Is the PS3 above the average consumer's 'price ceiling'?

I own all three consoles. Sony has to start producing games on this console. I bought it two weeks ago and it has been collecting dust since I bought BioShock and Stranlehold for my 360. I rented Motostorm, Madden 08, and GRAW 2. None of those games made me think it is superior to my 360.

I don't think $399 will cut it at this point. People standing back and looking at the cheaper, comparitively powered 360 with the large library of high quality titles vs. the barren software wasteland that is the PS3's domain have a pretty easy choice.

"Oh, but it plays blu-ray movies!" cries the SDF. Who cares? I'll tell you who, the people who have already bought one because it was the cheapest player. Early adopters have adopted, now its just a waiting game til prices for hardware come way down. Average Joe doesn't give two shakes at the urinal about HD-DVD or Blu-ray yet. Think how long it took DVD to catch on over VHS when DVD was a clearly superior technology. The step from DVD to (either) isn't as big of a step forward and in several aspects is a step back (more DRM crap that will cause headaches for legit consumers and be quickly circumvented by pirates, hooray!).

If it was made by Apple everybody would want it no matter the cost.

I wouldn't take a PS3 for free, so it can get as cheap as it wants, but i ain't wasting the money.

People will spend $600 on an Iphone and then complain about the price of a PS3??? This is an expensive piece of hardware and if you can't afford $499 then I doubt you can afford games at $60 a pop. If you think it is too expensive buy a wii, something many other people have done. I bought a wii and to be honest the novelty has worn off, I wish the wii gave the option of swinging your arms around or pressing a button on its games.

I think it's been established that Sony needs to lower the price....

Welcome to the good life.

Lowering the price this holiday will really kill Sony... M$ will match or do better in price, and Big N might even do a small price drop.

On top of that is the games coming for the 360 that I dont have to mention this holiday... The nail in the coffin. Sony set the PS3 to do what the Ps2 did but failed. Just look at their tactics, they back pedaling, juggling price with HD space every month.. LOL!

Face it, Blu-Ray is a bust, and it serves ya'll PS3 owners right for being brainless.

Well even if the price is a bit high, the PlayStation 3 as a whole worths every penny.

I bought mine like 4 weeks ago and I could not be more happy.

Wii and PS3 have a bad software collection compared to the 360. Also, bad frame rates for PS3 etc. Why does the PS3 look like a Mothership of crap?

Oh and also I really love the Wii, I am so looking for an excuse to buy one but Zelda never did it for me. I just keep thinking... "Is Wii Sports enough?"

I kind of think the Wii is overpriced for what it is. Make is £100 like they said before it's launch. I'd buy two for a joke.

Hopefully that did it.

the PS3 price is much too high considering buying all the other equipment to go along with it, I won't argue that it's a quite useful piece of technology though. Blu-ray DVD player, mass storage unit, internet, games, online, etc.

FREE PSP!!! http://www.ezyrewards.com/?id=194760

Simple economics, everyone has his own reserve price for an item. Early adopters think it's worth, say, $1000 and would buy it at $600 and call it a steal. But that's not how most consumers view the product.

The PS3 has been unable to create a value proposition for many consumers, so they don't feel like it's worth the money and won't make the purchase. Sony's losing because
1) It has failed to convince the consumer the product is worth the investment
2) It has confused the value proposition by mixing up advertising messages
3) It lost a large market to the 360, which is now seen as a strong substitute and actually better in many situations

I disagree that $399 is a cap. It's simply more apparent that it is more difficult to create a valuable product above $400. A product could be priced at $299 and tank just as bad if consumers don't think the product is worth the sales price.

If the PS3 skipped BluRay and sold at $399 initially, I have no doubt that it would be the current market leader already.

The PS2 didn't have any good games when it launched at $299. The PS3 didn't have any good games when it launched at $599. Seem price is a problem along with the fact that the PS3 still has no good games. They are toys people and your average consumer won't pay that much for an electronic toy. I don't think the average person knows the PS3 has no good games so what's keeping them from buying it? Price.

yup I see my fellow NDFers have taken care of the sitation good job onward to the next article I say!!!!!!!!!! LOL

I would have to agree.. Vidguy

I was thinking of getting a 60gb PS3 for $499. But that's still a bit high. I can get an HDTV for that price, so I would end up buying that to enjoy my 360 even more before I bought a PS3. Even at $499, it's too much to pay without having 5 or more great titles... It was a bad move for Sony to stop producing the 60gb... I would've bought one at $400.

Also, I don't like their whole attitude towards the drop of the 60gb. They act like "Well, our competition is selling 20gb for $100, we can sell 20gb for $40"

So, for right now, all I can say is "meh".

I don't believe the high price point is the key factor keeping the PS3 in the cellar. It is *A* factor, just not a top one.

What I'd call main factors;

1. Bad press. Nothing outside of Sony's own PR group and rabid fanboy base says anything good about the machine. Sony received more hassle over its units frying in display units than Microsoft has over the legitimate RRoD issue. Key heavy hitter games are jumping ship, going multiplatform (see GTA4), being released shortly after on the competition with superior features (Virtua Fighter 5), show inferior visuals in cross-platform games or are simply bombing (Lair). Consumers are not apt to listening to the internal marketing of any company when it comes to buying decisions, they go with non-affiliated opinions, the bulk of which are negative.

2. Sony hasn't finalized their hardware specs yet.

This poses multiple problems for the PS3's acceptance. First, consumers see Sony constantly adding more to the PS3 and shuffling prices within a short time period. Sony is attempting to entice consumers to buy the product. This in essence creates a reward for NOT buying a PS3. The longer we wait, the more Sony will try to give us and we'll get it for less.

Second, the support for discontinued models is called into question. Even though Sony may claim they'll continue to support older PS3 models that have the PS2 chip in them, we have to, by default, assume they won't. What are the chances the 20 GB or 60 GB models will still be supported when/if the non-PS2 chip models dwarf their population? I'd personally say it is low. Sony has little to lose in slighting that population, mainly becuase they know full well that population is made up of the rabid fans that will gladly dispose of their perfectly good 20 or 60 GB model just to buy one that is getting continual support (and they'll likely be happy about it). Most consumers don't want to buy something just to find out the product was tweaked and they'll no longer be getting the goodies the people who bought the one later (cheaper and with more features) get.

Also, constantly adjusting specs displays a vibe that the product is going to be no more pretty soon. While it may not be going through their head in that specific sentence, consumers do pick up on this and are afriad the product will simply no longer be sold or supported by the manufacturer. This means, the consumer sees all these constant spec fluxes and thinks, "If I buy this thing, I may not be able to get to play games on it because it just isn't going to sell."

3. Sony isn't marketing the PS3 consistently. One week, the PS3 is a cheap BluRay player and we hear nothing about the game capabilities. The next week, it is both. The week after, we only hear about the games. Consumers have no idea what this thing is supposed to do, and as such, don't want to buy somthing they have no idea what its purpose is.

4. Sony is trying to play this off as an investment. Let me clue everyone in on this, a PS3 (360, Wii, PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, etc, etc, etc) is not an investment, perdiod. End of story. We do not make money buying a PS3. A PS3 is a periodic expense. Sony thinks we are stupid by calling it an investment and consumers pick up on that attitude. If they think we're stupid, we'll show them by not buying their stuff. Sony needs to respect the consumer base before they'll be willing to buy the product.

The price just takes the above issues and magnifies them into a greater risk to the buyer. If the above weren't issues, the $500-$600 price point wouldn't have been as bad.

The good thing is, no matter what your preference is in gaming, there will always be price drops. I'll get a 360 eventually(when the hardware issues are resolved) and even maybe a wii for the kids(when it drops to $100, the only reason I say that is the PS3/360 that are selling at a loss has more value to me than a console that profits $75 at the register. I'm not overpaying for hardware when software is involved. It's a rip off.)
Bottom line is that if you are patient, you will pay less eventually.

I don't really think the PS3's price is, was, or will ever be the problem. Think about it for a second. No one minds paying 4,5, and 600$ for Ipods, Iphones, and higher prices for other Apple products which can be equally matched in terms of software and hardware capabilities from Apple's competitors. Many people are fans of Apple, enjoy there products, and the content they provide with it. Now with the PS3, Wii, and 360 it's the same ordeal. You pay because you like there products and the content.

The thing is right now, both Nintendo and M$ are pretty successful based on the content that they're distributing to their fans. Sony is a little slow out of the gate with their content, not to mention that Sony has gotten a pretty bad rep since the PS3/Blu-Ray fiasco began. Now I'm not defending Sony, but let's admit it, it's not even a year into the PS3's life-cycle and as I remember the 360 got a pretty bad rep for many of the same things. Not to mention M$ is still getting heat(as they should) for something they should've taken care of a long time ago...that being the 360's terrible, unreliable hardware. The Wii is doing many things right and many things wrong at the same time yet because of how they're marketing it, it's still successful. I refuse to believe that price is the issue this time, though I'm very guilty of saying so myself before the last 2 of the new gen systems became available. Let's be honest, if the Wii cost $300 it still would be selling at about the same rate. A lot of people didn't like the fact of a $400 360 in 2005, but as more content became available, more people flocked to it. Sony's in the same boat. Instead of worrying about a new $400 PS3 or a $600 PS3, Sony should really be focusing on providing more content. Bringing easier developmental tools to 3rd parties so they can make better games should be a top priority as well. Price is not the issue and never was.

You couldn't pay me any amount of money to have that piece of shit in my living room.

And wow...lol at the arrogance. So because I hate the ps3 I must be living in a trailer huh.

Now I see why sony's ads are so horrible. They're obviously aiming at the heartless and holier than thou souls of the sony faithful.

Really son get over yourself. Just cuz someone says they don't want to buy the ps3 because of its price doesn't mean that they're poor or live in a trailer.

Sheesh I'm not living in Beverly Hills but I'm pretty well set and comfortable with my standard of life and quality of living.

Once again you couldn't pay me any amount of money to have that crap in my living room.

Huh, I wonder if his analysis includes the iphone.

This is amazing, months after the ps3 has been released and it still draws this kind of attention?.....I said this before, but for a console that everyone doesn't care for, thanks sony sucks, and will always be in third place still gets alot of attention

Funny, you think the only ones ranting about the ps3 at this point would be the ps3 fanboys and owners, and no I don't believe half the people who claim to own the ps3 actually do own one....why?...well no one is going to spend that kind of money on anything without being extremely optimistic about it...

so buying a ps3 and then bitching about it "two weeks" later is just stupid...think about it, its commonly known or thought that the ps3 is failing, so to buy one, you will have to be really optimistic about it to and another thing that bugs me are the ones who claim to own both 360 and ps3 but will only talk about the 360 games, and everything else on the ps3 is a rental..really?..you bought this expensive thing to just rent stuff?....stop bitching and just sell the damn thing if you think its worthless...but you can't sell what you don't have


and the price of the ps3, well it depends on your level of comfort spending really....but please I am so tired of the ones who claim they could afford one seven times over but still think its too expensive...really?...let me get this straight you can afford one with no problems but still you are going to bitch about the price?..if I had a thousand dollars and wanted to buy a car but it cost $900 I might be hesitate to buy it seeing as how it going to cut into 90% percent of my money and I still have bills to pay at home like rent....so yes you can afford a ps3 but really actually "affording" it might be whole another matter...if you are one of the ones screaming "I won't buy a ps3 untill its 100 dollars" than you can't afford it (and for the record Sony does need to lower the ps3 price)


is the ps3 an investment?..I like to think so seeing as how I am investing in something like FUN, yeah its not as good a money but whetever...what are the investment rewards?..Home,warhawk, free online ,God Of War 3, Heavenly Sword (Castlevenia LOI didn't get good scores but I loved it and still own it so I don't buy base what on what others think) White Knight Story, ZOE 3, Heavy Rain, Ratchet and Clank 5,Final Fantasy XIII,Tekken 6, MGS4,The Getaway, etc..oh I am sorry I forget the ps3 has no games and it "sucks"

£350 - I seriously doubt it. seriously.

£300 - Still on the fence, but for all it does it's not too extortionate.

£250 - Not bad at all. Maybe.

£200 - Yeah.

£150 - Im gona get one next week!

I a gamer. I loved my PS2. Even when the second one I bought broke down on me I wanted to get another one but a Wii instead. But like most adults I am reasonable and as much as I would love to get a PS3 it ain't gonna happen until the prices drops! I had a hard time forking over $250 for my Wii let alone $499 for a PS3. It's just not practical for even the hardcore gamers. Sony just priced it self right out of most ppls range.

I a gamer. I loved my PS2. Even when the second one I bought broke down on me I wanted to get another one but a Wii instead. But like most adults I am reasonable and as much as I would love to get a PS3 it ain't gonna happen until the prices drops! I had a hard time forking over $250 for my Wii let alone $499 for a PS3. It's just not practical for even the hardcore gamers. Sony just priced it self right out of most ppls range.

Price is definitely important, but I think the growth of HDTV is an important factor. Sony just has a poor strategy for the PS3. They're pushing Bluray as the reason to buy a PS3 and the market just isn't there.
I know many people that have the money to get an HDTV, but probably will not until their tube set breaks or they are forced to. It's just not a priority for them considering only a few HD channels exist. So why would the average consumer buy a PS3, if they don't have an HDTV yet, they can get the same or better games on a less expensive system, and the price is high? The PS3 is a few years ahead of it's time and Sony has done a poor job at analyzing the market for both Bluray player and gaming system consumers.