Analyst: In-stock PS3s are "troubling"

by Blake Snow { Jan 11th 2007 at 4:25PM }

First, let's state the obvious: in-stock product is, for the most part, a good thing. If you're a manufacturer, it means people can buy your goods in exchange for monies that go in your pocket. But if your product is launching in short supply to a seemingly high demand, early in-stock units may indicate poor long-term viability for a product. That's the current white elephant in the room for Sony's PS3; widely reported to be sitting on store shelves throughout the nation.

Analyst PJ McNealy -- who originally believed the PS3 would see shortages well into June of 2007 -- said, "It is our position that while the PS3 launch is seven+ weeks old, we find it a little troubling to find the console in stock." He credits the current and unexpected availability of PS3s to the following scenarios:

People aren't buying due to lack of new games at this point
$600 for a game console appears too pricey for most people
The "cheap Blu-ray player" argument isn't converting into sales
Slow release of exclusive titles isn't helping

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Snakey J @ Jan 11th 2007 4:29PM

DOOM and GLOOM, DOOOOM AND GLOOOOMMMMMM!!!!

Kenan and Kel @ Jan 11th 2007 4:36PM

Just get a x360 and a wii, its really all you need.

btsavage @ Jan 11th 2007 4:39PM

What we need to find out is if the in-stock PS3s are the premium editions with 60GB HDD or the 20GB HDD versions without HDMI.

I would bet that most people don't want the cheaper version without HDMI, but it's just a guess.

logikil @ Jan 11th 2007 4:40PM

Waiting for first posts from the SDF. I'm just curious what there is to say about this. Joystiq you biased bastards you!!!

Hehe anyway. Drop 200$ and you got yourself a sale.

chasmodai @ Jan 11th 2007 4:41PM

the pile of them at the target outside of dc i saw last night were a mix of both, but i saw at least 4 out of the ten or so were the 60 gb version.

Shadow @ Jan 11th 2007 4:42PM

Am I the only one enjoying this doom and gloom Sony stuff? Don't take it personally, but after 10 years of hearing the same exact thing about Nintendo, it's a nice change of pace to hear it about someone else.

Some things just never change...

Josh @ Jan 11th 2007 4:43PM

Lack of quality games so far is #1 IMO

Gilbert @ Jan 11th 2007 4:43PM

But I bet people will happily pay $600 for an infinitely less functional iPhone. (Including me.)

Ozyman666 @ Jan 11th 2007 4:43PM

Saw PS3s at WalMart, Target and Best Buy around here.

sheppy @ Jan 11th 2007 4:44PM

Translation:

"We here at Joystiq had long ago subscribed to the idea that Sony will never be able to achieve anything and that life in the big house, as seen on the HBO series Oz, frightens us but that's hardly related.

As long as PS3 is available on the market, we will completely ignore any and all good news about the system, complain about issues fixed 2 firmwares ago, and generally expect you all to agree with us.

We are glad to be a hatred herding presence in the video gaming world and we look forward to several more years of whining and bitching and moaning about every little thing that could possibly even remotely be considered a dooming view upon Sony."

chasmodai @ Jan 11th 2007 4:45PM

i wasn't able to find an xbox360 in stock until march of last year here in dc. i want to splurge and get a ps3 as well, but won't until there are games worth buying it for. i suspect that there are a lot of people who, having missed a chance of one at xmas, are content to wait until there is actually a reason to plunker down that much cash money. the target right outside of washington had at least 9 or 10 of them locked away in their display case last night.

logikil @ Jan 11th 2007 4:45PM

btsavage:

the 20GB version has HDMI. All you lose is the bigger hard drive and wireless built in. I believe there is one other thing, but HDMI is not it.

Fhaze @ Jan 11th 2007 4:46PM

However, you can play 40 person multiplayer in Resistance which once the average joe consumer comes to this realization, it is sure to be in short supply again.

Super To Go Noodles! @ Jan 11th 2007 4:46PM

The only thing they have to do is slash their prices, and people will flock back to them.

Also did you know, the Playstation line only makes up 10% of the total revenue for Sony, but make up over 60% of all its profit??

-visit my blog

Matt_M @ Jan 11th 2007 4:46PM

If Sony went down the tubes (not the internet kind), who would smaller crazy Japanese developers like Nippon Ichi go to? Nintendo, or Microsoft?

Derek @ Jan 11th 2007 4:49PM

The 20GB version has HDMI, which is the version I own. I prefer to be plugged in anyway, and $600 is an outrageous amount to pay for a game system (not that $500 is cheap).

Crackers McGee @ Jan 11th 2007 4:49PM

Is it just me, or are there more analyst reports than there used to be? And also, aren't about half of them contradicting each other anyway?

stapleboy @ Jan 11th 2007 4:49PM

I find Sony's recent failures as hilarious as anyone, but did not believe all the comments here reporting PS3s in stock. Then I saw two of the 60Gb model at a local Target, which happens to be all of three minutes from Ohio State's main campus.

Out of around 40,000 undergraduates, there aren't enough rich-kid impulse buys to keep Target constantly out of stock? That can't be good news for SCEA, especially considering none of the stores around Columbus can keep Nintendo hardware (or controllers, even) on the shelves for more than a day or so.

Josh V @ Jan 11th 2007 4:49PM

yep those are exactly the reasons why I havn't got one yet. #1 of course is the $600 price, i just dont have $600 to blow at the moment, not even $300. Actually thats really the main reason for all. It doesn't matter how much a stand alone blu-ray player is, if you dont got the $600 to spend, you dont got it. A blu-ray player being $1000 is a mute point when it comes to this.

Also the reason the Wii is doing so well is becuase the motion sensoring technology is seen as newer and more innovative then "better resolution quality" that everyone associates with the PS3. Yes the PS3 has motion sensoring in it to but thats not nearly advertised as much as the Wii so most people dont know the PS3 has this and at most stores you cant test this out cuase the controller is attached to the test station and is plugged in with the USB plug so the controller dont have to keep being recharged.

Many people also think the Wii has the same graphical advances as the 360 and PS3 (even though it dont) so with that technology and the cheaper price being associated with the Wii and not the PS3, of course many will go with the Wii since they think its a better deal and more advanced.

And the last thing that sales the Wii is it gets you up and moving around and you become more interactive with the games, which is a big selling point where the PS3 and 360 are just like any past console but with more advanced graphics. With the stress on the US people about health and weight, people are seeing this as a good way to get kids off their asses and moving about in a more healthy way... till the wii remote flys through a window.

Of course these arnt all the truths or full facts but most people who arnt your die hard gamer dont take the time took look up the full features of the systems so they do have to rely heavly on the tv commercials for the systems. The Wii ones are better in this case cuase they show you exactly what the Wii does and is for while the PS3 and 360 ones make you wander what the hell is happening. (crying baby anyone?)

Ok im done

ViperVisor @ Jan 11th 2007 4:49PM

With WarioWare: Smooth Moves out you can argure Wii has a better lineup of games but its not much to mention other than Zelda of course and the pack in packed full of fun Wii Sports.

That's why I didn't try to get 1 for X-Mas. So as soon as the PS3 gets more games Wii will be right there to equal the thunder.

So Wii has just as much or more going for it to sell systems through Holidays 2007.

Not sure what Sony can do. They and MS will get a boost over Nintendo when GTA 4 hits.

Uncle Jemima @ Jan 11th 2007 4:50PM

IT'S $600+ FREAKIN DOLLLARS!!! How about dropping the price. Their strategy is flawed 'cause nobody gives a crap about playing Blu-ray movies.

Josh V @ Jan 11th 2007 4:50PM

oh I forgot that with the PS3, to get the full features you really need a High def tv which is another $1000 to $2000 to put out.

doubtful @ Jan 11th 2007 4:50PM

Wow, an analyst who seems to know his head from a hole in the ground. I'm impressed.

btsavage @ Jan 11th 2007 4:50PM

Hey, unlike those who love Sony, there are actually good reasons to dislike them:

1) Pushing Cell processor into PS3 as a wider marketing scheme for their other products.

2) Pushing Blue-ray onto the consumers in an effort to win the format war (then telling us we need the space for true next-gen games).

3) Sloppy implementation of SIXAXIS wireless function.

4) Lackluster developer relations.

5) Suing for rumble feature instead of manning-up and paying for the use of the feature.

I could go on, but I'm already risking a ban for inciting a flame war!

logikil @ Jan 11th 2007 4:51PM

Hooray for sheppy post number 1 for the SDF. Joystiq apparently will get ragged on regardless of how they post a story. This doesn't really include much in the way of opinion other than stating that lots of available stock for what was supposed to be a hot product isn't so good. And yet you decided to translate it into a Sony bash. Welp sheppy, what would you post as good news to counter it? As one of my favorite comedians would say....Don't worry I'll wait.

Inspired @ Jan 11th 2007 4:51PM

@btsavage

Hate to break it to you, but Sony decided to include HDMI in both the 20GB and 60GB packages. The only difference is the 60GB comes in a chrome finish, has WiFi, and a media card reader. They announced the lower-end would have HDMI right before it launched in Japan, which is why they are losing so much on each console sold, more so on the lower-end.

Any other spins?

moominsean @ Jan 11th 2007 4:52PM

saw a giant pile of the more expensive ps3s at fry's here in phoenix...first time i've seen them in a store. they didn't have the cheaper version. they seem to only carry the more expensive 360s, also. makes sense i guess. most people i'm sure are like, oh a 360, i'll get it, with little or no research. why give them an option to spend less money. no wii's in stock, though.

moominsean @ Jan 11th 2007 4:54PM

oh yeah, and i hate analysts. talk about a useless profession. i don't watch news anymore because it's all about what people THINK about the news, not the news itself. don't care what you think about it, dude, just tell me what's happening.

hehehhehe @ Jan 11th 2007 4:55PM

Wow, this McNealy is a genius. "$600 for a game console appears too pricey for most people" Really?

Just looks like he's covering his ass after making the prediction about consoles shortages until June 2007.

Usedtabe @ Jan 11th 2007 4:57PM

Fhaze:

And? You could play 40+ player in online multiplayer on the original Xbox. It's amazing how you Sony fanboys tout this as a huge "feat" of the PS3 while the Xbox was doing it years ago. If 40 player MP is all that was going to make someone buy a system, they would've bought the original Xbox. Besides, it's up to the developers how many players are available in a game, not the network

Vidikron @ Jan 11th 2007 4:57PM

@12

The one other thing is the card reader.

@10

Is it Joystiq's fault that there is no good news to post? Looking at Joystiq's front page I see 3 or 4 news items that could be seen as negative toward the Wii. Sure, there are positive things about the Wii too, but it has positive news to post. Perhaps you would like to direct our attention to some positive news items about the PS3? Seriously, I really do like my PS3, but I can't find any fault with this news item. I too find the sudden availability of PS3 troubling considering I haven't heard any news of major production increases. How can it be seen as anything else when the Wii is still hard to find when the Wii is also in greater production?

Gilbert @ Jan 11th 2007 4:57PM

Actually, if you're a manufacturer, it means nothing. The items have already been purchased from you. However, if you're a retailer, then people can "buy your goods in exchange for monies that go in your pocket".

Tsalagi @ Jan 11th 2007 4:57PM

It's getting more and more like Fox News at Joystiq everyday.

Redscare @ Jan 11th 2007 4:57PM

The ones in the stores around me are a mix as well. Both 20 and 60g in stock no problem.

idioteraser @ Jan 11th 2007 5:00PM

Keep in mind why the HDMI was added. The 20 gb would have been a disaster since there was no way to add HDMI to it.

Heck they dropped the Japanese price because the gaming public over there were enraged at the price structure.

Josh V @ Jan 11th 2007 5:00PM

"1) Pushing Cell processor into PS3 as a wider marketing scheme for their other products.

2) Pushing Blue-ray onto the consumers in an effort to win the format war (then telling us we need the space for true next-gen games)."

These arn't bad things. All things work like this. Using the cell in more things will lower its price to make thus making things it use cheaper.

And as for blu-ray, dvds are being filled up just for movies alone and games. So this is true, even many game developers are saying this. It is fact that DVD in PS2 did help sell the dvd format and make it more popular but it still took several years for it to fully catch on when it came out. DVD didn't truly take off till 2001. Give the new format time to be accepted.

Josh V @ Jan 11th 2007 5:00PM

"29. Wow, this McNealy is a genius. "$600 for a game console appears too pricey for most people" Really?

Just looks like he's covering his ass after making the prediction about consoles shortages until June 2007."

$600 bucks IS to pricy for for most people. There are many saying $300 is to much. Its fact, weather you want to accept this or not.

You also got to think that most people want a HD tv more than a game console. If you've been paying attention, HD tvs are just now starting to take off in sales but still not as fast as most would life becuase of the prices of them. So they are saving their money for a HD tv rather than a game console.

Todd @ Jan 11th 2007 5:01PM

Remember how Sony uses shipped versus sold? These are just those units that were shipped at the last minute so Sony could stand on their soapbox and shout to the world that they shipped over a million PS3's in the US alone. To bad those numbers don't represent sold numbers. I think we can determine that their is a lot less than a million PS3 owners in the US and until stores sell those in stock right now their won't be for some time.

Scott @ Jan 11th 2007 5:02PM

@Fhaze

Any Multiplayer battles over 10 v 10(some say 8 on 8) are a complete clusterfuck of unmanagable chaos. 40 vs 40 has been done by Counter-Strike on the PC and Black Hawk Down on the Xbox(original, not 360) had 40 v 40 and up.

Vidikron @ Jan 11th 2007 5:04PM

@32

That's not true. If they aren't moved out of the retail chain then they won't order anymore stock. It most certainly matters to the manufacturer.

Josh V @ Jan 11th 2007 5:04PM

38. Remember how Sony uses shipped versus sold? These are just those units that were shipped at the last minute so Sony could stand on their soapbox and shout to the world that they shipped over a million PS3's in the US alone. To bad those numbers don't represent sold numbers. I think we can determine that their is a lot less than a million PS3 owners in the US and until stores sell those in stock right now their won't be for some time.

This is how all manufactors do it, they sell their product to stores. Thats where all Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Samsung and so on get their numbers, but you have to look else where to get the actually numbers of things sold to households. So Really 200 million PS2 are the number sold to stores, not true number in households supposably, same with X-box and so on.

Mark @ Jan 11th 2007 5:09PM

75% of people that walk into my EB games that i work at, have no idea what Blu ray is when they ask about PS3.

Lesbian Ham @ Jan 11th 2007 5:09PM

#14 - Super To Go Noodles.

I have got to say, that is in fact the shittest blog I've seen in my life. I'm sorry, but who the fuck do you think is going to be bothered to read that?
Again, I'm sorry, but it's just that so many people think they're onto something with their whole "analysing everything" blogs. Like they see something about the world that no-one else does. Pffft

techyted @ Jan 11th 2007 5:14PM

First I have to say, I am not a Sony(gaming) fanboy, I dislike the original PS1(let the hate mail commence), but I really like the PS3, I have to agree that the games aren't there yet, but God of War(a bargain at $20) looks awesome, and is lots of fun. Blu-ray movies look amazing. Finally, I just have to say that all three systems have something to give.

Fhaze @ Jan 11th 2007 5:14PM

#30

The sarcastic part of my comment was, well the entire thing. The average consumer could possibly care less how many people he or she can play against in a FPS.

Grindstone @ Jan 11th 2007 5:15PM

It's the $600 price point, pure and simple. Look at it this way; $600 may have been attainable before Xmas, but now that we are in the 'lean' consumer months, were we spend our money paying back credit debt or building up our saving again. These next few months may be very hard for Sony as people try and justify paying $600 on a console -- not including extra controlers, games, etc.

Basically, as we all should admit, it is the price point. It cannot be sustained on a monthly basis nor does it merit that price (as consumers are not flocking in to purchase them currently).

Remember, this is coming from a company that stated they could sell 5 million units without having a game for said console...

chasmodai @ Jan 11th 2007 5:17PM

i completely second the idea that your blog sucks ass. what is it supposed to be about? just reading the headings almost made gave me a knee-jerk reaction of hitting the power button on my monitor just to get it away from my eyes as quickly as possible.

MosquitoControl @ Jan 11th 2007 5:18PM

"That's not true. If they aren't moved out of the retail chain then they won't order anymore stock. It most certainly matters to the manufacturer."

Yup.

"These arn't bad things. All things work like this. Using the cell in more things will lower its price to make thus making things it use cheaper."

Yes, all things work like this. But often they don't begin at the console level. If the Cell and Blu-Ray first appeared elsewhere until the price became reasonable then found their way into the Playstation you'd be right.
But they began in the Playstation.
This was a mistake, as they're too costly for the gaming demographic. These are people used to spending between $199 and $249 for products. The 360 came out and went almost twice that. The PS3 went for almost three times it.

Cutting-edge technology does not belong in home consoles. Period. It needs to be dialed back a tiny bit.

the real Steve @ Jan 11th 2007 5:18PM

Tsalagi, that is a good thing. There are too many hippy liberal "news" stations that don't even report anything. They just sit around and bitch about everything.

And on to the article.
I usually don't agree when people make fun of analysts who are supposed to know things. But comon, this jackoff that thought the ps3 would sell out into summer is JUST figuring out something that almost everyone else has known since almost a year ago? Come on. I could do this guy's job. No shit a $600 piece of electronic equipment is not going to sell when there are cheaper solutions that in some ways are better.