PS3 Aussie Launch…miserable turnout for Sony…miserable product
March 23rd 2007 08:33
Well the PS3 was released today in Australia and the news is out…it is a very poor result for Sony and for the gaming market in general (so to say…). There were roughly 20,000 PS3s ordered into Australia, and from reading news articles throughout the day, under 1000 were sold on launch. This is a dismal result surely for Sony, but at the price tag of $1000 (yes I will add that little dollar in traveling and waiting fees for the customer cause the figure is tremendously large for a gaming console), the income from the console is at 1 million dollars (just estimating nothing accurate here).
Moreover, all the hype surrounding the launch was popped when news reporters and such outnumbered those who went to buy the console at midnight. There were practically no lines. First of all, Sony did not release the 20GB ‘downgraded version’ of the PS3 which would of cost a few hundred dollars less, but only the 60GB version which has the very high price tag. Not only that, Sony delayed the damn console from November last year to the end of March (about 4 months) to result in a console that can’t even run all the PS2 games. Pathetic backward compatibility while Japanese and American versions of the console don’t seem to suffer the same problems. What the hell Sony? Honestly – one GRAND and I cant even play Final Fantasy 10, Metal Gear Solid 3 or Gran Turismo 4. I couldn’t care less that 2000 of the 3000 games are backward compatible when the main games that make Sony money ARE NOT!
Launch titles…hmmm Virtua Fighter 5 and Resistance Fall of Man. That’s it in my book. Another lame line up of overpriced titles which will make any gamer shake their head in disgust. Now this is where the problem lies for the Australian gaming market. Sony has priced the PS3 more than it costs overseas (approx $200-$300 cheaper in the States) and has blamed the size of our market and currency for this. But hold on a sec… our Aussie dollar is at 80cents US. Quite strong in comparison to the US dollar! I think Sony is getting quite greedy with trying to secure its profit margins and the market is starting to spit back at the big guns. Sony hasn’t controlled Aus in a gaming monopoly anymore, since Xbox 360 and the Wii have been out for some time now and at cheaper prices with a large range of excellent games (and reasonable and affordable prices).
Sony should know that releasing a console so long after the competition and with delays and with faults, that they should somehow offer a nice package to the customer who is willing to fork out that much money. Not even a free game (even the Wii had a Sports Pack game), or an extra controller to make it worth while.
I know why I always disliked Sony – they grovel to their shareholders and not to their dear customers who really hold sway in the success of the company. Sony – be ashamed of yourself.
(Want to know Microsoft's kind heart.... Xbox 360 game pack at $700 buyers can acquire Gears of War, Project Gothem 2, Dead or Alive and Crackdown Pro Pack - now that is marketing !)
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Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
I think Sony managed the lowest turn out of all three consoles, good job.
OH, heard the rumours of final fantasy 13 making its way to the 360? Apparently that is a very real possibility, if Sony isn't willing to make with the dollars...
Comment by Dani
Yes, Sony had the lowest turnout. Either Australian gamers see through all the hype of the PS3 and prefer the Xbox 360 and Wii, or they just are not willing ot spend so much money on the PS3 (not like the launch titles are that good anyways)
On my account, I will wait until Sony releases some sort of 'game pack' so to say at a better price. At the moment I can live without one of these... what a pity!
Funny thing is, Myers, EB etc claim that over 50% of their stock is pre-ordered. We will just have to wait and see if the sale of the PS3 changes as time passes...
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Comment by Anonymous
I don't think Sony is going to have as easy a ride this time round. And frankly I don't think they deserve to either.
Comment by Dani
On another note, exclusives which used to only grace the Sony brand have begun trickling onto the Xbox 360. Even Tekken 6 is rumored to be hitting the Xbox 360...
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
My guess is they will hold off for now, if sales are less than satisfactory initially you could expect ports to be announced and released Q3/4 2008.
The amazing thing about average joe consumer is that he doesn't tell the difference between graphics, if FFXIII looks slightly worse on the 360 no one will really notice, at least not those buying the games.