Aurakles

Sony Exec Reveals PS3 Pricing
Rachel Rosmarin, 04.05.06, 4:46 PM ET

Europe is typically the last major region to receive a newly launched videogame console, but today it was the first to receive word on pricing for the Sony PlayStation 3.

The high-end gaming machine will cost between 499 euros and 599 euros—that’s between $600 and $730—according to vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe George Fornay, who spilled the beans on the air while a guest at France’s Europe 1 radio station.

But U.S.-based gamers shouldn’t be in sticker shock over the high price the euros-to-dollars currency conversion suggests. After all, the Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people) Xbox 360 costs 399 euros abroad but only $400 here.

Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people) officials did not immediately return calls regarding the launch price for the console, but analysts have speculated that the PS3 could cost $500--$100 more than the Xbox 360--due to the included high-definition BluRay disc player. A $500 PS3 would be the most expensive next-generation console on the market. Nintendo’s Revolution, expected to launch in 2006, will likely cost under $300.

And even priced at $500, Sony could take a loss of up to $200 on each PS3 sold. (See "Sony’s Hit Machine"). The company would attempt to make up the loss with game sales.

Fornay confirmed on air that Sony would simultaneously launch the PS3 in North America, Europe, and Asia , thus moving up the expected European launch date from as late as March 2007 to November 2006.
These comments from Fornay represent the first bits of PS3 pricing information from Sony since Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi told gamers the console would "be expensive," at the E3 convention in Los Angeles in May 2005.
Source (Forbes.com)
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It sounds like the price of "eye-candy" has "shot through the roof." I know Sony (Japan) could easily recant this story later, but if this price is even close to true, it's going to be a Revolution Christmas for me. I love "eye-candy" like the other guy, but gameplay is king and Nintendo has always delivered that; plus, at those prices I am not sure "eye-candy" is worth it. Besides, I just can't justify paying $500-$600 for a PS3. I hope Sony knows what they're doing, because if they actually plan to launch the system for $500/$600, they'll sure lose their (video-game) market share quicker than they gained it.

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CyCo PL

I highly, highly doubt that they'll release the console for that much... Sony knows that they're going to have to sell at an equal or lower price than xbox 360 just to stay in the picture.

feelgood

Agreed. I was gonna get PS3 but damn, 600 bucks? There's no way in hell I'm gonna buy a console at the price of a computer

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xepherys

Well, Sony doesn't seem to KNOW anything that regards common sense these days... in any of their divisions. Also, Sony has always been known to charge a premium for their brandname even when something better is available for cheaper. Maybe they feel they've been in the console game long enough to add the same weight to the PlayStation?

At any rate, it's too much for me (I'm not a big PS fan anyhow), and especially if the extra cost is due to Blu-Ray, which still seems to be the failing technology regarding standards. Sony is really bad at trying to get new standards out into the market. BetaMax? Fail! CDDA? Only came to fruition with the help of Philips. Blu-Ray? Compared to HD-DVD and the weight that Microsoft has in the US at least (which means eventual global realization), I can't imagine that HD-DVD will not win out.

Ah, but I digress... I won't buy an Xbox 360 until prices drop. I love RPGs, but I sure as hell won't pay $500 for a PS3.

Lasereth

They could get away with $500 if they had a lot of extra features with it. No way consumers will be able to pay more than $500 though. $400 is fair due to inflation (technically $500 is as well) but $600 and $700 is just absurd.

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Derwood

not to mention the $60-$80 games...

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irateplatypus

wow, US$500... and that's LOWBALLING it. people are writing off the purchase of this thing on the lowest projected price... even though the sony exec said it would launch for much higher overseas.

you have to expect that the box will include only the console, basic power/av cables, and a single controller. a few games and extra contollers will easily set you back another $300.

((3 games X 60)+(3 controllers X 35)) = 285

add in 8% sales tax: that's ~$870 for a very basic setup... if you want to be optimistic about it.

i shudder to think what the gamestop/ebgames combo packs will cost.

the ps3 will be sweet, but i know i can't justify spending this much on a game machine.

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Fremen

What the hell they trying to do to me??
I got hookers and peanut butter to buy!
How'm I gonna float that, too?

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Buk

Considering a Blu-Ray or HD DVD player will be $600 by itself and the PS3 will have it built-in, they aren't ripping you off.

It really is too bad that they have to tie-in the blu ray player, otherwise they probably could launch the ps3 right now at $200.

MontanaXVI

I would like to see the console in actual "action" to get a feel for the technology and what all it can do,


I have to agree with Buk with the costs of the Blu-Ray and them pushing the technology though.

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Jimellow

Personally, I still enjoy my PS2 and see no need to spend hundreds more on a new system.

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crossova

i'll keep my 360...if i have the money i'll buy a ps3 to sell on ebay. i thought the revolution was coming out this spring

YaWhateva

revolution isnt out for a long time, they never even said it might be out this spring. Too bad about the 360 though. I am sorry.

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Aurakles

Anyone that rationalizes the (potential) price for the PS3 based on Blu-Ray technology has been drinking that Sony Kool-Aid for too long. Sure, stand-alone Blu-Ray players are expensive, but it is just another (unproven) Sony propriety format that really isn't paramount for games. I mean, does a game need that much space? I think the problem is that Sony and Microsoft keep pushing the graphics envelope, and, by doing so, keep raising the cost and difficulty of producing of games, which translates into more money for the end-user. Again, as important as graphics can be, game-play is king. Sony and Microsoft need to think about the user experience and "pushing the envelop" in that department, which Nintendo is, at the very least, attempting. I am not touting Nintendo, because I think they hold the panacea for gaming, but I do agree with their approach to certain things. I agree with them that gamer interaction hasn't evolved much in over twenty years. We still use the same input mechanism that companies like Atari used/introduced over twenty years ago. Games have gotten better in terms of graphics and production value, but very few have the replay value and/or staying power of a game like Pac-Man. 20+ years from now, how many of these games will have the staying power and/or replay value of a game like Tetris? I don't just want newer and more expensive technology, I also want new experiences.

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Prophecy

Sony is crazy if that's they're stateside plan. Personally, I only got a PS2 after three or four years so I could play some RPGs and after that the system just sits in my room for weeks on end without us. There isn't exactly a need for a PS2 in my life so there is no way in hell I'm shelling out anything close to $700 or even $500 for a PS3. I love gaming as much as the next guy but everything eventually goes on sale. I'll wait this one out if the article's prices are anything close to the real thing. In the mean time I'll hang out with my Genesis, Atari, Dreamcast, Xbox, PS2 and the good old PC.

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intecel

I'll stick to my XBox i paid $150 for and my computer for the newer games. I refuse to pay more for a gaming console than I could on a computer upgrade that would last me another year or 2.

imouseone

All I know is I'm pre-ordering a handful to sell on ebay and take the profits to pay off my own.

Redjake

I would bet the farm it will debut at either $449 or $499. Keeps the consumer thinking it's "400 bucks" because of the "4" integer. I think it's called price skimming or something.

Blu-Ray better be worth it. Holy jesus. I agree with the above poster, games don't need THAT much space. Oh well.

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MacGuyver

That Sony exec. messed up. He was a rep for Sony in Europe, and now claims that he was giving an approximate 'value' for the PS3, considering all the technology that is in it. Sony will not be selling PS3 for $600. It will probably be in the $400 - $500 range, closer to $400. There is no way, even if Sony could sell the things for the $600 that they are worth, they wouldn't do it anyways, considering they would lose all thier sales to Microsoft, since there will most likely be a considerable price drop on 360 when PS3 releases. There is also an unoffical understanding that HALO 3 will make its way to the market the day PS3 is released.

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Jelorian

I agree with you there. It will probably be THE cheapest Blu-Ray player on market until prices come way down. Add to the fact that its a gaming console its not a complete ripoff...its definitely not cheap.

As for the 360 coming out the winner in the next gen console wars, I think not. Just look how well its selling in Japan....go lookup how well the original Xbox did over there. The Revolution and PS3 will blow it out of the water.

I like my 360 and I will buy the PS3 when it comes out.

I also agree that with previous posters that eye candy isn't everything, but damn have any of you seen screen shots? Not just movie cinematics, but real screen shots from actual game play.....damn.

I'm also sure that like the 360, the PS3 will do much more than play games and movies.

docbungle

I spent $600 on the video cards alone for my pc. I have no problem buying a PS3 for that amount. High-end things cost money....they always have and always will. For others, there will be the Nintendo Revolution.

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japhyryder

Ah the older gamers like me will be snapping it up in a heartbeat. I can't wait for it. $500.00 it is a lot but if you (and I) start saving a bit now we can all go get one as soon they come out

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Xazy

We shall see how things go, but I have to agree BluRay, is unproven, and for now just a Sony concept. It is yet to be seen if it will catch on...

Either way I have my X-box, and PC, and maybe once PS3 comes out I will consider which I will get (the 360 or PS3).

MacGuyver

If you're comparing 360 and PS3, 360 is going to get stomped, no matter how short PS3 falls from its expectations.

__________________
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
---Aristotle

Deeds, not words, shall speak [for] me.
---John Fletcher

Prophecy

High end things do cost money, but good things come to those who wait, and everything goes on sale. Personally, thus far I haven't seen one thing to make the PS3 worth $500 in my eyes. Also, the first round of a new console system always has bugs, with some systems being worse than others.

I'm sure everyone here will agree the big point of buying any console is for the games, the dvd player and other functions are nice but 90% of us already have those. The PS3 is going to be like any other system, with the really stellar games, i.e. the ones you buy and keep, coming out months after the after the system launches.

As for Blue-Ray a lot of people have already mentioned it's unproven and most games more than likely will not need that much space. Also, out of curiousity, does anyone know the price saved/lost in having one Blue-Ray disc vs. two PS2 DVDs? (I say two discs because as of this writting I don't know of any PS2 game using three DVDs for the actual game.)

So IF you can sit back and wait, I'm sure you'll be able to get a system with more bugs worked out than the launch version, a lower price point and better games.

However, in the end I guess it comes down to three types of people:
1) Those that have the money to spend and are willing to right away.
2) Those that have the money and are not willing to spend it right away
3)Those that don't have the money to spend.

I'm in the second group and happy about it. To those in the first group, when the time comes and some of you spend the day/night camping the stores to get your PS3s on launch day, just let me know.... Was it really worth the time, money and effort?

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La Disciplina È La Mia Spada,
La Fede È Il Mio Schermo,
Non salti Ciecamente In Incertezza,
E Potete Raccogliere Le Ricompense.

MacGuyver

Sony always has the widest base of game selection. Not only that but Sony also has the whole backwards compatibility thing over Microsoft. In essence, Bill Gates will drain your money alot more than some company from the far east. It's called capitalism, and Bill Gates is the master. Adam Smith who? Why do you think Microsoft made a 'core' and a 'pro' or 'premium' 360? Because there's really a difference? God no. He did it so he can send more 'core' than 'pro' and you'll have to end up buying all the accessories seperately, which will run you probably double to triple the cost of what you'd pay for them all to be bundled in the pro package.

As far as glitches on first-gen systems... it always happens. This is why you should just get it at Best Buy and buy the 40 dollar replacement plan when you get it. Because that means that everytime your system looks at you the wrong way, you can bring it back in exchange for a totally new system. Instead of not paying the 40 bucks, and having to buy a whole new $400 system when yours breaks in 3 days.

__________________
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
---Aristotle

Deeds, not words, shall speak [for] me.
---John Fletcher

robbdn

I have always been an early adopter, and no I don't have a lot of money, I save for certain product releases because I am a confessed techno-whore, and I would gladly pay any price for the PS3, if I hadn't gotten burned so badly in the PS2 launch... now I am definitely once bitten, twice shy. My launch PS2 broke, and suffered a slow, miserable death, where it worked less and less reliably. Sony of America's warranty sucks ass, and they don't seem to be keen on changing it any time soon. Because I have to save for system launches, there is no way I can afford to buy two PS3s if one goes belly-up after the 90-day warranty period. Because of that awful experience with PS2 launch, the PS3 may be the first console I haven't purchased on launch day since the SNES.

The problem is, with launch prices the way they are, you are really paying for the luxury of having a PS3 for longer than everybody else... it doesn't seem worth it to me to pay full launch price unless you get it on launch day. If I don't get it the first day, I might as well wait for the price drop. Sad.

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MacGuyver

Manufacturer's Warranties really suck no matter where you go.

Not to plug my own company, but I'm telling you guys... Best Buy. 2 YEAR replacement plan. It will cover everything up to you throwing your system out the window, spreading frosting in the disc drive, or running it over with your car. FOR 2 YEARS.

__________________
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
---Aristotle

Deeds, not words, shall speak [for] me.
---John Fletcher