All purpose sales and sales rumors/anecdotes thread next gen+

[-tkf-]

That whole discussion with Shifty came about in another thread comparing the cost of pc gaming to console gaming. I was saying that to compare true costs you needed to buy both old and new consoles to play the popular games, and buy an extra controller for the old and for the new console because the console controllers were not compatible across generations, something not needed on pc since a single 360 controller could play old gen and new gen games. Looks like that spilled into this thread, but I'll leave it at that.

Yeah, way back we all called it the ps3 tax, because for whatever bizarre reason Sony didn't go with a removable battery even though most everything else they sell has a removable battery, hence you were basically required to get a second ps3 controller so we all got one for when the battery died unexpectedly. I resisted at first until the battery died in the middle of playing Warhawk online, after which I broke down and bought a second ps3 controller basically as a battery, and naturally got mocked by my co-workers in the process. Sounds like they did the same thing for ps4 controllers? I guess not really surprising, since people don't seem to include that sort of thing in the true costs of the platform, hence Sony may as well use it as an extra revenue source since you basically have to buy an extra controller unless you are content gaming 80's style with a 15 foot cord.

I wasn't trying to correct, just make a point

As for the rechargeable battery pack, Fuck that. I am so tired of my 360 controllers crappy battery system. Even the one with a actual official Microsoft rechargeable battery pack is crap, it doesn't charge anymore, and the one that runs on normal battery had a battery leak, welcome to the freaking 90s.

I often have to take the corded 360 controllers and plug in to the 360 when the kids wants to play minecraft.

As for the ps3, if people are able to keep their mobile phone charged, then it shouldn't be a challenge to keep your controllers juiced up. I can see others have different feelings about this, but that is one of those things that I have a very hard time*. And this is based 100% on actual experience with the different controllers. Damn I get angry thinking about the xb1 ridiculous battery solution.. grrr

 

[Deleted member 11852]

I guess I'm not that diligent in that I would forget all the time. I had primarily bought my ps3 as a bluray player so that probably added to why I would forget to charge the controller. I still forget now, like my 360 controller sometimes runs out while I'm pc gaming but in that case I just change the batteries so no biggie.

I get this. I never ran out of juice with PS3 controllers but have a couple of times with PS4, although we've got two. The difference between PS4 and PS3 controllers is about 18-20hours of charge. This is why I want the Sony PS4 charger, then the controllers will just live in the chargers when not in use and will always be charged.

EDIT: I wonder if this is another one of those USA/Europe differences. Over here in the USA having rechargeable AA batteries around is very common because so many things use them like remote controls, clocks, wireless weather stations, timers, wireless keyboards and mice, whatever.

Could be, I know don't how popular rechargable batteries (AAs, AAAs etc) are here. I remember trying them about 20 years ago for my walkman but didn't have a great experience with battery life but I know they're better now.

Does the xb1 controller use AA batteries as well or did they force you to buy some custom battery?

2x AA batteries. If, or more likely when, I get a Xbox One I'll definitely be looking at rechargeable batteries.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Wow PS4 not only still in stock on Amazon but after shooting to #1 it's actually been bumped back down to #2 (by some sale on Xbox Live 12 month card). Dont know if I've ever seen an in stock PS4 be bumped from #1. In addition I have yet to see the quantity dip below 1000.

I am very surprised how long retail stock shortages have been going on but it's not known how many PS4s are getting through to North America and Europe. I would imagine they are probably stock-piling for the Japan launch in 3 weeks and I would have thought they'd want a few million minimum. They could well be skimming 50-80% of their product output for this alone.

That's the thing, it's hard to read anything into the lack of widespread stock, because we don't know (not speculate) how many are being made nor where they are going, if anywhere.

 

[Nesh]

The PS4 was released in my country officially just yesterday. They flew before they even arrived. Not sure how limited supply was, but they dissapeared through the preorders only. Either preorders were freakin huge or supply was way too limited

 

[JPT]

The PS4 was released in my country officially just yesterday. They flew before they even arrived. Not sure how limited supply was, but they dissapeared through the preorders only. Either preorders were freakin huge or supply was way too limited

If it was anything like Norway, it was a combination, I think I read something about Norway getting 6k pcs at launch. And 5k at least went to cover pre-orders and the rest dribbled through some stores here and there, to get publicity etc. And its not widely available here now, the stores say they expect to have stock on the shelves during March.
Pre-orders being fulfilled until that time, but no idea how big incoming shipments are.

 

[tuna]

The PS4 was released in my country officially just yesterday. They flew before they even arrived. Not sure how limited supply was, but they dissapeared through the preorders only. Either preorders were freakin huge or supply was way too limited

What country?

 

[Nesh]

What country?

Cyprus. Not what I would say a big market, but its mainly a PS land

 

[Deleted member 11852]

I also find it inconsistent that you are so against spending money on games and media when there is a chance that your access might possibly be revoked some day, but have no problem dropping $50+ on a device that has been designed to definitely stop working after a certain number of charge cycles.

Sony don't design controllers to stop working after x number of charge cycles. What you're referring too is chemistry. Maybe I've been lucky but all my PS3 controller (two SixAxis, one DualShock 3) still hold more than a day's charge. But given replacement batteries are £6, I really don't fear them failing.

 

[BRiT]

Sony don't design controllers to stop working after x number of charge cycles.

I believe his point is Sony did when they designed it to not have an easily replaceable battery.

 

[Inuhanyou]

Like the PS3 controller? I dunno, i think it was just an unforseen thing. That lightbar is the main culprit after all

 

[Deleted member 11852]

I believe his point is Sony did when they designed it to not have an easily replaceable battery.

Admittedly it depends on an individual's technical ability and comfort disassembling the controller with a screwdriver, but this doesn't look difficult. If you skip the intro and account for the guy holding the controller to the camera at various angles, it looks about two minutes start to finish.

EDIT: It could be your talking about the DualShock4 and I see the average video for that is around 20 minutes so obviously not as easy.

 

[mrcorbo]

Sony don't design controllers to stop working after x number of charge cycles. What you're referring too is chemistry. Maybe I've been lucky but all my PS3 controller (two SixAxis, one DualShock 3) still hold more than a day's charge. But given replacement batteries are £6, I really don't fear them failing.

What percentage of the consumers who bought these devices would you estimate would opt to source a replacement battery and do the replacement procedure vs. just buying a new controller?

 

[-tkf-]

I believe his point is Sony did when they designed it to not have an easily replaceable battery.

I recall reading the manual for my original fat, there was a description on how to replace the battery.

But since that controller could last 25 plus hours a fading battery simply doesn't show itself the same way it does with electric equipment that is used to the limit.

I think the ps4 controller is more sensitive to that since it doesn't last as long, so when that battery fades it will be felt quicker. This time I didn't check the manual though

 

[-tkf-]

The solution is to buy enough rechargeable AAs to equip all of your devices that take them + 4 to populate a charger. Do this once and never have to worry about dead batteries again on any of those devices.

I also find it inconsistent that you are so against spending money on games and media when there is a chance that your access might possibly be revoked some day, but have no problem dropping $50+ on a device that has been designed to definitely stop working after a certain number of charge cycles.

your solution is not mine, I would prefer a more elegant solution, no reason to spend more time on that

I think you totally missed the point on my stance on dd and purchases, I can replace my controller, my phone, everything physical. But I can't replace a drm locked down game when the download servers are switched off or the activation servers doesn't answer anymore.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

What percentage of the consumers who bought these devices would you estimate would opt to source a replacement battery and do the replacement procedure vs. just buying a new controller?

No idea. Do you know?

But what other people do or do not do or know doesn't affect my personal cost of ownership. Like the discussion about people who don't buy Live/PSN cards cheap, they aren't a considerable for me. A lot of people could save a lot of money if they were smarter about how and where they buy things and how they service them, but they aren't. If they're ok paying extra that doesn't bother me in the slightest.

 

[joker454]

On a different note, for the first time I actually saw an Xbox One on the shelf at my local Frys! That's the first time I've seen either console in store since they launched, although they had only one Xbox One left sitting there on the lonely shelf and it was a return because it had that Fry's "opened" markdown sticker on it.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I believe his point is Sony did when they designed it to not have an easily replaceable battery.

It's not designed to stop working after XXX hours. It'll just be increasingly shorter lived. But that's true of many mobile devices. Replaceable batteries are certainly a plus, but the lithium packs Sony used are smaller, lighter, and hold a higher charge than rechargeables so need less recharging. It's a compromise. For emperical data, I don't know any PS3 controller where the battery has lost significant capacity, but then all my reference controllers have died far sooner due to other issues! My sixaxis was going strong but I don't use it as I replaced my PS3 (twice) due to hardware failure, which provided new controllers. I also don't know anyone who games as heavily as some here do who'll have experienced defunct batteries and lament the lack of standard replaceability for PS3 controllers.

Sony may have underestimated the situation with PS4's controllers that are going to suffer charging fatigue much quicker.

 

[Cjail]

I use my controller wired, PS One style

 

[Strange]

I use my controllers wired, and in the worst case scenario, I'll use my mobile battery on them if I really have to game away from my PS4, which occurs very very rarely.

 

[babybumb]

Hmm.. UK Amazon out of stock again.

I wonder how much over 1k those shipments are. UK hardware sales for consoles are not normally much more than 10k-20k a week outside holidays