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[TheBoy]

i cant find my ps1, might have sold it, dont remember! got PS2, play on it occasionally, wont buy anymore games because i want the PS3, which is allegedly gonna drop a great deal in price before xmas!

Due to poor sales, I've heard a rumour that Sony may slash the price and sell at a loss.

Sony need to get PS3's out there - it has been said that if Blueray fails, so do Sony, and the only way to get Blueray as the dominant format is via PS3.

I'm waiting for the price drop as well. As to Bluray it is selling quite well, partly due to PS3 partly due to more manufacturers supporting it

Just before the US Blockbuster announcement, Sony were quoted as saying BR takeup as 'disappointing'

Still, with dual format drives just around the corner, the battle is irrevelent... (for consumers)

[Admin]

To describe the sales of the PS3 as disappointing would be understating it rather a lot!

They are simply not shifting and that is causing concern in the financial markets as Sony have staked the proverbial house on the success of blu ray and the PS3.

They will be torn on what to do around now. This is the quietest time in both markets. Price cuts are not normally introduced until late 3rd quarter or early 4th quarter.

Selling at loss will be a necessity, question is when?

Selling the hardware at a loss and mitigating with licensing revenue from the games and dvd's is about the only option I can see at this moment.

I would anticipate an initial price drop to £299 around beginning of September with a further reduction to £249 at end of November if sales are still not great.

[TheBoy]

To describe the sales of the PS3 as disappointing would be understating it rather a lot!

They are simply not shifting and that is causing concern in the financial markets as Sony have staked the proverbial house on the success of blu ray and the PS3.

They will be torn on what to do around now. This is the quietest time in both markets. Price cuts are not normally introduced until late 3rd quarter or early 4th quarter.

Selling at loss will be a necessity, question is when?

Selling the hardware at a loss and mitigating with licensing revenue from the games and dvd's is about the only option I can see at this moment.

I would anticipate an initial price drop to £299 around beginning of September with a further reduction to £249 at end of November if sales are still not great.

Their problems with price cuts is that X360 and Wii are both similarly capable consoles for gaming (forgetting the BR player for now), and cheaper, and in themselves capable of having profitable price cuts.

The upside (for Sony) is that PlayStation has popular branding, and also some people will only consider Sony (in same way some drivers will only consider BMW). The lack of decent backwards compatibility will alienate some potential buyers.

[Admin]

Backwards compatability will not be a major issue. Many people who may have had this concern will still have a PS2.

Alas (for Sony) brand loyalty has not attacted enough people yet.

Their biggest obstacle is the X-Box 360 (Wii is aimed at different market sector).
It also has HD capability in the eyes of the average consumer and is half the price.

The PS3 is a far superior machine to the X-Box 360, no question, and is, by all accounts, a very good BR player.

I would imagine they are working on a marketing strategy at a £299 price point (explaining the non existant marketing currently). How they will overcome an inevitable drop from Microsoft in response, I am not sure...

I would say the Christmas period this year could well make or break Sony.

[TheBoy]

Backwards compatability will not be a major issue. Many people who may have had this concern will still have a PS2.

Alas (for Sony) brand loyalty has not attacted enough people yet.

Their biggest obstacle is the X-Box 360 (Wii is aimed at different market sector).
It also has HD capability in the eyes of the average consumer and is half the price.

The PS3 is a far superior machine to the X-Box 360, no question, and is, by all accounts, a very good BR player.

I would imagine they are working on a marketing strategy at a £299 price point (explaining the non existant marketing currently). How they will overcome an inevitable drop from Microsoft in response, I am not sure...

I would say the Christmas period this year could well make or break Sony.

I'm not convinced they were ever working to a £299 price point - I think they got a little greedy and always aimed for a £500 price point (remember the 'compatibility' chip was costing £100 to implement (which is more than an entire PS2) so was always going to cost a lot to produce, even before Bluray drive).  Certainly in this country currently, thats too high.

As to whether the PS3 will give a better gaming experience, only time will tell.  Its processor is evolutionary (not revolutionary as marketing would suggest), but untested. Seeing as developers still haven't really got to grips with X360, it will be a while before killer games are ready for PS3.

Sony's other issue for this Xmas comes in the form of Halo 3, obviously not available on Playstations.

[Admin]

I don't think they were working to a £299 price point, I think they are now (out of necessity).
I completely agree they got greedy and overpriced it, badly if I hear correctly.
I have heard the figures are some 45% below target (which would explain the concern)!  

I would say the only harware to be revolutionary is the Wii, and with its pricing it has exceeded all sales expectations.

You will know, history has shown it takes 2 years+ for developers to really maximise the potential of any console, so compared to what is already available, I expect great things from both camps.

I agree on Halo 3, it was one of the reaosns I cited this Christmas as being make or break for them...

[TheBoy]

I don't think they were working to a £299 price point, I think they are now (out of necessity).
I completely agree they got greedy and overpriced it, badly if I hear correctly.
I have heard the figures are some 45% below target (which would explain the concern)!  

I would say the only harware to be revolutionary is the Wii, and with its pricing it has exceeded all sales expectations.

You will know, history has shown it takes 2 years+ for developers to really maximise the potential of any console, so compared to what is already available, I expect great things from both camps.

I agree on Halo 3, it was one of the reaosns I cited this Christmas as being make or break for them...

I know I'm an old man, but better machines doesn't mean better games. I am not a gamer by any stretch of the imagination, but I still think the original PC based DOOM was one of the best games ever. Revolutionary at the time, and managed a real, scary 'atmosphere' that is lacking in subsequent games. I used to play that game with the lights out, and the sound up, and frequently saw the milkman arrive...   ...I was a bit good at it. Alas, I gave it up when I started dreaming about it....

DOOM III was a complete disappointment - great graphics etc, but had none of the original's excitement and atmosphere...

[Marks DTM Calib]

They should be able to drop the price anyway now, the initial high component prices should be passed with them now cutting in full volume costs.......plus the tooling and production issues will all be ironed out which all helps efficiency.

What they realy need is some killer games that realy show it in its full glory......then it will sell.

[TheBoy]

They should be able to drop the price anyway now, the initial high component prices should be passed with them now cutting in full volume costs.......plus the tooling and production issues will all be ironed out which all helps efficiency.

What they realy need is some killer games that realy show it in its full glory......then it will sell.

If past experience is anything to go by, I suspect Sony will need to do a redesign to realise any production savings, as they did with PS and PS/2 before it...

[miggy]

My wife bought one - I sill prefer the Playstation 2

PS2 is bit long in the tooth now. Current crop of consoles are much better...

Gran Turismo 4

and for family fun the Buzz games.

Who says the Wii (revolution) has revolutionary controllers, the older PS2 has Eyetoy, Buzz buzzers, a dance mat (for Emma-Jo), a microphone (ditto) and best of all a steering wheel

Just ordered a steering wheel for the GT game, sad init

 

[Baron Von Spongebob]

Thats sad..

[miggy]

Thats sad..

It is sad but i am going out my mind with boredom, I nearly through the crutches through the window today.

 

[Baron Von Spongebob]

My wife bought one - I sill prefer the Playstation 2

PS2 is bit long in the tooth now. Current crop of consoles are much better...

Gran Turismo 4

and for family fun the Buzz games.

Who says the Wii (revolution) has revolutionary controllers, the older PS2 has Eyetoy, Buzz buzzers, a dance mat (for Emma-Jo), a microphone (ditto) and best of all a steering wheel

Just ordered a steering wheel for the GT game, sad init

 

Just ordered a steering wheel for the GT game, sad init

I thought you could only use 1 arm... ..Dangerous driving...

[theolodian]

Think the Wii looks really cool.  Need to look at the games more.  Will probably get one later this year.

Will consider the 360 when Halo3 comes out.  Have Xbox and only play Halo2 on it.

Didn't know that PS3's aren't selling, but not surprised.  Just like a 60" LCD TV isn't worth it because there isn't anything to watch, a console is pretty pointless without good games.  Since I only like Halo2, either I'm pretty picky or they're all crap.  Speaking of, if anyone has a suggestion for a good game for the old Xbox that's like Halo I'd appreciate it.

[Martin_1962]

The Wii is a bit of a one trick pony at present it is not that powerful - the most popular game on it here is the downloaded Donkey Kong Country, it will get more games bust most will be PS2 ports for now.