PS3 demand "high and sustained" - UK retailers

By Tom Bramwell Published 21 February, 2007

Despite contrary rumblings.

UK retailers have countered claims that PlayStation 3 isn't generating much pre-order interest, with two firms declaring it their most successful console campaign ever.

Woolworths told our sister site GamesIndustry.biz that PS3 is "fastest selling games product" it has ever offered through its website. Argos said it was their "most successful pre-ordered campaign for consoles".

Meanwhile Amazon.co.uk described interest as "high and sustained" and said it was confident the machine would be among its top sellers for 2007. "We are only taking pre-orders until all our initial stock from Sony is accounted for - that way, no customer will be disappointed come day of release. We don't expect stocks to last long," a spokesperson said. HMV echoed that satisfaction, telling GI.biz that demand was in line with expectations.

Sony boss Ray Maguire added that the response from retailers had been "incredibly positive", adding that early indications suggest it will be Sony's "biggest hardware launch to date".

All of which came in response to scattered reports of PS3 failing to capture interest among European gamers ahead of its 23rd March launch. And when we say "scattered reports" we mean UK Resistance and some wacky forumites, obviously.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (106) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • kincaide #1 5 years ago

    I cancelled my pre-order. Feel better for it

  • jonsaan #2 5 years ago

    Well of course it will sell well. So does FIFA.

  • mkreku #3 5 years ago

    BOYCOTT THE PS3 FOR MAKING US EURO´S WAIT LONGER AND PAY MORE!

  • northernlights #4 5 years ago

    When i tried to pre-order a Wii on amazon it sold out within minutes, is this the case for the PS3 ?????

  • JackyB #5 5 years ago

    My local Virgin Megastore had staff walking round the high street with sandwich boards trying to drum up interest at the weekend, by saying they were taking a smaller deposit than HMV. They have also had a sign instore for a out the last 2 weeks saying "last day for pre-orders."

  • Dizzy #6 5 years ago

    UK Resistance has some silly things outselling the PS3 ;)

    Anyway... retailers are always saying this. They said the same with 360 and Wii... guess we will just have to see at the end of 2007 if it is really a best seller. Doesn't seem to be in US and Japan (right now), so hopefully Europe will be better for Sony (despite ripping us off)
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 09:57

  • Eighthours #7 5 years ago

    Well, the simple fact is that Play haven't sold out of their preorders yet, and they've been on there for a week. Compare that to the mad rush for the 360 and Wii. They say they have a lot more stock than they did for the other launches, but this would require (in the case of the Wii here) about 100x more stock to keep their preorder demand for PS3 in proportion with that of the Wii!
    Edited by 2 at 21/02/07 @ 09:59

  • LeD #8 5 years ago

    This is how Sony knew they could leave Europe to wait. They could delay the launch by another year, it would still sell out in Chav-er-land. I wonder what preorders are like in 'other' European countries.

  • northernlights #9 5 years ago

    Love this quote from UK resistance:

    "PLAY.COM STILL HAS PS3s LEFT TODAY
    That's good news, isn't it? It means Sony's getting a large number of units into the retail supply chain. It certainly DOES NOT mean no one's buying PS3 because it's a big piece of overpriced shit with a load of broken, year-old games.

    Amazon also has some (oh, only about a million) left as well, which it is selling for an amazing saving of 1p. That really puts PS3 within reach of the average consumer!"
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 10:02

  • ManicDrunkMonk #10 5 years ago

    I've preordered mine through amazon, even though I only want Motorstorm at release. Thing is, I don't see what later revisions of the console will change. Silent running is the most important thing to me, and my understanding is that this is already there.

    If there is low take-up at this time it is probably to do with the high price (which I actually think is understandable-apart from the euro mark-up) and, from what i've heard, higher launch numbers.

  • Fubdub #11 5 years ago

    I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE ANYMORE!!!!

  • jellyhead #12 5 years ago

    I fudging love UKResistance!

  • Darren #13 5 years ago

    I'm surprised that we aren't hearing more "No More Pre-orders Available" stories because if the machine was that popular then surely the initial allocation would have gone by now? :?

    I pre-ordered my PS3 from GAME last Monday but I'd have expected them to have stopped taking pre-orders shortly afterwards. If the UK is getting 220,000 PS3s as I've heard then that only amounts to an insubtantial amount for every retailer.

  • Blerk #14 5 years ago

    Those "contrary rumblings" weren't coming from the pad, I surmise? ;-)

  • Mordum #15 5 years ago

    Don't know what to believe from all these reports. One will say there's little demand, another will say the exact opposite. The only way I can get an idea is by seeing what the attitude is from people I know, and I don't know anyone who has pre-ordered the PS3 (yet). My brother loved his Playstation/Playstation2 consoles but after finding out the price he thought better of it, instead he got his missus to buy him a 360 for the Christmas just gone. Plus a bunch of his friends already had 360's, so he can now connect up with them over Live, which was another factor that swayed his decision.

    Of course the PS3 will sell out on launch, I have no doubt of that, it's after the launch period that'll be interesting. How many casual gamers will walk in off the street and pay that price for a games console? They'll need a price drop in the near future to hold interest (and some eye catching games) to try and sway the undecided.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 10:27

  • LOLLERS #16 5 years ago

    Yeah, that UKR article is based on amazon.com, so it seems demand has dropped off significantly over there (I couldn't even find it in the top 100 just now, although some software and peripherals are). Perhaps after people actually got to play it first hand and realised it's not as amazing as they were promised.

    The most interesting stats would be returns and trade-in figures.
    Edited by 2 at 21/02/07 @ 10:41

  • Inspirius #17 5 years ago

    Obviously there is demand for the PS3. However, it is not difficult to pre-order one from Amazon at the moment and you can create whatever package you want.

  • numptyboymatt #18 5 years ago

    I was toying with the idea of buying one, but when I look at the games that are out for it, and realise that there really isnt anything that I want that I cant get for my 360, there is no way that I can justify the money.... and my pre-order is now cancelled.

    If Resi 5 and Devil May Cry 4 end up being PS3 exclusives, then it will be a different story, but otherwise, I have no need for one, not at that price.

  • Gurgeh #19 5 years ago

    That Amazon quote is interesting in light of

    [link url=http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/ps3/ps3-not- so-hot-on-amazoncom-237656.php
    ]http://ww w.kotaku.com/gaming/ps3/ps3-not...[/link]

    "Amazon.com maintains a list of the most popular, bestselling items on their website that gets refreshed on an hourly basis. At the time of the writing of this article, Nintendo dominates the top four spots with Wii Play, Wii, Nunchuck Controller, and the Wii remote respectively. Coming in at five is WoW: Burning Crusade followed by the Onyx DS at number six. The rest of the top ten list is rounded out with the Xbox 360 wireless controller, Twilight Princess and the 20gig Xbox360...

    ...Finally, near the bottom of the 2nd page, underneath the Nintendo 64 at number forty-eight is the PS3"

    Of course that's in the US where the PS3 was also in high demand prior to launch.

  • Steroyd #20 5 years ago

    I hope the PS3 doesn't sell out so I can walk in and get one on day one. :(

    I iz a non believer in Pre-ordorming.

    /anxiously waits 2 days for FFXII

  • peterfll #21 5 years ago

    I (naively?) assumed that Sony was getting a good supply through, hence many retailers were still taking orders for "guaranteed" launch day machines.

    I started to think that wasn't the case when I got around to opening an old e-mail from simplygames.com and clicking on their special launch offers (some good ones BTW) and they were all still available a week after I got the mail.

  • Nobuo #22 5 years ago

    Just went on that UK Resistance site and noticed them enjoying the PS3 being 90-something on Amazon US sales chart. Then I looked at the screenshot they posted and noticed the PS3 wasn't selling because they were sold out. I'm now enjoying UK Resistance's own goal.

  • Gurgeh #23 5 years ago

    "Just went on that UK Resistance site and noticed them enjoying the PS3 being 90-something on Amazon US sales chart. Then I looked at the screenshot they posted and noticed the PS3 wasn't selling because they were sold out."

    The Wii is sold out and is number 1 in the charts.

  • brooza #24 5 years ago

    Yes, Argos and Woolworths, the 2 major gaming stores...

  • Eighthours #25 5 years ago

    Amazon's Wii pre-order allocation apparently sold out in 7 minutes. Amazon's PS3 allocation hasn't sold out yet.

    Assuming the Wii demand figure is accurate, then we can do a bit of simple maths: If the PS3 is as popular for preorders as the Wii, then EVERY SINGLE DAY that passes, we know that Amazon's allocation of PS3s has risen by an extra 205.71 times the amount of Wiis they had (That's the amount of instances of 7 minutes in every 24 hour period).

    Just as an illustration, this means that if Amazon had the relatively small amount of 500 Wiis at UK launch, and their PS3 allocation sold out in 24 hours, then they must have 102,855 PS3s ready for 23rd March! Of course, the preorders didn't sell out in 24 hours, so using the same calculation, at the end of the second day of preorders Amazon would have virtually the entire PS3 allocation!

    So unless they had a ridiculously meagre allocation of Wiis (ya know, 100 or something), then the pre-order demand for PS3 just clearly isn't there.

  • Lebowski #26 5 years ago

    Virgin are offering student discount on a PS3 - something they didn't on 360 or Wii. If that's not a sign that the Foreman Grill isn't generating interest then I don't know what is.

    Personally I hope PS3 is a success - competition breeds competence and quality IMO.

  • trevd72 #27 5 years ago

    my pre-order was canceled when they were not delivering for xmas. From my own straw poll the usual people who get these things on release (me included) are not getting the PS3. reasons usually:

    already got 360 and/or wii
    PS2 has plenty of stuff coming.
    Sony knocking us back yet again.
    apparently buggy console
    price
    trojan horse tactics with bluray
    and again price.

    I don't know anyone who is getting a PS3 yet when the wii came out i had previous none gamers asking me for advise. I even did a very dodge escort mission into south shields with a mate to buy one off a fella who I was put in touch with through a friend of a friend of a friend. I thought we were going to get mugged for the Ł300 he was paying for it, best thing was we were buying it for his boss so he didn't disappoint his daughter - crazy.

    Some people may cave come release but if the retailers are right it will be too late.

  • pinhead #28 5 years ago

    Meh I am not getting one at that overinflated price. Nothing yet is a killer app to trigger me to buy. Oh and I really do not want a first generation HD disc player.

  • moggsy #29 5 years ago

    Well lets look at the facts from Amazon UK's point of view. The Wii pre-orders sold out in 3 minutes. The PS3 is still available to pre-order a week after first being available. So either Amazon have millions of PS3's to sell or they really aren't selling that well. I assume the latter is the case.

    Lower the price Sony!

  • dredd97 #30 5 years ago

    So i see it's yet another case of you lot don't believe it because it's the PS3, yet you'd not moan/complain/bitch or just do the fanboy shuffle if it was the Wii or the 360?

    So basically Amerzon/Woolworths/Play.com/HMV are all liars when it comes to the PS3?

    you know it could just be that the ps3 is going to sell well you know? just because you haven't got one or want one doesn't make it wrong for others to get it...

  • dirigiblebill #31 5 years ago

    @ Gurgeh

    Yep, that would be because there are six squillion more Wii consoles than there are ps3s. It's an indication of supply, not demand.

  • kissthestick #32 5 years ago

    Well lets look at the facts from Amazon UK's point of view. The Wii pre-orders sold out in 3 minutes. The PS3 is still available to pre-order a week after first being available. So either Amazon have millions of PS3's to sell or they really aren't selling that well. I assume the latter is the case



    Amazon already stated they have loads of reserved PS3's unlike the 360/Wii fiasco
    their trying not to dissapoint customers

  • Eighthours #33 5 years ago

    So i see it's yet another case of you lot don't believe it because it's the PS3, yet you'd not moan/complain/bitch or just do the fanboy shuffle if it was the Wii or the 360?

    No, it's a case of simple factual maths not reconciling even slightly with certain retailers' claims.

  • moggsy #34 5 years ago

    Amazon already stated they have loads of reserved PS3's unlike the 360/Wii fiasco
    their trying not to dissapoint customers

    All I'm doing is looking at the facts. If the PS3 pre-orders are successful would you expect to still be able to get one a week after the pre-orders were released?

    Unless Sony really have played a blinder and are getting 10 million cosoles into the UK for launch then the figures do not stack up.

  • BadBoyBonner #35 5 years ago

    Bought Excite truck for the Wii and wireless wheel for the 360 (both excellent fun) this weekend and will be getting Crackdown this Friday. Will not be buying a PS3. I agree with everyone's else's straw poll's. I bought a 360 and Wii @ launch (Well both were selected Xmas presents from the GF) - and I have no desire for the PS3 at all. Nearly all my mates are into PC's & consoles - and even the Sony fanboys are not getting one - worrying times for Sony with the Playstation brand seemingly charged with holding the rest of the ailing company up.

    I am sure the odd wonderful exclusive game will come out, but that certainly is not the case at launch is it? And if proof positive was needed that Sony simply stole Nintendo's idea for motion sensing (besides the fact that Warhawk et al had barely 5 days to write in the code before presentation) show ONE SINGLE GAME that couldn’t be done with a pad on the 360 - there is no Wii sports that’s for sure. I am sure some Sony developer is ripping the code from Excite Truck control mechanism as we speak.

  • KillahSouljah #36 5 years ago

    WHAT CAN SONY SAY, IT IS THE EBST SYSTEM ONLY NEXT-GEN SYSTEM OUT...

  • trevd72 #37 5 years ago

    @dredd97 - you do know that sony have told lie after blatant lie even setting up bogus bloggs. This is fact. Its not even hype its just plain fibbing. So why would this be different and its in the retailers interest to say that its in demand to create demand, it part of marketing 101.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 12:31

  • Nobuo #38 5 years ago

    "The Wii is sold out and is number 1 in the charts."

    Oh. Wouldn't that just make it a case of whose been able to supply more to Amazon then? Or are wish-lists and stuff counted?

    EDIT:

    And assuming I'm right, doesn't that mean that the supply of Wiis vastly outnumbers the supply of PS3s? Which is contrary to what everybody is saying in here...
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 11:37

  • Shrub #39 5 years ago

    Of course those retailers such as Woolworths are talking up the PS3 launch situation. As UK High Street retailers I'm sure they're looking forward to the tasty markup on the expected software sales. I'll bet the PS3 has a decent markup too - I seem to recall Sony saying something to the effect that this was one reason for the higher price here.

    And of course, they'd rather not be left with unsold stock clogging up the shelves. But in any case, with only 200,000+ PS3s available I'd be shocked if they didn't sell all of them, especially to those with more money than sense, by the end of day 1.

    As for me, I'll wait until it's Ł200 ;)

  • chronom4n #40 5 years ago

    I went into town yesterday and it seems that the retailers want a deposit of between Ł50 and Ł100. FFS, there is now way that i am getting one considering how much they are asking just for a deposit.

    Woolworths and Argos? coming you guys are taking the piss!

  • dredd97 #41 5 years ago

    @trevd72

    hang on mate, who said it was sony saying these things??

    my post stated that because it's the ps3, then the retailers must be lying...where did i mention it was sony saying these things??

    oh abd btw it seems that only chavs will be buying the ps3, well I have a wii and a 360, and i consider myself a gamer, but i have a pre-order down for the ps3, and last time i looked i'm not a chav (hard to be a chav at 39..you have no street cred once your past the age of 14..)

    you know i wish people will just accept that the ps3 is going to do well, and i for one don't wish it to fail just because it's sony... man if it was all about the company that owned it, none of us would have bought wii's or 360 either...

  • bunglebonce #42 5 years ago

    WHAT CAN SONY SAY, IT IS THE EBST SYSTEM ONLY NEXT-GEN SYSTEM OUT...

    Oh?

    /Pre-orders immediately

  • chupachups #43 5 years ago

    "I've preordered mine through amazon, even though I only want Motorstorm at release. Thing is, I don't see what later revisions of the console will change."

    The price will go down.

  • moggsy #44 5 years ago

    you know i wish people will just accept that the ps3 is going to do well, and i for one don't wish it to fail just because it's sony... man if it was all about the company that owned it, none of us would have bought wii's or 360 either...

    Most people don't want the PS3 to fail. They just want to be able buy one for a reasonable price i.e like they can in Japan and America.

    If the pre-ordering doesn't go well then this should persuade Sony to lower the damn price (like MS did with the original Xbox a few weeks after it was released).
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 12:06

  • DrDamn #45 5 years ago

    @EightHours

    Your maths and conclusions are shocking. You can't extrapolate the initial sell out of Wii's in 7 minutes to assume that would be the sustained rate.

    If a retailer has more available then you can sell more in the initial sign up and then claim a higher demand. Example, Amazon only had 100 Wii's available sold them in 7 minutes, they have 1000 PS3's available and sold 200 in the first 7 minutes of high demand. Therefore the PS3's sold quicker and at higher demand than the Wii - purely because more were available. Amazon did not have the Wii's to sell they can't say what demand would have been if they had more stock.

    The other point I would make is that with very limited stock releases (Wii and 360) the console manufacturers tend to favour the bigger shop chains (Game for example) - so they can "encourage" them to give them more visible shelf space. The allocations for online retailers like Play and Amazon were very, very poor.

  • justsomeone #46 5 years ago

    i'm still a little confused about the price issue. when you take into account vat, currency conversion rates and so on, the UK PS3 works out, what, 30 or 40 quid tops more than the US or japanese equivalent. it's a little more i suppose, but it's not double or anything - big deal.

    also, if you look at the 360 price, add a wireless controller, a 60GB HD (doesn't exist, i know, but let's pretend) and an HD-movie capable drive, thereby bringing it up to the spec of the PS3, the PS3 price seems fair (if not a little cheaper).

    personally, i think it's a good deal.

    /ducks

  • moggsy #47 5 years ago

    @ DrDamn

    Yes but if you can't sell ALL of your stock of PS3's within the first day of them going on pre-order then this does not bode well for the future of the console now does it?

    Demand should be far outstripping supply at this stage which it clearly isn't.

  • Jamaicangmr #48 5 years ago

    @ dredd97

    Excelent point, because going through these comments i get that general idea that the retailers must be lying. I too remember simular bein said for Wii and Xbox360 yet no one claimed the retailers are lying. It makes no sense to me though why some of us would go through so much trouble tryin come up with a reason to say it's a lie. They should just be carful not work there brains too much tryin to find a lie were none exsist, might get a migrain. The PS3 is by all indications going to do very well in europe. Best Wishes to Sony, good to here that things are forcasted to go well.

  • andyk #49 5 years ago

    I am annoyed with my self for rising to the bait and writing this as I should have just hit 'back'. But for fucks sake change the fucking record.

    The PS3 is only expensive to the individual based on their disposable income. If you can't afford one right now that is not anybody's fault and certainly not Sony's for setting a price. I have read these threads for years and have not once read a post which bitches about the price of flat screen TVs, or Ł300 Nvidia's.

  • moggsy #50 5 years ago

    @justsomeone

    In the USA the PS3 60Gb costs $599 which is Ł306 - with our VAT this would be Ł360. This is actually Ł65 cheaper or equivalent to a 15% discount.

    In Japan the 20Gb model is 49,980 Yen which is currently Ł211. We don't even have the option to buy this version over here.

  • holydrone #51 5 years ago

    Have you noticed how expensive this thing is?
    I honestly believe that nobody could possibly afford one!

    Sony will go bankrupt and all its employees will kill themselves, then their children will be put in sub-par care homes, where they will be piddled on!

    It's obvious.

  • moggsy #52 5 years ago

    If you can't afford one right now that is not anybody's fault and certainly not Sony's for setting a price.

    Which is fine, just don't expect the PS3 to be a mainstream success. The lack of interest in pre-ordering is simply the first indication of this fact.

  • SeesThroughAll #53 5 years ago

    Which is fine, just don't expect the PS3 to be a mainstream success.

    Which is also fine, since intelligent consumers choose their products according to what they want to use them for, not because "everybody else is getting one".

  • bonker #54 5 years ago

    "Well, the simple fact is that Play haven't sold out of their preorders yet, and they've been on there for a week"

    Play's PS3 pre-orders has been running for months! I pre-ordered one there on 21/12!

  • moggsy #55 5 years ago

    Which is also fine, since intelligent consumers choose their products according to what they want to use them for, not because "everybody else is getting one".

    At any price?

  • Stormflood #56 5 years ago

    /listens to the familiar/tiresome cacophony of Sony-hating and denial.

    Give it a rest people. PS3 will do well. And it will do bloody well for a console that, allegedly, no one can afford and everyone hates. And when I pick mine up, I guarantee it will get more attention than my dust-gathering Wii that I have now concluded to have no more longevity than any party game available on other systems.

    /runs
    /trips
    /beaten to death with wiimotes

  • trevd72 #57 5 years ago

    @ dredd97

    i was commenting on this point, should have phrased it better.

    "So i see it's yet another case of you lot don't believe it because it's the PS3,"

    People are sick of the fibs and are wary of the claims made for the PS3. Like i said its in the retailers interest to talk up the PS3 who wants the least popular console.

    I don't want sony to fail either cos I will geta PS3 eventually (secondhand though cos of there sins in the last year or so). I think they need a kick in the chops so that they sort themselves out. At the end of the day i don't want a HD DVD player so i don't like being forced to pay for it no matter what crap they come out with to justify it, they are using my money for for a longer term goa. At the end of the day i want games not interactive movies. Its in our interest to have at least two manufactures battling at the top rather than the runaway that the ps2 had, cos thats what has caused the monster we have now.

  • bonker #58 5 years ago

    "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE ANYMORE!!!! "

    The likelihood is that supply is up and demand is down - the question is by how much of each.

    My guess would be that supply is around double what it normally is for a launch console and demand is maybe 10-20% of 'normal'. I know that is being negative but NOONE has sold out their pre-orders after the best part of two weeks!!!

  • dsmx #59 5 years ago

    The reason why I'm not getting a ps3 on launch include the following reasons:

    1 My ps2, there are still games coming out for the ps2 that are better than the ps3 releases why bother upgrading yet?
    2 The price 425 pounds is way to high get it closer to 300 pounds and I might be interested
    3 Only suckers buy first generation hardware, wait till the second generation lower price and better hardware.
    4 remind me again why the games cost 10 pounds more for shiny graphics?
    5 online service needs improving
    6 Also I'm yet to see those "next" gen games that they keep going on about, shiny graphics do not make a next gen game

    Just a few reasons why I'm not interested in the ps3. Incidentally some of these reasons apply to the xbox 360 as well which is why I haven't purchased one of them yet either.

  • DrDamn #60 5 years ago

    @Moggsy
    "Yes but if you can't sell ALL of your stock of PS3's within the first day of them going on pre-order then this does not bode well for the future of the console now does it?"

    It depends on the numbers involved. How many Wii's have Nintendo actually supplied to the UK market so far? Is it even close to 220k?

    Isn't 220k actually a record launch number for a full on (not hand held) console? If so wouldn't selling all of these at Ł425 actually be a pretty incredible feat? They have another 4 weeks yet too, and as supply until the 23rd March is actuall 0 then demand is outstripping it (;-).

    As for price comparissons. It's the same with the 360, Wii and other consoles. Things have improved from the PSOne days though. Something you can't expect manufacturers to take a hit on though is the exchange rates. $ to Ł exchange rate is currently very favourable for importing stuff. Manufacturers will use an exchange rate which they feel is going to be sustained though. There are plenty of other factors going in to regional differences too - for example in the US you only get a 3 month warranty.

  • ManicDrunkMonk #61 5 years ago

    @chupachups

    I know that the price will come down, but how fast? If PS3 is as successful as it probably will be, price cuts will be few and far between. Plus the earlier I get the console the longer it will be available to me to play, while it is a major focus of developers.

    Owners of (surviving) early PS2's have probably made the single best purchase in gaming in the last decade. I could go out and buy a Ł10 Gamecube now, but would it really be the best use of that money given how little support it receives?

    Thats not to say the 'Cube was a bad console (I have one and loved it).

    /breathes

  • DrDamn #62 5 years ago

    @Moggsy
    "Which is fine, just don't expect the PS3 to be a mainstream success. The lack of interest in pre-ordering is simply the first indication of this fact."

    Pre-orders and early adoption is not a great indication of whether it will be a mainstream success. Mainstream is a couple of years down the line and when the machine is at a mainstream price.

  • SeesThroughAll #63 5 years ago

    @ moggsy: At any reasonable price, yes. And the PS3 does have enough features (including the ability to play games, including a massive, quality, back-catalogue from the PS2) to justify the price tag IMO.

    But this as far as I'm concerned, because I do intend to use all those features. If someone doesn't care about them, refuses to pay for this additional functionality, or is simply ignorant of what the machine can do (which is certainly the case for chavs), then by all means, buy either competitors' kit.

    Just be glad there still is competition, with proper product differentation, and enjoy it while it exists. Because that will be gone if the PS3 fails and Sony throws the towel.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 13:03

  • moggsy #64 5 years ago

    Pre-orders and early adoption is not a great indication of whether it will be a mainstream success. Mainstream is a couple of years down the line and when the machine is at a mainstream price.

    I agree with you. However the danger is that if the machine doesn't sell well initially to the hard core gamers then there won't be a PS3 in 2 years time. No games publisher will release games for a console with a tiny user base. No games means no-one will buy a PS3.

    It's a vicious circle that Sony really don't want to get into. They need to cut the price now.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 13:17

  • bonker #65 5 years ago

    "i'm still a little confused about the price issue. when you take into account vat, currency conversion rates and so on, the UK PS3 works out, what, 30 or 40 quid tops more than the US or japanese equivalent. it's a little more i suppose, but it's not double or anything - big deal.

    also, if you look at the 360 price, add a wireless controller, a 60GB HD (doesn't exist, i know, but let's pretend) and an HD-movie capable drive, thereby bringing it up to the spec of the PS3, the PS3 price seems fair (if not a little cheaper).

    personally, i think it's a good deal.

    /ducks "

    I think the PS3 price is a decent deal if you defo want a Blu-Ray player but other than that, as someone else has said, it's a horrific Trojaning of kit into your living room.

    I'd also echo what someone else said about not wanting a 1st-gen Blu-Ray player - there's bound to be much 'better' players (if you're really into that sort of thing) available later in the year ...

    The other problem with comparing it to the 360 is the games catalogue. The simple fact is that it's a year behind the 360 and while I don't doubt that it will be on a more equal footing in a year or so's time it's hard to make an argument for it on a game-playing basis either.

    I hope it does do decently well though, despite Sony's appalling behaviour over the last year or so I think MS need a kick up the arse too as I think they've been soft-pedalling it over the last 6 months and could be doing much more ...

  • moggsy #66 5 years ago

    Just be glad there still is competition, with proper product differentation, and enjoy it while it exists. Because that will be gone if the PS3 fails and Sony throws the towel.

    Your right, competition is necessary to keep the major players in check. However at 'that' price Sony are aiming at a very niche market. I know the PS2 was expensive when it was released but it came with a DVD drive which lots of people wanted at the time - thus ensuring it sold well at first.

    Most people are not all that interested in Bluray and the mass market probably don't even know what it is yet let alone pay a Ł100+ premium on the PS3 because it comes with one. IMO the success of the PS3 will all hang on the timing of the first price cut.
    Edited by 3 at 21/02/07 @ 13:16

  • riz23 #67 5 years ago

    Personally I think about 80% of EU pre-orders are going to end up on eBay. I think Sony have got a decent amount of stock in the channel, but your average gamer simply can't afford one yet. A vast majority of these pre-orders are scalping bastards who don't give a toss about gaming. We shall find out when auctions start flooding eBay

  • pokeken #68 5 years ago

    pls define a successful pre-order event.....did Woolies sells its allotment of 10 consoles? was it by profit margins? can we sue them if they tell porkies? (eg what reason do they have of not making this PR shit up)

    ..totally pointless article...

  • PlugMonkey #69 5 years ago

    "4 remind me again why the games cost 10 pounds more for shiny graphics? "

    Because 'shiny graphics' require a veritable army of artists to model everything in a zillion polys and texture everything in a zillion hi-res textures. As worlds become more detailed, somebody has to spend more time on each part of it adding in that detail. You don't just add "Shiny Graphics = True" to the code.

    And artists are all insolent little buggers who actually insist on getting paid for services rendered. The bloody cheek of it!

  • DrDamn #70 5 years ago

    @riz23
    How are all these scalping bastards going to make the money if there isn't huge demand? If 80% of the buyers are going to sell on EBay and there are still plenty left then I think they are due a bit of come-uppance :-)

  • trevd72 #71 5 years ago

    artists - many years ago artists were in it for the art......how times change. Everyone is a whore.

  • rhinoxious #72 5 years ago

    There is bound to be a reduced interest, its been out for a while elsewhere and that creates a kind of 'old-news' feel about the product. Also it's not christmas, so that will take the edge of it too.

    I'd be surprised if you get the same kind of public-upswell of interest you got over the wii nearer launch. At the end of the day it's HD gaming, plus Blu-ray playback, both of which have been available to consumers in some form for many many months.

    Nothing new, no good angles for the mainstream press, so leave the hysteria to the sony fan boys and wait for a price drop.

  • GiarcYekrub #73 5 years ago

    I just can't escape the fact that I can't find a Wii anywhere

  • Xerx3s #74 5 years ago

    Better than previous PS launches? Maybe because previous launches in Europe where even worse?

    I suppose that if you are only used to the head, the shaft is a big step forward. :/

  • Salvia #75 5 years ago

    "artists - many years ago artists were in it for the art......how times change. Everyone is a whore."

    Apart from you; you're an idiot. ;-)

  • Nobuo #76 5 years ago

    Love the idea of Shiny Graphics = True.

  • Xerx3s #77 5 years ago

    So basically Amerzon/Woolworths/Play.com/HMV are all liars when it comes to the PS3? Should be So basically Amerzon/Woolworths/Play.com/HMV are all liars?.

    Our best interest in information is not always the same as their best interest in information. ;)

  • groovychainsaw #78 5 years ago

    I'm going to wait for the cheaper 20Gb version to come out... and then fit a BIG hard drive in it for Ł40-50. There's no other functional difference really is there between the 20gb and 60 gb version, sony just wanted to screw people out of the maximum cash possible. Don't blame them, they'll still sell out, they just might leave a lot of normal early adopters (ie. the 'hardcore') on the fence. I cannot predict what that will do for the playstation, but a console that is missing its hardcore? May see further third parties 'defect'.....

  • Psi #79 5 years ago

    sony marketing have hired the hypno-toad.

  • BadBoyBonner #80 5 years ago

    Fact is most people on here just love games - and don't really give that much of a crap which system they play it on. The PS3 for the majority is too little too late - I think most of us are still reeling from the fact that Sony could make such a cock up.

    As a kid, Sony kit was something to be admired (normally in other peoples houses as my Dad didn't seem to care as long as the footbal was visible and volume loud enough to tell him which horse won). The image of Sony must be close to an all time low.

    Apple has smashed the walkman, Samsung seems to be the majorities TV of choice, nobody cares about there Hi-Fi range as tastes become more individual, the battery fiasco, HDTV PS3 woes and ghastly PS2 emulation that was mooted as flawless, late release of a hard to code for system that's a year late, barely more powerful than a cheaper system released well over a year ago.

    Wii is still sold out in most places, with many people (that I know of) still looking for one.

    Anyone with half a brain cell can tell the lack of forced pack sales is showing a lack of confidence at retail. And I do not think for a second that there will be more PS3's available at launch as there has been Wii's sold to date.

    The PS3 certainly is in the Third Place. For how long is a different and (surprisingly) difficult question to answer.

  • SeesThroughAll #81 5 years ago

    Most people are not all that interested in Bluray and the mass market probably don't even know what it is yet let alone pay a Ł100+ premium on the PS3 because it comes with one.

    Quite right, however the niche market that BluRay and HD DVD currently target - technophiles and video enthusiasts - has pretty much been showing a slight preference for BluRay lately, and in this case it was indeed because the PS3 had some value for these people as a decent cheaper BluRay player - one which will be obsolete in a matter of months, but still. This may help them push the HD format, and by the time HD reaches mainstream, not only will people have a PS3 as a viable option to play HD movies, but it will also be cheaper by then.

    Sony is counting on BluRay and PS3 to serve as trojans for each other, and for the most part, BluRay has been helped so far.

  • trevd72 #82 5 years ago

    @Salvia - wit deserts you I see!

  • Dizzy #83 5 years ago

    All hail the hypno-toad!!!

  • Repsode #84 5 years ago

    What I can't fathom is that if these retailers are doing so well why are they pushing flyers and posters in my face this close to launch.

    As far as I can tell Northern Ireland at the very least doesn't want it.

    3 separate GAMEs, all three just this week pushing the system. HARD.

    Posters all over the windows.

    Managers pestering me about it when I expressed no interest

    Sales grunts standing outside handing out flyers to drum up interest.

    None of this ever happened for any other console launch. Other retailers in the area have been proactive in their marketing as well though not to the same degree.

    All these conflicting reports are unique to PS3 and as no other competitor had such problems, I feel it puts the console at a disadvantage.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 15:09

  • Salvia #85 5 years ago

    "@Salvia - wit deserts you I see!"

    Nope.

  • LOLLERS #86 5 years ago

    "many years ago artists were in it for the art......how times change. "

    Yes, these days we have focus groups and marketing departments and high-level executives to decide on the art direction, artists practically have nothing to do and just sit around eating pringles, looking at porn on their macs and figuring out how they can demand another pay rise to screw over the consumer and general public AGAIN.

  • DrDamn #87 5 years ago

    @BadBoyBoner
    "Apple has smashed the walkman, Samsung seems to be the majorities TV of choice, nobody cares about there Hi-Fi range as tastes become more individual, the battery fiasco, HDTV PS3 woes and ghastly PS2 emulation that was mooted as flawless, late release of a hard to code for system that's a year late, barely more powerful than a cheaper system released well over a year ago."

    There is so much stuff Sony have done wrong this time round. From giant enemy crabs to pricing and delays, why bother making stuff up like this? What do you think it does to your credibility?

    Sony is doing surprizingly well in the LCD market. Despite a higher price point than most they distinguished their brand well and to critical acclaim. The sales in this area have been a significant part in their current financials.

    As for PS2 emulation? Sony lists the games that don't work, MS list the games that do. Enough said.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 16:05

  • Vin #88 5 years ago

    BUY A 360.

    The RIGHT choice.

  • SeesThroughAll #89 5 years ago

    As for PS2 emulation? Sony lists the games that don't work, MS list the games that do. Enough said.

    The PS3 does not even do actual emulation, it's using PS2 hardware to run them. And I believe he was referring to the jaggies problem for PS2 games that wouldn't run at 480p. Unfortunately for his trolling purposes, this problem has been fixed a while back with a firmware update.

    Vin, how much does MS pay you?
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/07 @ 17:42

  • numptyboymatt #90 5 years ago

    This afternoon, a colleague from work rang our local GAME to see if they had a Wii as her boyfriend wants one.... and the response?

    "I'm afraid that we do not have any Wiis in stock at the moment, but can I interest you in pre-ordering the PS3?"

    She asked how much and then prompty started laughing when he replied.

    I reckon that will pretty much be Joe Publics reaction to be honest.

  • Eighthours #91 5 years ago

    /listens to the familiar/tiresome cacophony of Sony-hating and denial.

    Give it a rest people. PS3 will do well.

    Yes it will. The problem here is that certain retailers are lying about the current level of demand, and certain people in this comments thread are screaming blue murder when this patently obvious fact is pointed out. Nobody's talking about hating Sony, yet you're saying this is the case and completely ignoring the argument here.

  • zendragon #92 5 years ago

    Marketing bollocks as usual. No matter what happens they will always say that.
    He will pay you 1000 pounds for each that you can find I'm sure!

    And who cares? The gamecube broke records too initially.
    Each one they sell now only means they lose money.

  • AOFanboi #93 5 years ago

    Complaining about the PS3 price versus the 360 or Wii is like complaining about the price of a BMW versus a Volvo or a Peugeot. They're all cars, and when you drive on speed-limited roads you know, all that extra horsepower and the GPS gizmos in the more expensive choice are moot. But BMW still sell their cars. Why? Because they are from BMW. The same way, the PS3 will sell because it's a Sony product. And it's not just to the "Wii is for kiddies and bouncy-tits-360 is for horny teen boys" crowd.

  • SeesThroughAll #94 5 years ago

    Each one they sell now only means they lose money.

    Not for the retailer. For Sony, the loss per unit is already felt every time they ship units.

  • smelly #95 5 years ago

    >The same way, the PS3 will sell because it's a Sony product.

    Only in europe.. because uk gamers are stupid.

  • dredd97 #96 5 years ago

    @smelly,

    go on then tell us how 'enlightened' you are fanboy...

  • SeesThroughAll #97 5 years ago

    @ smelly, that comment was completely unappropriate.

    Just because I informed myself about the consoles available, and am interested in a PS3, that makes me stupid?

  • NegativeZero #98 5 years ago

    There's a sucker 'born every minute' - UK retailers

  • agparrot #99 5 years ago

    I predict the dreamcast will fail once the PS2 gets into its' stride

  • moggsy #100 5 years ago

    Complaining about the PS3 price versus the 360 or Wii is like complaining about the price of a BMW versus a Volvo or a Peugeot. They're all cars, and when you drive on speed-limited roads you know, all that extra horsepower and the GPS gizmos in the more expensive choice are moot. But BMW still sell their cars. Why? Because they are from BMW. The same way, the PS3 will sell because it's a Sony product. And it's not just to the "Wii is for kiddies and bouncy-tits-360 is for horny teen boys" crowd.

    Unfortunately a lot of good will for the Sony name as been eroded as far as gamers are concerned over the last year or so. It remains to be seen whether the Sony name and the word 'Playstation' can carry them through this difficult spot.
    Edited by 1 at 22/02/07 @ 09:06

  • mkreku #101 5 years ago

    I don't think the Sony brand has taken as much beating as you guys seem to think. Sony's digital cameras are still selling well and they have lots of fine products available in that market. The Sony Bravia screens get top scores in every review and they're selling like hot cakes, at least in Sweden. Despite costing a lot more than some of their competition.. Also the SonyEricsson brand of mobile phones are outselling anything else on the market in Sweden by numbers of 10 to 1. Ridiculously popular.

    I think it's the Playstation brand that's going down the drain with the Playstation 3.

  • Kill_Crazy #102 5 years ago

    Anyone else remember (about 10ish years ago) when anything MS was hated with a vengence just for being MS? How times change - now it's Sony! The problem with MS at the time was that they were thought of as conning the PC users out of money by underhand means (i.e. forcing their dominance (bit like today really)). People got over it and realised that if you wanna be at the leading edge with technology in your house you've got to stump up the cash - regularly. If you ONLY want to play games get a wii or 360. If you only want to play games at the mo and might get HD interested l8r then get an 360. If you want it all then get a 360 and all the extras or get a ps3.

    Gonna start a book on who the hated company is in 10 more years:

    MS (again) 5/1
    Sony (still) 2/1
    Nintendo 8/1
    Sega 30/1
    Unknown Co. 35/1

    Place your bets.........

  • DrDamn #103 5 years ago

    @Kill_Crazy
    I think it's well over the top to claim things are hated for being Sony. As people have pointed out they still have a lot of other product lines which are liked and do well. TVs, Cameras, phones etc. I think a few people need to look outside the "gamer" bubble they are in and look into the world in general.

  • moggsy #104 5 years ago

    I think a few people need to look outside the "gamer" bubble they are in and look into the world in general.

    Sony need to sell the PS3 to people in this 'gamer bubble' before they'll have a chance to sell to people in 'the world in general'. The fact that they have spent the last couple of years going out of their way to piss people off within the 'gamer bubble' could now be blowing up in their face (closing down Lik-Sang was a low point for myself).

    Time will tell...

  • AOFanboi #105 5 years ago

    <em>Unfortunately a lot of good will for the Sony name as been eroded as far as gamers are concerned over the last year or so.</em>

    Attention spans are funny things; I am sure the memory of the anger over the delayed launch will be drowned out by the recent stream of quality PS2 titles like Okami and FF XII. Just like the month of giggles over the unsellable Nintendo Wii name was worth nada once the console launched.

  • moggsy #106 5 years ago

    I am sure the memory of the anger over the delayed launch will be drowned out by the recent stream of quality PS2 titles

    It's not just the delayed launch that has annoyed gamers. I suspect it started with the delayed launch of the PSP and went from there. Sony's arrogance has been unbelievable at times.

    But I agree that this alone will not stop people buying the PS3. Most of the credit for that would go to the incredibly arrogant price which is surely it's main Achilles heel at this point in time.
    Edited by 1 at 23/02/07 @ 10:29