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Sony Rejects PS3 Price Cuts
Despite hopeful comments by analysts, Sony has gone on the record (again) saying that it has no plans to cut the PS3's pricetag any time soon. Next Generation reports: "'PS3 prices and shipment plans for the future should be determined by market trends and competition. Sony currently doesn't have any specific plan to cut the PlayStation 3's price.' Analysts believe a price cut is inevitable, as the company struggles to catch Microsoft's early lead with Xbox 360, and the $250 Wii continues to sell as many as can be produced. However, Sony's plan has generally been to hold tight and hope that demand for Blu-ray drives will increase, by the end of this year." Relatedly, the company has outlined releases for the second quarter of this year on the PS2, PS3, and PSP systems.
They have no reason to drive down prices. Right now, they're actually losing on units as-is. Not only that, but I'm pretty sure that people are buying the hell out of them, regardless of the price due to it simply being a Playstation. I couldn't see them changing the price and going from losing a bit on each unit, to plain burying themselves with every purchase.
If Microsoft somehow purchases the Blu-ray/HD-DVD combo drives for 360 expansion, I believe Sony would be taking a swift kick in the nuts. I doubt Sony would allow it, and those sales would also allow PS3 to drop prices a bit faster as well... so MS may not do it for that reason.
"Please, shut up. Just when I think you can't say anything more stupid, you speak again." -Archie Bunker.
I think the problem is that most people who would buy a ps3, are waiting for a price drop, which forces Sony to *continually* go out and say that there will be none. Otherwise I don't know why they keep saying this over and over, once would be enough.
:)
Which would prove that the current price is way too much (Most people always thought that, I know, but still some fanboys kept saying things like "if you want the best you have to pay the price" and that sort of shit).
Disclaimer: You can call me a fanboy myself if you like. I got my Nintendo Wii and I'm having loads of fun with it
"Luck is my middle name," said Rincewind, indistinctly. "Mind you, my first name is Bad." -- Terry Pratchett
In related news, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is looking at layoffs of 10% of its workforce, with additional layoffs planned for Japan and the US. Of course, Sony says this has nothing to do with low demand for the PS3.
You don't tell the public that a poorly selling, expensive product is going to be $100 cheaper next month
Generally you have the right idea but PS3 sales are actually not all that bad - it's currently at a higher sales rank than the 360 on Amazon, and has been since March 23rd when Amazon finally was able to keep stock around.
I think you are right about the day of announcement of the PS3 price cut, but would further predict that it will come the day after the day Microsoft announces a 360 price cut, which will of course be same day Microsoft also cuts prices. Sony and Microsoft are waiting til one does a cut before the other one, and both are enjoying higher profits (and unknoably lower sales) as a result.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I agree with this 100%!
I was/am a big Sony fan-boy because of the library of games the Playstation has always sported... I'm an RPG addict, and the Playstation enabled my addiction to no end. But after the wonderful Sony root-kit adventure and the current $600 price tag, I don't think I'll be buying a PS3 any time soon. Let's not forget to mention that Next-Gen game prices have all gone up another $10. All in all they basically priced me out of the market and I am refusing to save up for one.
The only Next-Gen system I own right now is the Nintendo Wii. Why? The controls are incredibly innovative (much like the DS, and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with it). The price tag was ONLY $250 and current games are still set at the $44.99-49.99 price... Oh yeah, and let's not forget Zelda and the Twilight Princess... All in all this spells one happy Wii gamer who will be waiting until those PS3 systems drop in price, and up-coming RPG releases become Best Seller titles and the prices drop to $19.99 - 29.99
I have no idea if Sony are doing the right thing, but people who thing the PS3 is just a games console aren't seeing things from Sony's perspective. Games are an important part of the lineup, but they're not the only one.
Sony needs to take their current marketing plan to the next level - "This is the incredible new Sony PS/3 - and YOU CAN'T BUY ONE!!!"
[Insert pithy quote here]
Not to nitpick, but you don't have to use HDMI cables to get more than 480p. Component works fine. Except of course in the case of the 360, where to get 1080p on their HD-DVD add-on and to upscale standard dvd's, you have to use their VGA cable. My samsung upscaling DVD player works over HDMI or component... and can go to "1080i" (big deal, I know...)
;) Too bad the MPAA missed it. Hell, I didn't even replace any of my VHS movies until they wore out or were lost to unscrupulous college buddies. :P Once my VCR finally dies, I guess I might think about replacing a few of my favorites to DVD... or to whatever's on the bubble by then... *shrug*
:)
since my TV is 720p/1080i, I do fine with component... even upscaling my old standard DVDs... (some of which look absolutely horrible......) And since the consortium of DRM fanatics have not chosen to implement HDCP, there's no real restriction over component (yet.) So, I use my PS3 over component (20GB... I'm not greedy)... and it plays Blu-Ray DVD's fine.. look great too. Although there's not much in the way of selection... considering I'm not buying any HD DVD/Blu Ray or whatever movie that I already have on DVD... there's just no point, at least for me. I bought CD's to replace my vinyl and cassettes. That's the last time I will ever re-buy something because of a format change. They got their 1 trip.
But the problem I think Sony has (besides being 100% asshole, just like Microsoft... how soon we forget) is their perception of how the game market is headed. The Wii is a perfect example of Sony (and dare I say Microsoft) "not getting it." I think their embracing of the "HD" Next-gen moniker and hype associated with it is entirely too premature (for both Sony and MS).... and this generation isn't about HD... which is why Sony's losing ground. If it truly were about HD, I think Sony would be in a better position because of their built-in Blu-Ray and B.C. that isn't totally borked. However, since Sony _is_ selling PS3's, the only real barometer as to the success of failure of "next-gen 1.0" will be when the PS4 and XBox720 come out...
Then we'll really see how much suck one company can withstand before throwing in the towel.
It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
I'm about to give up on computer gaming.
You spend $50 on a title you end up disliking? Too bad. You can't return it or resell it. You can if it's a console game, however.
If I want to play an old SNES game, not only is my system still running (outliving 2 generations of computers), but I can buy another one for a handful of change if my old one breaks down.
If I want to play any of my old DOS (or even some old Windows games) they often won't run on my current version of Windows (XP) and almost DEFINITELY won't run on Vista. You can't buy a new computer with anything other than Vista, and Microsoft is going to stop selling XP by the end of 2007 (older versions are already locked away in the MS vault). When my current computer dies I likely won't be able to run ANY of my current computer games. Oh, and lose your CD key? Your game CD is worthless now.
This is also true not only with games, but the majority of computer software.
I'm losing faith in the future of computers. This is one of the few industries that actually oppresses its customers, giving us fewer and fewer choices rather than more and more.