Oct 18 2007

Sony cuts price on PS3--is it enough?

The Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray will ship with the $400 PS3 on November 2nd.

(Credit: Amazon)

Way back on September 12, we reported on rumors that Sony would be releasing a $400 40GB PS3/Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray bundle for the holidays. The not-so-secret new system has now been officially announced by Sony, with a November 2nd launch date in the North America. At the same time--effective immediately--the current 80GB model will be available in North America for $500.

In Sony's press release, CEO Jack Tretton is quoted as saying, "We're pleased to offer the consumer a lower price point without sacrificing the core technology components that make PS3 the most advanced high-definition entertainment system available. Every PS3 comes with a Blu-ray drive, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine and a built-in hard-drive." As previously reported, however, the new 40GB PS3 won't offer any form of backward capability with PS2 games. (Read John Falcone's earlier post for a full report on the issue).

As I've said before, if Sony hoped to compete with the XBox 360 and Wii during the holiday season, it had to hit the $400 price point. Some readers scoffed that the inclusion of the Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray wasn't exactly a big selling point, considering the movie sucked. Also weighing heavily on Sony is the lack of a true breakout (exclusive) title that gives fence-sitters a little more sense of urgency to buy the system.

What do you think? With the XBox 360's reliability problems, is $400 the magic price point for the PS3 and its built-in Blu-ray player? Or are the games what matter in the end (i.e., Halo 3, BioShock, and the upcoming Mass Effect)?

Posted in: Games and gear, Home, Home video
Tags: Sony, PS3, Blu-ray, Spider-Man 3
 

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 66 comments (Page 1 of 6)
I think sony hit a dinger with this one.
by afrry3 October 18, 2007 8:53 AM PDT
I think this is the drop everyone's been waiting for. A couple more games and they're in business. Can anyone say MGS4 and Killzone 2?
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Is it enough? - nope
by landand October 18, 2007 9:07 AM PDT
I had planned on buying a PS3 for a long time now, but the recent moves of Sony have dissuaded me from doing so. The lower price is nice, but losing PS2 game support is not acceptable to me. Half the games I was planning on playing with it were PS2 games. And with Blu-Ray player prices inching downward (along with the PS3 not offering full support for the newest audio formats and lacking the ability to use an IR remote), I'm going with an Xbox 360.
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True, the games matter in the end
by Mobius914 October 18, 2007 9:12 AM PDT
After all, the PS3 is a games machine (albeit very media-capable) and only time will tell as developers try to take advantage of the "powerful" Cell. Cant wait to see Gran Turismo 5 in glorious HD...
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I am not sure what...
by stuntman_mike October 18, 2007 9:23 AM PDT
landand meant when he or she said that the PS3 doesn't support the newest audio. The PS3 supports Dolby HD and DTS HD, the XBox (including the Elite) does not. Were you talking about something else?
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Too little too late?
by Chwith October 18, 2007 9:24 AM PDT
The $400 price point is a big step but there are still problems. 1. No "killer app." Sony needs a system seller game for PS3 and so far that hasn't appeared. 2. No Backward compatability. It's software emulated, what's the point of leaving this out? The code has been written. 3. Goodwill. Sony has gone a long way toward destroying the goodwill of thier user base. (The $600 dollar console, the bait and switch "price drop") I'm not saying that Sony can't catch up but it's gonna be an serious uphill fight.
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XBOX 360 is extending their time in the lime light
by D3vr04 October 18, 2007 10:19 AM PDT
I owned a 360 since 2nd shipment that Nov.2005,and still works like a charm. still squeezing gameplay out of oblivion, beat GearsOW on insane, the masterpiece Bioshock, beat COD2 on highest difficulty and traded it in, traded in NBA2k7(should have kept it since 2k8 isn't a leap), beat and traded in DOA2, beat Halo3 on legendary and owning fools on Live every day. Now waiting on Mass Effect,Lost Odessey,COD4,GH3 or Rockband(not sure),GTA4,Ninja Gaiden3, plus many more excellent titles in the works that will also be on ps3 and 360. (Wishing for true next gen SSX,Killer Instinct,Rivial Schools, and Street Fighter,(come on EA Big,RARE, and Capcom)). PS2 is what made owners interested in ps3, not the ps3 games...at least not the launch and near future titles. Backward compat. is a must for the third iteration of psx. Of course I am waiting on MSG4 and FFXIII, before I buy a ps3, but man looks like i'll be waiting longer because I want the version that can play the God of Wars, FFXII, and RE4. I have to save more cash. its not easy to just plunk down $500+. gosh, I supposed that's how they'll make more money, buy 'forcing' hardcore gamers to purchase the expensive model.
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well, I have the best of both worlds... but...
by cmargary October 18, 2007 10:27 AM PDT
I don't know what lanland wants to say about the best audio because it has what the guy below me said... but the ir is bad when wanted to make a universal conroller like the harmony but have a bluetooth controler anyway for bluray player... Anyway the 2008 is the year of the PS3, if now is selling imagine with the games it will come, metal gear, tekken 6, final fantasy, gran turismo, kill zone and the social networking HOME and for people that that will not work on a console look at the folding@home. Not to mention that Drake, rachet and Haze are comming too... Sony needs more updates, really need it, and the xbox too... just lets see the fall update in what they bring us... And really... after halo and all that... what the xbox have? gears of war 2? just let see...
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It has never been about price!
by Jasper1675 October 18, 2007 10:35 AM PDT
I don?t see why Sony can?t figure out the problem, it is not the price of the system. First of let me say I would be considered a tech geek, and not owning a PS3 is hard for me because well I know it is the most advance piece of consumer entertainment technology out there. But when I sat down and decide was I going PS3 or 360 it honestly came down to some very fundamental things none of which was price. First game selection all I heard was how great Gears of war Was and how much better Xbox live was than anything the PS3 had. Next was the controller sorry but the Microsoft controller fits your hand allot better than the PS3, and this is the only part of a video game you actually touch so it is a major part. Sony you need to redesign that controller it just feels and looks cheap. So what I saw was the fact that the 360 had better games, better user interface (the controller), and a better online service and since I was buying a gaming platform and the 360 was better. On the cost issue the Xbox 360 actually costs more than the PS3 and before you write your responses listen to this logic. Lets say you are going to keep the system for say 4 years. PS3 cost $400 online for four years free Xbox 360 premium $350 plus $200 for 4 years of xbox live total cost $550, not to mention that if you have two gamers in the house you each need a live account if you are playing split screen and want to talk. One last thing was that I felt like I was paying for a Blue Ray player in the PS3. As a consumer I have grown tired of Sony trying to push their products down my throat by bundling them. First was beta, then that stupid memory stick and none of their devices did SD cards, and now the blue ray. When I decide I want to buy a High Definition dvd player I will buy one I don?t want to be forced to pay for one that I may not want. I think Sony forgot that the PS3 was a gaming platform first and foremost and they need to remember that for their next gaming console venture. If the PS3 had been a better gaming machine I would have paid more money for it. Because in the end I will end up paying allot more for my 360 with live accounts, adding a HD dvd player, and in the end I?m so glad I have a 360 over a PS3.
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Its about the games...Games...GAMES!
by Flush26 October 18, 2007 10:46 AM PDT
Sony just can't seem to figure that out. Say what you will about Blu-Ray, Wifi, HDMI, Cell Broadband processing, etc. If u don't have the games to backup and justify that technology, then it is inevitable that you will falter in the gaming war. The 360 has a number of standout exclusive titles (Gears of War, Bioshock, Halo 3) that are considered system movers. Sony has 0, none, zilch. Until they develop and publish a bonafied smash that is only available on the PS3, they will continue to trail the other two systems. I continue to be amazed by Jack Treton and Sony's arrogance regarding their system. I think they need to take a serious look at the competitors and then a good look in the mirror and maybe then they will realize why the Sony PS3 may very well be the single biggest console flop since the Sega Saturn.
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Games Are Always the Key!!!
by Oldschool63 October 18, 2007 11:19 AM PDT
Before the PS3 launched I was tremendously excited and prepared for it by purchasing a new big screen HD tv, audio receiver and a complete surround sound speaker system. While I wanted a PS3 badly I didn't want it bad enough to camp out for days to get it. So I found myself in the position of wanting one but not being able to get one (without paying outrageous prices) for months. Little did I know how great a blessing it was to not be able to acquire the PS3. I had been under the impression from all the hype that the PS3 would totatly blow away all it's competition in regards to performance, quality, etc. After being about a year and a half behind the XBOX 360 the PS3 has not only not out performed the XBOX but has even on certain games has been inferior. Combine that with the fact that there are NO exclusive must have games on the system at all. For an audiophile the PS3's blueray isn't a true option either. Why in the world would I want to buy one at any price when it is virtually useless. It is definately one of the biggest failures I've seen in console history and I've been playing video games since Pong. After my initial disappointment with not being able to get a PS3 I purchased an XBOX 360 to basically make due until I could get a PS3. Thank God that wait took long enough for me to see the PS3's true colors.
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