Rumour: Sony to announce a Heavenly Sword + Formula 1 EU Starter Pack
by Jem Alexander 
{ Sep 5th 2007 at 6:00AM }
We're classing this one as a rumour because we have no experience with NeoGAF user Robinspain's backstory. Regardless, the other NeoGAF users seem to have no qualms in believing him today when he revealed that Sony will be announcing a new PlayStation 3 Starter Pack in Europe. He even posted a nice promo image of the box, as you can see above.
While the price remains the same (€599/£425) the contents of the box has changed to include an extra controller and the games Formula 1 and Heavenly Sword. Generally speaking, Heavenly Sword and Formula 1 appeal to completely different tastes. Perhaps this is Sony's way of making the console appeal to different members of the family. A Blu-Ray player for the dad, a racing game for the son and a woman-power adventure game for the daughter/mum? It screams of check-all-the-boxes, target-every-demographic marketing which, until games like Singstar are released, won't work too well.
This is all moot, of course, as ever since the Starter Pack was released shortly after E3, stores have been soft-bundling different games with the PS3 at the Starter Pack price. It's no harder to pick up a PS3 with Genji and Ridge Racer than it is to get one with Motorstorm and Resistance at the same price. Lastly, you may have noticed that neither of the in-box games have two player split-screen, so why the extra controller? Remove F1 and stick in the Warhawk Blu-Ray disc and the bundle suddenly becomes far more worthwhile.
While the price remains the same (€599/£425) the contents of the box has changed to include an extra controller and the games Formula 1 and Heavenly Sword. Generally speaking, Heavenly Sword and Formula 1 appeal to completely different tastes. Perhaps this is Sony's way of making the console appeal to different members of the family. A Blu-Ray player for the dad, a racing game for the son and a woman-power adventure game for the daughter/mum? It screams of check-all-the-boxes, target-every-demographic marketing which, until games like Singstar are released, won't work too well.
This is all moot, of course, as ever since the Starter Pack was released shortly after E3, stores have been soft-bundling different games with the PS3 at the Starter Pack price. It's no harder to pick up a PS3 with Genji and Ridge Racer than it is to get one with Motorstorm and Resistance at the same price. Lastly, you may have noticed that neither of the in-box games have two player split-screen, so why the extra controller? Remove F1 and stick in the Warhawk Blu-Ray disc and the bundle suddenly becomes far more worthwhile.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Egster @ Sep 5th 2007 6:07AM
Why would they throw and brand new title like HS in a bundle?
Ian @ Sep 5th 2007 6:21AM
Jem, as usual you're spot on with your suggestion regarding the removal of F1 and inclusion of Warhawk.
HS and F1 are too far apart in target audiences that it sounds like it's going to miss the mark. Throw in Warhawk and you're demonstrating the powerful on-line gameplay of the PS3. HS would offer up the quality in production values. I'm not really sure what F1 would showcase as it's a fairly average launch title and appeals to a niche market.
snwboarderx @ Sep 5th 2007 6:22AM
With 60GB? I thought they were all out.
lucky @ Sep 5th 2007 6:37AM
looks photoshoped to me :/
Ste @ Sep 5th 2007 6:50AM
@5
In the US, yeah.
ClarkyCat @ Sep 5th 2007 8:24AM
Well I guess it'll be one way of getting rid of all those excess copies of HS once the terrible reviews start pouring in.
Popfrogs @ Sep 5th 2007 11:30AM
8: If the reviews are anything like Lair (which players are liking more than the reviewers) I'll withhold judgment until I have it in my hands.
P @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM
I dont get this, After waiting a couple of months wondering where these special starter packs were going to appear, i came to the conclusion that there wasnt a specific starter pack with all new packaging, but just assumed that Sony EU had given the thumbs up for retailers to hold the £425 UK price but offer games free to make up for no price drop. All the UK shops are doing their own deals, one of the better being 2 games, 3 BR-Films (Cos we dont get no 5 free offer!) and the extra controller. But considering all high-street shops are bettering what Sony are offering as a bundle why are they bothering?? The only thing better about this deal is one of the titles is current, not a release day title.
As i say, i came to the conclusion that i'd got the wrong end of the stick and the box art was nothing more than an image, not real, but eitherway retailers are bettering Sony's offerings, so whats the big deal with this really??
Jeff @ Sep 5th 2007 7:10PM
That's not even the right Heavenly Sword cover art, that's the old one.
John @ Sep 5th 2007 9:40PM
"Remove F1 and stick in the Warhawk Blu-Ray disc and the bundle suddenly becomes far more worthwhile."
The problem with Warhawk, you have the question of the headset, which to include, you would have to lob off one of the controllers.
I think F1 and Sword are a great way to go, which Jem said "won't work too well."
I notice, of course, that the statement is not at all justified. It's an opinion, stated as fact:
(overheard at Sony marketing)
Hey. Jem said it wouldn't work.
What?
Jem, the person on fanboy, said it won't work, so we better pull it.
Well, what are the reasons, maybe we should listen!
Jem didn't... didn't GIVE any reasons.
This bundling is fine, though the woman of the house will not care about Sword generally-- she doesn't know about it. Sony needs and may provide a campaign to address this "potential audience" but they're going to have to be really clever, focusing basically on girl-power, and if you do that, you disenfranchise the guys, just like if you focuse on war-power, you disenfranchise the ladies. Putting Anthony somewhere in the commercial could help a lot, but if they mention that he played Golem they may run into copyright stuff.
The two controllers thing is a weird call, because while most games don't need two at the same time, it looks like a splendiferous value, especially for a household. Even if it's one kid, you know he'll (she'll) be playing with Dad (Mom), so it really beckons, and people have a general sense that hardware is expensive, but once you buy it, you're good-- so putting two controllers I think is smart, no matter what games you include.
Family Pak: Ratchet and Clank, two controllers, Dirt
@Ian, you make a good point, especially about showing off online... but most holiday buyers are less likely to go there... especially with a game that is online-only. What if they don't have online? Not good. Also remember, this is EU. Formula racing is huge over there. Over here, you might add Nascar instead, although EA's Nascar is about as different from Formula1 as McDonald's is to Tiffany's.
ClarkyCat doesn't justify his position, has acquired new status: TROLL! You're part of the underwurlde. You know. Think sewer.
[update: had to change Jem to a non-male personage-- not sure if Jem is male or female, but we still like 'em even though we're a hardass, sometimes!]
Pickoo @ Sep 6th 2007 3:40AM
Oh, please don't tell me they're gonna release more bundle packs other than the Resistance+Motorstorm one (I don't really mind about this one because I don't like the games).
Because if they are and they release awesome games with it, I'll be pissed - I bought the Starter Pack for my birthday a month early because the offer was apparently going to end on the 31st of August (in Australia), but now... if they release something better before my birthday I'll be pissed.