E3 Vox Populi: What are your thoughts on the PS3 prices?
by Adams Briscoe 
{ May 12th 2006 at 6:00PM }
Sitting in long lines an hour deep or more gives a person the opportunity to bond with his fellow gamers pretty easily. That's what the Joystiq crew did while hanging around the show floor yesterday. The big question: What did you really think about the prices for the PlayStation 3?Brandee / PMS Clan: "Unacceptable. Period. Everybody works hard for their money."
Ryan / Student: "I paid $499 for a console already so I guess I can't say I won't buy the PS3. I wouldn't trade in my 360 though."
Carinda / Gameinatrix.com: "Never, never, never, never."
Andra / Gameinatrix.com: "Not at launch, I'll wait for a price drop but will probably get it."
CheapyD / CheapAssGamer: "I kept looking for a PS3 game that was worth $600 today and I couldn't find one."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Kamalot @ May 12th 2006 6:03PM
So ends the Playstation regime.
Sony has managed to bring down their own house of cards by not having a clear plan other than, copy everyone else, insert HD movie format, rape everyone's wallet.
Jonathan r @ May 12th 2006 6:04PM
guys quite it....we know
Nodnetni @ May 12th 2006 6:06PM
"I kept looking for a PS3 game that was worth $600 today and I couldn't find one."
That might be the biggest problem with the PS3 right there.
Viva la Wii-volution
Kasunaga @ May 12th 2006 6:06PM
"I kept looking for a PS3 game that was worth $600 today and I couldn't find one."
Must've missed FFXIII.
Danno @ May 12th 2006 6:06PM
The only game that even looks like it might be worth the cost of admission to the PS3 is Assassin's Creed, AND, that might be coming to 360 and/or PC. Can Joystiq ferret out the details of if/when we'll know what platforms the Creed will be out on?
CC @ May 12th 2006 6:08PM
I gotta say that it's quite expensive. 600$ + $$ for a game or 2 at least + $$ for a hd setup (after all, HD is the way to go sony fanboys, right?)
All in all, gaming is supposed to be fun. Will it be worth the 1000$+ ?
If you're rich, yes. If not, no.
I mean, 600$ for an upgrade of the ps2? (Besides the controller)
=(
One word comes to my mind: WII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uncle4Skin @ May 12th 2006 6:10PM
Ah come on, $600 bucks for a printer/fax... er, gaming console is worth every 60,000 pennies (plus tax).
Foo @ May 12th 2006 6:11PM
Can someone answer for me why Sony became the bad guy in recent months?
Juggernauht @ May 12th 2006 6:11PM
4. "I kept looking for a PS3 game that was worth $600 today and I couldn't find one."
Must've missed FFXIII.
I agree with the original statement... FF fanboys gth
Wii Luv 360 the most devistating combo and still cheaper than a PisS3
Paul Cosgrove @ May 12th 2006 6:13PM
Andra's omment is one I've seen a lot on... well, just about everywhere.
That's a major problem for Sony, though - if their entire fanbase is waiting for a price drop rather than buy one for $600 - and these are the hardcore ones who post about it on the internet, not the casual gamers that Sony relied on for the original PlayStation's success - the lauch is going to crash and burn horribly.
scab @ May 12th 2006 6:14PM
ok kamalot mr.im just gonna say wat everyone else is so i can sound smart
ok..... lets take a look at what the xbox 1 stole:
non-cartridge games = ps1/sega cd
analog sticks = 64/ps1/gcn
shoulder buttons = snes/64/ps1/ps2/gcn
vibration = ps2
online = pc/ps2
cd-player/dvd player = ps2
pause/select buttons = basically every console
reset button = evry console
o ya did i mention the buttons and d-pad and power/cords
so you see how stupid you sound when you say that ps3 "stole" technollogy from wii
sony is just trying to keep it next gen and i guess thats wat motion sensor comtrollers are "next gen"
so next time you say sumtin like that think about if xbox still used cartridges/no analog sticks/no live
zsherwood @ May 12th 2006 6:15PM
CheapyD / CheapAssGamer: "I kept looking for a PS3 game that was worth $600 today and I couldn't find one."
That's the truth I've had every Playstation system to date and this one is a disappointment. The only game that has fully captured my interest is Eight Days. And one game is not going to sway me. The 360/Wii combo is heading my way.
Kasunaga @ May 12th 2006 6:15PM
"I agree with the original statement... FF fanboys gth"
I neglected to mention Metal Gear Solid 4 and Devil May Cry 4.
bedpanjohn @ May 12th 2006 6:15PM
everyone in japan will buy a ps3, just for FFxiii. and they will still sell out of ps3's here. so unlike the 360 which sold like 5 in japan. the ps3 has a larger market that are willing to spend that amount of money.
CloudANDTidus @ May 12th 2006 6:15PM
Did they lock Joystiq out of E3? Do they have nothing else to talk about. How many articles can you write on one story?
yo yo mama @ May 12th 2006 6:20PM
the xbox 360 doesn't cost much less
most xbox bundles cost $500 ish
so why did this debate wait for sony?
but WTF even $500 is too much IMO
Juggernauht @ May 12th 2006 6:20PM
Kasunaga
MG4 SAM eats snakes for breakfast and with all the prerendered stuff who know what the games will really look like...
xbot 4 lyfe
CC @ May 12th 2006 6:20PM
Scab...
Lemme correct what you said :
non-cartridge games = ps1/sega cd
(ok)
analog sticks = 64/ps1/gcn
(64. ps1 copied)
shoulder buttons = snes/64/ps1/ps2/gcn
(snes. Other ones copied)
vibration = ps2
(Wrong. Rumble pack, n64)
online = pc/ps2
(Wrong. Dreamcast.)
cd-player/dvd player = ps2
(ok)
pause/select buttons = basically every console
(Kind of true, yet NES)
reset button = evry console
(Kind of true, yet NES)
Bart Lee @ May 12th 2006 6:21PM
>>8. Can someone answer for me why Sony became the bad guy in recent months?
Coming from a PS/PS2 owner, I got a little tired of Sony claiming they were "still on track for a spring launch" all the way up to a couple of weeks ago. I have a 360 and I always figured I would sell it off before the PS3 came out but I'm now clearly in the "wait and see" camp. The PS3 is definitely more appealing to someone like me, with a 62" 1080p set. I could buy a HD-DVD player (which apparently has some serious problems) for $500 or a Blu-Ray player/PS3 for $600. Pretty appealing if there's even one decent game. But if Sony's got a guy like me wavering, they have serious trouble.
fhaze @ May 12th 2006 6:21PM
Does Final Fantasy 13 have a hope of releasing this year?
Heavenly sword looked good, but that is about it. There isn't a game that would warrant the buying of ths system on day 1 (IMO). Buying an Xbox 360 after the price drop seems to be the smart move this year.
soco @ May 12th 2006 6:21PM
everyone keeps saying FFXIII as if it'll be the lone saviour, but the games only sell like 2.5-3 million copies in the US, and that's not enough to get sony even to the 10 million mark.
more importantly, the game won't arrive until probably 2008 at the earliest and by then, if the PS3 isn't doing so well, it'll likely lose it's exclusivity so that square can make money. if everyone buys the wii60 then you'll get all your games there. the same way the ps2 got the majority of the games this generation.
frederick @ May 12th 2006 6:22PM
Halo3 on GTA4 on Xbox360. I don't need anything else. Thank you.
namelessloser @ May 12th 2006 6:22PM
I love FFXIII, but I sure as hell am not spending 600 bucks + 50-70 bucks for a game. Thats 700 with tax. I have an HDTV already but id much rather take a 360 + a Wii and have all the fun I need with those 2 than spend a crap load on a console.
Eric @ May 12th 2006 6:23PM
scab:
While I do agree with your statement that everyone steals from everyone else, I think you're being a little unfair. Go back to your list and remove all the things that were in PC games on Windows first (non-cartridge, analog/joysticks, vibration, online, cd/dvd player, pause, reset). It seems kind of silly to infer that MS stole from themselves.
Dt7 @ May 12th 2006 6:24PM
Comment #11 made me lol. Damn Microsoft, stealing pause button technology.
Michael @ May 12th 2006 6:24PM
If you people don't want to buy one, don't buy one. How long can this whining go on?
Maybe one game isn't worth $600. Certainly there isn't one worth $200 on 360.
I personally will be saving for and buying my PS3 for Assassin's Creed, Metal Gear Solid 4, Warhawk, Resistance, Tekken, Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo, Heavenly Sword, Killzone, Devil May Cry, Virtua Fighter, Lair, Eye of Judgement, The Getaway, Ratchet & Clank...
Plus all the first-party games I know will be coming, like something from Team Ico, more from Incognito (God of War, Twisted Metal) and so many more games that I can only find on this platform.
That's why I bought PS1, PS2, and it's why PS3 will be quite successful.
Dave @ May 12th 2006 6:25PM
Man...y'all can keep complaining about this and swear up and down that Sony sucks for the $600 price mark. It'll be that many fewer of you in line on Nov. 17 to compete with me.
Do the games looks spectacular right now? No. And they won't, for a little while. Such is the story with all releases on new consoles...it takes time before they're markedly different than those on the previous iteration. The 360 games right now aren't all that more impressive than the current Xbox releases...but they had no trouble selling out of those, did they?
Darth Pixel @ May 12th 2006 6:25PM
#8
It has to be a live action version of Lemmings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmings_%28video_game%29).
When asked to justify their hatred, "They lied." is all they have to say. Just as if Microsoft and Nintendo never lied.
Juggernauht @ May 12th 2006 6:28PM
FURTHER cORRECTIONS
non-cartridge games = ps1/sega cd
pc Turbo gfxcd
analog sticks = 64/ps1/gcn
(64. ps1 copied)
shoulder buttons = snes/64/ps1/ps2/gcn
(snes. Other ones copied)
vibration = ps2
(Wrong. Rumble pack, n64)
online = pc/ps2
(Wrong. Dreamcast sorry wrong sega saturn.)
cd-player/dvd player = ps2
wrong phillips game machine (so I forgot the name)
pause/select buttons = basically every console
(Kind of true, yet NES)
reset button = evry console
(Kind of true, yet NES)
the last two are industry standards its like saying mac copied ibm because ibm used a keyboard
Andrew @ May 12th 2006 6:28PM
I still want one, but I would only get the premium version. Let's face it, you probably won't be able to get a PS3 for under $1000 anyway until at least spring. Sounds like Sony just wants (needs) their cut from the vultures ...er, resellers.
Ethan Thomas @ May 12th 2006 6:28PM
If you seriously think there's a game or two..or three...or friggin TEN...that's worth buying $600 hardware for, you're insane. What will be great, though, is watching the FF fanboys flip out when the next FF turns out as crap because Sony was busy making out with Blu-ray and totally trashed the story/production values etc. of the games. I like Final Fantasy. I like a college education more. In all seriousness too, as my final tuition payment is going to be around $550..which is..yeah..you guys already know. I'm sorry, but the only people buying PS3 this Christmas will be affluent parents/parents willing to charge it on the credit card and pay twice as much for it by the time its paid off, spoiled Sony fanboys who would pay another $600 if they would package the system with a small clipping of Ken Kutaragi's hair (you guys scare me...seriously), and a few people who are willing to go broke on it or miss a rent payment, etc. I wasn't a fan of any company before this generation. Now, I stand behind Microsoft firstly and Nintendo secondly. Sony can gth for all I care. Any time your fanboy nerds are forced to recite specs that, in the end, aren't even delivered on just to make you look good, it's sad. Microsoft promised to launch before Sony...my 360 is on top of my entertainment center right now. Nintendo promised innovation...the Wii-mote is about as innovative as a company is going to get. Sony promised armageddon in a box...they delivered a Blu-ray movie player that somewhat plays games for $600. Color me and alot of other people not impressed and, in fact, insulted that it's the best they can do. When your ego gets the better of you as a company, it shows. In this case, Sony's ego is raging way out of control. I can only hope my fellow gamers show them that we will not be cheated this winter when/if the PS3 launches.
scab @ May 12th 2006 6:29PM
@ccya thats my bad but sarcasm was kind of my point
i didnt really
look up all the facts but the point is still that if your gonna
say that ps3 stole from wii you cant just ignore 15 yrs of gaming and
how the cosoles got good with each new release because of the previous
console
Michael @ May 12th 2006 6:31PM
@19 Bart Lee
Sony has been on top for a while. It's kewl to rage against the machine. I personally am excited about the PS3 and Wii.
Amos @ May 12th 2006 6:31PM
"Must've missed FFXIII."
Nope, nope, looks like shit. An exxageration, but it's pretty clear that since approximately X-2 Square has -completely- forgotten how to make Final Fantasy games. I sat through that crap and, like the Penny Arcade guys, kept waiting for the next 'real' Final Fantasy to be announced, but instead they keep shoving this new crap (which is fine in and of itself) down our throats which they CLAIM to be Final Fantasy. 'Eff that, I'm getting Blue Dragon.
SetupWeasel @ May 12th 2006 6:34PM
"8. Can someone answer for me why Sony became the bad guy in recent months?"
Sony has been on the brink of some backlash for some time now. Their PS2 was not made that well, they broke promises with features and peripherals (HDD), and good ole Kuturagi keeps pushing his chest out further and further through it. The PSP is also not living up to the Sony boasts, and a certain group of people have been soured by that.
People were willing to forgive all that in time. Then Sony started installing clandestine software on any computer that tried to play a Sony Music CD. That struck the very core of their internet support. The bad feeling from before with this apparent betrayal of the hardcore audience's trust from a different segment of the company has fostered a lot of ill will.
Sony's name is becoming more and more synonymous with lies. Now they go and ape Nintendo's controller and price their console at some ungodly amount, and Kuturagi prances around like they are the cock-of-the-walk. This time the number of past transgressions is sufficient to hold them accountable. It took a while, but people are fed up.
Come to think of it, it's a lot like President Bush... without all the dead people of course.
epobirs @ May 12th 2006 6:34PM
I don't know why people think shoulder buttons originated with the SNES. I used them on Apple II joysticks back in 1979. You gripped the unit with one hand, with a button on top for your thumb and another on the front side for the index finger. The other hand worked the stick, which was analog.
Who put an off the shelf technology into a variety of consumer device first is little more than trivia. It is the effectiveness of the implementations that matter.
Just saying.
JJ @ May 12th 2006 6:35PM
Ethan, once again i think yer taking hte Ps3 price too hard. I mean seriously the 360 was 400 and the PS3 is 500 (i'm just using the closest prices here). So whats really the problem here man? Do you just hate sony that much? If so, why? was it because the PS2 was better than the xbox? or that Sony brought videogaming to the masses more so than any other company?
Trust me if you have the money for a 360... you have the money for a PS3,s ince you're basically an "Early Adopter" type of person.
Momus @ May 12th 2006 6:39PM
Funny thing about Final Fantasy XIII, it's going to be released as 3+ games:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabula_Nova_Crystallis:_Final_Fantasy_XIII
The price just keeps going up! Looks like Square pulled a Sony.
~M
mercatfat @ May 12th 2006 6:43PM
the "corrections" to the first consoles to have various things are still pretty iffy.
for example, consoles with online capability goes way back before the Saturn, even.
the first system to HAVE A MODEM INCLUDED was the Dreamcast, I believe.
Gavin @ May 12th 2006 6:43PM
First off, MS proved what I thought was gonna be impossible: You can go extremely high and two tiered at launch and the early adopting fanboys will still buy the stuff.
With a MUCH bigger installed user base, Sony will absolutely have enough customers with deeper pockets ready to buy at those price ranges. I won't be one of them, but I can absoutely see it happening.
Also, fanboys can stop yelling about how it is $600...there will be a $500 version but somehow people try to forget that.
When there is going to be a new Final Fantasy game for the system, you can forget about it being a failure. That is one of the single most important gaming franchises in the history of gaming, and if you don't understand the importance of having the latest FF game as an exclusive, then you don't understand the gaming industry.
jay @ May 12th 2006 6:45PM
Glad to see less people liking Sony, I was beggining to worry that folk forgot about the lies for the PS1, PS2 and PSP. Glad you remember.
they're not a very good company. high prices=low quality hardware. Need I remind people of the Minidisc? The top of the line models being 250 and superlight, supertough METAL. their next model being plastic and 50 more.
Sony are crap. I've never worshipped them like most. I've always been used to higher quality sound systems, computers, music players etc. I could buy a PS3 at launch, I could buy a few if I wanted. I have the money but there's no way in hell I'd buy one. Not now. Microsoft and Nintendo showed me more than Sony ever could.
Lansing @ May 12th 2006 6:46PM
The PS3 will fail if it launches at 500-600 dollars. That is not speculation that is just plain utter fact. This comes from a diehard playstation fan who is completly obsessed over MetalGear Solid.
This leaves only two options over which speculation can occur.
Option 1) Sony will lower the price in a couple months (Probably to 400 before launch even starts) therefore making it seem like everyone is getting more for their money, which is true. This plan would be successful and Sony would be in good shape this generation in terms of consoles sold.
Option 2) Sony arrogantly goes ahead with their suicide of 500-600 dollars and readily gives the console domination to Nintendo, whose console will sell 200 dollars or more below Sony's cheap console.
Once again, there is no possibility of Sony getting 2 million consoles sold at 500-600 dollars.
The playstation dynasty is over.
Good news, I think MGS4 probably will get ported to the 360 after the ps3 flops. Yay!
Big Ed @ May 12th 2006 6:47PM
@11 Scab, you forgot about these features as well:
Power cable
Plastic casing
ON light
Console name
Correct me if I have forgotten anything else. Damn Microsoft
Ayrkain @ May 12th 2006 6:49PM
Feeding this idea that people need to pick a console to "side" with is a good reason to look at the viability of blogs as a quasi-news source. With no accountability or journalistic standards, I guess this is to be expected. Pandering to the lowest common denominator (the fanboys of each respective console) is what gets the ad clicks, apparently. Personally I think it's awesome that we have three companies all producing good consoles with good games. The push to eliminate one (or two) of them is cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Dwide Schrude @ May 12th 2006 6:54PM
Was "Ryan / Student" talking about his 360 as the console he paid $499 for? Cause if so, he got swindled for 100 bucks. Some good that education is doing him.
Momus @ May 12th 2006 6:56PM
THIS JUST IN:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060512-6824.html
~M
Darth Pixel @ May 12th 2006 6:57PM
#43
And it's more and more clear that paid commenters are working the blogs to promote the agendas of those who wanna be #1.
Nelson @ May 12th 2006 6:59PM
I can fully understand someone not wanting to pay $599 for a console, what I don't understand is why people arn't calling Microsoft on the fact that their $399 console is an incomplete system. No wireless, no support for HD Movies, no HDMI, smaller HD, etc. If you add wireless, HD-DVD, and an extra HD to a 360 you are going to end up at a price much higher then $599. The core system and the HD-DVD drive alone will probably get you to $599. Not to mention that Microsoft doesn't let you play online for free where Sony apparently will. Sony could have easily taken features out and found their way to $399, only to accessorize you to death, I'm glad they didnt.
smizz ali @ May 12th 2006 7:00PM
listen... dont for one second think your gonna buy a ps3 for 600 dollars... first of all the 360 was 300-400 dollars BUT you couldnt get it at that price cus everywhere was selling as BUNDLES! Same bullcrap with the ps3... 2 months before launch your gonna see joystiq posting up "gamestop selling ps3 bundle for $"... BUNDLES BUNDLES BUNDLES!!!! I hate bundles! and 600 dollars is freaking crazy! what the hell... I love gaming and owned many systems but c'mon! i mean theres only a handlful of people with dam HD TVs... I dont have one and dont have the money to get one either... and thats the story with alot of people! cut that HD crap out and sell it as an attachment... memory card readers... HDMI... 500 ports for this and that... BLAH BLAH BLAH.... the average ass like me wont use half the crap it comes with... but their selling this idea that its ready for those technologies when it comes out...
Dont get me wrong... i love the playstation line... but dam, they are taking advantage of us poor gamers... now they are giving me reasons to go to 360 (rrrrrr)... and Nintendo at least should stick with the 200 dollar mark because gimme a break... they change a dam controller and basically keep the same gamecube under a new prettier box! but idiots still complain about a dam name that has nothing to do with the system ignore crap like this... Wii... revolution... whatever! who gives a freak... i see more post and polls about the dam name of the system then its freakin capabilities!
people are getting blinded by names like "next-gen"... 360 and ps3 are gonna be just about the same graphics wise... dont give in to this bullcrap... i mean it looks alot better than the systems before it but c'mon 600 dollars! plus online fees and dam games prices getting raised... the people are allowing this to happen because they complain about it but end up buying the crap... i do believe the 360 is reasonably priced... and hopefully learns this and pulls something out their ass to make up for the price... look at panasonics 3DO... at launch was 600-700 dollars and was a huge FLOP! i think the playstation name is to big to flop but it sure the hell will lose alot of gamers!
thank you for reading... im mad now! i need to punch something...
Aran @ May 12th 2006 7:02PM
@ 26: (Michael)
"I personally will be saving for and buying my PS3 for Assassin's Creed, Metal Gear Solid 4, Warhawk, Resistance, Tekken, Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo, Heavenly Sword, Killzone, Devil May Cry, Virtua Fighter, Lair, Eye of Judgement, The Getaway, Ratchet & Clank..."
PS3 599$ + HDMI cable 50$ + 2nd controller 40$ + 15 games x (appx.) 65$ = 1664$
Do you have HDTV? Better get it fast to get the best picture out of your PS3. + 1500$
That's about 3150$ for gaming. I hope you've won in the lottery or robbed a bank or something.