Sony Runs Out of 60GB PS3s 152
Next Generation has word from Sony that they've shipped all of their 60GB PlayStation 3s. They don't have any more in the warehouses; retailers still have ample stocks, though. From the article: "Once all of the remaining 60GB PS3s have been snapped up for $499 apiece, the only option left open to consumers will be to purchase the 80GB model, which currently retails for $100 more at $599. It has long been rumored that once all 60GB PS3 stock dries up, the 80GB will be subject to a price cut, but SCEA has failed to be drawn on the matter to date. 'We won't be making any further announcements regarding our PS3 model hardware strategy in North America until the 60GB model is exhausted and market conditions are evaluated,' the company has said."
Soon we will know (Score:3, Insightful)
On the other hand, they might want to get Blu-ray players into as many homes as possible, given the recent adoption of HD-DVD by many film studios- even if it means absorbing a big short-term loss. They know PS3s will move once their AAA titles start coming out, so there isn't much motivation for a price cut now, game-wise.
Overall, I think the PS3 is just too speculative for most consumers. The price in and of itself isn't the major concern, (people will spend hundreds of dollars on home entertainment) but rather questions like "Will Blu-ray become the de-facto HD format?", "How many price cuts will occur between now and when the games I want are released?", and even "Are AAA titles eventually going to be ported to 360 or PC?"
Thieves... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Sony vs. Nintenod (Score:3, Insightful)
In other words, it makes you a fucking moron.
ie. Rabid Fanboyism.
Remember them, the ones who started slagging the 360 right away, then the wii before launch, and then the ps3 right now. The success or failure of a Companies console doesn't really determine the size of your penis. So taking any of it as seriously as people here have tends to diminish the human race as a whole.
Re:Thieves... (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Sony vs. Nintenod (Score:4, Insightful)
The PS2 was a huge hit because they got to market early and were able to get a snowball effect going. Developers targeted the PS2 because it was the most widely-sold console, and that in turn drove additional console sales. The PS3 will not come anywhere close to experiencing that level of success. It appeared too late, it cost too much, and they've been bleeding third-party exclusive titles at a phenomenal rate as a result. They're experiencing a slight uptick in sales thanks to the (maybe temporary) price cut, but the only numbers developers and publishers are looking at are total number of consoles sold, and the weekly numbers are only a drop in the bucket compared to those totals.
Thanks to http://vgchartz.com/ [vgchartz.com], we know that there are 10.5 million 360s, 10.5 willion Wiis, and only 4.3 million PS3s sold worldwide. What 3rd-party developer in their right mind is going to drop serious money on developing a AAA title if they can only sell it to 17% of the next-gen market? Without exclusive AAA third-party titles, there's pretty much no chance of a major increase in the rate of PS3 console sales. You only have to look at Nintendo's experience with the GameCube to realize that all the first-party titles in the world just aren't enough to get the job done.
As for Microsoft "flunking" in Europe, the weekly numbers may look a little rosy (or at least not dismal) for the PS3, but the 360 is still the most widely sold console in the "other" (i.e. not North America or Japan) category by a fair margin at 3.3 million, which is mostly Europe. The Wii is second with 2.8 million, and the PS3 hardly even rates with 1.3 million. The PS3 outsold the 360 by a whole 6000 units in Europe for the week ending August 19th. That's simply nowhere close to enough to erase the 2 million lead the 360 has. At a rate of 6000 more consoles sold per week, it would take the PS3 seven years to catch the 360 in Europe. For the same week though, the Wii stomped them both, selling almost twice as much as the 360 and PS3 combined.
As for Japan, MS completely botched the 360 marketing plan there, without question. You can Google for Japanese reactions to the 360's "Do Do Do" campaign, if you'd like a laugh. However, while the 360's failure to crack the Japanese market is bad news for MS, it isn't automatically good news for Sony. Japan was supposed to be Sony's stronghold, and look at the Japanese sales numbers: 3.4 million units for the Wii, and only 1.1 million for the PS3. Even in their own backyard, Sony is getting their asses handed to them.
"It should be obvious where all of those former PS2 users are going to end up over the next five years."
Yes, it is obvious to me, though apparently not to you: wherever the games are. Where are the games going to appear? This is also obvious: on whatever consoles are most common. Whether that's more frequently the 360 or the Wii depends on how things shake out this Xmas, but at this point the PS3 is simply too far behind to have much hope of making a comeback.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Sony vs. Nintenod (Score:3, Insightful)
Most of these people are mentally 14 years old, if not physically. That kind of mentality is immature and stupid.
EE! Quickly Act Now! (Score:3, Insightful)
I've read these reports over the last couple of days. I have been waiting and delaying the idea of getting a PS3 because lack of compelling games and my own lack of HDTV to play it on. With this news, I was beginning to worry about spending the cash now to pick up a 60GB unit with the included Emotion Engine (EE) hardware support for true backwards compatibility. I have a lot of PS1 and PS2 games I want to make sure work properly.
Then it occurred to me... I already have a machine which works with my regular old TV set and plays all my PS1 and PS2 games perfectly: my PS2. And if I want a wireless control with missing rumble action... well, I already have a 3rd party wireless controller with that (lack of) feature.
Realizing that Sony has a good chance of coming in a distant third for this generation's console race and that software studios are focusing on Xbox360 and Wii (with those systems' easier development tools) there really is no point to bothering with PS3. All the 'good' games are coming out on Xbox360 anyway. The stomach pangs of losing out on the hardware EE support simply went away with the realization that PS3 is already finished in the market. I'll simply keep my PS2 for awhile longer at no additional cost.