Can PS3 survive for long?

Latest U.S. monthly sales show PS3 occupying the sales slot held by GameCube and N64 in the last two console generations. Not only is PS3 not selling well, but those who do buy it aren't buying games according to GameDaily.biz who reported that no PS3 games made the top 10 list in May.

The underlying problem with PS3 may be that it's viewed as a system for rich people with lots of cash to burn, a demographic that is too small for Sony. Analysts polled by the Financial Times expect Sony's gaming division $500 million this year, leaving them with two choices: slash the price & hope software sales offset hardware loses or get out of the home console business altogether.

[BlackIceJoe]

Well I may not be rich. But I make over 600 on my pay check. So to me it was an easy buy. The Reason I see not many people buying PS3 games is because there are not that many made just for the PS3. I own four and I see that in the future I will be getting a lot more. I for one could see some of the PS3 games coming in the top ten soon. The first one that comes to mind is NGS and that comes out next month. So the good games are not far off. Just like when the 360 came out there were not that many games for it but now there is a lot of great games and I for one see the same thing going to happen with the PS3. People just got to give it time and then when they do there will be some great ones out there.

[hfaze]

I got my PS3 in November, and absolutely do not regret the decision. But at the same time, NONE of my buddies have one (or can afford one).

Everybody that I have shown my PS3 to has been impressed with it, but the fact remains that $599.99 is pretty hard to swallow for the majority of people out there.

Sony's best bet would be to get their stockholders blessings on a $200 price drop, and get some blockbuster titles out there. A $399.99 60GB PS3 would SELL. They could even put out a 200GB model, and keep that at the $599.99 price point to help offset the hit on the 60GB model's price.

With the higher yeild rates they're getting out of the Cell CPU's and the blue-laser diodes (along with removing the Emotion Engine and supporting PS2 components from the hardware), they wouldn't be taking a horrible loss on the consoles doing this. With the cost per blue diode dropping from over $100/diode to less than $10/diode alone, they could pull it off...

I still can't believe that Sony dropped the 20GB unit in north america. It would have only taken a $100 price drop to put that one in a much broader consumer base's reach.

They seriously need to do something. The Wii doesn't even have any true blockbuster games, and retailers can't seem to keep them on the shelves...

[Diselage]

Price drop is needed badly

[BlackIceJoe]

Wow I lost a bubble over this. I am not sure why. All I really said was to me I was fine with paying 600 for the PS3. I do believe that it would be best if Sony does lower the price though. That to me is one of the big reasons not many people want a PS3. But like I also said in time games will come. You just have to wait.

[dissectionalrr]

i make over 5k/month and i'm not rich. i also wouldn't buy a ps3. not because it's expensive, but because there are no good exclusives that interest me. the only exclusives it has are japanese, and i'm not japanese. i like shooters and online titles. i don't want to sit through 3 hours of movies in mgs4 or do the whole kid with big hair saves the world thing with final fantasy.

forget a price drop... get some good AMERICAN games i can't already play on 360.

[Monchichi025]

This article is from the Dallas news newspaper! Do you know how many mass market consumers are reading this and saying "forget the PS3!" I'm going with a system that won't be dying soon like the Wii or the 360!"

We can flame all we want on videogame sites but in reality our words will never affect the mass market. Now articles like this are specifically targeting them so this hurts BIG TIME!!!!

[Kaneda]

1.1 - A price drop is critical to Sony very soon...

PS3 you want 399.00??
60gb
wireless
memory cards reader
blu-ray (HD games, and HD movies)
free-online

Xbox 360 - 399.00
20gb
no wireless
DVD drive (HD games, but no movies)
Add-on HD-DVD 199.00
Add-on wireless 99.00
pay for online

LOL...
ROFL..
LMAO...

[Hooper User]

You forgot a few thing :

"PS3 you want 399.00??"
Unified friend list (Not avaible)
Online for every game (No)
Good Games (maybe in 2008)
HD cable (not included) 69.99 $ ( http://www.sonystyle.ca/com...

Xbox 360
Good games (already avaibles)
HD Movies (Downloadable/streaming)
HDDVD addon : Not requiered.

Also to list the PS3 at 399 $ thinking the 360 wouldn't get a price drop a the same time is stupid.

[hfaze]

Actually, a $200 price drop is going to be the only way to pull off mass consumer acceptance. With articles like this out there, consumer confidence in the PS3 being a value at $599.99 is dropping quickly.

Tech-heads can appreciate what all the PS3 offers for $599, but your average consumer has no idea of what all of the features mean.

If the 60GB PS3 was dropped to $399.99, it would be a no-brainer that it's a good deal. And you would start to see more PS2 owners potentially stepping up to the PS3. And no doubt that if Sony dropped the price on the PS3, Microsoft and Nintendo would follow suit. Heck, I'm REALLY surprised that Microsoft didn't drop their price sooner... Then again with it selling the way it is at its current price, why stop milking the consumer... ;-) j/k..

And Hooper User:

Unified friend list (Not avaible)

BS. The Playstation Network is not like the old PS2 online where you had a seperate username and password for each game. With the PS3's PSNetwork, you login ONCE, and that login is good for ANY game you play.

Online for every game (No)

And the 360 DOESN'T have online for EVERY game either, moot point.

Good Games (maybe in 2008)

As far as exclusives, there's some promising titles coming up towards the end of the year, but I'll have to agree that the AAA titles won't be coming until next year.

HD cable (not included) $69.99

Ok, known fact that the PS3 doesn't come with HD cables. But if you're paying $69.99 for the cables, then you have no clue how to price shop...
Component PS3 Cables: $24.99 http://www.gamestop.com/pro...
HDMI cable (6"): $19.99 http://www.newegg.com/Produ...

And that only took 2 minutes of searching... MUCH better than paying $69.99 for HD cables. Shoot, the HDMI cable cost LESS than the component cable!

Oh, and a quick tip, the PS3 uses the SAME composite/component cable setup as the PS2. I've found universal PS2/XBox/XBox360 component cables for as little as $12 that work JUST FINE with the PS3.

[power of Green]

I dissagree, when millions of families and single mothers and their kids walk in a shop they'll look at the price tag and say theres no way i'm spending over $600 dollars on a game console its as simple as that.

What makes it worse is that popular opinion is in favor of the Wii and the 360, the hype of Wii and what the 360 offers now and in the future is much too strong to compete against with only brand reconition(PS3).

Games for the 360 with next-gen gameplay first then graphics have people exicted.

All this has set a new trend and thats how wars are won; the PS2 had games and set the trend with the casual masses the foundation of any winning companies fanbase.

Peole are moving on it really has nothing to do with anything else anymore price cuts and a few games here and there will increasingly be a moot point(s) as popular opinion is the hammer that slams nails in coffins.

Huge companies such as Burger King, T-moble, Mcdonalds,(Net-flix talks) Major movies studio's & Networks etc are seeing the 360's greatness its only a matter of time before XBL explodes and becomes something we have never dreamed of.(you can turn off the ads etc on your 360)

Point is they'll start sponsering XBL and it will be free soon and there will be so much money left XBL will more than likely have major overhuals and no other console will be able to compete. We havn't seen anything yet on how powerful popular opinion is and how it can kill other consoles by word of mouf alone.

[Expy]

Who's fault is it that they're single? The people. Blame the people don't blame the price tag.

[BlackIceJoe]

I know what you are saying but I was talking about myself not some body else. As for the part about families and single mothers. I do agree with you that they will not want to buy the system. But Sony has said they are not going after the casual market more of the hardcore games. So I can not see what I said was so wrong. I said there is not that many great PS3 games out there right now and that is the truth. Yes I want more games on the system and I think in time there will be.

Also on another thing. If it is true that Sony really is going to keep the PS3 alive for ten years. I for one think I made a smart move in buying the system. So like I said buying the PS3 was not a hard choice for me and the same can be said for my 360 and Wii.

So if that is why you did not like what I wrote. That is fine with me and I am happy with the systems I own and can't wait to see what else will come out for the systems.

[cartman313]

I guess I agree and disagree with you. It is true that when some people see the $600 tag they think no way. When I bought it, I probably spent more like $900. It seems now days though, $600 really isn't that much. I spend over $700 a month on my car alone.

Thing about the PS3 is you get a lot from it. Although if you buy it strictly for games, it's not something you will want to buy right now, and I think people are aware of that. Which is why sales are so low.

From what I gather, Playstation always starts like this, and ends up being #1. It's too early to tell. Give it another year and see where it's at.

[DrunKao]

This "blame the people for not being able to afford a PS3" attitude people like Expy has is beyond ridiculous. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Sony priced the PS3 TOO high, it's that simple. Sony's business model requires that a lot of people buy PS3s, not just a few rich people, for their success and the success of all the third party publishers and developers that support them. Sony overestimated how strong the Playstation brand was and how many people were willing to pay $600 for a games console. Not everyone is as fortunate as you to be able to afford a PS3 and if the PS3 fails because of it then only Sony is to blame, not your average joe that has to work hard to support their family and can barely manage to do that. Sony will have to live with their bad decisions, and maybe you might have to as well.

But maybe you're right. Let's all blame the poor people, it's their fault that they're poor and the PS3 is failing! They need to get better jobs and/or stop taking care of their children for the success of Sony!!! People like you are an embarrassment to gamers everywhere. As much as you might think the PS3 is this HUGE bargain, if the mass market doesn't feel the same way then it really doesn't matter what you think.

[dustin2524]

@DrunKao

is it expensive? a little

is it priced to high? hell no, look up how much all the hardware is inside a ps3. its actually priced too low, but i wont argue.

[DrunKao]

"Just a little" depends on what you want in a games console. The problem with arguing that the PS3 is worth more than it's sold for is that the sole factor in the PS3's price difference between the 360 is completely irrelevant to most consumers. Therein lies Sony's problem. If a person wants a Blu-Ray player then the PS3 really isn't that expensive, but the fact of the matter is that for a lot of people, the PS3's Blu-Ray capabilities hold absolutely NO VALUE, so it's almost like spending $200 extra for nothing. Even people with HDTVs don't care that the PS3 is an affordable Blu-Ray player.

Besides, didn't the PS3 recently lose that title when Sony announced a $500 Blu-Ray player?

[thisisim]

Are you actually passing judgement on single parent families? Wow. That's a very offensive thought process and you'd do well to think it through another way. "Who's fault is it that they're single?" Be really careful there unless you know more about it than the family that has undergone the tragedy (death, divorce, abuse, etc, etc, there are many causes).

And why shouldn't people blame the price tag? Seems pretty simple to me - if it's too much for you, you're not going to buy the system. And the PS3 is a very expensive gaming system, historically and otherwise.

The price isn't too high for some, but I'd say it is for most.

[ElementX]

<removed>

[Kaneda]

You want PS3 blu-ray drive to be the same price as Xbox 360 DVD drive?? give me a break!

Xbox 360 wireless add-on is 99 dollars...PS3 wireles is included..

DVD is almost 10 years old...

[PS3n360]

Thats about the same age as the PS3 controller.

[StupidTeenagersMust-]

And no games since like March. What did they expect, a miracle? I'm guessing the same people predicting its doom will be saying in October "Oh, we totally knew it was going to sell this well. Totally!"

*Edit to Powerof...Green?

Wait, millions of families and single mothers? Looks like someone's been reading too much marketing propaganda. =P No offense, but that sounded like it was straight out of a Walmart pamphlet. Good laughs, good laughs. I like you. =]

But seriously, why are you implying that all videogame titles not published on the 360 are somehow 'lacking in next-gen gameplay'. Maybe you should try out Motorstorm or Wii Sports sometime. It might change your mind. =/

[Honeal2g]

theres two things i dont understand about that game .. 1 is why do they count it as its own game when in reality it comes with the system reason i say that is because i always see like "wii sports sells XX amount for the month of XX", and 2 how on earth can someone over the age of 12 play that game for more than 1/2 an hour without realizing it doesnt matter how swing the controller while batting aslong as u swing intime to hit the ball..(i mean seriously u can easily hit home run after homerun if u have some form of intelligence and why would u categorize that game as "next-gen" dont come with that motion sensor B.S ever played duck hunt? not sayin its not fun at times but definetly not worthy of "next gen"

[ImWithStupid]

I had both PS3 and 360 and 2 days ago I traded the 360 in. It just doesn't compare to the gameplay the PS3 delivers. Has anyone thought that Sony is waiting for a decent software lineup to build and then drop the price??

They could drop the price already, because the near $100 they were paying yesterday to put a bluray diode into each BD for the PS3 now costs $8. They are only trying to recoup as much of the launch costs as they can at the full $600 price tag before the lower the boom and the PS3 starts moving like you know what through a goose. It is wayyyy too powerful of a console to be written off this early. There are games already on the way for the PS3 that are simply not possible on the 360 not to mention that a launch title like Resistance outdoes a title like Gears in size,scale and sheer number of enemies on screen at one time. (The firefights are massive in this game.)Speaks volumes about what a heavyweight punch the PS3 will bring this fall. Only fools doubt that Killzone will beat the 05 trailer. The PS3 has the power to push that in realtime and more.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

wow....well I guess your name says it all doesn't it?

[ngg12345]

Big time. I'm betting on 143 comments. Why are people disagreeing me?

[Covenant]

I'll take that bet, and raise it: 160+

Nothing like good 'ol flamebait to get the forums fired up.

[FadedDRFT]

190 comments..

*edit*

Ps3 owns hahahahahahaahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahaha yawn

[InMyOpinion]

86 =)

*edit* Heh...242?!

[weekapaugh]

lol....its been out for 7 months the last time I checked.

[Xi]

so is the wii.

7 months into the original xbox life it had
halo
doa
pgr
and a plethora of other games and exclusives.
and look how well it did. What does the ps3 have 7 months into life?

What I'm trying to say is the ps3 is not the ps2, it doesn't have that 1 year lead, it doesn't have the right price point and it doesn't have the games. So expecting the ps3 to follow the path as the ps2, it wont work since it has competition already, it can't go without the game like the ps2 did. I agree 7 months is early but it is still a good indicator of a consoles success.

[23478ueyur_938223]

"PS3 occupying the sales slot held by GameCube and N64"

The N64 had poor sales? Seriously? I loved the N64...it has so many of my favourite games...

[Xi]

but it got decimated by the pso.

my favorite was doing first to 100 on conkers, against inbreds, it was so funny.

[23478ueyur_938223]

Yeah that's true. I still have my N64 games...heh

[cartman313]

Playing 4 player Golden Eye 007 was extreme amounts of fun. Can't forget the battle mode for Mario Cart. I'll never forget Conker's Bad Fur Day. That game had me lmao.

[Cosmo]

I still play mariokart with my cousin and goldeneye.

Nintendo had excellent games, and still a good console till this day. They have a fun factor going for it, just like the nintendo wii...

[CyberSentinel]

I have owned a Sega CD(299.99-launch) 32x(launch), Game Gear(launch), Saturn(399.99-launch) because I believed in the system. I own every PS system to date, (except PS3) and paid full price for them since I bought them all at launch as well. With the PS3 it really isn't about money, (at least not for me) I just can't see any reason to get a PS3.
I don't want to wait. I want to play now, if I pay now.

Sony makes some great games, and some great products, but I just don't feel I NEED a PS3. At this point in time, Microsoft is fulfilling all my gaming and entertainment needs. It's that simple.

[23478ueyur_938223]

"Sony makes some great games, and some great products, but I just don't feel I NEED a PS3. At this point in time, Microsoft is fulfilling all my gaming and entertainment needs. Its that simple."

That's perfectly fine man, I respect your opinion. I usually tell people that if they have and are happy with their 360s, but are interested in a PS3, to not buy one now and get one when there's more to offer.

Of course I'm pretty insistent on getting whichever console I want as soon as I can grab it, so I got it early simply for R:FOM, and I understand that many would probably want a wider selection first.

[Honeal2g]

well said but from my perspective money is the major issue its not even the games...cause all my friends owned ps2 and the only reason they are not gettin ps3 is the price infact it drove them to get a 360 which is funny cause they enjoy it (they used to hate on xbox) the way i see it is the Rolls have turned and now xbox360 is ps2 ..ps3 is xbox ...and ofcourse Wii is still gamecube....wii had a great start but i think it will go down the tubes after this year as for xbox 360 it may still end up being xbox1 but it wont be bad it might be like 5 mill less or more than ps3 depending on how many more exclusives Sony loses..thats just how i see it. And nintendo lmao they will be in last and thats only because sony or microsoft is gonna pull some crazy game out of its a$$ and shock everyone (wish full thinkin )lol.

@Satanas: i agree and i doubt that nintendo will screw up those two games they are classics and will always sell but this time around it would have been amazing to see mario go HD uniting hardcore and FAmily gamers into one super being as we all pull our pants down and release our bodily fluids on microsoft and Sony (aah poetic Bliss) that felt great but now i;m awake.

[23478ueyur_938223]

@honeal: Yeah I think the big hitters are definitely going to come from Microsoft and Sony, but the Wii will still sell blisteringly fast anyway. Hopefully for the Wii Metroid and Brawl are good.

[Leon Kennedy]

That's right - Lair. That's the ONLY reason I have for buying a PS3 right now. And it's not worth $660 dollars. A $200 price drop and 5-10 exclusives later, I might join the next-gen Sony camp.

[23478ueyur_938223]

I preordered Lair, speaking of Lair. I'm hoping they tweak the motion control and make the game deeper than it seems at the moment (in terms of gameplay), I think that is the current criticism of the game. But I'm a sucker for dragons and fire and whatever. =)

[Kaneda]

"With the PS3 it really isn't about money, (at least not for me) I just can't see any reason to get a PS3.
I don't want to wait. I want to play now, if I pay now. "

Didn't you have to wait the whole year for GoW for the 360?? and 2 years for Halo 3??

[Eagle Eye]

I aint even gonna touch this subject.

[monoknacker]

But sensational headlines grab traffic. It's far to early to write Sony off yet, especially with the games coming out the last third of this year and the beginning of next. They have tough competition this time from both the Xbox and the Wii tugging at people's pockets with good games and a lower price.

However i think all three systems are here to stay and Sony's sales will pick up in the future when the games are out and the additional [HD] functions it's come equipped with are more mainstream.

[trane07]

They are saying nothing that has already been said tons of times and it never adds on to any subject of matter since we've heard the 3 same old complaints over and over again

"its expensive"
"no games"
"price drop"

I mean how many articles have graced over this subject already? Dont any of you think that sony is trying to fix this? How many times do we have to hear it to know the picture. If you dont like it, then wait until the price drop and until the good things start rolling. Stating news isn't going to make sony get it done any faster. Stop beating the dead horse.

[masterg]

Man I hate twisted "news" like this.

Fact is that the PS3 has sold as good as the 360 in the first 7 month.
This was done with a higher price and only 2 good games. Lets wait two more months and see what happens when the real AAA games comes.

[Grown Folks Talk]

readily available stock after a few weeks. 360s weren't readily available until april/may of 06. anyways, the PS3 will sell just fine when more content comes out. from my experience playing games and working at gamestop, there is a different mentality between the platforms. a good number of xbox fans will buy whatever game they see that peaks their interest no matter when it comes out. a good number of playstation fans will buy 1 or 2 games and nothing else until they beat those games. (i'm not saying every owner is this way, so no need to get defensive.)

[witchking]

That's all we ever hear about PS3. Just wait til Motorstorm comes out. Just wait til Lair comes out. Just wait for FFXIII and MGS4 (that'll be 08 now, that's a lot of waiting).

No one feels like waiting. They feel like playing. If you want to play, then pick up a 360. MSFT has the games. The Wii... well, the Wii is something else entirely. I play games for 2-3 hours a day; I can't be jumping and flailing around with a game that looks like it crawled out from under a Gamecube it's so butt ugly for that long all at once.

The 360 has the current lineup, and it has the coming lineup. The PS3 will get there, sure, but while you're "waiting" for it, why don't you go ahead and play?

[SquallSK]

Bah, PS3 is selling well here in Europe, US isn´t the whole world after all (only for 360 it is LOL) .. I dunno why are they telling this BS .. there will be more than 100 games for PS3 till end of the year .. system just needs some good exclusive games (like Uncharted and Warhawk,MGS4 and Killzone 2)and Home as well .. only then the sales will go up .. there are many PS2 owners waiting for this games .. some of them have already bought 360,but mostly not .. PS3 is selling like 360 in his first 7 months (we in Europe only got PS3 like from March) .. this article of them sucks .. I think even the price is ok (now) .. it needs more blu-ray movies thou ..

[Xi]

the 360 is out selling the ps3 in europe. And the ps3 had a nice 86% drop in sales after it's opening week. Sure it reached the 1 million mark faster, but that was with a surplus of supply.

[Eagle Eye]

I think they only use the US. Because if you had to talk about one place in the world. That involved money and sales . What would you say?

[Nervsys]

Why on earth do you think the PS3 is doing well in europe?
Do you say it because most posters here are probably american, so will take your word for it.

Here in the uk, the shelves were full of unsold units during lauch week.
You still can't buy a wii though for love nor money.

[DrunKao]

I don't think a lot of gamers in Europe actually realize how important the US is to the worldwide gaming industry. Just because Europe has more potential consumers than the US that doesn't necessarily make it more important. Just think about how many publishers and how many developers are American, and the fact that the US actually has it's own games console. Hell, most of the big games for the 360, PS3 (Bungie, Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Irrational, Factor 5, SCE Santa Monica), and the PC (Valve, Blizzard, id, Maxis) come from American developers. And they all depend on the US market for a very large portion of their income.

Do you think the affect Europe has on the worldwide gaming industry is comparable to that of the US? Do you think Europe is enough to sustain the PS3 if it fails in both the US and Japan? To be honest, as bad as the PS3 is doing in the US at the moment, I think it's doing much worse in Japan. Japan is basically lost to the PS3 right now.

If the PS3 fails in the US it will have a HUGE impact on the gaming industry, which will not only affect Americans, but gamers worldwide.

[Relin]

If the PS3 is "lost to Japan," how's the 360 doing? The PS3 is keeping up with the 360 in Europe (differences each week have been amounting to less than 5k) and have been outselling the 360 by a margin of 5:1 in Japan. The only place the 360 is successful is the US...beyond that, it's being met with the same blase that the PS3 is.

The average single mother won't pay $400 for a system when they can pay $250, get a game, and want to play with her kids. Face it, M$ is looking for the hardcore demographic just as hard as $ony, and for the hardcore, money doesn't matter. Games are all that counts, and for now, the 360 is the console of choice.

[Expy]

American News is so funny, I can't stop laughing.

[power of Green]

Are you saying families don't make up the bulk of console purchases?. The Wii is killing the competition due to the fact Nintendo has tapped back into that market/demoghaphic i mentioned above.

The 360 has some of that maket too with PS3 probably made up with mostly tech nuts and hardcore diehard loyal PS fans, I'm willing to bet there isn't too many little susy's and littles timmy's that are getting a console that cost nearly $700(give or take) bucks to carry it out of the store with a game, a good shop warrenty and an extra pad.

=P No offense, but that sounded like it was straight from a Sony rep. Good laughs, good laughs. I like you. =]

[etownone]

totally agreed. when 360 drops to 199 soon enough, it will dominate. the most PS3 can drop is down to 499 and thats still too expensive for the little suzy's and little timmy's.

[shotty]

It ultimately is sonys fault for building a console that is far from reach for the mass market. I know some of you are going to say how cheap it is but your the hardcore crowd, mass market is going with the wii and DS lite at the moment since they have the best price so far. The xbox 360 is still abit to pricy but Im really surprised they sold over 10 million without 1 price drop, its been like 19 months since launch and still no drop in price. Sony can't wait it out, everyday that goes by the casual crowd that owned ps2 are switching over to xbox 360s and wiis.

[witchking]

I agree that 19 months is a long time without a price drop. The big question for me is whether MSFT is going to reduce the price before or after Halo 3. It's gotta be a tough call for them. They know Halo 3 is going to sell units like crazy, regardless of the price, so keeping it at $400 is more profit. On the other hand, most consoles have a price drop within their first 18 months... and if a price drop would push more sales against the Wii, perhaps they need to jump sooner, and lose out on the profit that Halo 3 sales would generate for the console. Of course Halo 3 is going to generate software profit out the wazoo...

What do you all think? Will we see a 360 price drop before or after Halo 3 ships?

[CrazzyMan]

but not for long, 3 weeks left till E3. =)
then, such articles just will stop coming.
maybe ps3 won`t increase in sales, but when people will see ingame MGS4, GT5, FFXIII, Killzone2, Getaway3, Wardevil, 8days and etc., they will stop asking for that you paid 600$. =)

p.s. anyone to help return my 3rd bubble back? thnx. =)

[paracardium]

will survive.. Dig up some old Ps2 news same kinda stuff the first year and look what happened.

[CrazzyMan]

Sony is also under the mistaken impression that including the ability to play DVD movies is a huge selling point. But true technophiles and hardcore gamers probably already have DVD drives. I'm a good case in point. I already own a Sony DVD player, so I could not care less if the **$299** PS2 can play movies. **I'd rather pay less and get a machine that just plays games instead.**

In comparison, the Sega Dreamcast sells for **$149** and **has a giant library of games already available.** **Sega also has an online game network,** Seganet.

The real wild card here, though, is Microsoft, which plans to release its X-Box game system next year. The X-Box will have even more powerful hardware than the PS2, and Microsoft has the marketing muscle and rapport with developers to do the PS2 real damage. Unlike Sony, Microsoft is taking great pains to make sure the X-Box is easy to make games for -- developers will also be able to easily port games from the PC to the X-Box, thus insuring a huge supply of games.

So should you feel bad if you can't get a PS2 right away? No way. If you wait a while you'll avoid all the lines and scuffling in stores and you'll end up with a much better selection of games. And if you wait long enough for the upcoming systems from Microsoft and Nintendo, you'll probably see a cut in the price of the PS2 as Sony tries to ward off both threats.

-- Oct. 27, 2000
http://archive.salon.com/te...
=]]

[Lex Luthor]

The PS2 was not $600 with no game, no extra pad or HD cables

[drtysouf21]

Time is its only enemy. Wait till the fall and sales will pick up!

[Leon Kennedy]

It's totally different this time with MS having the early mover advantage.

[drtysouf21]

Microsoft Headstart means Microsoft ends a year early while PS3 still goes on strong. And no one can deny that Over 100 million PS2 owners will get a PS3 when the games start coming when the price goes down and when they are ready. Its just a matter of time. I don't care who wins this so called war but despite the so called negative press the PS3 has had all those issues can be solved in time and when they are people will start to buy.

Edit: If you disagree tell me why or all you do is reassure me that i'm correct because you can't counter what i'm saying!

[razer]

I disagree because your fanboy enthusiasm has suddely given you the ability to see into the future?

"And no one can deny that Over 100 million PS2 owners will get a PS3 when the games start coming when the price goes down and when they are ready."

Not everyone cares about gaming as much as we do and as long as the PS2 has games they may never get a PS3. Who's to say by the time this happens this gen might be over and something like the Wii or 360 has already won this gen. You are acting like you are stating facts when it's all speculation. Why do you think PS2 is still selling so well? They don't care about the PS3 and just want something that they can throw a few beers back and play a few games on the one weekend out of the month they have some free time.

[drtysouf21]

if you did your homework and looked at my profile and all my comments and stories i've tipped and posted you would see that i own and support all 3 consoles and submit good news and bad news articles for all 3. Strike 1. Its not about telling the future its naturally what happens you buy a product a new and iproved much better version comes out and you wait till the price is right it has all the features you want and you replace your old product with the new that happens all the time with many different things.Strike 2. You said that i can't tell the future well what about you comment here. "Not everyone cares about gaming as much as we do and as long as the PS2 has games they may never get a PS3" so you got some magical poll you sent out and every PS2 owner replied with that answer? Fact is people buy PS2 still because the price is right and the game library is huge. The PS3 is following the the same pattern it will get great games and get a lower price and still be able to play the huge library of PS2 games and add all the other great features Hardrive, wifi, blu-ray, mermory card slots etc. So tell me why a current PS2 owner would not get a PS3 when the price is right and the games are available? Strike 3..........Your OUT!

[witchking]

I disagree because 100m PS2 owners are not also going to get a PS3. Some of them can only afford one console and have already chosen either a 360 or a Wii. It's folly to assume that your sales from one generation will be equal in the next. You are assuming that brand loyalty is the same FOR 100 MILLION PEOPLE. It's not.

[Mr_Kuwabara]

I mean look at Nintendo and how bad they did on both last generations and they didn't quit. They had mediocre console sales and most of there games were mostly for the younger audience, but look at it now, the dominate of the console race. Just because Sony isn't the King of console sales doesn't mean that they should quit all together.

This is business, you lose some to win some.

[Nervsys]

because if sony drop out of the console market completely, the quality of xbox games will drop through the floor.

Us 360 owners need healthy competition to ensure that microsoft keep pushing great product in our direction.

[UrbanJabroni]

Rubbish.

There are HUNDREDS of developers in the market, each competing for your hard earned dollars. To get those dollars, they need to make a game that is more compelling than the other games released. Besides, with the every shrinking number of exclusives, it isn't like there is even much cross-platform competition with both consoles.

It isn't like one day we are going to have a meeting if the PS3 folds and say, "Thank God, now we don't have to try so hard." Every single game that is released is competition.

[Seraphim]

I love how they state no PS3 owners are buying games because no game cracked the top 10 in MAY. If they did a little research they'd have known that there really wasn't any games to be released in MAY. Aside from MLB 07 the Show there wasn't even another notable software release last month. Well you can add Spiderman 3, Pirates and Surfs Up to that list of one game released in May but those don't really count. They're crappy movie licensed games which most people don't want anyway. The only people who normally buy movie licensed games are moms, kids who get their moms to buy them, and people who don't know what a good game is. Plus any intelligent person would do themselves a favor by saving $20 and just buy the PS2 version.

[AngryTypingGuy]

The only reason that PS3 isn't selling well is because of the price (duh). They should've known that it was a bad sign when the audience let out a collective gasp when after they announced the price. The lack of heavy hitting exclusives doesn't help either. Sony is in a tough spot. They could easily see a spike in sales if they lower the price. However, lowering the price will hurt them in the short term even more with each unit sold. What if people buy the systems for BluRay and don't buy many games? That would definitely sting.

I for one have never been a PlayStation fan, and I am glad that the PS3 is losing. However, I don't want Sony to quit making consoles for several reasons. 1) It would disappoint many gamers. 2) Competition helps control price points and quality. 3) I may get a future PlayStation model if they change their damn controller (by switching the left joystick and the D-pad), develop a good live platform, and if any future Xboxes suffer in quality.

[etownone]

i would expect most people that post on these forums are a little older and can get the PS3 if we really wanted.

BUT, video games are bought mostly by kids. And the parents are the ones that have to fork over the money. Think about it, i would say almost every kid wants to play video games. Thats why the Wii is selling so good. It's because the parents are forced to buy it, and $250 with a game seems like a great buy. THats why when the 360 drops the price, it will dominate.

I'm 31 and have a 10 year old son. We have two 360's in the house, but 90% of my son's friends still dont have a next gen system cause their parents think they are too expensive. And even though most of those kids have PS2, there is just too much hype with 360, and that's what most of them will be asking for this christmas.

And being that GTA was the system seller for PS2 that all the kids had to play, the 360 will have the EXCLUSIVE episodic content for GTA4, it should be a no brainer for kids which system to want to own.

All kids love Halo and GTA, and now Gears of War because of word of mouth around the schools. The kids will always decide the console wars, expecially when the consoles go down to a price parents can afford.

[Eagle Eye]

10 sons? Damn you have my respect. I bet their a couple of hand fulls.

[rayzorn]

just wanted you to know my age first. but there is no way im buying a system for a 10 year old to play gta on. i love that game but if my when my son turns 10 and wants gta i say hell no. i have a ps3 atm looking into buying a xbox 360 maybe either before christmas or next spring. but as a parent i would look into all the games for a system. and see what he or she could play before picking a system. probably right now the wii looks best for kids under 15 to 16 range. both the others are suited for the 16 plus crowd i would say. even though i played doom and games along that line when i was younger. lmao. o well. i gues i turned out alright. just my 2 cents.

[Eagle Eye]

Oh a 10 year old son lol. So you arent crazy after all lol.

[witchking]

10 year olds playing GTA, Halo and Gears. Great. Good parenting job. Have you read the little label on the bottom left hand side, says M... for Mature... 17 years old and up.

[lammett]

Wow, 30+ comments on this article and not a single person mentioned Blu-ray. I'm beginning to think the HD DVD folks who decided not to factor in the PS3 as a Blu-ray player may have been correct. They believed the majority of people who bought the PS3 were gamers who were not going to buy Blu-ray movies regularly.

I personally bought the PS3 as a Blu-ray player first, game player second as I knew that the good games (like Lair, Heavenly Sword, Gran Turismo etc) were not coming out anytime soon. So basically, I use my 360 for games and PS3 for movies, putting me squarely into the small exclusive niche of buyers the article described. In other words, if PS3 did not play Blu-ray movies, meaning it was strictly a game console, and considering the tepid game offerings presently, I would definitely NOT have bought the machine period. That being said, I am happy with my purchase as the PS3 is a fine Blu-ray player as it stands.

[Mr_Kuwabara]

I buy a video game console for games not for movies, that's just a plus. That's why not many people haven't commented on Blue-Ray player, (which I believe was the worst feature that they added since it added 200+ to the PS3's original price-Not Kutaragis fault but Sony's)

[etownone]

i have two 360's and the HD-DVD add-on, and honestly, if Xbox doesn't come out with the Blu-Ray add-on (which i believe they will at some point), anybody, ANYBODY considering a high def player would be stupid not to get the PS3 for blu-ray movies. reasons being:
1. its rated in like the top 3 in stand alone blu-ray playes
2. its the cheapest blu-ray player
3. and as a bonus you can play games and web browsing

[hfaze]

The PS3 has the capability to continue to be one of the best Blu-Ray players for quite some time to come. Through system updates, and the fact that the PS3 is an internet connected Blu-Ray player, it can easily offer all of the features of the more expensive stand-alone Blu-Ray players.

I bought my PS3 for a variety of reasons, which included both gaming and high-def movies. By the time firmware 2.0 comes out, the PS3 will have the majority of features that I'm looking for from it (here's to hoping for in-game XMB access and background Remote Play functionality)

I agree that it is just too expensive for the majority of people out there. Once the price drops $200, it will be an incredible deal no matter what way you look at it.

[Maddens Raiders]

@ the "Dallas Morning News"?..... get the fuc outta here! XD

All credibility lost on: -- "But Sony's console isn't seen as the system for the hard-core gamer, as is the 360. It's seen as the system for rich people who already own a 360 and are looking for something frivolous to spend their cash on." uhhh...wat?

C'mon Dallas worry about the Mavericks, not the PS3; that's your real concern isn't it? Go Spurs!lol

[MBS1]

Remember what the PS2 did to Peter Moore and the Dreamcast?

HAHAHAHAHA now who is laughing?

And I belive the PS3 is way overpriced and far overhyped! and no 3rd party game makers are wanting to make games for it.

I truly hope it dies a slow painful death!

Im done, off to XBOX LIVE for some more next gen!

[Leon Kennedy]

Yeah, the Xbox 1's life was kinda short compared to the PS2, but being the early mover was essential for an MS victory.

[pkb79]

I think I saw a homeless outside Burger King with a similar message to this headline on a sandwich board. What is the point of this article.

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

Like the PS2, PS3 will ultimately win-out over its competitors. Sony's in it to win it! WORD

@ below: Be strong and shout at the Devil! LOL ]:~)> Future Sight my friend!

[Mr_Kuwabara]

Just because Sony was the dominate at both there last consoles doesn't mean that they would be #1 this time around. This is a whole different ballpark with differnt players. I'm a PS3 fan but I really don't like when I see the success of other last gen Sony consoles overshadow what the PS3 is today. It doesn't have to be the #1 console for me at least because I still love what it has to offer in order for me to enjoy it.

[ApocalypseShadow]

and both are going to happen.haters have double standards because they want all these things now.because they have been playing 360 for a year.they expected sony to have 100 games at launch.they even believed hype like 4D and jacking in like the matrix.

second,these same gamers want sony to drop it's large fanbase that have ps2s like microsoft dropped the xbox.i think sony cares a little more about their fans to support them until they are ready to make the jump.we can see that in the other thread http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/...

this guy dodges better than mike tyson about busted 360s."system is breaking but our fans love that xbox."

sony survived criticism with ps1 and sold 100 million.
they survived criticism with ps2 and sold 115+million.
they entered the 99% nintendo controlled portable market and sold 25+million psps.

now they have a system that can survive more than 5 years.

1.1 hdmi because of cost,not because it needed to be upgraded like their competitors machine after just one year.
2.supports 1080p(microsoft missed the memo where all tv makers were moving to 1080p tvs) and a 120fps camera called PSEYE.
3.bluray to watch movies and to help devs.some devs are already asking for 50 gig discs.like konami.
4.a fast,powerful cpu to help in massive calculations.
5.a large upgradeable hard drive to help in cacheing files and storing content.
6.support for better sound than 5.1
7.support for their fanbase by including great backwards compatability.and upscaling to boot.
8.greater tangible ideas like LBP,home,singstar,motion control,pseye,psp linkage from anywhere in the world,etc.

sony will be doing very fine after E3.history has a way of repeating itself.

[etownone]

not for nothing, but with technology moving so fast, why would any of us, (that can probably afford PS3 or elite 360 if we really wanted) buy our console thinking its an investment to last more than five years? maybe i'm in the minority, but in five years, sony and microsoft will be able to deliver a console that is probabably ten times better than PS3. AND thats what i'm always looking forward too.

ps2 beat xbox because they came out the gate earlier and had the games.
now 360 will beat ps3 cause of the same reasons. the games in last two generations can be done pretty much equally on both machines. in 5 years something will come out that will BLOW 360 and PS3 out of the water.

[Nicosia]

You have a point though.

http://blogs.ign.com/Ryura/...

[Maldread]

I don`t think games alone can change this for me, even though one should never say never (MGS4 might do it for me or some games at E3, if PS3 still have the same price as now).

I think Sony`ll wait to see just how the sales will go when the heavy hitters start coming in around fall, and if they don`t get the numbers they wanted, they could drop the price (if they can "afford" it, which will be Sony`s balancing act in this console war). I don`t see the point of dropping the price now, and a price drop is expected lather this year, so they could just get it overwith anyway, if they can.

If the 360 price goes down, PS3 should follow too, because i think the distance will be too great if they don`t (this again will have to be judged up against the balance) and on top of that they have a Halo 3 problem to counter in addition (maybe the price reduction will be that weapon, and Microsoft`s counterweapon could be to wait for Sony to drop first and then cut down their own price).

Either way, this wait-and-see game will probably be very interesting to see how it turns out, as the E3 battle will too.

[MoonDust]

In time.

[AngryTypingGuy]

...is make a new version of the PS3, minus the BluRay player. It will cheapen the production cost, lower the price, and get more PS3's into homes. However, they would have to put their games on regular DVD disks instead of BluRay discs. This could confuse the average consumer.

The main motive for the PS3 could be to get BluRay into homes rather than maintain the #1 position in gaming. If they have the winning DVD format, that could be more profitable than having the #1 console.

[Nervsys]

Sony would be admitting they were wrong.

All current PS3 owners would be annoyed, and all current games would have to be rereleased on dvd.

No one would trust them ever again.

And they would be bound to lose with Blu-Ray too.

I guess the whole thing really depends on how deep sonys pockets are.

[Leon Kennedy]

I read somewhere that whoever drops their price first (MS or Sony) will be perceived as the weaker product. Very interesting being that Sony was the leader a year ago and MS is leading right now.

[ImWithStupid]

"31.1 - That would be a crazy move
Sony would be admitting they were wrong.

All current PS3 owners would be annoyed, and all current games would have to be rereleased on dvd.

No one would trust them ever again.

And they would be bound to lose with Blu-Ray too.

I guess the whole thing really depends on how deep sonys pockets are."

sounds to me like that's what happened to microsoft with the elite. after all they were the ones that said "HDMI is not necessary" and then turn around and release the elite. I know alot of people that laughed at them when that happened.

[etownone]

the only game I can see as a system seller for PS3 is SOCOM. and thats aimed at an older crowd. I have non-gamer friends that only play socom and are waiting to buy ps3 just for the next socom.

the parents that have to buy their kids the systems will decide the fate of the PS3, and being that pretty much every kid loves GTA4 (360 will have exclusive episode content) Halo, and now Gears of War. the way I see it, the ps3 is doomed. oh, but they do have god of war that will probably be coming in a couple of years, but by then it will be too little, too late.

[N4GayFanturds]

And tell me WHY???

WHY does this site have sooo much FLAMEbait articles and not NEWS??
Should this site change it's name to Fb4G??

WHY do Sony fannies take fact (PS3 not selling well, no games, high price tag, etc) and make statements as if they're oblivious to the 'real world'?? i.e. "Oh I can afford it, it wasn't no big chunk of change for me. I have 6 games too."
Do they think they are the MAJORITY?

WHY do Sony Fannies attack any article with negative factual information about PS3? "Dallasnews.com??? They suck! Who cares what they say?" Do they think that a lesser known source changes FACT?

WHY do Sony fannies tell people to "Just wait until..." as an answer to the PS3's weakpoints? i.e.; It's price is too high. "Just wait until the price cut." It has little games for it. "Just wait until 2009." XBL blows PSN out the water. "Just wait until firmware update 40.512"
Is that the undisclosed PS3 motto?

WHY do people on here vote to disagree with known 'advocates' of opposing systems...when they make comments like; "Wow." or "lol."?
Are they 'Bubble Hunters', looking to 'steal' their enemy's bubbles??

Just my observation on this site but I'm sure I've made enough friends on here to be 'marked' for disagreement.

Now pertaining to the article; I just will say, it's a darn shame that fanboys actually have the media's panties twisted to the point that if they write an article with negative impact in regards to the PS3, they have to put their name in the headline;'Dan Rather: Sony is being dominated in the Next-gen War by MS & Nintendo'. PS3 may/may not be that powerful but it seems the Sony fanboys ARE.

[cartman313]

Goes both ways man. Just read the crap TheMart, and Powerofgreen write. Goes both ways.

[nice_cuppa]

stop p1ssing off the ps3 fanboys.

talk about putting the boot in.

[BoneMagnus]

$600 plus a component cable, plus a headset, plus another controller, plus a couple games, plus tax. This is what I will buy WHEN I get one.

However, as for those games - none are out yet that justify the price.

Look, for the price of all of the above, I can get about 12-13 games for my 360, and I can name more than that that are likely purchases from Assassins to UnReal 2007 and everything in between(Halo 3, GTA4, Bioshock, Mass Effect etc.)

I'll get a PS3, but it will be when the great PS3 exclusives are on the market. If Final Fantasy and MGS4 go multi, though, I'll likely pass on a PS3 altogther. I'll just wait about 7 years from now to play God o War 3.

[ApocalypseShadow]

if it costs millions of dollars(MILLIONS) to produce games this generation,what do you think games will cost on next gen systems?duh....MORE MONEY.another system in 2010-2011 is not a smart move.why do you see sony holding on to ps2?they make lots of money.and that money will EVENTUALLY shift to ps3.

and what do you think game companies want to do,spend even more money trying to catch up with microsoft dropping systems and moving on or stay where there is a bigger base?microsoft had better not release another too soon.the market won't be able to support it.some devs would jump at the chance for more power,but you have to abandon current gen to build your games or have large capital like EA to do it.

epic made gears on 10 million.not counting microsoft paying them some undisclosed amount.sony is spending more than 20 million on killzone.capcom spent 20 million on production and advertising of lost planet.it won't get CHEAPER.you're talking 10 to 20 million dollars minimum to start and make a highly produced game for next gen.that's why sony says 10 years is enough for everyone to make money.even when the tech has moved on.

that's why you build a system that can last possibly 10 years.not barely five years.

ps1 lasted 10,then they stopped production.
ps2 is going on 7-8 years.
ps3 is projected to last just as long.

this isn't the pc market where you get a new 3d card every 3-6 months.microsoft wants you to believe that.sony and nintendo don't believe that.

built it to last.

[The Karate Kid]

All Sony Have To Do is Drop The Price To $399.99 And it will be over. Sure they will lose more money on the Hardware sales, but they can and will easily sale a ton of more software sales. Thing is though, if the system dropped to $399.99 today there are still NO games to buy on the console right now.

Get the system to $399.99 and make things happen.

It will sell millions at that price..

Possibly giving it an month to month edge over the 360, Japan it will also sell a ton more and Sony will undoubtly take Europe at that price.

[SPAWN]

Then M$ will follow and drop the price of the 360 and sony will die at an even faster rate! Sony drops to $399 and M$ drops to $199 core $299 Premium and $379 Elite! Microsoft is already making a profit on the 360 where as sony isn`t making, but is losing over $200 on every ps3! So now you want sony to lose $400 on each console with no games! While M$ will have a console with better graphics and games for much less! had sony not included the cell, M$ would be in some trouble! Blu-ray wouldn`t have hurt the sales or price! Sony should have went the triple/quad core route and M$ would still be fighting for second place!

[Lacarious]

sony needs to kick it in gear ASAP. Gamecube had some kick azz games.. just never played them.

[gano]

Why are their people whining about sumtin they don't care for.
If the price drop and there are still no games do u want it,
wait even wit the games u don't want it. So why are certain people who don't like it making everyone else follow......omg.....this is president
bush doing. No wonder for all the american followers. As far as blu-ray they fogot we is one of the only countries that is far behind
as far as electronics Is concerned we don't have half the features
most cell phones carry in other countries, and u wonder y.

[gano]

U will pay 300 for a import phone right.

[Sully907]

All this stupid negative news is disgusting,You guys honestly think sony can't handle a year or two of losses with how much money they raked in the last two generations? Give me a break.

[Valin]

This article is in buisness sense techniqually true. Sony are losing money on every PS3 sold but so is the nature of every hardware company they make the money back on software. (with the exception of apple who make all their money on hardware and lose on software) The PS3 will not dominate this generation it will be pretty even between all the consoles the way I see it. But no sony will absolutly 100% not drop the PS3 the mere mention of it is ludicrus however I do see this being the last generation of box under the TV consoles.

Sony will hold on to the PS3 for 6 or so more years then it will annonce a new TV/Console build. This will happen as sony is already very well endowed in the TV market and Frankly having a build in console/Blu-Ray player in any TV would be an edge in a hardware store. Picture the conversation "Well here we have the Samsung XD-104 42' inch 1080p TV with technicolour for 2299$ and here we have the sony PlaystationX HD 42' Built in blu-ray and high-performance games console and 1080p output for 2599$" Which would you buy? This would also tap into the massive market increase in HDTVs being bought thus putting sony on the leading edge in the new generation of Televisions. This is also what sony should do this generation build a New Bravia with a built in PS3 hell I'm looking for a new TV and I'd buy it.

Microsoft Will acctually make a profit on this generation (strange I know!) But then will most likely Go back into mainstream computer gaming and possible SURFACE technolgies. (Return of the arcade?)

The wiis sales will slowly decrease but they will stay a major competitor right up until the end then Then will move into the only handheld market and will effectivly dominate and it will be much more profitable for them however they will continue with sweet and simple products and will never really take any hold over the technophile market (eg. Hardcore games, etc...)

Will Apple also be in the Next-NextGeneration of gaming? With the recent announcements at WWDC I can't see it not happening but what would it be Handhelds? Box under the TV consoles? I dunno but this generation is going to be the steping stones for a real evolution in gaming in around 2012.

Yes this is a tad off topic and Before all the where's your crystal ball jokes come up think about it I a 15 year old highschooler can write a better evaluation on the State of the PS3 and where its going than a payed Professional Writer. Then aging it is The Dallas Cronicle or whatever.

So in conclusion The PS3 is here to stay FACT! will it win? Possibly but not by proevious generation figers. Will sony lose a lot of money for the first 3 years? YES! It's called growing pains! the 360 had it in breakdowns and the PS3 will have it in Revenue.

[funkysolo]

The PS3 price is not the problem, come this holiday season it will dominate in sells because of the game lineup. The 360 did the same thing 7 months into it's lifespan. The majority of gamers are 18 years and older those are the ones that will pay $600 with ease if the games are there. The wii can sell millions but unless parents buy more than one or two games the system will still be a failure. The wii has the worst attach rate in the history of gaming. Most people buy it for party games and serious gamers will always want better hardware for their real gaming needs. So unless nintendo brings games that use the wiimote you can start seeing alot of wiis on ebay for sale.

[Daxx]

Even though I am a Xbox loyalist I really don't want to see the PS3 go down in flames. We 360 owners need people to argue with and you PS3 owners put up good debates (well most of you). If the PS3 does go under who are we going to debate with, the Wii owners, that would be pathetic.

Wii Owner: "THE WII'S GRAPHICS PWN YOUR BELOVED 360's. AND MARIO COULD KICK MASTER CHEF (LOL I SAID CHEF INSTEAD OF CHIEF, LOL) ASS.

360 Owner: "Right..."

[gunnar2906]

To by all features at once or to buy it all together with a huge price-off is only matter of choice.
High price, price cut-off, too expensive - i can read these everywhere ...
Actually the PS3 offers much more for $599 then other consoles. It has everything needed in one box for all cases. And it is for future not for today.
For instance, you are tired to spend money for disposable AA batteries for your console. Ok, kiss them good-bye only for $55 for a 2 recharchable batteries and recharge kit for a couple of your joypads. PS3 has already them. You have wireless network at home - ok - integrate with it only for $100, while PS3 have it already.
You bought a new Full HDTVset and want to enjoy HD movies. Feed yor HDTV with HD movies only for $200 but notice that console doesnt have HDMI and doesnt support resolution higher then 1080i (read 720p) with its component cable. PS3 owners already have it.
HDD of your console is stuffed with saves and demos? Oki .. go to the shop and get a new 120 Gb HDD for a nice price of $180. PS3 owners initially have 3 times more of HDD space and can easily replace it in 5 minutes without avoiding garantee to 160Gb HDD for only $90.
Do you want to try an upcoming game? Sorry mate, you got to subscribe for your console network service for only $50. PS3 owners can do it for free.
Did you like a new fancy headset? Sorry, mate, you have to use only this crappy monophonic one, connected to your joypad. Or to buy one of 2 models manufactured by Joytech and good priced $50+ or MS's monofonic wireless for only $60.
Need a keyboard for chatting with MSN installed in your console? It is easy - just plug it in an usb slot. But if you are jewish, greek, chenese, japanese or russian you have to forget it. Only US keyboard layout is supported.
Put a face to your gaming experience and make the most out of your Xbox LIVE® Gold subscription with video chat and messaging! You got a great choice of 1 camera for a small price $40. PS3 users can do the same with their old Eye-Toy cameras having the same quality and without paying a penny.

[CrazzyMan]

You can argue for hours, but you won`t be CHANGE someone`s OPINION, even with FACTS.
Only such events like E3 and TGS07 can.
Just look, like some people after GDC07 and LBP started to think, that maybe LBP worth $600? Not because some facts, that ps3 is powerful or whatever, but only after some events.
Also Sony gamer`s day showed some amazing games, for those who already had ps3 it started to look more worth it`s money.

p.s. ofcourse i like to argue like most people here, but i`m just trying to say, that it`s not point to write BIG posts =) you won`t change anything. =)

p.p.s. thnx for everyone, who has trust in me, and gave positive feedback. =)

[xbotsRidiots]

well itll survive longer than most 360's out there..... lol lol red rings of death anyone read rings of death lol thank you thank you im here....well unlike a bunch of the xbots im here rarely.

[MadMax]

At least 360 has got games, what does PS3 have? Umm, man i cant think of one reason to get a PS3. The first batch of systems always have problems, PS2 ring a bell to ya? You were prolly one of the knuckleheads that rushed the doors like a little kid on launch day, lol . PS3 is out face it, all the experts agree its a complete failure. Thats why you see em just sitting on the shelves collecting dust. People like yourself must feel pretty stupid after blowing all that money on a system with NO GAMES! Get a brain and get with the program kid!

[xbotsRidiots]

the PS3 is out? was it a gay in the closet? damn buddy thanks for letting me know the PS3 out, time to gay bash it i guess.

[bootsielon]

"...two choices: slash the price & hope software sales offset hardware loses or get out of the home console business altogether."

This is one of the stupidest things I've ever read. It's as if they were assuming the PS3 had many games, and it doesn't. Once it does (starting this month), demand will grow. By September Sony will have to have sent enough PS3s for holiday season everywhere in the world; those playstations will probably have new components everywhere. The fact that it'll be a new revision will allow them to cut the price either before GTA4 comes out or before holiday season kicks in; by then PS3 will have several games. The outlook of 2008 looks a lot more interesting, since PS3 will cost a lot less, will have a lot more games, and a lot more services.

To put it simply, it's too early to judge the PS3.

[gunnar2906]

I own all 3 nextgen consoles sand my choice is future =)

[dale1]

sony has three platforms not one they make money on psp ps2 with the ps2 selling way more than xbox and wi
ps3 is selling well considering the games are not there yet except a few they have some great aaa games coming out later and some great 3rd party titles too this will help sales later
one point about ps3 its future proof both in capacity of disc space and storage space
the playstation store will evolve as time goes on and having the storage the ps3 has this will be another factor for down loaded content
and digital sales later the xbox sales only 20% of consoles sold were fitted with harddrives so xbox live figures are not what microsoft have stated both these are facts
ps3 and the wi have internet browsers microsoft doesn,t have the same capabilites it can,t even use the cartoon network never mind what the future brings

[Bloodmask]

They should have just released a video games machine instead of forcing Blu ray on the masses. Blu ray is the reason the PS3 is selling so poorly...

-PS3 launch delayed almost a year bc of shortages in BD laser diodes
-PS3 is $200 more than 360 bc of Blu ray
-PS3 only had 300,000 units at launch bc of shortages in BD laser diodes
----------------------------- ------------------------------- -----
Not to mention the PS3 was rushed to the market..........
Originally the PS3 was supposed to have multiple cell processors but this design had to be axed bc of price issues. Isn't it obvious that it was rushed. It should be bc look at the PS3's game portfolio. Sony has put themselves at a price point that is way outside their "core" audience. Most consumers bout the PS2 when it was cheap........
----------------------------- ------------------------------- ------
You can twist it however you want. Sony has released a machine that is far harder to develop for and will cost developers more to make games for. Do you think this is attractive to third parties? Why would developers spend more money and development time to make games optimized for the PS3 architecture when it has the lowest install base and therefore will minimize their profit.....answer is .....they won't.

[gunnar2906]

Stop coping your own posts ...
Or they are not yours?
About hard development and bottlenecks which are actualy arent...
Your so beloved X 360 is already 1.5 years old but where promised next gen games are? With the graphics superior to PC games?
PS3 being 2 months old showed perfect superior real nex gen graphics and phisics in Grand Turismo HD, superior and unreachable to PC or X360 level of details and phisics in Motostorm. Now Folklore and Ninja Gaiden Sigma are the real nex-gen games graphically.
What about X360?
Gears of War? the 360 was created with Epic, designed for Epic and I bet you will never see a game on X 360 better graphically then GoW =)

[Bits-N-Kibbles]

that the PS3 wont survive for more than 2 more years but they will win with Blu-Ray over HD DVD because its more popular right now and the Blu-ray players are much cheaper than HD DVD players.

[Sully907]

uh ps3 was delayed 6 months because of blu ray diode shortage,not almost a year.

And blu ray is a game format,Not just some movie thing,There was a reason to put it in.

[TheMART]

Wrong. PS3 would have been launched in EUrope also in Spring 2006. They came here March 2007.

BluRay is movie push format for Sony. They failed with Betamax, they'll fail with BluRay

Discs are rotten away I just read on the main news page.

[pwnsause]

go to eproductwars.com/dvd and educate yourself about HD sales. Blu-ray is dominating thanks to the PS3. i still have that talledega nights movie on BD. and its not rotting. thats only discs that were not porduced correctly, hence their rotting. HD-DVD is dead. BD is needed developers are already saying it lol educate yourself next time this is the same conversation I had 7 years ago when everyone said that DVD wasnt needed for game, look what happened lol

[TheMART]

@ PWNSAUSE

Again you're wrong.

A formats war won't be won in a few months. Both standards just released. THe BR format got a boost by the Europe PS3 launch, but after that launch, PS3 sales have CRUSHED into about 2/3 of what the 360 sells in Europe.

Now again. HD-DVD sounds more logical to average people that buy a HD-TV, and that had a normal DVD in the past.

BluRay sounds like an alienweapon.

HD-DVD stand alone players are cheaper. 360 HD-DVD add ons are mostly sold for 169 Euro now. They'll get cheaper to 129 to 149 also, the standalones will get cheaper also.

I bet the real fight still has to come and BR isn't a standard today when I checked. Thus: you are way, way off with your comment

[Gibroon]

I bought my PS1 and PS2 a good 18 months after they were released due to the same "problems" the PS3 have now. I just couldn't afford them when they first came out.

I'm a bit older and wealthier now and bought my PS3 about 2 weeks after launch. I'm happy I bought it even though learning to be patient for the games is quite hard.

The difference in quality between 1st party releases and multi platform games is quite astounding at the moment. Multi platform ones are graphically far worse and the frame rates can be quite poor. 1st party games look much better and hardly see any frame rate drop (GTHD concept, Motorstorm and RFOM show the true potential).

Hopefully the multi platforms will not be as bad when programmers get to grips with the PS3. Even so you can tell dodgy programing a mile off, Spiderman3 I thought was a complete let down on both the 360 and PS3 and I'm getting too old to accept such rubbish even though I'm a big Spidey fan. Its getting traded in as soon as something else half decent comes out on the PS3 (when will that be? lol)

I do hope these types of "news" disappear soon because in 1 years time
I'm sure they will be a distant memory.

I really don't think there is much to choose between the 360 and PS3 in terms of performance (360's library is obviously much better).

Lets stop the hate and enjoy the games!

[SDS Gamerfiend]

You won`t be missed!!

[gano]

People do not respond to those who know nuthing of tech/elec/gameing/
future/pricing/economics. Who here has the new hdmi xbox/hd bundle?
That B!@# kick ass on the 40 in hdtv! The future looks so bright.
Who here wanna get high.

[The_Firestarter]

The way things are going now, the PS3's future doesn't look so hot. If the system starts to really sell like crazy the end of this year, and by the summer next year, then the PS3 will survive. Otherwise, it's sad to see them die. Like I've heard before, "S*** happens!"

[level 360]

I'm still waiting for Sony to give us here in Australia a price drop and better deals on the PS3, and I know in a way it's not Sony's fault ( partly anyway... ) that they ( still ) have'nt got enough games ( frustratingly toooo long... ). But Yes, the PS3 will survive eventually ( it has to, or it would be quite boring w/out it - also good for the competition/gamers/media/negat ive and positive rumors to talk about... ). Costs really is my main reason that I'm still holding onto my money before I get my PS3/with more games and deals to go - the sooner the better/force feedback - having a comeback, now the problem has been settled.

[Why o why]

Everybody save this page. Its gunna be an amusing read in about a years time. Oh yes a year because the apocolypse wont be for now and i still believe we will still be here talking s++it about something else.

[TruthHurts]

its over for ps3 in about............17 hours.

i guess i should sell mine.

I think it more relevant to ask that question about the 360.

[Dogswithguns]

for everybody.....but Im okay cuz I already got one.

[Odinson]

If sony doesn't turn things around drastically by the end of this year, I don't think they will be able to overcome the rut that they are in. The 360 has a lot of AAA titles coming out this year (go on admit it), and thats not to say that sony doesn't have a good looking line up in some peoples eyes as well. Lets just see if the rest of the world agrees with the sony fanatics...they better hope so.

[cdawson]

Yes the price is ridiculous, but how has that ever stopped sony products from being successful?

The PS3 will not be AS successful as Sony would have hoped but it will still be a well accepted console.

[solidt12]

If you really think about it not selling systems+not selling games+Not many games available go hand in hand. They aren't selling many games because there aren't that many to buy, and they aren't selling systems because there aren't that many games to buy. If they release some very very good games they will sell systems and more games. I think Ninja gaiden will pump some life into the chart sells and definitely Lair and Heavenly Sword. After that if they aren't selling then there is a problem for sure.

[MadMax]

I wont be wasting my time or money on a worthless piece of sh@t with no games on a PS3!

[jwatt]

If you would of bought a ps2 at launch you might of said the same thing, not knowing that the ps2 would stick by your side for a long time. I'm still getting my moneys' worth for my ps2 right now.

[jwatt]

Of course it can, it's not like people don't want a ps3, they just don't want to pay for it at that price with no games. In a few months the most important problem will be gone which is the lack of games. Then the price cut will come, then more games and everything going to be normal. It could be possible that Sony might announce price cut at E3 but I think Sony's going to wait and see how they do when the games come out.

Honestly, even though the ps3 is selling horrible, it's not in that bad of a position. Six hundred dollar console with no games with almost three and a half million consoles sold. The wii is selling the most but it was just something we never seen before we'll get over it soon. The 360 is selling well but I think for a console that had 1 year with no compitition should have more consoles sold. In the end I think all three consoles will sell but don't think it's over for the ps3.

[reaperxciv]

intelligent buyers look for the sweetspot, it's usually a price drop and/or availability of AAA games before purchasing...

It's high time that sony tickle the sweetspot

[Leogetz]

Ah, I remember when the PS2 was a "Failure", I can't wait to see what's said when Sony's still around and kicking ass in 08' Sorry, Sony isn't going anywhere.

[Cosmo]

Pretty much everything of importance was said up above...as if the Playstation 3 doesn't have a future.

[IPlayGames]

after a good month of sony news sombody always has post something to try and bring morale down.

[chrno6]

American sales haha..man, Americans really think they represent the world? No wonder their average citizen can't point out where Russia and France are on the map.

[BIGBAER]

>>> Americans really think they represent the world? No wonder their average citizen can't point out where Russia and France are on the map. <<<

Look, if you want to be taken seriously don't make idiotic, assinine statements.

Keep on the topic, present your opinions and listen to other's. You just might learn something.

And for the record, I know where Russia and France are on the map. I also know an idiot when I see one---or read his immature rants.

[IPlayGames]

sony released the ps3 to early.(think its a matter of pride) but just think if they waited a year and realeased it to counter halo3 it would be in better condition.

with more games at lunch and more of a reason to buy beside just a cheep blu-ray player. The current ps3 gene consist of FPS, sports and some driving. Personaly these are not my type of games. i like action adv., rpg, fighting and sports. the kind of game PS is known for (blood rayne, god of war, DMC, tekken) arent out right now.

the only reason i bought a ps3 is because im a fanboy and wanted one but in all serousness i dont need all the games i play are on ps2. Except RFOM but im not really a FPS fan last gen i only played Medal of Honor games. RFOM has turned me on 2 FPS with its fast paced 1player(it called mission impossable around here) and crazy online but other than there is really nothing.

Motorstorm is cool but the only driving i like is burnout everything else just feels like your driving in circles (i do that at work). Oblivion is a great game highly rec. if your a RPG fan.

Anyway my point is there is no games for the 3 right now so theres no reason to buy. unless u just wanna be apart of next gen and feel like waiting which most people are doing. i own it and my wait list is huge(home warhawk 2.00 MGS4 FFXIII etc...). So if you dont own it why would u buy one and be in the same spot you where before purchase?

Once the games come out(Drake's, Lair, NGS(2weeks :) ) and if it doesnt start selling then. Thats when you can say sony is in trouble as of now sony still gets lots of money from other places (movies,ps2, elect.) so theres no reason for them to get out of the gaming bizz.

[SDS Overfiend]

Sony PS3 Whom of all Died way too Soon.

PS3 Been out 8 Months now and still has'nt made a dent in anything.
I mean Sony had the right idea but the wrong staff. This is what happen when you create a Transformer and start calling it a game console.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

I called the death of the ps3 last year before it launched. Soon this piece of crap will be in a hole right next to all the other console failures. That day will be a glorious one and I will celebrate by pointing it out in every post on n4g and digg.

[jolshwar]

Thinking about it, the PS3 should have launched in November this year. I bought one on March 23 (European launch date), completed Motorstorm and resistance and I'm still waiting to buy my next game! There are so many games coming out between late august and Christmas. OK PS3 messed up this one up, but the war is not lost; there is tonnes of exclusive content coming out; and no matter what the Xbox fanboys/pc fanboys say it is going to take a year for the graphics to surpass the competition.

[ImWithStupid]

ANYTHING you can find on the 360, the only one that even can hope to compare is gears and even that is vastly outdone by Resistance. Everything else on the scratchbox is crap.

[WIIIS1]

You're dead wrong. Bullet Witch beats Resistance hands down.

[MoonDust]

I think you need to remove the "WITH" and you are on the money.

[wildcat]

"But Sony's console isn't seen as the system for the hard-core gamer, as is the 360. It's seen as the system for rich people who already own a 360 and are looking for something frivolous to spend their cash on."

hmmm... maybe because the 360 has had time to establish the type of games that define it such as Lost Planet, Dead Rising, Gears of War. The PS3 has Resistance and Motorstorm which are only two titles. Until Lair, Heavenly Sword, Warhawk, Uncharted... come out, then you can say the PS3 is seen as this or that because titles such as these are going to define what is to be expected of the system.

[felidae]

the ps3 is going down!

NOT!

[MK_Red]

Sony needs 3 things:
1.Time to pass faster so Lair, Uncharted and Heavenly Sword come out and so MGS and FFXIII.
2.Drop the price right now. I mean... NOW.
3.Start paying $50 millions like MS to publishers to secure more exclusives.
4.Start really using its full force as Sony (Sony Pictures, Sony Music and other channels) to help improve PSN's tv , movie and media content.

[ImWithStupid]

$50 million only to get DLC for GTA. I can see the confusion though, for that kind of money you would think they would have gotten GTA to go exclusive... sounds like someone is getting milked for all their worth.

on the topic at hand, Sony called and said the PS3 will be just fine and they thank all the 360 fans for their concern...lol

[RaceSIMS]

they all have games i want for me and my family

[dukegodtezza]

cant understand why people love xbox/sony/Nintendo/pc and so on
people play the best games were ever they can get them,halo,ut,bf2,gow,gta,gt and buy the cheapest systems to play them,
just buy the system your games are on
(ps mine are on pc & the 360)

[hydrog]

Wii bubble will burst, Playstation will go under.

Xbox is the future of gaming.

Now go buy one!

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Putting my PS3 bashing aside for a sec, I hope this don't happen because if you gamers have noticed that with three gaming consoles, PC, mobil and portables we have a hell of alot of good computition and the quality of games has gotten better. Personaly I just want the PS3 to be kicked to third (which has happened) thatss for making Blu-Ray more important then my gaming. The Playstation brand will survive, it's just wounded right now (an embarrassing self inflicted wound)

[Imknow1]

1)Obviously a price drop( at least $100 )
2)AAA titles that were expected to come out next year are coming out this year.
3)Better online mechanics because right now, ehhhh. :D

[ps1h1ch]

Avarage salary (working class) in my country is 1.000€ tax included(800€ neto). Price tag of ps3 here is 600€ (800$). The price tag is too high here. And where I live sony has sold more than 50:1 ps2 against original xbox. Now the situation is almost reverse and even without MS even officially selling it's console in our country. We can get it in few stores in capital city or jump to Italy (like I did) or Austria.

[BRUTUS]

ha ha ha ha ha mrmrmrmrmrmrmrmrmrrmrmrmrmrmrm rmrmrmr

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Hey do you speek german? Your welcome by the way

[SafeRat]

'But Sony's console isn't seen as the system for the hard-core gamer, as is the 360. It's seen as the system for rich people who already own a 360 and are looking for something frivolous to spend their cash on.'

I beg to differ.

[Ru]

and if you take a ship and sail away from the U.S. too far in one direction you will fall off the planet.

Are the numbers really that better elsewere?

[Violater]

If HS was on the 360 I would own one right now, It's all about the games, sad part is the games are taking too long to get here.
Hopefully this holiday season will be better.

[TruthHurts]

united we form Voltron and take on all

[WANDA]

Can I use my space here to point out how incredibly smart Nintendo is?

When the Xbox 360 and PS3 were comparing penis size, the Wii came out of nowhere and was like,
"Um.... Yo, errrr I'm a girl now"

So everywhere in the world little fanbabies are moaning over which system has the better HDMI port, and the Wii made the smartest choice by not allowing itself to be compared to the others.

It's like hitting a girl, you just DON'T do that, unless your name is Ike, and you're married to a Tina Turner.

[zonetrooper5]

At this moment the PS3 is a waste of money, it price is too high for many people including me. It has no good games to be honest, I think that Motorstorm is only good game out for it. The 360 on the other hand has better and more games, its online service is awesome and the price is priced right.

Sony needs to lower the price and bring in more and better games. The PS2 won't keep Sony up forever, they can't milk that old cow forever. I will buy a PS3 when its prices drops and more games come out for it, as for the moment its better to buy either the 360 or Wii or both if you want.

[AngryTypingGuy]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sony make some sort of an announcement regarding the PS3 if sales don't increase by the beginning of 2008.

[skynidas]

what a stupid article you must give a console like two years to evolutionate

[WANDA]

yessssssss

dude, that's the best word i've ever heard!!!

evolutionate?? i'm gonna use it in my day to days

[Maddens Raiders]

Hell, if not on the streets it will in the forums.lol

168 comments?

Man, Sony's HOTT, HOTT, HOTT! I mean HOTT! Did I say HOTT?

Everybody's pi$$ed on this log except top gamer.... or.....maybe......in disguise......hmmmm? lol

I love my PS3's and hope Sony doesn't stop making these wonderful machines. Everyone should own a PS3.

cheers

[reaperxciv]

can i have your ps3 then?

[TheMART]

Look at these lists:

Betamax
Minidisc
UMD
(BluRay)

All Sony's, all not the main format or failed completely.

This one is good also:

Neo-Geo
CD-I
3D0
Saturn
(PS3)

All the most expensive console of their gen, all sold less, all failed

http://mathvsphil.dyndns.or...

@ BubblesDAVERAGE (below)

Wrong dude. The PS2 is close to 100 dollar/euro. The Wii is close to 200 Dollar/Euro. That's why they sell.

Mass buys @ 200 dollar/euro or under it. Those PS2 owners won't buy a PS3, just because it's PS. Those will buy the console that gets close to 200 Dollar/Euro once again.

Which will be the 360 first this gen (seeing the REAL next gen consoles PS3/360)

For PS2 there won't be so many new games made. For this gen, the 360 sells the most games and has the largest userbase installed. Thus, yes, Sony gets more and more out of the game

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

Compared to the sales of the ds ps2 and wii..360 and ps3 are doing bad...but u guys fail to realize that there are 3 sony system out there and one is still out performing the 360 ..and the wii is beating them both...so sony is still in the game regardless of wateva u guys want to argue three system on sonys behalf and ms has one and nintendo has two..so sony is far from outta the game...

Edit : Mart u not looking at the facts non of thoes system had a succesful systems as the playstion and ps2 under there belt...there u go marty and thats a factor...MAjorfactor... my friend

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

This guy hit the nail on the head with this article...

Short answer-- NO Sony can't wait much longer for sales to increase. Everyone here knows what they need, but are they going to deliver?

BTW: Maddens Raiders is really starting to creep me out with his posts. Especially with the funny looking Japanese guy there. His whole approach seems kinda like a weird old man trying to lure young boys into the back of his Chevy van so he can "show them his PS3".

[Shaka2K6]

Sony wins.