PS3 to retail less than $500

[pegisys]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/05/18/news_6125423.html


"An article that ran on the Japanese newspaper's Web site said that the PlayStation 3 could potentially sell for under $500. "The new machine, which will have a higher performance capacity than personal computers and provide sophisticated movie-quality images, will be priced at less than 50,000 yen each, according to [Sony] officials," said the paper.

At today's exchange rate, 50,000 yen is $465.58"

I think they're going to have to do better then that if the xbox360 comes out at $299

 

[PC-Engine]

Does anyone know what the PS2 launched at in Japan?

 

[Acert93]

Remember the odd exchange program...

299 USD = 299 Pounds

My guess: Inflation over the years may make it $350, but not even Sony is insane to enter it at a penny over $400.

 

[Phil]

PS2 launched at 48'000 Yen which is essentially the same price as what PS3 will launch at, if the above article is correct.

Even then, this thing will be sold at a higher price in Europe regardless, so I don't get what the fuss is all about. You in NA will probably be getting it for $300 anyway.

 

[DuckThor Evil]

PS2 launched at 48'000 Yen which is essentially the same price as what PS3 will launch at, if the above article is correct.

I think it launched at 39800 yen.
Heh funny thing when I put PS2 Japan launch in google, the first hit says

"Tekken 3 psone looked better than tekken 3 tag on ps2 japan launch"

Quess where that came from .

 

[Phil]

Oops, I stand corrected, you're right: 39800 Yen it is...

 

[quest55720]

As long as they keep the 299 price in the US I will be happy. If they get foolish and price at 349 or higher than i'll pass till the prices drop.

 

[pegisys]

As long as they keep the 299 price in the US I will be happy. If they get foolish and price at 349 or higher than i'll pass till the prices drop.

I doubt it will come out at $299 I was thinking more like $399 but like the article said if they do it like they did with the psp the price will go up

and why are games systems so high in Europe

 

[quest55720]

As long as they keep the 299 price in the US I will be happy. If they get foolish and price at 349 or higher than i'll pass till the prices drop.

I doubt it will come out at $299 I was thinking more like $399 but like the article said if they do it like they did with the psp the price will go up

and why are games systems so high in Europe

They were able to get away with a high price on the PSP because it offered somethings no other handheld offered. 1 being 3d that is 2/3 PS2 level 2 kick ass large screen and 3 being able to play other media like full movies in high quality and MP3s. There is nothing besides blue ray the PS3 does the Xbox 360 can't do. With the slow addoption of HDTVs I don't see blue ray as this killer app that will send people into a frenzy. If HD-DVD does launch it hurts the blue ray in the PS3 even more. With a format war people will be reluctant to spend on either format till there is a winner. People don't like throwing away cash on something that could be worthless at any time. To many people have been burnt on divix and betamax ect to make the same mistake again.

If sony launches at over 299 in the US they will open a door for MS. I can only imagine gates is praying for sony to be stupid enough to launch at 399. If that happens I see the 360 dropping to 249 the day the PS3 launches.

 

[Phil]

Why would $399 be so bad in NA? We've been paying over $500 for ages over here in Europe?

 

[MechanizedDeath]

PS2 was like $380 or so with the exchange at launch in Japan. The exchange dropped it to like $320 or so for the US launch. I wouldn't go based on the yen price. I don't see it selling well over $300, but IMO, it'll be $350. I worry prices will be going up this gen. PEACE.

 

[quest55720]

Why would $399 be so bad in NA? We've been paying over $500 for ages over here in Europe?

299 has been established for 2 GENs as the entry price for a new console. I think NA is a much more price consious region than any other region. Just like gas prices people here are in a panic over gas at just over 2 bucks a gallon but that is like 1/4 the europeon price of the last decade.

 

[pegisys]

if a console in the US come out costing much more then the competition they usually fail even if they do have more power, the 3do couldn't compete with the ps1 even though at the time it had a good library of games and major support from EA because thethe system costed to much, something simular can be said about neogeo

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

PS3 has the advantage of letting X360 launch first and watching it's prices.

However, the X360 has the advantage of actually launching higher and then dropping its price tag to that of the PS3 once the PS3 comes to market.

The PS3 simply can't cost $100 more than the X360, because they'll be dead in the water. Even a $50 premium might be too much for the PS3 to withstand in NA.

When Xbox dropped its price $50, Sony balked and first stated they wouldn't do it.. but then they were forced to do so.

When the PS3 launches, they have to be within $50 of the X360 in order to compete, period. IF they are more than that, they are dead in NA. Even at $50 more, they'll be losing market share to the cheaper X360.

So the real question isn't what will the PS3 cost. It doesn't matter. The real question is what will the X360 launch at, and what will they do 6 months - 1 year later in terms of dropping their price tag.

Perhaps somebody can help me out.. At what point (length of time) did the Xbox hit the market and then drop their price? Wasn't it about 6 months? IIRC first adopters paid a $50 premium on the Xbox, and 6 months later, it was selling for less.

 

[quest55720]

You can't compare xbox and xbox 360 price schemes. MS screwed up and got bent over the barrel by nividia. MS had no flexibility in prices of the XBOX. All ms could do was match sony and eat money. This time around they learned and will have much more control over pricing of the 360. They paid for the chip designs and can get them built anywere and save money. Look at the PSP it might be selling ok but it is not destroying the DS like everyone in the world predicted. Price is the main reason for that. If sony can't get a preminum for the PSP they won't get one for the PS3.

 

[Acert93]

Xbox 360 is built to be a combo of speed/price with the ability to be affordable down the road. Very GCN like in design it seems.

I think the real question is: How brave is MS? Are they willing to endure steep losses just so Sony has to do the same?

If Sony goes for $350 will they do $275? If Sony goes $300 will MS go for $225?

How serious is MS willing to get about market share in the US? They lost a ton this time because they had to. Are they willing to lose a ton again just to 1. gain marketshare and 2. hurt their competitor?

If I were them I would do it, but for some reason I do not see it happening.

Anyhow, MS success really depends on their 2nd gen games. Basically it looks like they are getting a TON of shovel ware + a couple Next Gen titles. PS3 is REALLY benefiting from this because instead of PS2 shovel ware they will be getting X360 2nd gen software.

Halo 3 better impress... I think that is a given. Because it may have to single handedly fight MGS4, FFXII, Tekken 6, GTA 4, GT5, and so forth. Probably not THAT bad (MS does have Fable, Bioware, Forza, PGR, etc...) but MS really needs to get their ducks in the row.

The fact EA is showing a Xbox/PC port for the Xbox 360 is not a good sign. I think at this point 360 is getting too much this gen junk. It really needs to differentiat itself as next gen.

 

[DigitalSoul]

Um, Acert93 FFXII isn't a next-gen title

 

[Acert93]

Um, Acert93 FFXII isn't a next-gen title

Ok. I do not follow the series at all. Whatever new FF the PS3 gets it will sell like hot cakes though, how about that

I know it sounds bad not knowing hardly anything about one of the most influential game series of all times... but I just cannot stand RPGs, specifically turn based. Not saying they are bad (1 trillion gamers cannot be wrong), just not my thing. And all the MMO RPGS have lost me because I wont pay $10 a month for a game. I pay too much already for the system, internet, and the game. At least on my budget. I cannot afford to be addicted to WoW!!

Sorry for the confusion. Me = RPG neophite.

Ps- Same can be said of GTA. Concept sounds great (free roaming world) just not the GTA theme. Godfather sounds interesting though!

 

[pegisys]

Hirai did say Sony's handheld PlayStation Portable (PSP) would work with the PS3

besides being wireless isn't that what nintendo did with gamecube and the gba

the x360 has some good games lined up with a few exclusives and a few pc ports that will push it away from this gen consoles I think it's whoever is willing to take the biggest hit on the price will come out ahead

if sony falls behind, they might be able to pull ahead when the price drops because of specs and the games will most likey have the edge towards second half of the life cycle

 

[DigitalSoul]

Um, Acert93 FFXII isn't a next-gen title

Ok. I do not follow the series at all. Whatever new FF the PS3 gets it will sell like hot cakes though, how about that

I know it sounds bad not knowing hardly anything about one of the most influential game series of all times... but I just cannot stand RPGs, specifically turn based. Not saying they are bad (1 trillion gamers cannot be wrong), just not my thing. And all the MMO RPGS have lost me because I wont pay $10 a month for a game. I pay too much already for the system, internet, and the game. At least on my budget. I cannot afford to be addicted to WoW!!

Sorry for the confusion. Me = RPG neophite.

Ps- Same can be said of GTA. Concept sounds great (free roaming world) just not the GTA theme. Godfather sounds interesting though!

Haha.....well the the thing about FFXII is that is that the battle system it totally real-time now(From what I understand, somewhere between Vagrant Story and FF11). Yeah, they pretty much ditched the random encounter/turn-based system.

Either you love or hate em 8)

Sorry for going OT