Rumors Mounting Over $399 40GiB PS3

[kn]

KruzeS said:
The resident mole at Arstechnica's Oposable Thumbs blog, who by the way has a pretty good track record, is pointing to this as the lineup for Sony's american holiday season:

- Playstation 3 80GB for $499;

- Playstation 3 40GB for $399;

- Spiderman 3 as a packin for either one, or both;

- Playstation 2 for $99.

Remember, you heard it here... second. For first, go there:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2007/09/09/500-80gb-ps3-with-a-spiderman-3-blu-ray-pack-in-our-mole-lets-us-in-on-sonys-future-plans

 I think Sony could really improve things if they would begin to market the PS3 as a GAME CONSOLE that just happens to have Blu-Ray player.  Sony wants and needs the Blu-ray format to win and it shows in their attempts at pricing, bundling, and marketing.  I just want to play games and I guarantee you that is what the majority of potential customers are looking for in a PS3.  Why pack-in Spider Man?  Instead, pack-in some Sony 1st party goodness.  How about a gamer starter pack?  PS3 stripped down model with no memory card, smaller hard drive and no wi-fi.  Two six axis controllers plus motorstorm and resistance.  All this for $399 going into Christmas.  I'd be the first mofo in line to buy one and would wait in line.  That's saying a lot for a person that already has a 360, PS2, and a Wii and has more games to play than time.  The continued push to sell it as a Blu-Ray player is just annoying to me personally.  I don't have a high def TV anyway... 75% of the rest of the U.S. doesn't, either.

Sony is far behind in the U.S. and unless they have a stellar holiday, they will lose more ground to the 360 over the holidays and they can ill afford to go further in the hole.  Price is 800lb gorilla in the room that apparently Sony can't figure out, won't accept, or simply can't afford to address at this time.