EGM asks about PS3 price drop possibility

[Pumpkin Head]

Quote:
EGM: So when might we see a price drop?


Kaz Harai: I'm not saying that we're suddenly going to do a price change tomorrow, but if you look at the history of how we've priced our products, from 12 years ago, you'll see our trends. I got the same questions back in the day: PS2, $299? That's not mass-market product, because the PS1 at the time was at $170, $149 bucks, whatever it was. I mean, how are you going to break into the mass market? Well, the PS2 is $129 now, and it's an absolute mass market product. So I think you can look at the trending line, and two years out, three years out--I'm not going to even make a prediction--but there's no guarantee that it's still going to be at $599 and $499. We may have a more expensive version; we may have a less expensive configuration. But it doesn't stay the same forever.

[HolyPaladin]

Quote:
EGM: So when might we see a price drop?

Unless I misread it, it sounds like they're just saying what we all know and expect: sooner or later, the price will come down, even if it's a few years from now. That's pretty standard in the industry and always to be expected.

[satriales]

The price will drop in time for Christmas (2007) as it always does with a new console (except the xbox which dropped it's price after just one month because no one was buying it ;))

[masteratt]

What the hell, the console isn't even out yet and they are asking about a price drop.
Sony will just see how PS3 does and will make a decision based on that.
No point asking now.

[gljvd]

The price will drop in time for Christmas (2007) as it always does with a new console (except the xbox which dropped it's price after just one month because no one was buying it ;))

It depends on how much.

Sony like every company (esp one coming out of being the markets leader) would like to sit on price drops as long as possible.

If they can get away with a 50$ price drop on each sku in 2007 and still make great sales (or no drop at all) that is what they will do

After all 6 years into the psone's life it was 100$ , the ps2 is still at 130$ . Its stil lselling at a 130$ so they felt there was no reason to drop the price.

[Applefiend]

If you have a new system coming out, the last thing you want to say is: "It's coming down in price real soon now!"

In that case... I won't buy one. What Kaz really wants to reply with is: "None of your business". :)

[Domination]

It depends on how much.

Sony like every company (esp one coming out of being the markets leader) would like to sit on price drops as long as possible.

If they can get away with a 50$ price drop on each sku in 2007 and still make great sales (or no drop at all) that is what they will do

After all 6 years into the psone's life it was 100$ , the ps2 is still at 130$ . Its stil lselling at a 130$ so they felt there was no reason to drop the price.

But if they are going to be in third, as rumors have it, then it goes against that logic. So which one are we going to assume here? http://tpl4life.com/images/smilies/029.gif

[Viper]

North America

* US$299.99 (October 26, 2000, Launch Price)
* US$199.99 (May 14, 2002)
* US$179.99 (May 13, 2003)
* US$149.99 (May 11, 2004)
* US$129.99 (April 20, 2006)

It took about 1.5 years for the first PS2 price frop which cut $100.00 off. Subsequent but much smaler cuts happened yearly after that until 2004. 2 years alter, another $20.00 came off the price.

If the above is to be the trend Sony expects, the PS3 will be pricey from quite a long time. Even on a % basis, the PS3 would still be $275.00 after 6 years.

[OmniCloud]

That isn't too bad Viper. There should be a nice $100 shaved off the PS3 for next Holiday season. The 2 things that I think Sony did wrong tho was the controller for one, and that the core system should have been the same price as Xbox 360-since it's basically the same thing except Blu-ray. I don't care how much money the company loses. Peopel are used to paying $300 for a new console-Sony shouldn't have strayed that far away from the expected price-point. I surely won't be picking one up a launch at these crazy prices. Then again....

[gljvd]

That isn't too bad Viper. There should be a nice $100 shaved off the PS3 for next Holiday season. The 2 things that I think Sony did wrong tho was the controller for one, and that the core system should have been the same price as Xbox 360-since it's basically the same thing except Blu-ray. I don't care how much money the company loses. Peopel are used to paying $300 for a new console-Sony shouldn't have strayed that far away from the expected price-point. I surely won't be picking one up a launch at these crazy prices. Then again....


How do you figure a 100$ shaved off by 2007 holiday ? Going by that list it would happen for holiday 2008

The ps3 isn't built to win price wars , its going to be sold at a premium its whole life because of what is in there


But if they are going to be in third, as rumors have it, then it goes against that logic. So which one are we going to assume here?


what others say and what sony thinks and believes are two diffrent things.

Those that believe sony will end up 3rd are those who believe that sony's choices in and leading up to this generation and its rival's choices will lead sony into 3rd place.

Perhaps sony's stance on thier pricing now and through some of its life is why they believe sony will end up in 3rd

As viper showed using sony's old price stratagy it will take 6 years for sony to hit under the 300$ mark .

Both its rivals are under that from day one

[Infernal]

I highly doubt it will take 6 years for the PS3 to be under $300. Sony said they will make more versions of the PS3 with different ports and whatnot and I expect some version to be under $300 within 3 years, probably around $250, and within 6 years I expect a $150 PSThree.

[gljvd]

I highly doubt it will take 6 years for the PS3 to be under $300. Sony said they will make more versions of the PS3 with different ports and whatnot and I expect some version to be under $300 within 3 years, probably around $250, and within 6 years I expect a $150 PSThree.


I agree with most of this . I expect them to drop the price after holiday 07' down to 400/500 and then in 08' 350/450 / 550 (120 gig hardrive) and then in 09' 300$ /400$/500$ and so on .

Of course I think both ms and nintendo's pricing will be just as agressive and sony will continue to have the higher price all through the gen . What hurts the most is that sony likes to have the longest gens . They like to go 6 years. Ms has only gone 4 years and I'm sure they want to extend the time thier sysstem stays on shelves , but even at 5 years on the market , that is still 2 years before sony can launch a new system and only 4 years into sony price drops .

Nintendo has a cheap console and perhaps they will want to leave this gen as early as ms wnats too . a 4 year cycle of 200$ starting machine is not hard to handle for many consumers esp if they can just upgrade every 4 or so years at 200$ a pop instead of every 6 years at 500-600$ a pop . This is even more true if nintendo adopts sony's bc system .

Continue to be bc with the optical disc formats then once bandwidth for the average customer gets high enough , drop that format and use software to handle it ala virtual console

[OmniCloud]

I dunno bout u gljvd, but I like Sony's 10years console life thing. This way u aren't so quick to abandon your console. Plus PS2 is still getting some of it best games. so ther

[Domination]

How do you figure a 100$ shaved off by 2007 holiday ? Going by that list it would happen for holiday 2008

The ps3 isn't built to win price wars , its going to be sold at a premium its whole life because of what is in there




what others say and what sony thinks and believes are two diffrent things.

Those that believe sony will end up 3rd are those who believe that sony's choices in and leading up to this generation and its rival's choices will lead sony into 3rd place.

Perhaps sony's stance on thier pricing now and through some of its life is why they believe sony will end up in 3rd

As viper showed using sony's old price stratagy it will take 6 years for sony to hit under the 300$ mark .

Both its rivals are under that from day one

Yes, but Sony was also leading, and by a huge gap, each and every single time when that happened. This time isn't like the last. Not only has Sony gone with a higher price on their console far beyond the expected, but they are also launching with two SKUs. It's much different this time.

[gljvd]

I dunno bout u gljvd, but I like Sony's 10years console life thing. This way u aren't so quick to abandon your console. Plus PS2 is still getting some of it best games. so ther


care to point out the games that came out in the psone's 8th 9 th and 10th year . Or the games slated for the ps2s 7th and 8th year of life .

The problem is that these 10 yeas don't exist

[yoshaw]

care to point out the games that came out in the psone's 8th 9 th and 10th year . Or the games slated for the ps2s 7th and 8th year of life .

The problem is that these 10 yeas don't exist

That's the best you can do? Who says that console life is dependent on software alone? A large factor for any console to even remotely survive for a decade means the originator don't pull the plug before it's successor arrives in the market.

Something you'd be very dearly familiar with your beloved microsoft's now almost abandoned, Xbox. You say you were at E3 this year, with that shiny 'so far no show' badge of yours. Were you not? So tell us sunshine, how many Xbox games did you see there?

While PS2 is well on it's way for a ten year lifecycle(maybe more!). PS2's seventh year i.e 2007 and we're seeing hugely anticipated titles such as God of WarII, Final Fantasy XII and Rogue Galaxy. What gives that the rest of the 3 years won't see anymore of the gaming love? Your freaking half assed yet biased assumptions? Do you homework properly next time.

[Infernal]

Well yoshaw to be fair FFXII releases this year (although I am sure I will still play it through years end), but you can throw in Xenosaga III to cover the RPG spot of that list. :angelgrin

[Applefiend]

Or the games slated for the ps2s 7th and 8th year of life.

That would God of War 2, as good as than any title announced for next gen I'd say. :D 2000-2007, PS2 best console ever made.

Let's see, PS1 games, PS1 release 1995, how about....

Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 - Mar 25, 2003
Carnage Heart EZ: Easy Zapping Strategy - Jul 24, 2003
Tokimeki Memorial: Taisen Pazurudama Puzzle Sep 18, 2003

FF Origins: http://psx.ign.com/articles/400/400156p1.html April 15th 2003 - Got 9.0/10 that one.

1995 to 2003 8 years life span of hot releases, further 3 years in production to enjoy the classics, your launch PS1 was good for 11 years. PS2 should do better.

If you're gonna troll, it's best to troll on stuff covered by NDA that we can't look up with good sources. Deadmeat figured that out years ago...

You say something stupid, we google it, you say something new stupid... Nobody wants to read that...

[VG Aficionado]

Well yoshaw to be fair FFXII releases this year (although I am sure I will still play it through years end), but you can throw in Xenosaga III to cover the RPG spot of that list. :angelgrinActually, there's no news of FFXII release date in Europe. In that case, it would be a 7th year title here. MGS3: Subsistence, DMC3: SE, Ace Combat 6 and others are almost being released in 2007 here as well.

[woundingchaney]

I personally prefer a 5 year cycle, I certainly dont want any console for 10 years. By the time 5 years have passed the console tech is very outdated and essentially becomes archaic when so many better gaming opportunities present themselves (in areas of graphics and elements of gameplay).

If Sony plans to support their system for 10 years more power to them as this is a great way to assure consumers get the most out of their purchase, but I strongly believe Sony will launch another console when MS does or within a close time frame (6 months or so).

[yoshaw]

These are only some of the games that would keep PS2 well and alive into 2006-07 and most definitely beyond!

- Winning Eleven 2007
- Persona 3
- Tomb Raider 10th anniversary edition(remake of TR1)
- Dawn of Mana
- Guitar Hero II
- Okami
- God of War II
- Final Fantasy XII
- Rogue Galaxy
- SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals - Combined Assault
- Call of Duty 3 (DO NOT underestimate the power of ports!)
- NFS Carbon (Same as above)
- God Hand
- Yakuza

That's only a handful of list. Not to mention, people that would readily purchase a Slim PSTwo for the first time in their life because of the then affordable pricedrops. For such folk, the library of blockbuster PS2 games since year 2000 can not be so conveniently overlooked as JVD wanted to put it.

There are many reasons why Sony holds the reigning champion crown for the last decade. And this ability of them to keep a 10 year lifecycle is only one of them.

but I strongly believe Sony will launch another console when MS does or within a close time frame (6 months or so).

That I fully agree with too. But I'd say if PS3 once again produces excellent results by that time. I think Sony could easily prolong the PS4 launch gap from competition like how it is doing now with PS3.

[Domination]

I agree with most of this . I expect them to drop the price after holiday 07' down to 400/500 and then in 08' 350/450 / 550 (120 gig hardrive) and then in 09' 300$ /400$/500$ and so on .

Of course I think both ms and nintendo's pricing will be just as agressive and sony will continue to have the higher price all through the gen . What hurts the most is that sony likes to have the longest gens . They like to go 6 years. Ms has only gone 4 years and I'm sure they want to extend the time thier sysstem stays on shelves , but even at 5 years on the market , that is still 2 years before sony can launch a new system and only 4 years into sony price drops .

Nintendo has a cheap console and perhaps they will want to leave this gen as early as ms wnats too . a 4 year cycle of 200$ starting machine is not hard to handle for many consumers esp if they can just upgrade every 4 or so years at 200$ a pop instead of every 6 years at 500-600$ a pop . This is even more true if nintendo adopts sony's bc system .

Continue to be bc with the optical disc formats then once bandwidth for the average customer gets high enough , drop that format and use software to handle it ala virtual console

That information is very misleading. Sony has only launched two home consoles so far and Microsft one. Out of those two consoles, Sony has had one last six years: PS2, and that's because the console was a juggernaut to the competition. The PS1 lasted five.

The reason the Xbox lasted four years is because Microsoft lost $4 billion with the console with no signs of the lost coming to a close. If it wasn't for that, it would have been on the market much longer based on J. Allard's early comment.

[Domination]

I personally prefer a 5 year cycle, I certainly dont want any console for 10 years. By the time 5 years have passed the console tech is very outdated and essentially becomes archaic when so many better gaming opportunities present themselves (in areas of graphics and elements of gameplay).

If Sony plans to support their system for 10 years more power to them as this is a great way to assure consumers get the most out of their purchase, but I strongly believe Sony will launch another console when MS does or within a close time frame (6 months or so).

I totally respect your opinion, Wounding, but this 10 year life cycle has little to do with consumers like you or me. It's more for the grand base. I know people who are just now getting a PS1. It is these consumers Sony is targeting with the ten year life cycle. And believe it or not, it is what builds trust and even loyalty in some cases.

[OmniCloud]

Well I was going to defend my earlier statement but u guys did it for me! I agree 10 years is pushing it wounding-but hey, at least you get your money's worth...

[gljvd]

If you're gonna troll, it's best to troll on stuff covered by NDA that we can't look up with good sources. Deadmeat figured that out years ago...

You say something stupid, we google it, you say something new stupid... Nobody wants to read that...


lol you can't even list a hand full of titles for both systems past the 7th/ 8th year yet sony has systems that last 10 years ?!?! haha that is just funny as hell . No new content on the system .

Ps2 just like the psone will be long forgoten and the games will slow to a trickle or less by the end of the 7th year , let alone a 10 year life span

[Domination]

lol you can't even list a hand full of titles for both systems past the 7th/ 8th year yet sony has systems that last 10 years ?!?! haha that is just funny as hell . No new content on the system .

Ps2 just like the psone will be long forgoten and the games will slow to a trickle or less by the end of the 7th year , let alone a 10 year life span

Those were exclusives. For third party, content is continueously pouring. For those not able to pick up a PlayStation console as fast as others, the ten year period makes it possible. So, it doesn't matter how you'd like to disgree with it, those consumers purchasing the console within the ten year period are the ones benefitting from it, and with fewer complaints.

[Infernal]

lol you can't even list a hand full of titles for both systems past the 7th/ 8th year yet sony has systems that last 10 years ?!?! haha that is just funny as hell . No new content on the system .

Ps2 just like the psone will be long forgoten and the games will slow to a trickle or less by the end of the 7th year , let alone a 10 year life span
Heres a few hundred titles that released for the PS1 in 2003-2004. Gamespot's List (http://www.gamespot.com/games.html?type=games&platform=6&mode=all&sort=release&dlx_type=all&sortdir=asc)

[Applefiend]

*yawn* If it's in production for over 10 years, and has at least 9 and 3/4 years of titles, I think it's fair to say it has a ten year lifespan.

Sony End PS1 Production: March 23rd 2006
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146549.html

Sony launch PS1: December 3, 1994
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation

I make that 11 and a half years.

Please... Stop...

[VG Aficionado]

haha that is just funny as hell . No new content on the system .Oh yes, I'm sure all developers in the world will just stop releasing titles for the by far most successful console of this gen just as soon as people realise there are new consoles out there. That makes so much sense.

I'll tell you something funny now: there's no content on Xbox 1 for its seventh year. Or its sixth year. And hardly for its 5th and dying year (I've seen new units in stores sold at $70 and people just don't buy them, while PS2s still fly off the shelves periodically at double the price here). Just how many Xbox 1 games were on the show floor last E3? And what's the relation of Xbox 1 units sold compared to PS2 this year? LOL.

Ps2 just like the psone will be long forgoten and the games will slow to a trickle or less by the end of the 7th year , let alone a 10 year life spanYou know, by the time PS2 is 10 years old it will have sold around 120 million units, will be the cheapest console available (in production) and will have the biggest game catalogue. Even you will realise there's a very good chance more people will be playing a PS2 than any of the two Xbox and even both combined, because the vast majority of people play relatively old games on relatively old consoles or PCs, and watch TV on relatively old sets, and drive relatively old cars and live in relatively old houses and flats. The vast majority of people don't use the latest products, and keep on using the same things for many years. So, no, PS2 will be remembered long after Xbox 1 disappears, despite PS2 being older and allegedly less powerful. PS1 manufacturing ceased in 2006 (after 12 years) but it'll be sold until no more new units are available. People will keep on playing PS1 games on PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP systems (and even on PCs) for many years on. There's nothing you can do about it :cowboy:

I apologise for the off topic comments. This is a PS3 forum. Now be reasonable and speak about PS3 without turning every post of yours into troll crap. (Oh, I can't believe I said that, I'm oh so cruel!)

[stanDarsh]

Enough guys, if we want the forum community to grow stronger, this childish *one-upping* from each side has got to stop. I don't care who started it, just ignore it, and there's more than one way to do it.

[VG Aficionado]

Enough guys, if we want the forum community to grow stronger, this childish *one-upping* from each side has got to stop. I don't care who started it, just ignore it, and there's more than one way to do it.Now that's what I call the voice of reason.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

the point of the 10 year life cycle isn't that the same old people keep their console and don't move on. Sony doesn't expect us [in particular] to keep track of ps2 another 4 years from now. Avid gamers adopt the next generation of hardware after they've had the current one for 5 years or so. Then the market shifts over what's best called the golden years of the playstation life cycle, where cheaper games targeted at younger, less jaded, demanding audiences will enjoy get released. The hardcore nuts among us have moved on to the shiniest new bells and whistles but there's still others who aren't as intensely into the latest games that still enjoy what we consider dated. Sony realizes this which is why playstation and playstation 2 don't get canned as soon as the new kid on the block shows up.

Duh.

[Smokey]

the point of the 10 year life cycle isn't that the same old people keep their console and don't move on. Sony doesn't expect us [in particular] to keep track of ps2 another 4 years from now. Avid gamers adopt the next generation of hardware after they've had the current one for 5 years or so. Then the market shifts over what's best called the golden years of the playstation life cycle, where cheaper games targeted at younger, less jaded, demanding audiences will enjoy get released. The hardcore nuts among us have moved on to the shiniest new bells and whistles but there's still others who aren't as intensely into the latest games that still enjoy what we consider dated. Sony realizes this which is why playstation and playstation 2 don't get canned as soon as the new kid on the block shows up.

Duh.
totally agree LaLiLuLeLo2003 :)

[jaxmkii]

http://medps3.ytmnd.com/

http://worfps3.ytmnd.com/

http://aetps3.ytmnd.com/

http://fivehundredninetynine.ytmnd.com/

[Viper]

http://aetps3.ytmnd.com/ <- best of the 4.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Lmao.