PS3 not selling out would be good - Reeves

By Tom Bramwell Published 21 March, 2007

We're not even twisting words.

Sony boss David Reeves says that if you can walk into a shop on Friday and buy a PlayStation 3 without a pre-order, that'll mean the company got the launch right.

"We don't want secret shoppers to go in there and say, 'Ah, it's not out of stock, therefore it's not selling,'" he told Reuters. "Indeed, what we're trying to say is we want to make it available to the normal shopper who goes in there and says, 'Do you have PlayStation 3?', and they will say, 'Yes.' And the same for the software."

Reeves, who is president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, told the news agency that the delay between the console's Japanese and North American launches last November and its arrival in Europe this Friday has been of great benefit in reaching the goal of shipping one million units of hardware for day one.

"It's rather like taking a bottle of soda water and we've shaken it so hard over the last six months that when we take the cork off, it's just going to explode," he explained (probably waving his arms around expressively). "I think that's a better way of looking at it than to say the delay is disappointing. It's not - it's really been beneficial for us. We're going to get it right."

For Euro PS3 launch details, check out our handy feature on the subject, even more handily labelled Euro PS3 launch details.

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.

You may also like...

Comments (137) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #1 5 years ago

    Sony, please stop talking! for 2 days... please...!

  • souljah #2 5 years ago

    "It's rather like taking a bottle of soda water and we've shaken it so hard over the last six months that when we take the cork off, it's just going to explode" he explained (probably wanking expressively).

  • Yossarian #3 5 years ago

    BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL

  • Vin #4 5 years ago

    BUY A 360.

    I gonna keep on repeating that in this thread.

    BOOYAH.

  • JediMasterMalik #5 5 years ago

    He has a point though. Think about it. As long as they can sell a fair few, which they will, and remain selling a decent amount every week, that's better then having shortages a la Wii.

    Though the whole bottle shaking crap, and delay is good shit, we could have done without. Thanks for the crap analogy.

  • Weezer #6 5 years ago

    Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Haaaaaaaaa......

    bollocks.

  • dirigiblebill #7 5 years ago

    "...we want to make it available to the normal shopper who goes in there and says, 'Do you have PlayStation 3?', and they will say, 'Yes.' And the same for the software."

    At the risk of provoking the untold legions of flamers doubtless busy spamming F-bombs into threads around the world- isn't this what most companies want to achieve?

  • SIDEARM #8 5 years ago

    Come off it JMM! The man is making excuses in a desperate attempt to pretend low demand is a good thing!

  • aldo_14 #9 5 years ago

    There is a point in this, though, once you get past the 'Sony factor'.

    Generally it's better for any company to have enough stock to meet or exceed the demand there is rather than be under it - I don't think the situation with both the Wii and the 360 being too frequently out of stock upon their release was a good thing for either console, and I'm pretty sure at the moment there are a lot of people annoyed at not being able to get the former in the shops.

    Come off it JMM! The man is making excuses in a desperate attempt to pretend low demand is a good thing!

    If you assume low demand. I'm not sure if consoles being sold out for ages at launch is 'normal' anyways - how many console launches before the current generation saw long-term (i.e. months long) shortages of the console?

    (although, to be honest, methinks the normal exchange would be 'Do you have PlayStation 3?', and they will say, 'Yes, £500', and the response would be 'Fuck off, i'm not made of money').
    Edited by 2 at 21/03/07 @ 17:10

  • Yossarian #10 5 years ago

    "okay so we're not going to sell out on Friday... but that's a good thing! it means we have lots of consoles! our supply exceeds the deman... uhhh...

    fuck."

  • jonsaan #11 5 years ago

    Well I think he's got a point. The reverse situation is what has happened with the Wii. They just can't keep up with the demand, and for the end consumer that sucks big time.
    Sony can't win really. If all the stock was gone on pre orders they would be accused of deliberately limiting stock.

    And I don't even want one at this point, so please don't flame me:)

  • JediMasterMalik #12 5 years ago

    Right, so a million consoles for Europe is not alot then(>_>;). For a £425 console, I'd be surprised if it DID sellout.

  • ZuluHero #13 5 years ago

    it says something when you can pick up a brand new PS3 on ebay for less than its RRP:

    [link url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-PlayStation -3-PS3-60-GB-Console-UK-PAL-PRE-ORDER_W0QQitemZ160097520163Q QcategoryZ149492QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
    ]http://cg i.ebay.co.uk/Sony-PlayStation-3...[/link]

    only 2 hours left - get them bids in!

    Bet that guy is sweating it! :p

  • Dr.Mott #14 5 years ago

    So, 100 comments by about, oh, I don't know... 6.00?

  • Jandurin #15 5 years ago

    Ah-hahahaha-hahahahahaha.

    Huh. Almost got 17:17:17. That would've been cool.

    How can he spin not selling out before it doesn't sell out?
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 17:19

  • jebus #16 5 years ago

    Funniest thing I have heard today.

  • zoidberg #17 5 years ago

    he has been shaking it too much.

  • espy #18 5 years ago

    Up is the new down.

  • Stormflood #19 5 years ago

    I'll be surprised if it doesn't sell out by the weekend. Gamers are weak willed.

  • Paulanator #20 5 years ago

    Ha Ha!

    Did anyone hear tha the PS3 was outsold by the GBA in America. The only consoles it managed to beat were the Gamecube and Xbox!

    Keep in mind that that is with no stock shortages!

  • jebus #21 5 years ago

    "We don't want secret shoppers to go in there and say, 'Ah, it's not out of stock, therefore it's not selling,

    But that's exactly what is going to happen. Being out of stock on day one sends signals to the idiotic masses that this thing must be desirable and therefore I must buy one. To the point where I thought companies witheld stock on purpose so that happens.
    Perhaps I'm too cynical these days.

  • Beano #22 5 years ago

    They should have launched with 500K and held back the rest to keep the hype alive, because people will say" PS3 is not selling" if they only sell 800K of the one million units. The guy is basicly right - but they should just shut up!

  • jebus #23 5 years ago

    @paulanator

    Yeah here are the figures. GC and Xbox not on there but GC was 28K I believe.

    US SALES FIGURES FOR FEBRUARY 2007
    DS: 485,000

    Wii: 335,000

    PS2: 295,000

    360: 228,000

    PSP: 176,000

    GBA!: 136,000

    PS3: 127,000

  • smelly #24 5 years ago

    "Let the fanboys go crazy desperately trying to convince people not to buy a PS3 like their own life depended on it. So sad."


    You dont get it do you? It's not being a fanboy of another system or owt like that is the reason.

    6 months ago, we were all moaning about the price, and how us europeans get ripped off all the time. If everyone goes out and buys one, and it sells more in the uk than it has been doing in the us.. Then it just shows them they CAN over charge us and keep doing so.

    I want one. But i'm ****ed if i'm paying THAT price for one. And I hope few others do too. Then it'll show them we brits wont take being taken for a ride, being forced to pay extra for a blu-ray drive we dont want or need, and wont make bugger all difference to our games, etc... And of course, not just paying double the americans, but also getting screwed over on backwards compat.

    So yes, as a gamer, I *do* hope it doesnt sell well.

    It's got NOTHING to do with being a "fanboy"

  • alimokrane #25 5 years ago

    New Levels of Spinning from Sony! WOW!

  • Gulag #26 5 years ago

    "So, 100 comments by about, oh, I don't know... 6.00?"

    *looks at clock: 5.25pm*

    Well, it looks like this thread has undersold. But don't worry folks, thats a *good* thing.

  • miiiguel #27 5 years ago

    everything goes... damn... amazing!

    Not selling is good, not having exclusives is good, not having rumble is good, medicre games are good...

    Shiiiit! It's a mad world!

    As long as "it's a Sony"!
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 17:28

  • Santino #28 5 years ago

    Feb's US sales figures... lol DAMN!

  • miiiguel #29 5 years ago

    and last but not least,

    having a crappy online system is... the best!

    It's a Sony!

  • woodnotes #30 5 years ago

    Early damage control, well done Reeves.

  • Paulanator #31 5 years ago

    @jebus

    Yeah, that's right. The Gamecube sold 28k while the poor old Xbox only sold 480!

    Mind you, it probably wont be too long before the Xbox is outselling the PS3!

  • miiiguel #32 5 years ago

    nevermind the bollocks,

    It has a Spiderman-a-like logo, nuff said!

  • dirigiblebill #33 5 years ago

    'Nowhere is it repeting the success of the PS2, by a significant factor.'

    Unfortunately for everybody on the high-def bandwagon, the *PS2* is currently repeating the success of the PS2.

  • _Price_ #34 5 years ago

    Yes, it would be good if the PS3 didn't sell out, it might actually force them to re-think their UK RRP. Could we have another N64 launch on our hands? Lets hope so.

    If only I could convince nobody to buy a console at launch (well, ok, the Wii didn't exactly break most peoples banks), we might get a fair deal that much faster.

  • rogermellie #35 5 years ago

    Sony just need to be able to wait for the exclusives to come and then lower its price.

    In the mean time they can fall back on the rich library of PS2 games...

  • miiiguel #36 5 years ago

    dirigiblebill: next-gen gaming is going fine, currently, and in the US and UK, 360 titles are the ones wich sell most.
    PS2 users don't buy games.

  • FunkyRenegade #37 5 years ago

    Sure, companies do want to please the consumer by not having major stock shortages, but I know for a fact that the store I used to work in took under HALF the pre-orders for the PS3 than were taken for the Wii
    So in this case, no, it isn't a good thing for Sony that they're not selling out. Because there's MUCH less demand for this than there was for the competitors products.
    Excuses for the delay are unnecessary, they wont make anybody want it any more than a better standard console and 3 months earlier. I despise all that PR bullshit that's trying to make the people believe that a delay and a lower spec unit than the rest of the world is actually a good thing, whoever comes up with that shit needs to die.
    That said, I'll still pick one up a few months down the line after the price drops due to the realisation that with a £425 price tag it really can't compete with the other CONSOLES, because at the end of the day that's its primary function, not to be a blu-ray player.

  • jebus #38 5 years ago

    @Paulanator Yeah, that's right. The Gamecube sold 28k while the poor old Xbox only sold 480!


    Not bad for a system that is no longer manufactured. I am guessing it is people wanting to play Zelda that couldn't get hold of a Wii.

  • numptyboymatt #39 5 years ago

    I agree with smelly - his last post spoke total sense to me.

  • Steroyd #40 5 years ago

    Walking in shop and getting a PS3 on launch day.

    Who the hell can complain about that? o_O

  • smelly #41 5 years ago

    >In the mean time they can fall back on the rich library of PS2 games...

    HAHAAHAHAHA!!!

    Not that most of them work properly...

    [link url=http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2007/03/ europe-at-war-only-12-of-top-50.html
    ]http://ww w.ukresistance.co.uk/2007/03/eu...[/link]


  • dirigiblebill #42 5 years ago

    'dirigiblebill: next-gen gaming is going fine, currently, and in the US and UK, 360 titles are the ones wich sell most.
    PS2 users don't buy games.'

    Not sure about the US, but you may notice that the likes of FFXII and Vice City Stories have been topping UK charts recently. Not to mention multiplatform footie or driving game releases...

    The ps2 has the 360 over its knee and is spanking it like a bitch :D

    /pokes miiiguel with stick
    /runs

  • Machiavel #43 5 years ago

    "It's rather like taking a bottle of soda water and we've shaken it so hard over the last six months that when we take the cork off, it's just going to explode,"

    Will we be able to do that in our @home spaces?

  • miiiguel #44 5 years ago

    dirigiblebill: Crackdown sold more than FF, wich in fact has a legion of fans, while the 1st is a new IP. I'd say impressive, but I can be wrong...

    ;)

  • johnDoe #45 5 years ago

    why do all the microsoft/nintendo fanboys think that the ps3 is no good because it isnt selling as much as the other consoles thats like saying fifa and nfs are the amongst best gaming franchises or that westlife are the best recording artists in the world

  • Beano #46 5 years ago

    "Walking in shop and getting a PS3 on launch day.

    Who the hell can complain about that? o_O"

    Exactly!

    People are just so used to whine about Sony that they compain no matter what.

    Yes... it's "expensive" and "less" the console the US and JAP (still) have... but get over it.

  • sharpfish #47 5 years ago

    JohnDoe, we don't think the PS3 isn't any good cos it's not selling, we think it's not selling cos it isn't any good.

    Can't apply the art/music/media logic to hardware. PS3 is borked big time... watch it die (unless they drastically cut the price within 6 months and make some killer titles)

  • JediMasterMa!ik #48 5 years ago

    Cometh Friday Cometh the MAN!

    I will hold my PS3 aloft above my head in undimming glory knowing that the Xbots around my feet have been slayed by the sword of a superior system

    Quality outstrips demand for any great console this is nothing new - wii!

    The Xbrick did not have titles like Resistance & Motostorm at lunch did it?

    Plus the classic lemmings available for download Happy Days...

  • PearOfAnguish #49 5 years ago

    "JohnDoe, we don't think the PS3 isn't any good cos it's not selling, we think it's not selling cos it isn't any good."

    Also, it's hilarious watching a big company like Sony fucking up so spectacularly. And they keep making it worse, every day brings another senior Sony bod making himself look like a tit.

  • rogermellie #50 5 years ago

    HAHAAHAHAHA!!!

    Not that most of them work properly...

    Sadly I know and I really want to believe they can get the majority working. I won't be rewarding Sony with my cash just yet. The price, rumble, exclusives and b.c. will keep my hand in my pocket for a good while.

    I agree with you that if people buy the PS3 at this price they're kind of setting a precedent for future U.K. console pricing.

  • KingKongBassett #51 5 years ago

    This is a very good thing, but not for Sony.

    It says that, for once, the British punters are saying, "as much as I want one, I am not paying THAT price for one."

    I do want one, and I will buy one, but not while the price is above £300. I suspect thousands of people are thinking the same way.

    Plus, spin it how you will, Sony, it's a thundering right-hook to one of the most staggeringly arrogant companies on the face of the earth.

  • Machetazo #52 5 years ago

    Next Generation don't think there'll be any difficulty in finding a PS3, here, either. Reeve's comments in the article smack of desperation PR. Then again, I've never known him thus far, to be capable of the truth anytime a microphone/dictaphone's involved.
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 18:08

  • CallousB #53 5 years ago

    "Walking in shop and getting a PS3 on launch day.
    Who the hell can complain about that? o_O "

    Launch day was supposed to be 4 months ago.

    I got the Wii on the day it was promised...some didn't. Nobody got the PS3 on the day it was promised.

    I'm not going to applaud Sony for failing everyone as opposed to just failing some.

  • GamesConnoisseur #54 5 years ago

    Smelly made a lot of damn sense, I too wont buy PS3 at that price and being inferior product to that available in USA and Japan to date.

    So if enough of us can hold back for impulse purchase, that will send very powerful signal to Sony that we not gonna stand for being ripped off and shafted on inferior product at double US/Japan price. I WILL get PS3 but hope there will be enough of us the 'holding off getting PS3' crowd for Sony to realise that it makes a lot of business sense to reduce sooner than later.

    If enough of PS3 sells in Europe, that wont help us and they will be in no hurry to reduce.

    Let your wallet do the voting man!
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 18:11

  • JediMasterMalik #55 5 years ago

    Oh look, someone trying to make me look like a fanboy. Twas bound to happen. People can't stand opinions online.

  • ruckus #56 5 years ago

    'secret shopper' rofl XD

  • Fairlane #57 5 years ago

    If im not much mistaken, the PS3 launches on friday here in Denmark. I just heard a commercil on tv, where Sony is urging you to pre-order... LOL

  • Swann #58 5 years ago

    Sounds like someone has got the pre-order list and is thinking 'we should of sold more'

  • Xerx3s #59 5 years ago

    Spinnewin. That said, I heard that there where loads of units for the launch so he might be right.

  • smelly #60 5 years ago

    "The Xbrick did not have titles like Resistance & Motostorm at lunch did it? "


    To be fair, neither did the ps3. If the 360 had launched 6 months later in the uk, it wouldve launched with LOADS more than just two good games.

  • Xerx3s #61 5 years ago

    He has a point though. Think about it. As long as they can sell a fair few, which they will, and remain selling a decent amount every week, that's better then having shortages a la Wii.

    This would be true if they where the No 1 seller, but they are not. I would rather be in ninty's shoes and not be able to meet demands than sony's and selling a fair few but not being the No 1 success.

  • smelly #62 5 years ago

    >Smelly made a lot of damn sense,

    Holly hell!! What's going on here??

    Is satan putting on his winter gloves to go sledging?

  • Weezer #63 5 years ago

    Smelly speaks the truth! Stand up for your rights as consumers: Europeans - and us Brits especially - are being seriously buttfucked over this machine. If the whole gaming community 'went on strike' and didn't buy it, Sony would HAVE to drop the price (or have better bundles or do something to add value).

    Just look again at the price of a PS3 in Japan and let it sink in...

    20GB version = £217

    60GB version = £260

    (Based on PS3 Wikipedia entry and today's currency conversions).

    That is NOT fucking funny. Okay, add on VAT and shipping... You're still getting royally shafted. And for the record, yeah - I'd really like one.

    UK PS3 buyers are paying for Sony's arrogance and ineptitude. And paying through the fucking nose, too.

    [EDIT: To be fair, Nintendo shit on us a bit too.]
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 18:32

  • seedaripper #64 5 years ago

    "Weezer
    21-Mar-07 17:04:32 Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

    Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Haaaaaaaaa...... "


    you have far to much time on your hands....why not go buy a console to play on?
    ;)

    bollocks.
    ignore poster

  • miiiguel #65 5 years ago

    all in all, we know that for many, Sony could sell empty boxes in Europe, and laugh in your faces.

  • smelly #66 5 years ago

    >Smelly speaks the truth!

    There's something seriously wrong going on here.


    >Just look again at the price of a PS3 in Japan and let it sink in...

    To be fair, the japanese price HAS dropped twice since launch, due to it not selling very well.
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 18:37

  • JediMasterMalik #67 5 years ago

    @Xerxes - I think we should wait for actual sales figures before we decide who's no 1. In the first week at least the PS3 will easily outsell any other console. It's after that sony need to worry.

  • seedaripper #68 5 years ago

    p.s...with regards to the PS3 not selling as much as consoles on the market is....ITS MORE FUCKING 'EXPENSIVE' than the rest of the consoles on the market!...get it into fucking perspective moron baiters/trolls
    jesus...theres no einsteins on this thread...

  • Amazing Bryan #69 5 years ago

    They've admitted defeat already. As if they care about if customers can walk into a shop and buy one without pre-ordering.

    Just shows that the PS3 is the least anticapted console of all time.

  • morriss #70 5 years ago

    I like it when he says, "The delay has been great for us!" Great, Sony benefit from console delay!! \o/

  • FunkyRenegade #71 5 years ago

    "Yes... it's "expensive" and "less" the console the US and JAP (still) have... but get over it."

    And that's exactly the attitude that Sony are exploiting, you're happy to pay for a machine that's less than what other regions get, for a ridiculously inflated price. Sony only do it because they know Japan and America would bitch and moan and they're too big a region to lose the support of, but us Brits, we'll buy anything with a Sony logo on it. Well done buddy on showing Sony that you're one of the mindless followers of their cause. But as for the majority who've realised this, we'll be happy waiting until we can pay a good £100 or so less than you and get the same experience.

  • JediMasterMalik #72 5 years ago

    Amazing Bryan - You haven't ben paying attention to alot of gaming news lately have you? ever heard of the Gizmondo? Phantom? Didn't think so.

  • PearOfAnguish #73 5 years ago

    [link url=http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/200 7/03/reporting-live-from-ps3-launch-event.html
    ]http://ww w.ukresistance.co.uk/2007/03/re...[/link]

    QUICK, JOIN THE QUEUE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

  • Overlush #74 5 years ago

    What's a PS3?

  • JediMasterMalik #75 5 years ago

    Ah yes a launch event report... 2 days early. That makes so much sense my mind boggles. UKR are utter crap.

  • miiiguel #76 5 years ago

    good! Icon just arrived! Hoooray once again for Amazon UK!

  • smelly #77 5 years ago

    >Ah yes a launch event report... 2 days early.

    But the queue opened TODAY,..

  • MrAtheist #78 5 years ago

    Ah yes a launch event report... 2 days early. That makes so much sense my mind boggles. UKR are utter crap.

    I thought it was pretty amusing. Not as funny as the bloke in the queue "buying six to sell on Ebay" mind. :)

  • PearOfAnguish #79 5 years ago

    How early did people start queuing for the Wii and 360 - a week, two weeks?

  • Bitkari #80 5 years ago

    Sony only do it because they know Japan and America would bitch and moan and they're too big a region to lose the support of, but us Brits, we'll buy anything with a Sony logo on it.

    Au contrare, Europe is now approaching the amount of sales in America, and could easily surpass it to become the dominant market for gaming (at least until someone works out how to get the Chinese to pay for their gaming :] ).

    If more efforts are put in to creating either games designed to appeal to Europeans, or at the very least with a very broad cultural appeal (ie: not AmericanFootballGame 2008, or MegaSpikeyHairRPG XXII-2 ) then we could certainly see Europe really grow as centre of gaming. Publishers should certainly start investing not only in European studios, but trusting them to create their own IP more often.

  • Amazing Bryan #81 5 years ago

    JediMasterMalik - See it however you want, the PS3 will still fail.

  • FunkyRenegade #82 5 years ago

    @Bitkari

    You're right in the sense of targeting games towards europe, but the fact remains that America and Japan take more pleasing than we seem too. The main point of my comment was that Brits would buy anything with the Sony brand name on it, which is why they have got away with selling them at extortionate prices, and using the excuse of the Blu-Ray drive, which let's be honest, not that many Playstation wont use for films that often, if at all. I'm happy to wait a few months for the price drop, and maybe the realisation by Sony that the majority of us have cottoned on to their extortionism.

  • miiiguel #83 5 years ago

    no, no, no... you PS detractors are all wrong, who cares about below-par games, who cares about the 0.01% of Blu-Ray movies compared to DVD, who cares about price, who cares about the embarrasing online service, who cares about all the lies - can't you see ?!!!!!!

    IT'S A SONY!!!!!!!

  • Tonka #84 5 years ago

    we want to make it available to the normal shopper who goes in there and says,
    'Do you have PlayStation 3?'
    , and they will say,
    'Yes.'
    And the same for the software."
    And Oblivion?



    ...



    In a month

  • WiseNail #85 5 years ago

    Friday will be the first time I've not snapped up a Sony / Nintendo / Sega / Microsoft console on launch day in donkeys years.

    It's not that I don't want one (or can't afford one), it's just that the combination of a delayed launch, over inflated price (especially the extra £25 in the UK versus the rest of Europe) plus limited BC says to the consumer in me that Sony is taking the mickey. The way I see it, if you don't make a stand then things don't change.

    Hope I can keep telling my brain that come Friday morning...

  • miiiguel #86 5 years ago

    why oh why ?, SONY is the technological god on earth, it's here to save us from our sins.

    Please do make The Donation.

  • bonker #87 5 years ago

    "I agree with you that if people buy the PS3 at this price they're kind of setting a precedent for future U.K. console pricing."

    Absolutely and that's my biggest beef with Sony/the PS3 launch. If Sony get away with shovelling this onto 'us' then you can guaranfuckingtee that you'll be getting more of the same, and then some, from MS & Nintendo too for the foreseeable future ...

    It's in the interests of gamers everywhere (especially Euro/UK) that Sony get a right bloody nose for at least a few months from launch ...

  • SeesThroughAll #88 5 years ago

    Dear Trolls,

    Maybe you bought the XBox360 because "it's cool" and "from the heroic Microsoft who is saving us from teh 3vil $ony", but not everybody is that moronic - Brand loyalty in general is stupidity. Of course, I prefer to believe otherwise, seeing as I prefer not to assume people I do not know as being stupid.

    Before you predictably target me on my supposed brand loyalty to Sony, let me add that I never owned a PS1, nor a PS2, my first and last "proper" console ever was the MegaDrive - I'll always be a Sega/Sonic fanboy at heart, never liked Nintendo's games and when Sega stopped making consoles, I forgot about videogames for quite a long while. My very first handheld is the PSP, I am enjoying it to it's fullest, and considering a DS as well for Sim City. I must be among the few here who think that videogames are a form of entertainment, not a penis extension (in some cases replacement).

    Stop insulting people who choose other products, it is their RIGHT to CHOOSE which consoles they use and what they use them for, as long as they choose consciously. I assure you, a lot of the people who can afford and are buying a PS3 have a decent payroll, brains, have informed themselves about pros and cons, and decided the PS3 to suit their needs/wants as well as/better than an XBox360. In fact, a lot of those people own both as well. Yes, there are people who like the idea of using a console for more than games, and differently as well.

    The "Anybody who buyes "console A" is stoooopid, nah nah nah" line is among the most childish things I have had the misfortune of ever reading around here.

    Maybe you should proceed to enjoy your chosen product instead of giving people the wrong impression that people who own a 360 have nothing better to do than trolling and bragging about their favorite unused toy.


    On topic:
    ======

    My my my, those geniuses will never learn to keep their mouth shut, do they?
    Edited by 2 at 21/03/07 @ 19:52

  • bonker #89 5 years ago

    "@Xerxes - I think we should wait for actual sales figures before we decide who's no 1. In the first week at least the PS3 will easily outsell any other console. It's after that sony need to worry. "

    Yeah, this weekend doesn't mean much but April sure as shit does. When those April figures come out in early May we'll have a clearer picture of what's up. Sony will be looking at them too of course and those numbers will basically decide whether we get a price cut (and how big) for June or not ...

  • bonker #90 5 years ago

    "Sony only do it because they know Japan and America would bitch and moan and they're too big a region to lose the support of, but us Brits, we'll buy anything with a Sony logo on it.

    Au contrare, Europe is now approaching the amount of sales in America, and could easily surpass it to become the dominant market for gaming (at least until someone works out how to get the Chinese to pay for their gaming :] ).

    If more efforts are put in to creating either games designed to appeal to Europeans, or at the very least with a very broad cultural appeal (ie: not AmericanFootballGame 2008, or MegaSpikeyHairRPG XXII-2 ) then we could certainly see Europe really grow as centre of gaming. Publishers should certainly start investing not only in European studios, but trusting them to create their own IP more often. "

    Whoa. Hold on a mo - Europe is ALREADY bigger than the USA and Japan. Don't just look at the number of units sold, bear in mind that we pay +20-35% for the same goods so in strict cash terms we're worth miles more than they are already.

    It still doesn't change the fact that as long as shit-thick Europeans keep putting up with the utter, utter crap that is foisted on us by Sony et al (don't even start me on TVs!) then that's all we'll get and we'll be paying more for getting arse-fucked.

  • Les #91 5 years ago

    "We don't want secret shoppers to go in there and say, 'Ah, it's not out of stock, therefore it's not selling,'" he told Reuters. "Indeed, what we're trying to say is we want to make it available to the normal shopper who goes in there and says, 'Do you have PlayStation 3?', and they will say, 'Yes.' And the same for the software."

    It all depends on the number of PS3's that's actually sold at launch. If that number is impressive than it's a good sign that PS3's are on the shelves: shows that Sony has got their manufacturing and logistics in order. If the number sold disappoints, that will probably be the reason for PS3's on the shelf and then it's definitely not good.

  • triton #92 5 years ago

    "Indeed, what we're trying to say is we want to make it available to the normal shopper who goes in there and says, 'Do you have PlayStation 3?', and they will say, 'Yes.' And the same for the software."

    Ah yes, and the normal shopper would just pop into the store and spend 600EURO on the console and an additional 100E on necessary accessories. Can you talk about normal shopping when the object is a 600EURO console, I would use the word absurd shopping.

  • bdc #93 5 years ago

    Please please please stop talking sony

    please :(

  • smelly #94 5 years ago

    The thing is with that UKR report, is that if the store continues to be empty.. sony will almost definately pay it's staff to go down there and stand in line to make it look busy.

    Just like any sane company would.

    (this is not a bad thing)

  • bonker #95 5 years ago

    "Ah yes, and the normal shopper would just pop into the store and spend 600EURO on the console and an additional 100E on necessary accessories. Can you talk about normal shopping when the object is a 600EURO console, I would use the word absurd shopping. "

    Yes, the very first thing I thought when I read his comments was just how many 'normal' shoppers are there that will just wander into a shop and drop £500 on a console and a game?!

  • bonker #96 5 years ago

    "The thing is with that UKR report, is that if the store continues to be empty.. sony will almost definately pay it's staff to go down there and stand in line to make it look busy.

    Just like any sane company would.

    (this is not a bad thing) "

    Well it is a bad thing but not one that you could/would criticise them for doing. The piss-taking would be legendary though if they got sussed lol

  • Les #97 5 years ago

    "Ah yes, and the normal shopper would just pop into the store and spend 600EURO on the console and an additional 100E on necessary accessories. Can you talk about normal shopping when the object is a 600EURO console, I would use the word absurd shopping."

    Just as normal/absurd as people walking in to an electronics shop to buy a 2000+ euro flatscreen tv... Anything above 100-150 euro's is outside the impulse-buy range for most people, so it goes for all consoles.

    Except for the "It's not - it's really been beneficial for us" comment about the delay, most of what he said makes sense. Shame that most people here are too stupid/ignorant/blind/trying-to-be-funny/etc. to notice.
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 20:21

  • Xerx3s #98 5 years ago

    Cometh Friday Cometh the MAN!

    I will hold my PS3 aloft above my head in undimming glory knowing that the Xbots around my feet have been slayed by the sword of a superior system

    Quality outstrips demand for any great console this is nothing new - wii!

    The Xbrick did not have titles like Resistance & Motostorm at lunch did it?

    Plus the classic lemmings available for download Happy Days...

    Oooohhh, your sarcasm is lovely sometimes. :D

  • PearOfAnguish #99 5 years ago

    "Anything above 100-150 euro's is outside the impulse-buy range for most people, so it goes for all consoles."

    Except that there's quite a difference between 200-whatever for a Wii or Xbox and 600 odd for a PS3.

  • BartonFink #100 5 years ago

    They should really just shut up. They will be damned no matter what they say. Better not to say anything at all.

    I guess the pre-order figures weren't quite up to expectations though.

  • Carlo #101 5 years ago

    Well I suppose this does mean the scalpers are fucked. And that's a good thing in my book

  • smelly #102 5 years ago

    >They will be damned no matter what they say.

    Damned by who? Geeks on a forum?

    Like we're their biggest market!

  • agparrot #103 5 years ago

    "It's rather like taking a bottle of soda water and we've shaken it so hard over the last six months that when we take the cork off, it's just going to explode"

    Except, if you've ever tried shaking a gas-carbonated bottle of liquid for six months, you'll know it just comes out flat when you take the lid off.

  • Les #104 5 years ago

    "Except that there's quite a difference between 200-whatever for a Wii or Xbox and 600 odd for a PS3."

    You miss the point.

  • JediMasterMalik #105 5 years ago

    @ Xerx3s - You know who wrote that?

  • the_dudefather #106 5 years ago

    [link url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-PlayStation -3-PS3-60-GB-Console-UK-PAL-PRE-ORDER_W0QQitemZ160097520163Q QcategoryZ149492QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
    ]http://cg i.ebay.co.uk/Sony-PlayStation-3...[/link]

    lol @ ebay seller

  • Les #107 5 years ago

    "next-gen gaming is going fine"

    Sales-wise you can argue about that. Quality-wise, there's no discussion: 'next-gen gaming' has never been this disappointing. But I'm afraid the next next-gen will be even worse. Thank god for books...

  • smelly #108 5 years ago

    @the_dudefather : Bargain!! Wish i'd put a bid in :-)

  • Overlush #109 5 years ago

    "'next-gen gaming' has never been this disappointing. But I'm afraid the next next-gen will be even worse. Thank god for books..."

    Somebody take this poor deluded fool to the golf course, or the opera, or the care home, please...

  • numptyboymatt #110 5 years ago

    Just had a look on eBay and at the moment there is one on there at £99 with no bids... Someone is going to be losing a lot of money by the looks of it!

    Edit - spelling, grammar, and generally making no sense.
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 22:07

  • thinktank #111 5 years ago

    I wonder how many places sony would appear in channel 4's enevitable 101 worst PR disasters?

  • Xerx3s #112 5 years ago

    @ Xerx3s - You know who wrote that?

    Humour me.

  • zuljin #113 5 years ago

    Just a link for all those people that think Sony is crashing and burning:
    [link url=http://www.vgcharts.org/aconscomps.php ?name1=X360&name2=PS3&type=2&align=0
    ]http://ww w.vgcharts.org/aconscomps.php?n...[/link]

    They're on a par with XBox360 at the same point in their respective lifespan. Then consider they got to that point by delaying the whole of Europe, and at a time when there is more competition (when XBox360 released it was the only "next gen" console).

    Ofcourse to keep it going, they need more good games. Not the perfect start the Wii had, but not as bad a start as people seem to make out.
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/07 @ 23:37

  • smelly #114 5 years ago

    "They're on a par with XBox360 at the same point in their respective lifespan."


    Yes.. But In comparision to the ps2, the original xbox was a HUGE flop (selling 20-odd million compared to the ps2's 120-odd million).

    For the ps3 (the sequel to the best selling machine of all time), selling on par with the 360 (sequel to something which struggled to sell more than the cube)...

    Thats quite bad.

  • simo #115 5 years ago

    There's more spin here than you'd get in a Zanussi....

  • JediMasterMalik #116 5 years ago

    @Xerx3s - It was a serious question, look at the name. I have no idea who wrote it. :)

  • zuljin #117 5 years ago

    @smelly
    "For the ps3 (the sequel to the best selling machine of all time), selling on par with the 360 (sequel to something which struggled to sell more than the cube)...
    Thats quite bad."

    No its not. Mainly because XBox360 was keeping up with PS2 until about two months ago (at same point in its lifespan). Like I said, XBox360 is doing allright, and PS3 is so far on track to at least keep up. Maybe we can get 2 great consoles at the end of this, and a s**tload of good games.

    EDIT: Bugger earlier link was to US hardware. Point still valid tho, since MS's best region is the US.
    Edited by 1 at 22/03/07 @ 00:10

  • Avenger1324 #118 5 years ago

    It's been fun reading through these messages, but the best bit has to come when you go to ebay and search for completed listings "Playstation 3 console"- most are finishing below £425 even including postage.

    Isn't it great when a launch backfires on the ebay vultures :)

    Selling less is good!! We want more on the shelves!!

    Sony needs to lock all its important staff in a room and gag them until the launch has happened. They just can't help themselves.

  • Zane #119 5 years ago

    Just when with Home the PR/Marketing had gotten back on track.

    Ta David Reeves, sony will be proud of you for screwing it up again.

  • JackB #120 5 years ago

    WOW, that was close. Sony almost screwed up their launch and sold out. PHEW! Close one!

    Talk about more classic Sony spin doctoring....

    Hopefully, there will be PS3's rotting (err, I mean sitting) on shelves for years to come, so that every poor PS3 shopper will not have to go home without a PS3.

    Maybe at the end of the summer, Sony could offer a promotion to include a free feather duster with every purchase. Just the thing to clean the dust off your shiny new PS3, that's been sitting on the shelf for 6 months waiting just for you!

    Maybe the sales reps in stores could name each PS3 box sitting on the shelf, so it wouldn't be so impersonal. I can see the sales manager meeting in the morning....

    "Team, I've got terrible news. Yesterday we sold Fred. I know many of you had become attached to Fred over the past few months, but we'll just have to carry on without him. Don't worry though, we still have Emily and Gertrude to keep us company...".

  • kangarootoo #121 5 years ago

    I have a couple of thoughts on the subject if anyone cares.

    1. Selling out of stock is fundamentally bad business, regardless of what product you are making, FACT. The chances of selling exactly the number of units to meet demand in any significant market is effectively zero, so any company that sells all their stock is almost certainly losing or delaying sales from that point onward. Losing sales would be regarded by any competent business expert as A Bad Thing.

    2. All that really matters in the initial race to gain installed base is how many units you sell. Stuff like selling out or not may make great headlines, but it actually says a lot more about the efficiency and accuracy of your production pipeline that anything else.

    If company X sells 1 million units, and company Y sells 1.2 million units, company Y has sold more units, end of story. The number of units (if any) left on the shelf by either cdompany is moot. In the case above, company X could hardly claim a victory just because they ran out of product sooner than company Y. Fanboys may argue "yeah, but they only sold less because they ran out", but in the real world that doesn't really actually count for anything.

  • smelly #122 5 years ago

    But what if company X is struggling to sell 100k units?

  • smelly #123 5 years ago

    "Mainly because XBox360 was keeping up with PS2 until about two months ago (at same point in its lifespan)."

    Are you sure? Where'd ya get that from?

    if it is true.. then fuck... the Wii selling this much truely DOES mean a MAJOR turning point...

    If you're correct, and taking into account how well the wii is selling in comparision to the 360 and ps3, and you reacon that the ps2 sold just as well as those two at start.. then maybe the analysts are right in saying the wii is about to become the best selling system ever!

    Thats INSANE!! (and really unexpected to me!)..

    Wow!

  • -TKF- #124 5 years ago

    134 comments that i dont have to read to know what they say..

    DAMAGE CONTROLL LOLOLOLOLOL

  • ryohazuki1983 #125 5 years ago

    Thanks crazy, don't all companies want their consoles/products to sellout? That way it creates more of a demand as people tend to want what they can't have! "if its selling out then it must be good", that kind of mentality.

  • keyboardmonkey #126 5 years ago

    Chances of Sony claiming the PS3 sold out completely over the weekend ? (no matter how many are sold).

    I hope everybody who buys them to sell on ebay gets well and truly shafted! (maybe the next time a console launches they won't be so eager to try and rip people off)

    I will be doing my bit for Sony by making sure i don't buy one and therefore leaving more on the shelves which should make Sony happy.

    Sony drop the price (a lot!, something around the Japanese price would be nice), get the rumble SixAxis released and please stop talking.


  • zuljin #127 5 years ago

    @smelly
    Same site, just compare XBox360 to PS2. And doesn't quite ring true of the Wii tho. Although it did (does) do very well, I doubt it has the lifespan of the PS2. That is what ultimately makes a console sell so much, is to have a steady stream of units sold over large period of time. We'll probably be able to decide who the "winner" is in a few years time, although by then we'll all be arguing over the XBox720, PS4 and the next Ninty console. ;)

  • Khanivor #128 5 years ago

    While it’s good to be able to provide a console for everyone that wants one on launch day it’s bad news to have built more consoles, significantly more consoles, then are wanted. Each of those unsold consoles have cost Sony money which they are not making back by having them sit on shelves.

    The ultimate goal would be to produce exactly the same number of consoles as you are able to sell. Producing hundreds of thousands of consoles which do not immediately sell is not good. Overproduction is probably financially more damaging then underproduction, especially when you are in the position Sony is.

    The 360 had the next-gen slot to itself when it released so the shortages probably didn’t cost MS too many no-sales, although I’m sure MS desperately wished they had more available in the run-up to Xmas. The Wii is a unique product so when it’s unavailable people are unlikely to buy a 360 instead as it doesn’t offer the same thing as the Wii. Now if the PS3 wasn’t available to someone they may choose to buy a 360 but during the launch phase people will be aiming to buy a PS3 specifically, not a next-gen console generally. And figuring the manufacturing costs to Sony at this early stage of the product’s life-cycle overproducing means depleting the cash reserves which could otherwise have been held off by a) not building more consoles then there was demand for or b) creating the right atmosphere/price point so they sold as many as they could produce.

    I’ll be interested to see just how long it takes Sony to release the sales figures for the weeks following the launch week. I’m also really curious to see how many they will sell in that launch week. And to those pointing out it’s going to sell less because it’s more expensive, well that’s kinda the point some of us are trying to make. If they have to reduce the price to such low levels already in Japan, the one market where Sony should be able to expect healthy sales, then you gots to admit that things are not off to a very good start at all.
    Edited by 1 at 22/03/07 @ 08:24

  • meepster2312 #129 5 years ago

    The previous poster makes some interesting points, but I'm not sure it's Sony who will bear the cost of unsold units. They have launched this month to makesure they can book the revenues in this financial year I would imagine.

    Those retailers who work to the same model will want to make sure that they sell thier stock before the end of the month (I'm asuming they have had to buy thier consoles outright, not get sale or return) otherwise they will be showing a big shortfall in thier fincances this year.

    Who knows, maybe worth wating a week for some bargains (retailers can afford a bit of leeway, they should be making £40-50 a console if sold at full RRP)

  • SBfistfun #130 5 years ago

    "It's rather like taking a bottle of soda water and we've shaken it so hard over the last six months that when we take the cork off, it's just going to explode,"

    "Its rather like eating a curry then drinking 14 pints and watching it EXPLODE"

    More like

  • crouchy #131 5 years ago

    Just to give the fanboys a kick in the teeth. The Euro ps3 launch is the most well stocked in history.

  • SomaticSense #132 5 years ago

    Bit different to what I recall them saying during the PS2 launch. Quite the fucking opposite in fact.

    Sony PR: This is living (up your own arse)

  • bonker #133 5 years ago

    "Team, I've got terrible news. Yesterday we sold Fred. I know many of you had become attached to Fred over the past few months, but we'll just have to carry on without him. Don't worry though, we still have Emily and Gertrude to keep us company...".

    LMAO

  • kangarootoo #134 5 years ago

    @Khanivor

    Good post. I agree that spending a shit load on making consoles and not recouping that cost is a bad thing, but the cost of building said units is accounted for in a cashflow chart that I'm sure doesn't require all sales on day one. So long as the remaining units get sold in reasonable time I don't think Sony will suffer financially.

    More important is building an installed base. The cost of making the consoles pales when compared with the dosh you lose on game sales for every punter that doesn't have PS3 under their TV. If running out of stock means you can't build that installed base, that is when your finances can start to become problematic. Though lets be sure, none of the big three are closing down anytime soon. When people say "Sony are deep in the red" they don't really know what they are on about. The PS2 is still raking the cash in.

    Not quite sure what my point is here, just to say that unsold units on shop shelves is not going to create crippling costs unless they sit there for months.

  • Les #135 5 years ago

    "then you gots to admit that things are not off to a very good start at all."

    As it is for all next gen consoles except for Wii. I'd love to see Wii win this generation so hopefully the next next-gen will do more than simply push more pixels. I only give PS3 a strong chance if the whole community game creating thing really kicks off while 360 should bet on good, new downloadable games (more Geometry wars and less classics). With production cost getting higher and higher, I fear the big studios will create even more crap than they did during last gen (less games that are exponentionally more crap) leading to console gaming going the way of hollywood: some place anyone with taste would steer clear off.

  • AOFanboi #136 5 years ago

    How can the Wii win this generation? Stupid Nintendo cannot supply enough units to fill the demand. And that means an effective loss since potential buyers will look to the competition's offerings, and also in some cases leading stores to price it so high it actually ends up as costing more than the 360's cheapest price. (Here in Oslo, at least, that was the case when EB had a 360 campaign and one of the other chains sold the Wii for a price like €350 (inc. 25% VAT mind you))

    The winner so far has been the PS2. Buzz! series and Singstar > silly minigame collections on the Wii for casual gamers.

  • davisorle #137 5 years ago

    "Sony boss David Reeves says that if you can walk into a shop on Friday and buy a PlayStation 3 without a pre-order, that'll mean the company got the launch right."

    So that's why all this stupid delay and bad marketing? lol

    "we want to make it available to the normal shopper"

    That's not called normal... 660Euros spend in Greece for a console is fucked up. That has nothing to do with "normal". Can someone please inform him about that?

  • Les #138 5 years ago

    "That's not called normal... 660Euros spend in Greece for a console is fucked up. That has nothing to do with "normal". Can someone please inform him about that? "

    How stupid can you be?! Although in this case (as in many others in this thread) it's probably about how stupid do you want to be...