Uk Gets Rogered from Behind By Sony -- Premium PS3 £425

[njiska]

This is insane.

From Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/18/uk-playstation-3-comes-in-at-425-sony-loses-its-marbles/):
Sony has officially announced the U.K. price of the Playstation 3 as £425, representing the fully featured PS3 which comes in at $599 in the U.S. and 599 EUR in Europe. GamesIndustry.biz suggests that Sony won't be selling the cut down model over the pond, although this isn't confirmed. The PS3's price in England is higher than the console's price in the United States and Europe but we're not entirely surprised by this: British consumers are used to paying more for their consoles (although traditionally the U.K. gets identical or lower prices compared to Europe). Here's a breakdown of the U.K. premium over U.S. and EU prices:

£109 more than the U.S. "Premium" PS3: the U.S. price is $599 which converts to £316. Take this away from £425 and you're left with a £109 premium.
£20 more than the EU "Premium" PS3: the EU price is 599 EUR which converts to £405. Take this away from £425 and you're left with a £20 premium
Now check out the price when compared to the Xbox 360:
£146 more than Xbox 360 Premium: the Xbox 360 Premium is £279. Take away this figure from the PS3's £425 price and you're left with a £146 premium.
£206 more than Xbox 360 Core: the Xbox 360 Core is £219. Take away this figure from the PS3's £425 price and you're left with a £206 premium.
If we were in Sony's shoes, we'd feel very uncomfortable right about now: the combination of a chunky U.S./U.K. price divide combined with the absence of a cut-down PS3 bundle doesn't stack up well against the PS3's main competitor: the Xbox 360. But wait! When we stepped into those Sony branded shoes we forgot to take the free prescription of Prozac hidden in the heel! Ahhh, much better. Now we'd say something similar to the Sony marketing rep tasked with announcing the news:

"I don't think it's an expensive machine; I think actually, it's probably a cheap machine ... If you think a Blu-Ray player by itself might be GBP 600-700, and we're coming in at just GBP 425 - it's a bargain."

Sony's "but it plays Blu-Ray" line works if you're addressing early adopters and hardcore users. However, the British public (the majority of which associate "PlayStation" with games console, and not much more) won't take kindly to hearing "bargain" and "cheap" in the same sentence as "four hundred and twenty five pounds".

[Daltone]

I was half expecting a price around that number :( It'll still sell like crazy though. If anything the high price could make it more desirable, sort of like having one is a status symbol.

[jajaja]

"I don't think it's an expensive machine; I think actually, it's probably a cheap machine ... If you think a Blu-Ray player by itself might be GBP 600-700, and we're coming in at just GBP 425 - it's a bargain."

Its true. I remember it was like with with DVD player when the PS2 came. DVD players was very expencive back then. Everything will drop in price tho. About the PS3 being more expencive in the UK, im pretty sure they make more money over there than in USA. The prices gets adjusted of average income.

I wont buy the PS3 at launch. I will wait maybe ½ year for a price drop. But the price isnt that bad considering all the stuff thats inside the PS3. You can try to find the prices for the same stuff seperatly and compare.

[dcware]

Believe me when I say this, that is bloody expensive. It's much more than most people over here in the UK would want to spend.

[Julio III]

I knew Europe were going to pay a hell of a lot more than America but having the UK pay more than the rest of Europe - thats just robbery. If you manage to get your hands on one its probably cheaper to import a US model if you really want one. As Sony are pushing for region-free games they better not have such a large difference in the price of games also

[Mayhem]

More than half that difference though is VAT (at 17.5%, it's equivalent to US sales tax). I'd imagine some of the rest will be import duty Sony has to pay to bring the machines into Europe to sell as well.

And that my friends, is just one reason why I import: I can get stuff earlier, and cheaper if it escapes tax LOL

[playgeneration]

£425 is a whole lot of money, but then it doesnt stop there, most people want one maybe two games with their new console. And the games are most likely going to be £50 a go

ps3 and 1 game= £475
and 2 games =£525

and how about a 2nd contoller, easily another £20 again

2 games 2 controllers = £545

maybe a couple of blu-rays films to try out, which are probably going to be £20 each, and perhaps a new hidef tv.
There could either be a huge amount of people getting themselves in to debt just to buy a ps3, or a whole lot of people getting 360's instead. Everyone goes on about the playstation brand and how the public only associate it with gaming, but xbox and nintendo are massivley well known and could easily topple the giant.

[DonMarco]

So is North America the cheapest or the smartest region?

Country 20gb/60gb price = $US Dollar exchange

Britian ???/425 = $???/802
Europe 499/599 = $640/766
Australia 829/999 = $634/764
Japan 59800/????? = $539/???
USA 499/599 = $499/599
Canada 549/659 = $489/588

(all numbers from x-rates.com and wikipedia)

[UK Collector]

That price is a disgrace. It really is. But it kinda makes sense.
Wasnt the Ps2 around £400 at release?
That was after a few revisions to make manufacture cheaper,
which in a a simultaneous launch PS3 wont have.

But, isnt the PS2 DVD playback supposed to be poor
compared to dedicated players anyway?
So I'd assume that so would PS3s blu-ray playback. Im no real tech head or hi fi nut,
but the early blu ray adopters probably
wont care about price, because they have to have the best, first.
PS3's blu ray probably wont be that, and as the early adopters are generally the hardcore,
then the 'it's a blu ray player too' argument seems a lot weaker to me.

Still, with a price like that, I wont feel bad about not buying one.
Maybe when the slimline version comes out.

[Mayhem]

So is North America the cheapest or the smartest region?

The US price is before tax, all the others are after. Will make a difference once you add that on ;)

(and that tax levels on goods outside the US are higher as well)

[hezeuschrist]

"I don't think it's an expensive machine; I think actually, it's probably a cheap machine ... If you think a Blu-Ray player by itself might be GBP 600-700, and we're coming in at just GBP 425 - it's a bargain."

Its true. I remember it was like with with DVD player when the PS2 came. DVD players was very expencive back then. Everything will drop in price tho. About the PS3 being more expencive in the UK, im pretty sure they make more money over there than in USA. The prices gets adjusted of average income.

I wont buy the PS3 at launch. I will wait maybe ½ year for a price drop. But the price isnt that bad considering all the stuff thats inside the PS3. You can try to find the prices for the same stuff seperatly and compare.

That'd be true if they were releasing the conosole in 2015 when the market has reached an HD penetration level worthy of an updated HD movie format. As of now, it's so incredibly niche that a new format is absolutely worthless to the average consumer.

It can be argued that the release of the PS2 put DVD into the mass market, and that was only 7 years ago (at the time the PS3 launches). Seven years for a physical media format is nothing. VHS lasted an easy 15 years in the spotlight and I would expect no less from DVD. The market simply isn't ready for this technology, so no matter how you slice it, being forced into a premature format is in no way, shape, or form a bargain.

At least MS is giving you an option.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Regardless of price this thing is going to sell like mad. I work in a game shop and the amount of attention this gets from all the chavs and suit wearing, PSP carrying office boys is ridiculous! Everybody here was expecting to pay around the £450 mark before the price announcement so most folk seem to be happy about it (really!)!! It's almost like getting half a game for free :P

What is interesting is that nobobdy actually talks about specific games - just about the graphics the machine can produce. Some things never change...

[jajaja]

"I don't think it's an expensive machine; I think actually, it's probably a cheap machine ... If you think a Blu-Ray player by itself might be GBP 600-700, and we're coming in at just GBP 425 - it's a bargain."

Its true. I remember it was like with with DVD player when the PS2 came. DVD players was very expencive back then. Everything will drop in price tho. About the PS3 being more expencive in the UK, im pretty sure they make more money over there than in USA. The prices gets adjusted of average income.

I wont buy the PS3 at launch. I will wait maybe ½ year for a price drop. But the price isnt that bad considering all the stuff thats inside the PS3. You can try to find the prices for the same stuff seperatly and compare.

That'd be true if they were releasing the conosole in 2015 when the market has reached an HD penetration level worthy of an updated HD movie format. As of now, it's so incredibly niche that a new format is absolutely worthless to the average consumer.

It can be argued that the release of the PS2 put DVD into the mass market, and that was only 7 years ago (at the time the PS3 launches). Seven years for a physical media format is nothing. VHS lasted an easy 15 years in the spotlight and I would expect no less from DVD. The market simply isn't ready for this technology, so no matter how you slice it, being forced into a premature format is in no way, shape, or form a bargain.

At least MS is giving you an option.

In 2015 a Blu-Ray player wont cost like £500, so no, it wouldnt be true then. The quote only apply to when the PS3 and a standalone Blu-Ray player is released, not in 2015.

You know that a Blu-Ray player also can play normal DVD right? And what i said is true. If you want to buy a standalone Blu-Ray player when it comes out you have to pay ALOT. Compare this price to the PS3 and you will see. More and more people get HD-TVs so its not worthless.

[hezeuschrist]

Ok, you lost me. Chavs?

[jajaja]

EDIT: i thought the comment was for me, but i see someone else said something now :) Fattaru bre means "do you understand, man" i case anyone wondered hehe :P

[hezeuschrist]

You know that a Blu-Ray player also can play normal DVD right? And what i said is true. If you want to buy a standalone Blu-Ray player when it comes out you have to pay ALOT. Compare this price to the PS3 and you will see. More and more people get HD-TVs so its not worthless.

The price of a standalone blu-ray player is moot, because it's completely unknown to the average consumer. Yes, I'm aware that initial blu-ray players will be incredibly expensive. But you know what? In a year, they'll be shitty. Just like the DVD drive in the PS2 was, just like the Blu-Ray drive in the PS3 will be. You can't honestly think they're giving you any form of quality in the 8 billion components they're putting in there, do you?

The point is that EVERYONE is being forced to pay for something that less than 1% of the population can EVEN USE, let alone want. It might be up to somewhere around 2% by now, but it's nowhere near deserving of a dedicated media.

Sony at this point has far, far more riding on the success of Blu Ray than the do the success of the PS3, and they're going to capitalize on the willingness of consumers to actually pay some extrordianry price for the PS3 to carry their number one priority.

It's the gamers and the games that lose this time.

[jajaja]

Sure, the quality on the first DVD players sucks compared to the ones you can get today (that have about the same price range as the first dvd players had when they got out). But i never mentioned anything about this. I just said to compare the prices.

About the 1%, i have no idea about that. All i know it depends on where you live. Over here i know that more and more people buy plasma and LCD TVs. How its worldwide, i dont know.

[gepeto]

I was thinking. Sony may be using car saleman tactics. Example you tell them you want a monthly payment of 350 they come back and say 625. You balk then they come back and say 500 and you bite. They tell you an outrageously high price and blow you away and at The last minute come back with an adjusted price that doesn't look as bad as the first quote but way more than you would normally pay. That form of psycology gets people all the time. If the gamecube can change it's name ps3 can adjust its price.
Or Sony just plain crazy. I will go with the latter considering they released a handheld for 250.00.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Ok, you lost me. Chavs?

Sorry, chav is a British colloquelism. A chav (sometimes called a ned) is, usually poor trendy person who takes drugs and has illegitimate children. A course description but pretty true in general!

Check out this site:

http://www.glasgowsurvival.co.uk/

Maybe this will enlighten you!

[Mayhem]

That's a new site on me... there is also this http://www.chavscum.co.uk

[Pedro Lambrini]

^
God, isn't Britain a classy place these days?!

[WanganRunner]

Sony's retarded.

The PS2 was such a bargain because people actually WANTED DVD players, and the PS2 was a bargain DVD player.

Furthermore, on a standard-def analog TV, you can tell the difference between VHS and DVD, making the DVD functionality real added value for owners of such TVs (i.e. most people).

What Sony fails to understand is that most people, at least in the United States (probably the UK too? dunno), STILL don't own HDTV's. Thus, the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray will be essentially unintelligeble to them, and Blu-Ray is NOT a technology they would've been buying into for at least a couple more years.

This is not the bargain they think it is, all they're doing is forcing people to be early adopters of a largely un-needed and likely "Betamax-like" technology in order to use their game console, which is a terrible mistake.

[Pedro Lambrini]

I only know ONE person with a HDTV. And I'm aquainted with a lot of geeks, too! One of the problems people have with HDTVs is they are so incredibly expensive for not a lot of benefit. When most, if not all, of your gear runs in standard def and is hooked up to your new £1000 telly the picture quality is exactly the same - no surprise there!

Sony expecting you to spend around a grand on a telly just to play your £425 console on is obtuse and arrogant. They are just perpetuating their brand snobbery...

[ShinobiMan]

Sony's retarded.

The PS2 was such a bargain because people actually WANTED DVD players, and the PS2 was a bargain DVD player.

Furthermore, on a standard-def analog TV, you can tell the difference between VHS and DVD, making the DVD functionality real added value for owners of such TVs (i.e. most people).

What Sony fails to understand is that most people, at least in the United States (probably the UK too? dunno), STILL don't own HDTV's. Thus, the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray will be essentially unintelligeble to them, and Blu-Ray is NOT a technology they would've been buying into for at least a couple more years.

This is not the bargain they think it is, all they're doing is forcing people to be early adopters of a largely un-needed and likely "Betamax-like" technology in order to use their game console, which is a terrible mistake.

My thoughts exactly.

Besides, I don't think it's been officially said that the PS3 will play Blu-Ray discs right out of the box. In fact, I've heard that in order to utilize the Blu-ray movies function, owners will have to dish out some extra dough on an adaptor to allow them to work.

I think Sony might be overestimating the buyers market here.

[jajaja]

Furthermore, on a standard-def analog TV, you can tell the difference between VHS and DVD, making the DVD functionality real added value for owners of such TVs (i.e. most people).

I have a normal cheap TV and i see the diffrent between VHS and DVD. HD-TV is the future so why not be prepared for it?

Anyway, we will see how well the PS3 sells when it gets out.

[Pedro Lambrini]

I'm sure the PS3 will sell really well. I'm also sure the 2nd hand market will be saturated 6 months after launch. Just the same as the PSP in my neck of the woods...

[zerohero]

What are the major advantages of getting a blue ray player? THe reason why PS2 did well with having the DVD standard was because the benifits matched the price. Hey I can have a dvd player and a next gen game console, and buy dvd's for 14.99 woohooo! Most people are fine , and dandy with dvd, and I consider it a crime to just swap the mediums right after people have paid for 100's of dvd's and created a large collection, only for them to have to re buy everything in blue ray format.

Thats why I think this "next gen" should have held back for another year, and could have done without all the blue ray, HD TV crap.

[jono]

I think that HD is pretty much a non issue here in the UK. Its only just appeared this year on cable (Which unlike in the US isn't very popular) and is only this month launching on satellite (which is the dominant pay tv platform here). Sony's reliance on it to drive sales via the Blu Ray playback seems a little out of sync with UK.


As i understand it HDTV in America replaced analogue 4:3 525 Line NTSC broadcasts. To me that is a HUGE leap up in terms of quality and you would see obvious benefits.

Unlike in the US and most of the world really, we moved from having SD 4:3 Stereo Analogue 625 line PAL broadcasting to SD 16:9 625 Digital Broadcasting. We even have Dolby digital on some channels. For the vast majority of us in the UK HD is not that big a leap up in terms of quality to justify its expense.

The facts

To get HDTV in the UK you have to pay a subscription and a premium for the receiver.

Its restricted to cable and satellite. There are NO HDTV aerial broadcasts and it is unlikely there will be for at least another 6 years.

The most popular digital TV service in the UK is Freeview which broadcasts SD digital versions of the existing analogue stations plus around 25 more stations. This is the replacement for analogue broadcasting in the UK. No HD

SKY HD Satellite Receiver £299 + about £50 PER MONTH for the HD channels - about 10 altogether plus a few hundred SD channels

Most of the HD channels content in the UK comes from the US other than the sports and films and the BBC HD channel. There is next to zero UK produced HD shows from the major TV stations here (ITV/C4/Five)

Lowest price of a HDTV in the UK = £450 Samsung HD CRT (The only HD CRT that is availiable here i might add)

HD LCD's start at about £550 for a 26" and go up from there. If you want a decent one you'll easily spend £1000+

[DonMarco]

So is North America the cheapest or the smartest region?
The US price is before tax, all the others are after. Will make a difference once you add that on ;)

(and that tax levels on goods outside the US are higher as well)
All the prices listed in the wiki are MSRP for the given regions. It's simpler and makes the actual price seem to be that much less. Like hell if I'm going to figure out the actual cost with taxes for each territory. On top of that, taxes for each US state differ. Even further for certian counties or cities.

For example, with tax my PS3 would be $635.99 while my Californian cousin would buy the same system for $644.99. Both numbers are nowhere as cheap-sounding as "599.99". If I were to buy the system online, I might get around the state sales taxes. Which I do for large cigar/vodka purchases... For parties and such shut up!


I think that HD is pretty much a non issue here in the UK. Its only just appeared this year on cable (Which unlike in the US isn't very popular) and is only this month launching on satellite (which is the dominant pay tv platform here). Sony's reliance on it to drive sales via the Blu Ray playback seems a little out of sync with UK.

[stuff]

To get HDTV in the UK you have to pay a subscription and a premium for the receiver.

Its restricted to cable and satellite. There are NO HDTV aerial broadcasts and it is unlikely there will be for at least another 6 years.

The most popular digital TV service in the UK is Freeview which broadcasts SD digital versions of the existing analogue stations plus around 25 more stations. This is the replacement for analogue broadcasting in the UK. No HD

SKY HD Satellite Receiver £299 + about £50 PER MONTH for the HD channels - about 10 altogether plus a few hundred SD channels

Most of the HD channels content in the UK comes from the US other than the sports and films and the BBC HD channel. There is next to zero UK produced HD shows from the major TV stations here (ITV/C4/Five)

Lowest price of a HDTV in the UK = £450 Samsung HD CRT (The only HD CRT that is availiable here i might add)

HD LCD's start at about £550 for a 26" and go up from there. If you want a decent one you'll easily spend £1000+
Yeah, but the UK has had a long history of paying way more for gaming/technology goods. You pay £10-13 pounds for strategy guides still, right?

My CRT HD TV cost $450. 30", 95 lb. and to this day I've never used it's speakers. My 5.1 setup is pretty nice. Sure it may not be as elaborate as the $2000+ LCD or plasma brothers, but for it's price I was happy. Give the technology and it should become more affordable in a few years, just in time for Metal Gear Solid 4.

As for broadcasting in the states, charging for sending or recieving HD programs isn't something I've ever heard about. Radio transmissions are possible if you have a HD reciever. The HD penetration in America is about 10%, which isn't great, but steadily improving.

[jono]

Yeah, but the UK has had a long history of paying way more for gaming/technology goods. You pay £10-13 pounds for strategy guides still, right?

My CRT HD TV cost $450. 30", 95 lb. and to this day I've never used it's speakers. My 5.1 setup is pretty nice. Sure it may not be as elaborate as the $2000+ LCD or plasma brothers, but for it's price I was happy. Give the technology and it should become more affordable in a few years, just in time for Metal Gear Solid 4.

As for broadcasting in the states, charging for sending or recieving HD programs isn't something I've ever heard about. Radio transmissions are possible if you have a HD reciever. The HD penetration in America is about 10%, which isn't great, but steadily improving.

I can never see the attraction of strategy guides myself. I see them in the shops but most people here don't bother with them. They sit on the racks for months/years usually. Oh and the do cost about £12-£15 each.

Anyhow

32" HD CRT £450 = $845.87 USD

£450 is cheap for a HDTV for sure in the UK. But the average is around £550 ($1,033.84 USD) starting at a 26" LCD. Anything bigger and the price rockets (42" Panasonic Viera? £1,349.00 OR $2,535.74 USD)

HD penetration i doubt barely registers 0.1% here if anything. SKY HD (Satellite subscription service) is only just launching this month. Telewest HD (Cable) had a *VERY* limited launch earlier this year. Over the air HD broadcasts are to start limited testing later this year (Restricted to London for the foreseeable future. It will be at least another 5-6 years until its broadcast nationwide)


For the UK at least for the majority the ONLY way to watch HDTV is to have subscription TV in some form. Hell you even have to pay a subcription to access the 1 free HD channel (BBC HD) as you can't have the HD receiver without a subscription (Which is about £50 a month = $93.99 USD plus the initial cost of the box £299 = $562.04 USD).


Your talking at least an outlay of almost £1800 ($2400+!) (Box+TV+ Years Subscription) just to be able to watch HD


To top it off the government has no plans for HD broadcasting and its been left to the broadcasters to decide if its profitable. Few care enough here to even broadcast in widescreen.

[tom]

UK is for a long time the most expensive country in Europe:

Tesco UK used to import gaming consoles from Germany, selling them cheaper in the UK than 'official UK machines'.

People flog to France from UK every weekend to buy truck loads of Food, Booze and Cigs, as prices for these items are sky high in UK.

The daily newspapers in UK always have price comparisons about what they call officially 'Rip-Off Britain' and 'cheap prices' in Europe Mainland, including Game Boy Advance comparisons and so forth.

So the bottom line is, nothing new there then.