Looking Ahead to the UK PS3 Launch

[fitbabits]

The Independent (http://news.independent.co.uk/), one of the UK's more respected daily newspapers, takes a look at the upcoming launch of the PS3 in the UK and asks the following question: Is the PlayStation 3 doomed to failure?

You can check out what they think here (http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2378384.ece).

It flopped in America. Now, for its British launch, Sony has put the price up. Rebecca Armstrong reports on PlayStation's prospects

The last time Sony launched a games console, it was an overnight sensation. The PlayStation 2, launched in 2000, didn't simply offer consumers fabulously hi-tech games and graphics. It also gave them a built-in, groovy new gadget, the DVD player - two new toys at a very competitive price. It was a combination that made the PS2 the fastest-selling console of all time. With sales of 115 million units worldwide, it is still going strong even now, in its seventh year in the shops.

On Friday, the electronics giant will be hoping to replicate these record-breaking figures as the PS2's successor, the PlayStation 3, launches in the UK and in Europe. The components are there: the console offers high-end graphics, million-dollar games and as an added extra for movie buffs, it can play Blu-ray discs, bringing high-definition films to its customers. On paper at least, that should tempt gamers and gadget freaks into splashing their cash. But ask how much the PS3 will cost, and cracks start to appear in Sony's plan. In the UK, the new console will cost £425, without any games - that's up to £226 more than its closest rival, Microsoft's Xbox 360, and £120 more than the cost of PlayStation 3 in America.
A very well written piece by Ms. Armstrong.

[Gorvi]

That's a lot of negativity in that article......

[TRiLoGY]

Nice article.
I'm really looking forward to picking my PS3 up on Friday. A lot of my friends want to get the PS3 too, but they are not going to get one until the price comes down..

[fitbabits]

That's a lot of negativity in that article......
What some call negativity, others call reality. It's what you make of it, I guess.

[Yellowman]

Come on Gorvi, the Independent is a mainstream newspaper, not a gaming gossip rag. If it smacks of negativity it's because Sony treat Europe like crap. Just like Nintendo. And if it comes to it Microsoft aren't that nice either. Second biggest gaming market in the world and all the major players treat it like crap. Great job videogame industry.

[Gorvi]

What some call negativity, others call reality. It's what you make of it, I guess.
I don't know, while I wouldn't call the PS3 launch in the US hugely successful, calling it a flop in the byline is exagerating a bit.

[Gorvi]

Come on Gorvi, the Independent is a mainstream newspaper, not a gaming gossip rag. If it smacks of negativity it's because Sony treat Europe like crap. Just like Nintendo. And if it comes to it Microsoft aren't that nice either. Second biggest gaming market in the world and all the major players treat it like crap. Great job videogame industry.
Oh, I agree, Europe gets treated like shit all around. It's ridiculous. If I lived over there, there's no way I would support my domestic market, all my gaming would be done via importing. I really feel for you guys, you get screwed from all sides. :(

[fitbabits]

I don't know, while I wouldn't call the PS3 launch in the US hugely successful, calling it a flop in the byline is exagerating a bit.
I think the point being made in the byline is that the PS3 launch in the USA was a "flop" compared to that of the PS2. At least that's what I got from reading the article a few times.

[Gorvi]

I think the point being made in the byline is that the PS3 launch in the USA was a "flop" compared to that of the PS2. At least that's what I got from reading the article a few times.
Ahh, good point.

[Johan]

That's a lot of negativity in that article......

Wow. I didn't get that at all. I thought it was a very evenhanded approach to the launch, with due mention given to the incredible continuing success of the PS2 and all as well.

We must have read something different...

[UnderHero5]

A decent read. I feel for my European brethren. I mean, the PS3 is expensive here, but man... at the price you're paying over there it will take two price drops just to get it to the price we're paying now.

[MasterKwan]

Yeah, how much of that price difference is taxes though? Just a guess but, I bet most of the price difference between the US and Europe is that hidden VAT tax. So, it's really probably close to the same US price but, your governments are taking a nice chunk of every sale. I can't blame sony for that.

[Disdain]

It is a well written article, but incredibly disapointed to leave out a huge amount of details surrounding the Playstation (not just 3, but both of its predeccessors).

When the Playstation 1 launched in the Uk, it was aroud £500 price point. That was back in 1995. Can you imagine what that would be nowdays? Sure £425 is a lot of money and that coupled with a few other things is why i won't be getting one this Friday.

But the article is either incredibly biased, or the writer is totally misinformed. And while i shouldn't expect much from a high street/profile newspaper, that focuses on real world news rather than video game stuff. It frustrates me that they even try, it's like when you read the Metro and they give a paragraph to review 2-3 games. You just think "why do you guys even bother?".

[fitbabits]

It is a well written article, but incredibly disapointed to leave out a huge amount of details surrounding the Playstation (not just 3, but both of its predeccessors).

When the Playstation 1 launched in the Uk, it was aroud £500 price point. That was back in 1995. Can you imagine what that would be nowdays? Sure £425 is a lot of money and that coupled with a few other things is why i won't be getting one this Friday.

But the article is either incredibly biased, or the writer is totally misinformed. And while i shouldn't expect much from a high street/profile newspaper, that focuses on real world news rather than video game stuff. It frustrates me that they even try, it's like when you read the Metro and they give a paragraph to review 2-3 games. You just think "why do you guys even bother?".
Actually, the original PlayStation launched in the UK on September on September 29, 1995 at a price of £299. I know this because I bought it on day one.

[Disdain]

Actually, the original PlayStation launched in the UK on September on September 29, 1995 at a price of £299. I know this because I bought it on day one.

Not disputing it either way, it's a long while ago. But i remember clinging to my Mega Drive and going for a 32x instead because of the high price point of the Saturn + Playstation at the time.

Are you 100% sure about the launch price? While on the subject, what about the price point of the Playstation 2? I remember picking that up for £300, but i'm pretty sure that wasn't launch price.

EDIT : Hmm, maybe it was. Can't find anything about the original Playstation launch though, maybe it was just a horrible Dixons mark up price i remember. Either that or that one off visit to Tandy, that still haunts me to this day.

[Gorvi]

Not disputing it either way, it's a long while ago. But i remember clinging to my Mega Drive and going for a 32x instead because of the high price point of the Saturn + Playstation at the time.

Are you 100% sure about the launch price? While on the subject, what about the price point of the Playstation 2? I remember picking that up for £300, but i'm pretty sure that wasn't launch price.

EDIT : Hmm, maybe it was. Can't find anything about the original Playstation launch though, maybe it was just a horrible Dixons mark up price i remember. Either that or that one off visit to Tandy, that still haunts me to this day.
According to Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation_2#Price_history) (scroll down to the Price history) the PS2 launched in the UK for GB£299. They don't have anything listed for the PS1 launch.

[fitbabits]

According to Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation_2#Price_history) (scroll down to the Price history) the PS2 launched in the UK for GB£299. They don't have anything listed for the PS1 launch.
Both Sony consoles prior to the PS3 launched at £299, which was part of the reason people almost had a collective heart attack when the £425 price was announced for the PS3. Rightly or wrongly, people assumed that £299 was the golden price for every PlayStation release.

[Gorvi]

Both Sony consoles prior to the PS3 launched at £299, which was part of the reason people almost had a collective heart attack when the £425 price was announced for the PS3. Rightly or wrongly, people assumed that £299 was the golden price for every PlayStation release.
Anyone that expected a console with a built in BluRay player to go for the same price as the PS1/2 was smoking crack. I'm not saying the price is great now (it isn't), but for the same price as the PS1/2? That's just not realistic.

[DangerousDaze]

Actually, the original PlayStation launched in the UK on September on September 29, 1995 at a price of £299. I know this because I bought it on day one.
I just did a quick check on an inflation calculator (http://img.thisismoney.co.uk/calculators/calcPriceInflate.html) and that equates to £350 in today's money, so the PS3 is £75 more expensive in real terms.

[fitbabits]

Anyone that expected a console with a built in BluRay player to go for the same price as the PS1/2 was smoking crack. I'm not saying the price is great now (it isn't), but for the same price as the PS1/2? That's just not realistic.
It may not be realistic (and I didn't say it was), but that was the perception based on Sony's previous console launches. And I'm not for a second suggesting this is somehow Sony's fault.

[roboninja]

Anyone that expected a console with a built in BluRay player to go for the same price as the PS1/2 was smoking crack. I'm not saying the price is great now (it isn't), but for the same price as the PS1/2? That's just not realistic.
You are right, the PS1 used CDs, and the PS2 used DVDs, both proven, widely-adopted formats that did not raise the console price significantly. Then, Sony decided that their unparalleled success was too boring, and put out the PS3.

[GigaFuzz]

Yeah, how much of that price difference is taxes though? Just a guess but, I bet most of the price difference between the US and Europe is that hidden VAT tax. So, it's really probably close to the same US price but, your governments are taking a nice chunk of every sale. I can't blame sony for that.

Without the 17.5% VAT, the PS3 costs £362, which equates to around $711.

So, we're paying over $100 more. While we expect things to cost more over here, that strikes me as a tad excessive.

[DangerousDaze]

You are right, the PS1 used CDs, and the PS2 used DVDs, both proven, widely-adopted formats that did not raise the console price significantly.
Actually, the DVD was not widely adopted. For many people (myself included) the PS2 was their first exposure to a DVD player. The PS3 isn't blazing a new trail in that respect. Of course, there was no competing format back then to complicate things.

[Sl1pstream]

I actually put one aside today. I got my delivery this morning and since I should be getting my tax refund soonish, I guess I'll use that on a PS3.

I still hate Sony and all, but between Lair, Heavenly Sword and Little Big Planet, I was going to pick one up sooner or later anyway. Besides, they lose money on each system so it's a good thing, right?

[GigaFuzz]

Besides, they lose money on each system so it's a good thing, right?

Quick! Everyone go buy PS3s and put Sony out of business!

[Sl1pstream]

Quick! Everyone go buy PS3s and put Sony out of business!

I should probably counter that with a UK:R post, but I can't find the one I'm looking for.

Ah. (http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2006/11/emergency-change-of-editorial-stance.html)

[DangerousDaze]

I should probably counter that with a UK:R post, but I can't find the one I'm looking for.

Ah. (http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2006/11/emergency-change-of-editorial-stance.html)
Please don't link to that shit hole of a site.

[Gorvi]

I should probably counter that with a UK:R post, but I can't find the one I'm looking for.

Ah. (http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2006/11/emergency-change-of-editorial-stance.html)
Wow, that's sad.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Is the PlayStation 3 doomed to failure?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/theflyingorc/DrDoomChap.gif

[Akeldama]

We haven't got a machine from Sony so I went to a local retailer today to preorder one for my office. Didn't have a problem at all, plenty of preorders left. The retailer didn't even pester me to buy a bundle, he seemed happy I was ordering some hardware.

Either Sony has done wonders with stock ahead of the launch, or it looks like this launch is going to tank.

[DangerousDaze]

Either Sony has done wonders with stock ahead of the launch, or it looks like this launch is going to tank.
That's pretty much what it all boils down to. Not long to wait, now.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Actually, the DVD was not widely adopted. For many people (myself included) the PS2 was their first exposure to a DVD player. The PS3 isn't blazing a new trail in that respect. Of course, there was no competing format back then to complicate things.

The DVD format wasn't nearly as new though when the PS2 launched. I bought a standalone DVD player in the summer of 2000 for $200. You could barely find Blu Ray players last summer (if you could at all) and certainly not for $200.

The DVD format hadn't caught on nearly as much as it has now, and it hadn't toppled VHS yet by any means, but it was hardly as new and unproven of a format as Blu Ray is today.

I will say though that I see Blu Ray "winning" this format war.