PlayStation 3 has a future?! Blasphemy? Read on...

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: destrekor
If you are completely uninterested in good games, then nothing but the Wii is right for you.

can you possibly make it any less obvious your bias against Nintendo? The Wii has plenty of good games, as does the 360 and eventually the ps3. I think the perspective most people have against the PS3 is based on the fact that it's appeal overlaps with the 360, which give little incentive for people to spend the extra money unless they really want BlueRay.

If Sony could have shaved off $200 from the price of the PS3 and removed blueray functionality, therebye giving consumers more flexibility in deciding independently which video format and console they prefer, I'm sure they would have sold much more. It's the mere fact that Sony packaged them together in a cheap ploy to force consumers to buy what is essentially two expensive products at the same time is what is turning people off.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

As much as some people like to put the Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD battle together with the console wars, it really isn't. Really, the only reason they are tied together at this point is because the standalone players for both formats are still relatively expensive compared to the consoles (though that isn't all that true with the HD DVD side any more). Once the BD people get players out in the $300 range, people will stop buying a $600 PS3 to play movies as some early adopters are doing now.

This is similar to the PS2 with DVDs, btw. Originally some people were using the PS2 to play DVDs, but eventually standalone prices dropped far below the PS2 price and the PS2's DVD player capabilities became irrelevant; much in the same way nobody buys a 360 when they want a DVD player.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: ed21x

Originally posted by: destrekor
If you are completely uninterested in good games, then nothing but the Wii is right for you.

can you possibly make it any less obvious your bias against Nintendo? The Wii has plenty of good games, as does the 360 and eventually the ps3. I think the perspective most people have against the PS3 is based on the fact that it's appeal overlaps with the 360, which give little incentive for people to spend the extra money unless they really want BlueRay.

If Sony could have shaved off $200 from the price of the PS3 and removed blueray functionality, therebye giving consumers more flexibility in deciding independently which video format and console they prefer, I'm sure they would have sold much more. It's the mere fact that Sony packaged them together in a cheap ploy to force consumers to buy what is essentially two expensive products at the same time is what is turning people off.

actually I apologize, my mind was still on my paper I am writing at the moment and do not know what I originally meant. I actually love the Wii and will be buying one this summer (if possible).
as far as the inclusion of Blu-Ray, well... some games will definitely benefit from the added space. Some predict that it won't be long before Microsoft's compression can no longer prevent multiple disc games. And it's a natural business decision, because having the sole format out there, requiring everyone to license the format, is quite lucrative. For a long-term profit effort, it was a reasonable decision to make the PS3 the way they did. However, with the advent of technology, it was either wait a year or two to introduce the PS3 at a lower price, or introduce it at one price, although relatively high, and price cut it as soon as possible. The former option would have meant a lost opportunity and essentially giving up this round. Look for price cuts toward the end of this year too: Sony isn't dumb, they understand high prices are keeping sales, as is software. At least, a reasonable corporation that has reached a massive turn around point that is has started going through in the last few years... such a corporation should understand the market.

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
The article talks about Playstation Home, Warhawk, SOCOM, Stranglehold, Uncharted, and LittleBigPlanet.

Not really system selling titles, but something for existing PS3 owners to play nonetheless.

The games themselves may not be for everyone, but each of those are pretty significant (except for maybe Uncharted) for Sony.

Home - interactive interface for online functions, includes minigames, free
Warhawk - major release where the primary mode of delivery is digital distribution
SOCOM - PS2's largest online community
Stranglehold - full-length feature film to be offered in HD on the same disc as the game
Uncharted - uh... it's pretty?
LittleBigPlanet - gaming + Youtube

Singstar deserves a mention for its impact in Europe, but it remains to be seen whether it will take off in America.

Another thing that's nice (but will suck for early adopters) is the HDD size is going to keep increasing through the life of the console. An 80GB version is going to be the only model available in Korea. It's likely to replace the 60GB version worldwide once the current stock runs out (insert: lol).

 

[arod]

Originally posted by: mlm

Originally posted by: jpeyton
The article talks about Playstation Home, Warhawk, SOCOM, Stranglehold, Uncharted, and LittleBigPlanet.

Not really system selling titles, but something for existing PS3 owners to play nonetheless.

The games themselves may not be for everyone, but each of those are pretty significant (except for maybe Uncharted) for Sony.

Home - interactive interface for online functions, includes minigames, free
Warhawk - major release where the primary mode of delivery is digital distribution
SOCOM - PS2's largest online community
Stranglehold - full-length feature film to be offered in HD on the same disc as the game
Uncharted - uh... it's pretty?
LittleBigPlanet - gaming + Youtube

Singstar deserves a mention for its impact in Europe, but it remains to be seen whether it will take off in America.

Another thing that's nice (but will suck for early adopters) is the HDD size is going to keep increasing through the life of the console. An 80GB version is going to be the only model available in Korea. It's likely to replace the 60GB version worldwide once the current stock runs out (insert: lol).

the question sony has to answer for though is that worth an extra 150 bucks over a 360 premium (im not counting the elite because imo its a useless sku for most people and also adding in 1 yr of live service). the 360's lineup this fall is going to be pretty good and both consoles will have their amazing games.

the difference always has been imo that sony had to demonstrate where the added value is in the ps3 over the 360 and so far have been unable to show it. now will everything you listed show what the ps3 can do that the 360 cant? i personally dont see it but i know some will. the question is how many will see it and i cant help but think that number will stay small for some time until the real big games for sony are out and even then it wont sell like the ps2 did until it gets a price drop..... 599 is not a very consumer friendly price, especially now with other "necessities" costing so much (gas, dairy products, etc).

But this is where it really gets scary for sony is MS could have easily dropped the price of the 360 by now (and its rumored they are finally making a profit on each console sold where sony is losing quite a bit per console). The simple fact though is ms would be stupid to drop their price now when they are selling 2x as many consoles per month as sony (it just gives them that much more per sale). So when sony does do their price drops (and i expect them to). MS will likely counter with atleast the same price drop.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: loup garou
...wake me up when its $250.

By the time it's ~$250.00 US, I'm gonna have to cryogenicly [sp?] thaw you loup garou!

Call me I.C. Weiner.

Oh, now mister "I'm my own grandfather" has an opinion ... !

 

[bunnyfubbles]

So is someone going to tell us when we're supposed to stop holding our breath?

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: sao123
3 if you are basing the DVD format wars based on who wins the console wars, that would be a mistake... as A Wii is wining & B Console as DVD player only makes up < 35% of the market.

But the PS3 is the biggest selling hi def movie player so far. By a wide margin. Even discounting that very few PS3 owners buy blu-ray movies, those who do still are a much greater number than any other model player.

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Don't forget Blu-Ray has completely shunned the porn industry, while HD-DVD has accepted it with open arms.

I'd post a link if it wouldn't get me banned here. Bottom line, you are wrong. :roll:

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
This is similar to the PS2 with DVDs, btw. Originally some people were using the PS2 to play DVDs, but eventually standalone prices dropped far below the PS2 price and the PS2's DVD player capabilities became irrelevant; much in the same way nobody buys a 360 when they want a DVD player.

Thing's might have been different had the PS2 not been the inconceivably horrendous dvd player that it was.

Originally posted by: mlm
Another thing that's nice (but will suck for early adopters) is the HDD size is going to keep increasing through the life of the console. An 80GB version is going to be the only model available in Korea. It's likely to replace the 60GB version worldwide once the current stock runs out (insert: lol).

Unlike the xbox 360, the PS3's hard drive can be upgraded by anyone at any time to whatever they want. It's just a standard laptop hard drive that Sony uses.

Originally posted by: arod
the difference always has been imo that sony had to demonstrate where the added value is in the ps3 over the 360 and so far have been unable to show it. now will everything you listed show what the ps3 can do that the 360 cant? i personally dont see it but i know some will. the question is how many will see it and i cant help but think that number will stay small for some time until the real big games for sony are out and even then it wont sell like the ps2 did until it gets a price drop..... 599 is not a very consumer friendly price, especially now with other "necessities" costing so much (gas, dairy products, etc).

But this is where it really gets scary for sony is MS could have easily dropped the price of the 360 by now (and its rumored they are finally making a profit on each console sold where sony is losing quite a bit per console). The simple fact though is ms would be stupid to drop their price now when they are selling 2x as many consoles per month as sony (it just gives them that much more per sale). So when sony does do their price drops (and i expect them to). MS will likely counter with atleast the same price drop.

Metal Gear Solid 4 should be a title that should show off what can be done with blu-ray's capacity. Unfortunately it's not due out until 2008 now.

As for xbox price drops, the real scary part is that MS can easily drop the price down to $100 a console if they want to, because they generate so much revenue from the sales of Windows OS's. I wouldn't expect a PS3 price cut until mid-2008. If anything comes this holiday season, I'd be surprised if it's more than $50 price cut. Sony really should not have discontinued the 20gb model, that was their biggest mistake.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: StevenYoo
PS2 sucked in the beginning too. Look where it stands now.

PS3 will do fine. Just needs time

Heh

I did an unrelated search a couple days ago and popped up with this page concerning the PS2's release. The comments are interesting to say the least.
http://www.sharkyextreme.com/forums_spotlight/26/7.shtml

 

[jpeyton]

Differences abound between then (PS2 launch) and now. There were only two major players then (Nintendo and Sony); now there are three. Microsoft has openly declared itself a direct competitor to Sony's gaming demographic, and they have a year sales head-start with the XBOX 360 (instead of a year handicap in the XBOX era).

Of course, the biggest difference: price. Nintendo has a mantra about their new consoles: they should debut for $199. That was true for the NES/SNES/N64/GC; they broke rank with the Wii, but they also packed in a game. They've maintained roughly the same introductory price for over two decades. Sony believed their PlayStation and PlayStation 2 were premium systems, and set MSRPs of $299; fair enough...the market accepted it. Microsoft, seeing themselves as a direct competitor to the PlayStation, adopted the same $299 price point for the XBOX and XBOX 360.

$599 is simply not being adopted by the gaming community as the 'new' price point for a premium console, and it never will. MGS4 and FFXIII won't change that. System selling titles plus a hefty ($200) price cut is the only way they'll get back in the race. Only offering a single "loaded" model to consumers is killing them; they need a cheaper SKU.

Originally posted by: cubby1223
I'd post a link if it wouldn't get me banned here. Bottom line, you are wrong. :roll:

LFP just released the first Blu-Ray adult title. Keywords being the first. Sony and the Blu-Ray association (*wink* Disney) has turned their back on the adult industry. Keep in mind LFP is also releasing the title on HD-DVD at the same time.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: StevenYoo
PS2 sucked in the beginning too. Look where it stands now.

PS3 will do fine. Just needs a huge price drop

fixed

That's pretty much what helped the PS2 so much, it was a very powerful but affordable piece of equipment.

 

[Gibson486]

stop saying price cut. It wont happen till another year. Sony has the pockets to support sluggish sales. Sony is not in a "just sell" position yet.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
stop saying price cut. It wont happen till another year. Sony has the pockets to support sluggish sales. Sony is not in a "just sell" position yet.

And until that price cut happens, sales will be lagging. Many weeks/months the PS2 outsells the PS3 still.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Gibson486
stop saying price cut. It wont happen till another year. Sony has the pockets to support sluggish sales. Sony is not in a "just sell" position yet.

And until that price cut happens, sales will be lagging. Many weeks/months the PS2 outsells the PS3 still.

you think a $50 price cut will have people running through the stores to buy one?

 

[rsd]

we really need another thread on this subject..

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
stop saying price cut. It wont happen till another year. Sony has the pockets to support sluggish sales. Sony is not in a "just sell" position yet.

Lots of news, predictions from analysts, and statements from industry vets saying that the price will drop before the end of the year.

It makes no sense to 'ride out' sluggish sales into next spring, when sales inevitably hit a lull anyways. Companies strategically time price cuts and software releases with the holiday buying season. A price cut in November 2007 will have a different sales impact than a price cut in April 2008.

And all signs point to a $100 price cut, not a $50 one.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Gibson486
stop saying price cut. It wont happen till another year. Sony has the pockets to support sluggish sales. Sony is not in a "just sell" position yet.

And until that price cut happens, sales will be lagging. Many weeks/months the PS2 outsells the PS3 still.

you think a $50 price cut will have people running through the stores to buy one?

who says a price cut would only be 50?
it would like be $100, to bring the current model to the price the cheaper SKU used to be at. A reasonable market strategy, and coupled with a relatively strong fall quarter/holiday period... that could be enough to spark more interest. More interest may not drive sales of the console a lot, but enough to get a few sold and that shows the developers that the console is safe to develop for.
All of these decisions to be made soon aren't directly related to the consumer, rather more or less for the developers, as Sony needs to prove to developers that the PS3 is a wise development choice. When strong exclusives are made, that's when consumers pay more attention to the console.

Regardless, much cannot be said at the current moment, just speculation about the industry. Follow the industry long enough and safe predictions can be made.

 

[spaceman]

the ps3 will be here awhile.
it needs an obvious price drop.
i snagged one for a very good deal.
the best games for it are my ps2 games, tho it isnt difficult to see the potential.
just because the ps3 isnt that great atm doesnt make the 360 a must have.
in fact, dollar for dollar, the ps3 is a better buy unless MS drops the price on their conair hair dryer/console

 

[Gibson486]

just like anaysts and industry vets said the 360 would have a price cut already.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Gibson486
stop saying price cut. It wont happen till another year. Sony has the pockets to support sluggish sales. Sony is not in a "just sell" position yet.

And until that price cut happens, sales will be lagging. Many weeks/months the PS2 outsells the PS3 still.

you think a $50 price cut will have people running through the stores to buy one?

who says a price cut would only be 50?
it would like be $100, to bring the current model to the price the cheaper SKU used to be at. A reasonable market strategy, and coupled with a relatively strong fall quarter/holiday period... that could be enough to spark more interest. More interest may not drive sales of the console a lot, but enough to get a few sold and that shows the developers that the console is safe to develop for.
All of these decisions to be made soon aren't directly related to the consumer, rather more or less for the developers, as Sony needs to prove to developers that the PS3 is a wise development choice. When strong exclusives are made, that's when consumers pay more attention to the console.

Regardless, much cannot be said at the current moment, just speculation about the industry. Follow the industry long enough and safe predictions can be made.

$100???? They will not do a price drop that big......

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
just like anaysts and industry vets said the 360 would have a price cut already.

it needs one, its really cheap looking and feeling.
side by side with the ps3, its easy to see why sony feels justified in their price point.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Gibson486
stop saying price cut. It wont happen till another year. Sony has the pockets to support sluggish sales. Sony is not in a "just sell" position yet.

And until that price cut happens, sales will be lagging. Many weeks/months the PS2 outsells the PS3 still.

you think a $50 price cut will have people running through the stores to buy one?

who says a price cut would only be 50?
it would like be $100, to bring the current model to the price the cheaper SKU used to be at. A reasonable market strategy, and coupled with a relatively strong fall quarter/holiday period... that could be enough to spark more interest. More interest may not drive sales of the console a lot, but enough to get a few sold and that shows the developers that the console is safe to develop for.
All of these decisions to be made soon aren't directly related to the consumer, rather more or less for the developers, as Sony needs to prove to developers that the PS3 is a wise development choice. When strong exclusives are made, that's when consumers pay more attention to the console.

Regardless, much cannot be said at the current moment, just speculation about the industry. Follow the industry long enough and safe predictions can be made.

$100???? They will not do a price drop that big......

My bet is $50 and a bundle (2nd controller or game or downloadable content) before the holidays. Totally uneducated guess here.

 

[spaceman]

i think its going to $499 by November.
i the he obvious problem is the price point.
even with a "must have"
hypothetical: if it had halo3/Gran Turismo 4/Mario Galaxy as launch titles how many more do you think they would have sold by now @599.99?
graned, alot of people say they would buy one, but maybe a third of them would actually do so.
dropping closer to a grand than $500 after all is said and done is hard to justify for a console..
for me at least, and for many people i know.

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: The Cornballer
i think its going to $499 by November.

Even 499 is a lot. 399 would be a killer price (in both senses of the word )

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: loup garou
My bet is $50 and a bundle (2nd controller or game or downloadable content) before the holidays. Totally uneducated guess here.

Tossing in a free controller or game is not really better than a straight cash price drop.

You have to remember the psychology behind pricing. Cutting it $50 to $549 still places it in the same price bracket. It's the same psychology behind the reason retail prices are always a penny or dollar under a target cost (e.g., $299 or $299.99 instead of $300). $499 as a base MSRP will drive sales; $549 with a game or controller will not.

It's the same reason why arguments about the value of the PS3 vs. the XBOX 360 are completely pointless. Yes, if you buy an XBOX 360 with all the equivalent features of a PS3, you'll spend as much or more. But there is a different psychological process between convincing someone to buy a $399 console and $200 worth of accessories over time, or a $599 console up front; it's a LOT easier to do the former. That's just a fact of retail sales.