EU Gamers Reassured by PS3 Preparations

European gamers have been feeling a might edgy of late; rumors have been circulating that the PS3 will be pushed even further out into 2007 ... possible to September. People put off by those comments were reassured this past weekend, when Sony sent around an email letting everyone know they could register for their online IDs with the PlayStation Network. The Guardian post that describes this development also links to a post on the Three Speech site, a Sony marketing blog. The site has posted more tidbits about the European launch, and assures eager gamers that they'll see the console launch in the early weeks of March 2007. From that post: "In terms of the European online store, while still being extremely vague, a spokesman for SCE Europe was able to explain that Sony would have no defense if they were to charge the European consumer more than in other regions as there are no extra costs on digital distribution as apposed to a product with packaging etc. So expect a $15.00 download to cost people in the UK around £6.50."

Naive

[suv4x4]

In terms of the European online store, while still being extremely vague, a spokesman for SCE Europe was able to explain that Sony would have no defense if they were to charge the European consumer more than in other regions as there are no extra costs on digital distribution as apposed to a product with packaging etc.

That's quite naive. There can always be reasons. I'm only purchasing serial numbers (licenses...) from Adobe/Macromedia, but they've always charged me almost double since I'm in EU. I always e

Re:

[Nerdfest]

Not on;y that, but they don't even need a defense. With many of the nastier things they've done lately they haven't even offered one. I think you'd need to be quite naive to trust Sony at this point.

It also sounds like they're saying that they'll let you sign up for a username (fir a fee I would imagine) to give them a little more hold over you if they're late with their release. Maybe I'm just paranoid ...

Excuses?

[cgenman]

Why do you need excuses for what you're charging a consumer? In this case, they charge whatever the market will bear. This is especially true in an entertainment medium that has low or no media cost... you can get VHS tapes for much LESS than DVD's, even though the material and shipping costs are much higher.

Since when does price justification come into the equation?

Launch

[HappySqurriel]

The PS3 may launch in Europe but unless they get the supply issues resolved it is unlikely that any europeans will be able to get their hands on one.

On a side note, I noticed a store near work had several PS3 systems for sale and (after the initial surprise wore off) asked the clerk about them; he said that he expected the systems to stay there for awhile because no one has inquired about the PS3 for a couple of weeks. I wonder whether people who want a PS3 have simply "given-up" looking for one until they know supplies are more abundant.

Re:Launch

[Nerdfest]

Here in Canada, PS3's have been spotted on the shelves at Walmart, and Best Buy ... no line-ups to be seen. Still can't get a Wii though. I had a on-line order confirmed at Toys'R'Us, but it was cancelled, and the the units are being sold in-store. The Better Business Bureua and some local newspapers, and Nintendo will be advised accordingly. That's the sort of behaviour I'd expect to see with a Sony product, not Nintendo.

Re:

[Jaysyn]

You don't really think Nintendo had anything to do with Toys'R'Us selling your online order do you? By the way, the BBB has no teeth.

Re:

[justchris]

I think his point was he would be informing Nintendo that TRU is doing this. The BBB might have no teeth, but if Nintendo threatens to stop shipping products to TRU, they might decide it's more profitable to change their behavior.

Re:

[Nerdfest]

If I can hurt their business though simply telling people what happened, I will. I actually had a call from them with 'more information' about the order, but the customer service people I was referred to had no idea what the information was. I'm hoping their going to attempt to make things right, although they'd have to go a long way to do it at this point.

Re:

[KDR_11k]

Depends on where you live I guess. In my area Wiis are easy to find and so was the 360 back when it launched.

Re:

[fistfullast33l]

Here in NYC you can't find a PS3 or a Wii anywhere that I know of. Every store has a sign stating so in the front window and asking about it will only give you looks as though you're from Mars. Most of the stores are reporting online that things such as the SIXAXIS controller are out of stock. www.jr.com [jr.com] says they're out of stock but I just went to the store today and they have about 10 or so left (I bought three myself), so I think they're putting a priority on in-store demand. Also, the DS selection i

Re:

[HappySqurriel]

The PS3 is still going for well above retail on Ebay so I doubt very much that there's a much lower demand than reported.

Actually, if you check out eBay most PS3 systems are not going for dramatically over the retail price ($100-$200 about MSRP typically http://search.ebay.com/PS3_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8 [ebay.com] ) which is why I didn't buy a PS3 to eBay it; I'm not trying to bash the PS3 or anything, but the days of the PS3 'selling' for $1500 on eBay are long gone.

I bet in the more rural areas it's easier to find the

Sony's launch doesn't have to be widespread...

[trdrstv]

The PS3 may launch in Europe but unless they get the supply issues resolved it is unlikely that any europeans will be able to get their hands on one.

Exactly, but they could then say they launched. I'm not sure why launching with a pathetic number of units is better than a delay, but Microsoft did it, and now Sony did it, so I must be missing something. Sony's "World Wide Launch" consisted of about 90,000 units in Japan and about 200,000 units in the United States. I have no doubt they will "Launch" in E

Re:

[dank zappingly]

Where do people get these wild figures for HDMI cables from? Sure monster cables are in that price range, but a normal HDMI cable is more like 10-20 bucks, or you can use the component cable that comes with the system for free. These arguments about people balking at the price after factoring in the most luxurious hdmi cables on the market are getting a little tired.

Re:

[trdrstv]

Where do people get these wild figures for HDMI cables from? Sure monster cables are in that price range, but a normal HDMI cable is more like 10-20 bucks, or you can use the component cable that comes with the system for free. These arguments about people balking at the price after factoring in the most luxurious hdmi cables on the market are getting a little tired.

Though you can get cheaper HDMI cables, Sony's first party HDMI cables are Monster, and they are $99.99. Also I'd like to point out that th

Re:

[peripatetic_bum]

I agree. This past weekend was what a gaming store in Longview, WA and my girlfriend said "Why dont you look in the store and ask if they have a PS3" because she was sick of my talking about them. Anyway, I went in and the store was quiet. There was no sign announcing they had or did not have PS3, so I causually asked they guy if he had any and he said, "yup. About 7 of the 60bg"

I was quite surprised by this and despite my better instincts, went ahead and bought one.
There was no sense of fanfare. There was

Not to worry

[Fozzyuw]

Speaking with some EB games guys last night (as I traded in my Red Steel Wii game and miraculously found 1 of 2 nunchuk attachments I still need) it seems the PS3's price tag is keeping the PS3 from 'flying' off store shelves (though, my city is slightly lower income than the average, I would bet). From the the EB manager said... "The PS3 has been selling slower than expected, but we've been getting in shipments constantly. It takes take a day or two to sell out our shipment.".

My next question naturally moved into how the Wii shipments where going and he replied... "We just cannot keep those in the store. We have people calling constantly to check for more shipments."

I also asked about the Xbox360 which the manager explained that he did not see any drastic change in sales due to PS3/Wii shortages, but added that he would definitely buy a 360 over a PS3 given the price points and multi-platform launches for the PS3/360.

It won't be long and soon the US will have a surplus of PS3's which we'll just ship over to the EU. hehe I admit, I was a little surprised to here the PS3's taking a couple days to sell out, but with a lower income community, it might explain things better. That and the proximity to the Xmas holiday probably slows down such big-ticket premium items as most shoppings have already started maxing out their credit.

Cheers,
Fozzy

Re:

[LWATCDR]

I don't know if it has anything to do with the lower income. At my office several people have bought a Wii or are trying to buy a Wii. No one seems to be that interested in the PS3.
I just think that a lot of people are taking a wait and see attitude on the PS3. The Wii has the big buzz right now.

Re:

[Sir_Sri]

That's spot on what I've been seeing as well (though PS3's still only stay on store shelves a day here). People believe there aren't enough PS3's so don't bother asking. They believe there is some miraculous super supply of Wii's and therefore assume one can be acquired and they're asking constantly.

The fact that there aren't any good games for the PS3 isn't helping. The european launch is the real launch of the PS3, by then there will be a lot of things worth playing and enough of them out there to sati

Re:

[AvitarX]

Nintendo said they expected to sell out through the end of the year.

A lot of people expected their to be a near endless supply. Though Nintendo appears to be shourt on their shipments too (20% or so). When I went to WalMart at midnight of launch I realized that all those people (myself included) that predicted limitless supply were wrong and headed to a Best Buy for opening (after taking a nap).

The number of people who didn't get a Wii where I was was already in the double digits 2 hours before opening.

Reassured?

[ThinkWeak]

People put off by those comments were reassured this past weekend, when Sony sent around an email letting everyone know they could register for their online IDs with the PlayStation Network.

So people are reassured that they will receive PS3's soon, because they can register their gametags? Who are these people? The only thing that would "reassure" me would be the physical presence of the system in front of me with my receipt in hand.

Uh

[drinkypoo]

It's a "mite", not a "might". A mite is small - it means you're feeling a little bit better. Other words like this that slashdotters frequently fuck up include the reins of power - as if you are in control, e.g. of a horse - I haven't seen anyone use "rain" for either of these yet but it's only a matter of time; An allusion is a reference while elusion is an escape; You worship at an altar but you alter things you change... and now I'm bored but I've seen all of these used and abused here on slashdot. (See

iTunes ?

[soliptic]

Sony would have no defense if they were to charge the European consumer more than in other regions as there are no extra costs on digital distribution as apposed to a product with packaging etc. So expect a $15.00 download to cost people in the UK around £6.50.

I always wondered this about iTMS.

Now, I dont have (or want) a Mac, an ipod, or DRM'd music, so I may well be talking out of my arse, in which case please correct me politely. But, I have the vague idea that we pay £1 per track, and

Re:

[Jarlsberg]

Consider this then. If I really wanted a PS3, I could go on ebay and find one. I see they're going for around $700 now the for premium version. Shipping to my country is around $130, which brings the price up to say, $850, to round it off. Now, Sony is planning on releasing the console in march, and the price? $900-$950. Warranty issues aside, it'd be pretty stupid to wait for the european launch, if I wanted it badly. Alas, I don't right now, as there doesn't seem to be any interesting, exclusive games for

Re:

[dank zappingly]

I don't know what country you are from so forgive me if I'm completely wrong, but it was my understanding that much of the price difference has to do with the high taxes in the EU. So in other words what you are proposing to do might actually be illegal because you would be bypassing the tax by ordering it from a US buyer who doesn't pay the tax.

Re:

[Jarlsberg]

Good point. I'm in Norway, which isn't part of the EU. It's true you have to add a duty fee to the total cost, but there are ways around that. One is simply having it sent to a EU country, and pick it up there. This works if you live close to the border (to Sweden or Finland), or you can make a trip out of it, and take the ferry to Denmark and pick it up there. Duty is 25%, which is steep, but wold bring the total cost to the retail price Sony has set for its european launch.

Re:

[Jarlsberg]

No adapter is necessary - the power supply is universal. And the games are region free. As for BD- well, the number of titles released for region 1 is far greater than for region 2.

iTunes + Tax should be around £Tunes +

[trdrstv]

We pay £1 per track, and you guys in the States pay $1 per track. I always wondered how on earth they...

a) justified that, morally

b) got away with it, legally

Part of the issue is that each country has different laws, currency, and Vat. So given the fact that they aren't going to adust their prices constantly due to fluctuations in currency they need to adjust it so that their price after VAT is somewhere close to our price before tax.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the VAT tax in the UK is some

NA registration?

[Mursk]

What about those of us in NA who don't have a PS3? Is there any way for us to preregister a UID? I'm not planning on getting a PS3 anytime real soon, but it'd be cool to reserve a user name now. :)

Summer approaching

[G3ckoG33k]

I guess very few would buy a Playstation 3, in March, in northern Europe at least. People have their focus on SUMMER then!

In other words, September is fine.

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