Blockbuster selling high-end PS3 bundles

by David Hinkle on Jun 27th 2009 5:00PM

We were sent a tip regarding a new PS3 bundle that Blockbuster was supposedly selling, so we headed on down to our local chain to snoop around. What we found was the above image showing off a PS3 bundle consisting of a 40gb console, Transformers: The Game, Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray, PS3 remote, HDMI cable, and a 12-week rental card (which allows you to rent one movie each week), all for $359.99. What makes this such an odd story, however, is that this bundle isn't offered at every Blockbuster store.

We called another nearby chain and quizzed an employee on his store's bundle. He said that particular store offered a 80gb console, with Transformers: The Game, Click Blu-ray, PS3 remote, HMDI cable, and a 12-week rental card, all for $499.99. So, it would seem that each store has a bit of leeway with its bundle package. If you're in the market for a PS3 and thinking Blockbuster, give them a call before you head down. Both stores we talked to were all sold out.

Tags: blockbuster, bundle, spider-man, transformers, transformers-the-game

Reader Comments (58)

they could've chose a better game and a better movie.

emphasis on better game.

Here's a puzzler: would you rather have Transformers the game and Spider-Man 3 the movie, or Transformers the movie and Spider-Man 3 the game? I actually think Spider-Man 3 (the movie) is unfairly maligned, whereas Transformers (the movie) really is awful, so I'd go with the former. (I assume the games are equally terrible, though TF seems to have a lot worse reviews on Amazon.)

I don't understand. Sometimes it feels like they're trying to bundle the worst games possible.

They have to get rid of the games and movies that won't sell somehow...

@justinslot

i actually liked transformers. all movie games suck so they should've just bundled another game like valkyria chronicles.

as good valkyria chronicles is, thats a horrible game to bundle since its published/developed by sega. also that game appeals to such a small audience while transformers hits the casual market and movie lovers (thus blockbuster).

MGS4 + Uncharted PS3 bundle sounds like a bestseller to me.

I usually ask if I can change the bundled game and pay the difference.
It usually works.

When they think about it they stand to make more money, what company wouldn't take that offer?

This bundle has been around for well over a year. This is not news.

@Spartan
The movie and game are sealed in the box, I don't see your suggestion working out in this scenario.

As somebody mentioned this is old news, I bought one of these quite some time ago. Only downside is that it doesn't include a dual shock controller because of the vintage of the boxed PS3 included in the bundle. However the inclusion of a HDMI cable, official sony remote, and a free game and movie for $40 under what the core system was going for at the time wasn't bad. Storage drive size isn't a big deal as swap the drive with one of the SATA laptop drives I have sitting around.

Looks like the 40GB bundle is just trying to get rid of the old 40 GB.

And the 80BG one is the new standard.

it's a really old offer from a year ago

this bundle is over a year old.. i've seen that same sign last summer.. wow

Agreed. Old news is old.

Yeah, this was a new bundle when that game and movie were new.

Transformers: The Game = /Picard_Facepalm.

It ain't high end till its got the chrome disc drive, PS2 backwards compatibility, 4 USB ports, and SACD support the old units had. These things are castrated, castrated I say! But we just have to move on.....

That is a terrible bundle. Transformers is a terrible game that you can get for $10, Spiderman 3 is a terrible movie that you can get for $5, though neither are worth paying even that much. The HDMI cable would cost you about $4. The remote and the rental card are the best part of the deal, which is just sad. Bundles are only worthwhile if you get good stuff with it.

I dont know where you can get any Blu-rays for $5....
If you know please let me know.

SaMav

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000UR9T7I/ref=sr_1_olp_6?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1246139424&sr=8-6

Well, it's more like $10 new. But you have a point.

Spidey 3 seems like a perfect way to show off that they cheaped out on the PS3 logo's font.

Well done, Sony.

Sony said they used the Spidey font cos they liked it, even licensed it out.
So your complaint is kinda invalid.

Sony owns the movie license, and anything that falls under it, including the font,
quit yer bitchin'

They should have included F-Zero: Maximum Velocity if they really wanted to make a statement.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Fzmvpackshot_us.jpg

And how is it cheap?
Do you expect them to buy an expensive font?

Transformers: The Game automatically refutes the "high-end" portion here.

This bundle has been at my blockbuster for a year now...

The 40GB seems to be a better deal because it's a $140 price difference for the extra 40GB and a different movie.

Blockbuster needs to go out of business already.

Yeah really. Who physically rents things anymore? All my movies are in the form of digital distribution.

[AKA: pirated]

would have been better if they had a better game included.

Yeah, with the exception of the price, that offer is old. I got my PS3 from blockbuster one year ago in July and opted for the 40gb instead of that bundle (which was an 80gb at the time, which is weird because they're offering a discontinued model now) just because of the game and movie that was offered.

Judging from the game and movie I'd say that's from 2007.

I understand that Sony owns the rights to the font. I understand that it was completely their choice to use it for both Spiderman 3 AND the PS3.

I was simply commenting on the fact that by bundling them together, they're making it EXTREMELY obvious that it's the same font. Even the uninformed or those who don't pay a lot of attention can't help but notice it.

I can't believe the PS3 doesn't come with a HDMI cable, but it's worse that I'm getting used to companies doing that sort of thing.

I was shocked when I recently opened up the box for my new monitor and found not only an hdmi cable, but also a vga and dvi cable. Before it arrived i had bought a dvi cable not even considering it would come with one.

Its understandable that it doesn't they shouldn't have to support a feature that not everyone has (HDTV), when the console already makes a loss with each sale.

I agree that it would have been nice though.

$499 for a cable, the system, a movie and a game that nobody cares about? How is this supposed to be a deal?

ITS 359$

the blockbuster near me has been selling this for over a year although the $360 price only happened in the last couple of months.

Dear David:

Old news is old.

Joystiq even ran a PROMOTION WITH BLOCKBUSTER of this very package back in June of 2008 as part of a Joyschwag giveaway! The only 'news' here is that BB STILL has some 40GB in stock...WTF!

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/joyswag-playstation-3-40gb/

Quote:

Blockbuster wanted us to remind you of its plans to "significantly expand its games business," including the special $500 PS3 bundle comprising a 40GB console, a PS3 Bluetooth remote, an HDMI cable, Spiderman 3 on Blu-ray, the Transformers video game (for PS3, of course), and the opportunity to rent one free PS3 game or Blu-ray movie a week for twelve consecutive weeks.

theyve had that bundle for ever

Ya know, you read this and even though the game that comes with the console really isn't all that great, you get a Blu-ray with it (My 60GB PS3 I got five free Blu-ray's) you also get a Blu-ray remote (I had to buy mine for $25). This is a PlayStation 3 for $359. Radio Shack where I live sells them for this price. If this promotion for the PlayStation 3 can't carry the sales of that many consoles, well, Sony needs to keep in close contact with these Blockbuster videos and evaluate the sales. If the PlayStation 3 can't sell at this price, than Sony, forget about the price drop of the PlayStation 3 period. This is a preview of things to come. If they're not selling, its not worth it. Its not worth the loss of $350million. If these do fly off the shelves, then a price drop will definately be in your future as success. Does that make sense to anyone?

Still waiting for a price drop

I work at a Blockbuster. These bundles have been around for at least a year. Not bashing Joystiq for posting old news or anything. Just saying.. nothing "new" about these bundles (even exciting imo.. Transformers: The Game? really? I've never had anybody buy one of these bundles from my store)

Yeah, I work at blockbuster and this bundle has been around for almost two years. Sony and Blockbuster currently are working together - Sony provided all those Blu-Ray kiosks for practically nothing in every Blockbuster store (the stand where a PS3 is playing movie trailers...). The first bundle was with Spider-Man & Transformers and a 40 gb - there's no store in my area that has this bundle anymore. The new bundle with the 80 gb HD has Click instead. The best part of the deal is the quality HDMI cable and the 12 week rental card (you can use that on PS3 games).

It seems that the employees Joystiq talked to didn't know anything about what they're selling. No wonder everyone hates Blockbuster.

I thought I heard our Blockbuster had the same deal earlier this year. Sounds more like a hurry up and get ride of this stuff before TGS and the slim version is announced.

This is nothing new. Look at the link. I posted this on 7/2008.

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&message.id=3089595#M3089595

I work at blockbuster and have never heard of such a bundle...

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Blockbuster selling high-end PS3 bundles

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