Just saw this on Yahoo news and cnet news and news.com.
Looks like right now, we have a few facts.
60GB discontinued
80GB The new SKU at 599
And a bunch of speculation like "Of course they are going to drop the price on the 80GB that only makes sense! They wouldn't ever increase the percepted price of the PS3"
Well tell that to me earlier this year when the 499 PS3 disappeared and suddenly the price of the PS3 INCREASED not only in perception but reality. At this point noone knows wtf Sony is doing. Leaking this information alone was a misstep because theres no way I'm going to tell someone to buy a 60GB now. Just wait and you might POSSIBLY be able to get a 80gb in a month for the same price? Jesus Christ, now thats screwing people over right there.
There are alot of options they could go with on the 80GB SKU. It does say its Limited Edition. But none of you know if they are going to remove Motorstorm and pack in another game and stay at 599. Something like Eyetoy and a PS3 for this fall at 599 is just as easy to speculate about as dropping Motorstorm and pricing it at $499. No one is right, No one knows what they are going to do. But one thing can be agreed upon. This is just getting ridiculous.
Whether its selling people 60GB for 499 then 1 month later selling 80gb for 499 screwing those early buyers or if its dropping the 499 and effectively raising the price again to 599. Both are bad moves that could have been executed with far FAR more grace. Its going to hurt them in the end, the Media is already running wild with their sensationalist headlines. Have a look:
http://videogames.yahoo.com/news-522734
VIDEO GAME NEWS
E3: PS3 price cut temporary?
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9744323-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5
July 13, 2007 2:20 PM PDT
PS3 price cut isn't going to last?
^^^^
Thats the stuff that hurts right there. Im torn on this one. I cant say to myself that Sony isnt stupid enough to effectively increase the price of the PS3. Because they have already done it once, and because they were stupid enough to launch a console at 599 in the first place. Keeping that in mind, this just isnt that much of a stretch for me.
Then on the other hand I cant say they are stupid and wont drop Motorstorm and make it 499. Because they might just do that. These are the guys who sold 100+ million consoles the last two gens, clearly they know SOMETHING about how to make things work. Besides, the last 8 months have painted a clear picture about $599 consoles, even a monkey could tell its a bad idea, so you have to know some of their suits realize this and are already planning to remedy it.
