Well, I doubt there will ever be a price cut. Sony can't afford to lose any more than the $40 they're already losing on each console and the slim (if there is one) will likely be even more expensive. That, coupled with their dismal performance in all their other divisions and the poor state of the economy, basically sets the current price in stone. Thus, the console will likely dwindle in sales and be discontinued in about, I'd say, 18 months, tops.

I believe that Sony has lowered its expectations.

The first step is the slim model without a price cut (this will bring a bit of cash... or less loss).

Depending on how much they make, a price cut will eventually follow in the 10 years lifecycle.

IMO

@OP

ps3 price needs to be cut simply to better compete in the marketplace, as its currently to expensive to average pople to purchase.

How long or how big an impact would a price cut have? Some make it seem like doing these two things will bring PS3 roaring back, where I see it as a short term shot in the arm, after the price cut fails to really stimulate PS3 sales..then what?

Well, look at how effective the last 360 price cut was. It could definitely give the ps3 an extended boost if timed correctly.

Your forgetting that they wouldn't even have to worry about that for the following reasons.

1. Alot of people would switch to 360 making the sales of each game more for the 360

2. They wouldn't have to put any resources into making the PS3 version which would definitely reduce costs.

In fact I would be willing to bet that developers would make more money if that happened.

I think the whole "10 years" thing is just an excuse Sony execs put out. They'll keep saying it so that they can sound confident, but realistically, the PS3 will probably only have a 4-year lifespan. Maybe 5.

@FaRmLaNd

There are two effects that price cuts have had this generation. We have plateaus and we have the spikes. When a console plateaus it increases, and then levels off at a much higher rate. This effect is long lived in fact it is basically indefinite. Spikes are the opposite the sales increase are incredibly large, but after a few weeks the sales pitch back down to the near original sales. Perhaps with a very modest increase over the original sales.

The point of all this is that Microsoft plateaus. While Sony is heavy on the spike. The point being that you cannot expect Sony to enjoy the exact same benefit from a price cut as Microsoft has. Historically PS3 price cuts burn themselves out really quick, and then you are looking at a ten to fifteen percent gain over the long. Rather then a thirty to forty percent gain in the long like what Microsoft seems to get.

Anyway everyone seems to forget this is a tracking site, and that we have data for the impact of price cuts not only for platforms in general, but platforms in specific. Needless to say its really quite informative. I am often disappointed in the price cut theorists not using these numbers to create future forecasts for the effects of a price cut on the PS3. Who knows it might not even net Sony margin enough to beat Microsoft in weekly sales. I doubt a increase of fifteen to twenty percent alone would have enough clout to change the weekly sales trends.

in this thread....... http://www.n4g.com/industrynews/News-368857.aspx
it seems the ps3 only sold 100k less systems then xbox.... SO after sonys job cuts and such i think the ps3 and Sony will be in a much better shape.

This thread is well written and such but its still flame bait.. ps3 aint going no where as it still has LOT of games from 1st 2nd and 3rd parties.

what we should be talking about is M$ sales..which are just as low.