RUMOR PS2 $129.99 in 2004
12-20-03 | 11:14 AM
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RUMOR PS2 $129.99 in 2004
www.the-magicbox.com (cut & paste from cheapassgamer)
Quote:
Reuters reported that Sony is planning to reduce the price of PlayStation 2 in US at the beginning of 2004, the retail price will drop to US$129. The info is not confirmed by Sony Computer Entertainment America.
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Too many Rumor but none of them are TRUTH
Quote:
Reuters reported that Sony is planning to reduce the price of PlayStation 2 in US at the beginning of 2004, the retail price will drop to US$129. The info is not confirmed by Sony Computer Entertainment America.
=============================================
Too many Rumor but none of them are TRUTH
Last edited by Jtnguyen12; 12-20-03 at 11:27 AM.
12-20-03 | 11:57 AM
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio/Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Good news in case I need another one and if true. I have been waiting for another price drop on an Xbox but the wait is going to be over once Xmas is here. I am going to go ahead and pay the going price and get my Xbox which will complete my console system quest for all three systems. Already have Splinter Cell, Shenmue and Ghost Recon waiting to play. 
12-20-03 | 12:50 PM
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I try to pickup NEW PS2 Bundle w/ Broadband Adapter for Xmas cuz my PS2 keep Reading Disc. Errors but after reading this NEW i think i am going wait little longer
My Prediction is MARCH for $129.99
My Prediction is MARCH for $129.99
12-20-03 | 01:14 PM
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From: NYC...no longer! Collegeville, PA
Found this:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...toryID=4017641
Only speculation.
Jeremy
US video game execs look for PS2 price cut in 2004
Thu December 18, 2003 03:15 PM ET
By Ben Berkowitz
LOS ANGELES, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Sales of video game software were hurt this holiday season by Sony's decision to hold pricing steady on its PlayStation 2 hardware, and a PS2 price cut to $129 would be the best hope for software sales growth in 2004, game industry executives said on Thursday.
"I think you're starting to see the effects of a lack of a price decline," Activision Inc. (ATVI.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive Bobby Kotick told Reuters on Thursday.
Sony Corp.'s (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) (SNE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) PS2, which sells for $199 with networking hardware or $179 without, dominates the market. Sony's strong position, particularly in the United States, comes in part from its decision at the E3 industry trade show in May 2002 to cut the PS2's price by one-third, to $199 from $299.
Most game publishers and retailers assumed another price cut was coming at this year's show, to $149. But when Sony said it would stay at $199, with a lesser unit at $179, there were dire predictions about how that would affect holiday game sales.
Publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday the holidays had been "somewhat less robust" than anticipated, echoing the sentiments of investors and financial analysts who have said this holiday season has been lackluster and marked with sluggish video game sales.
"We attribute this in part to the (lack of a) PS2 or Xbox price cut," Chief Executive Jeff Lapin said on a conference call. Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Xbox also sells for $179, and like the PS2 had been expected to go to $149 at the E3 show.
A Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment. The company historically has not commented on potential changes to its pricing strategy or price concerns raised by game publishers.
Analysts now believe that the PS2 could sell as few as 7 million units in the United States in 2003, well below forecasts that once assumed up to 10 million units. That view was reinforced by November sales numbers from the NPD Group that were released earlier this week.
"PS2 hardware units were weak (down 36 percent), as the lack of a price cut has hurt sales all year," UBS analyst Mike Wallace said in a note Tuesday.
Take-Two's Lapin put the game industry's growth prospects for 2004 squarely on Sony's shoulders.
"Assuming a PS2 price cut in the first half of 2004, we anticipate software growth rates of about 10 percent in calendar 2004," Lapin said. Asked where he expected the price to go, he said "I'm assuming $129."
Activision's Kotick, who has been perhaps the strongest advocate among top publishing executives for price cuts from Sony, echoed Lapin's sentiments.
"I think you can expect fundamentals to be better overall next year with a price cut to $129," he said.
© Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.
Thu December 18, 2003 03:15 PM ET
By Ben Berkowitz
LOS ANGELES, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Sales of video game software were hurt this holiday season by Sony's decision to hold pricing steady on its PlayStation 2 hardware, and a PS2 price cut to $129 would be the best hope for software sales growth in 2004, game industry executives said on Thursday.
"I think you're starting to see the effects of a lack of a price decline," Activision Inc. (ATVI.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive Bobby Kotick told Reuters on Thursday.
Sony Corp.'s (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) (SNE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) PS2, which sells for $199 with networking hardware or $179 without, dominates the market. Sony's strong position, particularly in the United States, comes in part from its decision at the E3 industry trade show in May 2002 to cut the PS2's price by one-third, to $199 from $299.
Most game publishers and retailers assumed another price cut was coming at this year's show, to $149. But when Sony said it would stay at $199, with a lesser unit at $179, there were dire predictions about how that would affect holiday game sales.
Publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday the holidays had been "somewhat less robust" than anticipated, echoing the sentiments of investors and financial analysts who have said this holiday season has been lackluster and marked with sluggish video game sales.
"We attribute this in part to the (lack of a) PS2 or Xbox price cut," Chief Executive Jeff Lapin said on a conference call. Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Xbox also sells for $179, and like the PS2 had been expected to go to $149 at the E3 show.
A Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment. The company historically has not commented on potential changes to its pricing strategy or price concerns raised by game publishers.
Analysts now believe that the PS2 could sell as few as 7 million units in the United States in 2003, well below forecasts that once assumed up to 10 million units. That view was reinforced by November sales numbers from the NPD Group that were released earlier this week.
"PS2 hardware units were weak (down 36 percent), as the lack of a price cut has hurt sales all year," UBS analyst Mike Wallace said in a note Tuesday.
Take-Two's Lapin put the game industry's growth prospects for 2004 squarely on Sony's shoulders.
"Assuming a PS2 price cut in the first half of 2004, we anticipate software growth rates of about 10 percent in calendar 2004," Lapin said. Asked where he expected the price to go, he said "I'm assuming $129."
Activision's Kotick, who has been perhaps the strongest advocate among top publishing executives for price cuts from Sony, echoed Lapin's sentiments.
"I think you can expect fundamentals to be better overall next year with a price cut to $129," he said.
© Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.
Only speculation.
Jeremy
12-20-03 | 06:50 PM
#7
Good news, but with the backlog of games I have but haven't played yet for my X-Box, GameCube, Dreamcast, and Playstation, I may just wait for the PS3. I read, the PS3, is supposed to be backwards compatible with the PS and PS2 so I should be able to play the PS2 games I have. Yes, I buy games for systems I don't have but intend to get, if the games are cheap. Of course, if the PS2 drops down to $50, I may just bite the bullet and get it, but that won't happen until the PS3 is out already.
12-21-03 | 09:02 AM
#8
DVD Talk Godfather
gideon, makes sense to me. I have the other two as well and a handful of games I haven't yet defeated.
But how can they say a lack of sales? With the numbers I saw on IGN for Nov. Even with the GC selling 750,000(I think that was the number) it still didn't outsell the PS2. So I still don't think they need a price drop unless they just want to bury Microsoft where they lay (having to match said price drop, and taking an even bigger hit on each sold).
So who is buying these PS2s? People replacing faulty ones like mentioned?
But how can they say a lack of sales? With the numbers I saw on IGN for Nov. Even with the GC selling 750,000(I think that was the number) it still didn't outsell the PS2. So I still don't think they need a price drop unless they just want to bury Microsoft where they lay (having to match said price drop, and taking an even bigger hit on each sold).
So who is buying these PS2s? People replacing faulty ones like mentioned?
