UK retail: Consumers to decide PS3's fate |
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The UK retail sector says that the consumers will ultimately decide if the price is right when it comes to the PS3. According to GamesIndustry, UK retailers - from entertainment chains all the way to independent specialists - say that whatever analysts or industry insiders may think of the PS3's price-tag, gamers will vote with their wallets.
Tim Ellis, head of games at HMV, says that although the price may seem steep, especially when it comes to non-core PlayStation fans, the PS3 is "is much more than just a games console." He also says that gamers know this already and will respond to the product accordingly.
Don McCabe, MD of specialist chain Chips thinks that consumers will first consider if the console is worth the asking price. He explains:
I don't think the price point will put customers off, although they'll be looking at the specification of the machine carefully to see if anything has changed from the US and Japanese units.
...It's a lot of money, so it has to deliver everything the consumer expects - and if it does it may go some way to allaying fears of Europe being treated as second best.
Steve O'Brien of leading indies store Action Replay says that he thinks that "People have a lot more disposable income and they don't mind spending it if they understand what they get for it. The PS3 is a lot more than just a games console, and those that are going to buy it understand that."
Sony has yet to reveal just how much of the 1 million units headed for Europe will be allocated to the UK. If it will be at around 30%, GamesIndustry speculates that it may not be enough to meet the unprecedented demand from a loyal PlayStation fan-base.
Retail has also praised the larger amount of software launch titles that Sony has ready for Europe. Moreover even if the PS3 didn't have a "killer app" it seems that retailers are still pretty confident about the PS3's selling power. Steve O'Brien says, "PS3 could sell all it's entire allocation - whatever that might be - three times over without a single killer game over the next twelve months."
Via GamesIndustry
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Comments [refresh]
True, the problem is, the things other than being a games console that the PS3 does...
Other things can do better an cheaper.
i've been doing a bit of searching... for 280 quid delivered i can get the x360 with 20 gig hdd, wifi controller, and headset... so, that's a lot cheaper than the 425 ps3 is on pre-order for in the uk.
but.
i have found import 60gig ps3 for 330 quid... and that includes the blu-ray player, the wifi, the psn (as in free tekken dark resurrection and gthd, flow and others)...
what am i saying? well, it's not THAT expensive compared to the competition. i know the wii is 180 quid but strangely enough i am probably less likely to have wasted my money if i save up and get a ps3 than splash out and get a wii ... i just don't know if it has legs, whereas i know ps3 is going somewhere.
Ummm ... like what? Can you give an example?
I have one actually suggested the opposite: PS3 is actually one of the best blu-ray player on the market. And is the cheapest. It can even play java imbedded BR (Descent) when every other BR players failed to do that without a firmware upgrade.
http://kotaku.com/gaming/the-descent/the-descent-bluray-watchable-on-ps3-only-227340.php
If you're worried about a console having legs, I wouldn't be splashing my money towards the PS3. Unfortunately for Sony, their console is in a very dangerous position. Very few people are purchasing it, there are very few good games coming to the console, people don't seem to be very interested in Blu Ray, and unless every one of these factors improve, the price of the console won't have an opportunity to fall. It's quite a downward spiral from where they are now.
Compare this to Nintendo who have massive momentum, a broad audience and an impressive future lineup. Then there's Microsoft who have a large installed base, a long list of games already released and to come. To me, they are the company with legs, plus they seem to be getting a share of all of Sony's exclusives (is FFXIII next now that it's come to the Unreal Engine?)
When the PS2 came out I paid over £600 for the console, extra controller and a few games. When the PS3 comes out I will be spending the same. I dont see the big deal, its £100 more than the PS2 was on launch.
Yes the 360 with all those extras is cheaper... But the PS3 still has built in Wifi, larger hard disk, more power and HD. How much to add HD to the 360? £180 thats how much.
Sure you say "But I dont need wifi, I dont need HD" but thats cool. Fact is HD is the way the world is moving to and Wifi, just cos you dont need it doesnt mean somone else doesnt.
If by HD you mean hi-def movie playback, then your price is wrong. The 360 HD-DVD add-on is £130 not £180.
The big deal is as technology advances it gets cheaper.
EG. The Commodore Amiga 1000 (top spec machine at the time) was released in 1985 cost around $1,295 WITHOUT a monitor and had I belive a 256mb ram and a 7 mhz cpu.
Now what would $1,295 buy you now in terms of a PC ?.
Larger hard disks are just about to be released on the 360 proberly 120s which is double the PS3s top end one.
20 gig will proberly be dropped on both systems soon.
The HDMI 360 (zephyr) is more than slightly rumored to be released soon along with a joint HDMI converter for the original 360 which will properly be dual released.
Wi Fi, the more you point it out the more M$ will be taking note and the more likely they will put main brand Wifi 3rd party drivers on XBL to allow you to use other brands very soon.
I never use WIFI I use a cat 6 cable,WIFI is never 100% reliable.
But there you go at the end of the day the one who decides the console war is the Parents and they dont care for the technical stuff they are more interested in price and game availability,so come March and being so close after Christmas after those parents have already bought a PS2,360 or Wi I dont think they will be splashing out the kind of money they are asking for the PS3 around 12 weeks after they have just paid out on another console.
Gears of War a FPS game is now in Japans top 10 now who would of thought that even a couple of months ago?.
And dont forget that $1,295 in 1985 would I guess work out at around $2000 in todays money so add that to the price of the spec PC you could buy today.
And dont forget that $1,295 in 1985 would I guess work out at around $2000 in todays money so add that to the price of the spec PC you could buy today.
with nintendo's wii i just am not sure how 'great' the whole wiimote thing will be in the long run. i haven't heard anything about it changing the face of gaming, simply that it's quite a novel approach... that's not enough for my cash.
i know ps3 isn't going to change the face of gaming, but that's not what i perceive their goal to be.
as the wii is all about a different experience i am wary of spending on it.
for instance, i bought guitar hero and gh2 - this came to about 80quid total, and it's for two games which are essentially the same - really i am a little stupid for doing this as i'm not playing very much (in fact i play ff12 a hell of a lot more), it's different but just not enough to convert me to playing it exclusively.
i think if i bought a wii i would be seriously sick when ps3 came out and i couldn't possibly get it.
honestly i see ps3 having a longer lifespan than wii. it's just a better bet, look at the gamecube and the xbox, they have simply been deserted... my gamecube never achieved what it could have. it seems like N really missed a trick there. ok they're putting more into the wii than gc but i am still not convinced. look at sony, they love this kind of thing, it's their life to make their products everything you could wish for... i don't think they'll let me down.
yes it's expensive but it's not in the same league as things people often buy.
i think it's a mistake to say parents aren't concerned by the specs of a machine, and simply will pay for the cheapest one, it may have been true several years ago but now the parents are gamers too; this means they will know what's what... doesnt' mean they'll chose ps3 over wii, but they will make choices based on other things to price.
The thing is you would have to be an idoit to support either next gen formats until a winner is decided.
The reason the PS3 sucks is because it's no longer a gaming console. Because it sucks as a gaming console.
Using it as a Blu-Ray player is only going to shorten the life of the laser. PS2 lasers (and xbox lasers too) tend to die after heavy DVD use over a year. Using your PS3 heavy as a Blu-Ray player may have you buying another PS3 in one or two years time.
LOL so how many women do you know who said to their kids this Christmas-
Okay tell me what is the cpu in the machine,ram size,graphic power,the harddrive size,can it play films as they are more important than games,etc etc.
I agree with posters who say Parent power as in price and game availibilty and price.
Comedy, I agree when you say -
i know ps3 isn't going to change the face of gaming, but that's not what i perceive their goal to be
I would say that the film side is their main goal but thats just my opinion.
When you mention the xbox1 you really are making a mistake,why do you think the Xbox360 is now the worlds best selling next gen console?,its because xbox1 put xboxs name in every household and to any big company that is their main aim and is worth a huge investment.
You say the PS3 has a longer lifespan! well I would rather bet my money on a future 2 year old race horse rather than a 5 year old nag.
So you are saying that The 360 Will Be Bought For Kids..
I Guess thats why teh Children Love it ;)
in argos today i brought the xbox 360 HD DVD add on for £119. its region free and plays my american HD DVDs.
ive got an UK xbox 360, an american wii and will get an american ps3 for region a blu ray and to be able to play japanese games. i m not sure if the uk ps3 will be region free with regards usa and japan games. i think the region free will be within the regions.
Region A in blu ray is japan and america but region B is Europe Austraila so maybe it will be region free that way.
ps3 is region free, just like psp and nds... the bluray discs aren't, with the usa and japan being one region and europe and australia etc being the other (i think) regardless, all games will work in all regions.
but how many people do you know who have kids and also play the odd videogame?
the first generation of videogamers is now about 35 or 40 years old by my reckoning (i'm roughly second gen, about 23), but that means many have kids by now, and if they're still playing games they will pay attention to more than just price.
but yeah, i reckon the majority of systems are still bought by the uninformed (hence x360 selling over 10 million units!!!! - i'm just kidding)
yeah x360 is selling well because it's the sequel to xbox, but that's hardly the only reason
1. it got their first by about a year
2. it's microsoft, who have enough money to make anything happen
and by your logic 'yous' you would have bet on the dreamcast over the playstation 2... i know we're onto a new generation and things, but a long life means more for videogames than racehorses.
@Mawt: There's a 200gb blu ray disk out there you know?
The largest HD is 42gb for HD-DVD, the Xbox uses standard DVD too.
The PS3 is future proofed. PS3 will be in your homes and up to date for many years to come (HDMI 1.3 anyone?) and the Harddrive is interchangable so therefore can be upgraded to any capacity that comes along. HD is the way were all heading and larger disk capacitys allow developers more space and scope (xbox360 games will never be on HD DVD as the base unit comes with DVD and therefore core 360 gamers will mainly be DVD based). PS3 is also HDMI out the box, which means that users get a true digital HD experience (no compression at either end) as opposed to the 360's analog-only signal. Ps3 is matching Xbox360 in terms of graphics and Devs don't even know how to use it properly yet (same as PS2 all those years back). The seven SPUs are still not being utilised (the Havok engine 4.5 should take care of that though), just think what will will be available game-wise when the hardware is used properly. So we should look at PS3 as an investment; great now but even more amazing tomorrow.
It does not come with the HDMI cable you have to buy that so its NOT HDMI out of the box.
PS3 matching in terms of graphics? okay tell me ONE game you have or is in a store that matches the best 360 game in terms of graphics to prove that point is FACT ?.
In fact everything you have said is all based on NON FACTS its always yes but when they do this or that oh but and in the future etc.
Core gamers yer right,they will have TWO choices soon either update the HD which I have no doubt M$ will do a generous deal on,or be left behind.
Its just the same situation PS3 20 gig owners will also be in soon as it looks more like the 20 gig version is going to be dropped its not being released in Europe etc so what happens when the Devs start using that extra space on that drive ! OH OF COURSE THEY CANT USE IT OR THOSE 20 gig owners wont be compatible.
You just totally IGNORE the FACTS and fail to mention or even acknowledge that the 360 is of course going to be bringing out new hardware (HDMI etc) and of course will be constantly improving its software as the devs get to know how to unleash more power as well.
Broken_Hero you seem to forget that these machines are first and foremost GAMES MACHINES the rest are just added extras so YES I am saying the 360 will also be bought for kids What the hell is wrong with that? so when a parent buys the PS3 who do you think will receive it their gran?
You seem to have this idea that everyone who buys a PS3 is some sort of film Buff first and a game player 2nd if thats true then go play your High rated films while the 360 owners (including a lot of kids) enjoy all the new AAA rated GAMES being released.
All of my comments are based on extensive research and bonified articles from numerous games sights (not blogs or hearsay).
Firstly because you don't get an HDMI cable 'in the box' (I bought one for £5.00 recently by the way) doesn't mean that my statement 'out of the box' is invalid, I was clearly trying to inform you that the PS3 has superior HD output (digital not anolog and no compression which equals better quality output). Secondly, graphics so far; every third party game is pretty much spot on and the first party ones are even better in some aspects (GT HD is spectacular (also a free demo) and I haven't seen any racer yet on 360 that can compare - I've played 360 games extensively also), and that's without Devs properly using the hardware at their disposal (and with very little help from Sony). Thridly - now have a think about this logically Jasper, why would 360 Devs create a game and try to convert it for two seperate media on the same machine (HD DVD & DVD) when all they need do is put it on DVD and then 100% of 360 gamers can play it. To reiterate - there will be NO HD DVD games on 360, this isn't fact (yet), but then I don't have a crystal ball, just good old fasioned common sense and logic! Oh and the 20 gig hard drive thing - what are you getting at? Why would DEVs produce games based soley around a Hard drive, especially when you have 50gig bluray, you sort of lost me there Jasper? I agree Devs will get more out of 360 as well, it's just that the PS3 hardware has more to offer and we can clearly see this as the first releases of third party PS3 games are upto the standard of the second set of 360 games (and they've had a year and a half head start). Basically the point I am trying to make is that both consoles are good but PS3 will have more to give, but it will take a little bit of time to start seeing this and that is what people must bare in mind.