Sony Drops The Ball

[Benji]

Bearing in mind that Sony loses money on the actual PS3 console, and they make their money through the games, they are going to charge £39.99 for games. £10 cheaper than the 360. How do Sony work these things out? How do they tie their proverbial shoes in the morning?

Trust me, Sony won't be losing anything significant on the console, in fact, in Europe they'll be making somewhat of a profit because we're being ripped off more than anyone.

[Regia]

I'd like to point out something random and unconnected here. I have one of the first batches of Playstation 2's, and it still works...or at least it would work if I hadn't sold it to my brother, who then sold on all the games, kept the PS2 in a box and accidentally spilled shower gel on it.

But if I cleaned it up, and bought some games, it'd work.

Yep, mine is one of the first with a big chunk of metal inside and it still works fine...

I dropped mine on the floor, messed up the disc drive and had to open in up to fix it, and it stills work, or would still work if my dog hadn't of pulled in off the side while the disc drive was open :pinch:, I have a slimline one now.

But yeah, before I buy a PS3 I want to see a good range of games that I would play, and a price drop. But everyone might aswell just wait a few months for when they release the "updated model", which basically means its the console in the form they were going to release it in originally.

Until then I'll stick to my PS2 and my 360.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Anyways, we had a conversation about the PS3 at work today (we're getting 40 of them on launch day in our new branch) and decided that for what you get it's excellent value. Whatever you think about Blu-Ray, the average Blu-Ray player is hitting around £600 purely for the player. The PS3 has a Blu-Ray player, net and network connection for next-gen gaming (the internet will be free no subscription with pay to play gaming).

So if you think it's too expensive then maybe, but for a games CONSOLE it's cheaper than merely a Blu-Ray player (with no ability to play games).

[zero]

I seriously hate to beat the dead horse but I just don't see the value. Blu-ray is going to fail and you're paying $600 for a game console that has no games right now. The majority of the games worth buying, you can also get on the console that's $200 cheaper with identical graphics and the superior online system. I sound like such a fanboy, but the PS3 has just been disappointment after disappointment while Nintendo and Microsoft have just been taking advantage of each blunder.

[Iain76er]

I seriously hate to beat the dead horse but I just don't see the value. Blu-ray is going to fail and you're paying $600 for a game console that has no games right now. The majority of the games worth buying, you can also get on the console that's $200 cheaper with identical graphics and the superior online system. I sound like such a fanboy, but the PS3 has just been disappointment after disappointment while Nintendo and Microsoft have just been taking advantage of each blunder.

[CKN]

After all of the drama about adult film studios and the format wars, the porn industry finally has its first stake on the Blu-ray disc format: "Debbie Does Dallas Again". Vivid Entertainment has just announced that this title of theirs will be released in Blu-ray on March 28.

What's interesting to note here is that the porn flick will also be simultaneously on HD-DVD format for the same price. Both formats would be sold for US$ 39.95, even though production on the Blu-ray disc is thrice the cost of that on HD-DVD. So why the same price?

A spokesperson for Vivid Entertainment said that they "want to see which one the consumer prefers." They're releasing the Blu-ray disc for cheaper to test if it will really, err, boom on the market. If it does, then they continue production. If it doesn't... Well, we can only guess. After all, some have said that the porn industry would be the big decider between HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

[Dan]

I seriously hate to beat the dead horse but I just don't see the value. Blu-ray is going to fail and you're paying $600 for a game console that has no games right now. The majority of the games worth buying, you can also get on the console that's $200 cheaper with identical graphics and the superior online system. I sound like such a fanboy, but the PS3 has just been disappointment after disappointment while Nintendo and Microsoft have just been taking advantage of each blunder.

I agree. I believe that Blu-Ray will fail too. HD-DVD will win. Its got DVD in the title, which won't confuse the idiots of the world so much. Hasn't the pornographic industry said that they will support HD-DVD? With no porn on Blu-Ray then HD-DVD will gain the money from the perverts too. Hollywood will use both, so the pr0n is the all important factor.

I suggest buying a 360 and a Wii. 360 for the next-gen graphics, games that will be out on the PS3, only missing out on some exclusives like Final Fantasy and Killzone 2 ( ), with superior onlineage and the Wii for the decent games that you get from Ninendo and Treasure, and the party games with the remote etc.

You put killzone 2 ahead of Mgs4?

For shame.

[Iain76er]

After all of the drama about adult film studios and the format wars, the porn industry finally has its first stake on the Blu-ray disc format: "Debbie Does Dallas Again". Vivid Entertainment has just announced that this title of theirs will be released in Blu-ray on March 28.

What's interesting to note here is that the porn flick will also be simultaneously on HD-DVD format for the same price. Both formats would be sold for US$ 39.95, even though production on the Blu-ray disc is thrice the cost of that on HD-DVD. So why the same price?

A spokesperson for Vivid Entertainment said that they "want to see which one the consumer prefers." They're releasing the Blu-ray disc for cheaper to test if it will really, err, boom on the market. If it does, then they continue production. If it doesn't... Well, we can only guess. After all, some have said that the porn industry would be the big decider between HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

Finally, some figures for online smartypants to work with while they attempt to prognosticate which HD format will win over the other. High-Def Digest reports that the Nielsen VideoScan - the entertainment industry's leading source of competitive sales info - has made its first public release of sales numbers for Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs.

While the numbers might not be as crisp as some pundits would like, the figures do suggest some trending. There aren't any hard sales figures, just an index of how each format is fairing against the other.

So how does the battlefield look? To be blunt, things look good for Blu-ray. Between January 7 and 14, Blu-ray managed to close the gap of total discs sold since inception, with HD-DVD by over seven percentage points. High-Def Digest thinks that the data suggests that if the current trend continues, the two formats could be at disc sales parity within weeks.

The charts first appeared in Home Media Magazine. Here's High-Def Digest's reproduction of the charts:

Does this mean eventual Blu-ray dominance? Well, it is still too early to say anything definitive, and the HD DVD camp isn't exactly rolling over and giving up. The good news for Blu-ray here is that its catching up, and studios are feeling confident about the format. High-Def Digest has reported that Fox has even gone as far as to say that a growing sales gap that would see Blu-ray outselling HD DVD by a 3.5-to-1 ratio by the end of March this year.

[zero]

Those articles show some good news for Blu-ray, but UMD also got off to a magnificent start and we all know how that ended. Blu-ray is going to sell with people that own a PS3, hence the quick closing of the gap. But as PS3s continue to sit on the shelves, you're likely going to see those numbers stall. I could be wrong, the PS3 could drive the format like the PS2 did with DVD, but with Sony falling on their face repeatedly with the new console, I just don't see it happening. Of course, the 360's approach with the HD-DVD add-on isn't going to work either, which is why I think the battle is going to come down to actual HD players. If it comes down to whether or not people are going to buy and HD-DVD player or a Blu-ray player, then HD-DVD will win simply because of the name.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

PS3s won't sit on the shelves. In fact the only reason they may is cos of the stupid March release in the UK. They did plan to drop it back to autumn but got told not to, in stronger words.

Also, of course there are few games for PS3 so far. Very similar to the usual pattern of games releases. Original X-Box hardly had the fastest line of game releases and neither did the N64 and both did okay. In fact if I remember rightly the PS2 was released with about half a dozen games!

Anyway if this becomes a graphics war I'll throw a strop. For me, new next-gen means the ability to break boundaries with trying brave and weird new things.

And as for the failure of UMDs, EXCELLENCE! Gamestation chuck up 4 for £20, or some at £2.99 or £3.99 and, especially series, are worth watching on boring commutes especially at that price. Of course they weren't gonna be successful though - theyonly work for a niche handheld console that's too fragile for kids.

On the subject of that I've had mine for nearly 4 months now and have no scratches, dead pixels, sticky buttons, broken bits or anything, cos I LOOK AFTER IT. My only sadness is that DS goes quirkier with games concepts (like the lawyer game) however seeing PES6 in action on DS quickly makes up for that.

Edited March 7, 2007 by ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster

[zero]

PS3s won't sit on the shelves.

They are in the US. As of two months ago, you could walk into any store and grab one with no issues. It's still near impossible to find a Wii anywhere though.

Also, of course there are few games for PS3 so far. Very similar to the usual pattern of games releases. Original X-Box hardly had the fastest line of game releases and neither did the N64 and both did okay. In fact if I remember rightly the PS2 was released with about half a dozen games!

Agreed, but usually there's at least one or two games to really hold you over for a few months after launch, the PS3 doesn't have that. Although, to be fair, neither did the PS2 and it turned out okay. I honestly don't think the PS2 had a good game until Twisted Metal Black came out, six months after the launch. The X-Box's launch was slow, but it had Halo which became a phenomenon, N64 had Mario 64. The 360's launch was awful though, I'll throw that one out there.

Anyway if this becomes a graphics war I'll throw a strop. For me, new next-gen means the ability to break boundaries with trying brave and weird new things.

Agreed. Which is why Nintendo might be the dark horse to win the whole thing.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

PS3s won't sit on the shelves.

They are in the US. As of two months ago, you could walk into any store and grab one with no issues. It's still near impossible to find a Wii anywhere though.

Also, of course there are few games for PS3 so far. Very similar to the usual pattern of games releases. Original X-Box hardly had the fastest line of game releases and neither did the N64 and both did okay. In fact if I remember rightly the PS2 was released with about half a dozen games!

Agreed, but usually there's at least one or two games to really hold you over for a few months after launch, the PS3 doesn't have that. Although, to be fair, neither did the PS2 and it turned out okay. I honestly don't think the PS2 had a good game until Twisted Metal Black came out, six months after the launch. The X-Box's launch was slow, but it had Halo which became a phenomenon, N64 had Mario 64. The 360's launch was awful though, I'll throw that one out there.

Anyway if this becomes a graphics war I'll throw a strop. For me, new next-gen means the ability to break boundaries with trying brave and weird new things.

Agreed. Which is why Nintendo might be the dark horse to win the whole thing.

Nintendo will pick up the family market. Problem is the supply of Wii has been diabolical. People want them but there's none anywhere. So yes while there is demand, it's not that millions and millions have been sold in the UK, it's cos there's nowhere near enough. What's supply like to other countries like Japan?

Apparantly there's only been a couple of Wiis returned (to be traded in) to the Dudley branch of Gamestation which probably isn't that bad for returns. 360s been getting a LOAD of trade-ins, especially software.

[Captain Kirk]

I think a few people might get annoyed waiting for a Wii and the hype will die down.

[Gongsun Zan]

To be fair, the 360 had Oblivion as a post-launch title, while the PS3 still has nothing.

[Meacon Keaton]

I work at Gamestop and we've literally had ATLEAST twenty PS3's sitting in the back just waiting to be bought for months. It's 200-300 bucks more for something that, in my eyes, isn't all that its cracked up to be.

[Plubby]

Nintendo will pick up the family market. Problem is the supply of Wii has been diabolical. People want them but there's none anywhere.

I think a few people might get annoyed waiting for a Wii and the hype will die down.

Nintendo is not unfamiliar with this. Pokemon G/S release was delayed months and months for no apparent reason. People quit waiting for it and it wasn't as successful as it otherwise might have been.

[Cactus Drags]

I work at Gamestop and we've literally had ATLEAST twenty PS3's sitting in the back just waiting to be bought for months. It's 200-300 bucks more for something that, in my eyes, isn't all that its cracked up to be.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I work at Gamestop and we've literally had ATLEAST twenty PS3's sitting in the back just waiting to be bought for months. It's 200-300 bucks more for something that, in my eyes, isn't all that its cracked up to be.

Maybe you should try putting them out on display.

:lmao: :lmao:

[Guest We Are Robots]

Nintendo will pick up the family market. Problem is the supply of Wii has been diabolical.

[Plubby]

I work at Gamestop and we've literally had ATLEAST twenty PS3's sitting in the back just waiting to be bought for months. It's 200-300 bucks more for something that, in my eyes, isn't all that its cracked up to be.

Maybe you should try putting them out on display.

WINNER!!!!

Edited March 8, 2007 by Plubby