Joystiq

New PS3 doesn't mean price drop for old models, Sony explains why

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST

The newer, slimmer PS3 comes in two versions: 250GB for $270 and 500GB for $300. The old PS3 models, 160GB for $250 and 320GB for $300, will not see their prices drop, even though they now have price-point competition from the same brand. This is all because of consumer demand for quality content, says John Koller, Sony Computer Entertainment America VP of marketing, handhelds and home consoles.

"There's no price drop formally, but the thing that's been happening in the market over the last year or so is that there's been so many retail price promotions, and so many different gift card offers and all those things, being done by all of us [Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony], that we've heard from our consumer, 'Enough with all these weird price moves. What we really want is content and games and value,'" Koller tells Engadget.

Most consumers we can think of (ourselves included) love having great content, but hold an equal passion for cheaper consoles. Koller says his answer is "kind of a long way of saying, 'No, no formal price drop.'" Besides, there are only so many older PS3 models on the shelves, he points out.

At the Tokyo Game Show, Sony Computer Entertainment president Andrew House tells Reuters he thinks SCE will be profitable this year. "We have a growing installed base, growing connectivity of the PS3," House says.

After announcing the Vita "may be trending behind in certain territories," and a projection for the company's largest-ever yearly loss, $6.4 billion, it looks as if SCE is relying on the new (and old) consoles to boost finances.

New PS3 doesn't mean price drop for old models, Sony explains why originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redesigned PS3 caught on camera, up close and personal

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EST

After Sony's Tokyo Game Show 2012 press conference, our compadres at Engadget got lots of close-up shots of the re-redesigned PlayStation 3 hardware. While they weren't able to get hands on the unit, it appears that the disc-tray now operates on a sliding mechanism. Furthermore, the newer, slimmer unit seems to come with a stand to stabilize the console in the vertical position.

Head over to Engadget for lots of pictures.

Redesigned PS3 caught on camera, up close and personal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation 3 redesigned again, launching Sept. 25 [updated with US date and price]

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:10:00 EST

Update: The slimmer 250GB PS3 model (in black) will be available in the U.S. on September 25 for $269, bundled with the "Game of the Year" edition of Uncharted 3 and a voucher for $30 worth of content in the free-to-play shooter Dust 514, according to the PlayStation Blog. A non-bundled version of the new 250GB console will be priced at $249 eventually; however, a Sony press release notes that only bundles "will become available at launch timing."

The 500GB model will launch for $299 on October 30. The blog also revealed a special, limited edition Assassin's Creed 3 bundle was in the works, but did not announce price. In a press release, Sony noted that Japan will get the white model and that "other regions and countries will follow."

Europe and Hong Kong will also get their hands on a 12GB flash memory console on October 4, priced at €229 ($296). A 500GB unit with FIFA 13 will be available for €299 ($389).

Original Story: The PlayStation 3 is just a little addicted to plastic surgery, as Sony just announced at Tokyo Game Show the second major revision of the console.

The latest model is available in two flavors: 500GB and 250GB models in "Charcoal Black" and a 250GB system in "Classic White." The black model launches on October 4, while the white model hits on November 22. The black and white 250GB unit will retail for 24,980 yen ($317.61).

The new model is a 50% size reduction vs. original PS3, and 25% vs. the previous slim model. We hope to get a closer look at the new console after the conference to identify other changes made to the system.

The new model has been rumored since July, with further rumors speculating the console revision skipped an intended Gamescom debut due to there being too many boxes of the old console still in the marketplace.

Gallery: PS3 Super Slim (TGS 2012)

Continue reading PlayStation 3 redesigned again, launching Sept. 25 [updated with US date and price]

PlayStation 3 redesigned again, launching Sept. 25 [updated with US date and price] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: No PS3 redesign being announced at Gamescom

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST

Sony's rumored PS3 redesign will not be revealed at next month's Gamescom event in Germany, according to a VG247 source. The insider also claims the 16GB version is real (and not a typo for 160GB), using flash memory. There is also mention of a potential PS3 price drop following an official announcement.

The Sony press conference at Gamescom had been used several times in the past for big hardware announcements. The PS3 Slim was officially announced there in 2009, as was a console price cut last year.

That leaves Sony with the 2012 Tokyo Game Show press conference if it plans to announce the new model with pomp at an established show this year.

Rumor: No PS3 redesign being announced at Gamescom originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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