Australian retailer state of play...

[shams]

I (as pretty much everyone else here I would think) get bombarded with paper advertising almost daily.

I got one from Toys R Us, and thought I would post some of the details from it - may interest people. All dollars are Australian dollars - we have a 10%GST (sales tax), which is included in the prices. Our dollar is trading around the 82c US mark.

These "offers" start May 24, and end June 11th. 

DS:
 - seems to be the hottest item at the moment. Gets a spot on the front page. For $199, you get a DS Lite, copy of Nintendogs (one of 4 versions), and $25 of coupons (5 x $5 off).

(no other console or device makes the front or back pages).

Remaining consoles get part of a 2-page spread (near the back as usual). Wii, PS2, PSP get about the same space each - DS (again) & PS3 get slightly less space. There is no mention of the 360 (although they do sell it?). 

Wii:
 -  $419 gets you a Wii pack, copy of Pirates of the Caribbean, and $25 vouchers (5 x $5 off). Note that they don't mention Wii Sports (and never seem to - a marketing mistake in my books!).

DS games:
 - 4 DS Wi-Fi titles get advertising, and a special price ($39). Clubhouse, Animal Crossing, DiddyKong Racing (sold really well here!) & March of the Minis.

DS pack (#2):
 - $245 gets you: DS Lite, copy of Final Fantasy 3 OR Chocobo Tales & $25 vouchers. (this indicates to me that Nintendogs is really being treated as a "pack-in" game - although you can buy it separately).

PS2:
 - $248 gets you a PS2 (slimline), Buzz Mega Quiz game (really popular in Aust) & $25 vouchers. Basically the same price as a DS. A standalone PS2 costs $185.

PS2 games:
 - a bunch of PS2 (platinum) games are advertised (not going to list them) - 2 for $50.

PS3:
 - $1029 gets you a PS3 (60Gig console), copy of RR7 or Resistance & $25 vouchers (the vouchers seem  sort of pissweak compared to the price of the pack!). No other games or accessories are advertised.

PSP:
 - $299 gets you a PSP (base console), copy of Rachet & Clank (normal cost $68) & $25 vouchers. A base PSP retailers for $279 (was $399 last year!). So the price on a PSP has already dropped - with minimal fanfare.

PSP games:
 - a bunch of PSP platinum games, all retail for $29 (pretty cheap - basically same price as PS2 titles).

 ...

PC games also get a mention (Sims & WoW), and iPods get their own little section.