No 80GB PS3, No Price-Cut for Europe: SCEE Throws Bundle Bone
Sony lays down hold-out gauntlet
SCEE President David Reeves
At a low-key event in Venice Beach ending just minutes ago, SCEE today announced the availability of a high value Starter Pack for PlayStation 3, comprising a PS3, two first party games and two SIXAXIS wireless controllers, at 599 euros (£425).
The pack is due to out, "the SCEE territories from 13th July, and in all territories by 1st August".
See the leaked email that enabled us to break this story on July 11th right here.
SCEE President David Reeves announced at the event that there would be no new 80GB version of the PlayStation 3 in Europe in the foreseeable future. It also denied gamers in the region a price-cut, offering a bundled option in its place - the above-mentioned “PlayStation 3 Starter Pack” which comprises a 60GB PlayStation 3 console, two controllers and two bundled titles, Motorstorm and another first-party game. Reeves name checked both Formula 1 and Resistance as likely candidates.
See the story regarding that non-arrival of the 80Gb from June 10th, right here.
The Sony boss was keen to stress the added value of the extra components, pointing out that there was now £125 of extras thrown in at the same price. As to whether bookies will pay out on the bundle news remains to be seen.
The Starter Pack will be available within the next two days across Europe. Sony's press release which SPOnG was handed as we left the Venice Beach club, informs us that "the choice of first party games in the Starter Pack will vary to suit the interests of entertainment enthusiasts in each country, but will include million sellers such as Resistance Fall of Man and Motorstorm"
"With an additional wireless SIXAXIS motion sensitive controller provided for head to head and multi player gaming, the Starter Pack is sure to appeal to those seeking to enhance their entertainment experience with the best of 21st century technology."
“With sell through of over 1.2 million units in the SCEE territories to date, PlayStation 3 has proved to be an instant and huge success,” said Reeves.
“The exceptional value of the new Starter Pack will bring the excitement of PlayStation gaming to a much wider audience. Add to this a stellar line up of software titles for the second half of the year and we are confident that this amazing value Starter Pack will encourage many more keen gamers to join the PlayStation 3 community.”
As to how consumers will react to the offer remains to be seen, though it's not a secret many have voiced the opinion that they would not seek to adopt Sony's machine until it becomes significantly less costly. Will SCEE's 'added value' be accepted in lieu?
The pack is due to out, "the SCEE territories from 13th July, and in all territories by 1st August".
See the leaked email that enabled us to break this story on July 11th right here.
SCEE President David Reeves announced at the event that there would be no new 80GB version of the PlayStation 3 in Europe in the foreseeable future. It also denied gamers in the region a price-cut, offering a bundled option in its place - the above-mentioned “PlayStation 3 Starter Pack” which comprises a 60GB PlayStation 3 console, two controllers and two bundled titles, Motorstorm and another first-party game. Reeves name checked both Formula 1 and Resistance as likely candidates.
See the story regarding that non-arrival of the 80Gb from June 10th, right here.
The Sony boss was keen to stress the added value of the extra components, pointing out that there was now £125 of extras thrown in at the same price. As to whether bookies will pay out on the bundle news remains to be seen.
The Starter Pack will be available within the next two days across Europe. Sony's press release which SPOnG was handed as we left the Venice Beach club, informs us that "the choice of first party games in the Starter Pack will vary to suit the interests of entertainment enthusiasts in each country, but will include million sellers such as Resistance Fall of Man and Motorstorm"
"With an additional wireless SIXAXIS motion sensitive controller provided for head to head and multi player gaming, the Starter Pack is sure to appeal to those seeking to enhance their entertainment experience with the best of 21st century technology."
“With sell through of over 1.2 million units in the SCEE territories to date, PlayStation 3 has proved to be an instant and huge success,” said Reeves.
“The exceptional value of the new Starter Pack will bring the excitement of PlayStation gaming to a much wider audience. Add to this a stellar line up of software titles for the second half of the year and we are confident that this amazing value Starter Pack will encourage many more keen gamers to join the PlayStation 3 community.”
As to how consumers will react to the offer remains to be seen, though it's not a secret many have voiced the opinion that they would not seek to adopt Sony's machine until it becomes significantly less costly. Will SCEE's 'added value' be accepted in lieu?
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Comments
DoctorDee 13 Jul 2007 05:37
1/20
Formula One if a no go for the pack - two driving games doesn't work, plus Formula one is tedious. Has to be Resistance.
Personally, I'll wait for the 80GB and the price cut. If we don't get both, I'll not bother with PS3.
Personally, I'll wait for the 80GB and the price cut. If we don't get both, I'll not bother with PS3.
ultimateassmonkey 13 Jul 2007 07:38
2/20
Oh look... We get screwed over... AGAIN!
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irritant 13 Jul 2007 07:41
3/20
I personally have been totally underwhelmed by the PS3. I've owned just about every console ever made but have not been tempted yet by the PS3 due to the lack of games that appeal to me. There are no current games I'm interested in and the only 2 upcoming games that could sway me are Ratchet and Time Crisis.
Even though I have no plans to buy a PS3, I couldn't help but feel a slap in the face at this news. As always, we in the UK are shafted on prices of these things but to announce a price cut in countries that are already paying less than us and then tell us that they'll chuck in a couple of games and a controller for us instead - well, I'm just lost for (printable) words.
Screw you Sony. Screw you from everyone in the UK.
Even though I have no plans to buy a PS3, I couldn't help but feel a slap in the face at this news. As always, we in the UK are shafted on prices of these things but to announce a price cut in countries that are already paying less than us and then tell us that they'll chuck in a couple of games and a controller for us instead - well, I'm just lost for (printable) words.
Screw you Sony. Screw you from everyone in the UK.
deleted 13 Jul 2007 08:08
4/20
well done sony, well f**king done, you had an oppurtunity to really sell some of your consoles in fact i was considering buying one, i was hoping for a nice bundle and price cut but instead you screw us big time, so go f**k yourself and i will buy a PS3 when you hear my complaint and sort it!
Jon 13 Jul 2007 08:20
5/20
Yup, that's about done it for me too..
I own the 360 and was considering getting a ps3 after having both the ps2 and the original playstation.. I think now I'll just invest in a Wii in a couple of months time and call it a day..
Sony don't seem to want to listen to gamers in Europe and especially the uk so I'd rather give my money to someone else who at least makes the pretense of giving me some value for money.
Sony you both blow and suck..
Jon
I own the 360 and was considering getting a ps3 after having both the ps2 and the original playstation.. I think now I'll just invest in a Wii in a couple of months time and call it a day..
Sony don't seem to want to listen to gamers in Europe and especially the uk so I'd rather give my money to someone else who at least makes the pretense of giving me some value for money.
Sony you both blow and suck..
Jon
Joji 13 Jul 2007 09:09
6/20
Yeah I'm with you guys. Sony have a good conference then they go and stick this knife in us. Their greed knows no bounds, they are in third place and still want to dictate the price to us. Not a good sign, and they clearly don't understand how expensive stuff is over here.
I'll be holding off getting one until they freaking well hear their consumers. Two pads is nice, but I'm in the opinion that in this day and age all home consoles should still come with two as standard. Still not enough though.
Stop trying to bribe us, Sony. Price cut deeper or you can go jump. Stop treating u.k/eu like second class gaming citizens. If its good enough for you to give us a 60gb instead of a 20gb like the u.s, then we deserve the same treatment here too with the 80gb.
I'll be holding off getting one until they freaking well hear their consumers. Two pads is nice, but I'm in the opinion that in this day and age all home consoles should still come with two as standard. Still not enough though.
Stop trying to bribe us, Sony. Price cut deeper or you can go jump. Stop treating u.k/eu like second class gaming citizens. If its good enough for you to give us a 60gb instead of a 20gb like the u.s, then we deserve the same treatment here too with the 80gb.
ultimateassmonkey 13 Jul 2007 09:23
7/20
Joji wrote:
Yeah I'm with you guys. Sony have a good conference then they go and stick this knife in us. Their greed knows no bounds, they are in third place and still want to dictate the price to us. Not a good sign, and they clearly don't understand how expensive stuff is over here.
I'll be holding off getting one until they freaking well hear their consumers. Two pads is nice, but I'm in the opinion that in this day and age all home consoles should still come with two as standard. Still not enough though.
Stop trying to bribe us, Sony. Price cut deeper or you can go jump. Stop treating u.k/eu like second class gaming citizens. If its good enough for you to give us a 60gb instead of a 20gb like the u.s, then we deserve the same treatment here too with the 80gb.
I'll be holding off getting one until they freaking well hear their consumers. Two pads is nice, but I'm in the opinion that in this day and age all home consoles should still come with two as standard. Still not enough though.
Stop trying to bribe us, Sony. Price cut deeper or you can go jump. Stop treating u.k/eu like second class gaming citizens. If its good enough for you to give us a 60gb instead of a 20gb like the u.s, then we deserve the same treatment here too with the 80gb.
Yeah I agree.
But they do this because they know "them" stupid European's will buy one, no matter what the cost!!
Oh and a thought of mine on the side (different subject but same console), no wonder Blu-Ray sales are whippin ass against HD-DVD. The ps3 in the States is around £300 here in the UK... That price for a HD outputting movie player, who'd say no to that?! What I'm trying to say is we've heard that Blu-Ray is out selling HD-DVD in the number of movies being sold... But who can name a HD player straight off their head?
... I'm lost in my thought now... Damn.
DoctorDee 13 Jul 2007 10:47
8/20
I am actually surprised by my response to this. I WANT a PS3, I can afford a PS3, and before launch I was one of the "the cost doesn't matter that much" crowd.
So what is stopping me buying a PS3? I assumed it was simply the lack of the games I want to play. But I'm coming to think it's that I don't actually like the design that much... so I don't really want one in my lounge. Let's be clear, I'm a total Apple tart. I buy anything APple make, iPods, Macs... I'm gonna get an Apple TV and an iPhone. If Sony had made the PS3 look good enough and had some decent Digital Hub functions, I'd have bought one regardless of the availability of games or the price.
But looking like it does, it needs to be cheaper and have better games.
So what is stopping me buying a PS3? I assumed it was simply the lack of the games I want to play. But I'm coming to think it's that I don't actually like the design that much... so I don't really want one in my lounge. Let's be clear, I'm a total Apple tart. I buy anything APple make, iPods, Macs... I'm gonna get an Apple TV and an iPhone. If Sony had made the PS3 look good enough and had some decent Digital Hub functions, I'd have bought one regardless of the availability of games or the price.
But looking like it does, it needs to be cheaper and have better games.
deleted 13 Jul 2007 12:00
9/20
DoctorDee wrote:
I am actually surprised by my response to this. I WANT a PS3, I can afford a PS3, and before launch I was one of the "the cost doesn't matter that much" crowd.
i agree i want and can afford one but i refuse to bed over and be spanked and pay that much for something that doesnt have enough quality titles on it, im happier with my 360 & Wii, and yeah go say what quality titles does my wii have well it doesnt have a lot but for multiball fun at home cant be beat even xbox live isnt as fun as four peeps playing monkey ball mini games!
deleted 13 Jul 2007 13:10
10/20
sony puts yet another nail in its own PS3 shaped coffin, just read on engadget that the $100 price cut sony give the yanks well is on the 60GB version yeah, and well they are stopping production of the 60GB unit so the price cut is until stocks go!!, so that means they will have to get the 80GB at the same price it was of $599.99 with one game!, sony you are complete nob heads you piss all over the UK and then!!!! you go and piss off the yanks!!!! then your european guy tells us that its not worth giving us 80gb because the price wont be any different(derr)??? and on top of that you big up nintendo for apparently keeping the industry going for the last few years(they talking about the same gamecube hardly any games console i own?)????? have you guys any idea of marketing??????????????????
LUPOS 13 Jul 2007 13:18
11/20
DoctorDee wrote:
I am actually surprised by my response to this.
Speaking of surprising ones self, I read and thought, well that kind of sucks but depending on the games that could be pretty worth while. Then I scroll down and all the comments are completely negative. Admittedly it's not as ideal as a cheaper system and picking your own games/accessories but it's not a bad deal. The thing i think is funny though is a free controller and, best case scenario, resistance and motor storm but do either of those allow for split screen multiplayer? I don't know about fomula1 either but I would assume it does.
Anyway, in spite of my feelings on this particular bit of news I'm always glad to see people universaly anoyed at Sony ;)
_________
ozfunghi 13 Jul 2007 15:19
12/20
I'm confused. You guys say there won't be a pricecut. Instead we get a 500 euro PS3 with 2 controllers and 2 games? How is that NOT a pricecut? We now pay 600 euro WITHOUT a second controller and any games. So it's a pricecut of 100 euro, and they throw in a free controller and 2 free games.
Unless my mind is failing me: 600 > 500
Care to explain?
Unless my mind is failing me: 600 > 500
Care to explain?
deleted 13 Jul 2007 15:25
13/20
ozfunghi wrote:
I'm confused. You guys say there won't be a pricecut. Instead we get a 500 euro PS3 with 2 controllers and 2 games? How is that NOT a pricecut? We now pay 600 euro WITHOUT a second controller and any games. So it's a pricecut of 100 euro, and they throw in a free controller and 2 free games.
Unless my mind is failing me: 600 > 500
Care to explain?
Unless my mind is failing me: 600 > 500
Care to explain?
there was a US price cut of $100, but the european price will remain same and you get free extra sixaxis and 2 games, basically they screwed us, as you can already get offers online or in retail for £399.99 with a game and movie and hdmi cable etc spend the extra £25 on a preowned copy of a game and you get £425 so for the same price they are basically giving us nothing extra other than say a controller, in the US they get the console for £300 in the uk we are required to pay over £100 more???? how are we getting a good deal. and where have you got info that its 100 euro less?
ozfunghi 13 Jul 2007 16:08
14/20
and where have you got info that its 100 euro less?
Well, right here, Spong's opening statement:
At a low-key event in Venice Beach ending just minutes ago, SCEE today announced the availability of a high value Starter Pack for PlayStation 3, comprising a PS3, two first party games and two SIXAXIS wireless controllers, at 500 EUROS (£425).
The price for a PS3 is 600 euros. They say it will now cost 500 euros and they throw in an extra controller and 2 games???
So Spong made a mistake, and that 500 euros should read 600 euros, am i right?
Well, right here, Spong's opening statement:
At a low-key event in Venice Beach ending just minutes ago, SCEE today announced the availability of a high value Starter Pack for PlayStation 3, comprising a PS3, two first party games and two SIXAXIS wireless controllers, at 500 EUROS (£425).
The price for a PS3 is 600 euros. They say it will now cost 500 euros and they throw in an extra controller and 2 games???
So Spong made a mistake, and that 500 euros should read 600 euros, am i right?
deleted 13 Jul 2007 16:13
15/20
i assume they are reffering to the uk price point as 600 euro is £425 around abouts(£403 at todays excahnge rate) and 500 euro is £325, i would guess spong just got the exchange rate wrong?, or maybe they didnt and got the uk price wrong (please let it be that?) care to clarify spong?
TimSpong 13 Jul 2007 17:06
16/20
haritori wrote:
i assume they are reffering to the uk price point as 600 euro is £425 around abouts(£403 at todays excahnge rate) and 500 euro is £325, i would guess spong just got the exchange rate wrong?, or maybe they didnt and got the uk price wrong (please let it be that?) care to clarify spong?
We misprinted the Euro price in this case - it should have been e599. My apologies, this has been rectified.
Cheers
Tim
irritant 13 Jul 2007 17:38
17/20
ozfunghi wrote:
I'm confused. You guys say there won't be a pricecut. Instead we get a 500 euro PS3 with 2 controllers and 2 games? How is that NOT a pricecut? We now pay 600 euro WITHOUT a second controller and any games. So it's a pricecut of 100 euro, and they throw in a free controller and 2 free games.
Unless my mind is failing me: 600 > 500
Care to explain?
Unless my mind is failing me: 600 > 500
Care to explain?
As I see it, 2 games and an extra controller don't mean jack unless you actually planned to buy those two games and an extra controller. Sure you could flog them and pocket the cash (assuming you could find another PS3 owner to buy them, as Sony said, the games are the most popular sellers so finding another owner who doesn't already have them and actually wants them is going to be pretty difficult).
My point stands. £250 for the 60GB machine in the US. £425 for it in the UK. Add 2 games to the US machine and an extra controller and it's still nowhere near £400 (and take into account the fact that to Sony, the games are worth about £7 each since they are 1st party titles (based on manufacturing costs)).
Their offer is not generous. Dropping the price of the console to £300 would not even be generous, it would simply be fair. If they dropped it to £325 and bundled 1 game and a controller that would be fairly generous.
deleted 13 Jul 2007 18:17
18/20
As I see it, 2 games and an extra controller don't mean jack unless you actually planned to buy those two games and an extra controller. Sure you could flog them and pocket the cash (assuming you could find another PS3 owner to buy them, as Sony said, the games are the most popular sellers so finding another owner who doesn't already have them and actually wants them is going to be pretty difficult).
My point stands. £250 for the 60GB machine in the US. £425 for it in the UK. Add 2 games to the US machine and an extra controller and it's still nowhere near £400 (and take into account the fact that to Sony, the games are worth about £7 each since they are 1st party titles (based on manufacturing costs)).
Their offer is not generous. Dropping the price of the console to £300 would not even be generous, it would simply be fair. If they dropped it to £325 and bundled 1 game and a controller that would be fairly generous.
i agree,
US Pay
PS3 - $500/£250
Motorstorm - $50/£25
RFOM - $50/£25
Extra Controller - $30/£15
Total - $630/£315
WE Pay
PS3 Bundle - $850/£425
Theres a Big Difference We Currently Pay More Than The Yanks For Just The PS3 where as they get all the above For £110 Less than we currently pay for JUST the PS3!!!, how is this fair in comparison
US / UK
iPod 30GB $249/£125 / $360/£180
Nokia N80 $480/£240 / $540/£280
40" Sony HDTV $1200/£600 / $1400/£700
all these are from amazon UK, and amazon US on the exact same products
it really doesnt matter what it is we get screw on price we 10-25% more for everything electrical, this also goes for dvds, books, even clothes its like they think that here in the uk we cant work out $100 isnt £100!
and im sick of it i really thought sony would come through on it this time but im sorely disapointed.
ozfunghi 13 Jul 2007 18:34
19/20
I'm not sure who you're talking to. My question was a result of an error by Spong, which they now rectified. They posted the PS3 bundle would cost 500 euro, while PS3 has always been 600 euro in Europe. Obviously they made a mistake, and 500 should have been 599. Had you read the posts following mine, that would have been obvious.
Nod 14 Jul 2007 06:24
20/20
correct me if i'm wrong.... UK / European reatailers only make a small margin on the console, and make the majority of their profits on upselling with further games and peripherals.
by adding games and an extra controller into the pack... how many sales of games / peripherals are the retailers going to lose.
Nice well thought out plan again, Sony..