexity of serving all those country standards (what, 9 different power cords?) that is not unreasonable.

      I apologize for being rational.

      JON

      http://www.forexblog.org/2006/06/usd_near_oneyea.h tml

    5. Re:American Dollars? by Chris_Jefferson · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, it's perfectly acceptable to compare the prices in GBP against the price in dollars, for two reasons.

      1) Most (all?) of the PS3 isn't made in America, so the price should be the same once they are imported.
      2) If Sony wasn't such a git, if I wanted one I could just import one from America at America's prices, which would force Sony to make them the same price in all countries (except sales / import tax obviously).

      --
      Combination - fun iPhone puzzling
    6. Re:American Dollars? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      So there is about a $100 higher price in Europe, not the 200-300 difference the article header would imply. For the additional complexity of serving all those country standards (what, 9 different power cords?) that is not unreasonable.

      100$ for a powercord? You $'s must have devaluated quite a lot while I wasn't looking :P

      Seriously, You mention 14% sales tax, and that looks low to me, think around 20% VAT in Europe (it depends). That will account for a lot of the difference...
    7. Re:American Dollars? by Bert64 · · Score: 1

      9 different power cords, but it's not like you get all 9 with each machine.
      And it's only one end of the power cord that needs to change anyway. $100 so they can take away the american power cord and replace it with a european one that cost exactly the same to produce? ridiculous.

      --
      http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
    8. Re:American Dollars? by masklinn · · Score: 1

      European VATs range from around 15% to above 20% (22% or so, I think)

      --
      "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
    9. Re:American Dollars? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All the major mainland European countries use the same power cord plug and voltage. I don't know about Scandinavia or eastern Europe but I know that they can hit Germany/France/Italy/Spain and some smaller western European countries with the same power system. That's basically all the populous and rich bits of Europe where people actually buy games. The UK is the exception, using different plugs and a slightly higher voltage, though all electronics equipment nowadays is rated for the entire 220-240V range which covers both and a simple 5-Euro prong adaptor (just a bit of metal and plastic) fixes the form factor of the plugs.

      The extra complexity lies in translating the interface and games into various languages.

  6. Y'all could have had it earlier by UbuntuDupe · · Score: 1

    I tried to scalp a PS3 on ebay (from Texas). Where were the bids from England? Do you guys not have Dec. 25th?

    --
    Apology to Ubuntu forum.
    1. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by The_Mr_Flibble · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nope, we canceled it due to a government cutback.
      And they still raised taxes.

    2. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Well, let's see here.
      • NTSC vs PAL - if we bought your ps3, we'd have to import a tv as well.
      • 110V vs 220V - and we'd have to figure out a way to power it.
    3. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We were all busy enjoying our 360s and Wiis.

      I predict that by the end of this year, the PS3 section in GAME will be as tiny as the PSP one is (although I guess they will be fighting each other to stay out of the "difficult to get to" corner at the back where the PSP games live).

    4. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NTSC vs PAL - if we bought your ps3, we'd have to import a tv as well.

      Only if you're hooking it up to a SD TV -- and if you have the money to burn on a PS3, why would you do that? 1080i is 1080i, no matter where you are.

      110V vs 220V - and we'd have to figure out a way to power it.

      Walk down to your corner electronics shop and buy a converter? The travel section of your local supermarket would likely have one, as well. They're very common.

    5. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by TeknoHog · · Score: 2, Informative
      From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ps3
      "All current PS3 power supplies are Universal 100V-240V/50-60 Hz and will work worldwide"
      Plus, as the other post already pointed out, PAL/NTSC difference only applies to plain old TV signals.
      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    6. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Walk down to your corner electronics shop and buy a converter? The travel section of your local supermarket would likely have one, as well. They're very common.

      And promptly burn it out, travel converters aren't designed to handle sustained load like that. They're meant to power your shaver, or phone charger. A converter that can handle your electronics is significantly bulkier (think home-use UPS sized) and more expensive. I used to own one for my imported quadra, but sadly it didn't survive the last move. So, sure converters exist, but please don't advice people to create a fire hazard like that.

    7. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      NTSC vs PAL - if we bought your ps3, we'd have to import a tv as well.

      It's been a long time since I've seen a worthwhile TV that can't handle an NTSC signal. I don't imagine anyone buying a PS3 on ebay and importing it is going to scrimp on a cheap TV.

      110V vs 220V - and we'd have to figure out a way to power it.

      Like most modern consumer electronics, the PS3 PSU works at both voltages and frequencies. It's cheaper than having 2 separate production lines.

    8. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by Duds · · Score: 1

      Because if we got one it couldn't play blu-ray disks here, might not play games in future if they decide to regionalise those and Sony sues anyone that sells Ps3s abroad remember in order to "Protect us".

    9. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As the original AC above, I stand corrected. I didn't know they had a universal power supply, I guess I should have actually read the specs before posting.

    10. Re:Y'all could have had it earlier by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Most people on this planet are still using plain old TV signals. Even most of the people with PS3s fall into this category. The brits are much more likely to have a TV that can handle both PAL and NTSC however. (I used to, but it died) :(

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  7. Bios version by Rastignac · · Score: 1

    At least, Europeans will have PS3 shipped with latest updated bios. Cooool.
    More expensive, but with less bugs. Happy Europeans !

    --
    -- Rastignac was here.
    1. Re:Bios version by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 2, Funny

      You're one of those people who wakes up in the morning with a big smile, likes to laugh and talk a lot, and is all excited by the new day, aren't you?

    2. Re:Bios version by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      You mean he's an American?

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  8. Well done Sony. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was fairly excited at the prospect of the PS3 this time last year, but from reviews and feedback I have read from PS3 owners, why the hell would I want to spent £425+ on a console with so few decent games? Linux Kit - I won't use it. One might argue that "it has Blu-Ray" but from what I understand, Sony have done with Blu-Ray exactly what they did with Beta - prohibit the porn companies from using the format. And we all know what happened in the Beta/VHS war. So why do I want to get stuck with a Blu-Ray console with a few shitty games and no porn (or any movies for that matter)?

    Sony takes the piss out of use here in the .eu anyway (especially us Brits). Sony can get stuffed.

    1. Re:Well done Sony. by andr0meda · · Score: 1


      I can guarantee you, not just to the Brits.

      SCEE Europe sucks majorly when it comes to living up to signed commitments in the Game biz. You'd be surprised about how efficiently they can screw things up.

      --
      With great power comes great electricity bills.
    2. Re:Well done Sony. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But maybe, just maybe it will force Nintendo of Europe to actually release some worthwhile games in the EU.
      I know, I know, fat chance. But you can always dream, right?

  9. Still waiting for Australian pricing... by EvilCabbage · · Score: 1

    ... but the initial estimate of a cool thousand bucks seems awfully likely. Think I'll get a 360 instead. It'll look nice next to my Wii.

    1. Re:Still waiting for Australian pricing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The 360 and the Wii do look quite nice together. Got both of mine sitting vertically atop my old Indigo2 next to my TV stand (no room for them in the thing,)and yes... they mesh quite well.

    2. Re:Still waiting for Australian pricing... by EvilCabbage · · Score: 1

      Splendid news then.

      When it drops in price, I am sure the PS3 will look awesome next to my much-used George Foreman Grill.

  10. ...£425 by ilovegeorgebush · · Score: 1

    I'm not paying £425 for a unit that is delayed, has trouble being even produced and ultimately no different from its competitors (bar the Wii). I'm more tempted to buy a Wii...At least they know what they're aiming for (playability). Hell, i'll just stick to my PC.

    --
    ilovegeorgebush
  11. Europe logistically more complex? by andr0meda · · Score: 1


    The only complex thing about logistics is getting it from A to B. What makes Europe complex are the variety of languages and jurisdictions. That's still called localization.

    The real reason why Europe is left behind every time is because Europeans are more critical and don't jump any wagons like the Japanese and US markets.

    If Sony would launch first in Europe and at that price, they could as well write off their whole business plan.

    just my 0.0248 eurocents.

    --
    With great power comes great electricity bills.
    1. Re:Europe logistically more complex? by Duds · · Score: 1

      Then why did Microsoft and Nintendo both pull it off just fine?

    2. Re:Europe logistically more complex? by andr0meda · · Score: 1


      My point was that launching in Europe is not "logistically too complex" if you are called Sony, MS and even Nintendo.

      Both MS and Nintendo did not release first in Europe, though.

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      With great power comes great electricity bills.
    3. Re:Europe logistically more complex? by Duds · · Score: 1

      Fair enough.

      And yes while neither was first, they were both so close as to be able to call it simultaneous with a straight face.

  12. Whooftah~ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And thus... Europe is asked to "bend over and take it."

  13. 425 180 + 200 by rednuhter · · Score: 1

    Wii £180
    Xbox 360 (core) £199
    Dreamcast (ebay) £30
    Total £410
    Vs PS3 £425
    Dreamcast wins ! *Prices correct at time going to press

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  14. See the PSP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That came out months late in Britain too. Yet Britain is one of the PSP's strongest territories (by which I mean the DS only overtook it recently). It seems like waiting until you actually have a launch lineup of games does the image of your system a lot of good.

    Mind you, the PSP is bit different because it's a portable, so loads of people imported them as a temporarily "exclusive" gadget-fashion item.

    1. Re:See the PSP by HappySqurriel · · Score: 1

      I don't know about Britain in particular but, from what I had read earlier, in Europe as a whole the DS has always sold more because of the lead it built from months without competition. Unfortunately there is no (good) tracking happening in Europe like there is in Japan (and to a lesser extent North America) because it makes it difficult to know what is really going on.

  15. PS3 Woes by Pablo+El+Vagabundo · · Score: 1


    I am interested in how this will turn out, it is like a bad soap ...

    You can bet that it will be >650 here in Ireland, maybe even hitting the 700 mark. They mention 300,000 units for the UK, so maybe 10K for Ireland.

    Still I know it will be sold out here in Ireland. Some of my friends will buy at launch, I cannot understand it and they are not rich. The only thing is that their GF's might nix it. That is a lot to spend on a console and most guys in the 20-30 bracket who have a better half will have a tough time convincing them.

    Also will being the cheapest BD player around affect attach ratio? I wonder how many will buy it to just watch BD movies, of course Sony wont care, but 3RD parties might.

    I cannot see many familys springing for one this Christmas either, it is 2-3 hundred too much. After the insane hard core have had their fill will sales just petter out?

    Stay Tuned!!

  16. You sure it will sell out? by brunes69 · · Score: 1

    I mean, thats what everyone was predicting here in NA as well... that all the consoles would sell out, and it'd be next to impossible to get your hand on a unit at retail prices until March or later.

    The reality is, the PS3 is FAR from sold out, and you can walk into any major retailer anywhere in North America and see 5 or more units on the shelf, with who knows how many out back. Prices for the unit on eBay have sunk to BELOW RETAIL. Meanwhile the Wii is still nowhere to be found in stores, despite having more available units shipped, and it looks like this trend will keep up for at least the near future.

    The moral of the story is

    a) Nothing is a "sure thing", and
    b) Never bet on a new Sony medium (Blu-Ray).

  17. if you think that's expensive... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's cheaper than latinamerica launch, in Mexico, the retail price for the 20 GB version is $9,999 pesos, at today's exchange rate, that's US$ 909!!!, and the Wii is "only" US$400, and they wonder why there so much piracy in around here... by the way, the prices include 15% VAT.

  18. Meanwhile WSJ reports retail at half that in Japan by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 0

    Why is the EU being forced to pay twice as much for the same product? The Wall Street Journal (expensive online subscription required) reports today that not only is the street retail price of the PS3 in Japan half that of the MSRP for the EU, but apparently adult entertainment providers are avoiding Blu-Ray and going to HD-DVD worldwide, making the doubled price highly questionable, even as PS3 consoles are piling up on store shelves in Japan and the US, due to lack of demand.

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  19. Whoah! Does it come with KY and a Kiss Too? by Rev+Jim+(AKA+Metal+F · · Score: 1

    I suppose that would be an extra fifty bucks. Sony really have lost their minds - mayday, going down, mayday!

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  20. Re:Meanwhile WSJ reports retail at half that in Ja by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    oops, sorry, messed up the tags.

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  21. heh by TB · · Score: 0

    While the americans live in their little world they pay no attention to the outside. US gets consoles cheap, rest of world doesnt. Its the same for the 360 and same for the PS3. Get over it.

  22. Feel the pain... by Nizer · · Score: 1

    I can sympathise with those in Europe, but spare a thought for a moment for those of us in NZ. PS3 price is/will be $NZ1199 (incl 12.5% tax). At today's (spot) rate that's about $US835.

    For context, 2005 GDP per capita (in US dollars and adjusted for price differences i.e. PPP):

    US: 41,399

    UK: 30,436

    NZ: 24,797.

    ( Source)

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  23. Re:425 180 + 200 by Kuad · · Score: 1

    A £30 Dreamcast would generally come with a number of games, as well. I bought a basic Dreamcast (2 controllers + memory thingie) without any games for £15.

  24. Is it just me or... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    in my opinion is sony digging itself into a hole over the entire PS3 debacle.

    Im pritty much a floating voter in the console market I'm still a pc gamer at the core (didn't buy into consoles until xbox was born) and It just seems that SSCE is starting to have the same attitudes of SOE, and anyone that ever seriously reads mmo blogs and gaming news know what the PC gaming community thinks of SOE. This whole situation just feels vaugely familar in someway, and alot of people saw this coming. So im voting with my wallet again and adding a few bucks to MS's profit margin I know they may not be the most respected out there. But i sure as heck feel like im going to get what I want on time with little issue and at a price I think is reasonable.

    Imagine what the next console war will be like without a sony entry.

  25. Mac Mini better game machine than PS3! by LKM · · Score: 1

    Yes, but then you'd have a Mac mini, and not a PS3, so you'd not be able to play any PS3 games.

    Uhm... there are more and better Mac games than there are PS3 games. And that's not even counting Photoshop (haha, preventive joke). And you can actually use it as a real computer, without a hypervisor taking away access from graphics card and hd. I have no clue how you could know what to do with a PS3, but not with a Mac mini.

    And how exactly would a Mac make your pals ask embarrassing questions?

  26. Even better... by LKM · · Score: 1

    When it drops in price, I am sure the PS3 will look awesome next to my much-used George Foreman Grill.

    Even better, the PS3 is a grill!

  27. Sony hate the 20Gb model by goldcd · · Score: 1

    because the make less money on it. The saving they make by removing those features in manufacture is way less than the amount they lose by selling you the cheap, rather than expensive PS3.
    As with the 360, the reason the cheap model exists is so they can advertise a lower price and pull consumers in - once you're hooked the want you to buy the expensive one. Same thing as in car adverts the new blah blah from £x (but if you want one that looks like the one in the advert you'll need to stump up more).
    It costs them more to keep the supply chain fed with two products rather than one and it pisses off the consumer (I had a hard time last year tracking down a premium 360, whilst core systems were dripping off the shelves).