PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

[pk500]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

Absolutely no way I'm paying 400 bones for a console. Especially when the rival product, with which I've had a great time and has a FAR superior online gaming component, will be $100 less.

Sony just kissed me goodbye if the $399 price point is accurate.

Take care,
PK

[Jimplication]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

I doubt that this will stick.

Unfortunately, I think it very well may stick. The way I read the article, I gathered that by not selling the PS3 at production cost, they were already providing the consumers with a "discount," and thus I don't see them dropping the price another $100 to meet the 360's price tag.

Also, it's easy for whoever was quoted in the article as saying the likes of, "We want people to work more so they can afford the PS3," while in reality, there are lots of younger kids looking to buy the system. Their parents are likely helping them pay for it.

And when a "gaming ignorant" parent goes to the game store and sees two "new" systems, one for $300, and the other for $400, and realizes that $100 difference could help cover accessories and a game while still keeping it under the PS3's retail price, I think there are going to be a lot of kids walking home with 360's, instead of PS3's.

[Graphik]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

From the article:



This is a good point, and really could hurt the PS3 before it's even out of the water. If the 360 price drops when the PS3 is released, it will be hard for potential PS3'ers to not consider spending $150 less (assuming a $50 price drop) on a system that may be prove to be better, or at least as good as, the new PS3.

Microsoft is in a nice spot right now, and Sony could realistically lose quite a few customers to Microsoft and it's 360.

Sony is already bound to lose a few customers since they will be second out the gate. The holiday season is the only time when most kids and teens will be able to get their parents to spend the money on a new console. I doubt many ppl will wait for the PS3 on that fact alone. And if Microsoft drops the price a smidgen when they PS3 drops, they'll definitely win this battle. Not that I care who wins or not since I'll eventually get both.

You're right though, Microsoft is in a great position. Sony has to follow they're lead.

[luv_mist]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

I think tax is 8.9% right? I just rounded it off to 9% So that's 400 + (400 x .09) = $436Honestly, what the heck else would they be including. They sold the 20 GB HDD for $50 on the PS2 and it came with no benefits. It was a $100 pricetag since it had FF 11. Honestly, how much are they selling their supposed "not enough" 80 GB HDD when it's available? Horrible loss right there. Not to mention that the controllers should come with at least two out of box. How many you think will be in there? I'm sure those controllers are at least $40 since they're wireless. I need to know what comes in the box for both systems. I know Live is for the 360. 20 GB HDD. This is depressing cause the 360 will soon be the only powerhouse system. I think Sony was losing money in other departments so they have to make it up by any means necessary. This is just so ridiculous. I was hoping....

[backbreaker]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

I will buy it and has stated that even if it comes priced at $500.00, I will purchase this this system.

[burnwood]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

Sony is now chasing Apple (iPod and music store) and Microsoft (XBox). To be considered next gen you have to have a focus on HDTV, Online Gaming, Next Gen console graphics. Since Microsoft has all of that locked up I don't see Sony making much ground the year after.

And does anybody know if the proposed release date for the PS3 is for the Japanese launch? If so, then that means an even LONGER wait for the PS3 in America. It's good to see something released on this side of the Atlantic first. Means no waiting.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

Kenny my boy, I don't want to work overtime just to buy a PS3, I'll see ya when you cut $100-$150 or so off the price.

MS's job now is to show off games that'll make people wonder why they should spend all that more on a PS3 when the already released (come november) and cheaper 360 can do everything it's competition can.

[CWood2]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

I know OS is more XBox than PS2, but I'm really surprised no one has brought up the simple fact that you're getting $500 hardware for a $100 less. Everyone thinks Sony is being greedy by charging that much for something without a HD, but the point of the cell chip and blu ray is to expand the market. Yeah, their vision is very aggressive, but a company with that kind of money to dedicate towards R&D has every right to try and transform the gaming industry. Because if they want to take the risk, they're entitled to the reward...or failure of their decisions. And look, if they didn't do the research or overestimated their numbers, 360 will smoke 'em! Price is more important in this industry because of the age of the users, but things like blu ray adoption and perceived value will play a much bigger role.

(ducks for fear of flaming )

[mgoblue]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

I know OS is more XBox than PS2, but I'm really surprised no one has brought up the simple fact that you're getting $500 hardware for a $100 less. Everyone thinks Sony is being greedy by charging that much for something without a HD, but the point of the cell chip and blu ray is to expand the market. Yeah, their vision is very aggressive, but a company with that kind of money to dedicate towards R&D has every right to try and transform the gaming industry. Because if they want to take the risk, they're entitled to the reward...or failure of their decisions. And look, if they didn't do the research or overestimated their numbers, 360 will smoke 'em! Price is more important in this industry because of the age of the users, but things like blu ray adoption and perceived value will play a much bigger role.

(ducks for fear of flaming )

right now I personally don't care about blue ray....I don't even have an HDTV yet (and I'm a fairly techie type person), so your average consumer doesn't have one either...Maybe in a few years all that will matter to me, but right now I know I won't be taking advantage of that anytime soon. Hope it doesn't sound like i'm flaming, just pointing out that I probably wouldn't use some of that at all....a HD I know I'd use...

[Nivek]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

right now I personally don't care about blue ray....I don't even have an HDTV yet (and I'm a fairly techie type person), so your average consumer doesn't have one either...Maybe in a few years all that will matter to me, but right now I know I won't be taking advantage of that anytime soon. Hope it doesn't sound like i'm flaming, just pointing out that I probably wouldn't use some of that at all....a HD I know I'd use...

Well said, I'm in the same boat as you.

[CWood2]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

right now I personally don't care about blue ray....I don't even have an HDTV yet (and I'm a fairly techie type person), so your average consumer doesn't have one either...Maybe in a few years all that will matter to me, but right now I know I won't be taking advantage of that anytime soon. Hope it doesn't sound like i'm flaming, just pointing out that I probably wouldn't use some of that at all....a HD I know I'd use...

Definitely not flaming mgoblue, I was just kidding since I'm a minority PS2 player.

That's really my main concern if I'm a Sony exec right now. How do I create value (and make the price more feasible) when the technology is not in demand...meaning tech savvy people like you and I who don't even have an HD set at this point? I don't blame them for thinking big, and personally I love the idea of having technology that won't even peak for a few years. But will enough people think like that, or be so dedicated from their PS2 days that it won't matter?? That's why I agree with the article when they say Sony may be in for a longer period of losses because they almost have to bring the high def gaming market around quicker than the curve. Guess we'll see how much pull Sony has come springtime '06...

[myownsun]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

Im on the titanic as well^

[burnwood]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

Definitely not flaming mgoblue, I was just kidding since I'm a minority PS2 player.

That's really my main concern if I'm a Sony exec right now. How do I create value (and make the price more feasible) when the technology is not in demand...meaning tech savvy people like you and I who don't even have an HD set at this point? I don't blame them for thinking big, and personally I love the idea of having technology that won't even peak for a few years. But will enough people think like that, or be so dedicated from their PS2 days that it won't matter?? That's why I agree with the article when they say Sony may be in for a longer period of losses because they almost have to bring the high def gaming market around quicker than the curve. Guess we'll see how much pull Sony has come springtime '06...

Well, I hope you enjoy the wait. From my standpoint Sony overprices everything they sell for the sake of their feature list when other brands meet or beat the quality for less cost. A feature list won't make Sony popular, IMO, an online infrastructure and strategy will.

This is probably why you would say OS is more XBox than PS2. There is no community for PS2 gamers online. I could say, "Nivek, let's play some Forza tomorrow night." He says, "I'm game." Not much effort after that. XBL takes care of the rest. I remember being pro Sony until the first time I got an XBox and plugged into Live. My PS2 instantly collected dust. Too bad it still sits there.

[Kodiak33]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

I think Sony is greedy (but maybe smart) for one reason, they put all costs on the consumer. They make us buy all of their stuff that usually only works on their products, such as the pro-duo for PSP, UMDs (which I can't believe people are paying 20-30 bucks for a movie you can only watch on the PSP) and now Blu-ray. The good thing about the PS3 (at least I think this will happen) is you can use alot of different flash cards for a memory card. However, without a hard drive, its going to backfire on developers and consumers. We have to pay even more for a hard drive and load times might be affected. The reason the Xbox was better than a PS2 was mainly the hard drive. Its getting rediculous, and sometime its going to backfire on them. Until the PS3 has good exclusives, I'm going to stick with just getting a 360 in November.

[pk500]

Re: PS3 to sell for $399, cost $494 to make

Price is more important in this industry because of the age of the users, but things like blu ray adoption and perceived value will play a much bigger role.

(ducks for fear of flaming )

You are overestimating the sophistication and aging of console gamers. Yes, console gaming is becoming a mainstream pastime accepted by adults. But the core of console gamers still remains males under 25, I would think. And most of those people don't buy consoles because of specs; they buy consoles because of price and peer pressure.

"Is it less expensive? Are all my friends playing it?" That's what it boils down to for many younger console consumers.

Sony can gush about Blu-Ray all it wants, but does the average gamer care? Not really. But MS can push the improved and greatly expanded features of Xbox Live with the Xbox 360, and Xbox gamers will care because most of them already have enjoyed very favorable experiences with Live.

So if Xbox 360 has a much better version of Live than the already feature-rich XBL with the Xbox, then that resonates with gamers more than some technology that will be used with discs, in my opinion.

It's interesting how the roles have reversed with the next generation of consoles. When MS launched the Xbox, it constantly trumped the higher-tech specs of the Xbox compared to the PS2 even though its game library was much, much smaller. Sony always countered by saying: "We have the games and software, baby. You play games, not systems."

Now it seems to have been reversed, this time with online play as the wedge issue. Sony is saying, "Look at the amazing specs and Blu-Ray technology of our system even though we don't have a real online gaming plan." Meanwhile, MS is saying, "We have a pretty powerful system here, too, with an improved online gaming component that is going to blow you away. We have online locked up, baby, and people like that community aspect of gaming."

That's why I'm sticking with the Xbox 360. Nothing has transformed video gaming like Xbox Live for me since probably the first time I played Pole Position on the Atari 2600. XBL has brought the community aspect and fun of gaming to a much higher level.

Interesting times for gaming, no doubt.

Take care,
PK