Electronic Arts says: don't judge the PS3's price yet!
by Nick Doerr 
{ Apr 26th 2007 at 8:30PM }
Big Boss of Electronic Arts, Gerhard Florin, told early critics to not judge the high price point of the PS3 so harshly. He also told his friend Ocelot to use six-shooters instead of those other clumsy guns that kept getting jammed. Not really. Anyway, his point was that the price point won't be an issue until we look at it in two years.See, early critics say that PS3 sales are being held back by the price. We agree with them. Not Florin: "Whether it's too high or not the consumer has to decide, but I don't think for the first year the price will be a problem which holds anything back."
He said also that all systems have their place in the genre pie: Harry Potter on the Wii, Medal of Honor and Black on the PS3, and online-centric games on the 360. Strengths all around! However, we disagree with his price argument. It's obviously holding back sales beyond the initial investors. That, along with a few key titles to be released, are the only chains holding back this beast of a machine. Will it be let loose this holiday season?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3cubedminus3squared @ Apr 26th 2007 8:45PM
Yup, price was the reason I bought a 360 instead of a PS3. Instead of wasting 600$ for the top-end model, I wasted 300$[it was a special] for the Premium 360. The only game I'll really miss is FFXIII, but I get the feeling I might see an iteration of it on the box...
Cagalli @ Apr 26th 2007 8:51PM
In an unrelated topic, Nick! Thursday's DMC4 feature has been released! Go~
Killer @ Apr 26th 2007 9:20PM
Well no surprise by his comment about price. He's the schmuck that turned EA into what it is now. A Crappy port using money hungry company. Not surprised by his idea, since EA thinks the same why in pricing as well. "We can put any price on anything, the consumer will still buy it." *cough* Microtransactions *cough*
Hobofuzz @ Apr 26th 2007 9:21PM
Does anyone else feel that by saying price isn't holding the system back, that he's implying something else? Because the PS3 is definitely not selling as well as Sony had hoped, and if price isn't to blame, than what the hell is?
silence @ Apr 26th 2007 9:32PM
How about lack of original games? I know that there are a few now but its still not close to getting me to buy a PS3. Most of the people including myself would ignore the price if there were games.
TheGuy @ Apr 26th 2007 10:02PM
Of course price is preventing people from buying a PS3, I'm one of them. I want a PS3, but the high price and lack of mind-blowing games has me waiting on the sidelines to see how things turn out. In fact, I live in Canada where the launch price of $649 has increased to $699, so I'm really turned off by the price now. In fact I'm considering buying a PSP to hold-me off buying a PSP due to it's large library of games (although to be honest, I'm holding off buying that too for news of a redesigned PSP. so many indecisions >
BlackFox5 @ Apr 26th 2007 11:19PM
"He said also that all systems have their place in the genre pie: Harry Potter on the Wii, Medal of Honor and Black on the PS3"
Wait, did he mentioned "Black" on PS3??? BLACK, on the PS3??? OMFGROFLOLBBQ!!!!
michael hays @ Apr 27th 2007 1:51AM
Listen, the thing Im disappointed in with my PS3 is lack of games. That is it though. The price isn't too much more than the 360 once you buy the HD-DVD player for the 360. Think about it people. Microsoft is making it seem as if they are the best deal because the console itself is cheaper, but remember, the PS3 came with the Blu-Ray. I hear complaints about the PS3 not able to play HD DVD's, but the 360 can't play Blu-Ray either. They are one in the same in price. However, at this point, the 360 has the better games, but the 360 also had a year to get those better games. So I feel as if people need to just chill out and give it time. PS3 is likly to blow 360 out of the water with online play once Home comes out. That will be the determining factor. Just give it time. If your looking for just a game system, no High Def type DVD player, 360 is the way to go, but you'll probably just trade it in next year for a PS3.
dantes @ Apr 27th 2007 8:19AM
Every one here forgot the lack of games at ps2 and Xbox launch. What did you expect from a new console come on “ think! people think!”. Don't cry when Crysis Engine 2.0 wont be able to run on Xbox. EA and Crysis partnership is not a casualty. They are in the process of developing the true next gen games. Games that will be displaying all his power only on powerful hardware’s like PS3. Or super computers. Any way I will be waiting for the new Xbox 360 II at the end of 2008.
Bryan @ Apr 27th 2007 9:19AM
I thought the same thing BlackFox5... i mean Black on PS2 was absolutely stunning as it was... imagine what it could be now... and i still dont understand why everyone knocks the price point... were talking about $600... i mean seriously $600... honestly... its not that much(people spend upwards of $80 on tissues at the hospital... but thats a whole nother discussion)... but then again ive lost sight of the value of the american dollar working at a casino...
Real Gambler @ Apr 29th 2007 4:36PM
9: So true... When a console comes out, the original games line up is always small. Not sure why people are ALWAYS saying there's no games out yet for some console when it comes out! It's a known fact. There's been so many consoles generations that only a 8 years old kid could say: "I'm not buying a console because there's no games for it now". If you're any older, your experience will tell you that games will come. (Been the same story for the last 10 consoles!)
Now back to the subject: YES the PS3 is expensive. But Sony is still selling it for less than it cost to manufacture it!!! Wake up. When did you buy something that just came out on the market for less than it cost to make it? Only Micro$oft and $ony can sell you something and loose money doing it. The 360 is a year old and I think M$ still loose money eveytime you buy one. And currently $ony is selling you some hardware for close to $200 less than it cost them to make it! For me it's a sweet deal. Definitively wish I could have bought a LCD tv and home theather for less than it cost to manufacture it, at the same time I picked up my PS3! Would have done so on the spot. Price drop will come when manufacturing price will drop. (BluRay and Cell are the driving factor, and are expected to drop soon.) So you can wait until the price drop and play your old consoles. Or you just buy one now, feel like you made a good deal buying something cheaper than it cost those company to make it, and start enjoying the few great games that came out with it, until more come out every months.
Now, they could have removed the BluRay and use a DVD instead, use a Pentium 3 processor, use less memory, and a cheaper graphic CPU and sell it for a lot less. But then it would have been a PS2. I don't want an old gen console. I wanted Next Gen.
haywood jablomey @ Apr 27th 2007 10:02AM
Yes, Bryan, yes you have. $600 is a LOT of money. Definitely not worth dropping on an "entertainment hub".
shase @ Apr 27th 2007 10:03AM
600 is really not "that much" for an investment for years to come... if you gonna keep it for 6 years thats like 100 a year for a system. The thing with some consumers(and they get tricked) is that they just judge the product by price value and nothing else and saying "its too expensive". then they go off and buy another similar product that's cheaper but later on may regret it later knowing he/she just wasted X amount of dollars on it. Or another case where users add so much stuff to the cheaper product that the total price is over the product the user was interested in the first place but said "it was too expensive".
TheSh0wstopper @ Apr 27th 2007 10:39AM
NO!!! $600 is not a lot of money. Either most of the people on this site are teenagers, college students or need new jobs. $600 is not a lot of money. It should only be about %50 of a 2 week paycheck, considering the average americans income is 35k-40k a year. And considering the value you get out of the system and that it will be a 10 year (or so) investment it should be an easy purchase. And there is this little thing called saving up. Put away $300 (from a 2 week paycheck) and BAM in 28 days you have a PS3. People are too cheap nowadays.
TheSh0wstopper
Dolla Dolla @ Apr 27th 2007 10:44AM
You guys are absolutely right. 600 is not alot.
So, what is holding the PS3 back if it's not the price?
Just wondering...
TheSh0wstopper @ Apr 27th 2007 11:07AM
@ Dolla
"So, what is holding the PS3 back if it's not the price?"
2 things:
1: People are cheap.
2: It does not offer a superior GAMING experience to the 360 as of yet... online or offline.
TheSh0wstopper
Justin @ Apr 27th 2007 11:05AM
@1 Haha! I think your views may change once the PS3 has been out as long as the 360 has.
@12 I didnt think it was much either. I was going to buy a Blu Ray player for 1,000 and was like..hang on a sec...what? PS3 does it? Well then, why the hell not?
@14 Simply put: Games. This will change just like it has with every system that has ever come out.
blasphemizer @ Apr 27th 2007 11:12AM
Harry Potter games don't belong on any system.
haywood jablomey @ Apr 27th 2007 11:44AM
@14. It IS the price, plain and simple. Well, that and no good games, horrible press, and the arrogance of Sony, no doubt.
@16. The "people are cheap" argument is weak. Trying to justify shelling out $600 for the PS3 is cheap.
shase @ Apr 27th 2007 11:59AM
Sure some people love the wii and 360 for its games and that is fine but I am mostly talking about people who buy a "cheaper" system because the one they want to get is "too expensive" when its really not that much different if they are farsighted. Its better to shell out a couple hundred dollars more now for a satisfying experience that you wanted than regret it later and still have to prove yourself that you made the "right choice" by buying the cheaper system.
TheSh0wstopper @ Apr 27th 2007 12:01PM
@18
"@16. The "people are cheap" argument is weak. Trying to justify shelling out $600 for the PS3 is cheap."
Hey its the truth. I own both systems and love both. I expressed how I feel about the $600 price tag in my earlier post. But I feel that it is a combination of both the lack of games and people are cheap. When someone (someone being a GAMER) wont spend $600 for something that will last him for close to 10 years and will have games and features that they will want to experience (and if you are a GAMER you do want to experience it) is cheap.
My argument only applies to GAMERS. No gamer would/should want to miss out on what both consoles offer. Any real gamer would admit that they both have niches that are awesome. Only fanboys and broke people make excuses as to why they dont need/want the other.
In all honesty PS3 owners wishes their online service was as advanced as the 360's, wish they had as many games and would love to have rumble NOW. And all 360 owners would like it if they had some of Sony's big named exclusives, powerful Hardware, a HD player, Home, and motion sensing controller.
The only way a GAMER can be completely happy is to have both. And if $600 is stopping you "THEN YOU ARE CHEAP (or need a new job)"
TheSh0wstopper
haywood jablomey @ Apr 27th 2007 12:18PM
Everything I spoke is the truth, as well. Only, I'm going to forego insulting you personally, Show.
Your opinion simply shows how far-separated from reality you are.
TheSh0wstopper @ Apr 27th 2007 12:47PM
@21,
Well I appreciate you leaving out childish insults and name calling because you disagree with me. But for conversation's sake... What exactly did I say that you dont agree with or rather what did I say makes me "far-separated from reality" ?
Please let me know, im always up for a debate.
TheSh0wstopper
dantes @ Apr 27th 2007 4:06PM
When I bought my 360. I didn’t complaint about the lack of games on the market. Hellooo! every one, at least gamers knows, new consoles comes with a poor selection of games. PS2, XBOX, XBOX 360, PS3, PSP. I don’t see the point on that argument. I’m very happy with my PS3 and 360, my PS3 is the perfect HD player for my HTX home theater and my 52’ plasma, while it also has excellent games graphics. Both consoles are great. Why should I pay for a blue raid wile I can have both. For those who like power and high digital gadgets like me, PS3 is not an expensive console. This is simple. If you don’t have the money, don’t buy it. Opinions are like asses every one have one and they stinks.
haywood jablomey @ Apr 27th 2007 4:29PM
@22. After re-reading your posts, I must retract the 'reality' jab. Sorry Show, it was out of line.
I'm thinking more of the average consumer, not specifically hardcore gamers. It's a lot, especially if you're a parent. I'm not, but my brother and my sister both are. My nephews are 5 & 6, both really into gaming (thanks in part to me :). I started around that age, myself.
Like you said, it's an investment for sure. Most products these days couldn't claim a 10 yr lifespan. That's impressive, and I believe it'll happen.
But at $600, I'm still going to wait at least 2 years for a possible $ drop and the libary of games to expand. Until then, my Wii will keep me happy.
a2 @ Apr 28th 2007 10:24AM
I'm a die hard Sony fan, but I can't simply plunk down that much money for a gaming console. For the record, I don't care that it also plays movies. I just want to play games.
So as long as the price is $599, I'm not buying one.
The funny this is, I was most interested in the $499 model, hoping that it would come down in price, but it has since been discontinued. That's not a good sign as these things go.
I've since picked up a 360.
It's a shame, because only Sony has the power to turn this around, and they're being slow to recognize or deal with the problem.