News Flash -- Sony PS3 release date & pricing! WTF! ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue May 09, 2006 5:48 pm

On May 8th, 2006, Sony announced that they will release the upcoming Playstation 3 console with two different pricing tiers:

Offer #1 -- A price of $499.99 will get you a PS3 with a 20 GB HD

and

Offer #2 -- A price of $599.99 will get you a PS3 with a 60 GB HD

The worldwide released date is November 17th, 2006 which includes the USA as well.

I went down to my local Gamestop today on 5/09/06 at 10:00am PST and asked the Gamestop associate if she was taking pre-orders for the upcoming PS3 console. Her answer:

Gamestop isn't taking pre-orders for the PS3 until Gamestop company gets it's allocation of PS3 to sell nationwide (meaning through out the entire USA). She also said that it wouldn't be fair to accept a 1,000 pre-orders at one Gamestop store location and not have enough PS3 consoles to go around. I see her point there. Oh well, at least I tried today.

At the very least, one will be able to use their PSP as another gaming controller on the PS3 if they don't like how the PS3 Dual Shock 3 controller pans out. Oh wow, talk about innovation.

The big lawsuit case between Sony Computer Entertainment of America and Immersion Technologies over the "rumble vibration" used in the PS1 and PS2 Dual Shock controller resulted SCEA having to redesign the PS3 controller without the "vibration" functionality. I see the reasoning for the changes in the PS3 controller setup. So SCEA could avoid another lawsuit with Immersion who does hold the patents to it's current "rumble vibration" mechanisms. Just like an inventor who licenses out his or her invention to another company, royalty fees and associated fees for cost of patents, copyrights, and the like all should be addressed in written form and signed by both parties to who agree to said written agreement. When it's all signed in ink...it's considered "legal and binding". If the licensed company should run afoul over the said written agreement with said inventor or comany/corporation over invention/patent, it will would be the one who holds the patent and therefore gets all the monies associated from said invention or patent that generates profit. It's only fair. Of course if the 2nd party company that agress to license the technology for use in their products decides to buy the invention and/or patent, then it's up to the inventor to decide whether or not to sell his or her invention and still make a tidy profit + any future royalty fees associated from the invention and/or patents.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

extrarice · Post by **extrarice** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:08 pm

The $499 model also won't have 802.11, HDMI output, or memory-stick support. And as far as I know, you can't upgrade the $499 model later on.

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:13 pm

Sony better make the ps3 better than they made the ps2. A 300 dollars pos2 crapping out on me in a couple months is something I can live with, albeit with a whole lot of complaining. A 600 dollars pos3 crapping out on me....well I'll seriously kill something with my bare hands in a fit of Sony induced rage.

rolins · Post by **rolins** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:33 pm

Jeez Christ, I rather spend $600 on one those Sigma superguns or NeoGeo AES. Money well spent there.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Tue May 09, 2006 7:16 pm

Yeah... for that money, I'd rather buy a couple of PCBs and some big-ticket PCE games. Those ought to hold me off for a few years while I wait for price drops.

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Tue May 09, 2006 7:21 pm

Thanks but no thanks, Sony.
My 360 and DC will keep me plenty busy at a fraction of the cost.

howmuchkeefe · Post by **howmuchkeefe** » Tue May 09, 2006 7:32 pm

I need to know more before I can decide. I'm interested, but that's a big price tag, and I remember my PS2 crapping out on me not once, but twice in a three year period.

If it's region free, if I can play the games I want to play on it, that will help a lot to justify its expense.

Fenrir · Post by **Fenrir** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:04 pm

Ack.
I just hope the Euro gets stronger and stronger. Go Euro! Just a little more :]

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Tue May 09, 2006 9:18 pm

I understand that the technology is expensive to developee but that price is not fit for an average perrson. Most people will only pay 300 bucks max for a video game system. Personally I won't go over 200 bucks.

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:04 pm

$499.99? Pshaw! That gives the 360 quite the price advantage- $100 for the 360's 20GB pack. Sony may be hurting their initial sales with this price.

$599.99 for the 60 GB pack is creeping well toward 3DO territory. I'd rather have this version of the console sell for $399.99 even if the first batch of games would then be $70 each as a result.

Now if my $600 PS3 croaks for whatever reason, the odds are 1:1 that I'll Raging Storm the hell out of everything in sight to a degree that Geese Howard never even dreamed of.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:48 pm

I seriously thought about getting one of these at launch. Now I laugh at the idea.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:55 pm

Me too. Nintendo and MS have a unique chance to r@pe Sony in the @$$, if they play their cards right. And this has got me feeling so gay with anti-Sony feelings, and for JP.

tekneekz · Post by **tekneekz** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:02 am

dang these better be reliable for this kind of price, im on my 3rd ps2 :/

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:20 am

What are you guys doing with your ps2's juggling them? I've only had 1.

Fenrir · Post by **Fenrir** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:38 am

You can bitch and mourn and then bitch again on the PS3 pricing, and laugh at Sony thinking that they will be crushed by M$ and Nintendo, but deep within your soul you just know that whatever the price is (yes, even $500/600), that freakin' console will destroy the market, hundreds of thousands of teens with pocketloads of money will fork whatever price and that the PS3 will easily top just about every other console in a matter of months.
You could be cynic and believe that "this is the time Sony will drown" but it won't be this time

In the late 80's, "Nintendo" meant videogames. In the 000's, "videogame" means PlayStation.

VNAF Ace · Post by **VNAF Ace** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:53 am

The bottom line makes a big difference, and that $600 price tag will drive away the majority of casual gamers who made Sony #1. Hell, I might be a hardcore gamer, but there's no way in hell I'm going to blow $600 on a console. The most I've ever spent on a console was $300 for the PS2 (after finally finding one about 3 months after launch).

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:59 am

extrarice wrote:The $499 model also won't have HDMI output

lmao, so the reasons the PS3 is priced so high won't be available on the $500 model?

sony's on crack.

Fenrir · Post by **Fenrir** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:01 am

VNAF Ace wrote:HellI might be a hardcore gamer, but there's no way in hell I'm going to blow $600 on a console.

They will find a way to convince you. They will sneak by and release a compilation with Esp.Ra.De, Espgaluda and Espgaluda 2 PS3 only at $39. They will rape your soul

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:01 am

Fenrir wrote:deep within your soul you just know that whatever the price is (yes, even $500/600)

No way. I have my limits, and this crossed them.

In the late 80's, "Nintendo" meant videogames. In the 000's, "videogame" means PlayStation.

Correct. Nintendo lost their lead. Know why?

Partially because Nintendo's hubris finally caught up to them, consumers finally had enough, and went with another company that was more than willing to serve their needs (in this case, Sony). Nintendo assumed that everyone would follow them wherever they went, and got a rude awakening. I expect Sony's about to learn the same harsh lesson.

Xbox has already made huge strides in the western market when it comes to mindshare, and Microsoft is poised to take over this region if Sony leaves an opening. With this price, it looks like the opening is there. Now all that remains to be seen is if MS will take the opportunity.

benj · Post by **benj** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:12 am

I didn't give a damn about the PS3 until I saw the trailer for Final Fantasy XIII, but now I'm seriously interested. I surely won't get it when it launches, but someday I'll have one.
The Wii on the other hand will be mine as soon as it's available.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:24 am

Just waitfor GTA4 to come out and then none of pricing business will matter.

You have to give Sony the credit--they have casual gamers by the nutsack.

VNAF Ace · Post by **VNAF Ace** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:24 am

Fenrir wrote:
VNAF Ace wrote:HellI might be a hardcore gamer, but there's no way in hell I'm going to blow $600 on a console.
They will find a way to convince you. They will sneak by and release a compilation with Esp.Ra.De, Espgaluda and Espgaluda 2 PS3 only at $39. They will rape your soul

Esp... ga... luda???

CMoon wrote:Just waitfor GTA4 to come out and then none of pricing business will matter.

You have to give Sony the credit--they have casual gamers by the nutsack.

GTA4 is coming to X360 this year. The PS3 version won't be out until 2007. Sony is losing their hold...

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:28 am

CMoon wrote:Just waitfor GTA4 to come out and then none of pricing business will matter.

You have to give Sony the credit--they have casual gamers by the nutsack.

Current reports are that Microsoft will be getting GTA4 before Sony this time.

Earlier GTA4 + Halo 3 + $200 cheaper = mainstream juggernaut

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:04 am

Not to mention an already-established online structure. I can't believe I'm rooting for MS, but the enemy of my enemy...

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:16 am

Pixel_Outlaw wrote:What are you guys doing with your ps2's juggling them? I've only had 1.

I had normal original bulky one that just started scrachting my discs one day and had to get a knew one same thing happend to my cousin we never dropped are's once.

And if you drop one,even gently it will break their were even experiments done to show how much more durable the X-box and GC were. People can go through em like nothing my Genesis lasted 10 years no problem but I'm on my secound PS2 in five years.(Guess they don't make em like they used to)

Alske · Post by **Alske** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:36 am

Don't forget all the people that bought 360s for $1000 on ebay. Regardless of price, Sony will sell through the launch allocation before launch day. After that is when I think they'll have trouble.

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:16 am

Pixel_Outlaw wrote:What are you guys doing with your ps2's juggling them? I've only had 1.

I'm still on my first PS2s- one Japanese and one American. Neither of them have given me any problems.

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:25 am

Alske wrote:Don't forget all the people that bought 360s for $1000 on ebay. Regardless of price, Sony will sell through the launch allocation before launch day. After that is when I think they'll have trouble.

Well that's pretty easy to do when you only have 2 million units total for a worldwide launch.

dai jou bu · Post by **dai jou bu** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:35 am

At $600 with all of this stuff Sony's promising to be on this machine, they're going to be cutting corners in the manufacturing process (and I mean a LOT), which means higher chances of these things breaking down not too soon before and not too long after the warrenty expires on the thing.

chtimi-CLA · Post by **chtimi-CLA** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:00 am

Fenrir wrote:Ack.
I just hope the Euro gets stronger and stronger. Go Euro! Just a little more :]

in consoleland the rate is 1$=1Euro