Sony Cuts Price of PlayStation 3 to $410 (Japan only)

[Dave]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092102079.html


YEAH!

[partridge]

Hmm, I thought the price cut only affected Japan? I'd love to see the 20Gb console priced lower in all regions - but I'm not sure that has definitely been confirmed, unless someone knows differently?

At least both consoles now have HDMI, making the 20Gb console the primary comparison model to the Xbox360 premium console.

The 60Gb PS3 is now on its own with no direct competition, but with HDMI and an upgradable hard drive on the 20Gb PS3, is there really any reason to go for the 60Gb version?

[Dave]

I hope too that this will lead to world price cut off.

Yes for me the 20GB version is the better option too

[Applefiend]

Word is it's Japan only, retailers and end users in Japan were very displeased about the PS3 price...

[partridge]

Odd though isn't it - in Japan you would expect Sony and Nintendo to clean up, the 360 is selling less than the Xbox did, I can't see why Sony felt any need to lower the price of the 20Gb console to compete with Microsoft.

It makes far more sense for them to lower the price globally and put the 20Gb console up against the premium Xbox360, and at the lower price the PS3 would be bags more value for money.

Ah well, we'll have to see. There's still no word on whether Europe will even get the 20Gb model, let alone at a reduced price.

[Applefiend]

Doesn't make any sense at all. So the rest of the world is pleased about the price? I think they're lowering it to compete with Wii. Nintendo are on quite a roll at the moment with DS. I'm sure they couldn't care less about 360, although Lost Odyssey is rather tasty and jFriendly.

Anyway, here's some oddness for you. Dunno if this is true or not.

http://www.the-magicbox.com/gaming.htm

- Ken Kutaragi announced that the 20GB version of PlayStation 3 will come with one HDMI port, and the 60GB version will have two HDMI ports for super letterbox display on side-by-side HDTVs. The 20GB version will be sold for 49980 yen in Japan on November 11, 2006.

Looks like the two hdmi ports are back?!?!? Some ruse to sell more Sony Bravias.

[JTK]

Wonderful!

With each passing day, more FUD and spin gets destroyed.


This is the first salvo shot in the shock and awe campaign, folks.

[partridge]

MS are insisting they can do full HD 1080p without HDMI, they will reveal how in the near future. But as has already been discussed, not every HD tv will accept a 1080p signal from analogue inputs.

Apparently some game sites have taken their 360's apart and can find no evidence that the 360 is capable of outputting a digital video signal, so this has to be part of the software patch they're releasing.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by partridge

MS are insisting they can do full HD 1080p without HDMI, they will reveal how in the near future. But as has already been discussed, not every HD tv will accept a 1080p signal from analogue inputs.

True.

I also wonder if the Xbox 360's existing hardware can truly handle that kind of demand over component video only.

Apparently some game sites have taken their 360's apart and can find no evidence that the 360 is capable of outputting a digital video signal, so this has to be part of the software patch they're releasing.

Very likely.

As it is, I just don't think it's going to matter.

The PS3's hardware smokes it, hands down.


The long running theory that MS would have to release a "newer" 360 some day down the road is probably inevitable. That 360 hardware is going to hit a brick wall long before the PS3 hardware does.

[phranctoast]

there is a rediculous xbox 260 price cut in Japan. This is the reason to do this. the xbox 360 core will be $250 and come with ninety nine nights and project gotham racing.

That and im sure the low priced wii is why this is happening.

[Jazar]

Shame on the Washington Post to put such a misleading title and then say:

Sony spokeswoman Nanako Kato said there were no plans to lower the price in other markets.

Boo hiss.

[JTK]

^^ They are wrong.

Originally Posted by 4K display

20GB & 60GB

20GB HDMI

BD logo on box

20GB specs

Link

4k registered here but I have no idea when/if he'll post this stuff so I'll do it for him.

[JTK]

Watch Impress

[JTK]

20 GB PS3 Drops Price in Japan Only - No change for U.S.

UPDATE: SCEA told 1UP that the price drop in Japan for the 20 GB version of the PlayStation 3 is exclusive to that territory and that the scheme for the U.S. pricing of the console would remain identical. $499 for the 20GB version of the console and $599 for the 60GB SKU.

However, as previously reported, both versions now have HDMI.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3153875

This is utterly senseless.

I would hope and expect for that price drop to happen across the boards before the launch happens.

They'd be fools to play games like this and overcharge the West, since the West is where most of the heated criticism has been coming from anyways.

C'mon Sony. Finish it. Do it right.

I, for one, will be somewhat resentful if this holds through to launch and we're getting gouged in the West to subsidize the East, where Sony and Nintendo can rarely do any wrong and MS has been dead since day one of the first Xbox over there.

[phranctoast]

we will get a price cut as soon as MS announces one here. they announced a big price cut in japan and sony has to follow that with a cut of their own.

the 360 will be out for a year soon over there, and they dotn want that big MS price cut and the rps that the box finally has coming out cut into their system sales.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by phranctoast

we will get a price cut as soon as MS announces one here. they announced a big price cut in japan and sony has to follow that with a cut of their own.

the 360 will be out for a year soon over there, and they dotn want that big MS price cut and the rps that the box finally has coming out cut into their system sales.

Precedent and a little common sense would suggest that this price drop will end up counting across the boards, as it should, not just in Japan only.

[mainman]

Originally Posted by Applefiend

Doesn't make any sense at all. So the rest of the world is pleased about the price? I think they're lowering it to compete with Wii. Nintendo are on quite a roll at the moment with DS. I'm sure they couldn't care less about 360, although Lost Odyssey is rather tasty and jFriendly.

Anyway, here's some oddness for you. Dunno if this is true or not.

http://www.the-magicbox.com/gaming.htm



Looks like the two hdmi ports are back?!?!? Some ruse to sell more Sony Bravias.

The 60Gb has 2 HDMI inputs? I think that is a mistake. The writer of that article probably misinterpreted something.

[Gamekid]

Nice photos showing the ps3 console. The only thing I don't fully understand is where the slots are for the memory stick duo and compact flash card. On the front of the console, there appears to be a little flap where you open it up and the slots are in the front. If the hard drive is removable, would the cover be in the front to the left of the disc drive? Nice photos of the box as well. I was thinking that although Europe doesn't get the ps3 until next year, maybe Sony will give something free included as part of a bundle. So if anybody in Europe preorders a ps3, they could also get a freebie game or two of their choice. That's what I would do. It seems fair. I haven't seen anything reguarding the ps3 online network. It seems that Sony should be showing that soon. Maybe tonight?

[takezo]

woot, I'm getting 20gb with HDMI. Sony is not changing US price because lots of numb nuts reserved the $600 version at retailers nation wide. Hopfully this fuels a price drop in US too.

[Gamekid]

If Sony does give the US a price drop for the 60 GB version then what should the price be?