PS3 Price Drop

Well maybe it is not so simple, but it is bewildering why North America gets a straightforward US$100 price reduction on the PlayStation 3, whilst the PAL territories seem too sophisticated for such a natural remedy.


Instead of a price drop, both Europe and Australasia will receive the revised bundling of the PS3. For the current price you get an extra couple of SIX AXIS controllers as well as the must have games MotorStorm and Resistance: Fall of Man.

Is it just marketing? Does Sony see the PAL territories as a completely different market to North America and for that matter South Korea?

Both these markets will see the 80GB model, with a recent interview with David Reeves (CEO Sony Entertainment Europe) on gamespot gave the confused indication that North America was only getting the 80GB SKU because the 60GB was not being produced anymore and is being phased out by introducing the price reduction.

This claim was later refuted by Sony as an incorrect ; "Those quotes from David Reeves are not accurate. He said that if they had lowered the price in Europe, that territory would have run out of their current inventory by the end of July... As announced this week, SCEA's product offering in North America consists of a 80GB PS3 available in August at US$599 and a 60GB PS3 available now for US$499. We have will have ample supplies of both models to meet the needs of our consumers for the foreseeable future."

So is this another example - along with the removal of the Emotion Engine hardware (the PS2 and PSone backwards compatibility mechnasim) in limiting the PAL region PS3 experience? Already the range of SKU's available is limited, and the price incompatibilities between our US gaming brethren make the import option increasingly attractive.

I am not saying the bundle is not a good idea, in fact there is value to be had, my complaint is the limited options.

This is not a fan-boy comment, but just simple economics. If I look at the Xbox 360, I see a choice of modular components that allow the entertainment machine to fit my circumstances.

If I don't want the High Definition Disc option, then just don't purchase the connectible HD-DVD drive.

WI-FI connection is important, so add in an access point.

Select the games I, or my family wish to play. Though MotorStorm and Resistance: Fall of Man are great games, they may not be suitable for the destined household.

With gaming titles being released cross platform, with less exclusive must have titles to distinguish game consoles, it more often to not comes down to value for the consumer. A big part of that perceived value is in the choice and options available.

By limiting PAL territories to one SKU and price, the bad blood may continue. In this connected world, consumers do not only compare local store options for electronic goods, comparisons will be made worldwide. Sales of the PS3 have gone nuts in the U.S. following the price reduction, why does Sony not believe the same could happen elsewhere?