As is the case with the Wii mote and Nunchuck (and Wii Motion +), this would be too expensive for me. A controller just isn't worth that kind of money in my opinion.
Then again, I'm one of those grumpy old farts who will likely stay way clear of it anyway so it doesn't really matter a whole lot.

$75 (or less) for the starter pack + $20 for sub = Ok Sony we will bite.
$300 for PS3 bundle and the starter pack + $20 for sub = Ok Sony we will bite even harder.

VS.

$100 for the starter pack + $20 for sub = Ok Sony go screw yourself.
$400 for PS3 bundle and the starter pack + $20 for sub = Ok Sony go screw yourself even harder.

Sony will have to drop the price of 120GB slim to $250 for the $300 PS3+move bundle to work, either that or get rid of the 120GB standalone slim and only sell it as a move bundle. They can keep the 250GB slim as stand alone and continue to sell it for $350.

Oh, I wouldn't put it past them to offer the bits individually and allow for games to fall back on Sixaxis elements of Dualshock (which themselves are redundant now but they can't drop them due to games already out).

If I was Sony (and also ruled the world) I'd offer the following:

starter pack - contents EyeToy plus wand plus nunchuck

extension pack - contents wand plus nunchuck

I'd also seriously consider stopping individual EyeToy sales at this point apart from bundled with EyePet, etc. and make it that you either go all in or not.  Individual EyeToy sales can't be that high, and if Sony want to push the motion controls they need a simple, consistent approach IMHO which is make it so that people focus on that only, and keep it consistent it terms of what people will have to make life easier for the developers.

I'm just gonna wait for SONY to state prices and packaging options...

The prices could be in that range, indeed. Sounds reasonable. The subcontroller has no motion sensing, but it has a lithium battery so I doubt it will be any cheaper than a nunchuk.

Just a little note: the subcontroller is most probably not in the start pack because its use is completely optional, as in you can always use a DS3 or Sixxaxis when a subcontroller is required by the software (see footnote 2 of Sony's official statement).

Thus it makes sense to offer a pack with the least amount of hardware that is strictly needed.

Starter pack will be cheaper. Probably 50 pounds. Still that is over £100 for a decent 2 player set-up...

First you don't need subs as iirc it was leaked previously you can use pads instead.

Second they can sell it in small parts. In fact they allready started geting eyetoy cameras into houses.

Third they can make multi bundles with mini games for the move part.

So for example you get starting set with a Sony Sports Resort or whatever else it's called then you buy for 40-50 pounds bundle of Sackboy baskettball with another controller.

Then you offer subcontrollers as bundle with another game.


It's mistake to assume normal consumer will be looking at omg i need to spend 150 pounds to play with 3 friends.

I disagree, sorry I won't be getting two wands and two sub controllers, but I guess if you think most people will go that way then fair enough.

This really is the catch isn't it? It's not really $50 or $70 or whatever the base price is. Like with buying an actual console, the price is only a starting point - most people are going to want at least 2 if not 4 controllers. This could be a point in Natal's favor. No controllers = no purchases needed. So even if the entry price is slightly higher, then you're done.

I hadn't thought of this before. I had the same problem at CES when I was asking vendors about 3D TV. How many pairs of glasses do you get? How much are extra pairs? It's just so impractical for families some times.

I think they are more wanting to wait for natal pricing before announcing there pricing.

But $79.99 is what the start kit will cost.