Wouldn't it be funny (ok, evil) if...

[roxybaby]

A few of my friends and I were watching "Trading Places" this past weekend, and it inspired this off-kilter theory: How funny (or evil) would it be if one of the big 3 created all sorts of hype about a console shortage before launch when there wasn't really one, and ended selling a ton of units as a result?

Take Sony for example. What if there really isn't a blue laser shortage? The media is all over it, and game stores are thinking they'll only get two to five PS3 units to sell on launch day. But what if Sony was actually ready and sent plenty of consoles to stores, and some people bought them to sell on ebay...only no one would buy them (at least not above cost) and Sony rakes in the extra dough because people think supply is so low.

So all the people who wanted the console get them immediately, and all of the people who bought them to resell are stuck with the unit. Long-term it would not be so good for public image, but short term it's a shrewd marketing move! (Or are me and my friends just off the deep end?)

[cyberfluxor]

I thought they already did similar things. When you release the ten/hundred thousands range of units on launch there's bound to be issues with the units that need to be resolved at the plants before a second wave of them are sent out. They could have a lot of complications with one big launch.

If they released millions of units on launch and told of a shortage, what if people didn't buy them? They invested so much money on 1 thing for 1 event and if it were to fail, well it could be a major setback and would bankrupt some companies that attempt that.

They'd prefer taking risks by selling the highest cost unit with the most gadgets and options slowly than toss out a bunch of consules at once and see where it goes with media backed support.

[Neo Rasa]

I thought they already did similar things.

You're correct, the artificial shortage isn't that uncommon in the console world anymore. Sony's use of it with the PS2 is the most infamous example but Microsoft did the same thing with the PS3. And frankly, since Sony does the SAME THING every generation I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a real shortage of anything PS3 related. I mean the reason for it being delayed from spring to November in the first place was because blu-ray just cost too damn much for them to hope to make any kind of profit regardless of game/licensing revenue (and also probably to pull a Dreamcast on the 360, man why buy a 360 in November when Sony says PS3 is coming out in March? A lot of idiots fell for that).

Also they don't really have a choice, the PSP in the US is a good example. It had good sales for its first quarter but still underperformed SCEA's expectations by several hundred thousand units. It was in demand by technophiles and many gamers but the reality of the matter is in this region at least, ONLY specialty stores like Gamestop/Game Crazy/etc. ever actually sold out of them. Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, etc. had and still have pallettes of them they can't give away.