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does NOT look like a price cut for the PS2
when talking about the PS2 price:
What about Sony? We spoke with Sony's Director of Communications today about the very subject. "We're definitely comfortable at $299," said Molly Smith, Sony Computer Entertainment America's public relations director. "Certainly it's something we have always been aggressive with. We have always passed on to the consumer any cost efficiencies that we're able to. But think about it, we're coming close to having sold through 28 million units worldwide. We think that $299 is a very reasonable price for consumers." What about staying competitive with Microsoft and Nintendo? What about appearing like you're the only system selling at $299? Doesn't that concern you? "We have never dropped our prices because of market desperation. We don't feel that we've ever been put into the position of having to change our strategy because of our competition. "We have stayed firm at $299 when not one single person thought we would, and we have sold almost 10 million units in North America so far, so we're pretty happy with our position right now. I can't imagine that we need to change our strategy one iota." "We're definitely sticking at $299 right now, that's where we are," Smith said firmly. So, there you have it, from the mouth of Sony itself. SCEA says it will not lower the price of its PlayStation 2 at E3. Microsoft may very well do it. We'll let you know when either company announces anything differently. |
Feh. Posturing, pure and simple. "Lookit how strong we are, we don't need any price-drops. Haw haw haw!"
Then, as soon as the XBox starts to make some headway, Sony will decide that some new manufacturing process has created enough leeway for them to drop their price. We don't feel that we've ever been put into the position of having to change our strategy because of our competition. |
Originally posted by Fanboy Feh. Posturing, pure and simple. "Lookit how strong we are, we don't need any price-drops. Haw haw haw!" Then, as soon as the XBox starts to make some headway, Sony will decide that some new manufacturing process has created enough leeway for them to drop their price. For some reason, I recall PS price-drops at or near the same time as N64 price drops. I guess that was mere seasonal coincidence. |
We have always passed on to the consumer any cost efficiencies that we're able to. Sony Computer Entertainment says it has combined two of the processor components of its PlayStation2 on a single die, which should significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing the market-leading video game console. The company has combined the Emotion Engine and Graphics Synthesiser chips into a single unit using a 0.13-micron manufacturing process, said Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi in Japanese trade publication Nikkei Microdevices. The original PlayStation2 chips were designed to be manufactured on a 0.18-0.15 micron process. Shrinking the design rule and combining the processors into one unit will not directly affect the console's performance, but smaller processors consume less power and are less costly to manufacture. |
These people are instructed to deny all rumors until they are officially announced. Plus, she is the PR from Sony America, wouldn't this be something implemented by Sony Japan? If so, what she says has no credential.
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I think they are going to cut the price but are keeping it hush hush as to not erode sales in the next few weeks. They'd have to be insane not to. I think one of the things that helped the PSX was that the price always remained competitive with the N64. That, combined with great software, made the PSX dominant. I've already got a PS2 so I'm set. Although an XBox or cube at 199 is looking mighty tempting lately.
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These people are obviously towing the line for Sony.
The PS2, no matter how many units they've sold, is still a 2 year old piece of hardware. There are only so many more they can sell before the market will be tapped out at $300 a pop. Sony wants to play this game where they will be tight lipped about the price drop until it actually happens so they won't inadvertantly "disaude" any from buying the PS2 at $300. In other words "grab all you can grab!!" Well I'm in no hurry. I've waited this long for a price and I can certainly wait another two weeks! Robb :whofart: |
well, if Microsoft drops the price of the Xbox, which is rumored to happen at E3, then Sony will follow. They will lose market share if they are the only kids on the block w/ a video game machine that retails for $299.
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"We're definitely comfortable at $299," said Molly Smith, Sony Computer Entertainment America's public relations director. "Certainly it's something we have always been aggressive with. We have always passed on to the consumer any cost efficiencies that we're able to. But think about it, we're coming close to having sold through 28 million units worldwide. We think that $299 is a very reasonable price for consumers." What about staying competitive with Microsoft and Nintendo? What about appearing like you're the only system selling at $299? Doesn't that concern you? "We have never dropped our prices because of market desperation. We don't feel that we've ever been put into the position of having to change our strategy because of our competition. "We have stayed firm at $299 when not one single person thought we would, and we have sold almost 10 million units in North America so far, so we're pretty happy with our position right now. I can't imagine that we need to change our strategy one iota." "We're definitely sticking at $299 right now, that's where we are," Smith said firmly. So, there you have it, from the mouth of Sony itself. SCEA says it will not lower the price of its PlayStation 2 at E3. Microsoft may very well do it. We'll let you know when either company announces anything differently. |
I think we should stick to one thread on this topic. This piece of news has already been reported by Flay here:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...5&pagenumber=3 |
Well, Reuters had this tidbit to offer today:
"Sony Corp. will cut the price of the PlayStation 2 video game console this week in order to be ahead of rival Microsoft Corp., which is expected to cut the price of its competing Xbox console next week, analysts said on Monday." http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtm...StoryID=953657 They key phrase is "analysts said" which is to say this is still mostly a guess. Often, analysts do get clued in to some inside information, but the fact that this article mentions conflicting guesses as to how much the price will be cut leads me to believe that there wasn't a particular briefing on the matter from Sony, but rather these analysts are guessing just like the rest of us. In any event, we'll all know more in a week or two. |
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If the price drop is down to $199 I'll be waiting for the doors to open at Best Buy that very morning!
Robb :whofart: |
Originally posted by Captain Harlock If the price drop is down to $199 I'll be waiting for the doors to open at Best Buy that very morning! Robb :whofart: YMMV.IMHO.BYOB :) |
It's official--PS2 goes to 199
Looks like Sony is dropping the price on /everything/. PS2 system is down to 199, memory card is 24.99, and Dual Shock 2 controllers are 24.99. PSOne stuff is going down, as well.
Prices are effective immediately. I may actually pick one up tomorrow. http://ps2.ign.com/articles/359/359352p1.html |
Originally posted by Captain Harlock If the price drop is down to $199 I'll be waiting for the doors to open at Best Buy that very morning! |
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