Look out, Reggie and Pete! If Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president David Reeves keeps it up he's going to take the lead as our favorite executive. First
there was the fire sale incident, which you may have heard something about. Now there's this interview with Dagbladet TV. When asked why there's no 80 GB PS3 in Europe (at about 3:40 in), he actually responds: "You know, the difference between 60 and the 80 gigabyte is very small. We just feel that going up 20 gigabyte is not worth it. If you're going to double it, it's worth it. So maybe you'll see something a little bit later, but 60 and 80? Really not much difference."
Do you feel that? That tingling sensation is what it feels like when an executive tells you the truth. Forget president of SCEE, we're ready to elect him president
of video games. (P.S. Sorry about the small video size, hit the link for a bigger version.)
{ Jul 16th 2007 at 9:40PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ian Von Porter @ Jul 16th 2007 9:47PM
From a marketing stand point:
"2 FREE GAMES and 2 CONTROLLERS!!!!"... sells more consoles than
"EXTRA 20gb!!!" ... so, he's right.
Jitty @ Jul 16th 2007 10:28PM
Correction:
"2 FREE GAMES and 2 CONTROLLERS!!!!"
"EXTRA 20gb and 1 free game"
Why do you say "2 controllers" you might as well say 1 free controller. Plus why do you people keep forgetting that the 80GB comes with 1 free game as well...
alexy @ Jul 16th 2007 10:39PM
Sooooooooooo....He's basicly saying the new 80g version isn't worth the extra money.......but they're discontining the 60g...Hrmm...so now they want us to think 60g is better so they can get rid of it from store shelves and bombard us with the more costly 80g......SHANNANIGANS!!!! I DECLARE SHANNANIGANS!!!!
WoW they must be desprate on selling those 60gs.....
Jitty @ Jul 16th 2007 10:50PM
alexy:
I'm pretty sure they're only discontinuing the 60GB version and selling the new 80GB in the NTSC region. (North America) And this guy is talking on the behalf of Europe. So I think Reeves is just trying to promote his new starter pack... Nothing more...
Phillip Black @ Jul 16th 2007 11:26PM
How is it free you have to pay 599 or 499 for the thing
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jul 17th 2007 1:56AM
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=sony_bullshit
ssuk @ Jul 17th 2007 8:49AM
Going up 20GB isn't worth it... But we're still going to charge you all $850 for our console. Lalala~
JonnyBoy2U @ Jul 16th 2007 9:47PM
I'm ALMOST speechless....
So is this idiot really trying to do damage control? Seems like it would only anger those who want a ps3 and might not be able to get the 60G one before they run out....
But hey perhaps this is part of his elaborate sales strategy. Create the illusion that the 60G model is the "IT" model and therefore sell them as quick as possible.
Psaakyrn @ Jul 16th 2007 9:58PM
You forgot that the 80GB model is not available in Europe... which means that since they're apparently stopped production of said model, their stocks has to go mainly to Europe.
So, in conclusion America may mave less time than expected before the 60G versions are sold out.
JonnyBoy2U @ Jul 16th 2007 10:11PM
Either hes really naive and actually being an honest person which for sony would be rare...quite possibly the first I've encountered that isn't full of shit.
OR hes doing some type of strategy or peacemaking so that launch buyers won't feel angry...etc.
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jul 16th 2007 9:48PM
Sony & Honesty? This guy has to stay!
Rob Accomando @ Jul 16th 2007 9:48PM
especially when you can add your own hard drive
Negativecool @ Jul 16th 2007 10:08PM
Trump:
"You're FIRED!"
Psaakyrn @ Jul 16th 2007 10:11PM
It's not really his fault that they refused to give Europe their 80GB and the $100 price drop on the 60GB. If the rest of Sony wants a war, they'll get a war.
WhackMushroom @ Jul 16th 2007 10:24PM
he is just setting up the 60 price = 80 price ;)
Martez @ Jul 16th 2007 10:11PM
Did he just hint at a 120gb PS3? Cripes...
Psaakyrn @ Jul 16th 2007 10:13PM
Peacemaking is his job, so I'd say the 2nd... that and trying to convince (the rest of) Sony to stop treating the SCEE division as fools.
kornchild2002 @ Jul 16th 2007 10:14PM
I think he is right. That is why I purchased my 60GB PS3 today. I would rather make the blu-ray 5-disc promotion (which comes out to a $125 value) and have a secure backwards compatible console than an extra 20GB of space on the hard drive. In all seriousness, you don't need 80GB unless you want to store every demo, HD video, and every one of your CDs at 192kbps AAC/mp3/atrac3 or higher.
faceless coward @ Jul 16th 2007 10:18PM
Not to mention that upgrading the hard drive yourself to one with much greater capacity is a helluvalot cheaper.
faceless coward @ Jul 16th 2007 10:17PM
Yeah, but at the same time, he's saying to Americans that all we're getting is an insignificant upgrade after the 60GB units run out. And I'd agree with that, but it doesn't seem like the type of message you want someone from your company to be sending.
Ritz @ Jul 16th 2007 10:17PM
You know, I ended up getting the PS3 2 days after the 60GB went on sale. Both the PS3 and the Elite are the same cost here in Canada, now at $549.00. Microsoft lost the price advantage. It was either the Elite or a PS3 to compliment my Wii. And well, $300 extra for WiFi and high-def movie playback on the 360 looked pretty lame.
Dave @ Jul 16th 2007 10:20PM
Well, normally I would agree that 20GB is not worth it--but if your drive is only 60GB, another 20GB makes for a 33% increase in data storage ability. That's kind of significant.
Of course, a lot of people will probably just replace the drive with something much bigger anyway. I would actually prefer if they had a bundle with NO drive and let me get my own separately.
NekoMode @ Jul 17th 2007 11:12AM
I will take the 20% increase in backward compatability with my EE chip over the 30% increase in HD capacity with the new model.
You can install a larger HD for up to 100% increase in capacity but there is nothing you can do to get back to 100% backward compataiblity after you get the new model.
Psaakyrn @ Jul 16th 2007 10:21PM
Except that SCEE and SCEA/SCEJ are different departments, and SCEE (along with the European divisions of other game companies) tends to get the low end of the stick. Also, he may be trying to wake people up so they can actually get a good marketing plan other than the "improved" ps3. After all, he's only speaking the truth, which doesn't hurt more than it already does.
Vidikron @ Jul 16th 2007 10:22PM
Actually, I think this guy is likely wrong. I still think Sony has made this move because they can now get 80 GB drives as cheaper or cheaper than 60 GB drives. So, if that's the case, then "not worth it" is simply dead wrong.
Psaakyrn @ Jul 16th 2007 10:25PM
If you think that 80 GB drives are cheaper than 60GB drives....
Vidikron @ Jul 16th 2007 10:28PM
@Psaakyrn
What's so hard to understand? It all depends on platter sizes and such. It could be that their supplier(s) has decided to quit making 60 GBs drives. Who knows? There's lots of reasons it could now be cheaper to go with 80 GB drives. You clearly have zero understanding of mass production.
Matt B @ Jul 16th 2007 10:39PM
I agree. Manufactures only make what they have orders to make and go up from there. If Sony ordered 4 or even 5M 60GB drives, then they are almost out. 80GB is next in line. I know you will see 80GB PS3's @ $499 with a pack in game after the 60's are sold through..
I hear nonsense of a 40GB for $399 version. I could be true but why would Sony make their high def player sell the same as a 360?
Psaakyrn @ Jul 16th 2007 10:42PM
1) I presume that Sony produces their own hard drives, since they're producers of electronic hardware to begin with.
2) Any technique they use to produce 80GB drives cheaper, could have been used to produce 60GB drives cheaper instead. Them making 80GB drives cheaper then, is their decision, and an indirect decision to make 60GB drives more expensive (since it also means that they redirect manufacturing to 80GB drives)
3) Do note that instead of 80GB drives of the same cost then, we could be having 60GB drives at a cheaper cost. (it's already true to an extent that 80GB drives are about that of 60GB drives if they use the same price point, but my point is that they could've instead make cheaper 60GBdrives for cheaper PS3s, which is what people really want.)
cc123 @ Jul 16th 2007 10:53PM
@Psaakyrn
You presume wrong.
The 60GB Hd's in PS3s are made by Seagate.
Psaakyrn @ Jul 16th 2007 11:01PM
Paint me surprised then. I'd thought that with their technology knowhow they would be producing their own hard drives for lower costs. Ah well, I admit defeat in this then. Still, considering the size order, an exception should be possible. I still stand by my statement that people would rather have a cheaper 60GB than a more expensive 80GB (or even, a bargin 0GB).
Evan @ Jul 17th 2007 12:01AM
@Psaakyrn
Sony makes almost nothing in the PS3:
GPU: nVidea
CPU: IBM
I/O Bridge Controller: Toshiba
PS2 hardware (phased out): Toshiba
RAM: Samsung
Hard Drive: Seagate
The only major component Sony makes themselves is the BluRay drive!
See http://www.isuppli.com/news/default.asp?id=6919
Psaakyrn @ Jul 17th 2007 1:31AM
to Evan:
Well, you're kinda 1 hour late, I already admitted my mistake. That cetainly does explain why the PS3 is costing so much though. Maybe if they start producing components inhouse, they'll get cheaper?
hegemonyhog @ Jul 17th 2007 7:08AM
Psaakyn: check out any electronics store. Almost every cheap laptop you see will have an 80GB drive. It's cheaper to buy what Seagate's already producing en masse.
And there's a reason that Sony buys other companies' components for the system: they've never produced that stuff natively, and it would cost a lot more for them to start producing specialty items for their for their products than buying wholesale stuff from other companies that specialize in it.
Sony producing everything in the PS3 inhouse would increase the cost hundreds of dollars.
Jitty @ Jul 16th 2007 10:36PM
Why do so many jump on this as "honesty". Some sony guys might honestly believe that 20GB extra and 1 free game is a great value for the same price as what the 60GB use to be and is a good option for someone who doesn't mind spending a bit more for a bit more. 3 million people didn't mind spending $600 over the $500. Even though the 60GB had features that cost much less than $100 to implement. Just because you guys don't agree with it or you think the guys "full of shit" does mean the guys not being honest. Seriously...
Jitty @ Jul 16th 2007 10:43PM
edit: "doesn't" mean the guys not being honest.
Jason @ Jul 16th 2007 10:45PM
European early adopters: How does it feel seeing the new bundle released including 2 games and 2 controllers for the same price you paid 4 months ago? Was it a privilege to serve Sony, you poor suckers...
Byakuya769 @ Jul 17th 2007 1:18AM
wow, half the people posting comments didn't realize that this guy is talking from the perspective as an EUROPEAN exec. Among those, most failed to realize that the 80gb will fall down to $499 over in the US soon after the 60gb stock is gone. Finally, many failed to grasp that to the average person who sells of their games as soon as their done with them so that they can get new games, 20gb may be a better draw than near 100% backwards compatibility. Sorry, but not everyone is an "uber leet gamer" that keeps every game they've ever owned... let's be real here. Finally, this article is on old news, and it seems to be a favorite exec. for joystiq just means bashing whatever perceived strategy Sony has at the time (Moore, Reggie, "now" Reeves).. interesting.
Psaakyrn @ Jul 17th 2007 1:31AM
to Byakuya769:
Just a correction: there is NO official word that the 80GB model will "down to $499 over in the US soon after the 60gb stock is gone".
Curmeo @ Jul 16th 2007 11:02PM
David Reeses is freakin retarded. He's bad news for Sony PR and he's not doing much for us since everyone knows the 80GB PS3 is a ripoff/not worth it, even if you love MotorStorm and the extra 20GB, which i highly doubt.
people the only 2 SKUs worth our money is the 60GB PS3 at $499 and the 360 Premium at $399.
once the 60GB PS3 is sold out, Sony will replace it ASAP with the 80GB model at the same $499. and if the latest rumors are true, which im certain they are, we'll be getting a second SKU this holiday season, possibly even September: 40GB PS3 at $399 will which have built-in wifi/multi-card reader.
Rod Munch @ Jul 16th 2007 11:13PM
"David Reeses is freakin retarded. He's bad news for Sony PR", how is that different to any of the other Sony execs?
cc123 @ Jul 16th 2007 11:35PM
@Rod Munch
Because as far as I can tell Reeves is the only one that seems to be competing against his own company.
JonnyBoy2U @ Jul 17th 2007 12:12AM
Don't they say the truth is generally preferred over lies?
Beyond hilarious.
cc123 @ Jul 17th 2007 12:24AM
@JonnyBoy2U
There is a difference between telling the truth and being an incompetent clueless asshole that makes his own company look bad.
Of course you JonnyBoy have no concept of what makes someone a clueless asshole since most of your posts on this site keep getting voted down and fade away.
sheppy @ Jul 17th 2007 12:25AM
I don't know. Didn't Nintendo state the reason for Mario Party 8's recall in UK was due to improper disc burns and NOT the use of the term "spastic" which will be edited out of all the new burns?
horngreen @ Jul 17th 2007 12:26AM
THIS JUST IN!
The rest of the world saying "PS3 just not worth it!"
Curmeo @ Jul 17th 2007 12:46AM
THIS JUST IN!
insecure haters trying to convince the rest of the world PS3 aint worth it. fact is PS3 and Blu-ray are performing well. and for those 3.6 million plus gamers who bought the system, its worth it.
Consolcwby @ Jul 17th 2007 12:43AM
Well, Kaz (of 'Ridge Racer' fame) said that he wanted SCEA, SCEE, and SCEJ to be run by their respective presidents and let Sony Entertainment become more "de-centralized". So, this is what we get: Big mouths, denials - confirmations - more denials, spin/counter-spin, rumors of this, rumors of that, etc. Now, say what you want about Kah-Ray-Zee Ken, but you gotta admit - he never would have allowed it to get THIS out of hand. I mean, what does the president of Sony Europe know that the president of Sony America doesn't?... I mean, besides constantly pissing off European gamers?
He seems forthright, BUT, I do think he talks out of both sides of his ass. =o (He is so pandering to the press... it isn't even funny. o= )
Cuja @ Jul 17th 2007 1:05AM
I'm sure Sony likes to rotate their stock. Rush out and buy one, then snibble that Sony fuck you over and you should of waited. 4x BRD alone would be worth the wait. Or Sixaxis rumble. Or a 120 GB HDD.
Curmeo @ Jul 17th 2007 1:31AM
Blu-ray's speed is just a hair slower than DVD. games that let you install the cache, which takes 2 to 3 mins, actually improve load times (Oblivion).
SIXAXIS rumble would rock, especially since it will be next-gen rumble, not last gen rumble like in the 360 controller, or cellphone-esque rumble like in the Wii Remote.
120 gigs is too excessive i think. even 80 gigs. 20 to 60 gigs is a good sweet spot.
40GB PS3 at $400 will rock. just hope the rumor comes true.