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[Xellotah]

The average Joe isn't going to buy a console at launch.

 

[WingM@n]

A friend who works at e-plaza in the Netherlands said he counted 22 pre-orders up till now. The last month at least 5 cancelled their pre-orders, and expects to get 30 consoles at launch. I remember with the 360, the pre-orders rised above the 40.
This is in a small town with 30.000 people. I notice a lot of people choosing the 360 instead of the ps3. Weird because Holland is Sonyland.

 

[antiloop]

Sorry, by average joe I meant casual gamer joe. Erm, I'm not sure if you really are on planet earth or not but pretty much every casual gamer knows that they are being ripped off by sony if in the UK. Yes I agree that sony has very powerful brand loyalty, it's not to be ignored, but it didn't help them in the long run with the PSP, and there's only so much you can charge before people switch off. I'm no microsoft fanboy, I own a PS2, but it's just simply too much to ask (even though I earn a pretty average decent wage) for £425 for a console that still doesn't have anything quality wise that can't be supplemented by a 360. Maybe a year down the line things will be different. But with GTA4 on both consoles, you've got to admit that that's a massive loss for sony. The simple fact is that pre orders for the PS3 are not reaching expected levels. Go into any UK game store and talk to the staff!

The PSP is doing great though if we consider that it's the first real competition Nintendo has had in 20 years on the handheld market.
Isn't it selling more than PS2 did in it's first 2 years?

 

[Jokeropia]

Isn't it selling more than PS2 did in it's first 2 years?

Try half.

 

[Taurus]

Bump. I think this awesome thread with awesomest OP deserves it. Great read. :lol

 

[TheDrowningMan]

It's funny, I've long spoken out against Sony's hideously arrogant PS3 pricing and refused point blank to purchase a console with such little point to it - my needs are almost entirely covered by 360 & Wii, a far cry from last gen.

However, as the launch approached the temptation to stick a sparkly, new PS3 on a credit card crept up with me. In the end though, the absolute, nailed-on certainty that there'll be a £125 price cut within 8 months has seen me resist. Sony really need to be very careful with how they handle said reduction so that they do not look desperate and make the grave they've dug for themselves even deeper.

 

[mckmas8808]

It's funny, I've long spoken out against Sony's hideously arrogant PS3 pricing and refused point blank to purchase a console with such little point to it - my needs are almost entirely covered by 360 & Wii, a far cry from last gen.

However, as the launch approached the temptation to stick a sparkly, new PS3 on a credit card crept up with me. In the end though, the absolute, nailed-on certainty that there'll be a £125 price cut within 8 months has seen me resist. Sony really need to be very careful with how they handle said reduction so that they do not look desperate and make the grave they've dug for themselves even deeper.

Lowering the price shouldn't dig them a deeper hole.

 

[TheDrowningMan]

Lowering the price shouldn't dig them a deeper hole.

It could if they end up looking desperate to revive a failing system against strong opposition.

 

[Shig]

Lowering the price shouldn't dig them a deeper hole.

Keep in mind that the EU price is far higher than the equivalent in other territories.

 

[mckmas8808]

Keep in mind that the EU price is far higher than the equivalent in other territories.

That's what I know.

 

[SovanJedi]

I have to admit to falling for the same lure as TheDrowningMan, as I have just returned from the local GAME after very nearly buying one of their PS3 bundles. The clerk told me they still had some in stock and I did see one woman leave with a PS3 under her arm. Eventually decided to wait until LittleBigPlanet gets a UK release date (or the machine itself gets a price cut).

If anyone cares I asked on a whim how they sold at that particular store, and she said "Very well".

 

[WickedAngel]

I have to admit to falling for the same lure as TheDrowningMan, as I have just returned from the local GAME after very nearly buying one of their PS3 bundles. The clerk told me they still had some in stock and I did see one woman leave with a PS3 under her arm. Eventually decided to wait until LittleBigPlanet gets a UK release date (or the machine itself gets a price cut).

If anyone cares I asked on a whim how they sold at that particular store, and she said "Very well".

You're rarely going to get a straight answer on the performance of a particular product by an employee in retail. Even if it was true, it wouldn't have been in her best interest to say "no lol, it's selling like snow cones in antarctica".

In fact, most retailers push their most poorly selling products hard to clear their surplus inventory. My EB went through a stint of constantly bombarding everyone who went through the door with Playstation 3 information and false hype (It's easily recognizable; they'll conveniently chatter amongst themselves loud enough for the whole store to hear about how "awesome" X game is).

 

[morph]

Who'd have guessed.

Retailers knew more about demand than MS' $3.2 BILLION army.

 

[Draft]

Who'd have guessed.

Retailers knew more about demand than MS' $3.2 BILLION army.

Retailers :bow

 

[SleazyC]

Who'd have guessed.

Retailers knew more about demand than MS' $3.2 BILLION army.

:lol