Earn your PS3!

[Fats]

Following tantalising recent rumours and speculation on the price of the PS3, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Ken Kutaragi has told gamers they'll need to earn the PS3, dropping the strongest hints yet that we could be looking at the most expensive of the next-generation machines.

Speaking to leading Japanese economic web site Toyo Keizai, Kutaragi-san said that players would need to work hard for their PS3, dropping the following bombshell: "Our goal for PlayStation 3 is for consumers to think to themselves, 'I will work more hours to buy one'. We want people to feel that they want it, irrespective of anything else."

Listen closely and you can probably hear the sound of Microsoft execs dancing around the boardroom. Price point is going to a crucial battleground in the next generation and with senior MS personnel dropping hints of a price around the $299 mark, Sony, it seems from these comments, could be hard pushed to be quite so aggressive on price alone. Informed insider opinion from long standing Sony watchers has suggested a launch price of up to $400 for the PS3, though that, of course, remains highly speculative for the moment.

However being a touch more expensive may not necessarily a bad thing for Sony. It means it'd lose less money for each unit sold and that extra bit of wonga on top might add a certain extra chic and cachet, even if it follows months after the Xbox 360.

But what do you think? Will price be the crucial factor in your next-gen purchase decision? How much would you pay for a PS3, or an Xbox 360 or even a Revolution for that matter? And why? Let debate rage in the forum below!

www.computerandvideogames.com

[xbdestroya]

I think this news was actually from last week and just seems to be getting new life from different Internet sources - though I can't remember if it was discussed in any thread here or not.

That translation certainly gives the sense of a more expensive console, but I have to wonder if that's actually what it implies. I wish I spoke Japanese and could read the original interview...

Anyway I have my doubts on Sony being bold enough to try and launch at a price point ~$400; I've generally planted my flag at $349 or lower (for the US that is - anything goes in Japan and Europe). The only reason I could see them do this is if they felt that they would be supply constrained at launch, maybe due to a worldwide launch or something, and for a while after the launch as well. That could bring them to the decision to price themselves at a different point on the demand curve, confident that they would still sell out of all PS3 systems.

Of course that might produce the effect of pushing gamers into the hands of Microsoft if they are unwilling to wait for a price cut/increased supplies, so I still think it would be a risky/unlikely move by Sony. Unless truly and absolutely, they are assured of themselves in a downright superior system. Oh well, TGS will show us more....

Until then I'm sticking to $349 or under for my own guesses.

[Angeljuice]

Personally, I took that statement as meaning he was going to create such a "Must-Have" product that the "masses" will buy it whatever the price. Like an i-pod for example. Dont forget, they've done it before with the PS1.
Until SONY stepped up with PS1, console games were very much child oriented. Nintendo wouldn't allow blood in any of their games (remember the green goo in Ninty's version of doom?). Every game had to pass strict guidelines to make certain it was "family friendly".
Sony made consoles "cool" for 18-35 year olds, which is now the biggest market. I think this time they are trying to do more of the same and looking for the same kind of impact the PS1 had (in bringing in a whole new load of users who were previously not interested in consoles).

[Domination]

For some of the very same reason XB gave, I don't see a price tag no greater than $350. The risks alone will force consumers in the other direction.

[jako]

1) I've always wonder what was the price of the PS2 at his release date ?
In France it was 450€ (around 540$) !!
What was the price in the other parts of the world ?
2) When you see how much PS1 or PS2 were sold during the first year (not much that is to say), I don't think that sony will drop the price too much the first year : I'm preparing for 400€. They begin to attract the average consumer after a while (in fact when they have enough games) and that is at this time that they drop the price.
The only reason why the price could be lower than 400€ is because of Microsoft : I'm sure they will drop the price the day the PS3 will be available.

[Applefiend]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation_2

US$299 (October 26, 2000, Launch Price)

[jako]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation_2

US$299 (October 26, 2000, Launch Price)
Thanks for the link.
It seems like Europe is always the one that pays the more for this new technologies :(
Anyway I don't care for the price I'll definitely buy one of theses next-gen consoles and an HDTV in 2006.

[Applefiend]

Yup, especially in the UK consoles and games are price fixed, and the VAT adds up too. US gamers have it way, way better, which is why I'm going to get a US PS3 and import everything next gen. They're all complaining in the US about the possiblity of $60 or $70 games. Well, welcome to the UK.

Although at the moment Sony UK are being awesome. With the new platinum range you no longer need to pay more than 14.95 for a game, and awesome games like Ratchet and Clank 2 now cost less than a CD or DVD.

[jaxmkii]

Personally, I took that statement as meaning he was going to create such a "Must-Have" product that the "masses" will buy it whatever the price. Like an i-pod for example. Dont forget, they've done it before with the PS1.
Until SONY stepped up with PS1, console games were very much child oriented. Nintendo wouldn't allow blood in any of their games (remember the green goo in Ninty's version of doom?). Every game had to pass strict guidelines to make certain it was "family friendly".
Sony made consoles "cool" for 18-35 year olds, which is now the biggest market. I think this time they are trying to do more of the same and looking for the same kind of impact the PS1 had (in bringing in a whole new load of users who were previously not interested in consoles). also remeber guys the PS3 main target age groupe is the same folks that will spend 2000usd on there VW just to have bliging "DUBS" if the PS3 will perform signifigantly better than the rest they could charge 600usd. hell it might even create a "you get what you pay for" aura about the PS3 buy having it cost more. and i think that most 19-35s know that you do get what you pay forthink about it.... would you pay $695.00 for a quad cell twin RSX sli PS3 with 2Gigs XDR. figure how much use you would get over the next five years. now think about if you spent $4000 usd on a aleinware system and how much you get out of that? in 3 year it will be obsol33t...

so with that in mind i would not of minded if the PS3 was 600-1000 and had the origanal romored 4 cell concept. you know it would of been worth the money and i think it would of sold alot better than you think

[xbdestroya]

also remeber guys the PS3 main target age groupe is the same folks that will spend 2000usd on there VW just to have bliging "DUBS" if the PS3 will perform signifigantly better than the rest they could charge 600usd. hell it might even create a "you get what you pay for" aura about the PS3 buy having it cost more. and i think that most 19-35s know that you do get what you pay forthink about it.... would you pay $695.00 for a quad cell twin RSX sli PS3 with 2Gigs XDR. figure how much use you would get over the next five years. now think about if you spent $4000 usd on a aleinware system and how much you get out of that? in 3 year it will be obsol33t...

so with that in mind i would not of minded if the PS3 was 600-1000 and had the origanal romored 4 cell concept. you know it would of been worth the money and i think it would of sold alot better than you think


Jaxmkii you're out of your mind man! A $600 PS3? There once existed such a system as you speak of - with unparalleled power and a price tag to match. It was the NeoGeo, and it's not with us today. ;)

People spending $2000 on 'rims' are a minority, believe it or not.

[.®]

i just hope i don't have to make more than $300 appear to get one. plus i still have to get me a revolution, new smash bros & mario bros. 3 i can't wait.

just remembered i still have to get a psp. better start saving.

[rpgamer_2k5]

Even if PS3 costed over the figure Honda and Kutaraji brought up, the PS3's launch price would still be equal to the PS2 when released in Japan. The PS2 was sold for $385 while the PS3 will cost $365 (40,000 yens). Lets say the price increases $20, would it matter? So with such a pricetag it is fair to say that the PS3 will cost the same as the PS2 when released in the US.

[CrumCon]

nah.. i'll steal one if i ever have the chance

[mikeeazy]

Im one of the guys who would get it no matter the cost, unless it costs more than 600 dollars, thats ridiculous, but everyone has almost a year to save their money, so get to work

[F089/H]

i just hope i don't have to make more than $300 appear to get one. plus i still have to get me a revolution, new smash bros & mario bros. 3 i can't wait.

just remembered i still have to get a psp. better start saving.



The next Super Smash Bros. !!!!